July 2008 - Now our babies are arriving let's have a thread to talk about them...

[minipinkscottish]

Hi ladies
I know there are many of us still to pop but thought it would be nice to start a thread that we can come to once the LO's are here

Abbie is 4 weeks and 3 days old today and my due date isn't here yet

Abbie is doing great - eating and sleeping and very content. The feeding was hard going at first as it is very frequent with her being early but I think you actually get used to being tired

Someone (sorry can't remember who) was talking about bottle and bf together and nipple confusion. Well all the times I have bf I have done so exclusively even when it was very difficult - I am stubborn As Abbie was early and lost a good bit of weight the mw advised topping her up with ebm through a syringe. This was tough as I was bf then trying to express only to bf 1 hour later - so I gave her formula to top up. Giving her the milk in a syringe became difficult as they tended to spurt the milk too quickly at times. So I gave her a bottle to top up( Tommee Tippee - closer to nature) and it was great!!

I bf her all day and then top up after bf at night to get a bit longer sleep - it's working - she is putting on weight and no nipple confusion

sorry for huge post - hope you will all come over and join me!!!!!

i express in the day every day now and feed it after dream b/f at 11.30

he then goes through till 6.30 -7 am and then 10 -11 am which is fine

do find bfing v v v tiring and so time consuming so just dont know how long i will manage this time

libra - i would agree with the waking bit..... i will probably sound a bit harsh but i actually let A have a bit of an early evening shriek if i feel he has slept an awful lot in the day..last night i took dcs 4 5 and 6 for a walk for 2 hours and he slept in the pram by which time it was 7.30 and i popped him in his crib and let him cry to wear him out!

he then had bath and boob - bed by 9and slept till we woke him for feed 11 ish

isaidno and sweetkitty good advise on day /night bit

A is a RUBBISH feeder at night - i wonder what he wakes me for ! just lets the milk let down and then soothes off into a slumber!

Hello everyone. Sorry I have been absent so long. Just no time at all to sit down! I don't know when everyone else has time to mn! Rory 10 days old now, and I'm still absolutely in love, but more tired than I can say. Constant feeding and holding. I feel I must be doing something wrong! I actually had 4 hours sleep last night though, which was a first.

It's my 40th birthday today - the children have been lovely, and I got some lovely pressies, (including a gold pendant from Rory!) but apart from that it's a day of nappies and sore nipples like the last 10! Still, wouldn't change it.

I have put some piccies of my little poppet on my profile.

Hi everyone

Not sure if I have much advice, but I do try hard to keep LO awake as much as I can during the day. It can be almost impossible at times. I also treat his day sleeps a little differently - more noise, light etc like isaidno described. I will change this though when he gets a bit older. I also feed him more regularly during the day and let him sleep at night. I do not wake him at all. MW and HV said I should never go more than 4 hours (which I did in first 2 weeks) but now I let him sleep until he wakes up.

Poledra - I found it terribly hard not holding Raffery when he was born and the first week. I was lucky though - his little billy crib was a new design and instead of being in a box he was in a crib with a built in baby suit so i could hold his hand. The blood taking and drip got to me more. He is now doing very well and almost a normal colour. Hope your LO is also doing well. To be honest I think I have coped with it all so well because my pregnancy was so utterly dire. I am actually getting more sleep and without the pain now. I forgot how tiredness really does alter you. To those sleep deprived I really do feel for you - it is torture!

Hi All - thanks for your kind thoughts and comments. feeling a bit better today as DD was at nursery. Still only 2 hours sleep last night - he had 4 bottles overnight!! managed to tidy/clean house today (always gets me down when house is a mess). Calvin projectile vomited over the clean duvet this morning - it was like the exorcist!
Went out to get a 4.5 tog duvet yesterday as I am soo hot at night - this homronal sweaty thing is horrid isn't it?

PURPLEJENNY - I put DD in a junior bed when she was 18 months to give her time to get used to it before Calvin came along - the first 2nights she was up and down but she goes to bed really happily now. She loves books and I keep a selection Little Miss books on her ned and on the floor - she can sometimes be found sleeping on the v pillow on the floor surrounded by books when I go to bed She is only 21 months now. One of the Mummies on my DD post natal has had the same prob lems with her first DD though since DD 2 came along - maybe they are just a bit more insecure nature wise?

POLEDRA - I bought NUK dummies before he was born as it is NUK teats I use for when I am using bottles - they are supposed to be more like flat nipples but he prefers the MAM bottles - so I bought MAM dummies - he tolerates 1 occassionally for a couple of mins then spits it out.

LIBRA - I mostly put DD to sleep on her side a she developed a bit of a flat head after a while - she loved being swaddles and sleeping on her side. I put Calvin to sleep on his side now and again and he sleeps with me - I did not do this with DD though as I was terrified of squashing her. I have a superkingsize bed now though - so plenty of room for me and Calvin - no fera of squashing him as I don't get any sleep anyway

DH has been off the last 2 days but he goes back to work tomorrow at least DD is in nursery though - they have given her 2 days this week as she missed it becasue of the chickenpox. Ladies who have littlies the same age - 21 motnhs or thereabouts. Is it normal toddler behaviour to start shouting at this age? My DD keeps pointing her finger and shouting and hitting out ( she always says 'bad girl' and it is a bit as it makes us sound like we chastise her constantly - she never says good girl or clever girl or anything like that!! Making us out ot be bad parents already

Hope everyone is well and anyone knnow how TWINKLE is or LAZYHIPPO?

Ir's quite sad that there were so many of us on the ante-natal and we don't know what happened to all those other ladies.

Blimey I only posted yesterday and there have been so many posts since! Hope I can remember who said what, sorry if I've got it the wrong way round:

Rumpel- big sympathies to you, you're having a tough old time. Louis is a windy sicky babe too although it sounds like Calvin is a bit trickier. These are the things that have helped us continue breastfeeding in a similar situation if it's of any use:
1/ I've noticed a big improvement once the infacol has kicked in. Wasn't immediate, and I had to use the top dosage recommended and make sure I use it at EVERY feed (even the night ones which is a bit of a pain as it's a bit hit and miss aiming the dropper in the dark!) but I did read somewhere that the effect is cumulative and it def has been in our case.
2/ I've had to stop feeding him lying down in bed which is a pain because obv it makes things easier for me. We still co-sleep from the 4 am-ish feed as he doesn't settle well after this (sounds like you Isaidno) but I sit up to feed him. His latch is poor anyway but is even poorer if I lie down with him so I make sure I sit up.
3/ Winding him mid-feed
4/ During the day, keeping him upright as much as poss when he's awake (car seat and swing are getting a hammering) so that the air has a chance to rise and come out.
5/ Giving tummy massages throughout the day if he seems to be struggling (or if I just feel like it!) in clockwise circles on his tum, bicycling his legs and gently flexing them in towards his stomach (really helps work the wind through but causes some amazing man size farts when you press his knees towards his chest which made my mum cry with laughter yesterday).
6/ Peanut recommended some tummy time and this helps for sure. (Thanks peanut!)
7/ Not letting him get too frantic for milk. If I don't feed him when he's just grizzly, and have left it too long so that he's actually crying (not on purpose! Just if I am in the shower/driving and can't find anywhere to stop the car immediately/he's slept for ages wakes up wailing) then he takes much more air in and I think he gets all tense. Tension I think makes the windy pains worse, another reason why baby massage is great in my opinion.
8/ Re: dummies, I had to perservere with Louis to get him to take one, gently tapping on the end helped him to suck as does stroking his cheek when I put it to his mouth (think it either stimulates his rooting reflex or he just likes the feeling of skin against his to remind him of the boob.) But not comfort sucking on me and therefore getting less un-needed milk has very definitely helped with the wind/sick/eat/wind/sick/eat cycle.

Keep at it you're doing great.

Sorry for the huge pile of waffle but it could be worth a shot to help you get some sleep. Are you managing to sleep at all during the day to try and catch up on at least some? Having said all this (and there's a lot!) I agree with others who think that if you've exhausted all avenues trying to make bf work for you then your conscience should give you a break if you decide to switch to formula!

Sweetkitty I agree about the swings being lifesavers- my sis had one for her second dc a few years ago and I must admit that at the time I thought they were a poor imitation of giving your baby a cuddle. But now my view is waaaay different! Louis is also a baby who doesn't like to be put down when he's awake and so even just 10 mins without a baby glued to my arms means I can get dinner partially sorted/a load of washing in/make a cuppa so think they are fab now

And hello itcanwait nice to "meet" you

bugger xpost rumpel sorry! glad you're feelingabit brighter.

oooh just realised we have a clue to butterflymcq's ds's name- it starts with an A!!!

Hey MINKUS - thanks for that. I massage his tum anyway - he gets a full bod massage after bath every night and I automatically massage his tum after feeds ( it's the therpaist in me) I also use infacol and homeopathic remedies and wind him a lot. I think I need to give up on the bf but I will try to persevere with the expressing until it runs dry. Feel very as I would like to bf him but it is just frustrating for both of us - my tummy gets knotted never mind what it does to his!!

Minkus

you will never get it

actually one mumsnetter has told me she has heard it before but no one in rl has

they all just look at me blankly ! Obviously a wildly popular choice

Albert? Astrid? What was the name of that rustling plant in that sci-fi games show form the 80's? It began with an A didn't it? Abercrombie? Aoeron? Arran? Avid?

BM - you promised me you would tell me his name one day

Rumpel - glad to see you are feeling a wee bit better, whats keeping you from not sleeping is it Calvin keeping you up? or other things on your mind? I've gone the opposite I can hardly keep awake, I feel asleep twice yesterday on the sofa I fall asleep sitting up feeding B too.

EEC - Happy Birthday the big one hope you have had a good day and got some time to yourself.

Minkus - yes the swing is great even if it's 10 minutes to get things done also when they get older and want to get more involved in things they can sit up and watch the goings on.

Butterfly, it isn't Atticus is it??

Hi SWEETKITTY -it is Calvin he wants to feed constantly then takes ages to settle, farts, burps, snuffuffles, jolts, cries whinges - although it has been me being too hot a couple of times. Must go to bed and try to get a couple of hours before he wakes up......

BM - is it Alice as in Alice Cooper?

disneystar been wondering how you were hope the hospital visit went well. Did a name search because not found this postnatal thread till now I was on citlopram for a few years really helped, you can feel worse in the first 2 weeks though before they really kick in.

Take care hun

mummy2bsoon I have been co sleeping with Kez since we were in hospital. Mum was horrified so was best friend midwives on ward were fine as was one when we got home, works well for us. Recommendations are do not if:

bottle feeding

Taken drugs (prescribed or illicit) which can make you sleepy (blood pressure and painkillers are 2 main prescribed ones that can there are others look at the side effects if you are taking anything)

You or your partner smoke

You are extreemly tired

On a sofa you need to be on a proper firm mattress

Probably other things too but brain gone and Kez awake again

Rumple well done you!

kaz im doing better thanks meds seems to be working a bit no bad thoughts now just still very anxious and not gone shopping alone or out near people alone yet dh comes with me

hospital went ok samuels on prority list so they say in the next few weeks

quick post as sams moaning for the rest of his feed and his cuddle hes gettin very podgy now with huge cheeks .....gorgeous

Morning all. Had a good night with Logan after a couple of bad ones where he woke up at three and wouldn't settle til 6 - so have now decided to give him a HUGE bottle of EBM and settle him straight back down instead of bf followed by bottle. It worked! He was up at 4 and back down at 4.30. Yay! Woke up again, after settling down next to me at 7am and bf for an hour both sides - was busting!

And giving him Infacol before each feed now too. Rumpel - projectile vom on the duvet ew! Not fun.

Welcome itcanwait.

butterfly- has rumpel really guessed has she has she has she?!!

Rumpel Calvin and Louis sound a lot alike! He is such a noisy baby, doesn't settle easily, snuffles snorts squeals grunts and growls- it's a good thing dh is a fairly deep sleeper now after learning to sleep through ds1. But I am managing to get a bit more sleep maybe, you must be absolutely shattered you poor thing.

Glad the EBM worked donut! Sleep is the holy grail of parenting!

Well i am just waiting for my boobs to fill up b4 i express then i'm back to bed to try really hard to get some kippage. Louis was awake for the day from 5.30 plus he woke to feed at 2 and 4 and stayed awake from 2-2.45 so i am needing some! Didn;t get to bed till 11.30 as dh nd I were talking about holidays and whether we should all get away for a week or so. I would have liked to stay in bed this morning but it's a nursery day for ds1 so needed to get him there by 9. Yawn.

Anyone else been watching summer heights high on BBC3? Watched some sky+ episodes last night, soooo funny! I love Mr G he's one of the funniest characters in ages.

Right, night night!

Hello

hope everyone is well and not too tired.

Abigail is pretty good and sleeps well.
Have begun to notice a pattern of grizzles abound 7ish.. thankfully weve discovered that she enjoys the vibrate on her rocker and that usually calms her.
I going to bring the swing downstairs too but she looks alittle lost in it. bless her.

Well DH has gone back to work today.. Been dreading it but seems to going ok so far.

Planning my first trip out alone tomorow. Starting with a small local trip into work, as the girls are dying to meet Abigail.

Abigail has been well and truely spolit by friends and family. She has a bigger wardrobe than me! She recieved a parcel yesterday that was a huge box of clothes from her Great uncle and partner..contained almost every girly outfit from Next and Marks! Lucky little girly

Morning all, thanks for all the suggestions, last night we managed to keep DS up until 9:30 but then just couldn't get him to settle in his basket at all, every time he fell asleep at the breast and we put him down in the basket he was screaming blue murder within 15 seconds,in the end we put him on his side in the basket and he was sparko within 30 seconds so he obviously doesn't like being on his back. Going to ring the HV again today as he is usually such a placid baby, even when he is hungry or wants picking up he just grizzles rather than crying which makes me think something is giving him pain when we lie him on his back. Fully expect to be fobbed off again.

EEC - Happy Belated birthday.

Minku - hope you get some sleep.

Butterfly - oh you have to tell us!!!!

Libra...
I always lay Abigail down on her back and quite often she rolls over onto her side too and seems to like it like that.

Butterfly- come on then.... spill!

hi all rough night here last night too isn't there a 3 week growth spurt I seem to remember somewhere in the back of my mind. B was up and down quite a lot wanting the boob but think she was full as she was sick a lot too. Shes asleep right now do feel sorry for her when I have to lift her to go get the other two but suppose she will get used to it.

Rumpel - it's so hard right now but they are so little and you know it does get better eventually. My advice to anyone is get as much sleep as you can and do what you can to get whether thats cosleeping or nursing to sleep, someone on another thread said 5 year old don't nurse to sleep, they grow out of it soon enough.

disney - glad you are feeling a little better too

pigley - first babies always get spoiled although B has loads of clothes too especially 3-6 months I was thinking of taking some back and getting some larger sizes. Honestly they never wear a lot of them.

libra1975 - sorry but he sounds like a newborn baby to me, the feeding to sleep then the minute you put them down screaming sounds very normal to me unfortunately. I think it's a phase they all go through. DD1 used to sleep on me all the time at the start. Totally knackering for you though but again it passes quite quickly just do what you can to get through the day.

Libra1975 how about this?
It keeps baby in a side position.

SK - I do agree with the newborn statement but it's the way he instantly shuts up when you put him on his side. Also re: the lifting B thing as has been stated on this thread many times if a baby has decided to sleep nothing will wake them therefore sure she is fine!!

isaidno - great minds and all that I literally pressed buy on a side positioner 30 seconds before coming back on here. If I am going to be a bad mother by letting him sleep on his side I might as well ensure I am not a really bad mother by making sure he doesn't end up on his front

Pigley - with you on the clothes thing, A is going to be in second-hand clothes until he is 18 at this rate Can't complain and will pass them on when A has finished with them of course.