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!!!!!

Just popped in to say a quick hi not been on line for a bit back for a quickly now Kezzy is well and now a whopping 10lb 4 1/2oz or 4.66kg

SK - lol at your toilet experiences!! It is a rare privilege in this house to go to the smallest room alone too!
Just a thought about your dd2; when poppy was born my ds2 was naughty / awkward for a little while and I think it was because his position in the family had changed the most with the arrival of a baby. He was no longer the little one / mummy's baby. Luckily he got used to being a big brother quite quickly. Do you think your dd might feel she has been replaced? Especially as baby 3 is a girl?

Rumpel - interesting that your lo likes to be hot - Poppy loves being toasty and well tucked in, whereas ds1 hated any kind of blanket on him. Thank god for sleeping bags! Not using one for poppy as she doesn't even try to untuck herself ... yet.

Kaz - welcome back! I was beginning to wonder where you'd gone!!

I have an exciting morning planned. Lots of housework while waiting for Argos to deliver ds2's new bed (a midi sleeper like his brother - he is going to be so excited when he realises.)

isaidno - I think part of her behaviour may be about B arriving but I doubt it, whenever I say "oh DD2 your still mummy's baby too" I get told "no I AM NOT A BABY I AM A BIG GIRL" she thinks she is DD1's twin and lo and behold anyone who tried to tell her different. She has always been a very difficult spirited child, I think we would be going through this even if B wasn't here. Hope your new bed comes soon

kaz - hiya good to hear from you glad Kez is doing well, if I ever got B weighed I reckon she would be topping 11lbs by now.

I think B likes to be hot too she sleeps with the edge of my duvet tucked around her waist, so she sleeps on the edge of my bed (don't worry bedside cot is up against it in case you thought she was going to fall out)and I tuck the edge of the duvet under her arms, she also prefers sleeping on her side too.

sk-wats piles like? i tink i may have it too, 4t it was constipation....

leah is 8lbs woohooo!!! growin bigger, but havin a rough few days...

hope ur all good, wheres disney?

Hi all

Mummy2bsoon Piles are like 'bottom grapes' You can generally feel them on your bumhole and they hurt and itch like hell.... Hope Leah is settling better today

Isaidno hope your bed comes so you can leave the house and enjoy some of this lovely sunshine (if your getting it)

SK and Rumple DS1 is getting rather difficult too (Rumple DS1 is 23 months, so about the same age as your DD) He now say's NO all the bloody time and tantrums all day long, it's so much fun. he only time he's nice and cuddly is if Sam is crying or feeding, then it's like, 'look mummy, I;m a good boy, don't pay any attention to that naughty baby' He's not stupid! He's also started pushing other children, which is great at mother and toddler as I have to keep on eye on him all the while and feed/change Sam, thank god for my sling!!!

Kaz great to hear from you, is it your birthday soon? How you getting on? are you still living with your friend, or are you in your flat yet?

Funny thing happened the other night, was talking with DH, trying to remember when DS1 stopped swaddling and went into his sleeping bag, and couldn't remember, when I woke Sam for his 11pm feed, he swaddled back up lovely, when he woke me for his 4am feed, wouldn'd be swaddled, so put him in a sleeping bag and he settled sraight away! how funny that 5 hours made a difference in his preference!!!

Also, think we are having a growth spurt, he fed every 2.5 hours yesterday and every 3.5-4 hours in the night (usually goes 5-6 hours n the night and 3-4 in the day) and is more awake now in the day (again thank heavens for sling)

Hope everyone else is OK? Twinkle if you are lurking, I'm thinking of you, hope everything is OK.

Have been away on hols this week so no time to post. Bryony is sleeping well all day when we're out then wakes up and screams in evenings - gripe water only works sometimes.

2 recommendations to make life more pleasant - Lilypadz breast pads, they don't leak, and travel mugs for hot drinks - means your drink is still hot even if you have to spend an hour clearing up sick and changing nappies after making a cuppa!

SWEETKITTY
Had them horrid piles and feel you.. Got cream in the chemist and did the salt baths for 5 mins a day. Not easy with lo around but had to cause i was soooo sore with them..
Started the poty training again, all goin ok for now. Havin a few accidents, but goin ok.
As for relations all in its own good time. Feel like i will never enjoy it again or should i say i feel different in the nether region...

L is doing good, put her in her crib in our room last night after her bath and was ages b4 she settled but she will get the hang of that.

Hi All,

I can't believe Sammy's now nearly a month old - it sounds like everyone's getting the hang of this mummying lark. Although the little critters do seem to change the rules just when you think you've got the hang of it don't they?

I have a question - not sure if has been addressed yet - dummies - should I feel guilty for using them? We succumbed after a particularly exhausting day where DS wouldn't settle at all and my lovely friend lent me one to try - Sammy really likes having something to suck and it helps him get himself to sleep at times. We're only using it if nothing else works and not replacing it if it falls out during his sleep. I think he's not far off being a thumbsucker but he doesn't quite get there and if we leave his mitts off he shreds his face (even after nail-trimming).

I don't know why but I have this vague feeling of shame in using the dummy - as if we've failed - but I'm not sure why. Thoughts and tips very welcome!

I give leah a soother, she is a sucky baby. But she loves hers. I find it comforts baby. He sisters have soothers but only for naps and bed time. (the odd time if i just need a break i would give for 30 mins.. Also i have read they help prevent sudden infant death, so that is a plus. I think everything in moderation is always ok.

Moning all,

Sk- The things kids come out with! I remember a child at work (nursery) questioning me about my freckles and then asking me if i had them on my willy! bless!

Beginning to think i am joining you all with the piles.Never had them before. Stitches all healed a few weeks ago but past few days have had a sore bottom (TMI) and its sore when sitting down and rising again. Think ill get something from the chemist to see if it helps.

Kaz- Glad Kezzy is doing well.

Ponto- Dont think ive hada hot drink in yonks!
Whenever i get a cuppa, Abigail always seems to want a feed or something and its stone cold time before i get chance to drink it.

Squarah- If a dummy works for you then go with it. Personally im trying to hold off using a dummy but have been tempted. I even put one in my basket whilst out shopping the other day but changed my mind and put it back. Abigail is very sucky and too sucks her fingers (or ours!)
Like i say.. if it helps then dont feel bad.

Past 3 nights Abigail hasnt settled till about 1am, so been feeling abit tired.
Last night she settled to sleep at 1.30am then slept till 5.30 then slept again till 9.45! Lovely as that when i woke too

Really hoping this doesnt become the norm as she used to go to sleep after her 10/11pm ish feed but now shes wide awake! Wondering if i should start giving her a "bedtime". What does everyone else do?

Dummies - none of mine have taken them, I bought two different types for B to try and she spits them out all the time, have given up now. DD1 is a thumb sucker but only at bedtime, easier to get rid of a dummy than a thumb. If a dummy soothes them then go for it you can wean them off it later.

Minnie - not potty training here right now am thinking September weekend now stay in for a few days and crack it TBH cannot be bothered with a newborn and tantruming DD2 plus the constant "do you need a pee pee?" thing

ponto - I had lilypadz last time and they leaked when I was feeding from one side or got a letdown they leaked plus after a few days my nipples got a rash on them too, I think my niplles like the air.

Squarah - hello

Example of DD2 today, DD1 and DD2 are wearing the exact same cardigan, gets to nursery to pick DD1 up DD2 is wearing her cardi go to put on DD1's, DD2 decides DD1's cardi is hers, takes hers off refuses to put it back on and screams as DD1 is wearing "her" cardi, cue tantrum at front door of nursery loads of parents coming out with prams etc I have car seat, DD1 and screaming DD2. Get them all in the car eventually and DD2 starts screaming about wanting her cardi back on drive home wiht screaming child in car. Argh who would have them??

Anyway off to feed my girl brood.

Squarah don't feel bad, lots of children have dummies, DS1 loves his, although now he's coming up 2 i'm dreading taking it away, but he now only has it bedtimes. Sam won't take one, half of me is glad as i won't have the same problems in 2 years time, but half of me wills him to have one when he's having a strop, oh well can't win I suppose, you shouldn't feel guilty though, as SK says thumbs and fingers are harder to give up than dummies

Ohh Sweetkitty have them days too, like last night when DP decided to go off to a meeting about cars!!!! and leaves me with 3 kids and getting all 3 ready ay one time is not easy as you know.. To top it all off DP friends arrived along with DP brother and girlfriend (and god love her she nearly expected me to open a bottle of wine and have a party).. Both kids in there PJs and all that arrives and there all excited, DD1 closed her bedroom door on DD2 toes, screaming for 10 mins the poor thing.. Me dieing with cramping pains and recked tired.. Was way past 9 b4 i got the girls to bed and both were hyper at that stage!
Fit to kill i was!!! and DP arrives in at 10.30 and i nearly did kill him!! I was still cleaning the mess his friends kids had created!! I am all on for people calling but not at the time i am putting the kids to bed.,...
Ok rant over...

JODIE it's my birthday on Saturday the flat well he had people working on the roof over the weekend so you never know, not holding my breath though. I do however desperately need to move into somewhere of my own.

Pigley we don't have an established bedtime but usually around 8pm-ish we both start getting a bit fed up so I tend to feed lying down and then usually Poppy falls asleep, I leave her in the bed and we pretend to be adults for a bit before going to bed properly. I don't think you can force a baby into a routine but I think it does help to give triggers like it being quieter, darker, etc.

I went to the breastfeeding clinic at the hospital today - run by four volunteers, absolutely packed (they asked if we minded about one woman bringing her partner in, and I didn't overly mind, just would have preferred him not to be there) and now I feel quite confused emotionally... basically I have been doing it all wrong!! Of course they didn't say it in those terms, but Poppy hasn't been having a proper gape, I have been supporting her head not her back so she's not chin first... it was bloody hard to get it right and we still haven't quite got there. Felt quite weepy, bit useless, second baby who is a month old, breastfed DS for 10mths and I don't even have the basics it seems. Plus so difficult to do it differently, like trying to do something with your left hand... I know it will be worth it ultimately as apparently it does affect her wind issues (not enough hind milk = not enough fat = bad digestion)(I think - there was a lot of info to take in) but I'm left feeling like an idiot as now they've told me how to do it properly and I still can't do it.

Apologies for long 'poor me' post, am just having a bit of a pity party here.. will attempt long walk instead which hopefully will help with the lack of weight loss as well

min912 - don't feel bad! You've been feeding Poppy great, now you just have a few tips to help her get less windiness. You should feel proud of yourself for going to the clinic instead of just giving up. I am trained to support breastfeeding mums, but when I started to feed dd (my 3rd bf baby) the midwife had to help me latch her on - I had completely forgotten about aiming to the roof of her mouth.

pigley - no harm in starting a bedtime routine. Just do the bath at roughly the same time each evening, followed by quiet feed, aiming to put her into bed. I have been doing this with Poppy since about 4 weeks, and now (10 weeks) she is usually fast asleep by 7:30 pm.

dummies - both my ds had them (poppy refused) but I was careful to only use them for nap times. I took the dummy away with no probs when they turned 2. I admit I absolutely hate to see toddlers with their dummy constantly hanging out of their mouths.

min - if you breastfed your first lo for that long, you must have been doing it right, right?
don't feel bad . . .

i feel you on the weight loss and lack of though. why does everyone else in copenhagen breastfeed and drop weight instantly, whereas its seems to be sticking to me like glue? (err, perhaps its because i am still eating like a pregnant woman, or actually worse!)

anyway, i had my mum here for a week and whenever i have visitors, it gives me carte blanche to eat cake daily. it was lovely having her and i am going back to london in two weeks too! she just loves doing everything, like washing and dressing Elodie daily (which is the fun part) but even the endless nappy changing and pram pushing! we went to baby cinema yesterday and saw Wanted. I just wish I lived in the same country as her . . .

well, i meet my yoga mums group today for our 3 hour weekly lunch in a cafe. and i bought 4 really nice breastfeeding tops from a shop with 70% off (total cost 30quid), including a very cool drapey black one. now i just need better jeans or a skirt or something. i can fit my "fat" jeans but with a muffin top, so depressing.

elodie is doing good. our routine has gone to pot with my mum here but whatever . . .she's a really chill baby and that's cool - I hate having to rush home to get her in bed by 7pm. our mornings are also a bit slack though, and i have started bringing her into bed and kipping with her until 8 (totally bad in GF terms). but she's so smiley and vocal these days - its just lovely.

have good nights everyone!

Can't be doing with "proper" routines here. I'm going to wait til DH is back at school and DS1 is back to playgroup. Then I will have all the time constraints I can cope with in my life! Actually really looking forward to getting rid of my boys (Hubby & Son!) so I can get on with my day to day life with Dewi. IYSWIM?
Dewi fed 7am & 9am, awake until 11, then slept until 4.30! Fed REALLY well, awake for an hour, slept for an hour, fed for an hour and is now asleep again! What's going on with this boy?!?

sweetkitty

ds3 and 4 3 years between them but they fight like cat and dog
not physical but just whinge whine he has my man - i had that car- i wanted to do that jigsaw all day everyday

having said that ds4 will not be without ds3 even though he spends all day shreiking at him

A has gone from angel to having a terrible crying time in the evenings ( like now and all evening) nothing seems to worrk

last night he had cried so much all evening that we got him up - he then slept 11 - 8.30 NOT good for my mastitis!

any suggestions any one as to what could have caused it - he is six weeks now?

min912 Hmm not sure about wind and not enough hind milk Kezzy is extreemly windy both ends and she is certainly getting a lot of hind milk no way she would have gone from the 9th to the 25th centile (length and weight) in 3 weeks if she was not. Don't feel bad some babies are just slow to get it, all babies are different and like adults some are just windy.

NotAnOtter do you mean why he is crying in the evening? could well be colic, have you tried infacol? Did not find it very helpful with Kez but alot of people sware by it, cooled boiled water can help too sometimes, and you can use gripe water after 2 months. Kezzy can be a bit ratty in the evenings too she is a windy baby sometimes but does not normally worry with it just farts and burps and spits a lot, with her the evening crying is more that she prefers to be somewhere quiet in the evening and does not like the very rough evening routine we have being disturbed.

thankyou Kaz

I may google evening colic as it has just set in so something has changed...

i wonder would it suddenly occur at 6 weeks!

he is sweet but not incredibly easy...likes to be moving..do all your babies lie contentedly on their own?

Nope Kez will only sleep on her back with me in bed if I want her to go to bed with out me she has to be on her tummy and have her bottom patted

notanotter - Poppy was having long screaming episodes in the evening from about 5 weeks. I think alot due to overtiredness because it seemed to coincide with her being more wakeful during the day. I solved the problem by popping her in the sling as soon as the crying began, which calms her down straightaway. She usually falls asleep in the sling and then I put her to bed, but as long as she is calmed I can also put her down awake.

Min912 don't worry too much about the 'right' bf technique at this stage, I think it is important when you're first starting out but by the time the baby has been doing it for a few weeks I've found my dds have just needed the nipple waving in their general direction and they will latch on! There is no magic cure for wind in every baby by feeding in a particular way or there would be no windy babies! All 3 of mine have been different in their feeding. You are doing a great job, carry on with what you're doing and things will improve over the next few weeks as babe's digestive system matures. Good luck!

Min912 - must agree with kaz in that I don't believe that not enough hind milk or poor latch is causing wind. Abbie is very windy from the bottom end and is growing like a wee mushroom and well settled. Ponto is right too. All babies are different and no matter how many times you have bf it is still a learning process for mum and baby. Give it time and I'm sure things will settle down. Remember you are mum and you and your baby will bf together well if given enough time and peace and quiet - getting stressed is only going to add to any problems. xxTake Care xxxx