Sept 08 - newborns, milk, nappies and all the rest ....

[Sassafrass]

Hope noone minds me starting our post natal thread now that the babies are arriving so quickly.

Arrivals!
28-May - Johnworf ? Katherine, 1lb 8oz
30-June ? KashaSarrasin ? Felix, 1.39kg
26-July - Jenbot - DD, 3lb 6oz
11-Aug - Crabby - Lilah 2.34kg
13-Aug - Sassafrass - Katie Rose, 7lb 2oz
20-Aug - Sunshinemummy - Effy Marilyn, 6lb 3oz
22-Aug - Talia1 - Anna, 6lb 2oz
26-Aug - Jenpet - Samuel, 3.166 kilos (about 6lb10oz?)
28-Aug - Potxola - Lorea, 7lb 6oz
31-Aug - Digitalgirl - Alfredo, 7lbs
1-Sept - Debithescot - Andrew, 8lb 10oz

Yes, I just dip the loo roll in the water/witch hazel mix, wipe once, dip another bit in, wipe once, until I'm happy that all is clean and well. I then use a dry bit of tissue to gently mop up any water around my bikini line to prevent the nappy rash I had reoccuring, dab on a bit of prep h, and I'm good to go!

Oh Moon-Chicken-Star
These pseudonyms have gone too far!
It's enough to confuse me
(Is Lollyheart Kiskidee..?)
Extra letters catch my eye
Did Sassafrass add a Y?
Would I be such a bore
To stay Ponymum for ever more?

Good news - Squirmy is a happier little thing now his sniffle is getting better, and doing fairly well at sleeping for 2-3 hour blocks.

Bad news - when sleeping, he'll be quiet for a while and then start making noises like a demented parrot - while fast asleep. So I'm not getting much more kip!

Anyone any views on the nappy-change dilemma? As in baby is feeding well, invariably poos in the middle, and falls asleep at the end of the feed. Do I wake the baby to change him, pissing him off no end, or leave him be, in which case he'll eventually notice the icky nappy? Which option might get me more sleep??

Still got sore nipples, but half the time feeds are fine, so I'm not sure what's up. We called all the helpline numbers we had as after about 30 min got put through to a real person on one, who I talked to for a while and felt a bit better after. Unfortunately all the details of local people who I could see and get advice from turn out not to function. Then got a call from a Lambeth HV yesterday telling us off for not registering A with a GP yet and I can't get HV visits until we do. Well if anyone (like the initial HV) had mentioned I was supposed to get HV visits - she said my next appt would be the 8 week check!

House is dusty as builders had to chop the hole into the loft yesterday morning, but before leaving today they put insulation over it so it isn't freezing. Chimney guy makes a mess of the lounge tomorrow, and then next week with luck will restore some sanity and our roof. Possibly just as well I'm totally distracted by baby and thus can't get stressed by it all.

Phoned a sensible friend yesterday who assured me that anyone saying you don't need extra calories to bf is talking bollocks (I was concluding that myself...). She recommended a small bar of Dairy Milk with every night feed - she has 3 kids and more sanity than anyone else I know so I think I'll take her advice!

Hi guys
I am still here. Just read the last couple of pages or so but am getting a bit mixed up.
Things are going really well this end. Euey sleeps and feeds perfectly and is really contented. I do understand what some of you are going thru though as my first ds would not sleep, struggled with bf to begin with and hated being put down. I was expecting all of this again so am quite shocked. However, I think I did all of my struggling in my horrendus early pregnancy.
I am finding keeping ontop of the housework and washing difficult. Also I am reduced to tears everytime I try and set my bugaboo chameleon up from the boot of my car. Its so complicated especially with a whinging baby and a talkative toddler. I cant beleive I spent the best part of a grand on it looked forward to pushing it and it seem crap. I cant use the basket underneath when I have the carrycot on it. I struggle to walk properly with the buggy board attached. The hood is draughty and I when I hand my shopping from little clips it makes me too wide. Hmm I think I might need to sell it already. My old m&p pliko is so much easier. My mum has been here all week but has gone now. My dh is back at work next week. So the tough bit is about to commence.
carrieon get in the shower, get a clean finger and poke the pile back up where it belongs! Good luck. Its the x factor soon. I ve just sent dh out for a massive chinese. yummy. Extra calories needed her, I am wasting away xx

ponymum you are an inspiration! You may not know what day of the week it is, but you're not letting the remaining brain cells go entirely to waste!

mama I'm getting The Fear of dh returning to work too, but we can do it! We looked after toddlers while heavily pregnant...how hard can it be with a newborn?! So sorry the buggy isn't all you hoped for. Does the buggy board fit on the pliko?

ponymum love the poem

potxola glad the swaddle me worked so well. It is a great invention isn't it? Did the shop you got it from do the different sizes? I got mine from Blooming Marvelous and got the only size they do but when it came I noticed on the packaging that it does come in different sizes. The one we have is meant to do up to something like 14lbs I think but it is already getting quite snug in length. And how much did you pay? I paid £15.

notcitrus At night I change ds2 after he's fed from one side and he nearly always poos when he then gets his pudding from the 2nd side but as he doesn't seem bothered by lying in a pooey nappy and doesn't get nappy rash and doesn't wake up until his next feed is due anyway I just leave him in it.

mama and carrieon I was dreading dh going back to work (3 weeks ago now I think) but it's actually been ok. First couple of days were hellish but its been fine ever since.

I have a pile or 2 too but as its not sore or itchy I'm not doing anything about it. Bleeds occasionally but only if I do a big poo (sorry tmi)

I also had bad afterpains for the 1st week or so but like foxy took lots of ibruprophen and paracetemol as I didn't see the point in suffering. the pains were much worse this time than with ds1.

thanks jearund - I'm still determined to keep exclusively BF but it would have been nice to have other women to BF with when out and about.

Last night I decided to put Alfredo to bed earlier than me. So I fed him to sleep at about 9pm and left him in our bed at 9:30.
It was lovely having half an hour on the sofa with DH, although I couldn't fully relax knowing DS was in a room by himself upstairs. Then he woke at 10:30 for another feed, which lasted 30 minutes. Then another feed at 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, then he was wide awake so DH let him sleep on his chest for a couple of hours, then I fed him at 8:30.

Today I tried the feeding to sleep on my bed trick for a oouple of daytime naps. Seemed to work as he's been having trouble relaxing downstairs in our arms. Has been very grizzly and wriggly, not keeping still and crying easily. Probably wind, or hunger, or frustration, but he's definitely a lot more active than before. And he's beginning to hold his head a bit more.

Also I think he smiled at me this morning - is it too soon?

BF experts - when would be a good time to start expressing so DH can help with one of the night time feeds or so I can go out without DS (girly night or exercise class)? And when is the best time of day to express for minimum milk supply confusion?

MW weighed Robyn on Friday and with a bit of wriggling got the scales to say that she had put on half an oz (7lb15 down to 7lb3 up to 7lb3and a half) She is giving me until tomorrow to see if she puts more weight on, if not she wants me to try and express so I can either give her a top up or just try and boost my supply. Tried expressing with dd1 and could only manange half an oz at a time but got a 'good' pump so hoping for more this time.

On the plus side we are getting more poos, i.e. twice a day and her nappies are always wet. And she is sleeping better. When dh is not in bed she feeds laying down with me and we always fall asleep.

Tried her grobags yesterday and they are massive so went to mothercare and mum bought her a 0-3 month 1 tog size. It fits great but with it being only 1 tog can I put a sheet or blamket over the top, she has been using a sheet and a cellular blanket folded over at the mo.

BF for the first time out of the house today. Well in the back seat of the car. We went for Subway but was a bit scared of asking if I could feed so just sat in the back seat with dp and had a little picnic. I managed to stay discreet (couldn't manage that with dd, stood up at a festival after feeding with left boob hanging out) and we didn't have to get wet. DP said if she had been on bottles we wouldn't have had all the palaver. Can you all give him a virtual slap for me, the ear-bashing i gave him has worn off.

Ponymum - Brilliant poem! I wish I still had brain cells, I think the last few have been lost through my milk flow!

Lollyheart - Good luck with trying to BF, it's really good that you're going to try and give it another go, feel proud that you're trying, even if it doesn't end up working out for you both.

EandZ - I've had the period pains thing during feeding too, very normal I believe. I've also heard 500 cals are taken up making milk, but I hope you're not actively thinking about diets already, it's much too soon to be putting yourself through the pain of a diet sweetheart!

Foxy Thanks for the link for the ques for feeding, I had a row with my dear mother the other night because she said I shouldn't be feeding every two hours and that Elizabeth sucking her hand wasn't a sign of her being hungry, and actually she was probably trying to suck her thumb.

thanks deb - i've been only using one side per feed as he never wants more than one slurp of the second, and with sore nipples i've been leaving one side to recover.

thankfully a bf counsellor called today - i was feeding so mrnc was holding the phone to my ear. i'm going to visit her tomorrow. bit nervous, i'll have to take the pushchair on two buses. still if anyone is nasty to me i'll just burst into tears.

finally ordered food delivery for tomorrow, after tuns out our main credit card and one of mrnc's have been suspended. could do without this. and yet another leak so plumber has to return again - mrnc is in a right state so just hope i can look ok until tomorrow.

PMSL Ponymum

notcitrus Unless I think there is danger of a leak, or the baby has a sore bot, I'd always favour sleep over nappy change.

mamamufin Sorry about your buggy woes

digitalgirl I just asked some real bf experts this very same question. I think the true answer is 'when bfing is established' - between 4-6 weeks is ideal, but Foxy should be more help. I expect though it is an individual thing.

With DS I expressed morning and night to replace one feed per day.

Debs75 If your lo needs more bm (not even saying she does , your HV would be better helping you get it into her the direct way. Expressing is a faff and unnecessary imo. She is also implying that your bfing isn't good enough which is and and very very untrue!

Ponymum this is my gangster Halloween name!

Tee hee! Thanks, really enjoyed writing the poem!

Had a great day today.. . After constant feeding between 3:30am and 10am this morning, I decided to spend the day on the sofa "replenishing". Then PIL looked after DD this afternoon while I had a bath! My first bath for 5 months as my SPD was so bad I couldn't step in or out - but not any more! I feel AMAZING! Used bubbles, bath oil, lovely body scrub, and gorgeous Kelly Caleche bath gel. Then DH and MIL made dinner of murtabak (malaysian roti stuffed with spicy lamb - YUMMMM!!).

DD is so gorgeous. I love her so much, and I feel that makes all the tiredness and sore nipples fine with me. (But then perhaps I am just saying that because I had a long bath this afternoon .)

hello all! feel really out of touch with this thread but hope it's ok to pop in when I have a moment!
Have had a TON of visitors in the last few days... dh about to go back to work on monday dreading having to step up to the plate and DEAL with ds and dd but mil is coming to help too phew.

But dd is sleeping and feeding well but just has a really screamy time every night approx between 9 and 2 where she's fed, changed and just shouts like it's wind or indigestion etc. Eventually she'll feed herself to sleep.
A friend said 'o it's colic' today and I thought how obvious I guess it is. But anyway I have no infacol so will have to do another midnight of shouting til tomorrow.
she usually sleeps well from about 2 to 7 which is great.

I'm just so TIRED is all. and ravenous enough for 12 people.
And visitors are lovely but exhausting! Of course they must come and it's great to see them but I'm just so weary of entertaining even when they help, I just want to go to bed!

moan moan moan! All the best to all.

Morning all
So glad your spd is getting better ponymum. Loved your poem too!
Sorry for pram whinge yesterday its so irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. So why did it feel like the end of the world to me? . I am going to use the pliko when out and about and keep the bug in the dinning room for daytime naps untill I feel strong enough to sell it. I have decided that ds1 is going to have to walk more or I will sling ds2 and ds1 can have the buggy. my arms must be too short for the buggy board. Sorted
ipanemagirl I definately think the infacol is worth a try. I use it before every feed now and dont have any colicy outbursts anymore.
I too have had lots of visitors and am feeling like I need to have a bit of space to get some normality back. Of course I am lovin all the kind gifts though. My house is like a florists with lots of balloons and teddys . I love having babies x
Think I am going to use the pliko

Hi Everyone:

Woke up this am with serious engorgement. DD1 with her broken leg wants to feed nearly as often as dd2 and my body thinks I'm feeding triplets. Poor dd1, has to adjust to a cast and immobility as well as being usurped by a little chimp.

The main guidance re expressing is to wait at least 4-6 wks for your supply to start to settle down or you can have engorgement issues (kinda like I'm having right now with dd1 also feeding) followed by dip in supply after the body adjusts itself. Also when the pump session is missed you can have engorgement again. It is confusing to understand without a long explanation that will cause you to glaze over.

For me, the simplest reasons for not expressing so that someone else can feed is that it is another chore for a new mum who is probably feeling a bit overwhelmed anyway, to do.

Babies bond with their dads despite never being fed by them. Only in the last couple decades has this idea become current and is another example of how bottle feeding is the norm in this society.

Dh's heart completely melted the first time DD1 chose to lean into him, rather than him putting her on his shoulder. It was proof to him that he was the daddy and no amt of bottle feeding could make that happen.

Also the idea of 'giving you a break' is a fallacy. Hormonally when our baby is awake and asking for a feed, only complete exhaustion will allow us to actually be asleep or not actively think about him.

The 'to get used to a bottle' is also a fallacy. a lot of babies take to them but then refuse them later on. Dd took a bottle early on and went on to refuse it by 10 wks old. Nipple preference also works the other way.

I am not saying don't do it. I am saying if you want to, explore it and don't feel like any kind of failure if it doesn't work out for you. And if it does work out, more power to you. Parenthood teaches us so much about ourselves as it does about babies if we take the time to reflect on the dynamic relationship of parenthood and babies.

oh, if anyone wants to buy a stretchy wrap sling, I have one for sale.

£25 including postage.

this one

I love the fabric and wrap but I am so petite and with it being 5,2 meters long, will have to cut some of the length off and would rather sell it to someone who will find it useful on before cutting it.

That is such a lovely one Foxytocin. And for anyone who is interested, I can vouch for the gypsymama sling being great. I wear mine for at least 6 hours a day with Katie in it, and she loves it.

My mum has come over from Sweden to visit this weekend and it's just lovely to see her, although we do tend to have different views on what dd1 is allowed to do and not. My view is what goes though =) Katie who is generally not keen on being held by people other than me has really taken to her and slept on her lap for two hours yesterday which was just lovely and let me get on with stuff without a baby attached to me =)

Foxy Thanks for the explanation.

Quick other question.

I have no worries about my supply, but I've never had anything other than floppy breasts. This time and last. It means I never have a clue which one to start on next time, but I've learned to live with it. From time to time I get a little lump somewhere but I just wiggle it next time I feed.

Does the floppy breasts thing mean I'm changing sides too frequently?

floppy breasts are good. well when bfing anyway. i think it means that your body is being efficient.

moonlight until the last few days I have floppy boobs too and have to really think about which side I mostly fed on last time to remember which side to start on. I found myself standing with 1 boob resting in each hand trying to decide which is heavier. Not ideal when out in public though!
Haven't had that problem in the last few days though, since ds2 has dropped a feed during the day my body hasn't adjusted yet and so I have 1 bigger one before feeds at the moment.

I expressed during the 1st 2 morning feeds with ds1 to get enough milk for half of his last feed at night but it was a big hassle, esp as I found it only really worked if I did it at the same time as feeding. So I figured I really don't have the time this time to do the expressing and the sterilising of bottles and expresser. I had been half thinking of doing some formula at night to get him used to a bottle in case I have to go back to work while he is still feeding during the day and then rejects a bottle then but I don't know if I'll bother. part of me thinks I don't want to be fighting that battle when I'm going back to work (but foxy your comment about them still maybe rejecting a bottle anyway makes me think I might still have that battle to fight anyway) but the other part of me thinks why give him formula when he doesn't need it and can i be bothered sterilising bottles.

I seem to have a permanently full left breast and a floppy right breast which DD fusses over. I'm not sure what they are up to! My arms and wrists are finding it a struggle to hold her well when feeding as she is gaining so much weight so fast they can't keep up. I think I might get a sling before I get a strained wrist.

DD spent 6 hours grizzling / yelling yesterday evening , it was really horrible as she wouldn't settle despite being shattered poor little thing. The only upside is that she finally slept at midnight and didn't wake up until 6, so we are friends again .

meglet, me too, but strangely the right one is the one constantly leaking but when I express not much comes out even if breast pad is full (maybe it's just constantly leaking so nothing left )...

hello ladies, I have a sleep time question.
Elliot will only sleep either in my arms or very close to me, as much as i love this it is a bit restricting. my SIL said i should get him uses to sleeping in his moses basket in the day, but as soon as i put him in there (even sound asleep) he wakes up in 5 mins and screems. she suggests that i should just let him screem until he wears himself out. and goes to sleep
I'm really not keen on this idea especially after every thing we have been through. but at the same time would like him to be able to settle in his own bed, even if it is only for a few hours. any suggestions?