July 2008 - Living in the Twilight Zone of never quite enough sleep to be compus mentus

[libralady]

Just thought I'd better set up another thread as the old one is just about to run out.

SK:

www.askyourneighbour.co.uk/q.php?tid=29815&cid=14&qid=134966

and:

www.geocities.com/belly_dance_scotland/glasgow.html

Bebejones, nice to hear from you again. Sounds like you are busy with Phoebe, I agree babies can take up your whole time when you're in the house. Perhaps you need to try to go out a bit, try a baby group or something? You may still spend your whole morning feeding and changing nappies, but at least there would be people to talk to while you were doing it.

Bryony slept 8.30pm-5.30am last night, hooray! So even though I was on MN till 11.30, I still got 6 hours' sleep in one go. Hoping for a repeat performance tonight, though I have promised myself I will go to bed earlier to take full advantage of the potential for sleep.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7623230.stm

what u guys think?

ahh im bleedin AGAIN!!!!

Blimey mama2leah I'd not seen that. Seems to be quite a strong link, bit worrying I guess. I've sent ds1 to bed the last couple of nights with a dose of calpol because he's got a really heavy cold and I know how paracetamol helps adults who have that heavy blocked up feeling. Trouble with all these stories is that you can never be sure whether the scare they contain is valid. I won't stop using paracetamol for fevers or pains, but will probably use ibuprofen instead for more minor things (like the cold). I did read something recently that said ibuprofen was better at reducing fever or something, but can't remember where. Baby brain? What brain!

Ponto- way to go bryony! Wanted to ask all of you with babies that sleep for long stretches, did they get there gradually (i.e. go 3, then 4, then 5, 6 hours between feeds) or was it in a big bang way? (waking quite frequently then all of a sudden they slept through one night)

Just had fish and chips and a glass of red wine, wanting to watch the final episode of Bones that I recorded but dh is playing a racing game on his ps3, preparing in advance for him doing a track day in his kit car on Monday. He will be tinkering with his car all weekend and so I've got three days of sole parenting to do unnecessarily. Aaaargh men!

Hi all, am shattered as still not getting more than 4 hours sleep in one go, however breast feeding is still going strong - soo much better than with dd when I stopped after 6 weeks of agony and stress!

Gap baby socks are expensive but wash really well and stay on! Brilliant things IMO!

With dd I was a 'tights and dresses until crawling, then avoid them until walking properly' sort, as agree that dresses/skirts are useless for crawling! Agree that dungarees are gorgeous on all babies! Oh, tights always over bodysuit, for no apparent reason!

minnie - what a lovely thing to do for your friend and her baby

pigley - we currently take Isaac to bed with us between 10 and 11ish, will do the same as we did with dd and start bringing his bedtime forward from about 3 months - ignore the silly cow and do what suits you!! Am that she made you question yourself, if it works for you then why change it?

got to go, Isaac just starting to stir for bedtime feed.

Minkus can't you bundle up your children warmly, take then to the garage where your DH is working on his car and announce you are off for an hour or 2 shopping
and he needs to keep an eye on the children. I am of the opinion that part of womens problems is that we let men get away with what they want and treat them like children. Sorry if I am speaking out of turn, feel free to slap me down.

Last night I made Alex go 6 hours last night without a feed. I said made as he had his last bottle at 11 but woke again at 2am, however I don't think his crying was hunger cry so I and DH just walked up and down winding him for an hour until he went back to sleep (total 5 farts and 3 burps in that hour!!) but when he woke again at 5 I did feed him as I thought 6 hours was plenty. I feel like nasty mother but I'm sure he wasn't hungry and I don't want him to start to think that everytime he wakes up I am going to shove a boob in his mouth. Arggh it's so difficult to know what to do

I don't think there is that strong a link between calpol and asthma yet, there is the theory that sickly babies are more likely to need calpol and more likely to develop into sickly children, if you see what I mean.

morning
omg dd1 and ds4 have done nothing but fight all morning.....that is since 6.30am

kitchen out of commission and mess everywhere......argh!!!!!! it will be worth it in the end!!!!!

going to a friend's tonight fpr chinese and wine and no dc's it will be a great stress buster xx

Morning all...

MINIPINK I'm so not looking forwardto the fighting with my DS's I might just leave them to it!!!

Libra1975 I know, it's really difficult isn't it! are you still goinmg with the Gina Ford? How's it going?

Sam went from 11-5 and now he's fast a sleep and DS1 has been up since 6.45, which for me is abit of a lie in!!!! Well it is the weekend...

I went out last night for a quick drink with 'the girls' Was really nice to catch up, one of my friends is having a really hard time with her DH (Has bi-polar) so it was nice to see her so cheery last night. Only had a couple of glasses and DH was surprised that I wasn't roaring drunk when I got home! DH out tonight to watch the Golf at a mates house (how sad) and I'm quite looking forward to it

re calpol / asthma
i spent my entire degree course (psychology) being told
'correlation does not imply causation'
by the stats lecturers - ie 2 things may be linked but it doesn't necessarily mean one causes the other, there are other factors involved!

bebjones the poo-ing sounds absolutely normal - phoebe is still quite diddy isn;t she? Both mine pooed after every feed for the first 6 weeks or so - and yes, goes everywhere and they always wee when you take their nappy off - have you had projectile poo during nappy change yet??
all normal - the joys!
hope you feel more positive soon - agree it can help to get out and see people - have you met any other mums with new babies? i had a nightmare with my first, felt similar to you, trapped at home, but meeting up with my antenatal group who were all at the same stage was a lifesaver. you just need to find people you get on with!

'correlation does not imply causation' PJR, made me giggle - my stats lecturer used that too (pharmacology degree).

Had a shit week - drunk a*sehole from nearby pub took a swing at dh on Sat night (dh had asked him not to vomit down the front of the house and not to stand on our gas box please) then smashed our window and kicked our door in . V frightening, lucky dh wasn't hurt. So, had to sort out insurance, repairs etc. Discovered on Tues that we had a gas leak too as the gas meter had been broken. Dreading tonight in case he comes back. However, in-laws arriving later today so at least there will be dh and FIL.

No more time, will catch up properly later on.

Poor you Poledra, that sounds dreadful!

Shortshafe, Bryony gradually went longer and longer at night, though last night she did 8 rather than 9 hours, so that may have been a one-off. I always feed when she wakes, as it's the fastest way of getting her back to sleep, even if it's only 2 hours since the last time.

Afternoon all 1pm DP gone out on stag day/night so on my own am already falling asleep at the pc so tired today.

B still very cranky in the evenings, poor DP he cannot comfort her at all, I think he's getting frustrated as she coos and smiles lots for me but when he takes her she punches and kicks him and cries. I've told him it's because she has yet to realise he is the crazy parent and also provider of all things pink and sparkly. So fed her at 10.30pm put her in her cot and she lasted there until 2.50am, then she was up at 5am which was kind of funny as I fed her lying down (boobs were huge so a good feed) she unlatched herself, burped, turned her head around and started snoring!

poledra - sounds horrendous poor you and DH

bebejones - I would ask on the BFing thread but offering a bottle after every feed can't be doing your supply much good. Is she taking a lot of it? If you want to up BFing then the trick is to feed/express more. I think mixed feeding is a terrible faff you have the stress of BFing plus the hassle of FF IYSWIM. Plus you have to be very careful with your supply, loads of people I know started off with one bottle a day and their supply dried up. Try and get out more too honey it will be driving you mad being at home all the time (I should know except it's a lot harder to get out with 3 practically impossible on your own) Explosive poos sound very normal to me, always lovely when you lift them up and feel a lovely warm wet back! I've had up to neck before now that is impressive!

weeble - thanks for the links I don't think I will be doing anything this year maybe next year when things are a bit calmer. Come 8pm when I get the DDs down all I am good for is a bit of MN and my bed.

minkus - 3 days of sole parenting and heres me whinging about an afternoon and night, your a saint, your DH should be returning the favour soon

shortshafe - great news about the BFing we will do the same start bringing bedtme forward from about 3 months, I cannot remember when DD1 and 2 started sleeping more maybe I should look back on MN

apologies to anyone else I have missed must dash upstairs can hear banging

hi ladies!

i am still in the uk and am enjoying being home. my auntie flew over from jamaica to see Elodie so I have so much "help", which was overwhelming for both of us at first but now i am starting to take advantage of it!

She's been pretty good considering - some moments (i.e. going ballistic) but seems to have adjusted to the new faces and places and has even slept through to 6 a couple of times.

pigley we have the same dilemma and since the beginning we have done an early bedtime (down by 7pm), then wake at 11 or 12 for last feed. I think she could sleep through that feed but then as you say, would then wake up at around 3am or something. Anyway, just remember, you raise your child the way you want. I am toughening up on all the intervention and letting it bounce off me, rather then question myself all the time.

Also - well done on the mums group stuff. I am pretty outgoing but i also hate that initial time when you don't know anyone. Some are a waste of time, actually - with nightmare, competitive, career mums.

My mum and auntie have bought soooo much cute stuff for E. Its ridiculous. I am more interested in getting a bumbo for her now as she just loves sitting up these days and has good head control. I also bought loads of organic food and baby rice type stuff as she is 4 months on tues. Not really thinking of trying them for a few months but there is so much more variety here then in Copenhagen.

you are soldiers sweet kitty and minkus!

Today I went on the train to Birmingham with Poppy in the sling, and the 2 ds in tow to visit the museum, because ds1 wanted to see some old things!

I am knackered although tbh it all went surprisingly smoothly!

Well done isaidno you are very brave, I have yet to take all 3 anywhere really by myself, DD1 would moan and whinge every 5 mins need the toilet every 10 mins and want to run away and DD2 is just crazy.

ok guys, i need advice..leah sleeps 5 hours at night and then goes to 3 and then 2- but the 2 hours, lots of noises, fartin, stirin etc...

she goes down between 7-9 so is up between 1-2 ....shud i move it later, so i cn get decent sleep?
not sure what to do?
how do i strectch it out?
she is 8 weeks today, yay!

Morning all, and what a gorgeous morning it is, Farnham-way at least!

Jodie - yes still following GF, not to the letter (or second!) but they are a few of her rules we ensure are done. Such as the bedtime routine, keep naps to a max of 3.5 hours a day and (try) to be up at 7am. They seem to work for us, the critiscisms I have read just don't seem to be valid with her new book, and it is nice to be in (semi) control again. Hope you had a nice quiet evening in

Minkus - I asked DH (dr) about ibroprofen and temp reducing and he said no it wouldn't. He took me thru the difference between paracetamol and ibruprofen but it was 9pm and my brain had gone to bed long ago so can't remember, I can ask him again and post it if you want.

Shortshafe - agree re:gap socks.

Poledra - about drunk a*sehole. People can be so rude and horrible sometimes. Hope last night didn't bring any trouble for you.

Sweetkitty - was the banging anything interesting???

TJuice - what is a bumbo? Glad you are enjoying being home

isaidno - the thinking about the organisation needed to get 3 children ready and to a museum fries my brain! Sounds like you all had a good day tho. Did your DS1 enjoy the old things?

mama2leah - babies are really noisy when they sleep aren't they!! I combated this by putting A in his own room and turning the monitor down so I could hear cries but not the snurffling!
From what i have read on this thread there are 2 main methods of bed-time

1. Put them to bed at 7ish and then wake them for a feed or do a dreamfeed at 10:30ish/11pm so they should be able to go 4-5 hours after 11(or even for some people 6-7 hours but I still haven't obtained that holg grail of 7 hours sleep with A! ) or
2. Put them to bed with you at 10:30ish/11pm and when they are then sleeping thru the night (i.e. 6am/7am) start to gradually move the bedtime forward. They key seems to be consistency whichever method you choose, you just need to do the one right for you and your baby.

A Bumbo is a seat that looks like a giant potty that supports a baby in a sitting up position from when they can hold their head up - Bryony loves hers, she sits in it in the bathroom when I'm having a shower and then watches me dry my hair. Here is a picture

libra - he liked some of the museum stuff, not the mummy though. He was crying on the way out because he didn't want to die - he is 5 so I told him he didn't need to worry about dying really. He only wanted vegetables for tea (very unusual) so perhaps he is trying to stay healthy!

bumbo on offer at Amazon this week. I might try Poppy in the one at the breastfeeding group to see if she likes it.

Oh I am SOOO tired today was up 8 times last night only 2 for Bethany, 4 for DD2 and 2 for DD1 usually DP does the older two. Feeling it today though. Beautiful day here today as well already had the girls out on their bikes will probably go for a nice walk later too (if I'm not asleep that is).

isaidno - poor DS1, DD1 is starting to get more curious about death as well, she also asked the age old "but how does the baby get in the mummy's tummy?" I was waiting for it all pregnancy I told her to ask Daddy will explain it all to her but not yet.

M2L - as ponto says just try and fit Leah's sleep around you, if you would rather have your evening and then wake up early in the night then do that or take her to bed with you and have a longer stretch of sleep. B went down at 10.30pm last night, up at 2.50am and 5ish even getting down to one wakening would be better but it's expected at this stage.

Evening all. Been busy this weekend looking at cars we can't afford . Logan doing well although has become very clingy - will not be put down when awake - really kicks off. So, have bought him a swing and will train him to be happy in it before mum goes home in a couple of weeks.

Starting to get more sociable here and my stuff has arrived from languishing at the port in Dubai. Just need to get it to my house now - it's all my clothes and all of logan's clothes which he really needs as it's the 3-6 months ones and he's such a lardy boy - 6kg now. So, think I might be less homesick.

Oh, forgot to say, one of my new neighbours is bf counsellor and offered to "help" me. I told her too late as I has just given up bf as I was too tired and L has reflux and I got the full lecture. I'd never even met her before!! Wish I'd told her to eff off. I'm nearly 40 years old and this is my third baby ffs - think I know what I'm doing and not to have fatuous reasons for giving up so soon.

Better go express and then get to bed. DH on a promise .

hi everyone,

I was on the antenatal thread months ago (was MrsHOP) - took me a while to find you guys, have just got back into MN now as finding it a mine of information in these early weeks... just been reading and glad to see some familiar names - everyone seems well and happy, if a little knackered

I gave birth to Louis George on 29th July, bit of a dramatic entry involving cord round neck, heart rate going haywire, ventouse then final entry into the world by forceps, he is nearly 8 weeks now and we are doing well! I am loving being a mummy - except for the sore huge boobs...hence the name change...

hope everyone has good nights - I am off to eat a nice sausage casserole and hope Lou settles for the night!

Evening All,

Welcome back BOOBY pronounced looie as in ryhmes with huey or lewis as in the Scottish Island?

Can't remember who said what now as am kanckered too!

So POLEDRA - there are some right eejits about the place now - start a fight in an empty shop - hugs to you and your DH.

SK - DD is obsessed with spiders and 'beasties' at the moment and keeps waking up in the night with nightmares -argg! Although DH looked after her last night as I am sooo tired as I have the 2 of them the rest of the week. Incidently even though you are knakced by 8pm maybe if you had some time to you and enjoyed the dancing it would make you feel better? I really enjoyed it as it made me feel like me again IYKWIM.

DONUT - nice to have your own things - make you feel more settled.

HUBARB - good to hear form you and glad your DW is well and littly - that is a quite a bit of meds she is on. Did you request them or did your Dr suggest them? Calvin has reflux too but just has gaviscon powders - seem to be doing the job thank goodness!

I got a bumbo for DD and she loved it too - got an aqua one so that whoever came along next could use it too. I'll be trying Calvin in it quite soon as he is really good at holding up his head.

Whoever asked what c/s is is cranialsacral therapy.

My helahty eating has gone t*ts up this weekend! 1lb off 1/2 stone but got my AF back (despite having just finished it last Saturday) and it is really heavy again. Thank goodness GP gave me more iron last time. Still been in the garden a lot today and start tap classes tomorrow and have increased my muscle mass.

Well am off nite allxxx

Wish TWINKLE would pop in to let us know how she and the boys are