Sept 08 - Is it day or night?

[lollyheart]

Hope no one minds me starting a new thread?

its not you that is shite with pump. its pump that is shite, leonie.

i think medela makes attachments to accommodate different size nips but don't have more details beyond that.

i find sometimes it hurts till i moved it around a few times to be comfy enough for me to express. Ive got manual and electric.

Oh what a relief biglips

My DD has a mad period every night without fail, wants to nurse and nurse for 5 hours which I KNOW is common, but I'm also completely covered from head to to with curdled milk by the end of it. I now dress for the occasion .

If anyone can give me a clue as to what is going on I'd be grateful. She's not very sick during the day - or so sucky!

i've been trying to post for hours now! but, because ds1 is enjoying his first day at nursery, i keep finding all sorts of little things that i could do/that need to be done around the house!!

but, because i can use the excuse that it is his first day away, i'm going to be brave and venture out to the shops ((via bus )) with ds2 for the first time alone.

i remember being a bit nervous heading out for the first time with ds1 when he was a couple weeks old as well. i lived just by the high street and even that close, i still felt under prepared! now i'm miles away, and feeling it alll over again. ((i suppose worse case scenario, i can set up camp in Mothercare if i need to feed or change ds2.)) not to mention, the gift vouchers are burning a hole in my pocket so will make use of time while there.

wonder if they'll mind me doing a bit of shopping while i have a baby on the tit? hehehe just kidding.

last night, i gave ds2 his last night feed of breast & top up of formula, put him in his basket and he drifted off nicely. the last thing i remembered was: i'll just lay here for a moment, and then get up for another blanket for him and then i'm off to bed.

HOwever!!! i woke up at 715 to dh's alarm!! while i'm ever so chuffed ds1 & 2 slept thru, i'm feeling like a bad mum a wee bit cos ds2 was ice cold!!! ((i know i know, if he was freezing, he wouldve let me know im sure!!)) but still, i felt horrible!

but then i quickly got over it when i remembered i had these vouchers to spend. hehehehe.

oh, i meant to add:

dont wanna come across as bragging about the nice sleep patterns of ds2...but, please know that i suffered greatly with ds1, who is only just recently sleeping thru the night!! ((that took 22 months to achieve!!))

so i'm just really made up that, so far, touch wood, yadda yadda yadda, ds2 sleeps well.

also just have to share to you all how much of a saddo i am...i just phoned the day care centre (thats twice today!!) to see how ds1 was getting on.

:::sigh::::
he's doing just fine and dandy.

I'm now pumping twice a day from the left side and feeding from the right, which seems to be working quite well - although last night got distracted by leaks in the ceiling and fed from the left...and regretted it. ouch!
It must be a latch problem now as pumping doesn't hurt at all, is quite soothing actually. Feeding from the right only reallyhurts afterwards if I've fed outside the house, ie somewhere where I don't have my strap-on pillow. I think the effort of both of us to hold him in position means he slides off a bit mid-feed - he does the same in the evening when we're both tired.

We ventured to central London yesterday (one bus, but an hour's ride), getting to John Lewis just in time for a change and feed, then got fitted properly for nursing bras as A dozed off again. Still a 38/40F, but unlike the M&S crap one, these fit a treat and support - I refused to take it off!
Then managed to swap a couple adorable newborn outfits I'd been given for larger sizes, and tried on a Baby Bjorn active carrier - which may have been a mistake as it woke A up, and I don't think the assistant got it on me right (the baby's supposed to be higher than a pregnant tummy, surely?).
Fed him an extra snack and hit the food hall for reduced meals to shove in the oven, and got bus to Victoria for train home. Unfortunately I think he wet his nappy just as we got there and onto the train, as he grouched the whole journey. Went to sleep as I started pushing him home, but it rained and I got soaked despite a brolly!

Still, had excellent dinner. He's definitely on a rough 3-hour cycle of feeds, more often early morning/late afternoon, longer in between. And sort of napping morning and afternoon, although this morning I didn't get him to nod off until 11.30. In contrast to Gina Ford, he will only nap in my study with sunshine blazing over him!

Today's outing will be to the post office (send parcel to friend that I meant to mail two months ago, and send off my US election ballot. The free world depends on it! )
Then meeting other local mums/bumps off Mumsnet. Must buy some more disposable nappies as all wraps are drying - need to get more that fit now he's outgrown half of them. With velcro - life's too short for bloody poppers on a nappy! Especially as the Motherease ones we have don't have a size on and are mainly plain, so I keep putting ones on that are too big (I have no idea how they keep escaping the drawer I keep putting them in...)

LeonieD How is your dd coping with the new baby? We have a 9 year old son with autism and we were very worried about how he would react to a newborn. He is very rough and has loads of energy, and never seems to sleep. Do you have a disability team nurse who can help you with schooling matters. Ours is brilliant and is great at helping us get what we need. I am crap with phoning people as I get a bit upset and forgetful and she does things like that for us. Is your dd at a mainstream or special school

Burping bf babies I tend to forget to burp and usually she just pumps later. My mum is the same with burping and will sit for ages patting her back. She hasn't been sick on me yet but prob will one night when I forget to wind her.

good to hear you're getting out and about lots nc, I'd been thinking about you and hoping you were doing ok. Seems like the feeding is getting there too, I'm so impressed that you've stuck at it even though its been pretty hellish.

DS2 is lying on my lap at the moment sound asleep but obviously dreaming about food, he's pulling some very cute faces. We're getting smiles from him too now are very adorable.
I wouldn't worry about not playing with your babies, like a couple of people have already said I think they just like to look at whatever's around them. I am also guilty of taking advantage of him being in a good mood by putting him on beanbag or in bouncy chair for a bit so I can get things done.
I don't ever seem to get any time with ds1 and 2 both asleep in their beds so have to either ignore all jobs that need doing. Tried to dust earlier but ds2 woke up from sleeping in his crib (hence he's sleeping on me now while I'm here)

Hi guys I am still around.
Sorry I havent had time to post or catch up. I ve been having a nightmare. My poor dad has had a heart attack in greece over the weekend. Luckily he is recovering well now in itu and has had an operation. Ive been out my mind with worry. My mum has been on her own dealing with it out there but my aunty has flown over today thank goodness. I ve been busy registering babys birth, getting passport photos done and signed. However, it will be a week before I get one as apparently the baby is not classed as priority in this situation. So sad as I just wanted and needed to be there as soon as possible. But could not leave my 3 week old bf baby at home. If I need to I will but as my aunty is there I am just going to hold back for the moment as his condition is stable. Sorry for long non baby post. Back soon xx

leonie, i was just thinking the same after reading notcitrus' post...about the ballot i mean. suppose its a bit late now?

Hi,

I only post from time to time but do check in more often to see how everyone is doing and congratualtions to us on producing our babies safe and sound! Such wonderful names have been chosen too.

I looked in on the due sept 08 thread the other day and I almost had a tear as it was quite sad that it has come to an end (somebody had written a really lovely last message about their birth story).

But what I want to know is, how do your babies go to sleep in the day? My dd1 was a nightmare to get to nap I had to rock, bounce, etc resorted to 'cry it out' in the end as nothing worked. I am determined to not to have to go thro this again with dd2 but i am worried that already at 4 1/2 weeks Eva does not nod off herself - surely at this young age they go to sleep themselves - whether they are sat in a carseat, bouncy chair, someone's arms or crib?

We are in a semi routine in the fact that Eva feeds, is awake then sleeps then feeds again 3 hours after the last but I am having to swaddle, use a dummy and put her in her basket to get her to sleep - and quite often have to keep popping the dummy back in. Reassurance that other babies find it difficult to nod off or tips as to what to do would be great.

As I will be out and about with dd2 i really would like eva to just nod off in her pram. Do you think I am making my life difficult for myself in getting Eva used to sleeping in her basket for naps?

Also on a different matter do your babies grunt at night? Eva is sooo noisy in the early hours of the morning - she grunts and grunts so loud that we really can't sleep - if I bring her in to bed with me she quietens down - any idea what that is about?

Lilypink not sure about getting your LO to sleep as Charlotte tends to drop off easilty (car seat and pram walking get the best results if she does struggle) but Charlotte is a very noisy baby. Even though she sleeps very well at night, I tend not to get as much sleep as she does as she chunters and mumbles on and off to herself in her sleep.
I haven't picked her up when she does it, as I only do that if she really cries, so not sure if she would go quiet if I did, but generally if we leave her to it she goes quiet after a while. I just think it's a thing babies do and is probably one reason why parents get more sleep once their LO moves into their own room! Not sure if this is a help to you but just to say I think it's quite normal and don't assume Eva is distressed - she'll cry if she's not happy.

mamapumpkin - poor you - how stressful not to be able to just jump on a plane. Can't believe they won't prioritise the baby's passport application in the circumstances. Hope it comes through soon.

All okayish here, but a bit of worry over Arthur's weight. The midwife came this morning and at 12 days he is still losing weight, rather than going back up towards birth weight. He's still within the permitted loss of 10% of birth weight (he's lost about 5%), but they weren't expecting him to still be going down now.

Am feeling a bit anxious - though it's helping that I've breastfed two kids already and never had a problem with weight gain. And I have excellent support. The midwife was a star and has suggested lots of stuff - feeding two hourly, expressing afterwards and feeding from a cup, stopping the feed when he's asleep to change his nappy, wake him up and try again. Plus she's managed to get me in to see our wonderful local breastfeeding counsellor tomorrow morning.

I'm still in agony feeding from the left, so that's not great, as I can hardly bear to feed for more than 10 minutes on that side. So we need to sort that out ...

Anyway, I obviously need to go on a feed fest with him, and they'll re-weigh him on Saturday and see how we are going. I'm torn between being really worried, and the other half of me thinks I've done this twice and all is bound to be well.

Leonie - I'm technically a yank - not born there, never lived there, but US mother and thus passport. So I get to vote in Pittsburgh, a city I've never even been to! But Squirmy won't get a US passport... although the guys at the embassy are so gormless, I'm tempted to go along and apply and see if they notice!

There's a website where you can download write-in ballots and mail them in by 31 Oct - I'll look it out.

Just put my first bit of milk in the freezer! Only half a feed, but the more I produce the more of a safety net I have so I can collapse at some point, give the baby to someone else, and go 'your problem!'

A seems to be getting a vague pattern of a morning nap (if I swaddle him up in his basket and stare hard at him!) and a good long afternoon nap, and sleeping a fair bit between midnight at 7am with a couple feeds. Of course now I say this he'll probably be hellspawn all night...

Mamapumpkin So sorry to hear about your dad. It isn't really much consolation at such a frightening time, but hearts are very simple things to deal with and hopefully his condition will be monitored carefully, making it very unlikely for him to have a surprise repeat (DH's DM had one last year!)

Notcitrus You seem to be manging fabulously. Wish I could get half that done in a day!

Pidge That's totally the attitude to have. Concentrate on getting more milk into your lo. See a bfc about the feeding, and about the latch. No.1 had a antastic latch, but my lo is hopeless, so tisn't just about the mother.

One thing I would suggest is to think about whether you are giving Arthur a long enough feed. If he doesn't complain, you might be tempted to end the feed when he slows rather than finishes because you have other children that need your attention. Could you switch breast just one more time when you get to that point?

I was going to catch up while my dinner cooked but I can just hear DD grunting and doing something in her nappy. She has only poo-ed twice in a week, I think it may well be a tidal wave of poo. Better go ...................

So I phoned the GP to book my 6 week check and they told me the earliest appointment is Tuesday next week!

So I said, 'I need to see someone because I'm still bleeding, it's getting heavier and I have been putting off phoning for an appointment until now so I can coinside it with the 6 week check, - I don't think I should wait 7 weeks to be seen'

So she said: 'What is wrong then? Can you see a nurse?'

And I said: 'Yes, if she can do the 6 week checkup'

And she said: 'No, you have to see a doctor for that. When is your baby 6 weeks?'

And I said: 'Today!'

And she said: 'And when is her 6 week appointment booked for?'

And I said: 'That is what I am TRYING to book'!

And she said: 'Is your baby registered with us?'

And I said 'No, that is what I am TRYING to do'!

And she said: 'I can give you an appointment on Friday morning with a doctor!'

And I said: 'oh right, thank you!'

And she said 'that appointment is different because it isn't a routine one'!

Anyway, - if anyone can explain to me what that conversation was about I'd be happy. Am I just expected to know the complex politics of their booking system. She kept making me feel like I was just getting it wrong all the time and was 'supposed' to have done/be doing something totally different!

However, it IS the story of my life so perhaps it IS me!

(I could go on forever about the passport delivery courier that wouldn't give me my passport in my married name because I wasn't yet married and couldn't provide proof that I was the person who the passport was addressed to)

Tries my sling again today, Robyn was grumpy and tea was cooking. Got her in the hold where it is like you are burping them but they are a bit lower. She grumped until I fed her (whilst taking pizzas out the oven) then fell asleep. Put her in the pram whilst I ate and she had about an hours nap. I love this sling, now that I know how to wear it.

Finally had to move up a nappy size. Have been in pampers new baby size 1 since birth, they still fit but I have to change her every 2 hours or so or she leaks. Might try the reusables soon.

moonlight I so sympathise: the people in the reception of my GP's surgery are a bunch of dragons. I have walked in crawling in pain because I had a duodenal ulcer (as it turned out) and they sent me away because I did not have an appointment. Said "go to casualty if it hurts a lot". The latest is that I need to get the paperwork right from the registry office before I can even book an appointment for the 6 weeks check up. Good thing my LO is only still 3 weeks, as this could take some time!

My LO is getting some windy pain in the evening, and struggling to fart, poo and then settle. I try to feed him and put him to bed around 7, but it just never happens that he falls asleep. I generally end up cluster-comfort feeding till he's so tired he drops off. Thing is, I'm knackered too at that point, and can't get the early night I would have wanted to.

To top it all, I feel terrible that I'm creating horrible habits by sending him to sleep by feeding, as they say that this creates an association that is very difficult to break and that will prevent him from learning to fall asleep on his own. GULP. Anyone has any thoughts/experience on the matter?

pacita as your DS is so little I wouldn't worry about having to feed him to sleep just yet. When he's bigger you can gradually start trying to settle him without feeding. If it doesn't bother you then go with it for a while.

I'm not sure what has happened to my milk today. i think 2 days of being on my own with DS & DD has tired me out so much that my supply has slowed down a bit . After the weekend my breasts were engorged yesterday morning, but since then they haven't felt very full. So I am spending the evening eating, drinking water and on MN to hopefully get everything going again. I might express a tiny bit in a minute if I can be bothered, that usually jump starts the supply a little. DS is at nursery tomorrow morning so I will have to rest then.

I got DD's appointment for her first set of jabs today, I can't believe she is that old already!