we did it, we did it, the babies are here, now come and join us and we will give you a cheer!!!!

[Dozymare]

Hope this works

thought i would start a thread for those of us already in the heady World of motherhood, so we can share the trials and tribulations of the early days....

I shall start with my birth story and hope other's follow and I haven't started a dud thread

As you know I was dreading a 3rd CS, almost to the point where I was having panic attacks - we went in on the Thursday and after waiting for an EMC we were taken to theatre where I was DELIGHTED to recognise the aneathatist (sp!!) who helped deliver DS2. Now, one of my major fears about a 3rd CS was the fact that having had a "perfect" excperience with DS2, it6 wouldn't be possible to experience the same thing again...I was wroing, it was better The whole thing was started at 1315 and Tallulah was born at 1344 weighing 7lbs 2oz. She has a shock of dark hair but seems so small compared to the boys who were 9 and 10lbs respectively. The care I recieved was absolutely 2nd to none - no complaints or gripes.........So far so good.........

HOWEVER.........my god, do you forget the pain of breastfeeding before the milk comes in - I am in absolute agony and have had to top up with aptamil as the poor wee thing is so, so hungry...I am literally BF for up to 2 hours (the point of pain in both udders ) and then topping up with Aptamil. She guzzles 30ml and then settles.......As for sleep - sleep is for wimps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ooh lord missed all those posts typing last message.
Yep we coulod meet up don't mind where! I could do with having a bit of notice as DH said he will takeday of to look after DD1 and pick up DS

vbab call the ward- you have open access, no? no need to go to out of hours doc then. I always err on the side of caution, and the hospital, ime would rather you did-ihave never been left feeling I have wasted their time.

sorry, wrote that a while ago but only just pressed 'post' and now see i have missed a load...ds2 still screaming, loads i want to say esp to mad4, back later or tomorrow x

PHONED WARD - Sister said in younger babies they tend to swallow the mucus that builds up as they cant cough it up, so it ends up in their stomach. That it sounds like Alyssa has vomited up this mucus. Which to be honest I would agree with and her breathing seems better. Just got to keep an eye out and if she has more trouble breathing or goes off feeds then to call the ward back.

Feel a little better but she is still sleeping next to my side of the bed tonight.

vbab I have noticed that James is being sick more and is very windy - both are unusual for him. The vomitting problem is due to potential dehydration so make sure you get wet nappies. I'm going to have to put cotton wool in for James to pee on so I can be sure - now that I'm thinking about it I'm not sure how wet his nappies have been today - they're certainly dirty!!!

James gets so distressed at the mucus build ups. Just when we'd finally got over the muscus he was born with he gets this!!!!

I'm definitely going to see the GP or ring the ward as I had severe asthma as a child and pneumonia when I was 6 weeks and 5 years old. Both can develop from this illness (but rare) - so a family history of lung problems should be taken into account.

Oh, I'm up on 'James watch'. I have manged to get him to sleep propped up on some pillows on the sofa. I find a dummy is helping too although he's spat it out now.

Bless him, his face keeps moving as he's dreaming at the moment - so scrummy!!

Dozy and Pinky I have talked about my 'non birth' quite a bit, not without crying though! I think that a major upset was the fact that James is likely to be an only child. I am almost 36, we have a 2 bed place and, crucially, I have endometriosis and was lucky to have conceived at all. So there are no plans to try again, we're content to have 1 who we can spoil.

So, with that in mind, this was my only chance to experience the miracle that is childbirth and to have not experienced a single element (not even a BH!!) is disappointing as I STILL can't relate to what most women have experienced. It's something I will never feel now, my only opportunity has gone.

That said, I was terrified of pushing a baby out so I should be grateful I didn't have to, I don't have piles and I can sit down without feeling a burning sensation in my fango, I also have pelvic floor muscles!! But no one should dismiss a cs as easy. My scar is a good 6 inches or more as they had to put their hands in to put him in the breech position as he didn't have his head tucked in and so they couldn't get him out normally so there were even complications at that point. As a result I have had more pain than a normal cs. (But I have nothing to compare that to). My uterus is badly bruised and swollen, it's sitting a good few inches higher than it should do due to swelling from the trauma. SO I've had my own pain of childbirth to deal with and, actually, I ought to big myself up that I am coping with that and a poorly baby. At least the scar isn't pulling anymore and I can move around much better these last few days.

Hmm, therapy over. We're all great, we've all produced beautiful babies, we had to nurture them for 9 months in our tummies and that was a miracle in itself.

I declare myself mentally fit again. PTSD? Probably was and I might have future wobbles, but for now I discharge myself from this therapy session. Time to enjoy my boy - snot, vomit, cough and everything else the joys of parenthood bring!!!

Wow - you lot were chatty last night!

DM M was not playing GF ball last night - looking forward to seeing you and Obs today to pick your brains!!!

I am really peeved at my LO for seeming to have a mind of his own.

How rude of me - hello to everyone!!

Morning everyone - hope we all managed to get some sleep!

Sam woke for a feed at 1.30 and again at 5 but went straight back to sleep after each one so, so far so good!

He is currently 'sunbathing' in the conservatory in just his nappy to try and shift this jaundice - it does seem slightly better this morning!

Going into town this afternoon to register him

Chocorange M must have missed last night's chapter in GF when he was reading it Am sure Dozy will be able to help you - she is the 'routine queen' after all Maybe you can sign M up to Baby Boot Camp aswell!

Mummynic glad you have offloaded all your issues and hope you can put what happened at James' birth behind you and start to enjoy your little man

Ceebee - yes he skipped the entire chapter!! He didn't go down at all at 7-10 and then went down at 10.30-3am (lovely!) and then for the first time in a week woke for another feed at 5am. He was cluster feeding a lot yesterday so I was wondering if he was going through a growth spurt?? Also at 6.30 while he was having a feed he sicked up A LOT - so I think that affected his evening.

Why oh why can't they all come with an easy to read instruction manual that always works!?!?!

Bugger - you just reminded me we haven't registered M yet - need to make an appointment!

morning all, can i just have a sound off? My dh is back to work next week and is usually working away. Ive spoken to my 2 sisters asking for advice on how i can cope with a 10 day old and a 2 yr old, night feeding and then up at 6am with ds1 and not being able to sleep in the day coz ds1 wont nap and cant leave them 2 alone. They basically like, you just got to get on with it, we all dealt with it. Neither of them have ever spent a night away from their dh let alone all the above, also they both have 2 dcs but there is 4.5 yrs between theirs so their dc1s were at school when they had their dc2s. Im so pissed off with them because they have NEVER had it this hard and think im just making a big thing out of it. I dont have any other help. Maybe a friend who'l come over the odd half hour but noone who can say come over all morning so i can sleep.

Sorry rant over. I still havnt had a chance to catch up, but is there anyone in similar situation? How do you cope? What can i do? Im already really shouting at ds1 because im so tired and ive had dh help all week. Im scared.

hi all
mad4 I have 3 under 4 now and so I can sympathise with you. DH works 3 evenings a week so I have to put them to bed myself on those nights, but it must be hard for you to have DH away from home.

I remember DS stopped napping (at 16months) not long after DD1 was born- it was very hard work.

Firstly, if someone can look after either of your children, even for an hour, take them up on the offer and at least have a sit down, or lie on your bed for a bit. Do Not Do cHORES!

If the baby is sleeping, put them somewhere safely away - I have a carrycot in the living room and a gate on that door, so DD1 can't go near- that way I can hear the baBY but she is safe. Failing that, upstairs with the monitor. Use some of this time to give your toddler some attention.

When the baby is awake, keep him with you- in a chair or sling or whatever suits. Try to involve toddler with talking, stories etc. I have atable next to my nursing chair in the playroom and the children often do jigsaws or colouring whilst I feed the baby.

For bedtime, try to get the baby down before the toddler if you can. THis can be really tricky but it's worth it if you persevere. Ceebebees can be really helpful here

Keep meals simple.

Remind yourself that it wil get easier! You will find a routine that works for you all, I'm sure.

A lot of the time it's a case of planning three moves ahead.

There's a very friendly two or more under three thread on here which I find very helpful.

I know you can do it.

don't pay any mind to your sisters- they don't know what it's like for you, but when your little ones are playing really well together in 9-12months time you'll know it was worth it!

HTH

Having said all that, I have DH home today. Apparrently I look really sickly so am confined to mumsnet bed for the day!

choco sorry your little one is not paying attention to his schedule. Perhaps a sticker chart or somesuch reward system might help??

ceebee that sounds like a good night for you

glad you managed to offload all that baggage last night, mummynic it's hard to write it all down like that but feels better afterwards, I think.

Pinky I have tried money, chocolates and stickers but he doesn't seem to take the bait?!?!?!

lol.
I wonder if some sort of subliminal messaging might work? Didn't some of the ladies here work in advertising in a previous life, maybe they can come up with suitable slogans for his crib?

Actually I suppose that is how babies get into routines. I think with mine- tho' I am no way GF- at all- they do get used to simple cues- the most obvious being light and dark, but also, perhaps more with second or more babies, they get to know the quiet times in the house- mainly as an opportunity for a big feed!

afternoon all

Can I have a drumroll?....drrrrrrrrrrrrr

DS2 slept from 10:30 till 3am last night . I never thought I'd celebrate the day that I got four hours straight sleep, but I am . He then fed for half an hour and went back down for another 2.5 hours. I feel like a new woman today.

He is grizzly and pukey today though , but daytimes I can cope with.

He fed loads and loads yesterday evening as well so my boobs are like bricks again today and I'm bursting out of the new bras I bought.

mad4, you have my sympathy on DH being away. Mine was away all week until recently and bedtimes were definately the worst part of the day. I used to get them both ready for bed and then feed DD whilst reading DS1 his bedtime story. This then gradually changed into getting DD ready for bed and settled first and then dealing with DS1. Mornings I would feed DD in bed before DS got up, then put her back to bed, have a shower and then get DS out of bed. In an ideal world anyway! It more often than not didn't work out like that, but that was my plan!

Dozy, you will never believe this, but I used to work with your DH!!!!!!!! It was the initials you posted to zonedout that got me thinking, as it's an unusual surname so I had another look at your photos and am . We worked together in a pub in Stockbridge in Edinburgh when we were students. My maiden name began with D and I used to share a flat with one of the other barmaids who was called Susan (that should enable him to figure me out I think) . How small is this world that we live in??????

OMG, I am rapidly coming to the end of my tether today. Zack just won't stop screaming. I have tried everything, bum change, more clothes, less clothes, putting him down somewhere quiet (incase overstimulated), rocking, bouncing, floor walking and feeding him (growth spurt time) but he even cried while nursing. He hasn't slept for more than 30 minutes at a time (cos of my other blasted boys ). He has now progressed to sounding very angry and is sweating, but I may as well leave him in his chair as nothing else is bloody working and I have stuff to be doing. May try a walk in the pushchair, but will die of embarressment if he continues screaming like this outside.

Sorry for the me post.

Hi everyone.
Have read all posts.
Dozy, ChocO and I had the nicest time. It was SOOOO nice.
Must have a quick one-two, round the house before dh gets home.
Back later,

Pinky when he grows up I am going to tell him how rich if would have been if he had just listened to me when he was a baby!

Daisy thats so wierd about you and Dozy's DH. Dozy and Obs came round to mine today for a cuppa and a chat and we were talking about MN coincidences, and here's another. They are both lovely, clever ladies and I had such a nice time. I've been feeling a bit lonely since DH went back to work so it was really nice to talk to some other grown ups!

HM2J so sorry that Zack is having troubles today - is this a regular thing or just a one off?? My LO has had a few bad days and I get very down about them but then try and think "tomorrow will be better" - its not always but I live in hope! Hugs to you both.

Hmm, he may be a bit unsettled every couple of days for a few hours Choc but today really is something else. If I didn't know better, I would have sworn I caught his skin in the poppers of his sleepsuit - it's that kind of scream/pain cry. The walk worked, but I am already dreading when he wakes up

How is Mack doing, is he more settled into a routine for you?

oh hm2j
glad a walk helped. does he get colic?

Hi all,

How's it going? I am 3 weeks behind and will shortly spend a long time reading up on events but please please excuse me for not being in touch, things have been shit here (see below for traditional Saurus me-post).

I have missed you all SO much over the last 3 weeks, it's been like having the phone cut off. I have only bneen on the computer 5 times since Fin was born, mostly to check facebook for 5 mins.

To cut a long story short: Week 1 of Fin's life - couldn't sit down, stitches got infected, felt like shit, family round ALL the time which was lovely but v tiring. DH wonderful and supportive, husband from heaven..
Week 2 - stitches start healing but DH suffers total personality transplant and turns into a total swine, spends life on computer playing games and snarls at me for asking him to help with housework, Fin etc. Started with being reluctant to pick up the antibiotics I needed to clear up the stitches infection from the chemist (I couldn't walk) and ended with a massive fight and both of us in tears but then making up. Considered leaving him at one point after he told me to grow up and just get used to it when I asked him to take Fin off me for 5 minutes one night as I needed to go to the loo and Fin wouldn't stop crying for long enough for me to have a wee and I had been up for 19 hours at this stage.
Week 3 - DH back at work and back to normal lovely self and suitably ashamed, Fin discovers eye contact (yay!), bopping a toy with his tiny fist, (double yay!) and vomiting copious amounts of milk over the duvet (urgh). This last is probably in revenge for me a) dropping him off the side of the bed and b) dunking his head under water while concentrating on washing his other end. He is still alive, thank goodness. And so are we.

So that's what I have been up to. If I get 2 mins to rub together I will post my birth story and do a link - it was a great birth despite including a 3 1/2 hour second stage and overall was the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life and I can't believe that I actually made this tiny person sleeping in the baby gym next to the computer.

Yup, that's my boy, sleeping in the gym just like mummy.

Right, off to read up on what you have all been up to and do my birth story. Big big hugs and from now I hope to be able to join in actual conversations rather than just posting one-off desperation messages.

Welcome back Saurus!! Look forward to reading your birth story. Sorry to hear the issues you went through with your stitches and dh, I hope things are rosier for you now.

Pinky I wouldn't say ds3 has colic as doesn't have the typical witching time, although sometimes he is more fussy than others. I do suspect he has reflux to a degree, but something I ate may not agree with him (eggs don't). He has since woke up and spent the last 10 minutes gulping (literally) down some boob juice.

Phew, I'm back! What a shocker of an evening i had last night, just in terms of ultra screechy, unsettled baby and no dh around to give me a few minutes respite. Haven't had a chance to catch up properly but wanted to quickly say a big thank you to pinkyminkee for sharing your reflux experience and sympathies. My ds1 also had hideous reflux up until the age of one... he quite literally screamed, breastfed and had to be held for the entire year! His cot was like a ski slope yet he never slept for longer than 45 minute stretches (on me or dh) before waking to scream again. 'Twas quite challenging! Thhankfully he is now an extremely happy, healthy nearly 3 year old. Its this whole laryngomalacia combined with reflux that is new to me... BTW, I don't suppose you are still doing your beautiful blankets at the mo? I promised one to myself once i found out the sex of my baby and now, at almost 8 weeks old, i can safely say he is a boy

Dozy, obs and choc, glad you had a lovely afternoon. Would love to try and make a london meet up some time if you'll have me .

Dozy, it sounds as though last night was a great success. I literally could have got drunk off dh's fumes when he staggered in at some point in the wee small hours

HM2J, my sympathies on your horrid day. Now bung the kettle on, grab a choccie biccie, take several deep breaths and repeat after me 'this too shall pass heartmum, this too shall pass'. I really do sympathise though, i am all too familiar with very unsettled babies. It's funny, with ds1 i seemed to have all the patience in the world with his unsettledness (which was constant) whereas with poor ds2 i seem to have far less patience with his much less frequent bouts of screaming... anyone else found the same with 2nd or subsequent babies? Am feeling rather guilty...

Extremely at hana's weightloss. My hip flab is so obscene but i am just soooo hungry all the time

Welcome back Rutho How do you manage to be so hilarious even when talking about really tough times?!

So sorry to read of your horrid rough patch and here's hoping things stay on the up for you. My dh and i really struggled when ds1 was first born... i really do think the birth of a child (particularly the first in my minimal experience) as absolutely wonderful as it is, is also extremely stressful.