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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

good morning all

Firstly, VBAB I have to say, taht most DH's I know go through a real twatty stage, either pre baby, post baby or quite a lot of the time both!

We are on DC number 3 and it has happened every single time.......Am just waiting for it to happen post Tiger and can actually see the signs that it is building up...comments such as "When is she going to sleep through, I am so tired" erm...she is such a good girl and only wakes 1x, count yourself lucky etc etc

His way of being a t**t is to go out and get really drunk with the young blokes at his work for about a week.....has happened every single time, and I think it is like a rite of passage - ie my life as I know it is over sort of thing.....

Anyway, there is no excuse for it but just wanted to let you know, you are not alone. One of my friends DH booked a week away golfing in Marbella and didn't tell his wife until the week before I kid you not!!

All these babies with bronchiolitis, I wish you all a speedy recovery, muxt be so worrying for you mummies going to hospital. I did with DS1 and it was not nice.

babrb welcome to the dark side!!! I am not sure what Tallipies are - can you enlighten us? Also, regarding dummies I hate them with a passion..neither DC 1 or 2 had them but I have relented and given to Tiger based on the research I read on the FSIDS website about it reducing the risk of cotdeath (quick question for those suffering from LBS, are you paranoid about cotdeath, or just me?) It also helps Tiger to settle before sleeps and has been invaluable when I take her out of the bath and put the older 2 in...she sits in her chair and chills whilst I can get on and bath them. So for me, it is working although I still hate them.....

x posted with you choc crikey, you must be tired.....any obvious reason for the unsettledness??

1. Overtired (was he awake lots in the day? I know that sounds mad, but it can affect the nighttime sleep)

2. Growth spurt?

3. Were you breast feeding or EBM - if so, do you know how much he was taking or how long approx on boob????

Morning everyone!

Choc, You have my full sympathy, Zack had a bad night too and I know that it was due to the first 2 suggestions that Dozy posted above. He was definately overtired as had been awake since before 6pm, fell asleep briefly at about 10am. I made the mistake of trying to put him down in his moses basket within 10 minutes. I guess he wasn't in a deep enough sleep as he was awake less than 10 minutes later. We went up to bed at 11.30 and he was still awake at 12.30am, finally settled at about 1am. Woke again at 4.30 where I changed his nappy and fed him. Normally he would have nursed himself to sleep but nope, he started fussing and crying again. In the end, I got up and not as gently as perhaps I should have done (), deposited him in his moses basket and told him if he was going to cry, he could at least do it without kicking and scratching me. I got back into bed and shockingly, didn't hear a peep out of him until 7.30am . This was the first time he has ever gone down for more than 30 minutes in his moses basket. Here's hoping I can get him to make the transistion to the basket as he has learned how to "skooch" about in bed. He started off in one place and made his way to the middle of the bed.

I can also put some of his fussiness down to a growth spurt, he was 3 weeks on Friday and my boobs are definately fuller again as he has been eating so much.

Sorry for no other personals, someone has just woke up and needs a nappy change!

To those with hubby's acting like tits, it is almost like a right of passage, my hubby has done this each time too.

All the poorly babies, I hope they are feeling better soon and manage to avoid the hospital.

Dozy: Tallipes is club foot I believe.

Ohhh, I have a quick question. Does anyone elses baby sweat alot/easily? Zack only has to be left crying for a few minutes and his head will be soaked . THe problem is sometimes I HAVE to leave him to cry, I do have 2 other children that need their mummy too. I suppose I panic as sweating can be a sigh of a heart condition in babies, especially as ds2 has a heart condition. I am sure I am just being neurotic as his heart was scanned twice in pregnancy and was fine. It is hard to shake off the fear though.

Oh, and yes, I have LBS and worry about cot death, developing serious illnesses, accidents, ect, ect!

Dozy I think it was no 1 - we had a family get together last night and he was being held lots by family and there was loads of noise so he couldn't go to bed at 7pm so he was awake till 9pm. I thought it might be a bad night but it still doesn't make it easier. He was such a moaner - not even crying just whimpering all night.

HM2J sorry Zack had a bad night too but glad he gave you a 3-hour break.

Sorry to hear about the poorly babies - I hope they all make speedy recoveries, I can't imagine coping with DS being ill as well as being a baby!!

I just read my thread back Choc and actually thought "oh, that doesn't sound like too bad a night". I think it is because it can take a good 30-45 minutes to feed him to the point where he lets go himself, and I certainly can't nod off if it is my right boob as the nip still feels like it will fall off, even though I can see nothing visibly wrong (suppose I should contact a LC). Then I spend the next 10-15 minutes listening to him grunt and flail around before he either settles to sleep or start crying/screaming. So between the time he finally settles and the next time he wakes isn't long. Oh, plus I have to deal with dh's stupid questions/conversation while Zack is creating, like "what does that cry mean? Shouldn't you know by now?" and the statement that makes me want to swing for him "well, YOU wanted another baby" but he says it in a way that makes it all out to be my fault

Opps! Turned into a bit of a dh bashing session!

Like you say Choc, today is another day.

Just adding a quick post, so as to book mark you guys. It has been so long since I posted. PIL are up and poor MIL had barely held DS cos he is so sukey to mummy. Even a cuddle in daddies arms end in screams and a pass back to mum where he settles imediately, almost.
Oh dear, what have I done to him?

vbab your DH
Sounds to me that you caught him at the best time He would be more likely to listen when in ill health, in the best, he might have tried to argue his way out. Well, my DH would have anyway[indulgent]
Only indulgent at this point because DH has surprised me by letting me sleep in for teh past 2 mornings, well by that, he has taken DD downstairs and let me and DS sleep longer.
He is a wee terror, night time is much the same as a few others (8pm, 11pm, 1am , 4am ) but then he wakes again about 7 and refuses to go back down. I need that extra hour! So nice that DH is bridging the gap that means I feel like I have had a really good sleep, well in the circumstances

Better go, MIL keeps coming into the room, can see I am typing, but keeps talking anyway. So I guess I had better take the hint and go be hostess with the mostess (haha, yeah right! I am a really poo hostess)

Can I join the no sleep brigade. Last 2 nights have been terrible also dd will not settle unless its with me - usually with boob out . I can't understand the difference between tired and hunger cries. I can get the colic cry however so I guess thats a start.
Am worried that I am shoving boob in too much and she is snacking / comforting but just don't know what to do !!!
HOpe you all have a good sunday and Vbab am at your lie in !

Hope everyone is having a good weekend

To all those with poorly babies - hugs!! Hope they all recover soon and that you manage to get some sleep. I guess that is one of the perils of a 'winter' baby eh?

Choc it definitely sounds like the family get together would have affected M - all that passing from pillar to post etc is bound to have unsettled him. But today is another day and hopefully you can restore order and get him back into the routine!

Sam is definitely getting over his jaundice thankfully. He is much less yellow, feeding better (although I can only ever get 2oz down him whereas DH manages at least 3oz every time ) and much more alert The 'sunbathing' obviously did the trick

He still seems to be sleeping ok at night (fingers crossed it continues!) He sleeps most of the evening and then I put him in his crib when we go to bed between 10-11 and he pretty much sleeps through until 5ish However, I have been waking up and feeding him at 2ish just because he needs the food to shift the jaundice although that one tends to be a 'dream feed' - am going to stop it shortly once I know he is putting on weight. Plus once he has fed, he goes back to his crib without any fuss so ! DS1 was pretty much the same and has continued to be a great sleeper - I can't be that lucky twice......

Question how long do growth spurts last??

Dozy there are different grades of talipes - I think the most extreme is club foot as HM2J says - this is genetic. I believe Wills talipes is 'positional' which means it was caused by the way he was positioned in the womb. The child dr in the hospital said it can be fixed with physio/ manipulation excercises. Just wondered if anyone else had expreienced it.

Ceebee Will also has a spot of jaundice but it looks like it is starting to shift!

Sympathies to all the exhausted mummies

Hello,

Sorry to those with poorly little ones and those who are having issues with DH's.

Well Bridezilla is away with the fairies on her honeymoon and I did not breast feed in the toilets I sat in my chair and felt very proud. Rebecca was a diamond and DD1 was the best bridesmaid that they could have asked for. DH was amazing even after several beers! However today I am shattered and feel like I am coming down with something, headachey and really cold. DH at work so not doing much, going to make DD pack up iron school uniform and we have had cheese on toast for dinner so I win the bad mummy award.

I have just played with my breast pump as boobs felt full and got 3oz - is this good? So I am going to sterilise now for when I need to use it in future.

Re dummies Rebecca has one mainly to settle her when she is not hungry needs changing etc. She seems to like it when it suits her!

Right off to make cup of tea.

RE weight gain / loss I have 7lbs to lose but am eating loads of crap that I shouldn't. Mentioned to HV last week and she said need between extra 500 - 1000 calories a day when feeding - anyne else heard this?

Oh and had Rebecca weighed, day 12 she was 7lbs 4 and on day 29 she was 9lbs so definately growing!

Hi everyone, Hope you are all having a lovely weekend. I've just put my Christmas decs up well most of them we need tree lights so that will have to wait until later.

So very sorry to hear of all of the poorly babies big hugs and get well wishes to you all, it must be frightening.
Jay is a bit snuffly but we had him checked out and he seems fine, although I did spend an hour at 4am peering at him as he sounded a bit wheezy but he seems fine now bless him.

He is being a good boy so far the worst night we have had he has been up 3 times to feed but has gone back off no problem, I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will stay this way
Coolkat glad you survived the wedding and Rebecca was good, hope you feel better soon.

Hi to everyone else x

Cant believe how may babies have reflux issues - I was talking to my MIL about it this afternoon as she works in an ultrasound department that sometimes does ultrasounds on babies with reflux.

ChocOrange - I dont know what GF is going on about when she says babies cant stay awake for more than 2 hours as Henry litle your LO will happily stay awake for 3 hours or more. The morning nap he will have when he wants which could be any time but will only be for about 40 minutes and the later afternoon one he will only go down if we go for a walk (not great in this weather)but if we dont he will get really grumpy.

HM2J, re sweating. all my babies have been sweaty. even sophie. the one who sweated the most has absolutly nothing wrong with her heart (older one has v v minor issues). but she had a thick head of hair.

have a picture of sophie and she looks really sweating and shiney. like i have dipped her in glitter before takign picture with a flash lol.

Glad to hear my LO isn't the only wide awake baby Pinkglow!

Afternoony everyone.

Had a very bad night with James. We prop him up on cushions on the sofa to help him breathe & sleep but he's either growing or has colic and kept wanting to feed - might also be down to the fact he'd been sick quite a bit yesterday due to snot in his tummy. Anyway, I stayed up with him the whole time he wouldn't settle and, once he'd been asleep for 30 mins I let myself sleep on the sofa with him..... I slept from 530 'til 630!!!! A whole hour!!!

I have restarted GF today and it was actually my alarm waking me up at 630, I lay there in disbelief that I needed to get up and express but then I convinced myself that it really is the only way out of this nightmare and it'll be worth the effort in the long run. God I have no idea how I've managed it but I did!!!

I just hope he's tired enough to sleep tonight, despite the snot and cough....

Watch this space.....

MummyNic the 6.30am start is worth it when the routine works!!!

Hmmm, I'm wondering whether DS's growth spurt is over... he's not wanted food at all today (that is he's not cried for it) and has only fed at the alloted GF times - 7am, 10am and 11.30am (two short ones), 2pm and now 5pm??? Over the last few days he's wanted a lot more feeds. Me thinks this is good but lets wait until tonight!!

hello...sweaty baby here too; especially when he is worrying my boob towards the end of a feed. He growls at it and frets and is like a terrier with a rat and his poor wee head gets all hot and bothered!

We co-slept last night! for some of the night anyway, and he slept for four hours. I'm a bit concerned though as I was out for the count and didn't hear DD having a screaming fit at 4am, so makes me wonder how alert I was to F's needs . I remarked to DH that he was quiet when he was in beside me, but he said that when he went in to deal with DD he could hear F grunting and groaning and I was totally oblivious.

I'm glad you enjoyed the wedding coolkat and that you BF proudly

sorry for all the still sleepless nights. They will all settle down. F is four weeks now and he is just starting to sleep for longer between feeds at night, and in the day as well.

mummynic, that DS sounds a wee bit better today.

Barbs, my neice has talipes but hers is pretty bad and is due to a congenital defect (she has a rare condition called sacral agenesis). The worst of it was made better by physio, but she also has to wear special shoes and has had one operation already as her foot had started turning in again. The physio made a huge difference initially though and if it weren't for her disability would have been completely successful.

My DH tends not to do the twunty thing after babies, but he tends to have a few episodes of utter twattishness (moody, nasty, nit-picky etc) throught any given year. I have gotten used to the build up to it though and try and nip it in the bud before it gets too serious. Usually it is to do with something that I said or did months previously that he has been letting fester rather than broach it at the time it happened.

WE went out for a big family lunch today with PILs and BIL and his family and I'm pleased to report that all my children behaved impeccably . It was a really nice relaxed meal as well. F slept through most of it, only waking to have two little BFs and have his nappy changed. He has slept pretty much all day though and not fed very much. I suspect he will be awake half the night to make up for it!

Yikes! I can't remember the last time I was woken by an alarm
GF defo not for me!

That was a good question, 'How long does a growth spurt last?'
I don't know for sure, but I figure a couple of days??
Anyone else?
I think DS went through one in the last couple of days, constantly on the boob. Mind you PIL were also up so could just have been unsettled.
He was suckling too, intead of drinking. My boobs are aching. So scared of getting cracked nips, but he defo seems to be on well.
I wonder if it is just the constant suking or if he has 'nipple confusion' and is chewing me as he does a dummy?
oops
But I just couldn't give up on the dummy now, it is just too handy.
Whadya think?

I'll let you know tomorrow missygoo whether DS has just had a growth spurt - if so it lasted 3 days, if thing are still the same tonight/tomorrow then they either last longer or he's just a little bugger!!

two or three days for a growth spurt.....sometimes longer for older babies.

F fed like mad for three days then woke up one morning and was visibly bigger and newborn clothes not fitting!

Now, after stimulating all that extra milk, he is sleeping and not drinking it!!

Missygoo it was horrendous to be woken after just 1 hour of uncomfortable sleep and I used every once of energy I had just to put it on snooze to allow myself the 'contemplate' time. So proud that I did it as James is shattered and has gone to bed at 630 (should be 7 though...). He hasn't fed well this evening due to being tired but I have a fair bit expressed from today so can top him up without too much of a problem.

James is at the limit of his newborn sleepsuits and vests too - feel sad that that stage may be over already and we've spent half of his life so far in hospital!!!! (was in for 5 days recovering from cs)

mummynic, i'm glad you got some sleep, but please do not sleep on the sofa with james. i'm sorry but its not safe.

i do co-sleep, but in a big bed. sophie sleeps most of the night asleep in my arms. its the only time she actually looks small. the girl is huge! i'm going to have to borrow my sisters crib from her, as sophie almost fills the moses basket already. and only has about 4inches left in the carrycot. which sounds a lot, but if she grows at the same rate as dd2 did then she could be too big for it in the new year.

just spent 1 hour feeding DS and put him down now but he's wide awake - I am sitting by the baby monitor just waiting for the crying to start......