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

oh Obl - I went to bed in my dressing gown last nigt

had a terrible time settling him last night, then I come on here and everyone else seems to be having the same trouble.

We went to put him down at 7 after an hour of fussing but he just would not settle until half ten, he then went to sleep for an hour and was then sick. Thankfully after that he fed and then went down till 4am but then was up again. hes in a fussy mood today the only thing which has kept him quiet this morning is tummy time on his mat which he seemed to love (well it kept him amused for 10 minutes)

lol obs.....it'll be fingerless gloves and a bottle of neat gin next . No way could I sleep in dressing gown and slippers, I am still sweating buckets on a nightly basis.

DS2 had a good night last night and slept well...it's just a pity that it was on top of me! I'm wondering if he's cold? I'm going to try his sleeping bag tonight and see what happens. I'm pretty sure I bought one, but can't for the life of me think where I put the damn thing. Ah well, he can sleep in a flower pink one

Obs, I was thinking about all our first timers as well and that they aren't posting as regularly as us oldies. I hope no-one is struggling too much, but if they are come and talk to us for support and virtual cake. Of course it could be that they are loved up and paying lots of attention to their new LO rather than ignoring them like us oldies

Bumba (DD's nickname for Finlay) has thrush on his tongue and I have that all too familiar nagging pain in my right boob again and really sore nipples . Looks like another trip to the doctors for us. I can see history repeating itself here; it was six months before I got clear of it with DD.

Morning all!

Sorry to hear about those who had a sleepless night. Considering ds slept solidly for hours before bedtime last night, he slept well last night. I have actually noticed that the days he sleeps more during the day, he sleeps better at night than if he is awake more, almost like he is overtired and then can't get into a decent sleep?

Thanks for the dummies suggestions, I will have a look around and try a few others. I don't really want Z to have a dummy BUT it is better than a thumb, which I have seen him sucking on a few times. At least you can take a dummy away, lol!

Obs, I don't sleep in my dressing gown/slippers but go to bed in pj bottoms, socks and a zip up jogging top type thing for ease of access to the boobs, lol! At least I can roll out of bed and be almost fully dressed.

Today I am feeling a little sad as it seems that Zack is coming down with a cold. Today he has done nothing but sneeze. We went out to buy ds1 some clothes yesterday and were only out in public for about 30 minutes. Naturally I am a little worried after all the other babies becoming quite ill, inspite of breastfeeding, so I will be keeping a close eye on him I am hoping that he just has a little something up his nose that he's trying to shift, hence the sneezing. At least the discharge is clear right now.

bad night here as well - am typing with 1 hand so scuse errors !!!!
dd fed almost continual from 7pm - 10 pm after having a 4 hr sleep in pm . gave her top up at 10pm then she screamed until 1am - gave her another (am seriously doubting my milk supply /quality here) and then after wind /colic she dropped off at 2 til - 5 .fed both sides at 5 then both agin at 8 then wanted more at 9.30 now in arms as small bouts of colic.
taking her to be weighed tom if i can get there as have had massive flooding here in fact dd1 at home.
dummies i am using one also re sids web site and when want to give the boob a rest however she spits the small drop shaped one(chicco) the avent silicone one more nipple like holds for 10 secs - she will hold when in the pram (boh).
dh said i could get a front facing buggy - he retracted the offer when he saw the price - i need good suspension here and a good hood that covers head level when needed as it gets mega windy here... oh well back to ebay !!!(but italians put silly reserve prices and there are not many on there either !)

rosa, sounds like she is having a growth spurt and is stimulating your supply to meet her growing demands, however if you have been giving formula top ups then she will need to work that little bit harder. If you can keep putting her to the breast then things should settle in a few days.

hello everyone.....sorry lots of you are having very sleepless nights......little Tiger is only waking once between 2-3am...she has definately read GF! (Seriously though, I am AMAZED at how quickly she has got into a routine, but very [happy] I do totally sympathise with all of you though having dreadful nights...DS1 Spent the first 9 weeks of his life feeding constantly, we had no sleep and were all over the shop......then I read GF!)

Rosa I am also using a dummy after reading the info on SIDS website. Tiger only really has it for 10mins then spits it out but I find it very very good when she is fractious and I am having to attend to one of the other kids - can't believe I am using one as I have always hated them with a passion (in fact still do) BUT needs must and whatever works and all that!

Hope all the poorly babies are on the mend...

obs I agree, "OUR" first time mums are very very quiet......hope you are all ok ladies, we are here and semi experienced if you need any help/have any questions.........

I am having a lovely chilled morning - DS1 at school, DS2 at nursery, and Tiger is at the gym that girl loves it!

Am very ]envy] of all you ladies who have progressed to 0-3m. We are jsut about in newborm sizes now, reckon Tiger is 8lbs ish but wil confirm tomorrow when I take her to baby clinic for the first time with DS1 we went every week without fail for a weigh!!

Missdee and all you other mummies who have little girls....where can I buy nice tights in newborn size? have looked so many places but failing badly!!!

hello everyone.

I think you may be right, daisy I suspect that the ones with new babies have better things to do that witter to us!
I'm hoping they are getting out and about withn their babies now. We are all very snuffly here still but much better. I am going to take my girls to one of the galleriees tomorrow for an event.

Have to say, I am beginning to feel a bit of an outsider given I don't do anything GF- I tell a lie, I did use a copy someone gave me
to prop up under DD1 cot mattress.

Rosa flooding sounds dramamtic- can you get out and about?
And sorry your baby has colic- poor thing- and very stressful for you.

pinkee, am not gf-er lol.

more part-timr ap=er

lol pinkee at your use for GF!

I tried it with DD, but found it all too prescriptive, and the getting them up whether they had slept or not just seemed cruel to me!

I must admit I'm tempted though to give it a try with Bumba and see if it makes a difference.

part time ap=er misdee?

Pinky, not a GF'er here either, I am more of a fly by the seat of my pants, mainly AP'er. I can see the benfit of a routine for some, but I just don't like them, lol.

Attatchment parent = AP (a parent who breastfeeds, co-sleeps, slings, and for some, uses cloth nappies. A bit like the continuum method, that's full attatchment pareting)

misdee that sounds more like me

LOads of people told me with DS that I wouldn't get any sleep demand feeding like that and using a sling etc. He slept 7-7 at 12 weeks- having not read any book!
DD2 is heading the same way, I think, just waking at twice for a feed at the mo, but she sleeps later- to about 8:30-9ish

laugh at p/t ap=er.
Isn't Hana the full time ap=er ?

Just for clarification, I am not particularly pro GF.
I am more pro 'routine'.
Ds put himself into his own, I didn't have a choice. And I take credit for managing it, myself, to be honest. Rather than giving credit to anyone or any book.

I do beleive than babies thrive on routine. Infact all children. They know. That come ..... 7pm it is bedtime. Come 6pm ... it is bathtime, or whatever it is that you do. That is all I advocate.

Heartmum, the different ways of parenting are so blurred. aren't they ? some aspects can be included in other parenting styles, if you see what I mean.
I mean I do like routine. But I LOVE bf and slings.

What happens if you are a bit of this, bit of that, bit of the other ?

Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-routine and agree that children in particular seem to thrive on them. DS1 put himself into a strict routine very early on. DS2 had no set routine unless you count: Wake up, scream uncontrollably, feed, scream uncontrollably, have a bath, scream uncontrollably,..... you get the picture, lol.

I have full confidence in Zack that when he is ready, the routine will come.

I know what you mean Obs. I was pretty much forced to follow the continuum sort of methid with ds2 in the has was carried all day long, but we didn't co-sleep. I am a little of each. I don't carry Z all the time, he is put down sometimes, lol! This is definately the closest I have got to being a fully fledged AP. I think you could say you are an AP if you trust/follow your heart and instincts to be honest.

i am part-time ap-er as currnetly co-sleep but do like o put sophie down in the carrycot during the day, i use a sling around the house but a pram outside (cant carry 3 x book bags, water bottles etc home withoutn the pram), i do bf, but if things crop up am not totally against a bottle whther ebm or formula (am crap at expressing tbh). i like a bit of routine, sophie gets up at a similar time to us with the older girls, and gets dressed in 'day cliothes' whther thats an outfit or just fresh vest and sleepsuit, and has a feed at the same time dd's are having breakfast. evening routine means getting her in pj's sleepsuit around 8pm. thats it.

Heart2mum, I am frightened that I am going the route that you have already gone.
The ds1 angel, routiner. The ds2 not a hope in h*ll of mum ever getting more than one hours consecutive sleep.
I am soon to look like this nosleep

misdee and hm2j you sound very much like the kind of thing I do.

Agre,obsChildren do love routines, also babies will find their own way, if you follow their cues.
DD2 sleeps on-despite the fact that everyone else is up at 7.DH takes DS to nursery school in the morning.
DD1 WAS VERY AP- reflux will do that.

oblomov DD1 was a pwoer napper then screamy screamy untless very upright- bouncy chair or sling etc. GRdually settled but Still woke for 2am feed until nearly 1. Then at II months she took to sleepoing all night anbd haVING the hugest afternoon naps imaginable. Still likes a good afternoon kip!

Obs, you have my sympathy hon, I would honestly not wish the kind of first year I had with ds2 on anyone. I am ashamed to say there were days I really wished I hadn't had him, wanted to leave him at a police station/hospital or at the bus stop. The guilt of the feeling I had is still there, but I have to squash it right down, it wasn't his fault, nor was it mine. I know had he have been my first baby he would be an only child.

I know you may not think it now, but it DOES get better, honest it does. DS2 is now angelic and much better at this age than ds1 ever was and he was my angelic baby, but a nightmare since he turned 3, lol!

See, I am not meant to be a true GF'er.
I have just shot myslef in the foot.
Ds fell asleep at 11.15, instead of the prescribed 12-2.30. And He was screaming, so I just bf him and cuddled him to sleep.
Oh well, made me happy. and him,I think.

I am clearly scambling around in the dark here. what a state.

Hi guys.
I'v not posted in a while so thought i would have a quick catch up. Well, i think we are slowly gettin into a nightime routine - what i mean by that is i'v progressed for the past week to sleeping in the bedroom (as opposed to the sofa). For some reason, Oscar just would not go to sleep in our room and would only settle in the living room. Finally figured that our bedroom was perhaps too cold for the little man and one heater later we are making progress
Some nights are still better than others though and, like many others on here, we have party time between 11-2am Didn't they use sleep deprivation as a form of torture through the war? .
Feeling very good today though as Oscar went down from 9 - 1.30. Then 2 - 6.30 so after two 4 and a half hour periods of sleep i feel like a new woman!.

Persevered with breastfeeding too and it took three long weeks of battling with latching issues, engorged breasts at one point we had to use nipple shields but we have both finally cracked it and Oscar is piling on the weight.

Right off to catch up on all the news while my little man has a snooze

I am so confused about routines and babys right now. My little man is so lovely but is so difficult to understand what he wants. Sometimes he sleeps in his moses basket fine, sometimes he doesn't. Sometimes he breastfeeds perfectly and sometimes he spends ages falling on/off and not latching properly.

Since he was born he's been a very contented baby - not crying if he's being held but for the last couple of days (especially in the nights) he's been really really whingey. I have no idea why he's changed and I don't know if he will be like this today, for a few days, forever???

I am so tired and I hate it because I just get angry and frustrated at myself, at DS and at DH and all I want is to go into a dark room and sleep for 12 hours without worrying about DS. I feel like a terrible mother.