Nov 2008 - sleepless nights and exploding poo, dear oh dear now what do we do??

[Dozymare]

Sorry that is soooo crap but we needed a new thread!!!!!

Pinkali, big big hugs today x Well done you and bottle is fine: my cousin who has an off the scale IQ was bottle fed AND refused to eat any veg for the first 3 years of her life, so it is officially all ^b*ll$cks--. Not helpful, but well meant, sorry.

Having said that, I sort of know what you mean about feeling dodgy buying the formula as I am (stupidly, probably) not keen on dummies and shoved one in Fin's gaping maw this afternoon as he would NOT shut up and then burst into tears as he looked so weird with this horrible piece of plastic in the middle of his lovely innocent little face. And it didn't bloody work, he cried while sucking on the dummy [heartstrings snapping one by one because of the guilt emoticon].

Heartmum, mine did that all day Friday, I was ready to throw up from tiredness and frustration and pity by 5. It is horrible and I totally agree that a group hug is needed.

Dais, my Fin can't read either - he doesn't know that he's supposed to be awake during daylight hours and asleep at night and thinks that mum and dad shushing him is a lovely game in which he has to drown out the shushing sound...

Obs, sorry I wasn't at hand with the funny, honey. How are things at this end of the day?

Northerners, I did go to Meadowhall BUT - it's cool cos I live 10 mins away, I got to find out about how nice the Mothercare feeding and changing rooms are and I picked up some Xmas pressies. Plus, I got out of bed, without which there was quite a bit chance that I would have just stayed in bed today, sobbing between feeds/nappies. I am well up for a NY meet as frankly M'hell is getting a bit mental this close to Xmas - people no longer coo at Fin but instead spit "bloody prams!" as they shove their way past into the lifts...

Dozy, I would LOVE to do a routine with Fin but have only 1 Q - how do you wake them up to feed them? I tried today 3 hours after his 1st feed as I knew he'd be ravenous otherwise and he Just Would Not Wake Up. I was there in Costa going "C'mon baby, wakeywakeywakey, lovely milk here for you" and doing lovely cuddly but annoying things and nothing. I could have carried him around in a bag and he wouldn't have woken up. But I didn't (or did I...).

Anyway, got to go, but here are 2 snippets to be going on with on from the Theatre of Weird...

1. StepMIL at the weeked - first thing she said as we got through the door at DH's grandma's was "Oh, come here, Fin love - come to Granny. Mummy doesn't know what she's doing with you." I made her wait 2 hours before she got to cuddle him, for I am a vengeful Saurus when crossed. Grr.

2. Random bird loudly to her mate in the lift in M&S today while peering into the pram - "Oh, I can't bear to look at those baby things since I found out I can't have any myself". Total sympathy, but, erm, don't look? Only his nose was visible anyway, he could have just been shopping bags from the outside...

PS sorry for MASSIVE post Plus Vbab big hugs re DH situation, mine is also an arse, despite getting actual sleep. Bloody men.

hello.
Well that was a very ad-hoc bedtime in our house. I just have to remind myself that it's just because dinky has this horrid cold, I think otherwise she is a pretty content baby.She's managed to settle herself about an hour ago whilst I sat next to her folding nappies.

Aren't totsbots size 1 just the cutest nappies?? Or am I getting soft?

I don't follow any sort of book routine, hana. Personally I think a baisc routine of sorts (especially one that a baby falls into fairly naturally) is a bit of a no-brainer- it doesn't need a book to tell you not to feed a child sweets an hour before tea time, and sleep routines are fairly similar in principle. though

I do believe that 'sleep gets sleep'- anyone who has tried to settle an overtired toddler will know that.

dozy the fabric you refer to- is it the funky zoo that's on the blog or was it one with a light blue background and hearts and animals? I think I may have 1 piece of that but can't be sure.

daisy yes I can do any size blanket really, though I'm limited to the width of the cotton print, I have done a very nice cot blanket with the space rocket fabric and a navy twill panel.

Though maybe what you really need is a lap cushion or somesuch

north meet up I am up for after Christmas, too.

ceebee sorry you are feeling down. DS is a sweetie but can be a PITA at times. I just try really hard to ignore the bad stuff and encourage the good. Really hard, I know. He prolly will be better once he's back in his usual routine with nursery- I know DS absolutely loves it at nursery school - he'd be climbing the walls if he were home all day at the mo. I'm glad DH has two weeks off at christmas.

Sounds really naff but I found a way of not getting into squabbles with DH today.
When he starts going on with himself I have taken to just saying I love him. I make an effort to say something positive about him (which can be a struggle at moments)and it seems to lighten the mood.

now sleep or chocolate, which should it be?

both...

I have a huge tin of belgian chocolate biscuits my auntie gave me -for the family yeah right.. like children need chocolate??

Can I have one before I feed him?

(Hang on...what do I mean, "one"? )

Help yourself.. but that is why I said sleep or chocolate- it's going to take a bit of time to get through this lot. Chocolate doen't eat itself, after all.

Love the name Rutho . If there is a name competition again this year, you need to enter....although the cynic in me says it'll be won by one of the prolifically posting regulars again.

love your strategy for dealing with DH pinky ...although I strongly suspect that that is the game plan my DH employs with me

can I have a festive name, please? I can't think of anything.

Has anyone seen the tins of Toffee Quality Street? I love the toffee ones so I'm in toffee heaven. Have added a tin to my Christmas wishlist.

Tonight is my first night since DS was born without a half pound bag of sugary sweets......I'm shaking and sweating from the sugar withdrawal, but the sight of the needle on the scales going down is a good motivator.

lol daisy. Obviously I don't need the chocolate.. not really.. I could take it or leave it..

On the Mink theme.....

something like SlipaMINKEEunderthetree

rather than sable?

too obscure?

Oh my, I've only been away a day and there's loads of posts!!!

Anyway we are over 24hrs into using Gaviscon and the votes are in:

It's reflux, definitly. You can only give 6 doses a day so I'm doing 2 feeds with then 1 without as James tends to feed 8 / 9 times a day (although I'm hoping GF will get it down to 8 with just 1 at night) so rather than identify 2 / 3 feeds to take it from I feel it's best to do 2 with 1 without - keeps it even then.

He's grizzled a little after the 2 non Gaviscon feeds so far today (and was sick after one of them) and has been a dream the rest of the time!!!

So we're finally back on GF, should have been moving onto 4 - 6 weeks about now but he's taking 2 feeds in the night so can't move him on just yet. It's been so stop / start with hospital and this last week. But hopefully we'll be ok now.

Thanks for all the messages of good luck. I hope I'll be able to catch up on the thread soon!

Rutho - love your new name, but slightly sad you didn't use my suggestion which I thought was a good-un: RuthoTheRedHairedReindeer
I'll let you off though

Sorry to all those feeling blue. It doesn't help that it's freezing cold, dark by 4pm and we're probably all suffering from SAD syndrome combined with chronic tiredness. It can only get better - can't it?

And for all of you with other DC's, I really don't know how you juggle it. It's tough enough managing one.

Breakthrough on the pumping front. After laying out my electric pump on the kitchen table over a week ago , my little sister came to visit me today, and being the thoroughly practical girl that she is, helped me assemble the blasted thing in record time. So pumped my first fluid ounce and felt quite proud (and also like a Jersey cow).

Oh I do hope those feeling down in the dumps start to get through this soon. Sending love across the airwaves to you all.

So, are you saying pinkee that we should treat our DHs the same as we do our toddlers. Congratulate the good, ignore the bad? I know that is not really what yoou said but it would probably work, eh?

Mine was a terror tonight! I did not get a wash yesterday so told him I was going for a bath. Soon as I did DS kicked off, que DH thundering into the bathroom grumping cos 'he won't stop shouting.' and 'you just take your time, eh!'
Then went down the stairs and shouted 'Shut up!' at DS!!! This was designed to kick in my protective mummy bit and get me out of the bath.
Though I was fuming, he had only been shouting for 20 mins! I was not going to be played like that so remained where I was.
DH then gave DS a bath and all calmed down.
When I came down DH was still whinging that he had wanted a bath. He who showered this morning
So I will ignore his awfulness, the shouting and whinging, and will tell him that he was a very clever daddy for giving his son a, much needed, bath.

saurus and pink I feel the same at shops, when I buy DDs night nappies. I want to tell them it is only for nights and that we are reusable for days (or were). Now I want to say, 'It is only for the first couple of months you know'
Also, have just ordered Ellas House nappies for DD for night, just so you guys know I am a resusable nappy user

Who said to set up a seperate thread for routine users?
oh o, don't do that don't split us up
Much as I hate routines or at least a set one, I am never aware that I am in one really, but it was led by my DD and I figure, in time DS will fall into hers or make his own. I am happy to live and let live, whatever works for you
Though, my honest opinion is that you're all daft, relax it will all work out in the end.
Hope that doesn't offend anyone What I am saying is that I don't wanna split up.

mummynic, when I talked to my HV last week about DS she said it sounded like reflux, but that we didn't want to go down the route of getting a diagnosis as 1)it might settle itself and 2) it's a faff to give it to a BF baby

however, if you have had that much success so quickly, I'm going to mention it to the doctor at his six week check.

oh, twinkling...sorry for your DH woes as well.

Mine had a bit of a huff over the weekend and was being incredibly short with me (but a judicious retort from me about the fact that we had nookie and now he's being a pig and he snapped out of it ) but other than that he has been fine. We have been fine; better than we have for ages in fact. Which is nice, but strange. We've spent seven weeks in each other's company so I'm amazed we haven't wanted to murder each other by now!!

DS has had a feed, but not, I fear, enough to last him until the wee small hours. Ah well.....we'll see what the night brings!

Oh, CLarks have a good online sale on; if anyone felt inclined to treat themselves

Night all

Hey Away, I didn't get time to say it before but I LOVED your nickname for me and will alternate, sorry for bad manners.

I just have a weakness for a bad pun...

I am scared of using a breast pump cos my mate said it did bad things to her nipple. But then so does Fin when he chews. Owie.

Seriously, though, about waking babies up. How is it done?

Going to bed now as mine is asleep on his daddy [big soppy gush of love emoticon] who is watching Star Stories on the computer in a mo'. So I had better go, or we won't find out about how the Elton John story ends.

thanks for the suggestion, daisy, but it may need more thought.
twinks yup- positive partnering, that's what I'm advocating!

I love ellas house nappies, too. day ones very handy for dinky's fancy outfits that don't fit big nappies, and cute bumhuggers for bedtime!
well dinky has just woken for a feed, so clearly settling better. but trip to the drs tomorrow as she does have a cough now

hi mummynic- hope the gaviscon works.

well done on the pumping, monkeym!

morning all!

Do you think I might be allowed to spend the day on the sofa under the duvet sleeping when W sleeps? Or should I be going with the routine thing?? W awake evry hour in night to feed - my poor sore boobies Was considering changing to ff - don't know how much more of the painful boobs I can take - it's spoiling everything

DH back to work today - lordy knows what kind of state we will be in when he gets back!! Has anyone had a bath whilst being alone with lo? We don't have a shower and am desparate need of one - nearly got one last night but W woke up just as I'd run it so dh had it instead!!

Soz for the me post. Just wanted to say also that we are feeling down too - finding adjusting harder than expected. As much as we adore W it is like having a little stranger in the house and everything is different now. anyway hugs to everyone who is struggling x

Nic, I hope the gaviscon continues to improve things.

Barb Good luck for today, the first day is always scarey but I am sure you will be fine. As for the bath, can you put W in a bouncy seat or car seat and bring him into the bathroom with you?

I agree with Twinkling and don't really want to see us split into "routine users" and those who don't have one. I like that we all do what works for us, whether we agree or not. Like I said before, I am not against routines, they certainly have thier place, but I have never been one to try and put my baby into one as they tend to find thier own way, but I am lucky that I am a SAHM who can afford the luxury of waiting until he finds a routine that suits him, plus I have no schools runs ect. I know that most don't have the same level of "freedom" (as I can't think of a better word).

Well, last night was good but scarey. Z was sooooo very tired from hardly sleeping in the day, that he fed at 10pm and fell asleep straight away, so I put him in bed upstairs by 10.30 and turned on the monitor. Came downstairs and wrapped some presents until 11.15pm. I then went and got ready for bed. Just as I was about to climb into bed at 11.30, Z had an "episode". I could actually hear his stomach contents moving up his oesophagus. He stopped breathing for a few seconds before starting to gag. Normally gagging is enough for him to clear the blockage, but not last night. I started patting his chest, which usually helps, but he was still gagging/choking and I was just about to snatch him up when he vommed rather spectacularly. Thank goodness I have a towel at that height on the bed. I quickly snatched him up as he was still choking, thumped his back while trying to quickly remove the towel before the vom soaked through to the bed. Poor baby continued to gag for several minutes. After making sure Z was ok, cleaning him/bed up and getting clean towel, we both got into bed. I expected Z to be hungry, but he went straight back to sleep and slept until 5am (from 10 pm). Pity I was too scared of it all happening again to sleep deeply. He had another episode this morning at 7.45am but not to bad as he was ok after I gave his chest a few light thumps. Needless to say, I am taking him to the dr's and demanding they take me seriously.

Nic glad things seem to be improving for you HM2J and Pinky hoe everything goes well at the docs.
J is going to the docs today too, his cold has stepped up a gear and he is really ruttly in his chest. He screamed everytime we layed him flat last night and seemed to be struggling to breathe due to the snot. So we have been up most of the night with the odd doze with him on my chest. Poor little man.

Free stuff I have an unopened bottle of colief and barely used tube of Lansinoh if anyone would like either of them just let me know!

Morning all

To those of you with poorly babes - hope they get better soon - I am terrified of Sam getting ill as it is even more scary when they are so little!

HM2J - last night does sound scary - I would definitely go to the doctors and demand some action - let us know how you get on.

Mummynic glad the gaviscon is working for J - now you can relax maybe and enjoy your little man

Saurus if only I knew how to wake a sleeping baby......both of mine are very deep sleepers and I have tried everything to wake Sam up when it is feed time and he is asleep but to no avail. I know ChocO has said before now that she has stripped M down and put a wet wipe on his tackle- but I am sure that wouldn't have been practical in Costa Coffee

Can I join the 'DH is an arse' club aswell? I think we have just spent too much time together (it is nearly 3 weeks now!) but we are bickering rather a lot over really petty things (like the fact I forgot to put a drink in the changing bag for DS1 yesterday - resulted in a huge barney!!) I know it is cos DH isn't 'getting it' as his temper/moods always deteriorate the longer we go without doing the deed... so unfortunately it isn't likely to change in the foreseeable future either!

Wonders will never cease - Sam has suddenly become a guzzler 2 days ago, he would drink 2oz and then just stop, he is downing 4oz bottles each feed!!! He had 4oz at 9.30 last night so I thought he would go longer in the night but he woke at 1.30 for another 4oz and then again at 6 - the lad suddenly appears to have found his appetite

MW is coming this morning - hopefully we will get signed off now as Sam's cord fell off last week and he is eating so much better and I am sure his weight gain will be quite a lot - fingers crossed!!

Hi to everyone else - hope you all have a lovely day

Gah!!
This baby has spent the morning eating!! Is this growthspurt? Up every hour last night, no sleep so far this a.m. just wants ma boob!
Bah!!!!!

Mummynic So pleased the Gaviscon is working and things are better.
Heartmum That sounds scary Definitely go to the doctor's and let us know what they say.
Barbareeba Could be a growth spurt - they have one at about 3 weeks which W is roughly isn't he? Sorry, can't find the up-to-date stats thread to check. I've had those days when it's just constant feeding (although fortunately not at night as well) and it is very wearing. As Obs was saying yesterday whoever said sleep when baby does never had to deal with a newborn who feeds constantly!
Monkey Glad you've got the pumping sorted! My doula lent me a Medela pump but I bought a Medela swing one from an NCT friend who is not bf and finally got around to trying it at the weekend - it's fantastic! I managed to pump 100mls in one go and I never got anywhere near that with the other one. I can now leave E with DH occasionally...
Speaking of which - we have a breakthrough on the sleeping front! I put her in her hammock this morning after her feed and she slept there for 1h. I've now just put her down in her cot in her room (which she's never been in before) and she's fast asleep The trick I've been using is to lay her on a muslin I dripped milk over and lay on during the night One of the midwives suggested it right at the beginning but E had no real problems then so I'd sort of forgotten about it with my fuzzy brain. Anyway, we'll see if it continues to work but fingers crossed!