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!!!!!

vbab, I agree that that doiesn't sound like too bad a night.....I'd give my eye teeth for that much sleep

that said, if it's not usual for A then I can see why you are tired. She may have had a bit of a gripey tummy from the too strong formula? or picked up on your anxiousness at flying solo? hope she has a better night tonight.

pinkee, can't believe you are looking forward to the school hols

ceebee....there is a profile mover tool, if you go into your registration and then public profile it's there somewhere so that you can move your profile over to your temporary name.

DS is asleep over DH's lap. He is also asleep. I've expressed a 5oz feed....all from the one boob in less than 10 minutes , so I'm off to bed, dosed up on red wine, voltarol gel and paracetomol.

waves goodnight to one and all

[ashamed emotion] Thanks for the reality check regarding A ladies.

Oops - have sorted my profile out now

oh, vbab, didn't mean to make you feel bad . It's all relative isn't it? I actually feel OK on the sleep that I'm getting, but if we have a really bad night and I get even half hour less then it's a killer.

Have not had a chance to read through, only just home and about to grab a bath whilst the going is good.
What a few days we have had!

Took a bad flu over the weekend, was horrendous, so knackered! Then took mastitis.
Had appointment with a consultant , 150 miles away on Monday, nearly didn't go cos felt so awful. Was a blinking good job I did though.
The appointment was to get Jonathans hyperspadius looked at to see how bad it is, but as soon as she looked she said,'We need to be more worried about that hernia than anything, but anyway he doesn't have hyperspadius, just a top heavy foreskin.'
Hang on back track....'hernia??'
'Yup, so you will just have to cary on for another 150 miles to go to Aberdeen to get that sorted out. Because Jonathan is so small, only they can do it.'

So down we went! Luckily DHs parents live there and they had come up to see us anyway so they took DD and we went straight to hospital with DS.
2 days later and a double hernia operation later!
DS is doing great completely none the wiser but a much calmer baby.
There was me getting all worried and frustrated with him when all the while he was in pain.
Not that I was to know that, but it would explain why he still gurned when I knew he was not hungry, windy or needing a new nappy. Poor wee love.
Ah, well, here is to a happy baby from now on.
I feel like I am home to get to know my new baby though, so different is he from how he was before the surgey.
What a shocker eh!

twinkling - sorry to hear what you and DS have been through. All good from here though. What a nice way to start 2009 with your little man well .

Aberdeen ... i've got family there in Westhill.

vbab I hope you feel better about things soon- you do sound a bit down in the dumps.

twinkling what a week! It must have been quite an ordeal, but as you say, hopefully a much happier little man from here on in

daisy tis sad, I know but I really miss my little boy. I had him home with me full time until the end of September, and now he's at nursery school (preschool) full time. He is such a sweetie and very funny

And I miss DH not being home because he is soo good at cookingamongst other things.

Hooray - DH starts Christmas stand down today, a whole fortnight of DS not having tantrums when daddy leaves.
Hope you're not too stiff and sore this morning daisy
That must have been scary twinkling but at least you now have a happy healthy boy
Hope Sam's sickness doesn't get worse ceebee

DH got up with DS at 530 again this morning, how do we break him of early mornings? He's not 2 till end Jan so too young for the rabbit alarm clock really. When its just me I go in and hug him but put him back in his cot with his bedtime CD on, but DH takes him downstairs and watches baby einstein until we get freeview tuned in and cbeebies comes back to our lives. He says its easier as DS doesn't settle back anyway so he doesn't lose any more sleep. The bit which worries me is that I don't remember DH getting up - am I tuned out from DS?
Its too early for DS as he has already gone down for a nap - heaven help me this afternoon.

So sorry to hear of twinklings ds. Poor little love.
And Daisy's fall. Goodness me.
Sympathy to zonedout and barbs re lack of sleep.

Goodness, there are lots of people who are facing hardships.

Is Dozy the only one who is 'flying high' with her 'Anthea house', as daisy describes it, and her m&s meals, with wine and sorted house,husband, baby and everything else?

I always imagined that I too, would be like that. Look where I am now !!!!

After my very violent hypo, my shoulder still really hurts and I have to get dh to help me dress and undress, becasue I can't lift it up. Still struggling to lift Max and wind him. Brusising is horrendous. So I have every sympathy with daisy.

Max has a umbilical hernia. And a cyst on his testicle. No mw or hv or gp spotted this. I questioned it at 8 week check. Testicles are very very large. with a very very tiny willy. why is that. no one has any answers. I have an x-ray booked for his testicle next week. and we are going to see tongue man again, same day. becasue all is not right.

I am going to kings on tuesday. taking jack and max with me. might try and see Autumlady. My diabetes is shit. I am too tired to manage it properly.

BUT, we have had a breakthrough. Max is sleeeping, and only waking every 3 hours through the night. This is better.

I have treated myself to my works lunch - had crayfish and pheasant and meringue with strawberries thingy.
I did go to Brighton, even though my brother cancelled. I was measured at Bravissimo. Norks ave gone down from a 32G to a 32F. Thank goodness. and bought my first clippy nursing bra. Never had one with ds. They are so fab. Why was I so stupid as to not use them before ??????
And I went out for pizza with my friend last night.

So I have made a mental decision. Even due to lack of sleep, I am living the high life. And really enjoying myself.

Hope you lot are all doing the same.

Still haven't written all my thank you cards for Max's presents. Or all my christmas cards. But all presents are wrapped. And we are having roast lamb. Have a leg ordered. Dh will cook.

Hope you guys all have a fab christmas aswell.

geez what a rollercoaster ride this motherhood lark is!!

glad things are improving obs altho still sounds tough for you, you sound like you are battling through it well

twinking am glad you got the hernia sorted too, was the consultant you 1st saw in ninewells?? if it was i think i know who it was (i work in plastics)

ceebee absolutely gorgeous little boys

hi to everyone else

hana, i got a lovely washing powder called simply sensitive eco smart. It was being discontinued at Sains. I can't find it anywhere! Is this the one you mean? Where do you get it?

Judo Wudo lasted till 7am this morning from midnight. Woweeeeee!

I am much better today. Rash not so itchy (tho still on a lot of piriton and I think it upsets babies tummies a bit). I am not shivering! Temperature is better.

vbab. I have decided there are GF parents and GF babies. Mostly they go together (genetic?!), but sometimes they don't. I think Judo Wudo is a GF baby and would probably get into her routine fairly easily if I tried even a bit (but sadly I am not a GF parent!). Podgkin is definitely NOT a GF baby...I think you should try but if she's not doing it, don't worry yourself.

Barbs. YOU ARE A BRILLIANT MUM. You are maintaining a sense of humour at a hard time. The bf issues and lack of sleep are difficult to handle, but you come on here and get advice etc. And you love W to bits and trying to do . Nothing more

For all of you first timers who wonder how we do it with more than 1 kid, believe me I had SUCH a hard time with ds1. I look back and realise all I have learned and know, which makes life a lot easier this time around.

Obs Good to have you back. Sounds like you've made a good decision to go out and enjoy yourself. It certainly helps to take a break

I am having some sort of mobility crisis. I've only gone and slipped on the stairs again . I managed to grab the banister though so didn't fall (I was on the top step), but I ended up hanging off the banister with one foot on the top step and the other four steps down with my right knee almost on the deck so twisted my knee pretty badly and wrenched my arm . I keep having visions of what might have happened if I'd been carrying DD or DS2 as I wouldn't have been able to break the fall. I'm going to crawl under a rug and not come out until springtime.

on the upside though, I have just been chosen to test twin buggies for a parenting magazine ......and I think I might get to keep one or other of them

off to catch up now.

Oh no Daisy, sorry to hear that you slipped on the stairs again, you must be terribly sore. Gentle hugs heading your way.

Twinklingfairy I am sorry to hear of all you have been through with ds, poor little lamb. I hope you enjoy getting to know your "new" baby.

Ceebee I have everything crossed that Sam doesn't have pyloric stenosis (that was what ds1 had right?!)

Obs Good to see you back, I am glad that Max is sleeping a little better at night for you.

Zack & I had our 6 week checks today. Mine was pretty pointless really, but my BP is good, lol! Zack is doing great, he's 12lb 8oz (over 75th centile), 56cm (50th centile) and has a 40cm head (ouch! 91st centile). The dr says he's not tongue tied but I am still not sure and will get ds2's paed to have a quick look when we see him in 2.5 weeks. She also said that she thought Z's sickiness (even though I told her twice his reflux is silent, he's not sicky) is due to how much he eats and would explain his size (she actually said he might get FAT) . Zack feeds every 3-4 hours during the day & only ever has 1 side. He sleeps for a 6-7 hour stretch at night, so is only having 6 feeds in 24 hours and maybe 1 or 2 snacks if he wants them. He is an efficient nurser, is pretty much done in 10-15 minutes. Does it sound likes he's over eating to you guys??? Grrrrr! This is coming from a dr who says she breastfed her children too.

Afternoon all

Obs so pleased you are feeling better and well done to you and Max for getting him to sleep better, its amazing how sleep can make you feel better! Your high life sounds like lots of fun and you deserve it!

Daisy be careful with yourself!! Our stairs are rubbish, old victorian cottage and very steep, so after falling down them at 8 weeks pregnant I now walk down them sideways holding onto the bannister - I look and feel like an old person but no way do I want the 2 month bruised bum again!

Cricri really interesting what you say about the 6 week overstimulation. I am curious about this too now as M is being very odd recently - when he's awake, whereas before he would have happy awake time, either in his bouncer/playgym or just smiling and pulling faces with me, now all he does is cry - he will go in his rocker for 5-20 mins which is good but when I hold him he just roots and cries. I know he is very sucky but I don't know why this has only just started happening. I don't know if he's having a growth spurt as he's very tired too (he's 5 weeks 4 days).

Thanks all for the dummy advice before but I have decided to take them away - M was becoming more and more reliant on them to go to sleep and was waking mid naps (never done that before) and wanting me to put it back in which was a nightmare. Instead I am giving him a short feed before his naps and letting him suck a bit on me - I know this could be a problem but so far he's always done this and I am not sore at all. For his last 3 sleeps he has gone down straightaway without the dummy.

Also how many of you put your LO's down asleep?? GF/Baby Whisperer say you should NEVER do this as they need to learn to settle but its the only way M sleeps (sometimes he wakes up and cries out but resettles himself so I think this is a good thing??).

Thanks for the mothering reassurance Merry - I figure there must be some good in it as otherwise you 2nd/3rd/4th timers must be gluttons for punishment!

Twinkling - glad to hear your LO is a new happy man, and just in time for christmas!

Right, thats enough waffle from me - got to get ready for our trip up norf tonight for M to meet his daddy's family. We are also off to the hospital this afternoon for a clicky hip ultrasound for M - I think it should be ok as his hip has stopped clicking now but fingers crossed anyways!

PMA of the day - Only 6 days till Christmas!!!!!

Sorry Daisy just realised that "be careful with yourself" sounded harsher than I meant it - not intended and sending hugs your way as well as gentle be careful messages.

OMG, what a bunch we are.

twinkling at your rush trip to Aberdeen. Glad it has sorted things out with your wee man though and hopefully you can settle in to each other better now. where were the hernias? and I presume they were causing him pain/discomfort.

Obs, good to hear that M is settling better through the night and hopefully it'll allow you to get over some of the fatigue and get your diabetes under control. You have to take care of yourself lovely. What happens about his umbilical hernia and the cyst? Will he need an operation? And have you seen someone about your shoulder/bruising? Sounds horrendous and I think I've got off lightly in comparison. I've uploaded a photo of my arse as it is a rather impressive purple today.

hana, F's name is lovely, and really suits your surname, so try not to worry about it. If it's any consolation, I had DS1s name sorted before he was born and he took a while to grow into it iyswim. It's quite a common feeling I think; after all giving a person a name they will use for the rest of their live is a huge responsibility.

ceebee, I hope Sam is OK. I would take him to the docs if you are even slightly worried about it; better to get it checked sooner rather than later and surely because of DS1 they will take your concerns seriously? What was wrong with DS1 if you don't mind me being nosey?

Margot...we need photos of your CW look! I desperately need mine cutting as well, but just don't have the time nor the inclination and I suppose I've left it too late to have it done before Christmas now.

CriCri, it's good to hear that DD is starting to get a bit more settled now as well. See, we are all coming out of the other side of the horrendous first six weeks. We'll be looking back on this time soon and thinking it passed in a flash even though at the time it feels never ending.

Yorky, enjoy your family time

MerryM, you have summed up what I think about GF exactly, but poor you with one GF baby, and one non GF baby . You are doing fab in spite of your rash and every time I feel I'm struggling I just think how hard it must be with two babies and I don't feel so bad about my lot!

apologies if I've forgotten anyone.

Ouch Daisy that is one bruised bot
*Twinkling glad DS is getting better, it must have been a shock for you.
Obs good to hear you are feeling a bit brighter - love the santa photo on FB by the way.
I have new hair and I love it, i've gone quite short and had some colour put in and I feel like a new lady.
DH is on his work doo this PM so I will be doing bedtime for the first time on my own.
He has promised he won't be too drunk and in by 9PM .
Sorry if i've missed anyne

I'm off to A&E to get my knee looked at.....and if the doctor is cute, I'll get him to look at my bum as well

HI all
obs hello- sounds like you have Christmas sorted- lovely!

choco sucking boobie for comfort is fine, as far as I'm aware if a baby is sucking he/she is getting milk- I don't think there is any such thing as an empty breast- I'm sure daisy woiuld know.
I think a lot of these parenting books can spout a lot of guff about breastfeeding. I certainly bfed my babies to sleep- I think it's one of the handy things about bfeeding- and neither of them have trouble settling themselves now, it's one of the thigns they gradually grow out of.

ceebee missed that post of yours- yor boye are indeed beautiful!

Yay to all those seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and looking forward to Christmas!!

hana I had a few off people when I named myu F, and I had a bit of a wobble about it, too. But babies take ownership of their names- don't worry- it is a lovely choice, and goes really well with your other names

cricri it was me askign about the mirena coil- it looks tempting -esp.the reduced periods bit as mine are awful. If I have it fitted whilst exclusively bfeeeding I may avoid the bleeding bit as I don't get periods whilst exclusively bfeeding (I know it's not the same for all ) DH is going to have the snip but he needs surgery on his knee, under GA and I can't see him having another op straigth after- so that may be put off for a year.

daisy I think you may need to consider a bungalow?? But seriously- gentle hugs and waqrm radox baths to you.

Oh daisy hope the knee is ok. But I def think you should get a haircut. I had mine done a feww weeks ago and I felt really good afterwards.

Hernias were in DSs groin daisy
Not ninewells choc, was only in Dundee that time cos of lack of space in Inverness.
Consultant was from Aberdeen but saw her in Inverness.

Well, my 'new' baby is not so different from my old baby He would not settle in his basket at all last night. My dad took him from 11 and brought him to me at 2.15am where J proceeded to grumble until 5! Finally settling on my chest.
I really wanted to get him out of my bed and into a cot, he did it in hospital, why not at home? But it just isn't working. Or he just HATES being in a moses basket?
Finally get myself home to my own house tonight, maybe that will make a difference, but I have my doubts. I guess my, questionable, co-sleeping will just have to continue.

I have a theory on why babies love co-sleeping at night in particular. I think it may be partly to do with warmth as I too notice babies sleep well on their own in hospital and also during the day when the house is warmer. But at night they won't sleep in cot. Their little hands seem so cold at night...even in my bed. But being in my bed and half under duvet is a lot warmer than being in a basket with a couple of blankets (the recommended amount) where they feel freezing.

Daisy...GF babies are much easier!! So I am glad I have one at least one, even though I feel a little guilty that I may not fulfill his appetite for routine! Luckily ds1 was very, very 'off' routine, so I am used to it. His little sister is very much like him, she looks a little similar and feeds on the boob just like him, with much enjoyment, nuzzling, licking, kicking legs etc. I love seeing her enjoy her food. Ds2 is much more functional when it comes to eating.

Did you get dr to look at your bum and knee?

obs, you're doing great to be getting out. am v . sorry about ds's cyst, hope it is not causing him pain - maybe why he hasn't been a v settled baby? hope they can sort it and the tongue. my ds2's balls are same size as ds1's (3yrs) ! not surprised you had to point this out. i am that my babies don't get their 'six' week check till they are 11weeks and me the same, despite c-section. docs too busy...

margot, had to lol at dozy being lovechild of anthea, nigella and supernanny. v strange vision there!! sorry about your car. the nhs may be rubbish round here but so far no-one has messed up our minibus. hope your dh has recovered. fringe sounds excellent. i love 'em, especially heavy ones.

barbs i posted without finishing what was writing to you. jus saying you love will and do your best for him, nothing is more important than that.

twinkling. gosh, what an adventure. glad they spotted hernia, what a blessing doc didn't overlook it. lots of trekking round the country for you though.