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!!!!!

Good lord, please scuse spelling. And I actually teach English.

mum2becks - sounds like you are saying the same probs with your DS as i'm having with A regarding routine and the feeds.

dozy - At 5/5.30am I leave A in her basket (in our bedroom) whinging and even small cries as long as poss so that i dont jump up at every wimper (but can hear it ) especially as she tends to do it in her sleep sometimes and sorts herself.

She followed GF without me trying too hard: 5pm-8pm had more than average feed.
8pm - Basket in our bedroom.
10.30pm - Woke her (managed it by turning the "big" light on rather than just x-mas low lights) then she had an average feed.
2.30am - SHE woke up had small feed. I just tend to give her what she wants but glad only a small feed as this is the one to drop eventually.
5am - starts disturbing.
5.30am - get up as she is SCREAMING. She has small/rubbish feed, smiles then falls asleep. But of course I am now wide awake and up.
7.30am - VERY GF SCREAMING wanted feed. Small amount againg . Fall asleep.
10.30am - VERY GF SCREAMING wanted feed. Small amount againg . Fall asleep.

IDEAS? Wondering if she needs the next flow teat as she falls asleep at feeds after not much then sometimes wakes for more. but I think they are meant to be 3+ months.

Morning all!

It seems our "routine" is finally starting to appear a little bit, in that Z feeds at roughly the same times everyday and sleeps for the same number of hours for his first stint (for the last 4 nights). He feeds at 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and 10pm. I try and get him down to stay down at 10.30. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. He will then sleep 7.5 hours and wake for a bum change & feed and go back down for a few hours and is usually around 9ish. Now if only I could get his naps sorted so that i knew when to expect him to be asleep, but it is still a bit hit and miss, but I know he will sort that out himself in good time as well.

Daisy Glad to hear you are ok and have not serious damage, I hope you are not too sore today.

As for a Christmas outfit, I caved and bought myself a breastfeeding dress, which thankfully looks very nice on. HERE. I got the Ariso one. Now I need to find enough time to manage more than a quick shower so I can shave my legs, lol!

Just a quick one as I have not read threw the other posts as I have been poorly.

Yesterday I thought that I had the flu and was in a right state, sadly my mastitis has come back with a vengence, my boob is so red and swollen today I dread feeding although they say to keep feeding as this gets rid of it? Doctor said to take double dose of Anti-biotics today so 1mg at a time and then reduce back down to 500mg tomorrow.

This keeps reoccuring and once I have fed this out I think I am going to swap to formula as it makes me feel so ill. Its not fair on DH or DD1.

Right off to catch up

Will try and post more later but whilst I have a minute (literally) and whilst I remember, Vbab Sam has been on the 3 month plus teats since he was about a week old (are you using the AVent ones?) - due to his sleepiness cos of his jaundice, we were recommended to use them by the MW to get in as much milk as possible as quickly as possible before he fell back asleep. He has been using them ever since and is absolutely fine on them so I wouldn't worry about the age guidance.

Saurus really sorry about your DH - what an a**e (if you don't mind me saying so!)...not sure of any advice as obviously we don't know all the ins and outs But glad Fin is doing well anyway

Right will catch up more later in between SCD etc!!

Hi Saurus - good to see you. Sorry your DH is being as A-Hole. Have you talked to him? Is he good with little Fin? Sounds like BF must be going well given by his chunky weight!! Good on you!
My DH did nothing round the house before, and still doesn't, and I am doing all the cooking still. But he is brill with Plumski so I let it go.

Lacks glad you're surviving all your injuries, and hope you aren't too sore. Ouch...

HM2J you sound like Z is in a really good routine. Nothing like that here!!

Obs am liking your attitude to going out and doing stuff.
hana i love the F name - and I@m sure you will get used to saying it. I feel the same with our LO's first name - I usually call her all sorts of other things, but rarely her proper name!!

Had a lovely day yesterday. Was gorgeous and sunny, went for long walk along the river with some of my NCT chums (6 x Bugaboo Chameleons - that's Chiswick for you!) and then lunch at a pub on the river. I even took the dog, the real MM! We all had a lovely time.

Oops - oven beeping - lasagne ready.

love to all - pleased everyone is making the effort with xmas dresses! xxx

Evening.
Sorry Daisy didn't get the telephone number of the sexy A&E doctor. Was he a clooney, then ?

Just got back from my mums.

Was in A&E for 4 hrs this morning. Ds crying in pain. You know that different kind of crying. He had very bad diarrhea and has been posseting all week, since monday , when dh was very ill - sick and diarrhea = that gastro-interitus bug that has been in the news. Turns out ds got it too. Nothing you can do other than let it work its way out of the system.

BUT also, I wouldn't let them go until I talked about all the other problems - i.e not sleeping, that have been going on for the last few weeks. Turns out ds has REFLUX, and has been given gaviscon.

Had a lightbulb moment,. It all makes SENSE now . Feel like someone has finally listened to me

Now who are our Reflux Guru's ?
Please I need your wealth of experience to advise what I should be doing.

Oh Obs. sorry to hear that you LO has reflux too. I hope the gaviscon makes a difference to how he is feeling and that he sleeps better. The basic things to do to help are feed him as upright as possible, keep him upright for at least 30 minutes after a feed, get as much wind up as you can, raise the head of where he sleeps as gravity will help keep his tummy contents in his tummy and also a dummy is meant to help. Oh and apparently if he lays on his side, the left side is the best as it aids digestion. I give the gaviscon before a feed, made up with EBM. I use 1 dose during the day and give the full 2 doses before his bedtime feed. Admittedly I don't give gaviscon when he wakes for his early morning feed, so he has gaviscon 5 times a day.

I am sure I have forgotten something but I am sure MummyNic will be along soon.

Obs sorry to hear that DS has reflux but great news that you finally are getting to the bottom of your problems and can finally work on getting him sorted - and like you say Finally someone has listened to you, hopefully things will improve drastically for you now, you deserve it!

daisy glad your injuries aren't too serious

vbab I have the same problem with Jay esp throught the night only taking a very small amount and then going to sleep, I am however going to try the faster teats (thank you ceebee for that advice ) hope it helps you out too.

Can anyone help with an issue that I have please??
Basically Jay is too big for his Moses basket now and he appears to HATE his crib he won't settle and seems to wake quite easily but I think it is because it is quite hard compared to the mattress in the moses basket, I have looked into changing the mattress but they all seem quite thin for cribs - Any tips on how to make him more comfortable? I have been looking at Lambskins but don't know anyone who has used these.
I'm not ready to put him in the cot yet as it won't fit in our room and I don't want him to go into his own room just yet! Any advice will be very much appriciated - Thanks

Hope everyone else is well and enjoying thei weekend.

Hi, just popping in quickly. I hope everyone is well. Obs, I hope DS is better soon, and although it's not good that he has reflux, it is good that you know what's wrong and can now deal with it....and hopefully get a better night's sleep!

We've had a really busy day trying to get things organised for next Thursday, but the kids have been v v v demanding today. DS2 is still really snotty and stuffy and has been really unsettled with lots of mucousy pooey nappies. He is only snacking so is needing feeding every hour and then getting horrible wind afterwards. His longest sleep has been 20 mins as well and he has been cryin when awake. He doesn't have a temperature though so not sure what to do about it.

Feeling better today; not as stiff as I'd thought, but my knee is still bothering me, and the bruise is the colour of ripe blackberries!

Will catch up better tomorrow.

oh, but our tree is up and we have done some decorations in the dining bit of the kitchen. More to do tomorrow. DD is fascinated by the tree and so far has just sat staring at the twinkly lights saying nothing.....it won't last

off to express and then bed. night all xx

Daisy so glad you are not too stiff today.x

Rutho please talk to us some more- sounds like you are going through some troubles- can we help- at least be a sympathetic ear??

buzzre-crib I use a knitted pram blanket on top of the sheet in dinky's crib. I've heard good reports from people using lambskins- I'm just too tight to buy one!

obs thats great, getting some answers. i can only echo what HM2J has said.

margot your day out sounds lovely. bugaboo centra`l round here, too. secretly glad I sold mine now there are so many.

Had a fab day today- went to german market again, also went on the big wheel we have (like LOndon eye) the dcs loved it and a few other 'sightseeing' things- great fun- then off to a friend's christams 'open house' party. Really good start to the holidays!

Hi Ceebs and Vbab-

coolkat sorry to hear of sore boobs I had two bouts of mastitis last time around before I finally cleared it.. maybe you could carry on bfing if this latest dose of anti-b's gets rid of it. I know it's miserable, but you may regret stopping now?? I dunno. I know it's really painful.

HI ladies.
obs - So, sorry to hear about the latest upset in the obs household. i would have been in a right state if "her ladyship" A was screaming like that and then hospital. When A did go to hospital for suspected RSV which turned out correct I was in such a state.
Hope DS and DH both have managed to rid themselves of the bug. YIPPEE to finding out what has been up with DS. Reflux sounds a right b***d. Onwards and upwards and all that .
jinglebuzz - i might try and buy some teats today but just worried about going near a shop so close to xmas but I think A needs them.
pinky - Hi. I love german xmas markets. I try to go to Lincoln one every year with my mum, dad, sis and DS (last 2 years). A will come one day. Me, DS and dad went on a big wheel and he definitely hasnt inherited his dad's fear of heights and was turning the bit we were in up in the air and laughing. Think we are going to try somewhere different next year.

ME - Had good day yesterday. Got my curly locks CHOPPPED into a bob type shape that is higher at the back than the front and straightened for the first time. still getting used to it. DH said he liked the length of my hair so of course i ignored and chopped it! At the back anyway. My mum said I looked younger . I also look more like my dad when he was younger with flowing locks when I have straight hair . Looking like a man not sure what I should think.
Mum had DS and A for the 1st time last night so DH could take me for a meal as part of my xmas. After asking DH to come home early as I was falling asleep . Bad I know. I slept 11pm until 9am. I know how to party ladies .
Just phoned mum and said I will be rushing around with a sterilised bottle for A 10-10.30am GF time feed. She said A didnt wake at 2.30am but 5am and then 9am so having 7am feed now! Why cant she do that for us?! Going to interrogate mum and found out how she managed it. Only thing is I'm worried that a 7am feed at 9am will knock on the rest of the day's routine . Will have to "wing it" again.
DS said something amazing last night to my mum whilst he was stopping there with no prompting ... my mum said to him "i love you come hear and give me a cuddle". he said "i love mummy" [crying with love emotion]

See all you later.

obs what happened to my swearing word?! you know what i mean.

hello! Can't believe no-one has posted all day!! That must be a first.

Obs Sorry to hear your DS has reflux, but as everyone says, it IS good you have had it diagnosed so you can take some gaviscon action. And hopefully start getting some more sleep!

Lacks hope the bruising is going down and that you get everything ready for xmas. Shame your LO has the lergy too - it's awful when you can't actually give them anything to make it better

Vbabs good for you being brave and getting your barnet chopped. A change is as good as a rest, as they say, although it sounds like you've had both!! Hope you enjoyed your meal out with DH.

coolkat ouch to your mastitis . It does seem to be the case that feeding through it will clear it, if you possibly can persist.

It's our 6th Wedding anniversary today (where did all that time go?) and DH is really ill with lergy. Has been in bed all day, and was pretty much out of action all day yesterday too. So am trying to look after the needs of Plumski, the Dog and DH. And me. Not necessarily in that order. Thankfully we had a good night last night, and the Plum slept from 12-4am, then 5-8am. When armed with a little sleep I can handle being a single parent for a few days.
We were invited round to our Gaybours for xmas lunch, so Plumski and I went on our own. Fab meal, shame DH couldn't make it.
Hope everyone else is having a nice Sunday x

WOW! Where is everyone?!
Margot - sorry to hear about your DH but you seem to have things in order. Hope you can have a nice belated anniversary at some point.

It really is quiet here today - has everyone else gone and got themselves a life or something??

I have been at MIL's for most of the day - what joy!!

Am currently in Nigella mood and am baking her chocolate christmas cookies - by god, they are delicious!!!

Also, I managed to bath both boys this morning by myself as DH was at the gym - it is the first time they have had a bath together and DS1 loved it (he has developed an aversion for baths these last couple of weeks) and even let me wash his hair without any whinging at all Sam also sat in his seat quite happily - maybe joint baths is the way to go???

tis the season to be busy ceebee

coolkat, sorry about the mastitis again and I hope you can feed through it. Might be worth looking into reasons for it. bra too tight? lying on that side/or your front? positioning and attachment or whether baby is emptying the breast efficiently. It would be a shame if you had to give up.

My Christmas shopping is done...too bad if we have forgotten anyone and my cards are written, just in time to catch last post tomorrow. Can't believe how unorganised I've been this year.

More tomorrow hopefully

hello all. sorry i have been lax in posting. the days`just seem to disappear in a flurry of wholegrain mustard poo and baby wipes. I even had a moment this morfning when DH was fussng to try and get out of the house to go shopping and it wasn't quite going to plan. I tried to get dd into her car seat just as soon as i could get her off the boob, but in bending over emptied the entire contents of the breast shell i was collecting milk in from the other boob all over her, her new clean outfit, the babyseat and my own t-shirt and promptly burst into tears. only dh pointing out that i was literally crying over spilt milk managed to avert full scale meltdown. .

But my woes are tiny - you seem to be in the wars over here. . i hope the bruises (literal and emotional) are healing and the babs who have been ill are getting better.

I am ok but 19 days on from "b" daythe real fatigue is starting to set in and what looked like the beginnings of a nice routine (only one night feed etc) has gone completely to pot for no discernible reason. suddenly the 3-4 hr feeds are not enoughh and sghe is demanding every 1.5-2 hrs. did anyone else have this at 3 week stage? did not realise how impossible oit would prove to find bf-ing info on what is "normal" for either routine or demand lead feeding. i have gf book but am no routine queen so what we had established ourselves was working well until it stopped working1

pologies for length. ramblings reflect inner workings of brain!

RI, good to hear from you

hang in there lovely. 3 weeks is a killer ime, in terms of growth spurts and hormonal meltdowns, but it passes quickly and by week 6 you will be coming out of the newborn fug and starting to enjoy life again.

rutho...you OK?

Thanks Daisy. Will stick with it. This has certainly stopped me from getting too smug after a deceptively easy first fortnight. She was clearly lulling me into a false sense of security (and sleep!).
Hope you all get your cards done. I have had to concede that xmas cards just aint happening this year. What a slattern.

Vbab - your swearing word ? Remind me.
I am assuming that this is some joke, between you and me, where I managed to actually post something witty. Now I can't remember what it was !!!!

This has gone totally over my head.

Hardly surprising, given he fact that I have only had the equivalent of one nights sleep during week 3 to 8.

But last night was better. Max slep[t , and then fed at about 11pm and then again at 4.30pm. He was then awake until 6am, crying and feeding. BUT, it means he slept for 5.5 hours. This is UNHEARD of.

Love to everyone else.

How is sparkle doing. She too was struggling big time, like me.

yay for max and his almost 6 hr kip! that must have been a big boost vbab. perhaps he is saving up a full all night sleep for your xmas present?!

hope you made the most of that chunk of sleep, obs ri 3 weeks is a bit of a difficult patch, but hopefully you wil come out the other side to a calmer time

Dinky appears to be getting a tooth??! Now DS got two at 3 months which I thought was early but this is ridiculous, surely? She has started chewing her sleeve, so I checked her gum and yup, definite sharp pointy bit on the lower gum. Freaky. Anyone else??

Painted the playroom last night, it looks a lot better. DH has some projects planned for it which look exciting- it needs a bit of an overhaul.

Christmas cards at a bare minimum this year, I'mn a fraid- though they are home made

Hello

Brilliant news about the good nights sleep Obs! Well done Max

Pinky in one of my books it says they can start getting teeth in the second month but I think they can also go back in??

RI M had a growth spurt between weeks 2-3 where everything went to pot - feeding and sleeping routines but it lasted about 3 days.

I think/hope he's having another growth spurt now (he is 6 weeks today) as he was up feeding every 2 hours for the last 2 nights but he hasn't done that for weeks - I PRAY its a growth spurt and not regression! On the bright side he is being much happier in the daytimes compared to last week - smiling lots when tone deaf mummy sings xmas songs to him - I think he was getting bored of just me and our house and is enjoying being around lots of people at his grandads house.

I am meeting with twinkle and ladybuzz tomorrow for a coffee and looking forward to meeting more MN'ers and their babies.

My xmas cards are written but still not posted - I am going for the hand delivery if I see people. Silly me wrote "Have a good 2009" in them otherwise I could have saved them for next year - doh!!

Have a good day all. x

Hi all. Posting from the lovely countryside now...had manic weekend. Mum says I have brought everything but the kitchen sink with me, but believe me, I have left A LOT at home, including large mountain buggy and carrycots.

Yesterday was dh's dad's 70th bday party so a big Sri Lankan bash in S London, but a very long and tiring day for us. Left home at 3.30pm, helped set up party at 5.30pm, home at around midnight. Was good fun though, they sure know how to make a lot noise and eat good curries! Babies were a big hit and I didn't hold them most of the night, though ds1 made up for it.

Margot. your dh probably has the lergy I had in the week, it's quite a nasty virus going round. Temperature etc. Now just a very bad cough, cold bit seems to be better, so am keeping my fingers crossed for the taste buds working for xmas dinner. Glad you had lovely meal at Gaybours.

Obs - great news on the sleep through. Sad about reflux, but a lot better you know what it is.

We are having TWO Christmasses - greedy pigglies, we are. Christmas Eve here with my family, with full blown xmas dinner and prezzies, Christmas Day am here with Santas and then Christmas Day lunch with dh's extended family, more xmas dinner and presents! Ds1 is going to be on another planet by Christmas Day evening! I still have plenty of present shopping to do...but at least I am not worrying about food or decorations etc. There was not so much as a fairy light in our house, but now we are at parents there's a tree and twinkly lights in the porch for ds1.