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!!!!!

You'll be able to see he's grwoing well though; I don't need my HV to tell me that DS is gaining hugely.....bursting out of 0-3mo sleepsuits is doing that!

I have a bruiser as well heartmum

Well ladies I spoke too soon regarding DS's behaviour. But now because I have really had enough I am finding myself reacting/disciplining/taking no s**t straight away. Dont know whether this is a good thing or not? Opinions? On a good note DS seems to know straight away for a change who is boss. On a bad note DS cries hysterically which makes me then doubt my actions and pull at heart strings but I stand firm. Now DH who when he is working I am the carer of DS and I've done a pretty good job so far is criticising how I'm dealing with things. Peeves me off especially when I have been calmer that DH is a lot of the time. DS just keeps saying "i want daddy" after I tell him off. I am out of favour. DS behaviour will probably get worse Monday when DH back at work due to missing his dad.

A is a beautiful angel and to be honest my only happy moments at this time are when I'm on my own feeding her or changing/cleaning her. She has such a beautiful smile, but also smiles with her eyes and I love our chats.
A seems quiet good at night a feed (mostly she wont wake up) about 10.30pm then 2.30am ish and wakes 6-7am. But definitely need to look at her sleep and bedtime routine as currently just happens whenever.

obs - Hugs and strong vibes to you.

obs, will a BF settle him? another argument for BFing!

vbab, he is at the age where he is starting to push the boundaries and has realised that he can play you and DH off against each other....amazing how quickly this kicks in, lol....the main thing is to be consistent and for you and DH to deal with him the same way or things will only get worse.

It sounds like you and DH need to sit down and figure out how you are going to unite.

Things are much better here now DH and I have learned to be consistent. We went through a horrible time when DS and I first moved to Leeds as I'd been used to being the authority figure and it took a while for me to get used to DH disciplining him. We sat down and talked about how he both felt we should deal with him, and things are generally good. We also try and keep any criticism of each other for after DS's bedtime so that DS sees a united front, even if it isn't!

oops, how we both felt we should deal with him! DS had no say in the matter

vbab78 I think your doing a really good job as have been there and done that with ds1 who is 5 in Jan... with dd my dh has trouble telling her off as she only has to smile and he melts which really peeves me off as it falls to me to tell her off... but must admit she just copies ds1 - so she knows whats right and wrong and hates the naughty step... just hoping that ds2 will follow along so don't have to do too much telling off - its always like that with your first, it gets easier just like Daisy said!!!!

twinkle & daisy thank you so much.

Happy new year everyone

Vbab, you an me both dreading DH going back to work and leaving us to deal with toddlers who, like Daisy says, are testing the boundaries.
A sounds to have a similar night pattern to DD but last night she was up for over 2hrs and I think DS had a bad dream as he woke and took ages to settle - between the 2 of them I saw in the new year in several time zones!

Twinkle, at your DH going away for so long, you are welcome down her anytime for a break - at least you should be used to carrying ID!

DS is calming down a bit with his scary hugs for DD, and is lovely pouring water on her tummy in the bath to 'wash baby'

Obs - your baby, your boobs, your decision - stick to your guns girl
Haven't been on for ages, hope Christmas was more fun than stress for you all

Happy New Year everyone! It's been great knowing you all and long may it continue!
Quick post from me.

Obs stick to your guns. If M has gone from 50% to 75% percentile, that's amazing and you should be proud of your fantastic BF efforts.

Welcome back juinata. Congrats on baby Patrick!

Lacks - I re-read GF today and was also shocked at giving an 8 week old diluted peach juice . Won't be doing that here!
I am also going to try and instill some sort of routine into the day now Plumski is 6 weeks. Nights are brill - she now sleeps for 5-6 hours straight. But she just won't go down at 7pm for love nor money. She has JUST gond down, at 9:45pm! Ah well...

Right - my resolutions:

1. Find a sensible routine that works for us.
2. Sh*g DH more.
3. Get back to the gym and lose flabby belly.
4. Enjoy my baby as much as poss before going back to work in the summer!

love to all xx

Yoohoo, have booked our summer holiday. We are going to Norfolk for two weeks in August, so if anyone is in the vicinity, I'm up for a meet up.

the place has fishing ponds so DH and DS will be happy, and an enclosed patio to keep DD and bumble (who might be crawling by then ) safe from the water.

margot....F not going down at seven either. He is on DH's lap at the minute, but I'm just about to take him up to bed.

Catch y'all tomorrow evening. One of my NY resolutions is no MNetting during time with the DCs. DD has started trying to shut the laptop and saying "mummy, pooter, a-way" .

i dont think sophie is sleepy atm despite having done the whole evening wind down as usual lol.

lol misdee, that's what bumble is like most nights at this time....tonight though he is sleeping; slumped over DHs lap, but sleeping.

misdee she is soooo cute! Even when they are not doing what we want them to its impossible to be annoyed when they do the "butter wouldn't melt" looks.

daisy - hope bumbles sleepytime lasts tonight...

Tirion has had horrible wind and a snotty nose fr two days so we are seriously lacking nightime sleep (only 2 hrs each night). Then (of course!) she sleeps beautifully (and for hours) during the day. Of the 3 sleep options she has (big cot, little day cot in living room and sleep positioning recliner thingy to sleep in in our bed, as dh is a big bloke and we were worried he could roll over and squish her) her favourite place (and the only one she wouild fall asleep in in last two nights) is nestled in the crook of my arm - typical. Beginning to wonder what is "normal" in terms of throwing up. She seems to do spewing up really regularly about 30m to 1 hour after feeding) and its often this (or wind) that wakes her at night. It goes all in her ear and on her neck and bed, so she gets distressed and wakes and then needs to be comforted and settled.Often she will want to feed again (never sure if for comfort or real hunger cos she has spewed hwer last feed) then the cycle begins again, and nobody gets any sleep. Bloody knackered. Whats the mantra - THIS WILL PASS!

Hva been using infacol (with some success) - anyone got any other tips for windy, vommy babies?

Obs Thanks, I'm just glad he's home now.

ANyone had experience of conjunctivitis (sp?) Niclet has a lot of eye bogeys coming from the tear duct area of one eye? One actually looked like a big bogey and I thought he'd deposited a nose bogey with his hand but I've cleaned the eye 3 time and everytime I look another has appeared. We have docs tomorrow for 8 week check but I'd like some advice before then as it's a condition I've never had. Bear in mind he has a stinking cold along with bronchiolitis!!!

reluctant - hope things improve with T soon for u. I would keep a check on the vomiting and maybe even have a word with HV or doctor if it happens everytime or most times. Please excuse the lact of background knowledge but my nephew when he was a baby at about a month old was diagnosed with some stomach problem that needed seeing to where he vomited his feeds. Could find out the name if you wanted to know. But since hospital sorted he's been fine and now a healthy 11 year old! Also his mum and grandad have both had the same problem. But my DH and our kids havent.
Not saying that T has got this just something to keep in mind if happens a lot. But also it could be nothing and maybe just a phase. A in early days and even if she upping feeds is a little sick but only occassionally.

littlenic - Is it def conjunctivitis? Just that A along with the bronchiolitis eyes were both all matted up. We were given drops for bronchiolitis when the swabs of the goo showed RSV+.

new years resolutions

• Try to make my marriage work and maybe even make it fun again on occasion
• Not cry as much and dislike/resent DS with his behaviour (still tried everything and dont know how to deal with it)
• Work on losing 1 1/2 stones in weight (Once all rubbish food out of house)
• Have at least 1 substantial and nutritious meal a day
• "Proper" exercise at least 3 times a week (on top of daily running around after 1 toddler, baby and husband). Possibly swimming and exercises at home (sit ups and back). Considering skipping as could be done at home and would be hard workout? IDEAS gym bunnies.
• Have at least 1 hour of ME time a day (bath or something)
• Get a hobby or something that is for ME
• Take more care my skin and occasionally have beauty treatments.
• Get A in a "proper" daytime and bedtime routine.

Think thats it ... going to try to go to bed now but A sounds still awake on the montior.

Morning!

twinkling M is also sick a lot, for the past few days it was after every feed. I was worried about it but when I got him weighed on wednesday he is gaining well so it seems like he's just a greedy guzzler. Yesterday he was hardly sick at all, here's what we have been doing differently:

• The doc prescribed some infant gaviscon so we are using that
• I am BF M upright (sitting between my legs turned towards me). He gets really windy too so I would lie him down to BF, sit him up to wind, lie back down again, which I don't think helped.
• nappy change before feeding
• keeping him upright for as long as poss afterwards (if i can get him to stay still!

I was a bit confused by the GF water/fruit juice bit - I'm not doing it because I'm not quite sure of the point?? Anyone know - Dozy maybe?

Obs tell your rellies to bugger off - with all you problems with M (tongue tie) you are doing a fab job in BF him and he's gaining weight so YOU are all he needs!

M had a good night last night waking at 3am to feed. He started his "witching hour" (grumbles and infrequent cries out in his sleep) at 5.45am so I put the static radio on which seemed to calm him until 6.50am. We have yet to have a repeat of the 7 hour sleep stretch he had a few weeks ago but he has gone down well at 7pm - 10pm for the past 10 days.

We are going to see the cranial osteopath today so I will let those interested know how it goes.

Have a good day all.

GF water / juice suggestion is to be used ONLY if you are sure / confident that the baby has eaten well at the 1030pm feed and during the day, i.e. he has had all his food needs throughout the day. The night feed may then be down to habit of waking in the night rather than genuine hunger. Therefore give him something that isn't food. If that satisfies then you can reduce the volume to kick him out of the habit / be confident in ignoring him & try other settling methods.

I've had 1.5 hrs sleep!!!! Niclet was feeding constantly last night. My boobs are like spaniels ears. I am feeling tired / stressed and, dare I say it, angry this morning. I am exhausted and, whilst I am trying to rationalise his feeding as good - got his appetite back - I am pissed off at his crying for more food CONSTANTLY.

vbab - I don't know, I've never had it to know what it's really like. Luckily we had the docs later - I'll mention the RSV - do you mean that A had RSV in the eyes? J's is only in the 1 eye at the moment.

morning all - happy new year to you and your's!!!

choc Monday's good for me - perhaps not this one coming though as DS2 starts new nursery so will need to be on hand....week after though?

This is where I do GF lite - I think it is absolute poppycock about the juice.....although I have to disagree with daisy in that both my DS's thrived on her fedding routines and were Breastfed for nearly a year. I personally think that rather than demand feeding 10+ times a day, that struturing feeds once your milk is in, is the way forward. IME, it helps the babies as they eating when hungry as opposed to just grazing all day long or using mummy for a dummy. I can only compare this to my 1st DS who demand fed for 10 weeks, was very colicy, grumpy, tired etc and then thrived on a routine. DS2 and Tiger both the same, she is now pretty much sleeping through (sorry ) from 1030pm-6/630am.

My routine is thus (really works with school runs as well, for those of you interested):

7am - up and feeding at same time as 2 DS's
0830/0900 sleeps for an hour (no longer) usually in pram on way to school
1000 - wakey, wakey, washed, dressed, play
11ish - another feed
1130/1200 depending on how tired - sleep for 2 andhalf hours
230pm up and feed
3pm leqve for school run - usually falls asleep in buggy about 4ish - will get up at 5pm though
5pm - fed if needed, otherwise in playgym (this tends to be Tiger's unsettled period, so more oftenthan not, carried and cuddled)
6ish - bath all kids
620ish - fed and put down to sleep around 645/7pm
1030pm - woken for a feed and then sleep until 6/630am ish......

VBAB You ound more positive today which is good, although surely you should be sleeping at 430am rather than Mn-ing

DS2 just woken up, back in a biut...

Morning

Dozy/Choc, I would like to meet up again soon. I'll invite myself round for a cup of tea then
And lets try to meet up with Margot in Kingston again.
LOL at mummynic's spaniels ears.
And muumynic re conjunctivitus. ds1 had it all the time from nursery, used to drive me wild. so contagious. GP would prescribe solution. Not sure if such would be suitable for tiddlies. But regular cleaning, with boiled water, only wiped once, with each piece of cotton wool would do the trick. PLUS, ds2 had a gammy eye last week. I tried the old wives tale of a sqirt of breastmilk. I tell you it was gone/fine the next morning. LOts of people swear by bm for eyes !!!! I was a bit squeamish, but am now a convert.
I too can't believe vbab is up at 4.30 mn'ing. Hope things get better for you and your dh Vbab.

Thanks for comments Yorky, margot and Hana, re sil and mil and bf.
Twinkle, ds1 is 5 beg feb. Dh threatened him with no birthday party if his appalling behaviour over Christmas didn't improve !!

As you may have been able to tell from my post last night, I did leave ds2 with my sil for NYE. He was totally fine and had a lovely time. The same can not be said for me.
I only did it becasue my mum persuaded me that dh needed some of my attention. Well, I wish we had thus left ds1 with sil and mil aswell. He was a pain, and I paid dh no attention, and spent all my time looking after ds1.

Am cross with myself, that I left my lovely ds2. The seperation/hurt was awful. But, having done it, I did not make use of the time, to do the objective, i.e to love and pay attention to dh.

PLUS, I am alone in the room, pumping at 11pm. I transfer the milk to those little plastic pouch thingys. Then I trip over, and spill nearly all of it (150ml) down my leg. I take off my killer heels, and there is about 100ml of breatmilk, in a puddle in my shoe. Yes my new killer heels. Which will now presumably stink.
Then when we leave the next day, I put all the ebm in the boot of the car. And it leaks. Not only is it so precious, but dh is livid that it has gone everyhwhere. Nightmare.
Then we had a blazing row, when we got home.

I have to go to see doctor today. re shoulder. Might need steroid injection for the pain. So my bf days might be over anyway.

Dh admitted, after asking how long I was going to bf for, that he wants my 'boobies back asap' !!!! And he admitted that he doesn't want to make love to me, for fear of milky boobs. And that he doesn't find me sexy, becasue I sleep in bed in my fluffy dressing gown, becasue I am frozen and up and down to ds2 all night.

So things are not good on the obs and dh front

Hope things are better for you guys.