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!!!!!

Morning all

Reluctant my DS1 had the condition that I think Vbab was describing to you - it is called pyloric stenosis (there is info on the internet if you search for it). However, it is rare (about 1 in 1000 babies I think) but it is more common in first-born boys. I am sure that is not what T has but just keep an eye on his vomiting - the main thing which made me realise that DS1 didn't just have 'normal baby vomiting' (whatever that is ) is that he was puking 2-3 hours after a feed and the whole lot was coming back up so clearly nothing was getting through - I think it is quite normal for babies to puke up most of their feed straight after and even possett a little in between feeds - but if he is puking huge amounts hours after he has been fed, keep your eye on it. Another characteristic of the condition is that the puking is projectile and very forceful. As I said, the chances of T having it are slim - but even if he does, it is corrected by a simple operation through their belly button so DS1 barely has a scar.

Nic I suspect J doesn't have conjunctivitis - ever since he was a baby, if DS1 had a cold, snot would come out of his eyes aswell as his nose (apparently some babies just do this as the snot needs to come out somewhere - lovely!!). The doctor said that you can tell if it is conjunctivitis if the whites of the eyes are red.

Margot personally I wouldn't stress about Plumski going to bed at 7 just yet - it is still early days (unless you are a routine queen like Dozy of course ). I think DS1 was about 4 months before we put him upstairs at bedtime - I used to enjoy the evenings with him asleep downstairs with us. Tbh, evenings (once DS1 is in bed) are the only time Sam gets to kick around on his gym so we are letting him - he usually kicks around really happily until 9ish and then will fall asleep on the gym.

Yorky DS1 also loves throwing gently scooping water on Sam in the bath . DS1 had started to really hate baths with DH so we tried bathing them together and they both love it - Sam just sits in his bath support looking up adoringly at DS1 - even when he has soap in his eyes!! Bathtimes are a happy occasion again

Am going to get the travel cot down today and install it in place of the Christmas tree in the lounge! Sam is getting a bit big for his moses basket and he really does need somewhere to kick about during the day that is safe from DS1 - I resisted doing it as the travel cot we have is quite big but I can see that shoving Sam in his cramped moses basket all day is not really fair.

Has everyone else's baby smiled yet?? I know Sam is one of the youngest but he was 6 weeks yesterday and still no sign of a smile....I can tell that the first one will be for DS1 though as his little legs and arms go like the clappers in a happy way whenever he sees DS1.

Ooh that was a bit of an essay - sorry

I think it's RSV now - I have looked it up on t'internet - so snotty eyes along with nose and all my clothes and hair - not sure if I prefer sicky shoulders or snotty ones....

spaniels - well my ears boobs are pathetic - I hope they don't look like that after BF for 6 months.....

WEATHER - good news ladies... The weather is set to be GAWGEOUS this summer!!!!! End of some weather pattern is predicted and it should be a lovely spring and hotter than average summer - how wonderful as our babies will be old enough to not need 24hr bfing and we can play with them in the shade in the garden - I might even be able to tend my veggie patch!!!

CEEBEE - can't see redness of the white bit but it explains the bogey I found - it probably was a real bogey - UGH!!!! Can I swap this baby for a healthy one with clear lungs, nose and eyes?!!!! Just kidding, the anger of only having 1.5hrs sleep has passed and I'm deeply in love with my snotty child again!!!

Off to persuad him to sleep... calpol or sledge hammer... decisions decisions....

Hana, can you feed at the clinic or is it your aim to feed in the cafe?

Cinema - is 1030 the time you need to leave the house?

hey all - back after smoked salmon and scrambeled eggs all round - we are off to the zoo in a bit (prime example of where Tiger has to fit in around us and we adjust the routine, she will either sleep in her buggy or I will let her have a longer sleep this afternoon to compentsate)

Firstly, obs your body, your baby, your boobs....as lots of us have said, it is your decision on what to do for the best, I am quite surprised your DH agreed with SIL and MIL, especially as he seems so supportive of you normally. has it gotten to the stage, where BF is taking over and he feels pushed out/inadequate??????????

Your story of the milk reminds me when I had a huge stockpile of frozen breast milk in the freezer and didn't shut the door properly, it all defrosted and had to be thrown away - I was literally crying surrounded by spilt milk! Can laugh at it now, but at the time, I was devastated!

hana seeing as you are so forthcoming in your questions we pose about AF, I would be delighted to answer yours regarding routine

Sleep - at the moment, I am going to bed at 11pm (as staying up with hubby) and getting up with Tiger anytime after 6am. However, when he is back at work, I will go some nights at 8am and therefore will be getting 10 straight hours..........Oncve she is sleeping through from 7pm-7am (from 12 weeks onwards) I can sleep 12 hours if I so wish! For me, it is never a problem as I have always got up for 7am whether it be for school or work. At weekends, DH and I take it in turns to have a lie in, and if one of us is on the 7am awakening, the other can go back to bed later. The main benefit of this, is that by 7pm we get the evenings to ourselves. With DH doing the job that he does, this is crucial to us - also from my point of view, I am ready for a kid free, grown up evening!!!!!!

Secondly, I always adjust the routine to suit me or the family - as choc is already realising when she took M out on new years eve - you have to let (IMO)babies fit into your life and not the other way around. I absolutely love my kids to bits, but quite selfishly, still want to have a life

So all I would do, in your answer to your questions, is feed in the cafe when I got there (would arrange to meet about 10ish so I could leave at 9am to fit in with the morning sleep) and for the cinema, I would let Tiger sleep whilst I watched a film)

hang on, DH just gone nuts as I am on MN again...shall be back....

Hello and Happy New Year!

Love that thread title, Hana- concise and very accurate!

I too am a bfeed anywhere kind of gal. I think it's the best way.

Imi has been pretty poorly- temp, very bunged up. Only sleeping on my lap- so no sleep for me. She seems to be coming out the other side today and has managed naps. It's been very hard- she is usually such a settled and happy wee thing.

New Year- we had friends round as ususal, had a great time.

New Years day at my parents- nuff said- Mum blames Imi's poorlyness on me eating christams food and bfeeding.. ho hum same-o same-o..

mummynic you experience sounds scary= hope lo is getting better.

Hana - feed at baby clinic before getting bus OR start routine an hr later that day and class any feeds before 8am as night feeds - baby can't tell the time remember!!!

Mondays - either start 30 mins earlier or feed on the way to cinema / split feed, a little before going and a little once there.

Sleeping - bah!!! Let em sleep anywhere!! Obviously it's best for them to be in bed but I think you should make sure some aren't so they are trained to sleep anywhere. Most of Niclet's are in his bed but some are on Daddy, sofa, DooMoo, shops etc!!

Just back from doc - got eye drops for gunk but will try just cleaning 'til Sunday / Monday before commencing.

8 week check went well and, despite being in hospital, he had his first jabs. Cried at the time but is fine for now......

He pee'd all over the floor (narrowly missing me and doc) twice!!!

I mentioned his clicky shoulders - they seem fine but get them to keep an eye on them.

Chest is clear.... Hope it stays that way!!!!

Hi Pinky hope lo gets better soon. I didn't have any night sleep from Christmas eve until Monday just gone when a nurse said she'd feed J (I had expressed some milk as he was so off his food my boobs were going to explode) in the night while I slept - I finally had 5 hrs!!! WAHOO!!!! You have my sympathies.

WHat is it with other people blaming bf on any illness / issue what so ever??? It's really making me angry only person who's supportive to me is my sister, dad and one of my best mates. In laws, mum, DH and other best (?) friend make it very difficult for me and are constnatly moaning about the time it takes, how restrictive it is etc etc. Oh shove your opinions where the sun doesn't shine. You're jealous that I am doing what is best for MY baby!!! Rant rant......

Hello!

Hana I'm confused. Are you thinking of starting on a routine? I thought (probably incorrectly!) that AP was the polar opposite of routine stuff? Good news about F's weight increase! I find it really cheering to find out how much weight they've gained - makes all the BF worthwhile!
At Plumski's 6 week check, she weighed in at 11'6, so has gained 3'11 since birth. She's a proper little chubster!

Dozy i love your life! I am a total foodie too but haven't had enough time to cook like I used to. I'm still relying on my brother's home-made frozen meals - which are delish!

Re. routines - thanks ceebee for the 7pm bed-time advice. I decided today anyhow to wait til later to get strict on this bit, following your comment and since we're at a party tomorrow etc, and then tonight, after bath and massage, she's gone down like a dream!! So we shall see. I'm just happy she's sleeping for a long stretch at night.

I love Breastfeeding. Love the fact you can do it anywhere/anytime.
Oven beeping - dinner time!

Hello all

Hana I second what Dozy says about GF-lite. Whilst I spent the first couple of weeks following it quite strictly and not going out so much I now "know" the routine and theory well enough to feel confident about bending it to work around M's needs and my wants. Although I would try and structure outings based on his naps / feeding times I find it doesn't stop me doing the things I want - I went to the cinema before xmas and M slept happily for 2 and a half hours in the sling!

The routine today was really messed up by the cranial osteopath appointment but he is currently in bed (had to bring GF forward 30 mins) and has been quiet for 15 mins (usually a good sign - touch wood!). The CO appointment was really interesting - he asked lots of questions about the birth, M's feeding, behaviour and then spent 20 mins touching his head and tummy very gently (I couldn't even tell he was doing anything!). He thinks M has reflux as his tummy is quite firm, but not firm enough for colic. He said there was some tension in his head which could be contributing to it and recommended another 1/2 sessions. I don't know if it is going to change anything (my reason for going is M has some days when he is very happy and some when he seems very uncomfortable) but as M can't tell us whats wrong I think its worth a try.

Has anyone else been to see one - did you see any change / effect??

I also BF anywhere - did it in the drivers seat of the car today when we were locked out of the house! I hope everyone feels like they can do it anywhere as its such a wonderful natural thing - I was really to hear that on Facebook photos of BF are banned as they are "indecent exposure". I mean not that I would want to put photos of me BF on there but its that kind of attitude that makes people feel like they can't feed in public.

Obs I have also cried over spilt milk - its so frustrating when you know all the hard work you put into it. That was actually the catalyst for me doing some mix-feeding with M. Speaking of which....

Daisy is it true then that Formula does keep them fuller for longer? I had read that this was a myth but the other night (at 10pm) DH gave M 5oz of expressed milk (cause I was very productive ) and he woke at 2am for a feed and last night he had 3oz of just formula and he slept till 3am?? Whilst I would like to keep giving him a mixed feed if the formula keeps him going till 3am that means only one night waking for us rather than two and I am to say I think it would be worth it.

Nic glad you got something for Niclet's eyes. Obs post reminded me that when DS1 was 9 months old, he was sent home from nursery as his eyes had puffed up quite badly and were oozing snot pretty much constantly - obviously nursery thought it was conjunctivitis. I had to take him to my doctor and get a note from him to say that it wasn't conjunctivitis and that he was ok to attend nursery - I think my doctor thought I was a bit loony tbh

Margot meant to add to my last post that we only started putting DS1 upstairs at 7ish when he was reliably falling asleep at that time and staying asleep all night - at the moment, Sam can be awake until 9-9.30 (last night he watched all of Indiana Jones before falling asleep ) but then sleeps pretty soundly (apart from the brief wakings for milk) till DS1 gets up from 6.30 - which I much prefer to putting him to sleep at 7 and finding him waking more/earlier.

Pinky hope Imi gets better soon

Well the Xmas decs are now down and the lounge looked quite big again until we put the travel cot up! Unfortunately tonight DH was sat on the floor next to it and DS1 climbed onto his leg and managed to pull himself into it (luckily I was holding Sam at the time) but then he kept trying to do it again (but without the help of DH's leg) - he can't quite do it but I fear my peace of mind of Sam being in there and DS1 not being able to get to him has now been ruined....grrrr!!

Is anything happening about the trafford centre meet up?
I have managed to express 60z so am leaving DH yo put baby to bed, DS is quiet so hopefully asleep and I'm going to bed - DH is back at work on monday (panic!)

Wow, I'd forgotten just how fast this thread moves!! It is soooo comforting to read all the discussions on routines and to know that I'm not the only one agonising over every decision and wondering how a routine will work...I'm kind of following one from a book called Baby Secrets, it's quite good, but I am not always sticking to it to the letter. For the last 4 nights I have put P to bed upstairs (he is in a crib in our room), and so far so good.....he generally moans for a while but then sleeps until 11pm which is when this book recommends doing the 'dream feed'. During the day, the book recommends feeding every 3 hours - i.e 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm and then 7pm. That seems to have worked ok today - my first day trying it properly! The thing I can't really get sorted though is the naps when they say baby should nap. For example they say feed at 7am, then baby should nap for an hour and 15 mins at around 8.30. Patrick doesn't seem interested in napping at that time at all......he seems to stay awake until it's time for the next feed. I'm trying not to rush to him when I've put him down for a nap and he starts crying...I'm using a controlled crying technique, but I find it hard. Sometimes he cries so hard he turns purple!!! Generally he's so knackered after the effort that he drops off! So these are the kinds of things going through my head, and it's good to know that all of you are having the same concerns, it's good to know none of us are alone!

I have a question to the breastfeeding mums. So far, apart from a couple of days when P seemed to forget how to latch on, BF has been going well. But yesterday and today he has suddenly become very 'fussy' at the breast. My nipple is right in front of his face, in his mouth even, and he screams and screams as though he can't find it. Very odd. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

Another question, this time for everyone. Has anyone else's DH/DP moved out, into the spare bedroom? So far, we have avoided doing this, but now that I am trying out a routine, and trying not to rock P back to sleep at night before taking him back to our room (I feed him in another room), DH has decided to move into the spare room. I'm fine with this, as he has to get a decent night's sleep to be able to get up for work, but I wondered how everyone else's DH is dealing with the lack of sleep....

So many questions from me!! Look forward to hearing all your views!

By the way, I am in the north (Leeds), so would be up for the northern meet-up whenever that is.

P.S. Quickie - how much EBM are people giving for the 10:30pm feed?

how much expressed milk will my breastfed baby need

Bumble has never managed to take more than 5-6 ozs per sitting Margot

off to catch up; you lot look to have been chatty today!

juinetad Sounds like you're winning as far as a routine is concerend! you are very brave doing controlled crying this early. i can't bear to!
Re. your baby "fighting" the breast, my LO has done similar, normally when she's got bad wind/colic and just doesnt' know what she wants. It's most distressing. I've been using Infancol the past 2 days and it seems to have worked a treat. She is much happier.

My DH has slept in the spare room when he has had important work on, but we're fortunate enough in that he's self-employed and works from home a lot, so he hasn't needed to relocate too often! Also, we're getting decent sleep now so I'm not disturbing DH much at all.
It's tough on the DH's - going to work and having interrupted sleep. Perhaps you can negotiate at least a couple of nights where you sleep together, and he helps out?

Juanitad it sounds like you are following the same routine as me (is it the Baby Whisperer one? Tracy Hogg?) I used it for DS1 but I didn't really take any notice of the napping thing - I just fed DS1 every 3 hours (even if it meant waking him up) and let his activity/sleep settle itself which it did quite quickly and his naps became predictable and he could settle himself. I am attempting to do the the same for Sam - hopefully with the same result .

Have to say I am not a fan of controlled crying in babies so young - hence why I let DS1 fall asleep whenever he felt like it, not when he was 'supposed' to.

Margot sorry can't help on the EBM question

pinky - hope imi better soon and at your mum.
obs - sorry to hear about your spilt milk, pain and heels. to your DH comments however truthful. I sometimes would prefer DH just to say what he is thinking, dangerous I know, rather than pulling a face that shows a different emotion to what he has just said and insisting he didnt pull the face. I quite often tell DH if nothing is up "then tell your face".

Just had amazing chips from my new tefal fryer, expensive but worth it and also healthy to good for new year's resolution. Me and DH have got fed up of frozen chips and thought even though its expensive it would be worth it for a healthier version of "proper" chips.

thanks Lacks :-)

Happy New Year to everybody Here's to another year of interesting and supportive chat about our LOs and every topic under the sun!
Really interested in all the chat about routines and bedtimes - I'm trying to stick to the Baby Whisperer EASY routine at the moment and it seems to be working pretty well. She has quite a long nap in the afternoons though - 3-4 hours usually so much more than GF recommends. I'm not sure if this might be too much. She does sleep well in the evenings though, although in the sling so she'll wake briefly to feed.
Had a good day today after a nightmare yesterday. I ended up bursting into tears at 9.00pm after a day of near-constant feeding (at nearly 9 weeks )and crying with me pacing around carrying E in the sling for what felt like hours. DH took her off me at that point and did the late night feed. It sort of worked, although I could still hear her crying occasionally so didn't get any sleep, until she did an explosive poo and needed a complete change of clothes which triggered a screaming fit and it took me a while to calm her down. However, she did then sleep in her Amby nest for 2 hours solid (for the first time in weeks!) and after waking briefly at 2am without feeding then slept until 6am Today has been a lot better - much more regular feeds. I was starting to think that she wasn't getting enough milk again because she guzzled down the 2 bottles that DH gave her last night. A question for Daisy - how long does the cluster feeding in the evenings go on for?
E also had her jabs this morning and touch wood seems fine. Littlenic, hope J is OK after his and also hope his eyes clear up.
I have a question about poo (!) - for the past week E has been doing just one a day, but when it comes there is so much of it that if we don't get to her within a couple of minutes of her doing it (and it's not always easy to tell!) it soaks through her clothes and whatever she's sitting/laying on. Her swinging chair is now out of action because she had another massive poo earlier this evening. Is this normal? It's getting to the stage where I'm starting to get nervous about going anywhere just in case! I'm also thinking of volunteering her for nappy testing because the ones she has clearly aren't up to the job!
Choc I was very interested to hear about your CO appt. I'm still thinking of seeing one as well to see if anything can be done for E's clinginess and refusal to sleep on her own.
Hana Love the new thread title
Obs Hope your appt went OK and that you avoided the steroid injection and can continue bf. Sorry to hear about the comments you had from your SIL which have made you doubt your ability to bf. Hang in there! Sorry also that DH isn't being very supportive atm either - it's not as though you're going to be bf forever is it
Vbab Skipping is a very good exercise and can easily be done at home. Get a swiss ball and some light wrist/ankle weights (Tesco sells them) and there are loads of exercises you can do at home. If you're already walking/running around loads then some light weights will help you tone up and speed up the weight loss. Good luck!
Juanitad Congratulations and lovely to have you back
Goodness, this has turned into a mammoth post - hi to everyone else!

before I fully catch up......

NEW THREAD

thanks to hana for the title

thanks for kind messages re-Imi. She is definitely on the mend- has been asleep in her crib since 8- so getting back to normal, touch wood.

Re sleeps- it's a tricky one, margot I do 'bedtime' from 7pm- she doesn't always go to sleep then-depends how much feeding I've got in before I put DCs to bed, so she can have a massive feed (in the dark) until about 8pm. she then sleeps (or was before she got poorly) until around 11-12pm for a feed and nappy change then wakes for last feed any time between 3pm and 5:30.She will usually go back to sleep before being woken up by her siblings at 7:30.

It works for me, I am home with my dcs all day and as DOzy says it's nice to have some time to yourself in the evening. I like having the evening feed that bit later as it means I can go out and not have to race back- but it's her natural feeding pattern, not a set routine.
My other two both dropped the late evening feed, and would just wake at around 2am for a 20 min bfeed, then back to sleep til morning- so I don't like waking them for that feed as for mine missing that feed has been the first step to them sleeping 7-7.

I don't give EBM, so have no advice there.

Whoever asked about formula and the sleeping thing- IME it's a myth.

ceebee I used a travel cot in the playroom for DD1- until I caught DS dropping his tonker truck in it for his sister to play with!