November 2008 - Cooing babies, tired ladies

[LackaDAISYcal]

now I'm off to catch up.

hmmmm- I have vit drops - I had them for dd1 but she was bf and ff. Prescribed by hosp when we left and her paed said to continue at check. Minirosa is bf with the odd ff last thing at night ( when I get that expression mum no milk or after 30 mins mum there is nothing here ). It seems the norm here. My diet is semi balanced certainly not as good as it used to be and long gone are the days of hot food or tea or even eating slowly !!!
We have a snot sucker but it also has a tube off it and yes you suck gently it is great when they are really snotty and you can hear the mucus there. There is a fliter in it as well. It has been a god send when she has been really stuffed up.

Hana also wanted to say that the other big thing to look for in a pram is re-sale value, and the Bee certainly seems to have that, so it may compensate the hefty price tag.

evening all!
Enjoying reading about how everyone is getting on with routines. I am battling away with GF "lite".
The Plum is asleep - finally went down at 7:30pm so not too bad. It seems she will go down one night, then not the next. Not sure why? Last night, I eventually gave up and came downstairs with her as I had to eat something, and she literally started giggling at me, as though to say, "mummy - why on earth have you just spent 2 and a half hours in a darkened room with the same classical baby CD going round and round? Are you mad?"
Harumph. Any road up - she's down tonight.

GF brigade - I also find that on the nights she does go down at 7pm-ish, whilst she will settle back at 11pm no worries, after her middle-of-night feed she wants to play and isn't sleepy at all.
I will persist....
Re. taking the bottle - 2 nights ago she took 2 ounces eventually, we didn't even try last night as she was awake all evening feeding constantly while I tried to get her to go down...

Coolkat 6oz in 15 mins with manual pump is fantastic! Well done you!
lacks - am impressed by your Wii-fit age!!
hana - yes I pump in the evening when DH gives LO a bottle.
obs only you know best. You have already given M the best start in life by BF for so long. You have so much to contend with, no-one would blame you for switching to formula. At the same time, don't make any decisions due to pressure from GP or anyone else! You are wise.
Furry (can't get used to this name!) sorry to hear of illness in the house. You are a brave woman getting a pink Bee - my DH would have gone nuts! I even had to buy a "macho" nappy-bag, so everyone thinks I have a little boy!
Also read about your "cheese" under DD1's arms - I also found some of this in our LO over xmas in the bath . Never again!

vbabs well done for getting everything out in the open with your DH.
dozy am of your ski trip! We were thinking of going with LO in March with some friends, but decided it would be too much hard work.

Question - I am flying on my own with the Plum in May when she will be 6 months old. Do you have to check in your pram? if so, what are you supposed to do after check-in, carry your 6-month old around? Any advice mucho appreciated.

Hi all,

Fin went down like the Titanic at 8 on the nose tonight! Fell asleep in his daddy's arms as I was off fo a quick wazz and barely woke up when we put him in his sleepsuit!

I reckon he'll wake again about 11 or 12 so have asked DH if he changes him to do so as quietly and boringly as possible so that changing isn't Fun Dad time but just like getting up to go to the loo in the night. He'll probably need a feed as well, and then I kind of hope we get through til 5 or 6... Wish me luck.

Coolkat, I'm there with you, hon! Now that I know that Fin can do 6 hours and even 7 on occasion I feel kind of denied when he only does 3 or 4! And for a first time, well, I am in awe! Have you thought about donating to a milk bank, seriously? I am only getting 3-6 oz after 4 weeks of expressing. 6oz is about the most I have ever got from 1 boob (it was at concrete bowling ball stage) so respec' and nice one!

Sorry to hear about the job. and and hope your union can help. Sounds like your rights have been infringed to me.

Re HR, ours is a useless scary power-mad nutter who threatens people ("I wouldn't say such things if I were you..." being one of her classic lines), including trying to make a colleague who was being sexually harassed apologise to the git in question for sullying his good name rather than investigating the allegations .

Hana, the bee gets easier to fold as you go on but I agree that it is well tough on the fingers at first, especially the bit you squeeze to take the seat out. When you buy a bee from new you get an amazinly annoying DVD that shows a smug woman demonstrating how easy it is. Do not be fooled - you will almost certainly lose a nail the first time. It is SO worth it, though, especially in shops. I did my Xmas shopping with mine and it corners on a sixpence and fits between clothes rails in M&S so is good for nipping past slower shoppers! {Neeeeeeoooooowww! emoticon]. It also feels pleasingly like a play pram for dollies, thus making you feel younger, until the REAL BABY cries, of course. Not a toy, Saurus, not a toy...

Hi Obs, I think your doc sounds like one of the more sensible medics you've met so far!

Thanks to all for reassurance on vitamins - I am going to send this one to Ben Goldacre's Bad Science website. Pfft.

Anyway, I'm going to go and start writing my Xmas thankyou letters unless Fin has other ideas of how I could spend my evening.

Laters!

PS Vbab, if you're online later - see you tomorrow at Costa at 10!

Monkey I know, I'm not comppletely sold on my name- it was a rush job- I had just been reading the book to DD1 so it was in my head. I may well change again.

Everyone is asleep here, except me.

Good Evening Ladies and I apologise for barging in. Would like to chat with you all if you will have me, I have 2 DD's my eldest is 4 and my youngest is 9 weeks, my DH works away a month at a time so miss him when he is away.

it's been busy this evening. I've read everything and can't remember a bloody thing.

agree vitamins are absolutely not necessary rutho. You would have to be at the point of starvation before your diet affected the nutrients that baby gets.

obs, what your doc said about the guidelines being for healthy babies seems counter-intuitive to me. surely unhealthy babies would benefit from being on milk for longer? also, if it's just wind, why would solids change that? I know very refluxy babies are often weaned early, but if it isn't reflux???? I think I'd want more advice/a second opinion/to do lots of research before doing something that could increase my child's risk of being unwell in later life.

cookat, she will probably take more EBM from your DH/her babysitter. After all, why have "tinned" when fresh is right there

hana, after testing these twin buggies over the last few weeks, my main bit of advice is make sure that the pram will fit a tallish toddler. DD's head is already above the seat of the iCandy pear (the hood was over her eyes and it's supposed to do until three ) and she only just fitted in the Jane powertwin, and she is on the 25th centile for height! I would be mightily fucked off if I paid £600 on a pram that only lasted 18 months.

I think the P&T is pretty easy to fold, although it's a bit of a slog getting it into the car. If you are thinking of adding to your family, the P&T would make a very economical buy. Agian, having tested all these buggies suitable for a toddler and a newborn, the one coming out tops is my P&T!!

ah...bumble again!

ha ha rutho - isn't it funny how when they go down, you're suddenly at a loss of what to do somehow? I've just been plucking my eye-brows...

Furry - I just liked the Pink in your name... it suited you!

I think I've lefy my P&T unfolded too much-it is really stiff now. DH can do it, but I find it really hard. I still love it tho.But it doesn't do rear-facing, and I miss having the choice. The Bee is a lot cheaper than the other Bugs. DD1 fits fine in it at 2.5- but no way will it go up to age 4 as it states on the blurb. But then DS never goes in the buggy anymore at 3.5.

I'm not convinced by your GP's advice either, oblomov, but then all my dcs have come after the wean after 6 months advice, so weaning earlier just seems odd to me.

MM I know, I kind of got used to being pinky. Hey ho.

ceebee & ladybuzz - and to deal with DS's. ladybuzz - cant wait for you to report back with the solution to all our probs.
ruth - thanks for your post regarding my chat with DH. Also sorry to hear about your mum. Looking forward to seeing you and Fin tomorrow.

A - Not having the bedtime routine this eve. She seems a little hit and miss with with it. At the mo she keeps alternating between sleeping, feeding and high pitched (not the usual) screaming. ??? She has got her medical and first jabs tomorrow on her 9 week birthday. So cue more screaming.
DS - Had a nice eve with him, he did try it on at bedtime with DH, but today I actually smacked him on the bum as I had enough of his behaviour, ignoring me and kicking me. He promptly cried his eyes out saying "mummy". I just believe smacking isnt the answer and feel bad for doing it but dont know what else to do and this was the last straw.
MY PARENTS - both phoned me tonight to see if I'm ok as they thought I seemed down earlier. They both phoned without realising the other one was phoning. I had a long chat with Dad, WOW, about me and DS and how I feel I cant talk to him and mum and it upsets me even more. He was great. The chat with mum was also good but dad seemed more understanding.
I need a hol for definate after all these deep and meaningful chats!

Maybe you could be PINKfurrystripeytiger?

vbab, try not to beat yourself up about smacking DS. Yes we all know it isn't the answer, but I think those of us with older DCs have been in that zone before (I've smacked DS before and feel awful for it, but it was borne out of frustration more than anything). I hope that you can find someway to get through to him as the stress of that on top of all else going on must be horrible.

right, I have some ebm for DH; I'm off to bed.

Hi all. Just a quickie as Niclet has just gone down......

I have got to page 12 and have given up... Sorry for my ignorance in not knowing what's going on....

SSSSHHHHHING I have to take the credit for this. Stems from J's recent hospital stay when a nurse did it to him and he went to sleep. I tried it at home instead of the automatic reaction to feed him and it worked a dream!!!

Hula jeans I bought 2 pairs today!!! Fabulous!!! The bonus is that they do them in a 28 leg, I am only 5'1" so was extremely pleased that New Look finally cater for us smaller ladies.

Hope you are all ok. I will try to read a bit more. Welcome back Rutho

Oh, J is in 3-6 sleepsuits at just 9 weeks old!!! He's only 11lb 5oz but has long legs bless him!!!

Hi Ellielou!

Ssshhhing - Can someone explain but in very easy to understand small words . Just that wheh I try it with A get no success.

WEIGHTLOSS BUDDY - Anyone live near Rotherham (near Sheffield, South Yorkshire) who fancies being buddies to support each other with having a healthy diet and exercising sometimes together. FOR GENERAL SUPPORT.

Vbab & Ceebee I have started reading 'Toddler taming' and although I haven't reached any of the soltion bits as yet I was crying with laughter last night whilst reading it, It made me feel greatto know that its not my DS its actually all toddlers they just have their own little ways . I will read on and report some more!

LOL at Ruth and Neeeoooowwww, I have a picture in my head

Monkey I think it depends who you fly with but when we went last year with Virgin they let you keep the buggie until you board and the check it at the gate so you should be OK.
We also got to board first!

Hello and Welcome Ellielou

Jay slept last night from 10pm til 6AM so I think we need to keep up with the late feed - He is a very different baby from DS!
He finishes his ABs today and his wheeze is no better then it was last week we shall se what the doc has to say on Thurs!
I'm also packing my 0-3s away I weighed him on the wii fit yesterday and the little chubster is 15lbs.

ladybuzz - WHAT IS YOUR SECRET? 10pm til 6AM!!! I've also decided not to drop the last feed and class even one once of milk into A then that is good as most nights she just wakes then 2.30-3.30AM for quick half hour then straight back down. Funny you should say J is different to your DS. A is different to mine. I never had trouble getting feed into DS even at 10.30pm and maybe that is why I think he sleep through at (i think) 4 ish months old.

A - She has been a little MINX! Had no bedtime routine last night she wouldnt have it. Then was actually awake for the 10.30pm feed. Woke 2.30am straight back down. GREAT SO FAR. Then at 4AM and for ever half hour after she started crying until I got her up (!) at 7.30am. I tried the Sshh rather than just picking her up. But I stroke her face rather than rest hand on her. It seemed to work this time. Well for half hour at a time.
DS - very highly strung and emotional this morning. Wonder if I'm going to get a call from nursery to get him early.

Must go only got 1hr 45mins to get organised and meet Ruth at meadowhall for much needed conversation, coffee and cake. THAT'S NOT MUCH!

Thinking of a name change ... maybe with MINX in for A but not sure what would be acceptable name for DS.

Vbab if it makes you feel better I didn't sleep the whole time, he had a couple of whinges and I had to get up to him bu he was still asleep and didn't want fed. He gets his arm through the bars on the crib and then gets stuck and whinges!!
Have a lovely time with Rutho

Glad to see LadyBuzz getting some sleep.
We co slept from the beginning yesterday. From 8pm-7am. I say co-slept, but let me assure you that NO SLEEPING what-so-EVER - NONE, ZILCH, NITSCH, not a f**king sausage, went on during that time. Not good.

Oh Obs I am sorry you had another bad night. I honestly don't know what to say.

Expressing Ok so I expressed again this morning as we had another good night but I only got 4.5oz - Do I have to sterilise the pump all again and then try to express some more later and mix it with what I have put in the fridge? As she may want more that that when DH gives her it?

Can I express at anytime? How long does my boobie take to refill? I am thinking of getting some stock in the freezer

New nursing bra's are fab had M&S ones before but got debenhams yest and they have a peep hole for your nipple so your whole boobie is not on show!!

Oblomov I have the fisher price rainforest swing - its not exactly upright but it is alot more upright than the one he was in yesterday. Ive just put some pictures on my profile with Henry in it.

Also just been looking on amazon and this one looks more upright also

www.amazon.co.uk/Fisher-Price-Deluxe-Take-Along-Swing/dp/B0002VZ200/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UT F8&s=toys&qid=1231840671&sr=8-18

Morning

Obs so sorry you had another crap night last night Was the 'old-skool' dr a paed or a GP? If a GP, I would definitely be seeking a second opinion I think. I know I have mentioned my friend before whose DS was lactose-intolerant - they suffered what you are going through for 4 months before they got an answer (and she has admitted to me that they used to seriously question why they had had children!) so I really hope you resolve it sooner than that.

Ladybuzz glad the book is keeping you amused - if it is really good, let me know and I will see if I can get a cheap second-hand one from Amazon. I felt the same on Saturday night at the party we went to - DS1 is so boisterous and will not sit still (EVER!) and I was dreading everyone looking in disdain (the party was full of snobs!) at us as we unsuccessfully tried to control him....fortunately the grandson (who is 4) of the man whose birthday it was was just as bad as DS1 Although this meant that the pair of them were running round the hotel causing double the amount of chaos I actually thought 'thank god I am not the only one who has one of these'

Am also of your sleep-through!

Sam is also completely different to DS1 - DS1 was never really interested in feeding during the night and started sleeping through 7-7 at 4 weeks old - even now, if we try and give him a drink in the middle of the night cos he is coughing or whatever, he looks at us as if we are a bit strange I dropped the dream-feed for Sam a few weeks ago as it wasn't making any difference and, by not doing it, I can go to bed early . Last night we were both asleep by 9.30, Sam woke at 2 - took 6oz! - and then woke again at 6.30 - quite a successful night really! Now if only I can get DS1 to not come and disturb me twice a night, I will have it cracked

Welcome Ellielou - a month at a time must be really hard. My DH works away 2 or 3 nights a week and that is hard enough with 2 children!!

Vbab/Rutho hope you are having a lovely coffee and chat Is there a potential romance between F and A???

vbab with sssshhhinh you need to be absolutely sure that baby has had everything needed - full tummy, warm, clean nappy (although I wouldn't change it unless quite dirty as it wakes them). I did this the first time because J was comfort feeding hourly but just sucling, not really feeding. Dummy didn't work... So next time he cried I went in, kept the light off, rubbed his tummy saying ssshhhh, once he was calmer I patted his tummy, breaking up the ssshhhhes. Once he was quiet I rested my hand on his tummy with the occasional ssshhh. I then took hand off him and moved to my bed with the occasional ssshhh. Took 20 mins in total - he'd been crying big time to start with - it's been quicker since.

It's failed a few times too - mainly when he was genuinely hungry - hunger is the key for this. He mustn't be hungry for it to work.

Margot you can keep buggy till you get on plane, Right up to the door! We are taking twins and toddler to oz in March! Nice one! Give a dose of calpol if a longish flight and not sleeping, sends to sleep, lets you watch a movie.

Had major row with dh this morning. Started about routines. Ended up about everything . He ended up getting pompous about our different 'parenting techniques'. 'Scuse me, but he was barely around for ds's babyhood and even boeyond just in the evenings/ weekends. Just because he is off work, he is trying to take over and it is driving bananas. He is GF in a man's body! I do want/ need more routine cos of twins, but I am NOT going to have a schedule.

Obs, to add to old skool advice...having a bath/ kicking on the floor can help wind as they pull legs up and do loads of farts, but only well after a feed otherwise puke city.

hi Ellielou . I crossed post with you last night and didn't notice yours, so apologies; I didn't mean to ignore you .

coolkat, best time to express is in the morning I found. And no need to wait for boob to refill as such, if you can stimulate enough with the pump to get a second or third let down (babies do this throughout a feed, but one only tends to feel the first one). Otherwise, feed off one boob and pump off the other (either during or after the feed).

If I haven't got much, I just put the cover on the pump and store it in the fridge til next time, although BM is OK to leave at room temperature for a good few hours. I never even bother sterilising the pump and collection bottle tbh, but do sterilise the storage containers or use storage bags. You can keep ebm in the fridge for up to a week before freezing it as well, although I usually don't leave it for more than a couple of days. And yes, you can add to the stuff that you already have expressed. Look on kellymom...great advice there on all things pumping.

obs, sorry for your crap night. Have you tried cutting out dairy? although if you are mixed feeding you cutting it out won't help unless you can try soya formula.

buzz, hopefully you'll get some stronger ABs for J and his wheeze goes soon.

am in awe at taking your lot to Oz Merry. the thought of flying with mine fills me with dread so we are sticking to this country for hols for a while yet. Sorry to hear about you and DH's clash of parenting techniques. We get a bit of that here as well; mostly with DS1 and probably due to me not wanting to let go of my single parenting days when DH would just go along with my parenting techniques. We are generally in sync about things but have the odd flare up.

I left DH with 6fl ozs of ebm last night, which bumble drank in one go and was looking for more twenty minutes later....he then fed from me voraciously for half an hour to the point that he made himself sick....then he was settled in his own bed by half one again and slept until after half seven. That's two nights following that rough pattern and one a few days ago so I feel that we are making progress. his crying bouts are getting fewer and further between in the evenings as well so fingers crossed we are coming out of the worst of it. We just need to work on the evenings now.....if we can get him settled a bit earlier each night we might even end up getting a full night sleep ourselves soon!

off to feed bumble and then going to toddlers this afternoon.