Fab Feb 2009: attack of the zombie mums

[dinkystinky]

So here we all are, complete with babies and gro-bags under our eyes

PT Happy Birthday, have fun being spoiled at your mum and dad's. Don't worry, after much stressing yesterday and me asking my DH over and over if I'm a terrible mother, I have chosen to ignore the daft paed's advice. Harry is feeding regularly and quickly the last few days, so I assume it to is to try and get him through his illness. At the paed's office yesterday, he was weighed again, and we're up to 12lb 1oz now, on his 6 week birthday.

PT Harry also seems to be at his worst at about 5 in the morning, I have found that putting him on my chest works. I barricade myself with cushions and pillows in case I fall asleep and he rolls off me though

Spotty thank you so so much for your kind offer and info about the vapouriser, I'd be more than happy to order one online and have it sent though, to save you the bother and expense. I'll find a link and send it to you to check it's the the right one

Dinky Harry is having a bath every night now, as part of his calming evening routine (bath, massage, feed, bed) - this actually gives us our longest stretch of sleep, I swear by it. He loves having his head wet, and for him, weirdly, the warmer the water, the better (within reason, obviously). It must also help with his sinuses.

Unbelievably, DH has initiated the conversation about our next child....so - opinions on a good age gap between children? I have my thoughts, but it would be interesting to hear what you lot think

18 months and 2.5 years are great gaps

realistically 18 months was better though, it's going well enough with ds1 and aaron but only because he's not been jealous about having a new baby... if he'd reacted badly i'd not be coping right now.

18 months was hard when preg as i was still carrying her alot but i actually found this time harder as it's alot more difficult to keep an older child happy than a toddler and involves alot more runnimg around and tidying up

with 18 months between them dd really was still a baby when ds1 was born but that was a good thing in a way, we had time before we needed to think about potty training, playschool, or big beds for her... this time though all those huge upheavals for ds1 are being impacted by a new baby in the house which makes things trickier.

all that being said... it's luck of the draw at he end of the day, with ds1 i got preg 9 months after having dd with no period, that was the earliest i could possibly have had him... after ds1 i didn't even get a period til he was over a year!

dinky Jealous? I bought a £10 pair of jeans from Tescos and 2 tops because it was 2 for £6. Hardly Harvey Nicks I may just treat myself to a trip to New Look though.
McDreamy Luke only goes once every other day, he is ff. I think bf babies tend to go less often because there is less waste product in breast milk? I wouldn't worry too much if lo doesn't seem to be in any pain, I've read that bf babies can go as little as once a week. If you are wofrried, no harm speaking to hv or gp though, at least it would put any doubts at rest.
PT Happy birthday, hope you have a good a day as possible.

I've remembered what I wanted to ask.....now the weather is getting nicer, how are you all dressing babies? I went out yesterday with both of them ds1 was in his jeans, vest, a long sleeved t-shirt and I had a zip-up jumper for him in my bag for when it got chilly, but Luke (6 weeks) was wrapped up like he was last week he had a vest, socks, trousers, long sleeved t-shirt, zip-up jumper and a doubled up blanket. I think maybe he could have been a bit on the warm side . Does he need a jacket if he has a blanket? Plus h wears 'proper' outfits which are thicker than babygro's. I never figured this out with ds1 and still sometimes don't know what to put him in either. So when I go out later, if it's still this warm, what should baby be in?

PT You must be some kind of hero ! I can't imagine having to do all toilet training, school runs, big beds and everything else right now, as you know I'm finding it very hard some days with an 18m age gap, think I'd have had myself committed if i had another dc to put up with care for

HUGS TO QK

Birthday hugs to Pink

I am back in my pre pregnancy jeans too, with a huge roll of fat hanging over the top and my overhang tucked into my knickers.

G l a m o r o u s

sms... lol, muddling through more like. i'd have been in serious trouble if dd was in big school as she's hardly ever been on time in months now!

i had aaron out in the garden yesterday in a long sleved vert with a short sleeved romper over it, socks and a nice wooly blanket and he was happy and didn't seem chilly.

when i'm doing the shopping i generally have him in the sling so never have him too wrapped up anyway as he'd sweat to death. generally just 2 layers of cotton clothes and if it's realy freezing a hoodie... i find it easier to add and remove blankets than clothes tbh

Hahahahaha MS Me too, I have the biggest muffin top! I'm like those people you see in the street where you think 'good god, look at the state of that, get some clothes that fit woman!'

PT Thanks for clothes advice. I never know what they need and can't ask dp as he'd have the 6 week old baby out in just a vest. Today he is in dungerees so they are warmer anyway so might just take a blanket for when we go out. He is pretty shielded from any breeze by ds1 sitting infront of him.

Speaking of clothing for the lo's. What do you dress them in if you are going to "wear" them? I have ordered a Moby sling - I'm guessing she won't need her coat on as I will keep her fairly warm? And do you wear with your coat undone or on top of your coat?

Happy Birthday PT, spoil yourself rotten....

and big, big hugs QK .. hope Alexander feels better soon, how scary

Just taken DS to her first baby massage class ! Think she enjoyed it (at least I did anyway )

McD The few times I've had either of them in my carrier, which ds1 was twice and outside Luke has been 3 times, I've put it on under jacket so I could domy coat up over them if it got too cold. I didn't bother with jackets for them I just made sure they had long sleeves and trousers and this was when it was colder than today

Clothes - although it was sunny here yesterday it still wasn't that warm outside - ds is in a vest plus a babygro inside, and I put on his snowsuit but carried blankets with me in case it got colder, though I think I forgot to put them on (we went out at 1.30 pm and got back about 5.30. His buggy (top of the range Maclaren) also includes a sort of inbuilt cosytoes type thing.

Poo - Conor was going for days without pooing, but at the moment almost every nappy is a dirty one. At least that must mean he's getting something out of me. I think the formula top ups (insisted on by the hospital) must have been stopping him pooing, as he hasn't had any since Friday. We have an appointment for him to see a health visitor and be weighed this coming Friday, and then the hospital will be seeing us next week on Thursday, so am crossing my fingers that they won't insist on more top ups - I'm worried about it impacting on my milk supply plus it's actually a lot of work, and trying to maintain bf plus lots of top ups is even harder work.

Lovely day here again - we've eaten lunch in the garden....DS looked a bit on the chilly side but he did insist .

SMS DD is still in her variety of pink babygroes so she has short sleeved vest, babygro and cardi and a little cotton beanie hat. If we go out in the Phil & Teds I don't put anything else on her as she's in the cocoon at the back and has a blanket on her under that - I worry that she's too warm even there as it's pretty cosy !....If we're in the more open lie flat buggy I put her in this soft all in one over the top of her clothes. I think if they look hot they probably are...

Pempe - Your DH is keen - I don't think mine would even contemplate no2 til DS was 2...anyway, my friends who've had less than 2 years between their kids have found the first bit hard but then found it easier later. DS is a bit older at 2.8 years, so more independent and more capable of vocalising what he wants BUT with that comes toddlerdom in full force !! .... Also can't believe what the paed said about sleeping. How can you possibly not let a baby sleep during the day ??...I think like someone else said that maybe what was said got lost in translation a bit ??...My DS ly gave up his lunchtime sleep in September/October time and even now he sometimes still needs a little kip in the day. He just looks exhausted sometimes.

Off to take DS to his little football session this afternoon - it's supposed to be quite well organised but you try telling a bunch of 2.5 - 3.5 years old what to do - it's carnage so very entertaining and something I can do easily with him whilst DD sits on the sidelines with me. Takes up an afternoon and he absolutley loves it. In fact he's also started asking if he can wear his football kit all the time - he wore it on Sunday to the Garden Centre. Bless 'im - he'll be asking to wear it to bed soon. DH said he just saw himself when he looks at him in the kit [sentimental emoticon]

PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY PT.

More of the muffin tops here... My pre-preg jeans are very forgiving and I can tuck most of my overhang down the front. I bought some Limited Collection skinny jeans from M&S yesterday. Not sure who I was trying to kid but I couldn't get them past my knees - I suppose I could buy a bigger size - it's hard because I know what size I am in my head but can't bring myself to buy the size I am in reality.

Am I headed for those boob warming trousers that ladies of a certain age wear perhaps??

PPSS _ sorry just another question for DINKY - did you say you had a personal trainer - whilst on the subject of muffin tops??

I'm wondering whether to try to find one as I need to lose (well don't but would like to) some weight and tone up for my sisters wedding which will arrive quicker than I think - it's 3/4 months away and I need to lose about half a stone and tone up. Do you use one in conjunction with a gym or do you employ one independently? I've just given up my very expensive gym membership as it just wasn't worth it - thinking I might try running (have done it before but do find it boring) - so need motivation.....

all of you who can get into pre-preg clothes.....I still have a stone and a half to lose before I'll fit into any of my normal clothes. Belly actually not too bad but bum and legs are shocking!

happy birthday PT* !!

I with you Calico my pre preg clothes won't see the light of day for sometime yet Very of those that are back in them.

Finding it really hard to keep up! Isobella just hates being put down, she looks like she is asleep so i put her in her cot then bang eyes open and screaming!

All is well here, hope everyone is ok. Im sorry too many pages to catch up

The good thing is though managing to get out most days to group or for coffee, its really important to me to have some adult company, even though we usually just talk about babies! went to bf group today which was nice.

my nipples are still sore, tried everything, i really do think she just has a really hard suck! sounds daft but think thats the case. wonder if it will get easier?

love to all mums and babes xxx

just to clarify im sad about not keeping up with thread not about cuddling isobella all day. I actually love it, bet ill regret it later!

Hahahahahahhahahahahaha herb you really are very funny. I'm the same if you ask me what size I am, I'll still say 12/14 when it's actually more like 18 atm.

I'm not back in pre-pregnancy clothes, I'm just out of maternity. I bought a new pair of jeans in a 16, so still a bit tight and I can't sit down for too long but getting there!!

Oh, herb meant to ask you, how do you give dd gripe water? Luke won't take from a spoon so I'm using a medi-syringe, but he spits it all out, so I have to dunk his dummy every now and then and don't think it's having desired effect.

I use a spare top from the infacol. if you put it down the side of the cheek quite far down with head back then it should go down !

gripe water.....we started our Luc on it last night. Waited til he was screaming with windy pain, made sure he was horizontal and poured it off spoon into wailing mouth. Shocked him into silence for half a min.

Happy birthday PT good day to have a birthday ( the day after st Patricks! ) Hope your having a decent one...

Qk sorry to hear about Alexander but glad alls well that ends well. DD3 had a lumbar puncture just after she was born when she was in SCBU and it was horrid - i know what you mean about crying more than them its heartbreaking but im so glad hes ok

Dinky am really sorry to hear about your aunt - very sad news indeed.

Milo's still going roughly every three hours between feeds but am hoping with him coming up six weeks that he may start to go four soon. Hes definately growning now though and his newborn/first size stuff is not really fitting anymore - its 0-3 months ... does that mean hes not a newborn anymore awww

Quick question, Im still bleeding after c section and wondered if this is a period? I stopped about two weeks ago and although still had the odd pink streak in my ordinary discharge i thought i was done. Last weekend i started to bleed again quite prolifically accompanied by mildish period pains but with no clots or anything ( sorry if tmi ) - i am only coming up for six weeks this Friday, could this really be my period? If not i cant understand why i stopped for so long and now have started post birth bleeding again and why so heavy? Very odd. Wish i could remember when i stopped in my last pregnancys - im sure it was only a couple of weeks but surely 5 weeks post birth is too early for a period?

How gorgeous is this weather? Its feeling positively springlike isnt it? Any news on a date for the intended meet? Would love to come now i dont have to negotiate the tube with a massive bump!

Pink - happy birthday; hope your folks spoil you rotten.Sending you some virtual champagne (my french mate was told by her midwife that a glass a day is good for bf: probably complete rubbish but nice to hear ) and donuts in celebration....

Nkweto - snap; Danny had his first baby yoga and baby massage experience today and I think loved it (he was awake for the whole experience anyway - then slept for 4 hours afterwards!!). Used to take DS1 to those classes and he loved them so is nice to take Danny too...

Herb - I used to use my personal trainer at the gym (combined it with 2 sessions on my own) but when she left the gym I used to go to, I started doing training at home with her at a fraction of the price (mates rates - always good - in gym will cost around 60 quid; at home is half the price) and combined it with either myself at the gym 2 times a week or a run and an exercise dvd a week (Have got the Erin O'brien postnatal fix one to try out once get the all clear from the doctor - liked the prenatal one she does so have high hopes). She's pregnancy and post pregnancy trained which is important to ensure that you build up your ab muscles and dont overdo it on your pelvic floor at the start - I started seeing her when DS1 was 7 months old . When I was on mat leave with DS1 I used to do buggy workouts in the park which were fairly effective and pretty cheap (£3 to £5 a pop); do they have anything like that near you? The BEST thing I have found for toning abs though is pilates - most studios do post natal classes you can take your baby to (or at least the ones around me do). If you're going to run, work up slowly as your pelvic floor will still be weak from carrying the little one so may not be up to an all out run yet (I didnt start running again until after stopping bfing DS1 as was paranoid about becoming incontinent lady; I know you're formula feeding so not the same concerns).

McDreamy - DS1 used to go or 6 days without doing a poo and then do a megapoo (is still abit like that now ); Danny goes once every day or every other day with a poo vending type poo (once it starts there is no stopping it!)

SMS - I think the idea is a baby should wear one more layer than you generally. If Danny is in the sling I put him in a vest and babygro - and a cardy and hat if it is cold- as he is getting my body heat too....

MsS, perhaps you should try scheuduling day time feeds at slightly shorter intervals, it sounds like 4 hours might be slightly too long. I can't remember when your baby arrived - sorry - but I always aimed for 3 hourly feeds rather than 4 on formula - but maybe 3.5 hours would work for you...

littlesez, my nipples are getting a bit sore too. Have you tried Lansinoh? It doesn't cure it but I find it makes them feel better for a little bit.

ps Pempe - we have nearly 3 years between DS1 and DS2. It was deliberate as I wanted to give my body and brain a chance to recover from DS1's birth, we wanted to move to a bigger place and get our finances in order and most importantly for both of us we wanted to enjoy every moment of DS1's babyhood and first experiences as just the 3 of us. We'd always planned on having 3 kids (still are planning it - aiming for no 3 in another couple of years hopefully) so planned on having DS2 when DS1 was 3 (just got pregnant abit quicker than expected). That said I have lots of friends who had their kids very close together like Pinktulips and they've planned it that way so the kids are very close to each other (the eldest never remembers a time on their own) and they get the sleepless nights out of the way in one batch. So really the age gap between babies sort of comes down to what the parents want out of the experience I guess.