Fab Feb 2009: attack of the zombie mums

[dinkystinky]

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

o dear god... somebody pass me some alcoholic, nicotene enriched, chocolate please

collected dd from playschool and went into town with all 3 to do the bits that needed doing. had to drag older 2 around with aaron in the sling (our town is not buggy friendly territory and ds1 is not a cheerful child when forced to use his legs) only realised once i had everything else done that of course it was lunchtime and the bank was closed D'OH!

fine, back home we went, got here and kids wanted to play outside. after a few minutes i realised their voices were getting fainter and fainter so went out to see where they were..... halfway across the scrubby field outside our house with the cat in tow! called them back and got innocent eyed 'i'm sorry mommy' from both of them, sent them to the back garden to play and heard shrieking 2 mins later and found them both covered head to toe in mud. very calmly called them in and in the middle of stripping them at the door of course aaron starts crying. losing the zen like facade at this point slightly but eventually get thme redressed and aaron sorted and managed to keep tv off by reading endless succession of books while feeding aaron.

with my mind suitably numbed by thomas the bleeding tank engine we head back into town.... only now it's busy and the closest parking to the bank is at the other end of the main street, ds1 has fallen asleep and aaron is starting to wake up. have to wake ds1 up (no mean feat i tell you, the boy was practically comatose) and drag him whinging and whining down the street to the bank, shushing aaron with all my might and trying to prevent dd from plowing straight into every other pedestrian. get to bank and sod's law there's a queue out the door. stand in like with aaron making the oddest groaning noises which seemed to freak out the young lad in front of me something terible and desperately pretend that the 2 children dismantling the bank brick by brick aren't mine

only just back now and it's practically time to make dinner now and aaron is waking again... bother!

while i think of it, wanted to ask the other sling users something. i'm using a pouch sling atm and planning on buying either a mei tei or a pappatum in a few months. aaron looks comfy enough in it but the whole time he's in it he groans and grunts and wheezes and i'm concerned he's not in a good position or something, he sleeps happily and doesn't complain but surely if he was comfy he wouldn't be making all that noise would he?

PT, I've used lots of slings, ring slings, Baby Bjorn, Patapum, Wilkinet, Moby and Papoozle. My favourites by far are my Moby and Papoozle - lovely streatchy fabric, spread the weight perfectly...

...sounds like you had a fun day!

Hi everyone, I've had my mum staying for the past 5 days so no time for internet posting. She's been very helpful, has cleaned my house, cooked dinner for my hungry husband and watched Alex for me. Tomorrow I'll have to go back to trying to make some order of my house and take less than 2 hours to get out of the house!

Things are going well here, my mum keeps telling me I should be grateful as Alex is such a good baby. I keep telling her to be quiet and stop jinxing me! He's feeding well and sleeping well and has been giving me daily smiles for a few days now. He's very sweet.

I'd be up for a meet up if we're going to arrange one.

We have tears MS but only very recently.

DH went back to work today. DD had the day off school (inset day) but DS still went to nursery so a slightly later school run. Managed fine with the 3 of them.

Came home to tackle the house - not a chance!! Have just about sorted the laundry but the rest of the house is a state and it's getting me down

Kids in the bath at the moment after DH cooked them some tea. Hoping for another reasonable night with Abi (she only woke once last night - not normal )

PT sounds like you had a fun day!!! Not sure I would be brave enough to tackle town with the 3 of them on my own.

DH away for 2 nights next week , trying not to think about it

Oh Pinktulips - that sounds like a shocker of a day. Hope the kids let you have a good night after a day like that! And Danny makes tonnes of grunting noises in his sling - but then he makes those in the cot/bed too so I'm not worrying too much...

MS - no tears here; just a delightful red and yellow scrunchy face (EXACTLY the same as DS1's angry/upset face) when Danny is howling...

Catstar - hope Sam has been discharged today and docs have diagnosed what is up so you can put your minds to rest.

QK - you'll be fine! Took me 2 hours to get out the house with DS1 for a good long while but hey, its a way of passing the day....

Haven't had time to catch up yet, was in hospital since Monday night and got back home yesterday..

TinkerBellesMumandFifi2 - DD Sîan Anne Denise, 4lbs 8.5oz, 02.01.09
Dinkymum - DS Isaac Christopher, 5lbs 8oz, 19.01.09
Ooogs - DS Luke Daniel, 8lbs 6oz, 20.01.09
Herbgarden - DD Amy Hannah, 5lbs 14oz 23.01.09
idontbelieveit - DD Freya Rose, 6lbs 8oz, 26.01.09
laidbackinengland - DD Mabel Lucy, 8lbs 14oz, 29.01.09
tinasan - DS Enrico Marco, 6lbs 10oz, 29.01.09
onwardandupward - DC2 [I'll put name on fb], 8lb exactly, 30.01.09
stacysmom - DD Tabitha Rose, 6lbs 15oz, 31.01.09
MsLucy - DS Stanley William, 8lb 7 oz, 02.02.09
LittleMissNorty - DS Ewan Scott, 6lbs 13ozs, 02.02.09
swampster - DS Jacob, 7lb, 02.02.09
Jelliebaby - DD Olivia, 7lb 3oz, 02.02.09
MarkStretch - DS Frankie, 7lb 15oz, 03.02.09
Pempe ? DS Harry, 03.02.09
Nkweto - DD Alexandra, 8llbs 11oz, 04.02.09
MamaGoose - DD Indigo Norah Rose, 4.15kg/9lb 1oz, 04.02.09
SomeMightSay (lbb)- DS Luke Alan, 7 lb 13 oz, 04.02.09
fgpl - DD Phoebe, 8lb 9 oz, 05.02.09
McDreamy - DD Abigail Louise, 7lb 1/2oz, 06.02.09
Rosieposey - DS Milo John William, 8lb 10oz, 06.02.09
mumoverseas - DS Harrison William, 3.1k, 08.02.09
Questionkid ? DS Alexander George, 08.02.09
PinkTulips ? DS Aaron Matthew, 8lbs 2oz 09.02.09
Dinkystinky - DS Daniel Nikhil, 8lbs 6oz, 10.02.09
MrsY ? DD Meredith Lilian Faith, 7lb 7oz, 10.02.09
Givethedogahomebirth - DD, 8lbs 15oz, 11.02.09
KT1983 - DD Poppy Louise, 6lb 80z, 13.02.09
Pluto - DS Albert David Magnus, 10lbs 10oz, 13.02.09
JenniferTurkington, DD Harriet, 9lb, 15.02.09
America - DS Leo, 3.3kg, 15.02.09
KazzaL - DS Benjamin Hector Douglas, 8lbs3oz, 16.02.09
Astarte - Dd2, Xanthe Seraphina, 8lb 12oz, 16.02.09.
winemakesmummyclever - DS Issac Alexander, 7lb 4oz, 17.02.09
TheHouseofMirth - DS Tarran James, 7lb 2oz, 18.02.09
Fruitstick - DS, Arthur, 8lb 13oz, 18.02.09
Calico1 - DD Lilian Helena, 7lb 4oz, 19.02.09
Mentalpup - DS Harry, 7lb 10oz, 20.02.09
Neerly3 - DS Charlie, 7lb 8oz, 20.02.09
Cocodrillo - DS Rufus, 8 lb 8 oz, 20.02.09
pinkbabybump - DD Eleanor Catherine, 6lb 14oz, 20.02.09
lardybump - DS Owen Francis, 8lb 12oz, 21.02.09
Catstar - DS Samuel James, 9lb 1oz, 22.02.09
eejaykay - DS Alfred, 6lb 14oz, 22.02.09
chilledmama - DD, Niamh Lauren Hannah, 8lb 5oz, 23.02.09
Littlesez ? DD, Isobella Rose, 8lbs 23.02.09
katieblirdsnest - DS Ivor, 8lb 4oz, 24.02.09
ihavenewsockson - DS Viktor Jake, 8lb 15 oz, 24.02.09
ScubaGroover - DS William 7lbs 10 oz 26.0209
Spottypushedherbabyout - DS Samuel James Edward, 8lbs 1oz 02.03.2009
DizzyBrummie - DD, Marny Inge 9lb 13oz 03.03.09

WHO'S NEXT.....

Munteria - DC2, due: 11.02.09 (age 37, Putney)
Ranirani - DC1, due: 13.02.09 (age 35, Herts)
Justme84 - due 14.02.09
Bunsen - DC2 (girl) due 21.02.09 CS booked for 16.02.09 (age 32, Leeds)
fruitstick - (a suprise), due: 18.02.09

catstar Isobella's finger had an infection under her nail, was inflamed and had pus, eww. Anyway got anti biotics and is clearing up. big hugs to you, I am such a worrier over little things, hope your ok xxx

I woke up this morning and one of her nipples was red and there was a lump. I went to the docs straight away. You have to queue just to make an appointment. which by the time i got there was huge. I stomped pasteveryone, straight to the front and cried at asked receptionist for an appointment and got seen immediately.

Doc told me it was just hormonal, absolutely nothing to worry about. I was sobbing still and apologised but he said that i am right to follow my instinct. He laughed when I told him i had read all the books and never heard of this before!

I THINK I AM AN OVERPROTECTIVE MUM ALREADY! cotton wool comes to mind.

BIRTH STORY

Finally getting round to doing the birth story as DS at nursery at DH out playing golf?utter bliss!!!

OK...are you ready. Sorry I do detail...

I was really starting to believe that I wasn?t going to go into labour and that I would be going in for an Elective CS even though DH kept saying really useful things like, ? But you?re not overdue yet?. Why doesn?t he understand that I was overdue the second I went past the dates I had DS at (38+2)?????
On Sunday I had 2 tiny shows?no blood so when I say tiny I really mean it! then nothing. We all went out for a massive walk and I was knackered and v uncomfortable but no more than I had been for the last 3 weeks with all the ?warm-up? cxns. DH went back to work on Sunday night and I prepared for yet another week of swollen hell leading to my consultant appt. on the Thursday.
Woke up just after 0630 on the Monday morning and was swollen as usual but absolutely fine. Had shower and got myself all sorted out?even shaved my legs?I should have known something was going to happen, clearly as close to nesting as I will ever get!!
Started to feel regularish cxns but far from painful and it didn?t even cross my mind that it might be the start of labour!
Got boy up and ready for nursery then our cleaner (lovely fabulous woman who I almost proposed to after she ironed my uniform trousers the first time!!) arrived and asked how I was so I told her I was having cxns and had been for last 2 hours and they had started to get more regular but still nothing painful although now I had to stop what I was doing during them. She was aghast and so started cleaning the bathroom first, in case I wanted to use the bath
I took DS to nursery (3 minute car journey). Told girls in nursery I thought I was in labour (cue more shocked faces) and that it could be DH or MIL picking up DS later as I expected to be busy popping a baby!
Got out of nursery and had cxn while passing another mum who started to panic and asked if I needed her to drive me to hospital?(cxn passing) I said I was fine and car just there so was going home?nice lady though!
Got in car, phones DH who asks me to phone him in an hour cause he?s busy and labour should take ages anyway! Actually, I pretty much agreed but told him that I was sure this was it so he would be making his way back shortly . Next phoned my IM, Joy, but agreed that she wouldn?t come round right now as too early but as circumstances as they were we agreed it was wise to let NHS MWs know too so that everyone was prepared.
Drove home and started getting house ready for invasion of midwives and also tidying end room where birth was planned to happen. Cleaner commented that she could tell the cxns were getting worse?I didn?t disagree but hey were still easily manageable. Around 1030 I started to get present for DS out to wrap and mid cxn my waters popped It was disgusting, thank goodness I was wearing black cotton/lycra trousers otherwise carpet would have been ruined
Cleaner almost jumped up and down with excitement while I tried to get to the bathroom without making any (more) mess. My trousers were absolutely soaked and I could see loads of mucus (sorry tmi) all over them too. I grabbed clean underwear and a pair of pyjama bottoms, put in a pad to check for colour of liquor and phoned MW again. This time she said she would be straight round?things can go v quickly with breech after waters go (apparently) Phoned DH again to let him know and he said he would leave work shortly (about 1 ½ -2 hours away).
Cxns were still not particularly painful but were considerably closer together when MWs started to arrive. My IM and the NHS Supervisor arrived at the same time. We chatted briefly and I started making the tea (first of many cups to be made). Sharon, the NHS Supervisor, then examined me (internals v. important in breech to assess progress) and told me I was hardly dilated at all but she could feel labia?I was like?well I don?t have a biology degree but I know she can?t feel my labia?then it dawned on me that she meant Niamh?s!! I was apparently a multip dilated and -3 station which basically means that I was only dilated at all because I?d had a previous birth and bottom wasn?t fully engaged yet. I thought that was an indicator that it was going to be a while and both MWs seemed to agree that it would take a while from here.
Sharon left to do some of her calls/appointments and my IM stayed to keep me company. I decided to get in the bath and try to relax a bit as I thought the water would take the edge of the cxns which were starting to get a bit more painful. How wrong was I?although the water did make me feel more comfortable initially it made the cxns come thicker and faster as well?much to my surprise
Joy came in to check on me and said she thought things were ?hotting up? and she would phone Sharon to come back and get hold of the MWs to make sure they were on their way?this was only 30 minutes after Sharon had left.
1245 and cxns were now getting really uncomfortable and I asked if I could have some G&A soon. Got G&A , DH arrived and Sharon got back all within 5 minutes?honestly was bothered about last 2 as long as I had my G&A . DH made me a sandwich but every time I took a bite I got a cxn
About 1345 rest of NHS MWs arrived, having travelled down from Petersfield area. Caroline, the Lead NHS MW, had lots of breech experience and had put herself on call for me. The 2nd NHS MW, Sue, also had lots of experience and would be acting as 2nd for birth.
1400 Caroline and Joy decided it would be a good idea to get me out of the bath, reassess progress and take it from there. Kathyrn, Joy?s back-up, arrived. There are now 5 MWs attending my birth!!!
1425 Examination assessed as 9cm and -1 station. I was starting to push slightly with cxns but wasn?t really aware of it. MWs told me to blow through cxns and try not to push.
1500 Meconium starts to come out during cxns?not surprising when you consider bottom first.
1515 Reassessed and fully dilated now [phew emoticon]
Bizarrely though, this is when the stress started!! The clock was now running for me to make quick progress or I would be transferred to hospital for CS?did not fancy doing trip to hospital in any vehicle as I knew it would mean sitting/lying down!!!! I was perched on the edge of a sofa but the sofa was too deep so I wasn?t vertical enough to get the pressure right.
1520 Joy told me that if I hadn?t made significant progress in next 10 minutes then we would transfer. It felt like Niamh was leaning on my bladder and it bloomin? hurt!! Apparently she had her feet hooked up on my pelvis (I was told later) but regardless all I could think about was I?ve got 10 minutes to get her out!!!
I started to really wiggle my hips but still couldn?t get her shifted so I really took matters into my own hands?I stood up and pushed with everything I had and finally the MWs started to get a view of a white bottom at 1525.
1530 Niamh was ?rumping? (the breech equivalent of crowning).
1535 Bottom first, legs born spontaneously ?left then right, arms emerged and head born.
Cord was cut just before 1600 so that I could stand up and get rid of the placenta before my DS got home from nursery.
They had every piece of emergency apparatus ready to go incase Niamh needed extra help at birth (quite often the case for breech babies) but her APGAR scores were 9 & 9.
Got checked for injuries and apparently had 1 degree tear but to be honest?it was the tiniest of tiny nicks which never nipped and healed more quickly than a hang nail!![chuffed emoticon]
DS arrived home just after 1600 to meet his little sister?

This seems to be a habit - I drop in on MN every Monday with good intentions of reading everyone's posts and contributing more frequently, and then - well you all know - baby stuff just takes over and the days disappear.

The milk monster Albert is almost constantly latched on. My poor left nipple is in shreds so I'm considering shares in Lasinoh. I'm happy with his latching and position on this boob so I asume it's just constant sucking that's done it. He seems to need feeding every two hours in the night but today really has been non-stop and now that DH is back at work I've retreated to our den to give him some space to sleep without the winding etc disturbing him. Could be on MN all night as I need distraction from the nipple pain.

Just heard an explosion in nappy dept (anyone in a 60 mile radius probably felt the earth move) so wish me luck...

Evening/morning all!

Don't quite know what posessed me but we went to Ikea today. And I came home and built flat pack furniture!

Starting to dread thought of MIL going home on Sunday. Think I have forgotten how to unload dishwasher...Goodness knows how we'll ever leave house/manage arsenic hour but I guess we will. Am starting to have fantasies about getting a cleaner but as DH was formally made redundant today it's sadly not an option.

Catstar I hope Sam is home by now and you have a diagnosis. If you fancy getting together one day, let me know. We went to Bocketts farm on Friday so I think I can manage the drive to Chessington - or you're very welcome to come to me.

Chiled your birth story is great and what fantastic timing!

We also have colds here. I have been spraying breast milk up Tarran's nose which seems to help a bit.

Also up for a London meet. Can we think of anywhere with indoor/outdor space depending on weather?

Meant to say Littlesez I think your reaction was totally appropriate. Docs are well used to panicky new mums and I'm sure they're much happier to err on side of caution. Welcome to a lifetime of worry...

I have got to stop calling dp an arsehole, or maybe I should be saying dp should stop being such an arsehole? I think I must start speaking in a forgien language when talking to him.
When I say I don't want dinner, I'm not hungry, why does that translate into I'll cook her something anyway and can then act like I'm a complete hero and get upset when she doesn't eat it?
Or when I say I'm going to sit with ds1 until he goes to sleep becvause he's worked himself into a state, translation, I'm going to sit in ds's room, please come and tell me everytime a new program comes on and upset him even more.
When I say, leave the baby alone, he is aloud to make noises and thrash his arms, means, please keep ramming a dummy into his mouth and holding it there until he gets hiccups.
Then we have the huffing and puffing and the for fuck sacking from him because he wakes up first when the baby starts grizzling, not crying just a whinge to let you know he'll start unless he gets food right now. Cue the hero play, and why doesn't he understand what the words fuck and off mean when they are said together?
I've sat here and cried for an hour now, started while feeding Luke so cried all over him, it's just not right, that poor baby must be picky up some really awful vibes from me. Hoping I'll feel better in a few days, don't want to have to have that chat with the doctor

allowed even

SMS. I may be wrong but, to me, being pissed off with dh and crying after a birth is all part and parcel. I had it last time and am in the middle of it this time too although I think he is slightly worse this time as i'm expected to be up doing so much sooner. Do you have good days? I find somedays he is just worse than others I hate to play the hormone card but you have just had a baby and are going through the huge adjustment of learning to cope with 2 with little sleep! Obviously though you are the best judge of how you are feeling and if you feel it neccessary then having that chat with the dr can only be a good thing. Hope you managed to get some sleep and feel a bit better today?

THOM - excellent idea re breastmilk up the nose! I try it 1st on every baby ailment going.

Chilled - amazing birth story! Once again I must say what a courageous lady I think you are for having a V-breech-B let alone a Home V-breech-B !!!!! Well done that woman and welcome Niamh x

Pluto - ds1 was boob monster too so i feel your pain/tiredbess. Is it growth spurt time? See you next week

Spotty Thank you. Maybe I'm just having a few particularly(can't say that word, let alone spell it!) bad days, I just can't stop crying. I look at ds1 and see all the anger and frustration in him and know that I did that to him, then I 'tell him off' and he gets upset but it's not his fault why he's acting up in the first place, it's my fault for having another baby. Then I look at Luke, so small and fully dependant on me and I feel really guilty that he's being side-lined and doesn't get as much time as I'd like to spend with him.
I worked so hard to get a steady routine for ds1, and now that's all out the window, sometimes I think all 3 of us just don't kow if we're coming or going.
I'm fed up of dp asking me what's wrong and not being able to tell him. I don't really know how to explain how I feel and haven't for a long time because when I try to tell him that I'm not coping very well or that I feel like a huge failure, he rolls his eyes and tells me I'm being stupid, this part since ds1 was born. My friends and family all said that when the new baby came along, I would just need a bit more help and support, but wtf are they all?
Sorry to burden all of you with my constant negative spins and moaning sessions, I'm sure I'll be better in a few days.

chilled - great birth story...in awe of you having a breech home birth!

SMS - sorry to hear you are feeling low again. You're not alone - it's not easy with two little ones and an idiot partner....I should know, my DH joined the 'husband from hell' gang yesterday and I have spent the last 24 hours feeling tearful and panicky about the huge responsibility of a new baby as well as a toddler that is now really clingy and upset. My DH expects that house to remain spotless and tidy at all times and got unreasonable cross that I had left out the cover for the buggy in the kitchen (such a sin, I know). I told him not to get so cross about little things and he hasn't spoken to me since (talk about complete over reaction!) and now refuses even to acknowledge I am in the room because I haven't apologised.... I can't be bothered to reconcile the situation as I am too busy to deal with such ridiculously childish behaviour.
I'm sure you'll feel better in a day or two - things do tend to get out of proportion when you have had a particularly bad day.

C -section ladies - how soon did you start driving again? Did you get the go ahead from anyone (doc or HV) or just felt it would be ok? I am hoping to drive again this week but it's only been 3 weeks....

Oh and congratulations to DizzieB - lovely name too!

Hi everyone - can I join in? I had my baby on the 23rd of Feb at home. She's my 2nd child!

I posted on the AN thread, but under my old MN name (which I don't want to put as I don't want to out myself!!)

morning all.

sms, sorry you're feeling down sweetie. i know how upsetting it can be though when your other half is acting the twat. dp does the 'for fuck sake' thing too and it's so depressing listening to him be agressive and negative constantly. it's hard when you're constantly walking on eggshells with someone who doesn't even want to understand how you're feeling and hormones definitely aggravate the situation. treat yourself to some cake today and don't feel guilty about the boys. you're a good mother and they know you love them, nothing else matters.

chilled, birth sounds fabulous, well done you for sticking to your guns and getting your breech homebirth

thom... am liking the bm up the nose idea, aaron joined the snotmonstor brigade this morninf ad as he already has enough breathing issues will be trying everything to unblock him.

welcome raisingrrrl and congrats

wow chilledmama what a great birth story - well done you

Calico I went to see my GP at 3 weeks post cs and he said I was fine to drive.

Really sorry to hear all the numpty husband stories . I have to DH has been great but he's found housework and looking after 2 children tough. Think he was looking forward to going back to work!!!!

Hello all, I've been rather busy lately with the move, I came back to find my last 7 days empty! I thought I'd pop in and say hello and see how everyone is doing. Do we have babies left to pop?

Sîan is still tiny but growing well, she's been smiling for over a week She's still full of cold (7 weeks later ) which is making her very windy as she pants when she's feeding and airates her milk! I'm a little worried that she appears to be cross-eyed, Mum was already under the hospital at her age for it and a cousin on the other side is cross-eyed. We have her 8 week check on Friday so I'm going to tell them. Her belly button has come open, although nothing showing that shouldn't be, it does look sore and there's a lump in it.

Morning all. Welcome Raisingrrl and brilliant birthstory Chilled. Congrats too Dizzy. SMS - it will get better; you and the boys will adapt to a new routine that suits all of you; it'll just take a bit of time to find it. The boys both know that you love them (as does your DP) - just take it a day at a time and it will get better.

Feel like I'm just coming up for air although haven't had time to read everyone's posts on this new thread.

DS1 (2.10) has decided to protest against his new brother. He's sweet and gentle with him, always kissing him but has become so naughty.... throwing things, hitting me, kicking. He's always been such a good boy but he's reduced me to tears on more than one occasion over the past few days.

My nipples are still so painful I'm going to go to the drop in centre today for a bit of help.

DH is talking about moving into the spare room for some sleep which makes me sad

but apart from that, we are all still alive and nothing is on fire!

Fruitstick - my 2.10 year old is acting up too - not eating properly, being v needy, deliberately hurting himself for attention, being naughty - but being lovely to DS2. I'm having to repeat my mantra - its just a phase and this too will pass. It is a huge adjustment for them so no wonder they act up...My MIL told me my DH was the same when his sister came (who he is really close to) - her husband didnt believe her until he got home early one day to find his toddler son hurling a chair down the stairs at his wife....