March 09 - The spring babies have sprung

[jollyjoanne]

Thought I'd start us up a post-natal thread for the new mummies of March 09 (or thereabout!)

Welcome jfa

The bolding doesn't work if there are spaces in the words.

I also agree you need to do what works for you re-breastfeeding. I am mostly breastfeeding but I am useless at expressing milk so if I want to leave Mae at anytime she has to have formula - she doesn't seem to mind. Except being a bit useless at drinking from a bottle!

Mae is now starting to make lots of noises - no idea what she is trying to tell me - but it is very cute (well not quite so cute during the night when I'm trying to get her to sleep or eat) but during the day it is really fun. One downside is I have realised how few nursery rhymes I still know the words to.

jollyjoanne Millie is also making noises and appears to be chattering away. She has the cold at the moment and woke herself up sneezing which was pretty cute had it not been at 4am!

I too know very little nursery rhymes and have been making up the words as I go along or just sing the same line over and over which infuriates my OH. I told her a rather far fetched version of goldilocks the other night as i couldn't remember why she was in the woods.

Those of us who've forgotten rhymes, get the Tickle My Nose book off eBay, it is full of rhymes with actions (my DS1 loves them at 3 and the baby loves the wiggly arm bits).

Hey all --

Add me to the list of those feeling a bit at the end of their rope, please. Much sympathy to the mums and lots of SLEEP PLEASE OH PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST SLEEP vibes to all the other fussy babies.

Not had a chance to read through everything I've missed in detail, so will do that later -- looks like there's lots of good stuff to absorb.

For now, Rhys is growing like a weed, probably thanks to his feeding for ten straight days every hour on the hour around the clock. I had a tenuous grip on things when DP was here, but week before last, when he went back to work and I was alone, I really thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. When he wasn't feeding, he was screaming, and he only napped about 30 minutes PER DAY. DP would come home nightly to find us both in floods of tears.

My parents have ridden to the rescue, though, arriving last Monday from the States. It's been bliss to be able to get a bit of kip while mum holds her grandbaby -- though long term, we're not doing ourselves any favours as far as getting him to settle on his own (still a disaster area despite spending a couple of DREADFUL days trying to comply with paediatrician's rec to put him down before fully asleep). I figure I'm going to hold out till he's 6 weeks before really cracking down on that front; I don't know why, it just seems like a physiological landmark and I'll feel less horrid about leaving him to cry for a bit. Am I delusional?

On the positive side, mum's gotten him to accept a dummy, and even though he's being held the whole time, he's now napping for up to two hours at a stretch! Nights, however, continue to be A Different Matter. He'll feed every 1.5 hrs max and take ages and ages of whinging before dropping back off to sleep.

He was four weeks old yesterday and today oh frabjous day he gave me the biggest real, true smile and silent laugh! I, of course, promptly burst into tears.

Right -- off to catch up on what I've missed.

jfa99

It sounds like you are doing the right thing for you, ive just read/heard so many stories that i wondered if you felt supported enough to continue with the breast feeding, its great that you are happy with your decision far better for you not be stressed out .

corgi i was just about to put a call out for you thought we hadnt heard from you for a while. Sounds like you are doing really well, Ryhs wont always need to be held. I think some babies just need more help then others. My DD2 was just like this infact she would only settle for me, she would scream even if DH was holding her. There was light at the end of the tunnel (i wish i could tell you when it came, but being my second i didnt write anything down dont thing i ever had time to LOL) she is now a VERY confident 4YO that still has a 2 hour nap most days and sleeps for 12 hours every night!! .

awww i wanted to post more!!! but A has woke up for a feed!!........hmm he can wait a sec

I have my first fecking period!!!! WTF is that all about?? im BFing FFS i didnt have one with either of the girls for 9mth!!!................. tis not fair!! >>

corgi and other mums in sleep hell, I'm living proof things Get Better.

Last Saturday I was losing 1lb a day because of Gabe's incessant feeding, and was so distraught and exhausted I told DH that he had to stay home from work as I was ready to walk out the door and not come back for a day or two.

And yet this week Gabe's been sleeping better and starting to self-settle from 7.30 pm instead of 11pm (he's 10w today). He's smiley, talkative and much more involved in his environment now, so it does improve within days, hang on in there!

Also I'm having a little personal "yay" as have now managed to BF 2 weeks longer than I managed with DS1.

Thanks Fearless. Mumsnet is my life-saver too! I also thought DD1 was a difficult baby. Little did I know! I'm feeling more positive at the moment as DD2 has been calmer in the evenings. She still doesn't go to bed until 9 but there hasn't been much crying as long as I keep feeding. Think giving up dairy must be having an effect. It's pretty miserable not being able to eat cakes and chocolate but at least I'll lose my baby weight quicker. Was absolutely huge this pregnancy. Didn't conveniently lose my appetite like I did the first time round and was quite capable of eating entire large bar of Green and Black's butterscotch chocolate in one sitting. Yum!

jfa Sounds like you have done everything you can with the breastfeeding and you should definitely do what makes you happy. I got stuck breastfeeding DD1 for a year because she refused a bottle and now DD2 can't take a bottle because she's got an oversensitive gag reflex and vomits every time the teat goes in her mouth. It's a bit scary being totally responsible for her nutrition with no back up if it all goes wrong. Luckily she's putting on weight at the moment, so hopefully she'll keep feeding well at the breast.

Hey y'all,

Hope you're all coping. That's about where I'm at - just. I have moments where I am all but stamping my foot and crying "I need a break!!!" And DH says; "What do you want? What do you need? - If you tell me you want to take the night off just do it"

And then I respond meekly that the problem is as desperate I am for a break or to go and see some friends, I am so fecking tired (and light-headed) that all I want to do is go to bed. And that's crap, because then I wake up (middle or night or t'other) and start all over again. I'm really finding by Friday night/Saturday I am desperate as I have gone the whole week with not even an hour to myself.

And is still not going to sleep of an evening until about this time, and then up twice through the night + grunting + winding etc etc.

We have just started him on the Blue SMA today so I am hoping it will make a difference. I am hoping that, like Laumiere he will settle a bit by 10 weeks.
Apart from that he is an absolute darlin' and is very good in terms of sitting happily looking around, cooing and smiling so I know I really shouldn't complain when Corgi's having that sort of time. And do you know, thinking about it, if he was like that along with DD1 & DD2, I really don't know how I'd manage.

Ok - with that thought I will stop complaining, because it could be worse.

Morning all!

Well I haved finally moved back upstairs into our bedroom with Rosie. Was getting fed up in the spare room even though it made life easier. So dh is now having to cope with more broken sleep, but he says ihe is happier now we are back !

Sorry to hear about the difficult sleepers - it feels neverending at this stage. We are going through a bearable patch but I know it is so open to change at any time.

Corgi do not worry about cuddling Rhys to sleep - he is only little and you will not be creating problems for the future. I cuddled dd1 to sleep until she was around 8 weeks old. We then started putting her down for the night at 7pm, but still had to pretty much have her cuddled to the point whereshe was dropping off to sleep first. Despite that she now goes happily into her cot and falls asleep by herself for naps and bed time.

slick hope teh hungry baby milk works - my friend used it and it really helped to settle her ds (who sounds very similar to Boab in weight gain/feeding etc)

Elsy I lost my appetite with dd1 - think it was the shock - but it didn't happen this time either - boo.

Rosie is now making little noises - as she drifts off to sleep she sort of smiles and chuckles to herself - absolutely adorable! No spontaneous smiling yet though - just lots of intense staring!

3cute my period has arrived as well - but then I am not bf so it is to be expected. With dd1 it arrived at around 5/6 weeks - but then I didn't have another one for around 5/6 weeks. 'Tis rubbish though!

Yay to laumiere

Hey all, just about managing to keep up with you. Yay laumiere for your more settled baby and it does give me some reassurance that we'll get there if your LO is 10 weeks - DD is 7 weeks today and she cried all evening last night - put her down at 6.20pm 'cos she was knackered, she stayed down for 45 mins and then cried until midnight apart from half an hour's sleep at 9pm. Think it was wind as she did an almighty fart before she settled at 9pm and a big burp before midnight settling - problem is she's so tired that makes her cry too. Have set myself up for a fall, as she then went 3 hours and then fed and winded, another 2 hours, fed and winded, another 2 hours, then fed and winded and then was asleep until 9.20am (she woke, we all got up and dressed, fed and winded her and then she went to sleep again 10am and still asleep now - really need to wake her so she will sleep tonight, but dinner is on, DH is at shop with DS and I'm enjoying a much needed 5 mins sit down). Am hopeful the cry-ey evenings will settle, DH is absolutely wonderful, but he took her for 15 mins yesterday evening and then came downstairs with a look of desperation on his face telling me he can't handle that screaming! Ah well, he did get up with DS at 6.45am this morning, so I'll let him off!

Fearless - what are you avoiding for your refluxy/colicky baby? I've cut out dairy and eggs for DD - determined as I was that she wouldn't have any intolerances - 2 weeks in I stopped the dairy and eggs and she stopped being sick and having enormous yellowy nappies. Now wondering if you can recommend what you have cut out to help with the colic?

Sorry, fear this is a very long post. Hope you had good nights sleep all.

Meant to say Meep - yay for being back in with DH. We haven't quite made that yet, but did swap rooms last night - I went in our room with DD in the moses basket and he went in her room in the bed I have in there. Given how she slept last night, think we'll keep it that way round and see if that works better. I am also pleased I managed to get her to sleep in her moses basket all night apart from after the 6.40am feed this morning - gives some light at the end of the tunnel for DH and I sharing a bed again (he gets up to DS if he needs it during the night, so don't currently want him disturbed by us too).
Sorry - very me, me, me posts

Hi girls, please can I join you?

George was born 12 days early on 25th March weighing 7lbs 10oz. Had very fast labour: arrived at hospital at 6.55pm and delivered at 7.16pm! I have one other DS who will be 6 in August.

George will be 6 weeks old on Wednesday. The last 6 weeks have been something of a blur. I have had horrendous problems breastfeeding (cracked nipples and thrush) but have have been given brilliant support from two midwives and my HV. I have come out of it the other side and am BFing exclusively .

Can I ask a quick question about expressing: how do you know how much your baby needs for one feed? I managed to express 4oz yesterday but I'm not sure if that's enough. Booby freedom here we come .

It's been very reassuring to read this thread and hear about all the problems that others have been having. I've felt really isolated TBH and wish I'd found you sooner. George also refuses to sleep in the moses basket so DH sleeps with DS1 and DS2 sleeps with me.

Welcome pintofstella... mmmmm, a pint of stella... Congrats on George. We had a discussion a few weeks ago about how much to express - one of the calculations was 2.5 oz per pound in a 24 hour period divided by rough number of feeds so say your ds is 9 lbs it would be 9x2.5 = 22.5/6 = 3.75 so your 4 oz should be fine.

Hedge - sorry to hear about the allergy to formula. You probably know this but you can get a hypoallergenic formula prescribed by a gp and often babies grow out of it too.

Well done on getting back to the marital bed meep (that sounds a bit dodgy but isn't meant to ). DH still hasn't managed it - we keep thinking he will as Lara is sleeping well and then it all goes a bit wrong so its probably best he stays put for now as he can't really cope too well with lack of sleep (due to illness rather than woosiness... I think ).

Corgi - nice to see you, had been wondering where you were. FWIW, I think I was sort of where you were a few weeks ago but Lara is getting much more settled. I was saying to DH that she no longer needs to be on us so much, doesn't want the dummy anymore and is sleeping in the day and better at night. Up until a couple of weeks ago she hardly slept in the day and was up half the night but touch wood things ar egetting better. So, fingers crossed for you too.

I had 3 hours baby free today - what did i do ?? Massage ? hair do ? sleep ? No, took DD1 to see High school muscial 3 and it was too loud to doze off. She thoroughly enjoyed herself so was nice to do something just with her but a sleep would have been nice . Lara also refused to feed before we went out so I ended up being rather uncomfortable by the time we were reunited.

Hope everyone's having a nice bank holiday weekend if you have one !

Welcome to Stella, Alright me hearty to Hedge and hi to everyone else.

Had a really nice day yesterday went for a big walk with Mae whilst the sun was out, saw my parents and my auntie and uncle. Whilst DH went to play footie and get an afternoon to himself although he hd to mow the lawn and stuff so not sure he really enjoyed it that much.

Mae has seemed rather nice over the last couple of days only really crying when she is hungry or windy/pooing and this has really cut down in the last few days. It has gone from constant howling for hours to a few yelps and then a fart or burp so much better. I'm probably going to regret saying this again but she has even been sleeping a little better last night she managed from about 11 to 4am I feel so much better for the sleep (thats nearly 6 hours between feeds when she is normally a pretty regular every three hours). Really hope this is going to continue fingers crossed and hope that everyone elses little ones start to move in a positive direction feeding, sleeping and wind wise.

Stella I am very impressed with your expressing I was rubbish - so Mae has formula if I am not there to feed her but she seems OK with it.

Hedge I was allergic to milk and formula and soya as a baby I outgrew this though fortunately so it may only be short term thing which your doctor can give your LO something for.

Meep nice to hear you're back in your own bed. I never gave DH the option so we've all been sleeping in the same room since the start (thats DH, me, Mae and the cat) and it doesn't seem to have caused too many problems.

3cute I've gone back on the pill so no period yet but suppose they will be coming shortly. After Loli's announcemnt I thought this may be safer.

Slightly TMI question for any of us on the mini-pill, did you get breakthrough bleeding? I'm bleeding a little every day (reddish blood) and it;s starting to rally piss me off! Off to see doc on Wed about it, I'd like to be put on the implant, but will that put paid to the breastfeeding?

Yay for the sunny bank holiday weather. Took DD1 to the fair today and she loved going on the mini-carousel. DD2 has also been pretty chilled apart from a somewhat scary retching and projectile vomit episode after one of her feeds. I had eaten an ice-cream an hour earlier (first dairy in a while) but surely it couldn't take effect that quickly.

Glad some of the babies are starting to settle. DD2 has been better the last few evenings too. Not nearly so much crying and she'll stay on the breast on and off until 9, when she goes to sleep. Can't wait until she sleeps at 7 and I can get a proper evening. Have been Sky Plus-ing loads of programs so will catch up on Gossip Girl, Ashes to Ashes and 90210 then. for teenage taste in TV - you wouldn't think I was 32...

corgi I hope this won't sound off coming from a first time parent, but I think your paed is being a bit erm, controlling as regards to your sleeping regime with your baby. What's it to them? Babies have totally crazy and totally different sleeping patterns when they're tiny (this thread is testament to that) and how they start doesn't mean anything for how they sleep when they're older. I wouldn't feel bad about letting them sleep in your arms and then putting them down. I don't know about anybody else, but for a good few weeks if I put Molly down before she was properly asleep it was a bit of a shock and she would stress herself out and non stop cry until we started the whole process of calming her down again. She still gets put down when totally asleep most of the time, but is getting better at going back to sleep herself now. I honestly can't think of anything I've done to encourage this. I'm pretty sure that she's just got to that stage on her own as the next stage of growth iyswim. Obviously do whatever you are happy and comfortable with though!

Right. Anybody else's baby a champion farter? I mean honestly - it's ridiculous she's so tiny to make so much noise!

Elsy I am 37 and I have Gossip Girl/90210 and all other assorted teenage trash on record

I do have my evenings back but as Rosie likes to startthe day any time between 4am and 6am I tend to go to bed about an hour aftershe does!

Have discovered that the same programmes are on at 4am that were on when dd1 was a newborn - felt like deja vu last night!

law my dh thinks i am blaming Rosie for the noisy farts and that it is actually me - !!!!

wheely i can't wait until my dd's are old enough for me to watch films like HSM with them - any excuse!

laumiere I started to bleed when Millie was 6 weeks old. Quite upset by this as thought that did not bleed when breastfeeding but GP told me some people do. I am now on mini pill and no breakthrough bleeding since. Have you thought about the coil? It is less permanenet than implant and you can still breastfeed and it can be removed if you want another baby.
Also great to hear that baby is settling at 10 weeks. Millie now 8 weeks old and slept from 9 pm to 7am last night(awoke at 2am for feed and straight back to sleep). She is back to sleep in her moses basket at the moment for the first time ever during the day. Not sure if this is due to her illness or if she is settling better.

Elsy Millie had major projectile vomit yesterday and 3 projectile vomits the day before. She has the cold at the moment and lots of snotters. Also I am stopping breast feeding and increasing her formula. Took her to emergency doctors last night. Probably a "viurs". No further demonic vomiting since!

pintofstella What a labour! Well done on brest feeding. It makes such a difference when you have support from good HV and midwives. I know what you mean about feeling isolated and I thought I was going to combust when Millie 6 weeks old. It is reassuring to read other peoples stories and realise that you are not alone.

Spoke to soon. Millie awakens......

jfa I can't do coils, due to previous pelvic scarring, and have to have something, we conceived both DSes after a week of trying! I like the permanency of the implant as DH and I really don't want more kids

wheely thanks for the guidance re how much to express. That's very useful. It sounds like you had a nice time with your DD at the pictures. How did you manage to escape for 3 hours? I attempted 2 hours at the hairdressers on Saturday but had DH on the phone because George wouldn't settle. He was going to bring him to the hairdressers for me to feed him there but he fell asleep in the pram on the way.

jollyjoanne I did quite a lot of expressing with DS1 and it was successful from the start. I think a bit of freedom is my motivation! It sounds like you've cracked the sleep thing with Mae. George was very unsettled last night and was feeding every couple of hours . I did manage to go back to bed this morning for an hour's kip mind.

Elsy Thank god for Sky+ is all I can say. Before DS2 was born I had a box fitted in my bedroom which has been an absolute godsend!

jfa Hope Millie is better today. Congrats on such a fantastic night's sleep last night!

Rosie has been awake most of today - very unlike her - seems quite happy - has the odd half hour/1 hour nap - but has spent the rest of the time under the baby gym, drinking milk or gazing at me!

Does this mean she'll sleep more tonight.......I can but hope.

Forgot to welcome pintofstella and jfa99 - welcome to the sleepdeprived world of March 09

pintofstella - Thankfully lara slept for most of the time I was out and when she did wake up crying DH gave her some formula (and principally bf-ing but using formula last thing at night/ on the odd (one !) occasion I want to go out).

meep - I know what you mean about the films, HSM isn't quite in the league of grease but was quite watchable. Think I might be regressing as currently reading Enid Blyton books too.

Am not happy to hear some of you have your periods back. Its one of the things which keeps me breastfeeding (given that weight loss has stopped - another thing keeping me going - although that may be more to do with the amount of choc being consumed). I don't think it came back last time until I stopped expressing but that was pretty early.

On the subject of farting - does it disturb your babies ? I'm sure its whats waking Lara at night and making her disturbed as she wakes up crying, wriggling and farting. I changed the formula we give her at night to a comfort one but that doesn't seem to help. Wondering if I should give up the formula for a bit although after her middle of the night feed (breastfeed) she wakes up again farting. Perhpas she's just flatulent like her father .

Been on a rather cold and wet picnic today. Lara slept through the walk and picnic in her sling though !