WHY is it so hard to find the time to respond to all the stuff people post? Obviously I need to get better at typing one-handed at 2 a.m. The reading I?ve got down ? the typing, not so much. Apologies in advance for what will be a marathon post ? but if I don?t do it now, it?ll be another two weeks before I?m organised enough to get back on!
Okay, we?re nowhere near Fat Boab territory, slick, but perhaps Belgian paediatricians are easily impressed. Rhys has put on 1 kg and 2.5 cm in 2 weeks, so it?s gratifying to see that this boobjuice stuff is doing what it should.
We bought a swing for him yesterday ? he quite liked it in the store, but now seems profoundly ambivalent about the whole thing. Grump.
pintofstella and fearless, we?ve also got a non-sleeper. The miracle blanket makes a big difference at night, though ? he?s still very tricky to put to sleep, but the tight swaddle really keeps him asleep longer than he would otherwise, as he will invariably startle himself awake without it.
laweasel, the funny thing is that when I went back to the paed yesterday she?d completely changed counsel ? said that basically for the first three months what?s important is doing what the baby needs, to the extent practicable/possible! While I did wonder if I?d gotten her evil twin the first appointment, I was happy to hear her now, as I agree, I?d found her take very off-putting.
Oh lord, loli ? teething + morning sickness? Poor you!
lilymolly, piles are no laughing matter ? they?re why DP came nowhere near me for the last five months of pregnancy! And I love my bed too ? why haven?t I passed that gene on to Rhys?
jolly and wheely, we started a baby massage course last week ? I think Rhys will enjoy it, though he did lose the plot a bit about halfway through so I couldn?t practice any of the back strokes. Maybe next time. The teacher said massaged babies tend to lose their startle reflex sooner than not, which is reason enough for me to do it. HATE the startle reflex. HATE it.
AND we?re going to a baby-wearing workshop next week, so I am hoping to conquer my fear of the 4-meter fabric. With my mum here, I?ve completely lost the ability to multitask ? it?s been so splendidly luxurious being able to hand Rhys over to her. When she goes, which thank GOD won?t be for another couple of weeks, bless her, I?m going to have to get that skill back, and I?m counting on the sling to help me out. If the sling is still a no-go after the workshop, I?ll follow in meep?s and wheely?s footsteps and try out a close.
jolly, Mae is gorgeous ? so feminine and sweet!
wheely, meep, laumiere and 3cute, thanks for the positive visions of the future; I know I get locked into a ?this is the way it is and this is the way it will always be, oh woe oh woe is me? mindset and I just need to keep in mind that things WILL change. Right now, he?s just so bloody inconsistent! Two nights ago = bad night: slept for exactly 40 minutes, 20 minutes, and 20 minutes between 10pm and 7am ? was either feeding or squalling/grizzling the rest of the time. Last night = good night: settled at 10 and woke up to feed at 12 and 3. Then awake again at 4, which is his personal witching hour, and DP took him to sleep out on the couch until 7.
Does anyone else?s baby?s brain short-circuit in the evening hours, making them forget how to nurse? At his 6pm and 8pm feeds, Rhys will usually end up squalling because after feeding for 5 minutes, he?ll decide to position his wide-open mouth, baby-bird-like fashion, just above my nipple and shake his head back and forth while militantly refusing to actually DO anything. It?s simultaneously funny, sad and immensely frustrating!
elsy, I?ve given up dairy for the past two weeks ? but my general concern is that babies are just a bundle of multiple factors. How do you isolate the positive effect any one thing might be having? Maybe he?s feeling better because I gave up dairy ? or maybe it?s because he?s a week older or because he had an extra nap or because it?s overcast instead of raining?
fearless, snorting at both of us having given the proverbial finger to the Baby Whisperer?as you say, the need for survival gangs the best-laid plans totally agley, as it were!
pintofstella, I?m still wearing a bra at night because I need something to stick the breast pads in ? otherwise, it?s the wet-t-shirt look for me.
wheely, sorry to hear about your DH ? what a rotten thing to have to cope with so much uncertainty. Fingers crossed that all will continue to improve for him.
Right ? DP is doing a hero?s job of coping with a squalling baby, so I?m going to go sterilise my breast pump?and try using it for the first time tomorrow. Big step! (erm, I?m assuming you can sterilise at night and use in the morning?)
Sleepy vibes going out to all who need 'em.