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!)

Starshine and elsy, maybe we need to start a sleep deprivation survivors? club?I am seriously worried about how I?ll cope during the days when my mum leaves next week. We?ve not made any progress (and, she admits guiltily, haven?t really tried) on getting Rhys to nap independently ? i.e., not in someone?s arms. I tried this morning, with the result that he hasn?t slept a wink since waking up for the day at 5.30 ? getting him to the point of sleep, then putting him in his cot/bouncy chair, only to have him awake and shrieking seconds later. Then I tried having him fall asleep completely and putting him down ? same thing, after a few moments of optimistic silence. I don?t know why that latter effort won?t work during the day, as it?s what we use at night.

Sigh. Any advice? Still not comfortable leaving him to cry it out, and am not sure what an effective middle road would be.

loli, hang in there ? you?re coping with loads of stress, and despite everything it sounds like Jimmy is thriving (nursery hiccup aside). Kudos to you!

wheely - glad lara?s cough isn?t anything serious.

slick - yup, that was me nattering on about flat heads. Bit different in Rhys? case, as it?s the side of his head, not the back, so it?s linked less to a normal on-the-back position and more to a muscular asymmetry leading to weakness/distinct preference for one side. FWIW, the cranial osteopath we saw did say there?s nothing wrong with using those lateral-security paired wedges to sleep babies safely on their sides.

Also, glad to hear things have quieted down on the mole worry front.

meep, just saw and clicked on the pillow links. Never would have thought that back-flat heads could have such a simple solution. D?oh!

Snorting with laughter at the frozen peas.

b*gger just read all your posts and I want to reply properly but Rosie is wailing.........................

oooo - she stopped. Anyone else's baby doing this - huge anguished wails - then silence - very unnerving (especially since I was asleep on the sofa - daily 4am starts are beginningto take their toll). Normally tghis cry is reseved for poo or burp - so am anxious that I will have a soggy bottomed daughterto deal with when she wakes up again!

Thumb suckers - as slick says "praise be". I know there is a constant debate on here as to what is better, dummy or thumb - but dd1 still sucks her thumb and it helps her sleep - so it's fine by me (apart from when she strokes my face with said thumb all covered in spit - I love her , but eurgh!. I didn't do dummies with her, and Rosie spits her dummy out in fury - so I will be overjoyed when she does finally find it!

fearless if he's putting on weight and is perfectly happy with his thumb - I would just let him sleep. The only advice my Mum gave me about babies (bless her - she has advice about EVERYTHING in my life but amazingly took a step back and has let me find my own way with my babies) was to "never wake a sleeping baby". That works for me!

laumiere dd1 does the toast thing too. She sits at her wee table happily munching away then decides that she wants mmuumy all to herself so unleashes her full range of "get mummy" tactics:

• refuses to eat another mouthful
• gets up from the table grinning
• drops food on floor "oh dear"
• comes and feeds mummy her toast
• shouts "mummy help" and turns her big baby blues on me
• proclaims that each teeny tiny square of toast is "too big too big"

So I end up sitting at her wee table trying to bottlefeed with one hand and singing "the toast on the bus goes crunch crunch crunch" with dd1 so she eats !

loving the frozen peas - I ignore my boobs at all times since having two children - in fact I try to ignore my whole body

Slick Love you too
I'm sure I make it all sound worse than it is. Good luck with tummy time with FB, we're a bit lazy with it as Gabe sleeps on his front so tend to do his own tummy time. He's just started the oscillating in the cot thing where you put them down facing one way and come back and they've turned 45 degrees.....

I lucked out with migraines while pg, unfortunately they've now returned (boo!)

meep That's actually good to know, half the time we never if DS1 odes somethign because of his cerebral palsy or the possible autistic spectrum disorder etc, sometimes it's nice to know he's just being 'normally' naughty!

Anyone else think their kids are psychic? Just read the thumb sucking comments and looked up... to see Gabriel sucking his thumb for the first time ever! Now maybe I should read threads about turning over etc as he's forgotten about doing that....

meant to say - check out dd1'a full thumbsucking action on my profile - her left hand is twiddling her hair - 2 ways to self soothe in one!

tummy time - eek - should I be doing that already. I did put Rosie down on her tummy this morning - only because I wanted some love from her so I faced her head so she had to look at me - she just looked puzzled!

Rosie is just psychic about hot tea/coffee - I have just been doing house stuff, sat down, taken 2 slurps of my coffee and i can here the waking up fossicking noises beginning.........

HELLOOOOOOOO!

Fecking burglars came in whilst me, DH and Penny were asleep and nicked my laptop so I have been without internet and Mumsnet for 3 whole weeks! Argh! Can someone do a summing up post with news from this thread? How is everyone?

Apologies in advance for dive-bombing in with my own concerns, but I'd welcome your advice.

My poor little Spike (10 weeks) has developed reflux. The doctor prescribed us Baby Gaviscon, but it doesn't seem to help. If anything it is worse as he now throws up larger amounts and the vomit is jellified because of the alginate in the Gaviscon which he doesn't like at all.

We keep him upright as much as possible, but there has been no lessening in his wailing - quite incessant during the day .

Touch wood, it doesn't seem to bother him at night or when he's asleep.

Does anybody have any experience or advice?

Corgi think we should start a sleep deprivation thread. Nearly fell asleep on the sofa earlier. Also haven't managed to get DD to self-soothe, but she did soothe herself to sleep with her fist the other day in her bouncer while I was in the shower. Really want to crack it, but HV told me today that it is common for babies to still wake every 2.5-3 hours at this age (she's 10 weeks)! Have good and bad moments about it!

Fearless - echo Slick - all hail the thumbsuckers. DS still sucks his and am sure he will grow out of it. Asked a Dental Nurse about it when he was young and she said that requirement for braces is far more likely to come from inherited small jaws/mouths than thumbsucking - my DC have no chance as both DH and I had full on braces as kids - we're saving up already Sounds like great progress with P - I would not be waking him, as he would cry out if he was hungry - if boobs are too big to sleep, can you express some to freeze? (I dream of having this problem! Lol)

Slick - fingers crossed about wart. Hope that is all it is.

Laumiere - we've had a tv and lounging day this afternoon - DD just wanted to suckle all afternoon and DS fell asleep on sofa (left him there and took DD upstairs to change her so she wouldn't wake him and he woke up while we were upstairs - couldn't find me and I came downstairs to find him sobbing his heart out - bless the little man - felt soooo bad!)

Am worried about tonight - DD fell asleep at 5pm - first proper sleep since she woke from nap at 12.30 and she's still asleep now! Think we'll be having a delayed bedtime tonight (hope she doesn't think now is nighttime!)

Yarnie DS had reflux, so will help with all I can. Firstly, it does get better! DS grew out of his at 8 months.

• We propped DS' cot (whole cot, not just mattress) up to 45 degree angle to help at night/naps.
• Also propped changing mat up with wedge cushion, so he wasn't laid flat for changing - lying flat made it much worse.
• Always had the bouncer in highest/steepest incline, so he wasn't flat in that. Kept him upright for quite a while after feeds (sorry, can't remember how long - just goes to show that even though it was traumatic at the time, it is a faded memory now!)
• When winding, just rubbed, did not pat back - did find that when winding, if wind not coming up, used to gently lie him down in my arms and then scoop him back up and that would release a burp - came from the fact that when we did lie him down, he would inevitably be sick shortly afterwards!
• Always have a big (or muslin tied like neckerchief) round neck - helps to catch sick and avoid quite so many clothes changes.
• DS was on ranitidine (Gaviscon was never offered) and I've seen others post on here that that helped.
• Have to admit that DS just wasn't putting on weight after about 6 weeks, so he was hospitalised eventually and they prescribed formula top ups and eventually at 18 weeks I gave in bfing and went to formula, which also helped, but it was a hypoallergenic one (he has turned out to be intolerant to cows milk, which is also often linked with reflux 9but not always).

HTH - let me know if you have more questions that I might be able to help with.

Off to worry about my night now ...

Yarnie - meant to add, have you tried cranial osteopathy? It can help with reflux too.

Fearless this was the same issue I had/have with Mae, most of the time we feed once during the night at 4am but sometimes she sleeps through this and I automatically wake up with full boobs and not knowing whether to wake her. Generally I've stuck with not and crossed my fingers that it doesn't lead to her being starving for the rest of the day. And LOL at the bags of peas although I think mine are now so masssssive they look like the extended family size bags!

We're rubbish at tummy time, Mae always cries after a couple of minutes and I feel to mean to leave her. And she's not yet at the stage when she can turn over.

Boobz sorry to hear about the burglary thats horrible.

Corgi I am sure you will be fine, Mae sleeps fine at night really but isn't good at day time naps on her own unless she is in the car or buggy. But I have got used to just carrying her around in one arm whilst she is asleep!

Boobz - That's awful about the burglary! Scary too when they are in your house with a family. I hope they didn't get much else?

Re: Reflux. What's the difference betweent that and posseting? My DD1 and FB brought/bring up quite a lot and I just took that to be the way they were/are. DD2 kept more of hers down. I just bathed FB tonight, got him all nice and clean, in his jammies and then bleurgh, right round the side of his neck and into his ear. Great.

Re: Thumbsucking - caveat to previous post - this can be cured when weaning by sticking a band-aid on their thumb or fingers for a week when they are about 4 or so. Worked for me and for my DD1.

Going to try and get some sleep as I DID fall asleep on the couch with FB lying on my chest before teatime. He's such a little hot water bottle! (Discalimer; It was just a doze, DD1 and DD2 were in the room and DH was back early sorting tea. )

PS - Those material plasters work best as they're a bugger to get off.

Reflux is definitely different to posseting Slick - DS had it, he really couldn't keep his feeds down unless we did all the above mentioned. DD possets - she does what you describe with FB, but nothing like DS did. At least, that's in my humble experience anyway.
Right, really should be heading to bed, DD has been down for 45 mins now, should make the most of the opportunity to get some sleep myself!
Thanks for tips on thumb weaning!

Starshine Thank you so much for your thoughts. I will definitely look into some of those tricks. We had such a mellow, cheery little chap and the poor man is as miserable as sin now.

Slick The main difference between reflux and posseting (which Spike used to do prior to 9 weeks and which I think most babies do to some extent) is that reflux has the acid/heartburn element. In short, it hurts - or it seems to if Spike's wails and obvious discomfort are anything to go by. Mostly it is simply caused by the immaturity of the gastrointestinal system (perhaps exacerbated by lactose intolerance and the like) and the grow out of it. I do hope it's sooner rather than later.

yarnie hope Spike gets some relief soon - I've no experience of reflux but know from reading MN threads that it can be so awful for mum and baby

Would second cranial osteopathy - dd1 had some (not for relux) and I have heard nothing but good reports from it

Dd1 was a possetter - I carried a change of clothes and about 20 muslin squares with me at all times. Rosie is such a greedy gannet that she holds tightly onto her milk and not a drop comes up again - no bibs or muslin necessary! In fact in her 9.5 weeks of life I think she has only been sick about 6 times - mostly on my dh!

Excellent tip about the thumb sucking slick - I will need to store that in my bag of mean mummy tricks for the future. Did you tell your dd why you were sticking a plaster on her thumb? I have to say that at the moment dd1 still looks cute sucking her thumb (though I can't believe the number of random comments I get from stangers if she does it when we're out)but she won't look so cute in a few years time!

bbobz how scary - I hope you are all ok.

ooooooooooooooo - my friend is in labour - am very excited

DH has been working late - and I actually managed to give both dd's a bath, get them fed, storied, teeth brushed (not Rosie ) and both in bed by 7.15pm last night - I was quite astounded at my super-efficient mummy ways!

I will let you know how I get on tonight..........

Yay Meep - that is no mean feat - I still haven't managed it with my two!

How exciting about your friend!

Boobz i hope you're all ok. Sounds frightening. Hope the ** didn't get anything you can't replace.

Um... anyone want to scare tell me why it's bad to fall asleep with your baby on your chest?

gotta run - there's about to be a nappy leakage situation!

Sorry to hear that Boobz, must have been terrifying.

Job interview somewhat predictably went tits up. I just babbled - I have the worst verbal diarrhoea known to man and demonstrated this full force on Tuesday - cracked a really pathetic joke (one chap did have the lunacy/good grace to laugh) and tripped over on my way out, went "whew, close!" at having not gone right over, then whacked my head on the door frame as I straightened out (teach me to wear 5 inch stilettos when I'm 5'10). I could just feel them pissing themselves from down the corridor. I'm furious with myself because I let my worst traits (verbal shits, clumsiness/goofiness) cloud my good ones - I think I answered bloody well in the vast majority of the significant questions early on, before I started burbling. And that horrible sinking feeling where it dawns upon you that a particular part of your CV sounds INCREDIBLY naff. I only included the fact that I was captain of the 11-12 chess team aged 9 (and the only girl on the team - and checkmated the county champ teacher!) to try and counterbalance that essentially, aside from waitressing, the only jobs I've had in my 20 years on this planet have been stalking down a catwalk and posing for a fregging camera. I thought the fact that I was right boff at school - and the childhood chess (my finest hour) might make me look a little less useless/vacuous. But of course it ended up coming across, in retrospect, like exactly as it was. A straw-clutching attempt at boasting - and I hate boasting. My CV pre my mother's intervention was so modest ... probably difficult to believe! ... that it wouldn't have got me past the end of the road. I feel like an epic twat. I'd jabbered on so much and so uncontrollably that by the end of the interview they practically knew about the mole next to my left tit, my granny's middle name and my (hypothetical) penchant for pegging. I just came across like a buffoon. Am indescribably with myself. I have resigned myself to the fact that I cannot be an ice queen, and cannot do sophisticated.

Sorry for self-centred rant, I just had to get that off my chest! Will have to seek psychological help before I go to any more interview in the imminent future.

James still hasn't cut his budding tooth, I feel so sorry for the poor little guy. He's sleeping well at night but is whinging a lot during the day. I just wish I could somehow eliminate the pain for him.

Corgi Definitely up for the sleep-deprivation club! Although last night had an unexpected glut of sleep. After hideous evening when F woke herself up at 9.30 by vomiting all over herself and cot, we finally settled her back down and she slept until 6.30 . Must be because she had a big feed at 9.30 to get her back to sleep, but if I ever try a dream feed I can't get her to suck and there's no way I'm going to wake her up properly at that time. We're not having any luck with self-settling for naps either. Also, she wakes after 30-40 minutes still very tired and grumpy and will only go back to sleep if given more milk or put straight into car/pram. V. v. bad habit to get into but sometimes I do it because DD1 is having her lunchtime nap and I don't want the crying to wake her.

Yarnie F was diagnosed with possible silent reflux in early weeks and I've got a wedge for the cot and changing mat. It does seem to make a difference although I was never totally convinced it was reflux rather than bad wind. I don't know if you're breastfeeding but I've given up dairy and it does seem to help her tummy. For example, had 3 chocolate biscuits yesterday and she was sick last night and has lots of wind today, although that could just be coincidence. We never tried the meds because she threw up every time any went in her mouth.

Boobz Sorry about your burglary. We had the same thing last year. I actually heard them breaking in but thought it was DH as was sleeping in the spare room because we'd been painting and I don't like the smell (and hence downstairs window being open...)

Sorry to hear about the buglary boobz and you're asking a bunch of sleep deprived, hormonally driven women to remember whats happened over the last 3 weeks ??? .

How's your friend doing meep ?

Grinning - I think its the sleeping with a baby on the sofa that is the real no no (because of course none of us have done that - ahem).

loli - sorry you thought the job interview went badly. Are you sure you want to fit in a job with 3 children (actually, silly thing to say - you'll probably want the escape !!).

I had a bit of a bad day yesterday - L's cough seemed to get worse and despite the doctors reassurances was panicking. She was coughing like she was choking and couldn't stop. I lost the plot a bit and then worried that i actually was starting with PND. Anyway, L is a bit better today - the coughing doesn't seem so violent and I think I am just very tired and it made everything seem worse. Feel on a more even keel today although even more tired !!

On the tummy time thing - I was told to stay with them at their level and they'll be happier. It seems a simple thing but something I hadn't really thought of .

oh and we were talking about baby brains the other day. My neighbour has just knocked on my door to tell me my car door was open .

loli I'm a pro proofreader and CV-tweaker (see earlier in thread), want me to have a look at yours? It's actually more common now to look at competencies rather than experience, so you could demonstrate that modelling required you to manage your expenses, travel, diary etc.

Also, at 20 people realistically wouldn't expect you to have a lot of experience, so the interview wouldn't count this against you. (Also thanks to the EU (hooray!) employers shouldn't discriminate against candidates on the basis of age).

Wheely we also put a mirror opposite G's line on vision during tummy time, works quite well.

Boobz sympathies on the burglary, may their penises wither and drop off...

My little bit of news: Michael (DS1) said 'mummy' twice! He's been non-verbal for ever so we're really excited....

Loli I'm sorry, but I LOL'd a few times at your post! Just so brilliantly put. I bet you get offered the job anyway. Ah bless. I bet they loved you. They'd realise you're human, that's not going to be the reason you don't get the job honey. Let us know how you get on.

Wheely - I always panic like MAD when any of mine start choking - apple is a major culprit and I am on full alert when DD2 is eating one after both her and DD1 have choked on them - chopped up, seem to do better when whole and can take their own bites. Sorry, I degress...anyway, I can understand you going radio-rental at L choking, it is horrible and it is scary, so don't beat yourself up about it - and lack of sleep always makes things worse so don't automatically think it's PND.

Hope she starts to feel better soon. Re: tummy time, I was down on the floor with FB yesterday and DD2 bent down to look at him and say "Hiyo!" "Hiyo!" (Hello) V. cute.

Well, to FB to HV today to see about his flat heid and she's taken a measurement so we can see how it goes. Am going to get a Bumbo as well, that'll help. But he was weighed and he's just put on another 25 oz in 2 weeks. Me and my HV just sat and looked at each other in amazment. He's right up on the 98th centile. If he keeps going he's into blue territory. She said, "SURELY he's got to calm down soon!" But aparently he's very active and alert so it's all good I guess. She did say tho, there is NO WAY he will hold off til 6 months for solids. I'll say. None of mine have. God know's how we're going to keep them all in food. Thank God we've got a veg patch.

Meep Ooooh, exciting! Let us know how she gets on!

Oh yeah (sorry, long post) got V lucky last night, (no, not like that) FB fed at 12.15 and then slept til 8am!!! Aye right, that'll continue...!?