October 08 - Chit chat

[CantSleepWontSleep]

That's us with the chit chat, not the babies!

10th Sept (Due 1st Oct) - loulou33 - Boy - Joe Louis David - 6lbs 12oz - Induction due to rhesus sensitivity, G&A.
16th Sept (Due 8th Oct) - Ksal - Girl - Emma Rae - 6lbs - Just beat induction for PE!
21st Sept (Due 5th Oct) - myjobismum - Girl - Naomi Caitlin - 5lbs 10oz - Fast and furious hospital birth.
22nd Sept (Due 10th Oct) - Lozza70 - Boy - Sander Gene - 7lbs 5oz - Em C-Sec due to raised BP and high ALTs from liver.
2nd Oct (Due 12th Oct) - star6 - Boy - Quinlan - 5lbs 15oz - 36hr labour, ventouse and stitches.
3rd Oct (Due 26th Sept) - purpleflower - Girl - Rebecca Jill Erzsebet - 8lbs 10.5oz - Homebirth with paramedics due to meconium.
4th Oct (Due 30th Sept) - Aubergenie - Boy - Stanley - 7lbs 12oz -
5th Oct (Due 4th Oct) - hedgepig - Boy - Oliver - 6lbs 3oz -
5th Oct (Due 29th Sept Oct) - CherryChoc - Boy - Ryan - 6lbs 11oz - 3 day labour with natural birth in hospital
8th Oct (Due 6th Oct) - ronshar - Boy - William Dexter - 7lbs 11oz -
8th Oct (Due Oct) - RedElsie - Boy - Daniel - -
9th Oct (Due 17th) - Marthasmama - Girl - Martha - 7lbs 10oz - Elective c-sec
10th Oct (Due 1st Oct) - CantSleepWontSleep - Boy - Duncan Elliot - 8lbs 4oz - 4 day induction with 1 hour established labour!
12th Oct (Due 4th Oct) - pistachio - Boy - Thomas Fraser - 10lbs 2oz - Homebirth.
13th Oct (Due 15th Oct) - mum2jakeyroo/jrsqueak - Boy - Joshua - 7lbs 2oz - Delivered in car by dh!
16th Oct (Due 17th Oct) - rowanmac - Girl - Anna Ruth - 7lbs 2oz - 2 hours ARM to placenta delivery.
16th Oct (Due 11th Oct) - heather1980 - Boy - Alexander James - 9lbs 5oz - Homebirth
17th Oct (Due 10th Oct) - pepperrabbit - Girl - Jessica Rose - 7lbs 15.5oz -
17th Oct (Due 27th Oct) - Rhian82 - Boy - - - Episiotomy and ventouse.
24th Oct (Due 29th Oct) - Ekka - Boy - Matthew - 7lbs 15oz - Home water birth with gas and air.
26th Oct (Due 20th Oct) - jenwa - Girl - Phoebe Jasmine - 9lbs 2.5oz -
28th Oct (Due 23rd Oct) - RachieW - Boy - Jack - 7lbs 4oz - hospital birth, epidural, stitches, 24hrs start to finish
28th Oct (Due 31st Oct) - Jojay - Boy - Edward Alexander - 7lbs 7oz - hospital birth - gas and air, 2nd degree tear. 7 hrs start to finish.
1st Nov (Due 22nd Oct) - SmudgeyDoodle - Girl - - 8lbs 2oz - Hospital water birth.
5th Nov (Due 29th Oct) - Honeymoonmummy - Girl - Poppy Grace - 6lbs 15oz -
5th Nov (Due 30th Oct) - MamaG - Boy - Harry James - 10lbs 9oz - Em C-Sec. Back to back and knotted cord around neck. 24 hours of labour first though, and don't you forget it!

God I've just realised it's probably due to me not letting her sleep through feeds so she's not feeding as long which I thought might just be comfort rather than getting much plus she's not having the extra feed during the night now. Eeek! Lots to talk to the HV about tomorrow!!!

I really am going now!

HMM - stupid charts. They only make you worry. Pay no attention to centiles. I learned this early on (through the ladies on this thread)

Loulou - I feel like I'm just swimming in uncertainty now. Tried the csws last night and he didn't go for it. Just kept on crying every time he was put down. When I finally put him down next to me in my bed (our bed I mean... ), he stopped crying and settled himself to sleep, brushing his fingertips on my arm. So he can settle himself to sleep, just not in his own cot? I think? I'm under a lot of pressure (from DH, friends...etc.) to not allow him to sleep in our bed so much.

Here's what happens... He has his evening routine - food in his highchair, bath, dressed in sleeper, stories, breastfeed, then he drops off during feed. I've been keeping him awake during his feed for the past few nights. He's still very tired when finished, so I put him in his cot, awake, but dead tired... he drops off to sleep within 5 seconds of me putting him in his cot (either on tummy or back, doesn't matter at this point). This is usually around 7pm (sometimes as late as 8pm). He usually wakes again at 9 or 10 for a feed, so I feed him and put him back in the cot... again, he's so tired that he just falls straight back to sleep once he's in there.
Then he wakes at 12.30 or 1. I don't feed him at this time because he didn't need it before. Past 4 nights I've been trying to let him cry, then pat/shush, cry, pat/shush...etc.. tried increasing interval last night. But at this time, he will only settle if I put him in my bed. Once in bed with me, he's off to sleep within a few minutes (no crying). And he'll sleep from about 2am-7am. If I stayed in bed with him, he'd likely sleep until 8 or 9 even. But I have to get up earlier and express and get ready for work. This week DH (british school teacher) is off, so he's getting into bed with him, but it's not the same, so he wakes at 7am.
I just don't know how to get him to resettle in that middle of the night wake!! He just won't do it. And I'm SO TIRED at that point...

Also - Q wasn't taking a bottle for my friend for past 2 weeks. Now, he's at home for a week with DH and has no trouble taking expressed milk from a bottle. ??

star sounds like Q is too tired to feed enough when you put him to bed so is waking for another feed. Can he have a later nap in the afternoon then come tea time he can eat then bath then maybe you do his story and BF at same time and do it whilst lights on etc so he stays awake to get enough milk? this may make him sleep slightly longer so that he wakes later for feed at the 12:30 point maybe then you feed again but not in your bed? Feed him where you would feed him foe his bed time feed then place him back to bed? Not sure why he is not taking milk when your friend offers it, does she give him anything other than what you send?

Ekka and HM Sorry you are both having a rough time with allergies, what a complete nightmare and I really feel for you both HM dd is not putting on as much weight as she did and to be honest a week and a half is not a lot to go by. Please dont worry, they have these spurts of growth and then not much again and this happens when weaning as they are getting used to more solids and less milk and its hard to know how much they are taking. I would see how she goes. If she is hungry she will be unsettled and crying for feeds, give her a couple of weeks and see how she goes

aubergenie was thinking hayfever too with the eye rubbing, dd1 is like it at the mo. Usually with teething the poo is very loose and offensive smelling. DD2 is going alot more at the moment but I am putting that down to her eating solids, they do reak and she is dribbly and her teeth are coming down so I could be a combination.

csws hope D is ok after he fell of your bed (on purpose off course ) Men! I am sure DH forgot how quick they move then felt very guilty so had to blame D!!!

Bloody raining again! Where is the summer or did we have it on sunday???!!!!

HMM - I think it's pretty normal for a BF baby's weight gain to start to tail off round about now. Could it be that? I'm sure someone more sensible like CSWS will be along soon with proper information.

CSWS - I wondered about hayfever. It's really polleny at the moment. I'm not a hayfever sufferer but I've felt it in my throat. If it's not bothering him hugely, I think I'll just leave it (I've got a horrible mistrust of doctor's and have to be at death's door before I'll go to one).

How are you feeling today Ekka? It's awful when you look around you and see nothing but jobs that need doing - especially when you've got so much on.

We had another frustrating night last night. ds woke up for a feed when I went to bed but wouldn't be put back in the cot. He was exhausted, but the minute he touched the cot he started shouting. Two hours later and desperate for sleep, I brought him into bed with me.

morning ladies.
i've not been on for a few days and you've all chatted so much i can't keep up.

i notice you're all having sleep problems, alex has started waking at 5:30am and he's wide awake, it takes me ages to get him back to sleep again. i'm so tired, he's done it every day for a week now. i have no idea what to do to break the cycle.
he goes down at 7pm wakes about 8ish for a quick top up, sleeps till 11ish, then goes right through to 5-5:30. even 6:30 would be ok.

i've just got his appointment for his 32 week checkup, they are coming to the house to do it, i'm sure that i took dd to the baby clinic for hers.

still no periods here thank god, i had awful ones pre dc, but they are much better now.

we're off swimming later this morning with my sister, i hope it's not too busy, but it's raing so i bet it's hammered.

we're going to a teddy bears picnic on friday, but i'm a bit annoyed, it's at our local childrens centre and they have a child feeding woman thingy, and she said that the kids can't have jam sandwiches or dried fruit as they are unhealthy. dried fruit counts as one of your 5 a day. she seems obsessed with fruit, they are having cheese spread sandwiches, sliced fruit and water. the play co-ordinator is getting a bit annoyed with her i think.

off out for the day will try to get on later to talk to you star

Heather cheese spread is processed so most prob contains salt! Jam sandwiches will prob contain some sugar and I thought dried fruit was healthy as apricots are meant to be fab for them and a good source of nutrients. P loves jam sandwiches. Anyway, surely when you go on a picnic you can take what the hell you like your kids, your rules

aubergenie sorry you had a bad night

Dried fruit is full of sugar, but also nutritious. As long as they don't eat it all
the time, I can't see the problem.

So what does the nutritionist woman say they can have, Heather?

cheese spread from a nutritionist? wow.
aubergenie - Q and S must be conspiring to get into our beds . I empathize... but no suggestions, as we're struggling together here.

Hello - I will catch up with everyone later but just wanted to make sure I didn't lose you from my active convos. I have been really busy with two children as it is half term this week.

Ekka - DS was allergic to eggs when he was young. He threw up almost immediately after having anything with egg in it. He grew out of it by the time he was 18 months but it took a long time to convince him to have anything with egg in it. I have no idea how allergic he was though....

M is asleep in her cot again at the moment and she went in awake and grumpy! I decided to leave her for 5 mins but after two she was asleep! Yay!!!!!

Congrats, MM!
I just went home from work to feed Q and he fell asleep afterward. I let him fall off during the feed this time because I know it results in a long nap and DH needs a bit of a breather.

Star - i agree with Jenwa, he's too tired to eat later in the day so he gets into a habit of waking only a hour or so after bedtime. I would let him have a later nap ?3pm ish, only for 1/2 hour and then he will eat more a teatime and more bm at bedtime. I would then not offer him bf at 10pm but maybe if he woke later. If he is falling asleep as soon as he is in your bed and sleeps for a further 5hours, that would suggest that there's 'nothing the matter' but he wants a cuddle to help him sleep...is he warm enough in bed? I know that sounds mad but it does get quite cold even this time of year in the middle of the night - has he kicked a blanket off? Any idea what might wake him up -its obviously not hunger as he goes off to sleep without food. How dark is his bedroom? Have you got a black out blind as it can still be light most of the night now? I have had to re-do our blinds as the boys were waking very early as their rooms were too light. You may also find that because he has cried a few times and you have tkane him onto your bed after an hour (i htinki've remebered that right) he has learnt that if he keeps going, you will eventually let him into your bed for a cuddle. Therefore, you will have to persevere for longer unfortunately. Some children also take a longer time to get the message. Some get it very quickly, like Duncan and others can take a week or so - sorry....he's also been poorly so that might be affecting his settling skills as well

Well done MM - Joe fell asleep for 10 mins in the car on the way home so i wasn't sure if he would have his lunchtime sleep - but its all quiet up there atm.

Heather - dried fruit is a contentious one apparently. My dentist was horrified that i gave ds1 raisins as they stick in the teeth and have probably caused a brown spot on his tooth . she said they were worse thatn sweets as they sitck on so much. She said only fresh fruit. i only give ds1 dried fruit in the evening after tea as i brush his teeth not too long after. Joe ha raisins but he has no teeth so i figure its ok for now.....i wish they would all make up their minds. Maybe i should feed them mcdonalds, pork scratchings and irn-bru!!!

Are they meant to have 8 month check-ups? I have no HV so have no idea! I am making burgers again so will be back tonight.

8 month checks were scrapped up here a few years ago MM but don't know about England. HV won't send for Joe again until 13 months for his PCV and MMR

8 months check up here too. They scraped the next one after here so 8 months then not again til 2 yrs!

loulou you write what I mean to but I never seem to put it as good as you

myjob go open your parcels..... I would be too excited not to Well done your DC for sleeping well in the same room...yeh and glad N is feeling better. Hope her 8 month check goes well, how scary 8 months

Went to friends this am, was mad! Her 2 boys are crazy! Jumping over P and falling on her and poking her eyes and pulling her ears, they were rough with each other and not letting DD1 ride on the car without pulling it. They are 5 and 18 months! The 18 month old was the worst. They have to move everything off the floor and low shelves as he pulls it all off and throws things. The older one was the same too! They also can be lovely though!

Pistachio - its not really very reassuring that health visitor do not seem to want to see your child for checkup between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years!!

Myjob - i wouldn't shoot you down at all and you have a point that there is no point in trying to tackle sleep 'problems' if you have to be up early or can't rest during the day to recover. Can you bear to leave it as it is Star until the summer hols, like myjob suggests? I know you were desperate the other night to get it sorted asap but maybe waiting a few weeks would be a good idea?

Can't believe your children will sleep in the same room myjob, that is impressive!! Did they both wake each other up early? DS1 is currently waking at 6ish which is really annoying. have given him a star chart and it seems to work until he gets his reward and then he goes back to shouting at 6am again - ggrrrrr

Jenwa - thank you!! Sounds like your friends kids are a handful. i'm not sure what Joe and ds1 will be like when Joe is up and about - i'm guessing it will be bedlam as DS1 is already encouraging Joe to do 'naughty things' and then tells him off - he's a monkey.

I haven't had any checks, either. As far as I know, it's up to me to get them. Even teh 6 week one was my doing. I only scheduled it (at 8 weeks Ithink) because you all were talking about it.

Jenwa - sorry! I didn't read your whole post this morning. Yes, I agree that he's not getting his full feed and probably just waking up to get the rest in. And you're right, the soother is a big distraction!!
Loulou - thanks for that. I appreciate it. he had a 3pm nap today and then a bf at 5.30 from both sides, a big tea, then still dropped of feeding at 7.30pm. I wonder if he'll be up soon... I agree, I've screwed myself by putting him in bed with me after an hour I want to persevere, but just so tired and in a really weird state at that time of night. He's plenty warm - has a sleeping bag (0-6 month one he still fits into ). and room is warm - he's not sweaty or red, he seems the right temp. Just loves my bed. Do you think I'm creating a bad habit by letting him just get in bed with me for the next 3 weeks until school is over? (19th June). can't determine which is worse..

myjob of N dropping off to sleep. What did you get from Ebay? Exciting!

X posts loulou. I might try to leave it. Still worried I'll create a harder to break habit, though... not sure!

star dont worry about not reading the whole post, you had to be at work! I think your fab even getting time to be on here
It is a tricky one re sleep, its difficult as you are tired so its hard to persevere with something when you feel like that especially when you know that if you let him sleep with you then you will both get sleep. I do think that it will be harder to break the habit in a few weeks time though as you are sort of giving him this routine then will be changing it again soon so may upset him even more. You may achieve this really quickly like CSWS did and as its weds today you only have 2 more days at work til the weekend. I think you should not do the BF at 5:30 though and give him his tea first then bath about 6 ish followed by a big BF as maybe feeding at 5:30 BF means he wont eat as much then take as much from you at bed time. If you do a BF before his afternoon nap (P has a bottle between 2-3:30 then sleeps) then when he wakes give him his tea around 5 ish you will then have time to play, bath story and a really big BF which will help him sleep. He may just be using that last feed at the moment as a soother so not actaully taking lots hence waking up again?

loulou I cant imagine you having naughty kids, you always give sound advice

Sorry I had not read the others properly I do think you should just do what suits you with the sleep but maybe try changing the feeds to see if that helps.

No I see what you're saying Jenwa. I should sort it.

MM- Well done to Martha for napping in her cot today! I think it was the day for good naps today. S managed two one-hour naps . Mind you, he was probably knackered because he was awake for so long last night.

I went to my lovely osteopath about my back today and she checked S over at the same time - she says there's a lot of activity (or whatever the equivalent is in osteo-speak) going on in his skull at the moment, which she put down to either teething, sinuses or a combination of the two.

Star - I'd be tempted to do what Myjob suggests and tackle Q's sleep during the summer holidays when you've got more energy to do it properly and really see it through.

But what do I know? Still, you've got my sympathies. It's no comfort, I know, but you're not on your own!

I'm almost too tired to watch the Apprentice...