April 2009 - Chapter 1: We're not pregnant, just fat!

[PuzzleRocks]

We made it!

The fab April ladies and their blessed progeny...

12 Feb: Skiingone: MARIANNA 4lb 4oz
20 Feb: Glaskham: RUBY MARIE 4lb 3oz
04 Mar: Barbarella: ESTELLA, ROSANNA, OTIS
05 Mar: Kazkiss: ISABELLE FLORENCE 4lb 6oz & OLIVER THOMAS 3lb 7oz
15 Mar: Babypringle: OSCAR WILLIAM 7lb 2oz
28 Mar: Claireykitten: VIOLET ROSE 7lb 9oz
29 Mar: WhatFreshHell: FELIX DEVLIN ALEXANDER 10lb 5.5oz
31 Mar: Mumblemum: ORSON XERXES
02 Apr: Oddeyes: ELEANOR 9lb 8oz
03 Apr: Bleuravin: MEGAN LILLIAN CONSTANCE
03 Apr: Bumpalump: JACOB 8lb
04 Apr: BabyBolat: KARAHAN 6lb 5oz
05 Apr: Mrsfossil: ISLA LILIAN 7lb 10oz
06 Apr: BoffinMum: FELIX DAVID GORDON 7lb 9oz
11 Apr: SpringySunshine: GEORGE NATHAN 8lb 15oz
11 Apr: RachelinScotland: CLEMENT JAMES 8lb 14oz
11 Apr: Lou031205: ISLA SOPHIA 7lb 9oz
11 Apr: Electra: ISABELLA CAROLINE 6lb 3oz
11 Apr: AuldAlliance: ALEXANDRE 7lb 6oz
12 Apr: Phdlife: Name TBA GIRL 9lb 3oz
12 Apr: BethDivine: Name TBA GIRL 9lb 9oz
13 Apr: MathsMummy27: AMELIA CHARLOTTE
14 Apr: Purlease: ADAM 9lb 2oz
15 Apr: Juwesm: HUGO GEORGE 9lb 2oz
15 Apr: Bronze: ISAAC JOHN
15 Apr: HeidiT: HEIDI
15 Apr: Kalikaroo: Name TBA BOY 8lb
15 Apr: Minush: ZAFIRAH ROSA 7lb 12oz
15 Apr: FatandFedup: EMILIA ROSE 7lb 6oz
16 Apr: PuzzleRocks: HOLLY ELIZABETH 8lb
16 Apr: Brettgirl: HANNAH GRACE 6lb 15oz
16 Apr: ReallyTired: Name TBA GIRL
18 Apr: Staryeyed: Name TBA BOY 7lb 11oz
20 Apr: LuLuBai: SEBASTIAN 9lb
20 Apr: Swaliswan: BETH 7lb 9oz
21 Apr: Kittycatisgettingfat: GABRIELLA AUDREY BIANCA
21 Apr: B52s: SAM MARTIN 7lb 9oz
21 Apr: Schulte: HAZEL LOIS 7lb 9 oz
23 Apr: Tristaleejac: LEWIN 8lb 4oz
23 Apr: NuttyTaff: TIAHNA SKYE 8lb 8oz
23 Apr: Purplemonkeydishwasher: ISLA ELIZABETH 8lb 14oz
24 Apr: Soon2befamilyof4: TALIA 7lb 6oz
26 Apr: Carameli: THEO LAURENCE 7lb 6oz
26 Apr: Surprisenumber3: EVIE ANNE 8lb 2oz
26 Apr: Bicnod: OSCAR MATTHEW 8lb 1oz
27 Apr: Lauren61: OLIVER STEPHEN 7lb 7oz
27 Apr: Gingersarah: VERONICA ROISIN 9lb 1oz
30 Apr: MegBusset: ARCHIE 8lb 15oz
01 May: Satheresitting: Name TBA BOY
03 May: Conkertree: Name TBA BOY 8lbs 8oz
06 May: Frekkles: HARRIS MERLIN 8lb 5.5oz
07 May: TarteTatin: ALBERT JOHN
10 May: Ilovesummer: Name TBA BOY

Juw what sling have you got? If I'm wearing a stretchy wrap, I tend to pretie it first thing (while DH is here to hold E) and leave it on all day. In the heat, I've been using my mei tai more, as it's a lot cooler and quicker to put on. I sometimes keep that pretied round my waist - it's a little fiddlier because of the long straps but otherwise okay.

Praise the Lord for co-sleeping - I had a lie in today (then a big fight with DS1 when he first woke Edmund up and then tried to manhandle him round the bed and pin his arms down, and wouldn't listen to reason). Also the first time I've tried to get dressed with both boys on my own [spoilt emoticon]. It was hard!

Re co-sleeping, I feed E lying on my side and then we both roll onto our backs side by side. I keep the duvet between my knees so I know it can't ride up on him and I have my arm in front of the pillow so he can't get up to it. I used to have DS1 on my chest a little but I found it a bit scary - he'd occasionally roll off. Last night E wore his Grobag for the first time. So darn cute.

I've got the plumber here today putting in a new shower. Think I must seem really stressed because she had a friendly chat with me about how I mustn't be too hard on myself with a baby and "there's bound to be dust" Hah dust is the least of my worries (I have never dusted more than sporadically even when I had the time). Did manage to round up and hide the stray pants etc. before she got here

Good luck for all those with postnatal checks today. Mine's tomorrow. Do they always weigh you? Am still depressingly heavy and quite large - is that normal do you think?

why won't this baby stop crying? he has a clean bum, he's warm, he's fed, he's got my full attention but he won't stop crying unless he's feeding! aaaagh.... just tried to put him in the sling and go for a walk, but he screamed the whole time we were out! i've burst into tears twice now this morning, i can't stand it when he cries and cries and i can't comfort him, i don't know what to do!

Aww frekkles, it sounds like a growth spurt - you just have to feed and feed and feed and it settles after a few days. Very hard though, so make sure you get plenty of food and water and any rest you can.

Just had postnatal check - a bit late because lovely lady doctor was on holiday. I am fine (apart from the SPD which is not great), but Felix has an ear infection, so is on antibiotics. Does anyone have any ideas how to get them into him? He is just spitting it out because it's not lovely breast milk (syringe didn't work, nor did putting it in a bottle).

BTW I have got an implant from the chemist ready to be put in if I can pluck up courage - did you know they cost the NHS £90!!!!!! Cheaper than a birth, I suppose.

Frekkles lots of hugs to you - does sound like a growth spurt, hang in there, won't last for long and then things will get easier.

So Nutty have you got over your hangover yet? Sounds like you had a great night out! Well done you.

Co-sleeping - am a bit as I don't dare do it, am far too scared DH or I might crush H in her sleep. It does sound lovely though.

Hazel hasn't done a poo since Saturday morning

Oh dear Boff, how did they spot the ear infection? Poor little man! No idea about the medicines, sorry.

He had crusty stuff around the edge of his ear, and when I looked on the sheet there was yellow stuff that had oozed out during the night, indicating his eardrum had popped. I have to say he is surprisingly sanguine about it. When this happened to me as an adult once the pain was up there with childbirth tbh.

Felix is 11lbs 10oz now, whizzing up the centiles thing. He has grown out of first size clothes and is now in age 3-6 months.

yep I had it when DD1 was little and it was worse than giving birth!

Boff have you tried syringing it right to the back corner of his mouth? I don't think he can spit it out then.

Orbit had a really unsettled evening last night and also this morning, but he seems to have chilled out now, thankfully.

Good luck to all postnatal checks and jabs

Afternoon all!

Sorry to hear about the various illnesses and worries, hope you are all bearing up.

My news:
DH cleaned the house yesterday!!!!! wooo hooo!!

And he had a ridiculous job interview on Fri, for a job working in 3 different towns miles away from each other and from the courts, with no refund for transport between home and work, and for absolutely shite pay. So he'll not be taking up that offer, surprisingly.

Alex seems to be on his second growth spurt. Is this possible? feeding a lot in the day and every 3 hrs at night, which is a PITA as he was going 5hrs w/o a feed at night before.

Had my 6wk check up on Fri (at 7wks, obv): very like yours, Minush: a quick exam, a recommendation to use a coil (i.e. regular paying appts with that gynae, says the cynic in me), and advice to get going on the fanjo physio. 50 euros for that 10 min appointment.

If any of you have 2 ticks to spare (ha!), could you check out my thread here please?

Boff, have parcel for you, just need to get to La Poste with it, a logistics nightmare...

Boob cheese, boob cheese!

Ellen was an angel this morning. We walked a mile and a half in the sweltering heat to baby clinic and she didn't grumble once, even when she fell over and scuffed her knees.
She was very protective of her little sister and didn't allow the health visitor to take her until she had explained her intentions. It was so sweet.
Holly is now 10lb 9oz which is slightly above the 50th centile, just like her big sister. They are both on the 98th for length/height. Head circumferences are on the 25th. I'm breeding giraffes.

Lulu - I have nowt to wear either, just maternity jeans and a few shapeless t shirts.

MrsG - I wasn't weighed. In fact the extent of my check was..
DR - Are you ok?
Me - Yes
DR - I don't need to examine you then. Do you want the pill?
Me - Yes

.. more or less.

Oh and I have forgotten to take my pill for the last three days. What is wrong with me?

We are co-sleeping too. Ellen has taken to waken up at 6 each morning and crawling in with the three of us as well. It's lovely but a bit hot now.

Boff - Poor Felix, no idea, sorry.

I have done it!

I put 5ml of medicine into the upside down teat of a bottle with the ring around it. I used a teat with two holes because the medicine is quite gloopy. I then screwed on the bottle whilst still holding the teat upside down. I then waited until he wanted to feed and was obviously thirsty, and made him have the medicine first (old guinea pig owner's trick). Sorted!

Felix is finally having a nap. Boys are happily watching TV (particularly DS1 as he was eating an apple and his tooth came out without him having to pull).

Big question - shall I sleep or shall I MN?

Hola - just a MN fix before facing the heat again.

Parallel lives Puzzle - we went for six week check conversation roughly the same except said no to pill for time being, no weighing or anything else - didn't even ask how the fanjo was healing, then walked all around the houses to get to baby weigh in clinic. Sebastian is now 11lb11 so no worries there. DD is also very protective of strangers man-handling her baby bro. Can get quite distraught and the nurse had to spend a lot of time complementing DD on her new shoes before she was allowed access to the treasured baby.

Said treasured baby then threw up over the only clean dry thing I have to wear so came home and changed into something damp straight out of the machine (clean damp being preferable to baby puke damp...!?)

Rewarded DD (and self ) with ice cream for our heroic efforts in heat.

Now go to try and get both of them in the car and out to some nice lady who is going to make some curtains for me so that I can stop getting undressed in the wardrobe, and may even stand a chance of getting DD to sleep before the sun goes down.

Just to say that I hope you have all read the Bank Holiday erection thread - I nearly died laughing last night!

Must do some ironing

Rats

In the time it's taken me to type that both of them have fallen asleep.

Any other day I would be overjoyed with them both being asleep at the same time but I actually have things to do this avo. Harumph.

Oh well. Must enjoy it. Will call curtain lady and say I'll be there later and get on with some laundry in the meantime.

WFH it's a crap day for ironing. Way too hot. Go crumpled. I am wearing linen straight out of machine damp and unironed. Yes I look a mess but it's v. v. hot and I have just had a baby so I feel justified.

Oh struth I just heard the voice of my permanently svelte and elegant (and lets be honest, rather bitchy) grandmother (RIP) saying to me when pregnant first time "So what will you do about your figure when you've had the baby? Just let yourself go I suppose".

Aaargh. Better go and put some mascara on and maybe iron my dress. No doubt she's watching from somewhere and frowning heavily!

Thanks for the in/on answers!

Boff, are you napping, then?
I can't seem to nap, I think I'm so sure Alex will wake me up that I can't switch off and sleep.

Can't find any rental accommodation at all in our town.

Alex is farting and pooing like a trooper in his carrycot.

Frekkles, how do you like the Amby? Alex sleeps well in his, but it hangs squint and i can't seem to get it straight!

Right, have to go and wake DS1: if he naps for too long he'll not go to sleep before 10pm tonight and will get stuck in a spiral of tiredness involving major whining and crying for days to come.

Wahh somant things to comment ona nd Ive forgotton them all

BB I'm flying BA next week and Isaac gets his own hand luggage allocation and own space for a bag in the hold. You can also take a buggy (has to beumbrella fold) and a carseat.
I wont take all this but it does mean you can take plenty.

I'm so excited. 11 day to go and then I can show my little man off to my parents.

Isaac didnt have his jabs today in the end but his check went well and as I hadnt had him weighed since two day after he was born it was good to hear hes no 12lb 4.5 oz which is loads considering he wasnt one of the biggest by far.
No weighing or fanjo checks or anything for me just basic questions.

I hope all the dcs get well soon . It must be horrible feeling crap in this heat.

Sadly the ironing isn't even for me - I have foolishly taken on ironing DPs shirts as he's very tired and stressed at work, plus I'm taking Orbit into work on Thursday to be admired and he's wearing this which is incredibly cute, but he was sick all down it on Saturday so it has been washed and needed ironing as it's linen.

My son looks better than I do...... I'm wearing creased linen trousers and he gets ironed to perfection.

bronze that's impressive stuff on Isaac's weight, well done you!

Hi all hope you are all well. Glad i found you all on this loverly new thread. Glad i'm not the only one with very little to wear ie maternity - big and shapeless, old clothes- tight and bulgy. Isla is doing well had jabs yesterday, poor thing lay there grininng and cooing at me not aclue that the doc was going to stab her with sharp needle. We had real tears for the 1st time.

Breast feeding going ok and i've been expressing, but she doesn't like taking it from a bottle much so we have got to really persevere with it so i can go to Paul Weller concert in 3 weeks!

Oh.
My.
Actual.
God.

I got time to sleep from 2.15 until 5.05.
The older kids watched Felix in the pram very nicely, and only came to get me when he started his 'evil genius' style warbling alarm cry which meant he needed feeding.

They also made me a cup of tea when I got up.

They are truly great kids.

DS1 has even forgiven me for shouting at him when he fell downstairs earlier, landing dramatically on his belly at the bottom.