May 2009 - loved-up new mums and/or sleep-deprived zombies this way please

[pulapula]

Here's a nice new thread for us to share our experiences with our new LOs.

Grumpy - thanks for update on chocbunnies Belgian - well done on your 9 days!

Jael - good to hear from you. You're doing so well with everything you've had to cope with. Re bathing, I was told just once a week was needed!

euromum - congrats and welcome to the PN thread!

Thanks for all your helpful comments on dummies. Still no further with it and that issue has been taken over this afternoon by continuing concerns about DS's weight.
He was 3860g when born and this dipped to 3420g on day 5. Last Thurs he was 3520g and then today he was 3460g. Fortunately HV was supportive of my wish to BF but she did ask us to go and get DS checked by GP to ensure he didn't have an infection and she wasn't missing anything.
GP, like HV, said everything was fine except for weight. She also phoned paediatric registrar to get advice. We all decided to continue as we are and get him weighed again on Thurs and see GP to review.
I have had a busy and stressful wkend what with MIL&SIL staying and disagreements with DH, so I'm going to make a conscious effort to look after me with lots of water and calories and rest over the next few days.

pula the post about your mum did make me smile though.. as my mum 'helps' in this way too.

belgian thanks for the sling link... i'll have a read and see how g gets on. the last day/night since the last feeding frenzy she's been a lot more settled and it's not been so much of an issue. So will research and then see if i can pick up a bargain on ebay Congrats on your 9day stint too.

jael we've not been bathing g everyday. Mainly as her skin is quite dry in places so i've been topping and tailing mostly for the last 10 days.

The mw came today for her 2nd visit and weighing of g. Glad to say she's putting on weight. At birth she was 9lb7oz, she then dropped to 8lb11oz. Since my milk came in she's gone to 8lb15oz and today 9lbs1oz. Her cord came off the other day and her sleeping/settling between feeds is more regular over the last 36hrs. So all in all i think i'm starting to get to know how she latches & feeds and a vague sort of pattern for feed times is emerging I managed my first feed lying down last night and was v proud of myself just expressing to get the knack of at some stage and we're all set. My face is almost back to normal swelling wise and i have an appointment with the dentist next tues to get the ball rolling on the root canal treatment [urghh] they won't see me until the anti-biotics have finished...

ses I have been doing the same re rest and calories as otherwise i feel really rough and rapidly run out of energy before i even get to night time... when g feeds are longer and more frequent for me between 10pm and 2am.

Well off to bed already for me or i'll be cream crackered later when g wakes up for her next feed. Who knows maybe it will be a normal 30-40min feed instead of the 2-4hr marathons of the last wee while?! [she hopes]

exciting about chocb too. Glad she's got the HB she wanted

Ladies, a birth announcement:

chocbunnies gave birth to 9lb 13oz Corey Landon Faulkner at 17.35 today.

Now may we all please take a minute to bow down to the absolute awesomeness of this girl:

He was born at home after a 50 minute labour without any pain relief, the Gas & Air was broken.

Wowsers!!

She sounds very happy, understandably!!!!

omg awesome news.. huge congratulations chocolatebunnies and wow at corey's weight too. well done and have a well earned rest

Lets see if I can type 1handed with a wriggly baby on my lap! Ses I had to go back in2 hospital as ds2 had lost too much weight. i had to breastfeed him every 3 hrs and top him up with expressed milk afterwards. Don't no if that any help.

Congrats Choc!

Right off outside with a hot & bothered baby

Ah, great news about chocbunnies- she was worried he was measuring big earlier on, but did a great job pushing him out without any pain relief!

Well, my mum has been very helpful after all (I take it all back). DH and I had a few minutes outside when he got home from work, sat together on the swingseat in peace (DS2 in a sling but asleep) whilst my mum entertained the other 2 inside. She also did their bath and put them to bed, which meant that i took the opportunity to try DS2 on a bottle at bedtime (he took it straightaway and took the whole 3oz and wanted a bit more). Then i took him into our room and fed him till he was full to bursting and put him down (IN HIS MOSES BASKET) at 7.30pm (I think he was getting disturbed being downstairs in the evening). He is still asleep now, and i have had a nice tea, expressed 5oz, and feel liberated. I know i could have tried it sooner, but just having 1 extra person around made it much easier to do .

am in awe of you chocbunnies. congatulations! i thought i'd done well just using G&A... well done, you!

pula glad your mum is being helpful and good about baby going down in moses basket, hurrah!

oh and Jael, i've only bathed Harper 3 times in her 4 weeks of life. once a week seems fine or as need be. will probably increase this as soon as she becomes mobile/food encrusted , etc.

Thank goodness momino- Sam's only had 2 baths in 3 weeks so i don't feel too guilty now!

WOW!!! well done chocbunnies

Congrats alapala rivermoon chocbunnies and euromum. Over 40 babies now:

So far :
22 BOYS
19 GIRLS

BORN

1 APRIL 2009: SpangleMaker, BOY - Harvey, 9:55, 5lb 12oz, 35+3 (first child)
23 APRIL 2009: LoobyLou36, GIRL - Matilda Rose, 5.53am, 8lb 3oz, 38+4 (first child)
23 APRIL 2009, Reggiee, BOY, Ben, 7lb 8, 39 weeks (DD age 22 mo)
24 APRIL 2009: EmmalinaC, GIRL, Niamh Elizabeth, 9.56am, 6lb 2oz, unplanned vbac! 38+5wks (DD aged 2.4)
29 APRIL 2009: llareggub, BOY, George, 8am, 7lb 9oz, VBAC (DS1 2.5)
29 APRIL 2009: gert2a, GIRL, Edith Ann Elaine, 10.14am, 7lb 10oz, ELCS (first child)
30 APRIL 2009: Jael, BOY, Jacob, ELCS (DD aged nearly 3)
1 MAY 2009: 1stMrsF, TWIN GIRLS, Amelia Carys (7lb 6.5oz) and Georgiana Bronwen (6lb 12oz), c-section 14.06 and 14.07
2 MAY 2009: Divedaisy, GIRL, Sofiah Rose, 00:47am (DS age 6)
2 MAY 2009: Momino, GIRL, 04.05am Harper Grace, 8lb 1oz.(DD age 3 and DD age 1.5)
2 MAY 2009: Tummum, BOY, Gethin Thomas, 9pm, 9lb 1oz (2 DDs)
2 MAY 2009: LadyHelen, BOY, Rufus, 2.15am (DS 3.7)
6 MAY 2009: Aquababe, BOY, Ethan, 4:51am, 8lb 6
6 MAY 2009: YawningMonster, GIRL, Clare, 9lb 5 (DS already)
8 MAY 2009: bekkaboo, GIRL, Evie Mae, 7lbs (DS age 2)
9 MAY 2009: Daizydoo, BOY, Jasper, 2:08am, 8lbs (DS age 2)
9 MAY 2009: Ses, BOY, Owen Edward, 10:17am, 8lb 9oz, born by section
11 MAY 2009: Belgianchocolates, GIRL, Claire, 4.49am, 9lb 10oz (DS 7, DD 5)
11 MAY 2009: Dandylioness, BOY, Hector Frank, 6lb 9oz, 1:25, emcs (DD age 4)
11 MAY 2009: Flippineck, GIRL, Angharad, 11:15am, 8lb 3oz (DD1 2yr1m)
12 May 2009: Pulapula, BOY, Samuel James, 4:16pm, 8lb 3oz (DD 4.5, DS1 1.11)
14 MAY 2009: Jennster, GIRL, Rachel Mary, 8lb 7oz (DD1 3y 4m DS 22m)
15 MAY 2009: Detsy, BOY, Archie, 8lb 5oz
15 MAY 2009: Emmabemmasmom, GIRL, Sara Addison, 9.45pm, 6lb 5 (DD1 aged 2)
17 MAY 2009: Blottedcopybook, GIRL, Greer Valery Charlotte, 7lb 11oz, 7.35pm (DS1 7y11m, DS2 3y2m & DD1 2)
17 MAY 2009: Febes, BOY, Rueben Cornelius, 7.52 pm, 6lbs 15 (DD aged 1)
17 MAY 2009: Cloveofhislife, GIRL, 00.39am, 2 DDs already
17 MAY 2009: htheh, BOY, Monty, 4.59am, 9lb 12.5 oz
18 MAY 2009: yawningprincess/rubysmom, GIRL, Darcy Victoria, 6.40pm
20 MAY 2009: cotedazur, BOY, ??? , 9.15am
20 MAY 2009: frazzledoldbag, BOY, Hugo, 2.40p[m, 8lb 15oz, (DD1 age 7, DD2 age 2)
21 MAY 2009: SausagenMash, GIRL, Martha Rose, 2318
21 MAY 2009: MiniMenace, BOY, Isaac Michel, 12.55pm emcs, 7lb 3oz
22 MAY 2009: Fikelly, GIRL, Grace, 9lb 7oz, 11:37am (DS 2y9m)
25 MAY 2009, MatthewandLewismummy, BOY, Lewis, 10:20pm, 6lb 10.5oz (DS1 3.11)
26 MAY 2009: rivermoon, GIRL, name to follow, 1.27pm, 6lbs 10oz
27 MAY 2009: Rosielady, BOY, Josh, 7lb 3oz, 2.37pm
27 MAY 2009: euromum, BOY, Theo, 11.10pm
29 MAY 2009: alapala, BOY, Gabriel, 8pm, 3.2kg.
1 JUNE 2009: chocbunnies, BOY, Corey, 9lb 13oz, 17.35

chocbunnies - wow! well done you. Cool name too (was a Haim/Feldman fan in my youth!)

euromum - hello, welcome to the thread! congratulations too.

We've only bathed A twice in three weeks. I mght do it again this week, but I might not. Have to confess to sometimes forgetting to wash her face too . She wore proper clothes today for the first time, instead of a plain white sleepsuit - very cute!

ses - we've been thinking about dummies too. A is just incredibly sucky at times (well, the evenings anyway) but we've decided to leave it a bit longer and see how it goes.

Everything seem to be just about ok here. The house is a bit of a tip, but w're all clean and eating properly so I think that's not too bad, right? DH's parents come on Thursday for two weeks - not sure how that's going to be. Could be interesting.

Bloody hell Choc congratulations!!!

Bathing - Greer has had two baths in two weeks, she gets wiped over if she's a bit grubby but other than that I'm letting her own skin do the work

Yo girls - i'm sooooo tired

Can't keep up on here anymore and miss everyone a lot

Archie had 2 baths in 2 weeks but only due to major poo explosions requiring a dunking. Hehas dry skin due to lateness so trying to avoid too much water... He's a dobber - weighted today and now 9lbs 2oz and on 75th %tile for height and weight - goodness knows why on the height as we are both small - but he has gigantic feet and hands (DP is starting to wonder who the daddy is!!)

Moan time - got a pelvic infection now - back on antibiotics so waiting for songbird fanjo to kick in again, but at least the pain has subsided. Was looking ghastly - even DP was concerned which is most unusual

A has a dummy after feeds and sometimes for bed - but its a pain as if it falls out before he is majorly settled then he kicks off BIG time but it really does settle him. I'm a bit of a dummy fan I'm afraid

Morning all. G has decided he wanted to wake up at 4 and I have finally given in and have made it downstairs. I suppose this technically means he slept through ! I could do with 3 hrs more kip tho.

Congrats Euromum and Choco. Fab news and fab names too.

Dets and Fi owch on your physical ailments.

Ses good on you for sticking to your guns on the feeding thing.

Baths, well, when i get around to it he gets one but you have reminded me i need to get around to it soon.

Anyway, need to go get some calories to keep eyelids open. Hve a good day all.x

pula thanks so much for updating the list. i really mean to do it but [searches for excuse] kept forgetting.

detsy, don't worry, i'm not on mn as much either and miss everyone as well. hope things settle down with you.

dummies, most of the time it's hard work toget her to take one but wanted to give her one as magical settling cure . sometimes it does help settle but i don't see us using it for long.

Morning all on another warm summers day!

I decided to take the plunge and drive last night for the first time post c-section. So dh went on his bike to work today to kindly leave me the car... however it seems he's taken the one and only car key with him too. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Fi glad to hear your swelling has gone down, and the best of luck with the root canal. I suppose we have to go through these things.

I had two great day time naps over the weekend and yesterday I felt somewhere approaching normal! However E had a bad night due to her cold (only feeding for one or two minutes at a time - is there anything I can use to help her breathe through feeds?) and today I'm back to zombification.

Euromum that sounds like quite a lovely labour and conngrats on how easy your baby is!

Jael good to hear from you, and glad things are getting back on track. You mentioned saline drops for snuffliness, maybe I need to try those with E.

Belgian hope you find your glasses! I'm losing and forgetting things everyday. I make promises to do things then promptly forget. Not like me at all!

Oh my goodness chocbunnies I bow down in your honour, looking forwardto hearing your very quick birth story!

detsy hope your infection clears up soon.

We had our day of campsite searching on sunday. We looked at one campsite and decided it was the one for us. Very amusing as it's only 5 minutes from our friends house and none of us knew it existed. So all is set for camping trip with a 2 month old and a 12 month old. And if all goes wrong we can abandon camp and retreat to bricks and mortar.

Have been thinking about introducing a dummy, especially after night time feeds, as though after feeding E will happily go back in her moses basket it does take her while to drop off and this is very noisy (not crying, just random noises), do you think dummy would help with this?

Right we will go and enjoy our carless day!

Morning everyone,

I'm managing 2 handed typing thanks to my calin bleu! Wonderful things these slings.

It's going to be a scortcher (sp?) today here in the midlands. So I'm planning not to do too much.

Congrats to chocbunnies You've beaten the record in terms of speedy labours I think! Hope you're both well.

Didn't have a brilliant night, but not thanks to C. She amazingly slept in her crib from 11pm until 3.30! Then had a feed at 3.30 and went back to sleep in her crib until 6.30! I even woke up to check if she was still breathing! It was DS who woke us up in the night at about 1, because unfortunately he got a bit sunburnt on his shoulders (had taken T-shirt off in sun without me realising until after the damage had been done)

re my glasses. Luckily I remembered that I have a 2nd pair, because when I bought them it was buy one get one free! So I'm wearing those now. Still haven't found the others though. I'm sure they'll turn up in the end.

Right, off to do something useful now.

Oh forgot. I think I've bathed C about 2x a week. Only because she's got loads of hair people keep stroking and it looks lovely and fluffy when freshly washed. If it werent for her hair she'd get less baths

Hello all!

This post will probably take me all day to write lol Having a new born and an 18 month old is not seeming like the best idea in the world at the moment

Congrats to choco, rosie, euro and anyone else I missed (sorry!).

Everyone seems to be coping very well from what I have read.

dummies I gave my DD one when she was a week or so old. I only gave it to her when she needed it and then took it away. She is 18 months and still uses one but only at night when she sleeps. She also finds it on her own so we don't have her waking and crying for us to find it. I have not decided if I will use one for baby S as she does not seem to need one (yet) but then again the endless feeding is exhausting, but she must need it even if I need a break!

gert DD used to get very stuffy and I would sit in the bathroom while DH showered (or just run the shower) and feed her in there. The steam really helped and since she was born in winter and our old house was drafty it was great Maybe worth a try?

Well we are doing ok on my end. Baby S is a really great baby and never cries. She just loves to be held and hates to be on her own. I love this as DD1 is not a cuddley kid so I get my cuddles this way. However, it does make it hard to do things. I have a sling but have been finding it to hot to use. I also want her to get used to sleeping without me as I have been falling asleep feeding her at night...oops! DH usually moves her but by that point it has been a few hours and she wakes again right after for her next feed...

My biggest problem at the moment is with DD1. She seems ok, but has started horrible tantrums and is not listening at all. I know she is only 18 months so I need to be reasonable but I swear sometimes I want to lock myself in the bathroom just so I don't scream at her. She does a high pitched scream when she is mad, sad, frustrated and just for no reason at all while running around the house. We were up today at 6:30 and I had a headache by 7:00. I love her to bits but I am at my wits end and I don't know what to do. She has started hitting me again too and I don't know why. I know it is aweful but it has gotten to the point where I don't really want to spend time with her. I do play with her (allllll day) but there are points where I...I don't know...just can't. I don't know if that makes any sense and I feel like a crap mom for feeling this way. I thought I would not bond with the new baby and now it seems like the opposite has happened and I am loosing my little DD and I hate it. We do have our moments in the day where she makes me laugh and we have a great time but usually it is fleeting and then she goes and smacks me or throws herself on the floor and the good feelings are gone.

It has only been 2.5 weeks so hopefully in time it will get better.

Anyyyway, sorry for the long post and the rant on my end. Needed to get that off my chest and kinda sad to admit how I am feeling to DH although I know he knows.

Hope everyone is out enjoying the beautiful day. Going to attempt a trip to the library later and let DD run in the park some too.

Oh yes, and bathing: I do baby S every 2 or 3 days depending on if I get the time (and engery) She loves the bath and is so alert and quite. I think it really soothes her and with the heat she seems to like it a lot (maybe it cools her down?) She also has dry skin though but I have been putting E45 on her and it is getting a lot better...

And I love her hair all fluffy too

engery...yeah, lets try energy. As you can see I am all out of that already today

chocolate rosie Euro Congratulations.

baths we've given dd2 4 I think in nearly 3 weeks. She has a cold and keeps puking up catarrh and a feed so she occasionally gets a sink dunk too.

slings Belgian do you have the Calin gauze sling? I have a Kari Me in a teal colour, and it's great, but very warm. What is the difference between the stretchy and the non stretchy?

Well dd2 is a gem. She rarely cries, sleeps all day and all night and is no trouble at all, save the all evening feeds. The test will come today when the hv comes for the first time. Has she put on weight or not?Week days when the dc are at nursery are lovely. We can't afford that though for much longer.

What a gorgeous day it is here. I've just made some biscuits. I must stop doing that. I'll never loose weight this way.

Hope everybody is well and enjoying the weather.

jenn The main difference between the stretchy and non stretchy slings, appart from the thickness of the fabric (my Calin Bleu is about the thickness of a muslin square) is the technique for tying them. A stretchy sling has got to be tied first and then you pop baby in, a woven sling has to be tied around the baby. Because a non-stretchy sling hasn't got any give it is more supportive on the back and I really have found this to be true. My Calin Bleu is a burgundy colour. It's not as hot as the Moby, but in this weather it's still hot after a while, but once C is in deep sleep I can put her down, which I've done.

C loves her baths too. I've bathed her a touch more during the hot weather, both to rinse off sweat and sunscreen and to cool her down. From day one she's loved having her hair washed. She really calms down when I lather the shampoo! I must say. I like having my hair washed at the hair dresser's too. I reckon it must feel the same to her!

emmab I can imagine it being hard work if your toddler is playing up. It must be her reaction to all the change in the house. Does taking her out to the park distract her? Otherwise I'd continue to ignore her tantrums, no matter how hard or annoying they are and only play with her once she calms down. That really worked with my 2, but it does take nerves of steel to persist with it Good luck.

I couldn't resist and bought one of theseblueberry nappies. They're so cute. I've got my eye on a few more on the used nappy company, but I want to try one first, because they do cost a fortune!