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.

belgian how much would you want for your ring sling- i see its quite an expensive one new. Can you let me know, as i am looking on ebay for one but keep missing out.

I made DH do the 2.30am nappy change last night before i did the feed as i was cross with DH and soooo tired.

DH doesn't offer to do much with DS2 (he used to do a lot of winding, nappies, settling with the other 2) but i think we have a non-verbal understanding that he deals with DD and DS1 and i deal with DS2. I feel bad when i pass DS2 to other people and he cries as he is so used to being with me, but he is starting to be more settled with DH and my mum and MIL.

pula I've sent you a F/B message regarding the sling. Don't worry about it if it's too expensive. I won't be offended if you don't want it.
DH does do more with the 2 oldest. The best thing is that he gets them off to school in the mornings now, something I used to do before C. C is the same when I pass her to other people. She settles quite quickly with me and nowadays seems to snuggle into me like she really knows. Putting her on her side on my lap when she's hungry really really calms her down, because she knows what's coming!

Anyway. Got to pop out to the library before picking up the dcs or I'll get fined.

Belgian we visited detsy at the w/e to introduce Harvey & Archie and she made us a lovely lunch - and she has a 2 wk old and 18 mo. If anyone visited me when H was 2 wks old they were lucky if they got tea & a biscuit (and then only if they brought the biscuits!).

H has been asleep all morning but is now waking up, grunting, straining and trumping. I must record it then, years later, give it to his best man when he gets married

just an interruption: i know i should put her down and accomplish some tasks when she's asleep but I'm in heaven just cuddling her, watching her sleep and kissing her head. is anyone else addicted to doing this? the dishwasher still needs to be emptied, i need to shower, the worktop needs cleaning, mountain of ironing, need to do admin things (child ben, tax credits, US taxes, boring stuff), walk dog, etc.

or maybe i'm using Harper/cute baby cuddling as an excuse to skip all of the above mentioned tasks .

momino- snap lol. i could be doing stuff (child benefit claim etc) but i spend most afternoons cuddling S lol. when i try and put him down he usually stirs so not worth it either. i dont feel too sparkling (feel a bit sick) so best to rest, and my cleaner came this morning too .

Enjoy the cuddle time. The rest can wait .

thanks guys. i needed permission .

ahh Pula, if only we had a cleaner. sigh.

oh, and don't you just love their chipmunk cheeks after they've had a feed? I know Harper's slipped on the weight chart but i can tell she's healthy by her chubby cheeks on her satisfied, sleepy face.

Both my DCs have been asleep for past 2 hours. Thank goodness I was going slightly mad this morning. They both fell asleep when DH got home from work I'm sure he thinks that my life is easy. We have made an uneasy peace for now. I'm glad its not too hot today. I have put a couple of new pics on fb of our chooks and DCs.

R is due a feed so I'm sure I'll hear from him soon.

momino i thought it was just my LO who has chipmunk cheeks after a feed .

i thoroughly recommend getting a cleaner.

Febes - love the photos

Monimo - getting a cleaner saved my marriage !! Do it !

Ladies, I need some advice. G has been awake since 8am and has had a 20 min nap. He is completely knackered but won;t go off and is using my boob as a dummy which is really constricting. So I am thinking of getting a soother to see if that helps. Those of you that are using soothers, what sort do you use and would you recommend them? I am a bit narked because i had planned to do 20 mins gardening and it now won't happen. All i wanted was 20 mins to do something i like to do and i can't even manage that. Grrrr. Sorry, rant over ! But advice on soothers would be good. Ta

tummum- we generally find the big cherry teat ones work the best but maybe thats because my LOs were/are used to my big nipples . we have tommee tippee ones, but if he doesnt want it, he wont take it [grrr] so it doesnt work if hes really angry. have to get my boobs out then.

tummum, i'm trying to get Harper to use a soother but she spits out 2 out of 3 times so it's almost more a bother to keep putting back in. the time she does suck on it i'm grateful but it doesn't work all the time.

am using a MAM one for 0-6 mos. maybe we should try another?

Sorry, I'm three pages behind and not getting a chance to catch up. Dh went back to work yesterday but today the DCs don't go to nursery so I've had all three of them myself. I'm absolutely shattered.

Belgian I'm VERY interested in your moby, can you message me on facebook and let me know how much you'd be looking for? xx

blotted, just sat here with baby who won't be put down.

well done on having all 3 without break. can you get 'time off' over the weekend? can you put your 3 yr old in preschool a couple of mornings a week?

fulltime parenting is tough esp when you've got more than one LO. i may not go back to work in jan (charity job doesn't cover nursery costs) and the prospect of being a FTM scares me!

i hope you get a rest soon.

This weekend I probably won't get much of a break because it's DS1's birthday party on Saturday afternoon then Sunday I take all four to Church myself (DH won't come because he's morally opposed to organised religion ) but the middle two have nursery on Monday & Tuesday so I'll theoretically get a break.

I just left a charity in October - my fixed term contract ran out and they offered me my job with a different title and a 5K pay drop which I just wasn't prepared to accept. My new job is in the evening from 5-10pm and I have to go back because we just won't be able to pay the mortgage otherwise

sorry for me post, but i am a bit upset as i think i might have mastitis . have gp appointment at 5.50 tonight and if i do, i hope we can get to the late night chemist to get ABs. if i don't then at least i can stop stressing.

I've another one who's been attached to my boobs on and off all day since about 8am this morning. g's 12days old today so wondering if growth spurt.. but it's really hot again so maybe just that she's finally asleep in her crib now.. but only after a top up of 2oz of formula.

just discovered my neighbour still has her electric breast pump. don't know what brand but hey she's going to lend it to me so i can have a go ds doesn't nap in day since he was 2 so think sometime in am will be easiest for having a go.

blotted, it's really, really tough I'm sorry. at the 5k pay drop. my charity job had given me too much work for my 3 days and then split my responsibilities so I could manage. what they didn't tell me was that it was a pay cut and, so i was surprised at my dec paycheque which was £200 less than I thought. makes me think again about working for a charity.

not sure what I'm going to do but am not going to think about looking for a job until Aug.

very impressed you take all 4 to church on your own. pre-dd2, we used to go to church at least 1ce a month but now it just seems too difficult to get organised. and that's with both me and DH helping! well done you, i have no excuse .

pula, hope you get some relief for your pain.

lol just thought that most of my posts are me posts .

blotted - well done on managing 3 under 4s on your own. I have only had to do it for an hour or two (usually when 1 or 2 of them are napping). Still bricking it for when i have 3 on my own, but plan to just wear S in a sling.

Progress- S just woke and for the first time ever, he didn't wake screaming, even though its 3 hours since his last feed

pula You can take a full dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain. Alternate hot and cold compresses for affected breast. Don't avoid feeding on that side. Express to make you comfortable if a feed is not due. Cabbage leaves may help. It's very normal to feel tearful when you have mastitis. Hope you feel better soon. BfN mastitis leaflet here

pula ouch if it's mastitus hope the chemist is open if you do need ab's

blotted i hope you get at least a few mins to yourself when the dc's are in bed later.. you so deserve it after today. i'm finding it tiring with just one toddler and g and dh is still around to help!

Thanks for all good wishes for weigh in. On Monday she recorded his weight as 3440g (even though we also got a reading of 2460g and 3480g). Today he weighed 3480g. No further loss which is something and she was supportive enough. She also measured his length and head circumference, both of which have gained 1cm in the last 2 weeks so that's encouraging. Have to see GP tomorrow to get him checked over again and then HV back Mon or Tues.

Pula - hope GP is helpful and - if it is mastitis - it clears up soon.

I'm still amazed at all of you coping with more than one DC - you actually sound like you're more than just coping!

I can also join the club of people struggling to put LO down. He gets upset if he's not on me so I know I'm indulging him and I'm fed up with people telling me I'm making a rod for my own back. I just want to focus on doing everything to get his weight up and then once he's piling on the pounds, I'll start focussing on where he sleeps.