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.

evening all.
pula, definitely look into tongue tie sooner the better.
Jael, i'm so sorry things aren't going well and echo what the others are saying. please do come on here to vent as we all want to listen and give support. we've been through alot together (at least online!).

am off to have a late dinner but will catch up properly later.

tummum- that's really interesting, thanks. As i have DS2 in my bed and therefore right next to me, if he starts snuffling around as he often does for milk, i just whip out a boob and latch him on, in a half asleep state. Sometimes DH wakes up and says he never heard DS2 in the night. Maybe i should leave him til i know he is definitely hungry and not just fishing around for a quick snack. Another reason why i would rather he slept in his basket as it creates some distance between us.

Hi everyone, am home with baby Jake! He is just awesome- can't stop staring at him.

We've had a few probs with feeding as Jake is jaundiced although he does seem to be getting the hang of it now- anyone else have enough milk to feed an army?

Will post BS and catch up on everyones news when I have more energy- for now it's enough to say that I didn't get one of thse nice short labours that were all the rage on our pre-natal thread!

Welcome home SophieT and Jake ! Look fwd to hearing your BS but in the meantime I hope you have a good first night together at home.

Oh, and Jenn thank you for the lemon drizzle cake

ooh, i'd looove some lemon drizzle cake right now.

ses, glad the tongue tie snip went ok. luckily he won't remember a thing !

looby, lol at M's fart . hope all is ok with the hernia.

co sleeping, i think I'll try to wake up more fully so I can give Harper a full feed or see if she really needs another feed for real.

time for bed now, i'm so tired and hoping for a few hours before being summoned by little miss for milk. night night.

DD woke at 4.30am this morning and as DH was working night duty I had to bring her into bed with me. It sucks worse because Rueben slept really well between feeds last night. He feed at 3.30am and then 6.30am so I have been awake most the night and am on my own all day as well.
I'm going to try out a new toddler group today so I really should get a move on. I ope DD gets really tired out there but waits till we get home and then sleeps for 3 hours all afternoon. Am I that lucky??

Congrats sophietom the first few days at home are soo nice enjoy.

Hello all

Congrats to MsG and Sophietom !!! Glad you are both home and trying to rest

febes So sorry you had a bad night and a day on your own ahead of you. I can relate though! I got 2 hours sleep the other night and then was on my own that day too. I gave myself stupid projects like cleaning DD's room and moving all her furniture around lol Hope the day goes well for you!

Momino Ummmmm taxes...good question! Nobody ever told me I had to do them so I never have. Should I be?

co-cleeping I bring baby S in bed with me and lie down. I don't go back to sleep but I do shut my eyes and lightly doze. When she is done I feel her pull away and I wait a min while I cover back up and then I move her to her bed. Seems to work for us, except nights she has gas then I have to sit up and get her to burp and usually give her a cuddle to get back to sleep which can take some time...

Sleeping position question: Right, I know babies are suppose to be laid on thier backs and I also know why. However, baby S has been getting really bad wind. She fell asleep on my chest with me lying back a bit so I just transfered her to her bed on her belly. She slept for 6 hours! I had her in the play pin in the livingroom so I could keep a close eye on her. I have done it a few more times (and everytime she sleeps ages) and now it is the only position she will sleep in. I get so nervous at night but I tried to put her down on her back from 6pm until 11pm last night. She finally settled when I put her on her belly. Should I just relax and let her sleep on her belly or what? It is just so drilled in to always put them on their backs that I feel like an aweful mommy and wondering if I am doing wrong. She also loves being on her side and I will often find her curled on her side if I lie her on her back.

We seem to be doing ok over here. I moved around DD's furniture yesterday as I was convinced that her bed being by the window was what was waking her at stupid o'clock. happy to say that this morning she slept until 8...yeah! I only had 2 hours sleep the night before though so have been finding some days hard.

Can't wait until we are in more of a rutine. We took the babies to the park the other day. It was so nice, but I had to BF baby S and was so happy DH was there to chase DD1. I can't imagine taking them on my own yet. DH was so cute cause he always follows a foot behind DD1 with his arms out. He even did it at a kids birthday party we went too! I said, you know you can let her go a bit as it is all fenced in and we were the only ones here. He got all funny and said he was not ready to let her go yet...awww.

Right well I am leaking like a faucet so baby S is bound to wake in a min

Hope everyone has a great day today!

morning everyone.

Welcome home sophietom Welcome on the other side

I'm trying to be a good girl today and do some housework, but C is not co-operating today. For some reason she wont stay on the breast. She does a few sucks comes of screams, roots, goes back on, straight back off, screams, etc... I tried just cuddling her, putting her down, she's changed and dry. Don't know what's the matter with her.

taxes You poor americans having to pay taxes for a country you don't even live in. Luckily I don't need to do that for Belgium. I do need to vote for the national elections and it really annoys me, because when I receive my form to vote I don't recognise any of the names or even parties as they all seem to have changed their names in the last 10 years. I always end up phoning my dad to see who's who.

Photos of Sophia on FB, sorry to post & run, good morning everyone!

Hello ladies, please can I join you? I am a proud & paranoid first time mum to Phoebe - born on 15th May weighing 5lb 7 after an induction and ventouse delivery. She is a sleepy and windy little thing so I'm working hard trying to get her to put some weight on. Hope it's ok to join you at this late stage in the game.

Morning!

mrsjuan - of course you are more than welcome Congrats on your little girl. You'll find this thread is great for reassurance, advice, offloading, cake addictions....

Our British Gas men finished our boiler work yesterday so today Mum's taking us into town so I can do a bit of shopping. In the next 10 days I have the following birthdays: nephew, brother, SIL, niece and FIL as well as Fathers Day! Oh and our friend's 3yo DD!

Belgian - hope C settles for you.

Welcome mrsjuan Congrats as well on your baby girl! My little girl was also born on the 15th!

Ses Oh crap!! Thank you for the reminder that my dads bday is tomorrow and about Father's Day! That would have been very bad to forget after DH made a big deal about Mother's Day

Speaking of which: Any good Father's Day ideas out there? Last year I took him to see Bon Jovi, all VIP tickets and everything...so I kinda set a high bar!

Also, can anyone help me with the sleeping thing I posted earlier? I just ask again as she is sleeping on her belly as we speak...

Dear lord our kitchen was such a mess it took me all morning to clean and do the dishes! I didn't do them yesterday (zombie state) and look what happens...

Belgian Baby S does the same thing. The only thing that settles her is for me to lie down with a pillow against my back so I am half on my back and half on my side. I tuck her in my arm and when she starts to cry I roll a bit to my back to get her a little on my chest and pat her back until she stops. After a bit she will do a massive burp or fart and then fall fast asleep. I think having her be on her side helps her and the cuddles (I like to think so anyway!) Hope she settles soon.

Jael you poor thing. The others have given great advice - definitely speak to your health visitor to see if there's any help you can get. Re diet, I remember when Rosemary Conley's hip & thigh diet was all the rage [yes I am that old!] - she had a gallstone problem and discovered that a very low fat diet helped tremendously with the pain. So skimmed milk, veg soup, fruit, pasta & veg sauce etc. I hope you don't have to wait long though.

welcome mrsjuan there are several of us proud and paranoid first time mums on here

night feeds we had settled into a bit of a routine of bath/feed/bed for 11pm then H would wake up 2.30am, 4.30am, 6.30am. However he's now started going to sleep for the night of his own accord around 9pm, with a last feed around 8pm. This has been for the last couple of weeks. Most nights I've just gone with the flow (at first I assumed he'd wake up naturally around 11ish but he hasn't) and it seems he'll wake up anywhere between 1.30am and 3am for a feed, by which time he's starving and has a very full nappy . He then won't sleep/wakes frequently until he's properly up for the day around 6.30 - 7am, at which point I feel like going to sleep for the day!

So, should I be waking/changing him at 11ish do you think and hoping I can do one of these dream feed thingies? DH partially roused him by changing his nappy around midnight last night, but I was asleep and H drifted off too. I generally prefer to go with the flow but am soooo tired!

Afternoon ladies,

Emmabmom- I put S to sleep on his side (wedged in the basket with rolled up blankets), as it seems to help his wind (and limit his startle reflex). Have never been brave enough to put him on his front given all the advice about SIDS and figure side is better than front? The MW in hospital said it was to do with if they are sick in their sleep- if they are on their back, they usually turn their head to one side or the other. This isn't so easy on their side or front apparently, although i must say, S is not a sicky baby (the odd bit if he can't be bothered swallowing the last mouthful, or if hiccups bring it up). Also i guess on their front they can't lift their head that much yet so could end up face down.

I have just recovered from a big bout of crying. A friend of mine sent a parcel of gifts for S which i just opened. There was a big doggy with "special baby" on it. Then an outfit with "bundle of joy" on it, and some bibs with "i love mummy/daddy, and mummy/daddy loves me". These just made me blub as my friend lost her little baby boy when he was born prematurely a few years ago (and had a 2nd trimester miscarriage previously). I feel so bad because here i am with 3 healthy children and i get so snappy with them, and here is a friend who thinks of other people when it must be painful for her as it will remind her of her loss. Welling up again now. It's so sad, as she loves children and would have been a great mum.

I only realised a short while ago that today is the first day home alone with S since he was born 4 weeks ago, what with DH being off work, then my mum coming. Made it out to playgroup this morning (as my cleaner was here ) and got S down in his basket at noon so it's really quiet here.

Welcome Mrsjuan and congratulations on your baby!

Welcome to the 'otherside' Sophietom - hope your first day at home went well.

Jael sending you love, I echo what everyone else has already said.

Been to the baby clinic today for 6 week check. All is well with babygert. She's sleeping like a trooper today - we must have worn her out. We've started trying to establish a bed time routine. We're bathing her about 8pm and then a feed and cuddle and then putting her down in her basket. Last night after a few cries she mananged to sleep for about an hour and half before we went up to bed - fantastic! It's nice to be putting some kind of routine into place as I get so anxious about going to bed, just worrying about how long it'll take her to go to sleep and wondering how much sleep I'm going to get too (although she is really good so I shouldn't really get anxious)!

Today we've also been to the shops! Treated self to some pink clothing to make me feel marvellous! And of course couldn't resist a little dress for E. But bought it in 9-12months size as she has plenty of clothing already up to about 9 month size. Must stop spending money, must remember am on maternity leave!!

Pula Thank you for the advice. I really don't want to leave her on her belly but it just seems to be the only way she will sleep more than 10 min. She is also freakishly strong and is already holding her head up for long periods and she can move to lie on different cheeks when on her belly. She rolls onto her side as well and am thinking at this rate she will be rolling any day now but it is way to early for that! She is also not a sicky baby. She has only been sick twice and that was on me when I was winding her. I am sure you know how it is...you want to do what's best for your baby but you also want sleep and a min without them in your arms. I would just freak if something happened...so going to try a new tech tonight. (Also so sorry about your friend. It must be really hard. I remember crying for days when I had to tell my best friend I was pregnant when she had been trying over a year and I got knocked up after a week of trying. Very sweet of her to send you something though )

Off to make some homemade mushroom soup as DH requested! Yummmmm

emmabemmasmom- have you tried swaddling? I think sleeping on their tummy helps them sleep longer as they can't startle themselves awake with their arms and legs. I swaddle S- at night he is in a 0.5 tog grobag AND swaddled with a sheet but doesn't seem to overheat so i am not too worried. I am also thinking about getting him one of these cgi.ebay.co.uk/Freedom-Slings-Cozy-Cocoon-Organic-Baby-Swaddling-Pod_W0QQitemZ290297670895QQcmdZView ItemQQptZUKBabyNurseryBeddingRL?hash=item439716ecef&trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3 A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1683%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 but size Small is meant to be 0-3m (up to 13lb) but S is already 10lbs so not sure how much use i will get out of it

Ses Thanks for the reminder about Fathers Day. Last year I forgot . Mind you, nothing was done about Mothers Day for me this year either

EmmabsMom

Pula I have tried swaddeling her but she does not like it. She screams and fights until her arms come free. Her arms do wake her sometimes but she is good about going back to sleep on her own (if she had been sleeping well before she woke). I use light flannel blankets and just do a triangle and then wrap her in that loosly with her arms out. That way I can pick her up and feed her in bed but she wont be going back on a cold sheet either. Always wondered about the bags but have never tried one.

Tum Very good to know and thanks! Yeah I do know the risks which is why it freaks me out. However, it can also happen if they are on their backs and you do everything to the book. I only have her on her belly in the living room in her play pin during the day and in her cot at night as it is 1 foot away from my head and I can hear her every little noise. Oh the things we worry about now eh?

Jael Oh dear. I really hope you get your op sooner. What a rotten run of bad luck.

MrsJuan Hello there.

Emmabemma [whispering] I've laid dd2 down on her tummy too. It's definitely the startle reflex that wakes her. Why not try swaddling with arms tightly in the sheet? I find dd2 fights it for a little bit, but then goes of to sleep.

Doh just reread your last post you have swaddled with arms in. I use a miracle blanket see the instruction video half way down the page. It's virtually impossible to get their arms out of.

I had the doctor come out today, he's changed my pain relief tablets from cocodamol to tramadol or something like that, he also said he's going to phone the hospital and see if I can get bumped up the list too. I can't go on like this though, it's ridiculous.

I'm very proud of my little Jacob though, he ws 5weeks and 5 days yesterday and he rolled over, from back to stomach! Me and DP were watching him in amazement, he got weighed yesterday and hes 10lb 10, so he's not huge or anything, I don't know how he managed to do it bless him, but it made me very proud