March 09 - there is no snooze button on a baby that needs milk.....!

[meep]

over here ladies

Hi everyone

Isn't the heat yucky?!

I'm preparing a handmade A-Z book of tips on babycare (up to, say, 3 months) for a good pregnant friend of mine. It's stuff that I didn't find in the regular books.

If you get an idle moment (yeah, right) and feel like sharing your top tip, I'd be hugely grateful.

I'm including everything from loved products (like my Cuddledry towel) to reassurances, to practical tips (for e.g. about bathing).

My top tip for the day which my mum just gave me - cut up a muslin into 4 pieces, wet them and put them in a plastic bag in the fridge, and use them to wipe hot babies down a few times a day. Spike has benefited from that one!

Thanks everyone!

Just posted a nice long message and managed to erase it, grrrrrrrrr. So, in short: knackered due to long cycle, v out of shape! Lovely weather! Lo slept 12 hrs last night, woaaah! Green poo improved today. Too lazy tired to make tea, take-away here.

ellieor. Was shocked by the severity of some of the responses on your thread. I agree with laum. Follow your instinct and trust YOUR heart. I also love early morning cuddles!

wheely Glad dd is doing better, must've been horrible. Hope you're getting a good night's sleep!

grinning. Men. What can we say? I also love lasagna, although a bit labour-intensive. He should be soooooo grateful!

slick agree, agree and agree. Amen, sista! Too few women in politics, although Margaret, hmmm. I personally prefer to keep working, albeit only v parttime, but we're giving up a lot in the process.

Oh, and yarnie I never reaslised you need to burp a newborn so often, and that's my tip: burp often and continuously.

So much to respond to...and too tired to do it. The heat wave here in Belgium has me completely knackered, and Rhys hates it, poor little man. Nursing has become a trial, simply because both of us end up covered in sweat from our proximity!

And here's the I AM AN AWFUL MOTHER moment it's done something odd to my milk supply. Or I'm dehydrated. Or something. I had to pump five times today to get a scant four ounces to leave with DP when I went to my physio appointment, and it wasn't enough: poor Rhys was starving when I got back. Then, because his reflux kicks in and makes it hard to nurse, we give him a bottle in the evening. So I had to pump again, and couldn't get more than an ounce. He fell asleep anyway, but I feel HORRIBLE effectively sending him to bed hungry. I'm anticipating a midnight wakeup call as a result.

And the other lousy part is that I could pretty much HEAR DP thinking, "If you formula fed the way I suggested from the beginning, we wouldn't be in this situation..."

Rant over. And to bed.

Ellie I've also read your thread and wanted to say I'm really sorry that you have to go through this but it sounds like you're doing the right thing. Did you talk to your parents about it at the weekend? Hope they are giving you proper support. Good luck xxx

Corgi something seems to have happened to my milk supply too! Melissa has NOT been pleased with the lack of milk and her sucking got so vigorous tonight I thought she was about to swallow my breast . Tried expressing last night and got a measly 2 ounces. Anyone got any tips - should I be drinking more in the heat perhaps?

Yarnie my tip would be to get one of those moulded bits of plastic that allow a baby to sit up in the bath by themselves. I don't know what they're called cos a friend gave it to me, but it means they can go in a big bath with you or other dcs and you don't have to use both hands to prop them up all the time.

miss Mothercare calls them bath seats. Great things!

Yarnie Nelson's Teetha Granules are my must-have.

corgi I was told to drink at least 1-5l of water or clear drink (not gin!) when BFing in the heat, seems to be working.

Phew, neither son can sleep in the heat here, we all fell asleep at 9 last night by the open window!

Corgi Heat has definitely affected my milk supply too. DD2 was sucking and sucking last night, but didn't seem to be getting anything and we were both horribly sweaty. It's 29 degrees in her bedroom at the moment. Yuck!

Was at the swings at 8.45 this morning and it was lovely and cool, but the sun is out now and it's getting hotter ...

Agree with Laumiere - Drink lots more in heatwave if breastfeeding and try to keep eating too - even if it's salads with boiled eggs and mayo etc. Will all help the production.

Sorry you are all struggling with the heat, must be really unpleasant esp with the wee ones - horrible thought Corgie you both being too hot and sticky to sit close to feed!

It's fine up here, just muggy I would say, but it's been mostly cloudy which is a shame and I think we have thundery rain coming but, hey-ho.

I'm counting down the days til FB is on the solids -I'm really hoping it will help him sleep through but there are no guarantees. He's a happy wee soul tho so I can't complain.
I can see the teeth starting to appear through the gums so I hope he has a couple by six months as he's worked hard.

Ellie Still not had a chance to read your other thread but I hope you are getting all the support you need.

Wheely How's the LO today.

Meep WHERE ARE YOU? This is unusual behaviour!! I hope you are on holiday or something.

Speaking of which, anyone got any plans? We're not going anywhere this year (again) got too many things we want to do at home (new bathroom etc)

Thanks so much for the tips, ladies. Keep them coming.

We're hating the heat, too. Last night we all slept in the living room downstairs because our bedroom was boiling (super-insulated loft and secondary glazing to blame). It was such a good move, as we all slept so much better. Spike had been waking every 2 hours the last couple of nights and feeding little and often, but last night he was back to the usual 2 and 5am feeds. Phew.

I must heed the advice to drink more. I am terrible at drinking - I think I was a camel in a past life.

Better go and glug a glass of water

hmm tips... keep repeating to yourself 'this too shall pass' and 'its just a phase' ?

Um - will try and think of something more useful.

Thnaks for asking about dd1. She's much better - temp went up agin last night but not as high and this morning it was normal. She had some breakfast too. Fingers crossed she's on the mend - she has a visit to her new school tomorrow so I hope she's better or she'll be devastated.

I don't seem to be suffering with supply yet in the heat which I'm surprised at as I am terrible at drinking too (unless its wine - ha ha).

Where is meep - you don't think she's found real life or somethin gdo you ? Hope everything's ok meep and you're just doing something less boring instead.

I think it might have been Meep who asked recently if she would be mad to book a break abroad - maybe she is on hols?

Wheely - no, you haven't missed anything, don't think I mentioned when I joined that DD was born with a complication not diagnosed antenatally, called bladder extrophy - she had surgery on day 2 and yesterday was a camera inside to decide when they do the next bit and she is doing really well, so she's gone straight on the waiting list (which is a year) for next stage, which aims to give her a muscle in her bladder to give her bladder control (eventually), so went really well and she coped tremendously with nil by mouth from 4.30am until 8.45am when she went under - was really dreading it, but she was a star all things considered. Not sleeping well (even for her) and I've had about 8 hours broken sleep across the last two nights, but currently she's asleep in her car seat in lounge and DS is asleep on sofa, so I'm grabbing a quiet 5 mins - actually should probably catpap on sofa, but do really need to get dinner prepared - just the veg really, so shouldn't take 2 mins.

Is sooo hot here - was 32 degrees upstairs in our house last night (modern house, retains heat dreadfully in summer and loses it dreadfully in winter, despite very good loft insulation!! I never normally complain about the weather as I love our British seasons, but this really is too hot for babies!

Star I'm fairly sure she'd ahve mentioned it as she'd be quite terrified excited at the prospect of a foreign holiday with two under 2ish. Lol

Yarnie get a litre bottle of mineral water, freeze it and keep it next to your feeding chair/favourite space. It'll always be cool and to hand!

We're having fun here, swine flu and impetigo outbreak at DS1's nursery!

Flippin' eck. So what now? Do you keep DS off?

sorry ladies, I am on my hols! Brief internet connection. Can't read or post - but will do next week. Love t0 y'all

Ah, but is she abroad??

OMG

FB slept from 8pm ish last night to 6.30am this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Far out.

Bet is a one off.

slick Nope, we're past containable exposure in London, just carry on as normal.

Laumiere Oh dear - that's a worry. Are they going to be handing out retrovirals?

Yarnie - my tip would be to keep two muslin cloths in the change bag, one in every room in the house, and one on each end of the sofa and each side of the bed. can't live without them!

Lau - that sounds rather concerning. think i would be freaking out!

Wheely - what a nightmare. hope dd is feeling better and gets to visit her new school.

thanks to all for your support re DH. it's definitely a help to have some non-judgemental advice! we're in a bit of a holding pattern at the moment, but i'm still hoping that something positive will come out of it.

i had my wisdom teeth extracted under general on tuesday morning, absolute bloody agony. i look like a hamster and i still can't really open my mouth. just took me an hour to eat a small bowl of porridge. started breastfeeding again late last night and it was nice to bond with George again but i'm not very convinced by my supply either. don't know whether it's the heat or just the lack of proper feeding.

ellie Why did they take them all out at once?! Ooof! I had mine removed with local, but one at a time - this was years ago, but they left one. That is now coming out in two weeks conicidentally. Not looking forward to it, but at least I won't have to go through what you have you poor thing! Not the easiest time in your life I'm guessing!

I have got my second period after giving birth and it is a BELTER. It is so heavy I can't keep up. My second day is always the worst and this is Day 2 so hopefully better tomorrow. Anyone else struggling with it?

Mae has had her jabs this morning, the last lot for a while. She is now super clingy which is not good, but fingers crossed that is the only side effect.

Mdavza glad the little ones tummy seems to have improved and the green poos have passed.

Corgi your expressing sounds like me on a normal day, I am so rubbish. We have just decided when I am not around that Mae will have formula. It seems to be working at present.

It is back to horribly hot here too. Sort weather where normally I'd be sat in the garden in a bikini but instead the wobbly tummy and the incredible delicate skin of a baby means we're sat inside watching tv. It seems like such a waste of summer. We did go for a walk yesterday afternoon and even though it was a little cooler yesterday Mae was sweating bucket loads in her pushchair.

Slick when are you thinking of starting HB on solids? Mae will 17 weeks on Monday and 4 months next Thurs. Wondering about trying some baby rice over the weekend and may be some pureed carrot next week. I know its before the 6 months but I'd like her to be happy with food before going to nursery in Sept.

Meep hope you have a good holiday. We are planning on going down to the cotswolds for a few days from 11th July. We are basically gatecrashing my parents holiday, wouldn't normally dream of going away with them but they are so good with Mae that it seemed to good an opportunity to miss.

Wheely glad your LO is getting better, hope she makes it on her school visit.

Star glad it all went ok with your LO. Can't believe the waiting list is a year though. That's rubbish.

Lau oh dear, hopefully your LOs will have escaped both. Did have a bit of a laugh at the docs today at the sign on the door which said 'if you suspect you have swine flu and have two or more of the following symptons . . . please stay at home!'

Ellie hope you're feeling better soon, sounds like a nasty op to have.

And just on the I'm a horrible mother thing . . . I am a terrible mother / housewife etc as my house has fleas!!!!!!! eeeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuurrrrrrggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!! The cat is fine but my legs are covered in bites! The cat is an incredibly good hunter even though she has a bell on her collar she is forever bringing us mice and birds and a couple of days ago there was a live mouse running around the living room which i now suspect brought the fleas in. We will be having a big de-fleaing later but it isn't really a baby friendly process.

Sorry for the super large post.

EllieorOllie you have my total sympathy. I had all 4 wisdom teeth out 11 years ago under sedation, and it was not nice. I think it took about a week to be able to open my mouth properly, but hopefully yours will have been more carefully done than mine was...

Jolly Ooooh, not nice to have bitey fleas. When my cats were outdoor ones I'd have to use those flea bomb things (this is pre dd and dh) that you set off in the room and then can't go back in for 2 hours.

Just watched the news and am a little concerned about the flu thing now as I'm asthmatic. Can I stay in for the next year or so??

We met up last night with dh's uncle and aunt who he hasn't seen for about a year. His aunt said she thought dd had wind, and I quote that we should "stretch her neck" . There was no way I was handing her over to try this one out!

Honestly, the advice people give you

Had my first physio appt this morning as my pelvis has a mind of its own. Turns out my right hip is now higher than the left, and the bones are "floating around in there". Nice! I've been given some exercises to do, but have also been told that the hormones that loosen up the ligaments will not wear off until 12 months after I stop breast feeding! Ooooh er. Guess I'd better get used to having a silly pelvis for the next couple of years then! It doesn't matter that my right foot points to the side instead of the front...

Quick question for anyone who hasn't melted yet - were the second lot of jabs as bad as the first? Need to book them but I'm dreading it.

Slick Yeaaaah on lo sleeping through! Hopes it goes on and on and on..

Grinning My dh took him because it's three injections and I just find it hard to see his little face crumpling in pain and disbelief. But he's not had many aftereffects, apart from the runny poo (not green anymore) but that might also be teething. Sorry to heaqr about your wonky pelvis, has it alsways been like this or is it another effect of giving birth?

Jolly I looked at your pictures, Mae is so sweet! My cats are indoor cats so we've never had a problem with fleas, must be horrible!! Adn they kill every critter in sight, mostly the spiders, of which there are suddenly a profusion.

Starshine Sorry to hear about your dd's bladder problems, and glad that it's going well.

Ellie Eeesh, not a good time for you! Thinking of you!

Laum My dh used to be a goth too! Not completely over the top, but he still listens to (imo) the most horrific depressing music. When I met him his hair was dyed black and occasionally he wore black nail polish...wouldn't believe it if you see him now!

Here it is sweltering, absolutely sweltering. Our house is not made for this weather, and I'm swaddling Ben wearing only a nappy. he is 4 months today!!! Had a bad day, I woke up as a grump, and had to go to sil for the morning while dh varnished the corridor, and lb just did not want to sleep there, so he had a nap of about 15 minutes, adn did not even want to sleep in his buggy. This is foreign territory for us since he's always had a goodish morning nap. He luckily passed out over lunch, and dh is now out cycling with him, he sleeps like a log in his trailer. I have no clothes to wear because I got so fat since last summer,sigh. Fat and wobbly - no wonder I'm a grump!
I posted a new picture, of dh and Ben.