May 2005 babies

[fisil]

thought I'd start this up - apologies if anyone already has - for everyone from the dyue May 05 thread to graduate to.

profiles:

me: 31, SW London
baby: Murray (ds2) born 8/5/5 7lb 11oz
family: dp & ds1 (2 1/4)

Thanks Shhhh, that's really put my mind at rest. You've obviously been given more info about it than I have!

RE: the stitches.
Mine did come apart - basically because I wasn't resting enough but the midwife said that they will still heal, it will just take longer. The stitches are only there to make sure that the wound heals in a straight line. You could always phone the midwife or GP and ask them to take a look?

Can I ask a really thick question? How do you know if your baby is not getting enough milk? Is it enough that I have no signs that he isn't (i.e. he seems quite happy after a feed and if I give my breast a squeaze after he's come off there's always a squirt of milk there)? I just notice that some of you have been mixed feeding to top up, and I don't want to be depriving my babs! And I'd quite like him to go more than 3 hours at night by now.

Shhhh I'd see your GP about those stitches. Mine had completely healed and dropped out by then, and they were 2nd degree as well.

Ds1 had stork marks and you can hardly see the ones on his neck now and the one on his eyelid went by about 6 months.

If he's happy after a feed, fisil, then I'd say he's getting enough. Ds never needed topping up (7lb 2) but dd does because she's so much bigger. I'm feeding her about every 2 hours now in the day but every 3-4 at night. Murray was a full lb smaller than Ces so that might be why there's a difference.

Fis,
DD1 was exclusively bf for the first 6 month, and I think it was only in month 3 that she started sleeping for more than 3 hours through the night .... I'm sure you have enough milk (says the woman who gives a top up bottle every night .... formula takes longer to digest ) ... if you didnt have enough she would not be gaining between 150 and 200 grams a week ... its a matter of having confidence

Shhh I'd get those stitches seen to

oops, got to go

Hi all,

I'm so impressed that some of you are coping with 2, I seem to get nothing done just looking after the one, the house is in a state and I have piles of washing to sort out.

Daniel seems to be doing really well, put on 1 lb last week so the breastfeeding must be working. He seems to be very windy and and bit grumpy this week, I'm hoping that is a phase that will pass, he is definately getting more alert though.

Shh my 2nd degree stiches have healed up, I'd get yours checked.

I still can't get my wedding ring over my knuckle, has any one else found this?

HV arriving soon so I'll see how much my little greedy guts has put on this week.

Logic, fisil,claudi2,booge thanks for your advice re: stitches. Last night trip to the toilet was easier and they did bleed as much, I will keep an eye to them and will contact my mw or doc next week if no improvment.I will also try and bath of teatree oil to see if it helps.

About the bf and is baby getting enough, dh & I also top up Freya with formula as she was 9lb 4 at birth and lost 1ib within a few days due to this she is bigger than average baby and is a hungry baby. Yesterday she didn't seem to be off my breast. I know she needs it at night as she goes mad after feeding off me for over an hour and even one night when she seemed content after putting her down for 30 mins she wanted food again and gulped a 4oz bottle down ! (by the way yes we do check everything else before we feed her, like nappy, cuddles etc).
You will know though if your baby is hungry and I think I can now tell by her cry when she is hungry. Woah I never thought I would say that and din't believe others when they said it !!

BTW yes I also can't get my wedding or engagement rings on... I so want to wear them as well !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Ladies

Is anyone else having trouble introducing a bottle at this early stage (my DD is just over 3 weeks)?! or is it always just me? I had this problem with DS1, but it was my silly fault listening to the MW and HVs, as I didn't introduce a bottle until he was two months old then we had a nightmare until he was 5 months, then I had to withdraw breast and stuck it out until he finally acceopted a bottle (took 22 horrible hours).

Well, I gave DD a bottle the first three nights until the milk came in. I've fed exclusively the last few weeks, then 2 nights ago, and last night, tried introducing a bottle (one of those Bfree ones which are supposed to be like breastfeeding). Well, she didn't want it at all, and I'm starting to think we're going to have another nightmare. Is there a knack to this bottle malarky, as my ones just want breast ?

preggars, try getting someone else to give her the bottle - you smell of lovely breast milk! Also, don't give it to her when she's very very hungry. Mind you, I'm not qualified to give this advice because with both of my sons the answer to the question "how do you get them to take a bottle?" is "put food in it!". They just seem to take to it naturally.

I'm feeling very positive this morning. Ds2 fed at 11pm, 1am and 4am, which doesn't seem very good on the face of it. But at 1am I was only out of bed for 10 mins, and that included a nappy change. He just wanted a quick slurp and then was happy - so I think he might be dropping that one!

Good morning everybody, hope the night wasnt too bad ... mine was good , she only seems to wake up once (at 5 weeks).... I just remember with the others, it took for ages ... she is lying in the beanbag at the moment making grunting noises, and seems to be content ( for the first time!!!)...must be because the washing machine is on a spin cycle

Preggars,
I would wait until she is really hungry, ie had 2.5 -3 hours btween last feed, and then get dh to give her the bottle, as she smells your breastmilk, and is obviously not easily fooled. When I gave the first bottle dd choked and pushed the nipple out, but with a bit of perseverance we got there in the end, and I gave her the breast afterwards ... not textbook, but hey... good luck, I know it is heartwrenching

ok, maybe dont wait until she is very, very hungry ... its difficult to know

Sorry, preggars, I don't know. Both mine took to the bottle with no problems - one at 2 months and one after 2 weeks so I'm not sure how much it has got to do with the timing...

Dd slept from 11pm to 4am last night, quick feed and change then back to sleep until 7:30am for a feed and she is still asleep now! I can't believe it. Just before 4 I woke up and had to stand over her bed to make sure that she was still alive!

Hi Preggars

My dd won't take bottle from me either but guzzles on it if dh offers it to her.

I don't feel as though I'm producing enough milk - am I being paranoid? For the last three days Dd sucks me dry from both breasts. Even though there is about 3 hours between the end of one feed and the beginning of the next, my boobs just don't seem to fully refill and babe is getting frustrated at having to suck really hard to get anything out. I'm only giving her bmilk. She gets exclusively boob thro the day and gets expressed milk for the last feed before bedtime on top of boob. But yesterday I struggled to express that extra bit. And she just doesn't seem to settle after a feed. Is she hungry or boob obsessed?

Abow, dd is draining me dry too. It's not just you. It's why I'm giving her a bottle at night.

DS is draining my left boob really quickly but my right still seems to have plenty so I am having to use both if I start on the left. Since the weather has been so hot he is eating at least 2 hourly, the hv thinks that is because he is using the foremilk to stay hydrated, which makes sense.

We are hoping to introduce a bottle a day next week so it is interesting to read how the different babies are reacting to it. I haven't tried expressing yet so I need to see how that goes too. Fingers crossed DS will take the bottle as I need to go swimming or something to reduce my huge flabby waist and DH is really looking forward to feeding Daniel. (Giving up eating for 2 would help on the weight front)

Are you trying to give ebm or formula preggers? My ds will gulp down a bottle ebm no problem but looks like we are trying to poison him when try and give formula. He starts to choke and gag! So maybe its taste and not the bottle?

I am impressed you all seem to be getting so much sleep. Not much luck here. Still only 2-3 hours sleep at night. Mainly ds just wants to be cuddled and fed all night. He sleeps all day though so desperately trying to get things the right way round!

muppety, have you tried to wake baby up more often during the day ... I know it seems cruel, but it worked for me ... I dont let her sleep for more than 2.5 -3 hours during the day ... your ds might get pretty cranky though . Its always difficult giving advice, as what works for one, doesnt necessarily work for the other, and they all have different personalities, but it may be worth a try.

Message withdrawn

Hi all and thanks for all the baby wishes on the other thread. Ruby Annabelle arrived at 4.50 am on 8/6/05, nine days late weighing 8lb exactly. She is absolutely perfect and has tons of black hair. Mummy and Daddy are very, vey happy!

For those who can cope with the gory details...

Waters broke at 7.30am on Tuesday, 24 hours before I was due for induction. Labour started at about 8.30 and I coped OK with TENS and birthing ball at home til about 2.30pm. Arrived at hospital 4cm dilated and the consultant insisted I stay on labour ward not go to birth centre - by this stage I was past caring and was fine in the bath with gas and air til about 9pm.

Was still only 6cm at 9.30pm and had to have synotocin drip and catheter in case bladder was in the way. Also strapped to monitor and stuck lying down. Medical history meant no epidural so still only on gas and air and TENS. Finally got to 10cm at 3am after 17 hours of contractions 3mins apart. At 4am midwife called doctors in realising that I was pushing to little avail as her head was emerging sideways with her hand on her forhead. There was lots of panic as heartrate on monitor dipped.

I was put in stirrups and it was then another 50mins of pushing along with ventouse and episiotomy before doctor managed to twist Ruby the right way round and deliver her at 4.50am.

Unbelievably there is not a mark on her bar a small bruise on her hand and she had an immediate APGAR score of 10. We were warned she would be fractious due to ventouse headache but so far she has been a perfect little angel, sleeping and feeding well.

I am sore, coping with the stitches and a bit traumatised by it all but very thankful to be a mum at last! Have put a puc on member profiles. Lots of love to all May/June(!) mums and babies. Special congrats 18mumtobe...we did it!

Congratulations Holly290505! Sounds as though we had almost identical birthing experiences. I think I'll have nightmares about stirrups for a long time! Hope you feel less shellshocked soon.

well done holly, souns very traumatic, but very pleased your Ruby has emerged unscathed by the experience. what we have to do hey.

thanks all for the breast to bottle advice. logic, think you could be right about imogen. i've only tried formula, so will try to express tomorrow.

this has been my first day with two on my own, and so far so good. excuse the l/c typing, but b/f baby.

breast is going well and baby is sleeping well, in comparison to DS1. I would have to feed 1, 3, 5 am with DS1, but this time I am feeding her at about 8.30, and she falls asleep until either 1.30 or last night 3.30, then one more feed, either before an early rise around 5.30 (mind you, can get her off to sleep again, but my 2 year old can wake up about 7am). Feel so much more relaxed and rested this time, and am enjoying her immensley. Am also being v. strict on bedtimes with DS1, and he seems to be better for it, he's off at 7pm and sleeps for 12 hours solid. I hope all this isn't just beginners luck!!!

oh my god. I am so tired. I have taken Cerys to baby clinic today and they have confirmed she is suffering from colic.
After two weeks of having an angel baby she has turned into a little monster. Every waking moment she is crying and there are very few moments that she isn't awake. I am totally exhausted but still love her to bits (especially when shes sleeping)

congrats holly. love the name you chose. your birth sounds difficult, glad you and babe are ok and your coping well. im doing fine. im totally loving being a mum, can't believe how much i love him already and how special he makes me feel.(well apart from when its 3am hehe!) hope everyone else is enjoying being a mum as much as me, which im sure you all are. take care everyone and babies.

Hello everyone, I am so glad I'm not the only one who has been away from mn for a while, I'm just popping in to reserve my place on this thread for the time when things have settled down a bit and I get the time to log on again. I have really missed all our chat and will be back soon, it was great to have a few minutes to catch up with all the news.
I am supplementing my b/f as am finding all the same problems, and having problems with ds (toddler nightmare!) but can see light at the end of the tunnel
Good luck everyone who has the time to read this, and I will be back soon

I really sympathise, Brighteyes. Dd is much the same - screams almost constantly unless you are bobbing her up and down. She is 4 weeks today and I think that she is starting to get bored. We have just made up the proper cot in the nursery and attached ds' old Symphony-in-motion mobile to it and she is utterly transfixed! We should have done it earlier...

Had a fright today. Left dd in the middle of our double bed on her back while I went to wash my hands. I came back and she had flipped herself completely onto her front. OMG. Ds didn't do that until much later so I assumed that she was safe. Please can someone else tell me that theirs is doing this too.

hi everyone

hope everyone is well and all may babies are doing good. Matthew is 7 days old today, can't believe how much he's changed already, he gets cuter every day.

im still expressing at the moment, just wandering if any one else is, and how much they are giving the babe and how often they are feeding.

ive kinda got matthew on a 10, 2, 6 routine and he seems to go the 4 hrs pretty well most of the time. and is taking 100ml every feed. is this right or should it be more or less. he seems quite content most of the time so i just assume its enough.

had a bad morning though as he just sreamed for 4 hrs and got himself so over tired he wouldn't take his next feed properly, but he's finally gone off (so i took my chance to come on here) and seems very peaceful. (they are so lovely when there asleep)

is anyone else having trouble getting them to settle without sucking something? ive giving Matthew a dummy (i know its bad but) coz he just seems to like to suck himself to sleep, even though as he falls asleep its falls out and then he wakes up, and im forever just sat there putting it back in. sometimes i just give up and let him suck my finger (which i know i shouldn't) coz at least it can't all out.

mw came out yesterday and said she's really pleased with him and that im doing a good job. its nice to hear that from someone as sometimes it feels like im doing something wrong when he is crying. (but i surpose thats just what babies do)

hope things are going ok holly290505, and little Ruby is doing well.

take care everyone xxx