July 09 - Sore ladybits and melons for tits! [grin]

[Quiltedrose]

Ok so there's only 2 of us so far but felt duty bound as the first July delivery to start the thread off!

'Pop' in when you're ready!!

Got to ask an "Is this normal?" question ladies. Bathtime is lovely - all smiles and she seems to truly like the warm water and doesn't mind being sponged or having her hair washed or anything like that. Then drying her isn't too bad - we get her all snuggly in the towel. Then when it comes to new nappy and getting her re-dressed for bed, she goes -fucking- bananas - she gets absolutely beside herself with crying, ends up scarlet from head to foot and sometimes choking because she screams so much. I've tried all sorts. I can't think she's cold because we get the bathroom/towel/clothes all warm before we start. I've even checked the press studs aren't hot and burning her. I've bought a changing table toy thing to distract her. I've binned the vest and just gone with the babygro (so that nothing is going over her head in case it was that) - I can't honestly think of anything else I can do.
Will she just grow out of it or does anyone know any tricks? It's especially shit because it's the most time DP gets to spend with her on a weekday evening. I'd ditch the bath altogether if it weren't for the fact that she really seems to enjoy the water. What the hell am I doing wrong?

may not be doing anything wrong. It's a very stimulating experience for a baby to have a bath and can lead to overtiredness. maybe that's it? Dunno? dd1 loved baths. dd2 screams the house down so has only had 3 baths in her first 9 weeks!

Jetli Max is the same, he loves his bath, infact the bathroom in general, cries a little when he gets out and by the time he is dressed he is going bananas. Its only when I stick his bottle in his mouth that he stops. My niece used to do this too and I think its because they know the routine, know the food is coming and are desperate for it. once he has had a bit he is all smiles again.

Have had a hard day today, I think I took on too much and Max got fed up. It was a sponsered walk at school in the morning, straight to tescos, home just to unpack the shopping and then back to school to pick up the dc. they had a play on the field at school and then fleeced me into inviting 2 little friends for tea. By 6pm poor Max was beside himself, hungry but too tired even to latch on to the boob! Not fun! And I wonder why I am struggling to get him into a daytime routine! Nights are fine, daytime is hard! Are any of you with older dc struggling with daytime routine as there is so much else to do with the older ones?

HV no just came out to give me the red book
reflux those of you with sicky babies well worth seeing dr as quite a lot they can do. They usually start with baby gaviscon but there is another drug to (I forget what its called) that can help and also they may look into the possibility of a milk intolerence.

low milk supply Haveyou tried breast compression. This increases the amount of hindmilk (the fatty filling stuff) that the baby gets and has really helped some of the mums I know to get a bit longer between feeds. Google it or ask a BF counsellor for more info as I can show you but not describe IYSWIM!

*jetli& maybe trying bathing earlier in the day? Dh can then have nice hugs and cuddles when he does see bubs. (although sometimes it is good for them to experience the screaming too!)

Thanks all for the replies - Patchybob that really makes sense to me about her recognising the routine - especially since after dressing it's generally boob then bed. I might try a variation and feed her in the towel to see what happens.
breast compression - there's a brill little film thingy on Dr.Jack Newman's website - click on the "4-day old after tongue-tie using compressions". It's brill to watch. I've tried it with Hetty during the fretting spells and it does help. Regardless, I found it interesting just to try it anyway, and it's very easy to do. There are some instructions on his website too.

Morning

I have had 6 hours sleep...brilliant!!! But by the time Tristan fed and went back to sleep DD woke up so I have now been up for 2 hours and this is now me awake until evening. Bugger.

Bath no routine there. LO has one about twice a week and usually after there has been a HUGE mustard filled nappy.

Blue Lydia I am there with you w/toddler tantrums. DD actually slapped me yesterday when I was trying to put her in her car seat. WTF?!?! She is only 2. I am going on an extended holiday when she is 15 if this is a sign of things to come.

Mixed feeding we give a bottle of ebm at night but I am finding expressing a chore on some days. I have about 20bags of ebm in the freezer so may start using them for days I just want to add another bottle to give me a break. I was also thinking about adding another bottle to our day on a regular basis anyway BUT very scared of him wanting it more than me. That happened with DS1 (he was a very lazy feeder and just preferred fast flow) and we ended bf at 4 1/2 months. Oh god, who knows....some days it is fine and some days I feel like I need help w/bf.

Crazy oclock anyone else with other DC's find it is from about 4:30pm when things kick off? I can cope during the day (and in the evening) but from about 4:30-7:00 it is crazy here and I really can feel that I have full house. Dinners, baths, tantrums, bf and so on seems to get right on top of me then.

Patchy your are really brave to do all those things. I have not allowed for any playdates at mine or too many outings. I find that if I take those things on it makes crazy oclock even worse and I end up in bits shouting at everyone. Not fun. I hope once Tristan gets older (and feeds for less) we can start introducing more activities for the my other DCs into the mix.

Spkg of which - feeding routines I am desperate to get him to feed less. Any thoughts? He now weighs 15lb 5oz! HUGE. I guess it is not long before he does....just hope it is sooner rather than later.

Right
I reckon it is time for more coffee.

crazyoclock happens here evry day too. i'm tired and dd1 is tired so all ends in tears!

missp with you on feeding varying day to day. not good at mo. dd2 teething (whatthe?) and snotty as anything (but not cold snot) and suddenly really hard to feed. spent ages building up milk supply. can see it all going to hell again... plus just spent £60 on new breastpump!

patchy daytime routine? ha! poor thing is at the whim of dd1's routine. seriously considering trying to change dd1's nursery times to make life more manageable.

compressions have to do this to express (electric pump) so seem to do it naturally when feeding anyway. makes sense.

Hi all,
It?s been a while since i was last on here. I?ve just been too tired and have been having problems with my wrists due to still having the carpal tunnel syndrome that i developed in pregnancy. It makes bf quite difficult as my hands go numb and i get pains in my wrists

Feeding Sam feeds every 2.5 to 3 hours but will often go 6 hours between feeds on a night (usually from around 9pm to 3am) but he spends an hour on the boob each time, sometimes more! He?s gone from 95th centile for weight at birth (9lb 13oz)to just under the 50th at 8 weeks (11lb 3oz) though so am trying to feed him as much as possible so that hopefully he?ll start putting more on. I?ve been using breast compression to get him to feed for longer rather than dozing off so maybe that?s helping him to sleep for longer afterwards.

HVs I saw mine once before the birth and then again when Sam was 2 and 3 weeks. I?ll get a final visit when he is 12 weeks. I also see her at the baby clinic each time Sam goes for his jabs.

Getting DS1 to school each morning has been the most difficult thing to do. Trying to shower, get myself and both DSs ready, feed DS2 and shout at encourage DS1 to eat his breakfast quicker and get out of the house by 8.15 each morning has been a challenge. That?s as close to a routine as i?ve got ? the rest of the day is spent feeding Sam plus whatever else i can fit in (not very much at the moment).

Sorry for the long post I'll keep it shorter next time, promise

bald spots - one developing here too! Bless and she's so dark it's very obvious.
BF - had a bit of a sore end to the week - went to BF drop-in on Thursday afternoon. Got the latch corrected a bit (Hetty doing sneaky nipple feeding) - was also recommended whisky on the nips to toughen them up a bit - works a bloomin treat! Only had to do it for 24 hours and I felt much better. I just smell a bit funny and obviously have to wipe it off before feeding - when she said whisky I thought she was going to tell me to drink a nip before the feed. Alas not. Very jealous of all your big babies on the boob! Mine's still a tiddler at around 11lb, but she's following the 50th percentile so I guess she's doing fine. I think I definitely fall into the anxious breastfeeder camp - always concerned that she's getting enough, worrying about my supply, worrying that we're doing it "wrong", obsessed with weight and contents of nappies, blah blah blah. Wish I could relax a bit about it.
baby massage - can anyone recommend a book or DVD? I'd like to do it especially it for the immune boosting business, but don't really have a clue, and I wouldn't want to do more harm than good. Have kept an eye out for classes locally but seen nothing so far, and the cold and flu season is almost upon us.
breastpump - have been on mine again this week. Had a facial & pedicure this morning so had to have a little stock for DP. It was a gift voucher I had from when I was pregnant and it needed to be used by this weekend. By the time I set off this morning it felt like a complete pain in the arse (ungrateful cow that I am), but I really enjoyed it and feel like a million dollars now, despite a shiny blotchy face
routines - we only have a bathtime routine here. The rest of the time we have a "swing" rather than a "routine" No two days are the same and I've given in to it now.
HV - mine came twice to the house and now I go to clinic for weighing and she's there if I want to ask anything. I also have a telephone number for her if I need her oustide of baby clinic days. She's nice - I was dreading getting a bossy or useless one. I go every 2 weeks to get Hetty weighed because it helps me stay positive about the BF.
Have a good weekend all! Off to look at pushchairs in a bit.

Just a quick one re: weight gain I compared DS1 and DS2's red book and DS1 was not even over 15lbs until he reached 18 weeks (DS2 is currently over that at 11 weeks) And guess what?! I was "advised" to top up DS1 due to his slow weight gain - total crap really.

Every baby is different (just like us adults; different sizes/shapes) so I reckon as long as our LO's are gaining (even just a small amt on some weeks) that is great. That bloody "line" in the red book used to drive me insane with DS1 and DD. I am not even bothered by it this time round and he is off the charts in comparison!

bath my DH gives Marco his bath, and tells me how much he loves the water, and then screams bloody murder when taken out. Dh lays him naked on a towel and warms him using the hairdryer (obviously holding it far enough as not to burn the child). Marco loves it. The sound and the heat soothe him. Once he is calm, nappy goes on fine and usually he is dressed without a fuss.

daytime routine what the hell is that???? I have to go with the flow aka work around toddlers' schedule since she causes the most fuss in my house. She naps from 1pm until about 3 or 4pm and depending on what Marco is doing at that time (usually crying or nursing), dictates what I can do!

compressions my lactation consultant taught me how to do compressions when I first started BF. It seems to work. I dont do it all the time when Marco is eating, but when I pump I do them. Can now pump at least 6oz total, where before the meds and compressions I could only do 1.5oz.

balness my baby looks more like his grandfather daily! He has a receding hairline and now the little hair he has in back, is falling out in crazy patches. Poor boy. His hair is black, but I am wondering what colour will come in. DS1 is blond and so is DD2, but the rest of us are dark.

Sorry, haven't been on ina while, life is always so hectic!

daytime routine - none at all, she feeds when she wants, sleeps when she wants and I try to get her to lie and play in her baby gym thing for some of the time. evening routine - again none really, let her do what she wants but she does tend to have a last feed when I take her upstairs (about 11.00/11.30pm ish) and she then goes through til 5 or 6am so really can't complain. This works cause I get up at 6.45 to get in the shower so that I can have a shower in peace before DH leaves the house without having to worry about what each child is doing. And because Jess has only had her feed a short while before it means I can get the others up dressed and sorted to go out the door including getting packed lunches done, hair plaited for DD1 etc etc etc.

going back to work - I am very lucky in that DH, after I had had DD1, asked me to stop work until the kids were all in school. We are incredibly lucky that he is in a job that can (just about) support us all as a family. We can't afford for the kids to do all the clubs, instruments, extra curriular stuff that we would want them to do but we live in a lovely area where it is safe enough for my 9 year old to walk to and from school on his own and to play out round the local area with his friends. So in 4 years time when Jess starts school, I will hopefuly have a few months to myself to just enjoy being me but after that I will go "back to work". However, hopefully by then I will have completed my training in order to have a complete career change from legal secretary to sign language interpreter Which will in turn enable us to allow the kids to do whatever out of school clubs and instruments that they want.

BF we are completely demand Bfing here. I'm starting a course a week on Monday (Monday evenings only) though so am planning on expressing so that DH has a bottle he can give her should she not settle while I'm there. Will have to try her on it this week though to get her used to it. Have been putting it off cause I can't be bothered with the faff of washing the pump and sterilising etc etc but can't put it off much longer if she's going to have a chance to get used to it beforehand.

Really am going to try to come on here more often. Thankfully am now starting to get on top of the housework and life is starting to feel a lot more settled now that school and nursery are back on (am hoping to talk DH into finding the money from somewhere to put DD1 in nursery 5 mornings a week but am going to have to pray for a minor miracle for us to have the finances for that).

BTW crazy oclock is a daily occurrence here too. Lasts from 4.00 til 7.00 when the bedtime routine for the older ones starts at which point it is just a race to get them in bed asap.

p.s. re weight gain - haven't made it to the clinic to get her weighed yet so she hasn't been weighed since the health visitor did her last visit here on the 25th august - nearly 4 weeks old (the doctor didn't weigh at the 6 week check). Bless her, you can tell she's number 4, each child has been weighed just that bit less than the child before. DS1 was weighed weekly for nearly the first year, DD1 was weighed weekly for the first couple of months then fortnightly, then monthly, DS2 was weighed fortnightly for a couple of months then monthly. Might make that an aim for next week - get Jess weighed

weight gain dd2 born on 91st centile but HV said often that's unnaturally high for them and babies settle onto what is their more natural growth curve so to drop to 50th only means that they are average. Not everyone's babies can be on the 90th centile or it would cease to be the 90th centile ie only 10% of babies are that weight and would become the average centile ie 50! Sorry. Confusing maths but hence IGNORE THE LINES unless LO looks ill or suddenly starts feeding in a totally different way and seems unhappy for it.

ius disasTer got one fitted 3 days ago and am desperate to get ot docs to GET THE BLOODY THING OUT! Have major PMT symptoms and cramping (though NHS direct said pain was normal not to worry) Is now down to dh to get the flippin snip and stop relying on me for taking responsibility for contraception esp as I can't take the pill. (lactose intolerance) can't afford to be hormonal. Have a dh with depression, a 9wk old who feeds ALL the time and the most sleep we get is 5 hours (tho that bit's quite good going really but not for the "real world")

Hetty fed before bath last night - worked fine - very little crying when she was dressed. Then DP topped her up with some EBM and she was out for the count. She's funny when DP gives her a bottle - all furrowed brow and looking quite puzzled as to how she is getting milk from Dad
Can't believe I never thought to try breast compressions on the pump - never occurred to me to do it but I tried this morning and it worked a treat. My brain is very befuddled since giving birth. We were out shopping yesterday and I was quite bemused by how many pregnant ladies were knocking around in the shop - then I realised it was because we were in Mothercare

Marco was a treat last night! Was getting very fussy at 9pm (but he always goes down at 10 so it wasnt surprising). DH gave him a bath, then he got the boob. Could barely make it through one side! Forced him to try at the second breast... then he was out cold! Slept from 10pm til 5am!! I was over the moon! He ate and was back to sleep by 5:30am and awake again at 9:30. He then ate, and its now just after 10am, and he's back to sleep (he normally naps from 10am on). Not sure how long this nap will last, but at least I can have my shower in peace this morning! But it figures... the one morning we get the baby sleeping well... the older 2 DCs decide to have a shouting match and start clobbering each other in front of the toddler (who has then decided she should do the same to the baby). Arrgghhhhh!!!

Hi everyone, have only skim read all the posts since i went on holiday. We were in Cornwall last week and had a fab time.

I'm starting to think Noah is having a bit of a growth spurt (10wk old). He's really unsettled and screaming more than usual and it's so much harder to settle him although he does eventually settle and sleep for a bit but is then up screaming again before we know it. I've made 2 3oz bottles (he usually has 6oz every 4 hours) and next time he screams i'm going to see if it's because he wants feeding.

Ds1 has had a touch of diarrhea since Friday but is fine in himself. We're just trying to get loads of water down him which isn't too hard cos he does like water. Noah is showing no signs of a temp or diarrhea so i'm quite sure that isn't what is wrong with him. The only thing that is slightly worrying me is that where we stayed in Cornwall was a farm and ds1 and dh were feeding the animals on a morning and with all the E-Coli stuff in the news

I've got some new photos in my profile. We had a photo shoot done yesterday in Leeds. If anyone is near there i would highly recommend them. They charge £30 for a 15min session and all the photos they take get put on a disc for you to print off if and when you like. We got 78 photos in that time. Anyone interested this is the website

We've still got absolutely no sign of a routine either day or night.

Lovely pics Phoenix. I especially love the one of your DS1 jumping in the air - that's fab.

pheonix shame leeds isn't nearer I love your pics and need to get a family group done. I did get Alfies pic done with his bounty voucher so will post the pic when it comes back.
crazyoclock yup happens here too just known as th witching hour here - and guess what as soon as it all calms down in walks dh
chelle same here with weighing thought i'd better get Alfie weighed for the record (my attitude is look at them you know if they are ok!) and hes over 17lbs and in the blue area. Apparently they would worry about this if he was bottle fed as he has crossed 3 centiles but not as he is breastfed as they tend to rise more sharply and have a levelling off later on. TBH that is exactly what DD did so not worried.
Have uploaded a recent pic of my 3....

garlic just a quick post... LONG evening. Does it cause colic? dd been awful this evening and obviously in pain.

Lovely photo's Phoenix - glad you had a good holiday!
Had loads of garlic yesterday - no ill effects so far here...

saw pics on FB phoenix they're lovely! we're having some done at xmas with a photo voucher we were given from kiddicare.
crazyoclock happens here too! it usually starts just as dp is heading to work or finishes just before he gets in, depending what he's working!
weight im taking bill to get weighed again on wed at clinic as his vomtitting after feeds has got so much worse! i checked his and dd red books. at 26 weeks she was 15lbs last wed at 10 weeks bill was 14lb 3oz!
went to a memorial day at the hospice, my little brother died at last year, yesterday. it will be 1 year this coming saturday. it was so lovely but very emotional! my 'glamorous' sister was having a cuddle with bill when he promptly threw up in her hair and down her cleavage! teehee!
ali i think alot of garlic can cause colic as well as onions but im not 100% sure! ouch the ius sounds painful!
i think bills meds might slowly be working as he slept from 7-11.30 last night and was up every 2 hours as opposed to every 1 1/2. i didnt even give him a bottle it was all boob yay! so even though it seems he's vomitting more it might be settling his tummy a bit?? i dont know i just jope he keeps it up!

Noah is sick after most feeds and almost every time we lay him down either in his cot or to change his nappy. Sometimes just a bit but mostly quite alot. Do you think it's worth taking him to the docs? He also doesn't sleep for more than 3hrs at a time in his cot, he would sleep 24hrs a day if he was laying on my chest though i think

He has woke up a little bit sniffly today so maybe not a growth spurt that has been making him scream more yesterday. I've got a sore throat too

I ended up ringing NHS direct about ds1 but they said because he's well in himself he should be ok but just keep an eye on him. He's not going to pre school today though.

Phoenix - have you had Noah weighed lately? If his weight is fine and he's not losing I wouldn't worry about it, but if he's losing weight or not gaining as much as you'd like I'd take him to the docs if he's being sick a lot. Could be an intollerance if it's not the bug your DS1 has so better to be safe maybe?