June09: the one where we learn to type with one finger

[Tee2072]

Hi all and welcome to our first post-natal thread! Nappy's, colic and burping OH MY!

Come join the conversation as our baby's grow and grow.

effie we do basically the same thing. The guidelines to boil as needed are just stupid. Who is going to make a hungry baby wait 1/2 an hour or longer while boiled water cools?!?!

Um, am I suppose to do something special for baby pooh in clothes? I just bung it into the washer with everything else. Working so far!!

I bung it in too-- I rinse if completely covered. xx perhaps on a pre wash with vanish. Oh and using a nail brush to rub the vanish in further - really helps xx

I still haven't worked out how t get mushed banana or shop bought baby food out of clothes!! Perhaps I'll master it this time xxxlol

Has the layout changed- it all looks different??

They've only just changed the layout a couple of months ago. Most discombobulating!

Lauraloo - to make sure I understand your question, and sorry if you've explained t his in earlier posts but I can't remember anything properly these days - are you bottle-feeding at the moment but interested in giving Sarah bottled expressed milk? If so, then the MWs were correct that expressing will give you a milk supply - a baby suckling or a pump will send your body the message to produce that much again for the next day, so you would either have to make it a regular thing or risk getting engorged breasts. This isn't a problem if you want to mix formula and expressed milk (or of course direct from the breast) every day, and certainly even some breast milk will give her nutrional benefits but it's not the same as just collecting leaked milk.

I keep meaning to ask...I have two boxes of breast pads, one of Mothercare and one of Tommy Tippee. Does anyone want them? Happy to post them off! Email me: tee AT leyser DOT org (usual format!!).

louise I think you dont have to wash off lansinoh, I remember asking the nct bf host.
I asked dh if he thought dd's poo was green, he didnt think so but I'm pretty sure its kinda green and weve been using infacol.
(it's not the first time we dont agree about colours. To be fair colour-blindness does run in my family so I wouldnt be surprised if i was wrong.)

When are you coming back to london?

tee and erm, yeah the mw told us that was the latest guidelines (that formula couldn't be prepared in advance). We bought some tommee tippee insulated bottle carriers and milk dispensers so the water iskept hot (ish) and you can measure the formula and tip it in when needed, it's all worked out so one fits in the other without mixing until you want to and on paper is great. but we've found that the forumla kinda stays stuck at the bottom because of the heat so not that great.
We've been using them separately though so not a total waste I guess.

baby up, time to go..

erm thanks for your reply re expressing milk. I am currently feeding Sarah formula only but would love to have breastfed. I was thinking of expressing with a pump and feeding her with a bottle, but maybe just best to let milk supply "dry up" and continue with formula only.

Just wondering are you not supposed to make up formula in advance and heat it up, I have been making up a few bottles at a time and reheating them when required, now worried i shouldn't be doing this.

lauraloo Right, that's what I thought you meant. Still not sure why you were thinking of bottle-feeding the expressed milk rather than her taking it direct though - were you too sore to b/f? In any case, if you want to try keeping a bit of breastmilk going I don't see why you shouldn't either express a bottle - 100ml or something - daily or give her one regular breastfeed a day, maybe a snuggly evening one. Worth a try if you'd like to do it, and no harm done if it doesn't work out this time around.

Can't answer about making up formula in advance I'm afraid - sounds like the guidelines are changing constantly but other posters are more up to date than I am.

laura technically the guidelines say to not do that, but if it is working for you? Keep doing it, as I've found different guidelines in different publications, as published by the NHS!

erm one of the reasons I had to stop b/f was Sarah was causing blisters on my nipples as she wasn't latching on right, thats why i was thinking of offering expressed milk in bottles. Also DH doesn't want me to confuse Sarah by offering both bottle and breast...hope this makes sense

tee making up bottles in advance has been working for me esp for night-time feeds, but i'm now really worried i have been exposing Sarah to harmful bacteria. My SIL says she stored cooled boiled water in the bottles and then just added formula when it was needed, is this what you do? Sorry if i sound too much like a novice lol

Dh is back to work tomorrow for 7 days straight which I am dreading, but at least I'll be able to see if me and Sarah survive on our own

What I do laura is boil a kettle every morning and then that kettle of boiled water gets stored in a jug on the counter that is only used for that purpose.

And if Sarah was being exposed to harmful bacteria, she'd be sick! Does she have any tummy symptoms? Diarrhoea or vomiting (other than regular baby spit up)? If not? Keep doing what you are doing!! From what I understand, based on extensive reading, the likelihood of the powdered formula having bacteria in it that will harm your baby is very small.

thanks tee I dont think Sarah has been sick apart from the usual baby sick, you have eased my mind a bit thank you again x

Morning Juners!

I've read all the posts but cannot possibly remember everything

So I'm going to say a big hi to you all and not embarrass myself

Back home last night, soooo many road works our usual 2.30-3hs drive took 6 hours!!! But well, everything went OK, next Tuesday we can pick up the baby's passport

I've managed to misplace my keys and am driving insane trying to find them. My head is definitely not the same I've managed to lose my sunglasses as well I must do something about this absent-mindedness!!

Anyway, hope you have lovely days, ladies!

Tee, glad Adam is back home with mum and dad!!!

(((waves)))

I'm going insane!!! not "driving" insane!!!
oh Lord...

lauraloo nipple confusion is usually a worry when mainly breastfed babies are given a bottle and may not return to the breast - shouldn't be an issue with a baby who's settled on the bottle, but of course she may not take to a breast.

Is your DH just not keen on the idea of b/f? Sometimes men aren't v supportive about it, either because it's not been part of their upbringing or they feel threatened/excluded by it. I have a friend whose DH sold organic baby food, including formula milk, and told her that her own breastmilk wasn't organic and she was putting their DD at risk by feeding her herself . Then his mother babysat one night and, by secret arrangement with her son, told my friend the baby had refused the expressed breastmilk she'd left and so wasn't it a good job that she had some organic formula to hand, which baby seemed to much prefer! .

Quick question about bleeding: mine had reduced to a very light, pale discharge which an Ultra towel could deal with easily. (9 days post-birth). But this morning every time I've stood up I've felt some loss, and it's bright red and filled up a pad straight away - only on the surface, but enough to mean it needs changing. I'm really hoping this doesn't mean Ive got any retained placenta - no other symptoms although I have noticed 'strands' a bit like a show in the last couple of days. Any ideas/similar experiences?

Thanks Juners

morning all

well today, ladies, I will mostly be wearing eau de puke The past 2 days, Edward's been a real pickle with his wind, not in a colicky way, just likes to keep hold of it for a while and then brings it up with some milk. Makes me realise I should be a LOT more up to date with my ironing

ermin, like your bf pack, sounds excellent! Very for your friend, what did she do?! I think normally with any retained placenta you get clots? not just blood? You haven't been overdoing it in last couple of days have you? Lifting anything heavy like pushchairs etc? Worth a mention to the mw if you're still seeing her.

naat, so pleased you have Milas passport sorted, must be a relief, even with the journey! My memory is awful at the moment, not sure it ever fully recovers, especially after 5 dcs I'd forgotten about sending off for the child benefit and phoning the tax credit lot, only got round to it last week I still need to make the appointment for Edwards check and first lot of jabs. I should take a leaf out of MrsMcJnrs book and make a list

tee, so pleased Adam is home

waves to all

Oh, and I spent way to much on baby clothes yesterday, Asda had a half price sale on some of their clothes Dh wasn't impressed

bigcar we just about got round to printing off the child benefit form yesterday, it'll be another couple ofweeks before itmakes it to the post box I think.

We're having some photos of Calypso taken this afternoon (after choccie mentionned about taking photos before the los are 3weeks old
also a friend of dh doing it for us, he's just had a baby as well, and going to take the pic for her passport at the same time.
We've also got some people from the antenatal classe coming round for coffee later on, busy day!

ermin I don't know about the bleeding, can you call your GP and ask them? Mine takes phonecalls at lunchtime, maybe he can put your mind at rest.

Saw the HV this morning and she was fab, I'm so pleased.

Oooh Asda half price stuff yeah? cool :D

Hello all....

Anther night of no sleep. DH is trying to get away early so that I can sleep all afternoon and evening, if need be.

ermin - do you have any more symptoms? My bleeding stated again as I had retained products both pgs. I also had tummy tenderness and cramps and a mild temperature. See the GP if you're worried. After I had DS I left it and ended up back in hospital on IV antibiotics. This time I caught it early and could have the antibiotics at home.

Emily's colic is still horrendous. The two sessions with the cranial osteopath don't seem to have had the same effect as they had with DS, though she is much easier to wind now and doesn't get the same tummy probs as before. She still screams every evening though....

I'm willing her to sleep during DS's nap so that I can rest too....

Love to you all xx

P.S. I've just spent hours cutting and pasting all my posts so I can print them out and keep them as a kind of diary of my pregnancy. It makes great reading! I didn't really keep a diary for DS's pregnancy so I forgot so much. I might show it to Emily one day when she's pregnant (might have to edit out all the bonking references though - don't want to gross her out!)...

Hi to all the knackered mums!!!

Not been able to post for about a week time constraints nothing eles!!) but have been catching up every couple of days.

Have no chance in responding to eveyone so apologies.

Tee glad Adam is back home safe and well, don't beat yourself up, honest there are so many who've been there done that. A couple of weeks ago I didn't put the brake properly on the new buggy and Annabelle disappeared off into the road (was putting the other DD's in the car and ironically thought she'd be safer!) didn't even realise she'd gone until one of the other mums who'd seen it happen raced up the road and retrieved her before any cars appeared!!!!

laura I agree with erm- one snuggle feed a day should not confuse the latch iirc it's much easier to latch a bottle hence the concern of introducing bottles/ dummies toearly to bf babies. You will need to make sure that if you do go for it, you do it daily or there is a risk of masitis. Maybe a chat with a bfc at a bf group or one of the helplines would help you make up your mind either way....

I went to a latch on group this morning, just to get my latch checked, as last week Annabelle gained so little I think she had got lazy!!! however this week she's gained 7oz

Have been strugling over the past few days to try and get Annabelle settled in the afternoon. The best way appears to be baby wearing I have a Baby Bjorn Active carrier which i great to throw on quickly and a Karri me fabric sling which is really comfy, she really doesn'tr care and settles within about 2-3 mins of being on me!!!! it leaves my hands free to sort other stuff (and mn!)

Annabelle also had her first girls night out last night (I love the smoking ban!!) went to a local pub as one o my friends is moving, and took her in the P&T cocoon (carrycot) and she slept riht through all the raucous girly chat

ermin re the bleeding LO is now 4 weeks old and I still have a panty liner in some days I have nothing, but other I just have a couple of ml and over the weeks iot has def changed several time regarding colour etc. If it continues or gets heavier get a rl review but seems normal to me.

With respect to baby clothes, every wash in my house gats a dash of vanish liquid and some persil non bio, usually comes up the first time, if not it just goes round again, 2 washes normally sorts most things!!! And baby poos nothing on what's to come ( we tell the girls we're hosing them down after meals and the kitchen table regularly looks this some small explosive has hit the food!!!

Right off to sort out dd2's bithday presnts for this weekend and dd1's party for august (need to sort now before term breaks up!! Then chase patio stuff and kitchen stuff.....I really was very wicked in a former life

Thanks for all advice girls - it doesn't seem to be clots, although I felt 'it' being passed and guess it could disperse on a towel if not very clotted (bleeurgh, tmi, sorry)... But it's back to being v light and pale now.

Ineed I do feel tenderness v low down in the abdomen but only when I'm standing up - assumed it was slack muscles trying to hold up organs.

So sorry that Emily's still got colic, poor wee lamb .

And bigcar I did do my postnatal exercises last night for the first time in days but they're not at all strenuous. It happened after I'd been feeding Arthur, so maybe just a last push from the contracting uterus - I'm hoping. Last 2 labours I had slight prolapse but this time have completely avoided that so will be v if I've got something I need to go to hosp for. Not feeling hot or anything but will keep an eye on it - MW final visit tomorrow so will ask her then.

I'm afraid my friend eventually caved into pressure from her DH and MIL and stopped b/feeding when DD was 3 months. She managed to hold them off till 6 months with next DD though - her DH is rather dominating and sulks if he doesn't get his own way.

Yay for Asda sales - they're so cheap to begin with you can get some completely crazy low prices.

doris 7oz in a week, that's v well done to you and Annabelle

Taking Arthur to meet his big sister's classmates now - she's v jealous that DS1's friends have all seen him already. Hope he won't get mobbed

And what makes all the spit up, dirty nappies, crying for no reason, exhaustion worthwhile? An almost 4 week old baby asleep on your chest.

Oh Tee, that was a sweet post and no doubt we all agree!

Erm, glad you see your MW tomorrow so you can ask her. Not much advice here, unfortunately, as it's my first time but glad other Juners were able to share their own experience Let us know what MW tells you tomorrow but if you feel feverish at all or some pain, do call them or your surgery.

Doris, on the same boat here! I have to put on the kari me in order to do something around the house I still have trouble doing things while holding her and I guess she's still to young to stay on her own and amuse herself Glad to hear Annabelle has put on loads of weight Oh, when you mentioned the pub I remembered something that happened to us in London two weeks ago... we went into a pub to have lunch (mum, DH, Mila and me) and the manager apologised profusely but told us we couldn't stay as everyone was supposed to be over 18 and we had the baby I had no idea but I can see it's not in every pub... odd

Ineed, so sorry you're having sleepless nights and that Emily is still suffering the nasty effects of colic at night Did the osteopath say anything yesterday about her progress? Did he say if it was normal for her to still be suffering as much? Hope this afternoon you get some rest ((hug))

June, another lucky Juner with professional pics! glad for you, enjoy! Oh, soooo happy your HV turned out to be lovely!!! What happened with bonker neighbours and the tree issue?

Bigcar, you're super mum with 5dc and still having your memory I'm a mess with only 1 LOL. at eau de puke. Here they send you the appt for the health check and vaccination, luckily, as I'd have forgotten that as well

Right, today it's been a crazy nappy day... Mila has pooed, and 10 min after I've changed her she's pooed again! And that has been a cycle since this morning It's been like 8 nappies already!!

MW came today to sign me off (not the regular one but another young and really lovely one), weighed Mila and she's 3.600kg! She put on around 300gr in a week! Really glad about that as I worried that due to her having one favourite breast and playing a lot with the other she was not going to put on weight at all. She gets really crossed sometimes and refuses to latch on properly, starts screaming and then the only way to make her feed is with a shield. It doesn't happen all the time or at a specific time of the day, she's just THAT odd MW told me it was fine, that maybe it's just her personality to get crossed like that out of the blue so if I had to use the shields at those times it was fine. SO relieved when she said that!

Oh, Mila has fallen asleep! I should do the dishes

Until later!!! (((waves)))

Hi all

Fraser is now three weeks old and I am utterly besotted, and loving all the cuddles - his hair is so soft and downy, I can't resist stroking him.

I loved what you wrote louise about your life changing. It is quite astounding how the day after you give birth, you wake up and look at this little ball of skin and fluff and realise that you will never see the world in the same way again, that your priorities have completely changed. I loved that feeling.

All started so well with Fraser, great sleeping and feeding but has gone awol. He has become terribly windy and fights hard not to release it, even with Infacol. It takes over an hour to get him to burp and sometimes he doesn't. It is like George fighting the dragon, as he writhes around, mouth clenched doing everything possible not to release his wind. I am used to this as dd was the same. The midwives once again said 'breastfed babies don't usually get wind - I was rather hoping I would have an easier time of things this time. Also, he has terrible nappy rash, that almost goes and then pops back. Exposing it to air, and waiting patiently nearby to mop up poo and pee, is something I am doing, but cannot do 24/7 with another child. His poo has no consistency, just gushes out like thick coloured water which they say is normal, but my daughter's wasn't like that. Also, it is worse in the late afternoon/evening like colic babies, so maybe there is something else at work too. Yesterday he was distressed on and off from 4.30 - 11.30. Nights are down to me getting about 5 hours sleep (usually 3 hours then late 2 hours) as getting wind out and getting him back to sleep so slow. Cranial osteopath appointment next week - hopefully that makes a bit of a difference.

Oh well, it's only for another month or so, which is hardly the end of the world, I just wish I could relieve his pain, and poor dd is getting a grumpy mumma.

Fraser has almost grown out of some of his 0-3months clothes, so I raced out to the shops yesterday to pick up some 3-6month summer clothes as otherwise he will be naked

I'm completely out of sync with what is happening and don't stand a chance of catching up, but have seen a few things when I've popped on in the past few weeks. mrsmcjnr - dh pines for Scotland? It is quite normal after a year in a new place isn't it, and it sounds like he is taking it out on you - poor you honey - I know what you mean about not being able to complain or wanting to ask for help. I had to do that last time, to stand a chance of him agreeing to number2. I did all the nights and am now too. He helps with cooking and dd and I am used to it, but sometimes it would be nice to 'hand over'. Ineed - I sympathise with Emily's colic. tee - sorry to hear about the fall. I was a little off balance walking out of a room and his head brushed the door and I realised if it was a cm more he would have had a real bang. Fraser is a fab name isn't it bigcar Rupert must be six weeks now - has you had that first smile?

I never did post my birth story - it's a bit old news now I guess. I will post a picture soon of my little boy. Have to go and get supper now and drag dd away from Ceebeebies.

hello to you all.