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.

had never heard of the water trick - thanks for that Naat

Got as swine flu case at Megan's nursery!!!
They aren't shutting and have given us all a letter telling us what to look out for etc. Apparently the little boy is on tamiflu and doing fine. Also one of dh's colleagues has it. SO now feeling an inevitability about us getting it. Just feels worrying when we have such little babies. Main symptom according to nursery manager is very high temperature - that worries me. Have nipped to Sainsbury's tonight and bought a fab thermometer which works by gently brushing across their forehead for a couple of seconds.

can't catch up tonight as I'm knackered (only got 3 hrs sleep last night) - dd1 is stilla wake and chattering as I type!!! Got to wake sleepy baby now.

Morning all

Silk the flu is a worry for the tinies; I must check out our baby thermometer is still around and working.

June Gosh, steady tiger, your DH is keen . I remember with DD I insisted on our 'having a go' before the 6 wk check-up but it was ages before I could be bothered after having DS1. DH hasn't mentioned it this time, but it's only just been a fortnight so I think he'll refrain. First time around, I gave him a book which had Advice for New Fathers and the chapter on marital relations had a list of Things Not To Say, the first one of which was 'Well, I can feel one side, darling.' . So anyone who's had a CS can be relieved they won't hear that...

Arthur slept from midnight to 5, then woke at 8 for quick feed and is asleep again . Don't know if I can actually start doing anything - the big job today is to make banana bread - or if I'll be interrupted mid-process. I'd better give it a go I think.

Sunny here, have good days Juners and babes

Doris - thanks for the mention about dairy. I am off to see the doctor today but as his poo is complete water and he has red spots all over head that looks a bit like an allergy, I thought I'd try stopping dairy (and stopping colief) - and wow, I think that may be it, as no pain and spots not looking so angry (although don't want to get too hopeful too soon and bad nappy rash remains). He has been just fine the last few feeds and even lay happily on the play mat for almost 20minutes without crying. So here's hoping that is it, as the last couple of weeks have been exhausting and so little sleep.

silk - I guess the inevitability of knowing you are going to get swine flu means you are all prepared with information etc and watching closely. It's the 'not knowing' which makes it harder sometimes. My dp goes down to London weekly so I think it will be hard to avoid.

erm - 'touch one side' - I had to read that twice to believe that's what you were really saying!!!!! I think it would be 'eviction from the house' time if ever he said that. Nothing going on here, and my lady bush is like the Indonesian jungle so dp probably couldn't find anything!!

Ineed - I've just stopped colief and trying 'no dairy' diet before I got to the doctor for a chat this afternoon.....however....just wanted to mention that I read about someone who tried this for the evening feeds and it worked.....start breastfeeding and after the milk is flowing well, ease baby off, put drip or two of Colief onto your nipple and then continue feeding....I tried it two nights ago, and it worked quite well for me. I thought it worked as the usual 'reduced' screaming and writhing from Fraser as was the case with daytime feeds.

naat - mila sounds like a good little baby.

mrsmcjnr - Fraser's poo (although latte-like) doesn't come out quite as much as it used to. How is Aaliyah's now? It's just over a month till we come out to Spain - I'll pop my email address on my Mumsnet photos page for you. I've heard rental cars have doubled in price down there as many less tourists and euro so strong. Ouch!

I'm busy preparing for first night out next Tuesday - Simple Minds concert. I think it will be fine...babysitter works during the day in the Sick Baby section at local hospital so she is better trained than me

Also, about to get passport photo taken today. This will be interesting.

Morning Juners!

Ermin, nice night for all of you! Mila did something similar last night, she slept from 11.15 to 4.30 then she fed and slept until 6.40 so not a bad night Yum! Banana bread! LOL at the book's advice.

Silk, hi! As ermin said, it's not worrying too much for us adults but LOs are so tiny now that it does worry us all. Chatty DD1 at 10.30pm no more nappy episodes, I hope?

June, LOL, DH here mentioned it on week 2! poor guy, bless him I don't know what the waiting time should be but I think I'm afraid of feeling any pain, besides the fact that those hormones are not the ones running around my body now Oh, same here on the way to make Mila sleep, I think maybe it's too soon for them to self-soothe and go to sleep on their own? The dummy helps when she's fretting and when she wants to use my boob to comfort-suckle and sleep

LittleS, great reading you again! Sorry to hear Alex has a bit of a cold, hope it clears soon Enjoy your graduation ceremony!! Take loads of pics and then show us some

Llynn, so nice Isobel has woken up only once the last few nights!!! You must be Enjoy that rest!!

Bigcar, nice weight gain, little Edward!!!

Hello to the rest of the Juners! Calm day here, but will take advantage of Mila's morning nap to do some laundry

Quick question, we want to use reusable nappies, as I had told you guys some time ago, but I'm wondering if we should wait a little longer as Mila is still too tiny and using too many nappies a day Maybe I'll be washing too many nappies if I start now? Has anyone ever used them? What was your experience?

(((waves)))

X-post Daisy!
Glad to hear there's some improvement with Fraser's colic/wind It's such a huge relief when you can see them feed and settle quite well-ish Hope it continues improving! LOL at Indonesian jungle Good luck with the photos! And sooooooooo cool you're going to a concert on Tuesday! The babysitter sounds quite and expert

Naat, I gave myself 2 wks of disposables to ease us in and started cotton nappies on Monday. It's fine so far, but you do need to be very organised at changing time - having bucket ready, folding up boosters (to absorb more wee) and liners (which you can throw down the loo with poo on them) which we're getting used to. Arthur is getting through 5-6 a day so about the same as disposables. I'm still using Naturebaby disposables for when we're out and at night, to avoid needing to wake him.

You can use Bimbles from newborn and he's almost out of them (back to his 10lb birthweight) so it might be worth going onto a Size 1 for Mila. I've got Totsbots which are pretty easy. When he's bigger I'll get one-size ones from Bumgenius which are all in one ie. no need for an outside wrapper. I'd have gone for them from the beginning but have inherited this current lot from my sister so wanted to make use of them.

There's lots of good advice on the Nappy Lady website, or if you want me to give a quick run down of what we do I'm happy to provide it!

Daisy that dairy thing is interesting - hope Fraser continues to improve and gets over the colic.

June I agree with Naat that they're a bit little to put themselves to sleep unless you're v lucky. We put A down when he's asleep or very very drowsy and sometimes he has a little wail but it's only for a moment - any more wakeful and he'd scream at once. When he wakes in crib or basket he's started to do it a bit more gently, have a look around at the teddy print on the moses basket, watch the light etc. I think that he's getting more settled and so in a few weeks might be ready to try for a mellow moment like that before sleep - but never managed that with other DC until they were at least 6 months old.

I do feel sorry for the DHs and DPs - only a few weeks ago we were demanding their manly services to get our labours started and now we show no interest whatsoever. One thing I would say is it's best not to leave it too long, even if you're not terribly in the mood - it was quite tricky for us after DS1's birth for various reasons, and delaying resuming sex made things worse. I don't mean we should all lie back and think of England (Brazil/France/Spain/Australia etc) in some dutiful way, or if it's painful, but leaving it for months can affect new mums and dads very negatively. And if you have problems with pain during sex it's worth telling your doc rather than suffering in silence. I found it just felt a bit weird rather than painful, but soon got back in the swing of things

Wow, it's really quiet here

Ermin, thank you soooo much for that! I had a look at the website and the explanations were pretty good. I have to tell DH now I think the ones from birth to potty training are the best option. Thanks for the other advice as well it's good to know it's not a good idea to delay it too much

Can't help but worry about this flu thing, news are a bit scary and you just don't know whether they're trying to scare you or whether they're telling you the truth. Today's headline in the times was "65,000 people are expected to die this year of swine flu"

Oh well... hope you're having a nice day!! It's cloudy and rainy here

(((waves)))

naat keep in mind that about twice that number die every year from flu. Its scaremongering.

Tee, I know... DH says the same and tells me not to worry/fret I guess you're right...

Naat there are 2 suspected cases of swine flu at DD's school now - it's going to be impossible to avoid entirely and as Tee says, the media are whipping up a panic. We'll worry about every single possible threat to the health of our LOs from now until they're - ooh, about 50 I reckon, at least - so I'm trying to think of this as just another thing to get unnecessarily anxious about, but not too much.

2 nappy tips - mixing lavender and tea tree essential oils to pop a few drops into the nappy bucket makes it smell lovely! (I bought my oils online much cheaper than anywhere else).

And you can buy rolls of flushable liner that mean most of the poo can go straight down the loo. That will be more effective when the poo is more solid but is still useful at the moment.

My DH HATES them because he has to think ahead and prepare a bit more . And do some folding, which apparently is beyond the call of duty. But I've given him v specific instructions and even he can manage them now

Is everyone else staying out of the rain and feeding their babies into a stupour?

Hello there ladies - would you mind if I barged in and asked a quick question? You're all most qualified to know.

Despite the fact it's probably madness, I'm attending a very close friend's wedding in September, 3-5 weeks after I'm likely to give birth. I've been trying to work out what I am going to be able to wear.

I know in the days after the birth your tummy looks about 5 months pregnant. By three weeks after the birth - what are we dealing with? Does it look 3-4 months pregnant? I'm just trying to imagine so I can see if anything is going to work! Will I still be in maternity stuff?

hey longtalljosie! I am 5 weeks post delivery now and can pretty much fit into my pre-pregnancy tops, but not my trousers! I am still wearing leggings as opposed to jeans or other trousers, mostly due to my C-section, as jeans rub/put pressure on the wound. But size wise, I am probably around where I was when I was about 3 months pregnant.

Hi Ermin! I guess we just have to chill then Great idea that of the oils!! And yes DH is not so keen on the idea of starting right now as he says we'll be washing loads but I think I'll convince him with your experience I hope!

Oh, we're staying in and feeding/burping + "training" her to sleep in the moses basket today

Longtalljosie, hi! my baby is 4+5 weeks old and in my case I looked 4-5 months pg right after the birth but then after about 10 days I looked more or less the same as before (you'll all hate me, I know). I'm wearing my non-pg clothes now but I was lucky to wear most of them during pgcy as well I guess it depends on the body?? Don't worry about going to the wedding I had to travel 6 days after the baby was born babies manage really well

Thanks guys... I have plenty of things which might do, and I guess if all else fails can go back to my posh maternity dress and pretend it's just meant to be a bit loose!

afternoon all

longtalljosie, when I had my first baby I was back in all my normal clothes after 2 weeks (I didn't put on any extra weight!) the problem for me was that my belly wasn't as flat as it had been so wanted to keep it covered! Hth. Now after 5 babies, I don't think there's much hope left for my stomach muscles Good luck with the birth and enjoy the wedding!

ermin, the sun keeps showing itself occassionally here, so lovely, but then it rains again!

naat, I think that figure is supposed to be worse case scenario as well so hopefully this whole swine flu thing won't be too bad. What we all forget is that it doesn't usually make the news every winter with figures for the number that die from ordinary seasonal flu. It doesn't stop me from worrying but helps put it all in perspective

Edwards hip scan was fine, took longer to strip him off and redress him than the actual scan, he was an angel and didn't complain at all just weed all over the cradle thingy they had those pad things on it so it was fine! His hips look good although they have to get a doctor to check the measurements!

We've moved Edward into his cot at night now, he doesn't really fit in his moses basket anymore. He likes to have a good wriggle when he wakes up and he was just banging his arms on the sides.

My memory has failed again, MOT runs out on the car tomorrow, only just realised I NEED to get my brain working again.

hope everyone's having a good day, waves to all

hey longtall, maybe it depends on how much you put on?
I think I put on around 4 stones (still at that actually) during the pregnancy.
When I came back from hospital I was over a stone lighter (10 kilos), I lost another stone faily quickly after that (maybe a week or two) but I haven't actually weighed myself since.
I was a size 14 before and I got some size 16 nursing tops which fit and I wear leggings. I would imagine that I do not fit in my regular jeans, I have a spare tyre around my belly which definitely was not there before (and cellulite!!!!!)
Something else that happenend was that my ankles were still really swollen until around 2 weeks after birth. (so maybe have an alternative to bare-foot sandals just in case...).

I don't know about the others but it's hard to find time to take a shower/wash your hair/blow dry so maybe plan on some help the day before the wedding.

Two of my mates who also gave birth look the same as before a month after birth and it looks like they totally fit in their pre-pg clothes. I think they started out slimmer (size 10/12) and did not put on as much weight as I did during the pregnancy.

hey naat you asked me about my crazy neighbour weeks ago, and the answer is that we're going to have to cut the tree in september basically and we have to pay just over half the cost because he won't pay half "on principle". .

Oh June, sweetie, soooooooooooo for you!!! Grrrrrrrrrrr! I can imagine you just have enough going on right now that you don't have the energy to put up a fight But sooo grrrr for you! ((hug))
Oh, I also find the grooming side a bit tricky, I haven't straightened my hair since 14th June

Bigcar, yay on Edward being such an angel!! LOL at the weeing incident

I should get off MN!!!

June I really can't work out how your neighbour's swung that deal . I expect they'll find that their attitude will cost them some nice friendly neighbours, and serve them right.

I've been having a bath or shower and washing my hair at night - just no way of knowing when I'd get it done in the morning. So my hair always looks slept on!

Bigcar I'm glad you mentioned that - I need to do my car tax! Glad all went well at Edward's appointment.

Longtalljosie Hi, I'd agree with others, it depends on how much weight you've gained, and where, during pregnancy. If, like slim Naat () you can get your normal jeans on but just not zip them up, you'll probably snap back into shape quite quickly, esp if it's a first baby. Breastfeeding certainly helps me lose preg weight fast - I'm nearly down to pre-preg weight and apart from a small jelly belly look the same as I did around conception - but was already a stone too heavy . Good luck withe the birth and enjoy the wedding!

Hi guys, lol Ermintude at staying in from the rain and feeding your baby into a stupor...that's exactly what I've been doing. The weather is just foul, isn't it? It's making me nervous about the winter and being on my own on dark nights...

June sorry to hear your neighbour is still being an arse about the tree. I'm actually quite re your DH's 'enquiry'...I would kill for a shag right now

Naat & Tee I'm kind of torn between the two of you: part of me knows it's a lot of hype re swine flu, but the thought of precious LO contracting it is soooo horrid. So much so that I'm tempted to stay up in Yorks beyond Sept rather than go back to Hackney, which has apparently has the one of highest no of cases in the whole bloody country...

Is anybody else a little bit (whispers) bored when the weather is this shite? Until today I was loving being a mummy and pushing Ishbel round in the pram and showing her off. But being stuck in the house in the rain has been a bit of a reality check. I feel bad too, as I'm not singing or talking to her as much today bc I feel so itchy footed. Bleugh.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on Ishbel's photos by the way, we really do seem to have produced a bonnie bunch us Juners, haven't we?

Well, went to doctor yesterday who reckoned Fraser's nappy rash was thrush (all creams and potions since birth have not budged it). Gave me the cream and after applying it three times, his bottom is three times worse - the worst nappy rash ever. Oh sigh.....why so hard....poor thing is in pain and now lying in cradle seat that I've covered in plastic and then muslins.

Then off to Cranial Osteopath this morning (after taking out a bank loan to pay for it!!!) to find out that he has a wonky tummy (which may contribute (?) to the trapped gas issue), and compressed front head plate (but I can see that) and slight reflux - so that was interesting. She suggested calendula cream with tea tree oil for his bottom, so am smothering his botty in that right now.

It was really fascinating how he responded to the Osteopath. It was like the Horse Whisperer. He started gooing and gaaing and giggling at her and being all manly flirting. He was transfixed and immediately so peaceful and calm, while she worked away. Actually, dd was a the same, very peaceful in the Osteopath's hands. I wish I had the same effect on him.

Third day of non dairy and he seems much happier now - except for the crazy nappy rash. erm - I didn't think this would work, but as I've not always got on with milk I guess it makes some sense. Last night he went to sleep within 10-15 mins of feeding and slept in the cot, as opposed to 30-60mins and sleeping in my arms.

naat & erm - a haircolour and cut is on the extensive list of things I must do, as well as an Indonesian jungle chopping session. I waxed my own legs the other day, but some of the wax stayed on and my black trousers rubbed against them giving my legs a patchwork look - not a very 'cool' look.

erm - I hear there is to be a giant beach this summer in Nottingham...that's near you isn't it?

louise - I know what you mean about the 'b' word. It is a huge leap, from being an independent gal, having so much freedom, travelling the world etc, to being cooped up in the house day after day. ...but as you begin to get out and about a whole different world opens up. I used to breastfeed to Countdown and used to get so excited when I got a seven letter word!!

Better go - bit behind on dinner prep - needed to unload after stressful day.

loooouise, you'll have to invest in one of those things only small children and mums with buggies own ......... a decent waterproof coat Dh always laughs at me with my waterproof on, but who can push a buggy with a brolly, at least I'm dry and I couldn't really care less!

daisy, your poor little man hope it all clears soon!

june, sorry to hear about your neighbour

waves to all

Hi ladies thanks for all your thoughts on the poo situation she did a big poo yesterday and when I read up in the ?What to expect book? it says that as long as they don?t seem to be in pain and the small amounts they pass are not abnormal then it?s fine if they are not every day, think I should take Littlesarah?s tip and eat more fibre. Sometimes I am guilty of forgetting that Aaliyah eats what I do

Our evenings seem to be a little less fraught, I have introduced a dummy for those really bad colicky evenings and it has soothed her a lot. She still needs attention for most of the evening but I can live with cuddles but not the cries of pain her heat rash is also clearing up thanks to a cream I was prescribed for her.

Will try and do a quick catch up now, DH has gone to get Chinese food for dinner

Naat if you get one of those mesh bags to put in the bucket (with lid, Mothercare do them) you just pull the drawstring and put them in a 60% wash, probably every other day and you can put towels, muslins, breastpads etc in - basically anything of the right colour which doesn't need conditioner. We dry on a rack in the airing cupboard or out on the line but the radiators will be full of nappies in winter

Looouise it's sod's law that those of us with OHs are off sex while you're gagging for it . The boredom is nowt to be ashamed of. DC get bored of it too and you end up doing all sorts of mad games, indoor picnics, making bread and butter etc. But with a baby who just eats, sleeps and looks about it can be extremely tedious - daisy's Countdown experience sounds familiar and bigcar's right about braving the weather just to get out - Muji do a cheap fold-up raincoat you can cut to size. Makes me look like the Grim Reaper but does the trick.

Daisy Yes, Life's a Beach is in the market square all school hols so we will definitely be visiting.

Hope Fraser's new cream and osteo visit make a big difference to him very soon, poor lamb.

MrsMc Sounds like Aaliyah's tum is settling, thank goodness. I think as long as they poo regularly and at least every 3 days they're OK. Once a day is best once weaned onto solids, but at this age they're all different.

Mmm, Chinese - there's a new one up the road which we've had once and was lovely, might have to treat ourselves again this weekend.

hi all

daisy - sorry to hear about Frasers nappy rash and other problems, hope the cream and osteopath really help him

looouise - i am totally with u on hating being stuck in the house. i have to get out at least once day otherwise i get cabin fever, dd1 also hates being cooped up too and i've been trying to dodge the showers just to get out the house!

mrsmc- pleased Aaliyah is feeling better, poor thing!

naat - i desperately need my hair colouring but when i asked dh if he could cope for a couple of hours while i go to the hairdressers he looked scared! maybe another couple of weeks!! bless

june - still for you about your neighbours!! soooooo unreasonable!

naat - how did the moses basket training go? they should teach it at antenatal classes! there must be an art to getting a baby to sleep in there!!

bigcar - pleased edwards hip scan went well and he was so good!

hi to everyone else, hope you are all well

well, i became an Auntie today! my sister had a beautiful baby girl this morning, i cant wait to see her tomorrow bet she'll make Isobel look like a giant though!! she lost a lot of blood during labour though, doesnt need a transfusion thank god, does anyone else have any experience of this? she is still feeling really dizzy now

DH & SIL took DS to soft play this afternoon whilst I went for a much needed pedicure. It was lovely and my feet look much better but Aaliyah wanted to be fed throughout, hey ho! Busy weekend ahead for us, SIL is staying until Sunday. Tomorrow afternoon we are meeting friends on the beach and then having a casual dinner with them. Sunday we have a BBQ at my folks and we have also been invited to another one in the evening by the upstairs neighbours which is nice, we?ll show our faces but doubt we?ll stay for long.

We have decided to order a Maclaren, we seem to have a need for 3 buggies sounds crazy but I really need the double when I am alone but it would be so much easier when we are out shopping together or out with one or other child alone to be able to take a buggy, DS kills my back if I have to carry him any distance now and we walk a lot.

Bigcar & Looouise ? have you heard of those buggy brollies? They are normally advertised in the back of baby magazines. Don?t know how good they are, probably as irritating as buggy parasols.

Daisy ? sorry about Fraser?s little bottom how can you remedy his wonky tummy? Will it just take time as he grows? I could do with some highlights but am worried that if I start it will be hard to stop and I can?t afford the upkeep or the time to get it done, might as well stay dark until I have to highlight to cover the grey! Wow, going to a concert, what a woman! Sounds like Fraser will be in great hands though. Excited at the prospect of meeting up next month ? you have mail

Looouise ? sometimes I?d love a day of rain! It is sooo hot here now and it is hard to find things to do with DS during the day as all the slides etc at the park are red hot (which they have actually just shut down for 3 months ) it?s fine when Aaliyah is in her buggy but it is hard to find shade to stand in if she needs to be fed or to be burped. We are all feeling very lethargic today due to the heat.

Ermintrude ? like you I am back to pre conception weight plus some jelly belly but I needed some work back then too, must try and find that Davina post natal DVD I had to add to the pile of things I never get round to doing! Thanks for the nappy bucket trick, need to use that one! Our situation here re falling asleep is similar to yours, hopefully she?ll get good at falling asleep alone. Sex the first time after DS was weird, not sore, just different psychologically I think. DH has been asking me, I?ve told him next week, which is week 6. I love it when Aaliyah sleeps 12-5, harder I find when she wakes 2 or 3 times. She is asleep at the mo so I hope she?ll wake at 11 and then sleep for a good stint again.

Naat ? hey there no such luck here with the water!!

June ? your neighbour sounds like a nightmare it is hard to find time for grooming, I feel I have to make choices all the time like wash hair or shave legs as don?t have time for both. I used to pride myself on nice nails but they are awful these days, I just never seem to time it right so that I can paint them or put other lotions and potions on them that are not conducive to holding or feeding a baby with. Aaliyah needs to be snoring before I put her down or she starts this shaking thing and starts to cry.

Bigcar ? good to hear that Edward?s hip scan went well. I can?t believe he is out of his Moses basket already

Hello Longtalljosie welcome! My biggest post partem figure issue is my boobs, they are normally pretty big so my pre?pg clothes don?t have much space in that department anyway but afterwards and when breast feeding I haven?t got a hope of fitting into any pre-pg stuff. I am also conscious of the lack of tone in the waist and tummy region, all my fault as I didn?t get that sorted after my first baby 17 months ago and compounded it with a 2nd pregnancy.

Hi Tee

Silk - Re swine flu, we don?t seem to have as many cases here in Spain but it could just the differences in media coverage?? I agree with you that the thing that makes it most scary is that our babies are so young.

Littlesarah ? hope Alex feels much better from his cold soon. Your immunity should help him kick it quickly. Hope your graduation went really well was it in McEwan Hall? Will aim to eat more fibre, thanks for that tip

Llynnnn ? great news about Isobel?s sleeping at night, it makes all the difference getting consecutive hours of sleep doesn?t it?

Laura ? hi there wonder what you decided about the overnight stay?

Doris ? hope swine flu stays away, it is scary isn?t it?

Hungry baby calling ? more soon