August 2009 Welcome to the world all of the little princes and princesses!

[OonaghBhuna]

I would like to say congratulations to everyone that joins us on this thread and I am looking forward to hearing lots of birth stories and interesting developments of about our beautiful babies

mimle as the others said, think it's just a matter of keeping going day by day and it will get better.

Sometimes I'm sure what it is that DS2 needs when he cries (he's nearly 7 wks). Sometimes I have no idea. So if it's more than 2 hours since he fed, I tend to feed him again. If he's fed less than 2 hours ago and been awake more than an hour, then I reckon he could be tired and put him the sling to try and get him to sleep. If that doesn't work, I offer a feed.

Also I've noticed that in the evening he tends to need a lot more winding than other times of the day (why is that I don't know)...

Night times are so hard aren't they. I feel irrationally angry with dh in the night as he lies there sleeping. Now I know he can't do the bf, but still it's annoying. When I get up to change the nappies I turn on the bedside light and bang around a bit to wake him up . Then feel guilty thinking he's got to get up for work..

It will get better. I saw a friend's baby this week who is 6 months and she was a completely different kettle of fish. Now I know that is a long way off but bit by bit we'll get there!

Thanks for all your comments, much appreciated! I am feeling already better for not having seen the HV today
Scar is looking better according to DH (although not sure whether bleeding is meant to happen). GP took a swab too, so will wait and see what it comes out as.
A silly question: how long are the lochia meant to last after a section?
Otherwise, DD has been good-ish today, quite chirpy, so that helped a lot too (despite the fact she fought sleep all day and is now all cranky as a result, ha ha). Congratulations to all of you who managed to make a stew, very impressive! I still have DH enrolled as head chef, while I yell instructions at him from wherever i am feeding...

Avoid that health visitor from now on, mimile! Sounds like we all need to steal fairy's health visitor instead. So glad you're feeling a bit better today.

I really know the feeling of wanting to give blissfully sleeping partners a hard prod in the ribs, CR. Am also irrationally cross that he has the bigger bedside table and can fit all the useful stuff like radio clock, room thermometer, water glasses on it whereas on my side there's just a lamp. I'm constantly craning over his sleeping bulk to see what time it is during the 5086th breastfeed of the night! No fair, methinks. I like your rule of thumb for working out why A is crying, btw.

oh dear i think maybe im not dealing with the sleep deprivation as well as i thought,just looked at my last post and so many mistakes,im starting to wonder what im doing in my life wrong and not noticing.My mum had to point out the other day that i was walking out with my belly belt/fat cover on inside out & upside down .

so post should say feeling well=feeding well,
midwife =health visitor,and mydd2 being at nursery would be a bit of ashock at 8 weeks so thats my ds2.Also ment my scar was infected at 1 week but when i was at 3 weeks like you mimile i was still feeling like crap .ah thats better.

while im waffling away ,who ever it was who asked about best breast pads after trying most brands i would say its between my washable ones & avent disposables.

mimile-why not get your dh to take a photo of your scar today then another in a few days so you can see yourself how its coming along?when my scar came apart at 1 week it bleed quite a lot for 10 days ,then small amounts till bout 4/5 weeks after section.AS for lochia its no different because of a section,i had 4 sections & i bleed for 8,10,6 &4 weeks,quite dissapointed this time as thought had got off lightly but had a 2 week break then my period returned .

Don't worry fairygirl, I'm doing loads of stuff wrong as well. Main problem is speaking. Keep getting my words muddled up. And won't forget when DS2 was about 4 days old and I forgot what his name was when asked by neighbour...sleep deprivation has a funny affect on the brain apparently...

SM - oh dear about the bedside tables!!!

Can I tempt fate by saying that ds2 has settled better in the evenings the last few days. He's 7 wks today, maybe it's getting better? Nothing that I'm doing differently apart from keeping him longer on the same side when feeding before switching to the other.

When he's been hard to settle, the one thing I found has helped me (when doing the whole rocking, jiggling, winding thing) has been to stand with him in front of the mirror. Then I can focus on his face rather than just the crying sound. Found it helps me to stay calm and can watch his changing expressions. Particularly comforting when his face starts to relax..

Hope everyone having a good weekend... I'm off for a bath and early night if he doesn't wake up soon.

HaaHaaaa!!! I not only get my mords wuddled I frequently open my mouth and change feet and my fingers seem to have dyslexia so apologies in advance... At least this time round I haven't lost the cheese! with dd2 I postnatally lost the block of cheese. I kept thinking it would start smelling and I would track it down - it turned up 3 weeks later in the freezer

Mimile I know its already been said but I wanted to say it too you are doing fab and IMVHO your hv should be forcefed dragonbutter for the next 6 months for making you feel so upset Yes you are feeding your "baby" to sleep you are meant to! its what makes them grow, if your lo is 5 yrs old and you are feeding them to sleep then that might pose a problem, but on the other hand its your parenting descision and none of her business. Definate bugger that she is running the b/feeding group, are there any other groups you can go to? RL support for b/feeding is so helpful...

SM I am well impressed at the casserole!!!

I NEVER chop veg I buy all of my veg frozen (except potatoes) I even buy frozen casserole mix and diced onions, and my dp is getting a bit fed up with bercher potatoes . You have put me to shame!!!! Well done!!

BTW Is everyone changing nappies throughout the night? I only change pooy ones at night on the basis disposables are supposed to hold wee for up to 8hrs but i'm starting to wonder if I'm beng a slattern... (I was using washables but got very behind with the washing when the tumble drier packed up..)

Oh dear, just re-read the last 2 pargraphs and I sound soooo lazy!! am feeling better after reading the 4 day jeans thread tho Hope everyone is doing ok!!

just noticed how many faces I have been using must be feeling whimsical tonite

Well mixed week here. Some good days and some awful. DS2 has his first cold, so was up all night Wed night (meant zero sleep for me) as he couldn;t settle from 12am and then got himself soo worked up as he was overtired. Ended up pounding the streets with the pram with both DSs at 7am for a couple of hours just so that DS2 could settle and not be overtired.

Unlike DS1 he doesn;t want boob to settle him to sleep if he is overtired he actually gets annoyed with it if it is offered, he just wants a cuddle (which is very difficult to do all night) I am finding this odd as with DS1 boob was my 'failsafe' every time as he was soo sucky. Mimile you are not doing anything wrong feeding to sleep I had to with DS1 as he was soo sucky and it all worked out in the end (he found his thumb, but then forgot about it when he had a cold at 6mths).

SM we have the same bedside table thing here too, clock on DH's side which is soo annoying when i want to check the time when DS2 is stirring at night. He snores through my night feeds which is annoying when it is a weekend night, but I do make him get up (at weekends) and change the nappy when it needs it.

KKQ we do approx 2 nappy changes a night, sometimes 3 but only because they are pooey, if it is a wee I don't care and never have. My issue is the no of poos DS2 does at night, normally after every feed (which is soo annoying) as he does one 10mins after putting him back down in the cot. Hope this settles down soon.

Ha, ha the cheese in the freezer. I haven't done that. Have monentarily 'lost' DS2 in the house once when realised he wasn't in the baby chair - had left him in DS1's bedroom... then another time went out and shut and locked the front door before realising had left him in his car seat in the front room . Poor third child!

Bedside clock problem here too but put my mobile phone on the bedside table so can check the time! I love my autofade bedside lamp though which I keep on v. low all night so that it's a bit easier with the night feeds.

Nope, don't change nappies at night unless poo. Last night, the satisfaction of being able to get dh to do 2 nappies. He was v tired today.

Also, just wanted to ask what everyone is dressing their little ones in these days? Here baby is still wearing his sleepsuits and cardies all day every day, But wondering whether should get some 'proper' clothes particularly now the weather is cooling down. All the proper clothes we were given are in larger sizes and they grow out of 0-3 so quick that am wondering whether it's worth buying anything.

Went to an NCT sale yesterday and was a bit stunned a)by the lack of baby boy clothes compared to girls and b) by the prices being asked for alot of the clothes that were actually quite worn.

Also, have those of you with more than one child bought a new cot mattress for each new baby? I know you're supposed to. We did buy a new one for DD and just thinking about another new one for DS2...as he starts to outgrow the moses basket.

Soo glad i'm not on my own on only changing pooy ones at night!! i'm still dressing ds in sleepsuits and vests, its what they are most comfortable in so I have kept all mine in them for a while. I was told that as a rule of thumb babies should wear one more layer than their mum, so if its going to be trousers and top stick a vest underneath.

very lacking in sleep atm tho so I 'm loff to bed night all!

Yes, we're mostly in vests and sleepsuits here, too. And cardigans. Though sometimes vest or top over tights/leggings as have always had a "thing" about colourful stripey little girls' tights and tiny ones are v v cute! I love dungarees for a bit later on- when they start crawling and in the toddler stage. I remember feeling a bit gutted when my boys started preferring trousers and jeans most of the time and then eventually outright refusing to wear dungarees at all ever at about 4 [saddo!] Really recommend ebay for little kids' clothes if you want cheap and barely worn. Lots of really nice stuff goes for a pittance (99p often the starting price for baby items, 50p for vests and tiny things) to the 1st bidder.

Autofade light sounds fab! Will have to see if there's one of those on ebay.

Woohoo got DS2 to sleep in his cot for his morning nap and DS2 is happily playing...

Yep another sleepsuit and vests here. Can't be bothered getting DS2 dressed as well as DS1 . We were given quite a few 3-6mths outfits, but he is already nearly out of some of those lengthwise. I really like all in ones dungarees for when they are older (dungarees with feet attached), as I found them easier than pants and socks and they fit resuable nappies. We have a snowsuit as well for the pram which makes me feel happier he is snug now it is getting colder (purchased from ebay for 99p)

The autofade light sounds fab, my fave is we have a touch lamp on my bedside table that has 3 settings so when bubs wakes can just touch it on low.

Mattresses - have just bought our new one online as DS2 is currently crammed into his moses basket until the new bed for DS1 and mattresses arrive as I need DS1's cot now. I have kind of been holding off transferring him as if DS2 is struggling to settle I can genty rock the moses basket on its stand, won;t be able to do that with a cot.

hey guys

mattress, erm no i didnt buy a new one, as dd1 was'nt a sicky baby, but whenever i have a third i will, as dd2 is very sicky ( reflux)

she lives in vest and babygrow as did dd1, outfits can wait, plus with all the exploding poo evrywhere.

i use my mob as a night light.

hi all
in the same boat with lots of night feeds - I we both tend to fall asleep and I waken an hour later then try to put babe into his basket and he wakens! Seems easiest to keep him in bed - although I am not 100 % happy about this - anyone doing planned co sleeping? Dh has taken to the spare bed.....
Our heating is on the blink and the house is full of dust following the fitting of a log burning stove 2 weeks ago - which triggered excema in ds. DD desperate for her hols from ante pre school - didn't want to go today which is a first. On the upside managed to clean my windows today using a crap gadget from lakeland. I can see out them again! Ds is into his clothes during the day - all gifts - some of the 0 -3 seem to be small made but v cute!

Hi all,

We are the same DS mostly wears vests and sleepsuits as we swaddle for his naps and at night. I do have some cute outfits though that he has worn out. Fortunatley my sister had twins last year, boy &girl, so we have loads of hand me downs.

DS seems to have stopped pooing at night, though I am sure this is only temporary. I always change a dirty nappy at night, but if it is just wet I tend not to. DS does seem to be forever BF'ing in the evening at the moment, but never seems to drain either side so am having to swap relativley frequently and keeo losing track of what side i am on. I'm sure i fed on the right three times in a row yesterday and am going to end up lopsided. LOL

LOL! JJ, I'm already lopsided from the last 3

I decided today that i'm going to invest in a feeding bracelet to aid my crap memory, up until now I've been using the poke test - whichever one feels fullest is the one he gets unless I can remember feeding him in the last half an hour in which case I put him back on the emptier one, I haven't timed a single feed since I had him. Sounds a bit haphazard reading that back, but it must be working ok because I very rarely get a green poo he's really content and from a birth weight of 8lb8oz, last tuesday ( 5 and a bit weeks later) he weighed 11lb3oz and is very alert.

I think its finally hit home that there is no way I will ever be pregnant again or hold another new baby that belongs to me and its a really sad thought, but 4 children is more than a little mad, 5 would be for me insane. If i'd known before I entered into this I would have bought shares in baby wipes and hair dye for that sudden grey look

I would also have saved up for a cleaner...

Fruitymum, I will sort of co-sleep with mine when he's a little older. At the moment he sleeps in a rocking crib next to the bed and ds1 is still in the proper cot. Once ds1 goes into his toddler bed isaac will go into the cot and I will be able to pull it right up to the bed ( to stop him from falling out). I then tend to put them down in the cot and when they wake I bring them in with me, when I then wake up and they've dropped off I put them back in the cot. It gives me the chance for extra sleep but they still get used to being in the cot...

right - bedtime...

hI,

I haven't been on here for ages, so just catching up with everyone.

Can't believe my little DD is 10 weeks already - and yet, it seems like we've been together forever!

DS (16 months) is being a good big brother, but we have the usual stuff and he is back on bottles

I'm feeling great now, but struggling to exercise (or find the time!) and worried that my extra weight (I have at least a stone to lose) is going to solidify where it is!

Hope you are al well. Wll catch up with all the posts now.

Hello,

Not posted too much but been reading with interest. DD is 7 weeks and when she wakes in the night it is hard to get her to go back to sleep, especially in the moses basket. She is very sicky so getting used to being constantly covered in it and she is SUCH a noisy sleeper she keeps us awake, but she is really sniffly so hopefully eventually this will pass. Loving this though - seem to spend hours a day just gazing at her!

Thanks for the info on the breast pads from those who replied - looking into the reusable ones, have been a bit less "squirty" the last few days so hopefully it stays that way...

Fruitymum, DS2 always starts the night in his basket but we end up co-sleeping if we both fall asleep during the feed. I often feed lying down at night and just make sure before I start that the covers are out of the way and the pillows. Have started covering us both with a cot sized cellular blanket otherwise I get cold. I also try to have DS2 on his back rather than side whilst feeding so that he'll be in the right position if we fall asleep. Then if I wake up and he's soundly asleep I'll move him back in the basket...one of the problems with lying down is the potential mess if he comes off at the beginning of the feed. Think my flow is a bit fast so often does this and milk goes all over the bed. Also a bit of possetting in the bed sometimes, hmm lovely...

Kitkat - I started off writing down all the feeds and which side, having done that the other 2 babies but have realised haven't got time and need to be a bit more laid back. So now I just use one of DD's hair slides on my bra to remind me which side fed on...only prob is she keeps seeing them there and repossessing them... yep, this is our last baby too. I am hanging on to how it felt to hold slippery newborn DS2 just after he was born and it is sad not to have that moment again.

Hello everyone else. DS2 got weighed today at our postnatal check and is nearly 12 pounds at 7 wks from 7, 12.5 at birth. Amazing can put on 50% birthweight in such a short time! DD needed the loo during the appt and by the time we returned DS2 had wee'd all over the doctor.

CR Lol at ds2 weeing on the doc, your dd had perfect timing

kitkat-i have moments when i do feel a bit sad knowing that this is the last time i will be doing the baby thing but then over times im just so worn out i think that yes im right for this to be my last as im to old & tired.My dh like you says 5 is just mad.
harimo-exercise ? i think your doing very well to be even thinking about this ,i think im having a good day if ive done some housework & managed to put on a bit of make up.

clothes wise it depends on how much time i have in the mornings as to what dd2 wears ,we have a lot of clothes handed down to us by my friend,which is great so i can just buy a few nice things for her without having to worry bout dh moaning about how much ive spent.Although he did have a bit of a moan in mothercare yesterday at how such such small clothes cost.

sleeping wise we do the same as coon ,although i would rather not because of worries of cotdeath ,i just cant stay awake & when shes feeding every hour or two its just easier.I will be getting a new matress for the cot.

Got a new breast pump yesterday the medula hand pump seems quite good although only got 3 ozs after 2 goes on it,never did have much joy with expressing.We are going to the cinema with the 2 older dc this week ,while a friend has dd2 & ds2 goes to his nan so i just hope i can get enough milk by then.

Fairygirl3 - I agree with you... I also have a few moments of sadness when I think I won't have any more kids. I adore being pregnant and that newborn feeling. It's wonderful. But, I'm no spring chicken and DD is actually DD3 for DH (I have 2 DSDs) so he has 4 children now!! ... Think it's time to call it a day!!

I have loads of clothes for the DC. Ebay and charity shops are my usual! but they wear everything for such a tiny amount of time and new clothes are SOOO expensive!!

The only one with no clothes is me!! I bought a lovely new pair of Rock and Republic jeans at the weekend - only to find that (i) they are actually mens and (ii) they fit my DH ... I'm just about to join a gym with a creche.. I HAVE to lose weight!!!

BF'ing went totally wrong (again!) with DD so she is FF now. And DS (16 months) is back on bottles for bed, because as soon as he sees DD's he's desperate for one!

Well, best get on.

HBS!

anyone still around?

Hello - still here. DD 8 weeks and any remote sleeping patterns seem to have gone tits up. VERY tired! On a positive note tried baby yoga and it was fun. Hope everyone is well