June 2005 babies

[uwila]

Hi everyone. Thought it was time we have a post-natal thread.

Honestly I don't know how you lot manage with two! I am so involved with Osiris I can't imagine dividing my attention. I am completely involved with his every facial expression and his marvelous farts (welsh my baby farts quite alot though wind is a little harder to get up)

Oh yes I wrote the whole story on the june thread. I wasn't sure about Birth announcements because I only really frequent the June threads. I am throwing arnica down my throat at a rate of knots. I suppose the being a bit over eager to get out and about hasn't helped any. I went on a mission down to pound stretcher to buy ice cube trays yesterday and over did it a bit really. Also I was keen to drive my buggy today and went out to post off my child benefit forms. I think I'll stay inside tomorrow...

Well Osiris was pretty small when he was born and lost weight in the hospital. The midwife came today and he had gained a whole bunch (I had thought his cheeks looked chubbier ) So I was really pleased. He is really long but so thin. I guess its to be expected though. I was pretty small (before I had him ) and his Biological father (who I seem to hate less these days) was thin too so I guess he has thin genes. I just always equated thinness with illness so I was a bit worried about him but am reconsiled with the fact he is likely to always be a thin little chap. At least when he can start wearing his Tots bots and Minki's I'll still be able to get his bum inside the clothes

Does anyone elses baby pee all the time? All I seem to be doing is changing wet nappies endlessly and they are always soaking wet. I guess he's a pretty heavy wetter. Good though - at least I know he isn't dehydrated. We went out side abit earlier and the heat made him all floppy which was a bit worrying. I even asked the midwife about baby sun cream. I'd hate for him to get heat exhaustion cos it is so hot. I had him completely shaded too. What can you do it this hot weather I am so afraid of roasting him.

Yeah I am definately up for a meet at some point. Though I want this C - section wound to hurt less first. I have been on the phone to the dr's all day demanding more pain relief. I think I have to take it easy though.

I am not sure I am a 'normal' mum, I remember in ante natal classes the teacher said it is hard to get out the door with a newborn. I remember the whole life long conversation of your days of just upping and leaving being over. I just bundle him in and go the same as before I had him. I think I am really really lucky though he's so chilled. I am going to get another sling though because I don't like how long it takes to do all the wrap around nonsense when I just want to dash out of the door. I love my hug a bub its so comfy but I want something that I can bundle him into and leave straight away.

Hope everyone is ok. Thanks for all the support you gave me when I was pregnant - Honestly I think pregnancy is a terrible thing and a newborn baby is far less stressful. I have now completely forgotton what it is like to be pregnant and it seems like it was ages ago. I was really scared I wouldn't like him or I'd be really depressed but I have taken to him in a way I never really understood I suppose. Its a voacious hunger this loving ones child business, I never quite could comprehend. I guess I just never was the type of person to consider clucking and laying my feathers over anyone as I've always been so independant. I'm not at all daunted by being alone - infact I can't imagine sharing despite not hating his dad quite as much as he is such a cool little boy

the 4th is no good for me but the 11th would be. i have the health visitor coming that day and my mm arriving for visit number 2, which is great becuase it means that DH can have a leaving do at work.

I have to stay that i'm one of those annoying organised mummys who can make it out of the door by 9am. DD1 and 2 and i have been out most days. but then i'm a control freak!

Morning ladies!

My first post as as post-nataler; one-handed as is traditional. Ds slept well on and off all day today but completely went off on one at midnight and has refused to settle. Lucky for dh, the pain meds he has to take make it impossible for him to stay awake so here we are. As I suspected, he is finding the transition to a busier lifestyle extremely demanding and it's pretty hard not to resent the lack of backup. Having said that, I guess other dh's are only around temporarily & then back to work?

Take care all, will read & respond properly when I can.

Morning all,
Pink - after all you went through during your pg it's a real delight to hear you talking so sweetly about being a new mum. I know it sounds a bit odd and I don't want to be patronising in any way but I'm really proud of you - I'll stop gushing now! Take it easy on the outings front - I found if I did too much the wound ached a bit. At 4 weeks it doesn't hurt at all so no excuse for not getting out and about - apart from the heat and being knackered
Welcome to our world trib - sorry you were up so late. Yep my dh is well and truly back at work now and I do miss him being about.
I took ds to the baby clinic yesterday and he now weighs more than 10lbs so I feel contented with what he's getting from me.
I'm trying to be patient about the evening feeding frenzy - all that will quieten him is suckling - from about 7 until 10. I think he has quite painful wind and am thinking about getting some advice on that - all new to me as dd had no such problem. I would love a couple of hours not attached. Am really trying to be chilled though - these phases are not forever I know.

Hello everyone

Pink, so glad to hear things are going well, as I keep saying I know I mentioned this before too but, newborns do lose weight in the first week or so. Welshie re-assured me of this. But everyone seems to worry about it... do we not get told it's normal?? My dd was long and thin too, in fact she looks a bit like Osiris When she was first born we called her "little chicken legs" coz she just had bones with skin on them. Aren't we great parents, it was a term of endearement, honest! I took dd on the coach to Victoria when she was about 10 days old, we needed her passport, so I think I'm with you on the 'getting out' score. I think it will not be the same with 2

I am busy rubbing clary sage and oil into my accupressure points. It's horrid being overdue, as some of you know, even if it is just by one day!! Time to sit with coffee and croissant and enjoy still being able to overeat

Hi all! Congratulations Pink and Trib!!! It's lovely that things are working out so well for you Pink.
Poor little Samuel spent yesterday screaming or feeding, nothing else - we reckon it was the heat - he then proceeded to sleep until 4.30am having had his last feed at 10.30pm!!!!!!! - I was quite alarmed when I woke up with bursting and dripping boobs and saw what time it was but suppose he was knackered. He's now sleeping with dh - expect he's catching up on yesterday's missed sleep. We are still exclusively and happily bf - still can't believe it's worked out - I'm still nervous though that he'll start refusing again for some reason. He's had green poos for the last couple of days and today it was foamy which is apparently a sign he's had a lot of foremilk - I'm trying not to worry about it though because I suppose lots of foremilk is just the right thing in this heat.
Am now looking at the prospect of a weekend with PIL, who are coming to coo over their grandson. Not quite sure how I feel about the prospect. They are very nice people but just have completely different lifestyles, mindsets etc. from me and to some extent from dh. I often find it quite difficult to be around them because of sometimes not really knowing what to say to them. I also sometimes have the feeling that they don't take me quite seriously and am a bit worried about getting unwelcome 'observations' from them on my parenting. Also, MIL is quite a heavy smoker and although I've already asked her not to smoke in the flat while she's here, I really don't like the idea of her breathing particles onto ds... They're staying at a B&B down the road rather than with us (we only have 1 bedroom), which is a relief.
On the subject of dhs/dps: My dh is at home, which is great and really does help, both in terms of practical things and his relationship with Samuel. He does have some rather different ideas from me - for example when I was trying to get bf going he kept saying he thought Samuel should be 'trained' into a 'routine' (feeding every 4 hours!!!) and carefully explaining to him 1000 times that if did that I could forget bf didn't really make much of an impression - now when Samuel has one of his permanently-latched-on phases and I indicate I'm a little fed up with it he says 'you were the one who wanted to demand feed'!!! (, but affectionately so, because he really is wonderful with Samuel and supports me no end). I'm a bit worried about a discussion developing this weekend and him siding with PIL , but I've talked to him about it and hope he understands... He is just so secure in himself that he can't really see how anyone 'needs to' (or might) get hurt or insecure through criticism. This security is pretty enviable (especially because he's not arrogant with it) but it does sometimes make it difficult to convince him of other points of view...

Hi Bero,
I understand your anxieties re having PIL around - my MIL was a nurse/kindergarten teacher/mother of 4 BUT I still don't want a discussion about our childrearing - unless we instigate it and ask for advice. I've found that not allowing the discussios to start is the best way - if they do you can say 'Oh really....that's interesting' and then leave the room on some pretext. Don't put yourself in the position of getting upset - I know it's so easily done. They're our babies and we know what's best for them and if we have any queries then we'll seek advice - from where we're prepared to take it.....that's my attitude anyway.
Bero - you know you're completely right about the bfing too - there's no way you can succesfully impose any routine on such small babies in such heat. They're thirsty and they need to drink, they're new and they need to suck for comfort and security - those 4 hour routines are all based on the experience of bottle feeding mums. I know you know this - I'm just supporting you by repeating it xxx
Lippy - another bit of Welshie reassurance - despite ds losing almost 10% of birthweight he's now over 10lbs and out growing his clothes. What a proud mummy I am

Oh Berolina I know what you mean about smoking. I used to smoke before I had Osiris and now I can't comprehend why I ever did. That saying the neighbours have been good since I got home and stopped the late night visits - however they gave me a teddy frog for Osiris and because they smoke so heavily it is impregnanted All I could think when I got hold of it was 'cot death' and put it promptly in the washer. though he'll never have his mitts on it it still doesn't smell 'clean' I can't bare it when they smoke in the stair well its so difficult with them because they are neighbours from hell but they can't help it. I think they have social problems. still makes me nuts though. However I am trying to be tolerant.

I must confess my lack of stress must be because of no PIL so you have good vibes coming from this direction as I don't know if I'd like to have a force that I might feel judged or marginalised by. It must be really difficult juggling a new baby with so many opinions.

Well My usual midwife came yesterday and she was satisfied with things. But she was off the day before and I had a different one. Apprently Osiris was feeding too much - how can a baby feed too much in this weather. So he has had alot of foremilk but the poor little guy is probably parched in the weather we have had. Apprently I should hold out a bit longer or I might get sore nipples do I really want to dehydrate my son because I might get sore nipples [cold hard fury emoticon]

Oh welsh - thanks I think its all the hormones but I was really touched I am so relieved honestly. I couldn't have hoped for a better baby either, I am even convinced he is going to smiling though I know deep down its the wind I have trouble getting up. he had it quite badly at the hospital one night and he wouldn't settle at all. Now I can get it up a bit better he is calm as a cucumber.

Anyway I have to go I really have to sort out a bra I can get my boozies into. because I want to go out for walks when the wound is better and I refuse to have boobs down to my knees in these bloody crop tops I have adopted because I can't get into a bra.

It's good to see this thread filling up a bit more. Trib, it must be frustrating and difficult for you at the moment - and for your DH too no doubt, as he'd probably like to do more to help too. Will he be able to help out a bit more when he's recovered a bit from the birth? Have you got any family coming to stay soon? If you can, sleep when the baby sleeps, just until you've recovered from the birth too. I know it won't be any consolation but my DH went back to work after only a week off and so far this week hasn't been home before 10pm every night, so it does feel like I'm doing alot of this on my own at the moment. I am completely babied out by the time he gets home...sounds awful but the first thing I do is hand DS2 over to him as I'm worn out by then.

Berolina, good luck with the PIL this weekend. Would you be able to have a word with your DH, tell him to be a bit of an emotional 'minder', explain you are are still exhausted and hormonal and just need everyone to lay off a bit?

Good luck on your bra search Pink! You are doing amazingly well - first time I round I barely left the house in the first few weeks!

Lua, I'm the same with DS1 at the moment - I do find him very stressful and exhausting in comparison to the baby. I try to keep calm as much as I can but he keeps on winding me up until I reach the point when I crack and really shout at him. Then of course I feel like the worst mummy in the world. I do find it hard to know what to do when DS2 is screaming his head off and DS1 is harassing me about something - I just don't know who to deal with first! Ah well, nearly the weekend and DH isn't working so I'll be able to share some of the childcare duties.

Blimey, I am wittering on today (DS1 is watching Cbeebies and DS2 is asleep so I've made the most of the peace and quiet). Better ease my conscience and take them to the park.

morning...
bldy hell, what a thunderstorm we had here last night. I think it was directly over us at one point - went on for hours and hours - lightning every 5 secs lighting up the whole sky - never seen anything like it. ds slept through the whole thing, only waking for food...
now everything is calm and quiet and (thank goodness) cooler. dh has gone to fetch PIL from the airport. particularly the thought of feeding in front of them is a bit offputting, but has to be done as ds is still feeding frequently. Am a bit anxious though as the last thing I want is for this weekend to disturb our recently established bf... so have decided not to be the 'good' DIL and to say loud and clear if someting gets on my nerves and not worry about best behaviour! I'm actually quite interested as to how it'll work out. As is often the case, before ds came along they always expected us to go and see them, except on birthdays - now we've produced a grandson we're 'worth' them coming to visit... It'll be the first time they've really been 'on our territory' for any length of time (and the first time they'll have been here - we used to live in the same city but moved 500km away just over a year ago).
Pink, I think in the establishing bf phase there is no such thing as feeding too much, as long as mum and babe are happy with it - and the way to get through the sore nipples phase quickly is to use 'em! I've been (so far - touch wood ) sickeningly lucky in that respect - no pain bf and barely-sore npples and that's with a ds with suspected thrush - but I think I've made up for my luck with the other probs!
Respect to all those of you with 2 and without dh around all day - I often find it exhausting enough with just the 1 and with dh there

Morning All,

Pink, I?m so pleased that motherhood is agreeing with you, and Osiris is beautiful.

Lipstick, my overeating is still going strong . I was actually a bit concerned as I seemed to be losing weight quite rapidly, but I?m glad to say that all the fabulous cakes and choc gifts have sorted out that little issue .

Berolina, good luck with your PIL. Its so hard when they give their opinions, isn?t it? I am trying to learn to smile and nod when people tell me things I absolutely disagree with concerning MY baby.

All quiet over here. Isaac is still feeding well, although I?m a bit concerned that I have a small rash. I?m going to give the MW a call this am, to see if I need to be worried about mastitis. Has anyone else had something similar? He?s feeding well, keeping me up sporadically (as they all seem to) and amazingly, we are managing to leave the house. I have nothing but respect for all of you with 2 DS/DD?s who are leaving the house at all. I?m still having a few problems walking from sore hips, but I?m hoping that they will ease with time. DH is being v. supportive and helpful and I can?t fault him at all, however, I do slightly want to slap him when he tells me how tired he is, and goes for 2 hour sleeps in the afternoon. What exactly does he think I?m doing throughout the night??

hi all,

just thought i'd say "hello" on this side of things.
hopefully i'll be here properly soon.had a hectic couple of days with oscar.the midwife sent us up to the hospital for blood tests yesterday as he's jaundice is fairly bad.we were told he is a borderline case,so we've got to go back again at 12 today to have more tests done.if his levels have gone up they will probably keep him in.
we couldnt wake him up last night and he went all kind of floppy so we rushed him down to a&e but after a while he did perk up,thank goodness so we came back.
i havent had chance to read any posts yet but i hope everyone is well and enjoying their babies.
im glad im not still pregnant in this heat.

Jonah, you're right, if you're bf-ing, the over-eating can happily continue well into babies first few weeks I do recall being pretty damn starving a lot of the time and not putting on a jot of weight!!

Hi girls,
First chance to post on the post natal thread. Delighted to be hear. Not had chance to read all, but hope everyone is well.
Little Esmee is settling in well, and seems to be feeding ok, but I think we might have a collicy baby on our hands.
DS is still a little non plused by it all, but coping ok.
Bubb, what a nightmare! It's so scarey having to rush to hospital, hope that little Oscars jaundice clears up soon.
Must go, hope to catch up later XX

Hello everyone!
This is my first post as a post-natal mum! Everything has been going well for us all - we are in love with Louis (pronounced looey). - I have scanned the thread and saw that there was some discussion about babies in bed. - He is very clingy he has to be held all the time! - So he does end up in bed with us quite a lot! -
BF going well apart from a couple of days ago I had slight mastitus (horrid horrid horrid) so the midwife could not discharge me.
My only other "problem" - is that now I have one of each, I know that I may not have any more children. This is making me a little sad cos I love babies so much. - I know I can't keep having children simply because I like new-born babies, and I do enjoy all the "stages" they go through - but I nearly cried when the midwife spoke of signing me over to the health visitor. - Does anyone else feel like this?

Oh bubbaloo, how worrying, I know Osiris had a little Jaundice and it made me hell bent on getting food in his gob. The whites of his eyes went all yellow. after leaving the hospital though the natural light seems to have vastly cleared it up. I hope Oscar perks up soon. I was getting increasingly worried as he seemed to get a bit more orange by the day. That coupled with him only being 6 pounds 6 and loosing weight. I must confess I did start feeding Osiris with no clothes of for a couple of days as he kept on falling asleep when he was feeding this coupled with the heat meant he felt all floppy.

I dunno, things are so much better than in the hospital, Osiris loves being home he is so contented. At the hospital there was a baby that cried almost 24/7 and then when he stopped his mother snored. I took and instant dislike to her when I found out she had named her son after Dec from ant and dec and then likened herself to posh spice as they had both had c - sections... I don't think Osiris liked her crying baby much and it made him a bit unsettled. He's just fantastic now we are home.

Oh bub, poor you. As you might know this is what we went through with Samuel. They were going to let us out but then we ended up staying for another three days because of the jaundice. He had to go under the lights for 2 sessions as his bilirubin kept rising, and the sight of him on the billybed with the goggles on was upsetting, but the lights sorted it out really well. Don't be alarmed if the levels go up a little bit again having gone down - this happened to Samuel and is fairly normal. Hang in there and even if he needs treatment they're sure to have caught it early enough and you'll be out again in no time

Hello Ladies
Here is my first posting on the post natal thread. Delighted and relieved to be joining you at last. Although we were only 9 days over it felt like forever! Am b/f so will keep this short though as one handed typing is so SLOW!
DD2 (still in shock at that one) is being a dream baby feeding lots and sleeping well. She has hardly cried so far and seems unfazed by dd1's shouting, OTT love and kisses. It is only day three though so I am expecting that to change. DH is off to do a triathalon early tomorrow morning so I will be on my own with my TWO girls for the first time (apart from DH going to the shops and to watch the rugby today). I have warned him I will still be in my dressing gown when he gets back lol. I love the mornings though. It is fab to wake up and realise that my new baby is here all over again.
Anyway off to change a nappy. Bye for now.

Bubb - Sorry just read your post. How scary for you. Will keep my fingers crossed that all is well with your little ds, as I am sure it will be. Take care.

Well nobody around much now it is the weekend.

Has anyone else a baby that loves to gorge themselves? he is constantly rooting - methinks he comfort eats because he fills his belly so full he seems to always get a bit of sick up where his belly just can't keep it all in!! his cheeks are twice as big as last week now he is starting to want to eat once a hour for at least 10 minutes. I am sure it will change as things go on. I suppose he was so tiny - overdue and still only 6 pounds 6 he is just making up for things.

Bubb- yes we too had a bit of the jaundice, sleepy/floppy baby. Bu tI think pretty mild compared to you and Bero. Hope it's getting better. For some reaso formula haelps to clear it up better than breastmilk. So if you aren't adamately opposed to formula, it might be useful.

Pink, heck no. Our experiences are opposites. I hardly produce any milk despite all my offeort to feed often, perfect the latch, and so on. Ds isn't very fussy and can go hours without a feed (unless of course it's the middle of the night.

If anyone else struggles with the milk production, I've started taking domperidone and it seems to help. Not sure how long I'll keep it up. But it has ,ept me from abandoning breastfeeding all together... for now anyway.

We had the jaundice too and had to go back to paeds clinic for tests - all neg.I wonder if the heat makes it harder to clear because they use more milk to keep hyrated??? Took nearly 4 weeks for ds to get rid of his tsn - m/ws not pleased with me....as if it was somehow my fault
Franni - we might be there with you on the colicky baby front.I'm reluctant to call it that yet, don't know if you saw my thread on windy,farty babies? We might be heading that way.

hi everyone.

well it now looks like im back to some normality now.we spent 7 hours at the hospital yesterday so oscar could have blood tests done-i've never seen a baby with so many little plasters on his hands and feet.
the good news is he's on the mend.apparently his jaundice level had come down by 10 points in one day which is really good,so we don't have to go back anymore!!

glad to hear everyone is enjoying their babies.
pink-i'm so pleased for you about your feelings towards little osiris.he is gorgeous btw.

uwila-yes we were told that the more formula oscar has the quicker the jaundice will clear up.he is actually being bottle fed and is gulping it down.he's so big now,the doctor at the hospital thought he looked a month old already-LOL!!!

sorry if ive missed anything but i havent had a chance to catch up.hope everyone's had a nice weekend

just posted a little piccie on the yahoo site-he does look a bit sun tanned though.

Ahhh, he is gorgeous Bubb. Another one with loads of hair too (DS2 has got more hair on his shoulders than he has on his head ). So pleased he's back at home, that's brilliant news.

Uwila, you are doing so well to stick with it despite the problems, I'm not sure I'd have the same strength of character to do the same.

Pink, it might be because of the weather? My DS fed constantly last Sunday when it was really hot, and has had quite a few feeds today too. I've finally sussed out a way to feed him lying down whilst reading a book so I'm not complaining about how often he needs to eat now (good excuse for a bit of peace and quiet).

Megi - never say never! Gender alone is no reason for choosing not to have another baby. At the moment, I can't imagine having another one but at the same time I hate the thought of never being pregnant or giving birth again, so I do understand what you mean.

Right, off to watch the Aviator (until I fall asleep on the setttee).