NOV 09 - once the lights are out and the last baby has arrived safe and fine, see you here on cloud nine!

[Broodzilla]

I've just realized we're now under the "being a parent" header. I've got stage freight!

Tamlin, forgot to say, you could not have described it better

Please guys don't make baby decisions just yet. I found an email I sent to DH when DS2 was 17 days old (just a bit younger than Toby) and it says 'I don't want to do this again, this is a definitely no more babies for me day'. And whey-hey here I am!!!!

Now is too soon for either you or DHs to think about more or less future babies. Your emotions are all over the place

I feel a bit better now. I am such a drama queen when it comes to illness. I really cannot cope with being ill and looking after babies! Poor Toby I had to leave him on the floor while I dashed to the loo earlier, he was fine and just lay there looking around but I felt so bad!

BBL why though. Esme spends lot of little emergencies on the floor, and I don't think she knows the difference to her frilly white bassinett.

We are done with babies too, I think...but am sad about it, they are so cute and 2 just doesn't seem enough. No drastic measures here, just in case.

BBL you make perfect sense

I know, but I really had to drop (not literally) and run! I rememher baving to do it with DS1 when I had stomach flu and he would hollor and hollor his little lungs out while I sat on the loo!

We are done with babies and knowing that I will never feel that lovely kicking feeling in my belly again does make me feel quite sad, but we knew this was going to be the last one before Toby was concieved. I'm 38 on Christmas Day and don't feel I want to do it again at my age (it took 2 years and one MC to get Toby) and I always wanted three: we have three. Three is enough for us.

I've been feeling all hormonal about babies too! We are not having anymore but I do feel sad I won't be pregnany again or have another baby. Realistically though, 3 is enough and we can't afford more or have the space or energy! I think it is almost a grieving process and heightened in post baby bubble world. We had 2 m/c before Ioan was concieved and I'll be 36 in April, so time to hang up my breeding hat!
I also know from DS1 that once Ioan grows and life becomes easier, the urge for more seems to diminish a little and is replaced by having more me-time and couple-time which is important for us and the DC's as it makes for a happier home!!

Feeling a little rough. Worried I've caught DH and DD's bug. Can't be ill, I have a newborn to look after!

Oh Scarlotti hope you are ok. If your DH is better make sure he looks after you and helps with the baby as best he can.

It does feel strange knowing that there won't be any more (barring accidents - it has been known!). I keep thinking 'this is the last time I'll have a 2 week old to look after' etc. But I am looking forward to having more me-time and couple-time and also family time with all children as Toby gets older and more able to interact with us.

becky and scarlotti hope you're both on the mend quick smart!
ursi at the no shame and saunas... i'm scandinavian and right with you there...

lemon are you around? or any 2nd timers? Lukas is 8 wks today (but 4 weeks gestationally) and had to have his jabs. Didn't wat him to, ass he's had the horrid cold for 2 wks, but apparently you can't wait for them to NOT have a cold as they could get 10 in the first year so would never get around to it...
anyway, he's now screaming in pain (just passed out from exhaustion in my lap) and i'm feeling frazzled and doubting the decision to take him in for the jabs... how long will this go on for?

i feel like such a rubbish mama.

Sorry to pop in unannounced, as I haven't kept up this week, but I really could do with some advice/support.

DD1 - oh me, oh my, how difficult life is getting with an almost-3-year-old. Her hunger strikes of pregnancy days (which only apply to lunch and dinners of her choice) have intensified to downright defiance. Whereas before I'd let her go hungry, it's gone on so long now that we feel we've to force her hand somehow to get nutrients into her. She's just flatly refusing. The naughty step holds no sway any more, she is there so often for saying 'no' to us. Tonight we've resorted to threatening to withdraw snacks and TV, which could potentially include birthday cake on Saturday, which I feel guilty about (not for DD's sake, but for the IL's reaction). DH has spent an hour instructing her, mouthful by mouthful, to finish her tea. Mealtimes apart, her selective hearing knows no bounds these days and she is driving us nuts. I think it's down to a combination of things: not being centre of attention all the time, daddy being home and (initially) being a softer touch than me, and it being dark after nap time so the days seem to drag, especially if we don't get out before lunch. Sorry if this has been done to death already, but I'm beginning to not like my daughter. It's a shame, because she's fine with DD2 - she just acknowledges her presence and gets on with being a rude madam.

DD2 - I'm worried that DD2 may have food intolerances like DD1. Since I have no experience of a 'normal' baby, could I ask you ladies to kindly share the contents of your LO's nappies with me ? Since she was born, our placid wee Isla has become more and more unsettled. Nothing like to the degree of her big sister at that age, thankfully, but still unhappy. She refluxes after feeds, so her sleep is disturbed by having to re-swallow whatever comes up. If there's too much of it or if it sets off hiccups she won't settle again and needs another feed to fall asleep (vicious cycle). Our only solution to this is feeding lying in bed at night and not winding her - we get lots more sleep that way. Her tummy is constantly gurgling and bubbling, and her dirty nappies are mucousy. They've been watery from day 1 - no sticky meconium ever! Every other nappy seems to be diarrhoea-like with the mucus and bright orange. We are getting the occasional normal-looking one which is more yellow and less wet. Anyone else getting these orange explosions? Her gurgly tum is obviously uncomfortable for her, and gave her 12 hours of colic on Monday after I had a co-op chocolate pud on Sunday and a couple of Kyte's cookies (the only thing that settled her was the sling). So I'm avoiding chocolate and not relishing the prospect of cutting out dairy and possibly gluten if we have a repeat of DD1. Isla is now 10 days old, if that helps.

Hope you and your bundles are keeping well. Hard work, isn't it?

Hey Brood It's awful when they have their jabs. My DS1 didn't react to the them very much but then I dosed him with calpol straight away to ease any possible temperature or discomfort. It's wise to get the jabs done when they need them. He will be fine and hopefully he'll sleep well for you tonight. Is he allowed some calpol?

Having eating issues with DS as well. He wants sweets, choc and junk! I've possibly over indugled him with treats recently (not much though), and he had his birthday as well and had cake and other goodies. He is totally refusing to eat anything healthy, so I've not fed him between meals today (apart from offering a banana, which he refused) and he wouldn't eat his lunch due to him being stubborn, so he was starved by dinner time. He ended up eating his entire fish dinner-phew! He has always been a fussy eater but this is all a power thing he's got going. I think I won todays battle - onto tomorrow

Hobnob DS's nappies can be very explosive. They are bright orange/yellowy in colour and rather runny. This seems very normal for him. I've not drunk any orange juice since I realised it gave him tummy ache and lots of trapped wind. It's made a huge difference.

broodzilla oh no poor Lukas. Isaac hasn't had his jabs yet but only cos the doctors surgery have been totally crap at giving us an appointment. I still haven't had my postnatal check yet. He might have them done at baby clinic tomorrow.

I've heard they can feel a bit crap for a couple of days afterwards and have also heard Calpol can help. Hope he feels better soon. You are definitely not a rubbish mama.

Brood calpol is ok from 2 months old. My DD was 3.5 weeks early and I never worked out her age any differently. Not sure if that applies to you?

Hobnob Ioan's nappies are yellow/orange and can be very runny with seedy bits in. He's done more whilst I've changed him and it looks like foam coming out!

Having similar difficulties with DS1 too, although not the hunger strike side, but he's definitely had his nose put out of joint. He's very sweet to Ioan, it's just me that gets the brunt of it. I've found it easier now DH is back at work and some sort of normality has returned. Also, he went to a friends for tea and I think that helped as it was something for him alone.

Thanks for the concern - I'm feeling a little better so hoping I'm escaping the bug, have drunk so much squash today I've flushed out the headache!

Oh god, brood completley forgot I have a jab app....better fidn out when. Don't worry about having to give the jabs, if they can;t do it any other way you don't have much of an option...better to have those vaccs under the belt.

Hobnob explosive (DH can't stop giggling) and yellow water with seeds in here. No orange though. (but says in what to expect, I think, that all different colours possible). No meconium at all? What happened there??

Can I ask sthg too? My Epi stitches always feel like I have to put external pressure on them or the entire perineum might fall out...ever after two flights of stairs a week ago. Feels really strange, no pain, just like it'll fall down. Does anybody else have that?

When I ws feeding DS the other day he dropped off my breast and I looked down and his face was smothered with milk spray!! It keeps happening to the poor chap. My milk seems to be flowing excessively and I'm changing my breast pads alot as I'm leaking through them and getting wet patches on my top. Not a good look when you're out in public! I've tried a few types of breast pads, tommee tippee, Boots own, Boots re-useable. They have all felt uncomfortable, itchy. Anyone found a nice brand that stay put in the bra and feel soft?

Also I'm so confused about what size nursing bra I need. I have to get measured as I've done it myself and ordered bras on line from mothercare. I'm convinced their sizing is a bit weird. I've measured that I'm a 32D, so I ordered 2 bras and when they arrived they felt snug but comfy, but after wearing them for an hour or so they feel too small and digging in. Do breasts get smaller in size as you continue to bf? I don't know where to shop for the best?

thanks everyone, logging in on my mobile, am sitting up in bed with the little man zonked out on my chest... He keeps waking himself up crying with pain, bless him. It's so not fair, a 2wk cold is 1/4 of his life and now the jabs...
Pharmasist said Calpol is from 8wks + but not if the baby was premature. We gave him half of the smaller measure in the end and it seemed to calm him a bit.
Sorry can't remember who wrote about reflux? Have you tried a cot wedge? They're really for reflux but also work for stuffy noses. Quick fix is to put a couple of books under one end of cot so it's on the tilt. Lukas has yellowy or orangey poo,sometimes with seeds but lately more mustardy. I think as they get older they get more efficient at processing it? I noticed a couple of times that it was a bit slimey.
Fruit if your milk is fairly recently come in you'll be leaking a lot more and be much bigger than you will eventually. I got worried that I'd 'lost' the milk, but apparently it's normal that your breasts get softer and smaller as they get more used to their new job. I found Lilypadz the absolute best as they don't bunch up, don't leak or itch and they're invisible under bras! Could even wear them to bed!

oh and explosive poo: I read somewhere (here?) that it can happen if the baby is getting mostly foremilk, so maybe worth making sure on breast gets completely empty before swapping. Also, different positions for feeding are good, like the rugbyball works well for reflux. Even a 'down under' where you nearly lie down on your back, baby on top belly to belly but body parallel to yours. Looks like it should be hard work, but did it with Lukas tonight and it's fine. And finally... If you have the lovely issue of boob 2 spraying/leaking while the baby is feeding off boob 1 then I noticed that applying pressure during let down stops it, so as baby latches on press firmly with the palm of your hand on the nipple of the other breast and it calms down. (Lilypadz kind of work according to that principle too!)

I FOUND YOU!!!! hooray...

Dealing with a reflux baby here..vomit- tastic..am expressing like a cow and adding this thickening stuff to it.. i really miss breasfeeding properly..

Also have Aptamil Anti reflux which I use once in the middle of the night as making up the breastfeed milk is a nightmare in the night..

Comma..I have a heavy feeling like that too..i think its normal

hobnob sympathise with you..having same issues my love...its sooo hard isn't it. I knew it would be with 2 children but I thought it would be better than it is..
DD2s poops are orangey yellow..now are getting harder due to thickening agent..

Will post again when I've read the whole thread

Read all posts but can't really help. I hope issues with older children and reflux problems will soon get better.
Broodzilla, I'm really not looking forward to those jabs. I hope he is feeling better now.

Paula is feeding strangly since yesterday. We had to feed almost hourly in the afternoon and evening and then nothing from 9 to 3am (strangly and luckily I didn't get painful boobs). But she didn't want much. Then again she was awake at 5, 6 and from 7.30 but each time she only wanted a couple of sips. And even now, she falls asleep too quickly.

And the second problem: Her navel is bloody again. Can that be normal at 4 weeks? I really didn't expect that. I guess I should go to the baby clinic as it is this afternoon. (I really didn't want to go there hysterically every week)

Hobnob would it be possible for you and DD1 to do something together regularly, eg go to a coffee shop for cake? I did this with DS1 when DS2 was born and he used to enjoy time with mummy without 'the baby'.

I know it's easy to say but the sibling problems do get better. They just find it hard to adjust to not being the centre of your world anymore. I remember how hard it is to keep your cool though and be consistent when you just want to be with the new baby at times.

Brood explosive poo is just an immature digestive system, they'll settle as they get older. Green nappies in a bf baby indicates too much foremilk. Mustardy yellow with seeds is a good sign that hind milk is being processed.

Ursi Ioan has been doing the exact same thing for the last two days. He slept an extra hour last night then didn't seem that bothered at his feed. Just two sets of about 7 mins, and that was only as I changed his nappy halfway. He slept then for another few hours and didn't seem to eat for long again. I wondered if they are now more efficient at taking the milk from the breast, and are also able now to go for longer stretches.
I've also had the evening 'fill up' with regular feeding - to be honest, I don't mind it if it means he'll sleep for longer at night.
I'll be interested to hear what your clinic say as I don't have one for a good few days.

I had to do the nursery run this morning as DH had an early start. DS1 came in at 6:15 and woke me up. Am in awe of all you ladies who do the toddler routine in the morning as well as looking after baby. Am slowly coming to but know I'll be shattered later!

Hey all, sorry for no contact, had a hectic couple of days and laptop power supply broke properly (but again managed to get it fixed temporarily, i was getting withdrawal from you lot ).

Reuben has Jaundice and we have been up and down at the hospital. Managed to avoid staying in overnight though, phew! It started being noticeable on Monday, MW came back to check it on tuesday and it had spread down to his legs, he had a proper orange spray tan going on! I could not even tell if I had cleaned him properly after he did a poo as his skin stayed yellow!

So we had to go to the hosp for blood test (horrible) and they tested sugars and all sorts while there. We were meant to wait for 2-3 hours for results but DD had her first theatre trip at nursery and I wanted to pick her up, also did not want to her to panic that we were in hosp without warning her. So they agreed to let us go and they would call for me to return if his levels were such that needed treating. I am so glad I did that! His levels were just on the cusp of needing treatment so they said, if I had been in, they would have kept me in, but as I was not, they would be happy to go back the next day for re-testing. If it was going up, he would have to stay in, if going down, he would not! So, yesterday back we go with a bright yellow baby, and his levels are going down !!!!

Got to go...MW here...will post again in abit

Pav sorry to hear Reuben has jaundice and has to have so many tests, but good news that his levels are going down. Result on managing to avoid staying in hospital!

Anyone else still getting blue moments? I burst into tears earlier when I got home - the rush of getting DS1 up and to nursery whilst Ioan really needed a top up feed and the chaos of being out in rush hour brought it home to me that all too soon I'll have to go back to work full time. Made me feel like I'm failing him before we've even started.
We did have plans to move nearer family, which would be cheaper living so less pressure on me to earn, but those have now been put on hold as DD wants to stay here and do her A levels with her friends. Cost of the mortgage here though means full time contracting work for me which is quite stressful. Not sure I'd appreciated how much I'd like to slow down once he was born.
I need to snap out of this otherwise I'm going to spoil the time I do have at home with him.
If anyone has any good ways of earning money from home then I'm all ears!

Scarlotti what sort of work do you do? I am freelance and work from home and I am dreading having to start work again in May