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!

Scarlotti and Sleepless yep still in the snacking phase here - and I know what you mean about the foremilk thing, I am so desperate for him to stay on and get some decent stuff, but he just won't!!! I've started doing several feeds on the same boob in the hope that he will get to some, if he does two snacky feeds within an hour... But I don't know if I am kidding myself.... V frustrating.

Longwayaway Sam has a red bottom too, I'm not sure if it's nappy rash, but have been trying v hard to keep him dry... Don't really want to put creams on etc, so would also welcome any tips!

Am because his eye infection which seemed to have been clearing up now seems to be back with avengeance...

Toby is asleep in his basket. Want to have a nap but can't as MIL is due with DS2 any minute now (she's picking him up from nursery). The tiredness is a killer, isn't it? If it wasn't for that I'd enjoy this experience so much more and I think it is a real shame that I'm just too tired. I find I am snapping at the DSs more often than normal, then feeling horribly guilty, and always rushing to get to school, to get their tea ready before Toby wakes up, to wash up, to get DH's tea ready, etc, etc.

Sorry - feeling really moany today!

Aw bBL - sorry to hear you're so knackered no way MIL can keep your DS for an hour or so allowing you a nap?

I'm going to try and get one now after the most mammoth feed so far, before MW comes round at 2pm.

Where are the sleepy/tired emoticons on this thing? Come on MN!

katster, how old is your little one now? not even 2 weeks, isn't it? I think it takes about 2 weeks to produce proper fore- and hintmilk anyway. And it becomes fatter gradually, so even foremilk has some of the good stuff and therefore they put on weight with little feeds too. Did he get weight already? And do not forget that his stomach is still tiny. At this stage they aren't able yet to keep big portions, that's why they all snack a lot (Ok, i'm not very experienced myself but I really think the 3 hours rule applies not for the first couple of weeks)
raggie, probably they had those emoticons but ran out of them .

Neither of mine have managed the 'every three hours' thing during the first month, and they've both put on weight splendidly during this period.

To misquote good Sir Pratchett - there is a twinkle at the end of the tunnel, ladies, and it is the Fairy of Hope. Last night, my eating-every-two-hours baby slept from 10 pm until 3.20 am, giving me my first five uninterrupted hours of sleep in eight weeks, and then slept through until 7.15 when I finally woke him up because my bosoms were exploding.

I feel TERRIFIC today. I swear, sleep is the best drug in the universe - today, my toddler is charming, my baby is delightful, my husband is even-tempered and rugged in a pleasing sort of way, and I'm THIS CLOSE to singing duets with the local wildlife while dancing around my house.

Tamlin

MIL has had to go to Tai Chi class. DS2 fell over on the way back from nursery, poor boy.

I like the idea of the Fairy of Hope.

southern thanks for the tip on the chamomile baths and big congrats on ditching the crutches! Try not to do housework with your me time ;)

scarlotti we are using sudocream, so hopefully we'll see an improvement soon. Still on the cotton wool + water as she's only 2 weeks - trying to hold out as long as possible before switching to wipes!

Tamlin at "duets with the local wildlife" and also

I got told "every three hours" in hospital and tried to do that the first week, but everything I've read + heard since has been "feed on demand". My HV was really annoyed that I'd got conflicting advice and promised to mention it to her hospital liaison. At least this early on, it makes sense and we're all a lot happier since we switched to feeding whenever she wants it!

BTW I can highly recommend The Nursing Mother's Companion - it's been my breastfeeding bible since day 1.

I use Burt's Bees Diaper Cream on nappy rash - it smells gorgeous, and it lasts for ages (you only need a v. small amount).

omg omg I just got the biggest smile from Esme!!

Could really use it, was lying crying in bed this morning, almost no sleep at night and dreading another day of dd1's toddlerdom. Was, naturally, completely ignored by dh who stormed off for work....proctering exams, pft.

Sorry everybody is so tired..it will get better? let's keep our fingers crossed anyway.

Agree with whoever said that about company...really really helps. will try and get sbdy to hang out today.

longway you can use a zink oxide cream to clear rash up, then use A+D cream as barrier to prevent. blow on the bum so it's dry before putting diapers on.

The first smile makes it all worth while

The tiredness does get better and in fact you forget what it is like. I'd forgotten. It's a bit like morning sickness, you forget what that's like too!

I've just got my nap And I can hear singing birds, don't know if it's only in my head or really coming from outside. might start my duet with them!
I called the GP at 1.30, got appointment at 3.50,Paula just fell asleep on my shoulder so decided to skip the daily walk and sleep instead. Might go for a little walk between GP and shop.
Comma, I hope you'll find your company.

No nap as friend called til mw arrived but good news is Rosa has put on 30g (just over an ounce) in her first 5 days!

She fed every 3 hours last night too so got some proper sleep - am glad she's cutting me some slack after days-long, horrific labour, sure it won't last though...

katster is there no way you can sleep upstairs with DH to help through the night? Our bedroom is cold too but we just wrap her up lots and snuggle during feeds. He has been a godsend when I am too tired to settle her after feeding, takes the basket onto his side or cuddles her til she sleeps. It really helps IMO and it must be lonely downstairs!

oh to nap. was hoping to, but dh's best mate 'popped' round for three hrs. am shattered. having difficulty staying awake but must as my dad has come over this week from tasmania and is coming to visit later with my gran. he hasnt seen the baby yet.

Well, today has been my first day by myself with Anya (ds is at nursery). I was full of good intentions of sleeping when she sleeps, which she normally does for most of the day. But of course- not today. She has been feeding ever couple of hours at most. Managed to grab 20 minutes but am just knackered. Her body clock seems to have flipped and she now is wide awake at her first night feed. Going to try to keep her awake at next feed.

Dh thinks I should get out of the house with her by myself this week. But I really don't feel like it. It just seems like too much effort. She is a bit sicky at the moment too so I just have visions of her being sick everywhere if I have to feed her while we're out. Does anyone else feel just fed up? She is 3 weeks now and by this stage with ds I was out all the time with him.

It is sooo cold outside though - I have to go out to fetch and retrive DSs but would rather stay at home!

I'm starting to worry about all those horrible winter bugs that are going around. No one is allowed to be ill until Toby is at least 6 months old!

Tamlin you've put the biggest smile on my face with your post!! Glad to hear things are on the up sleep wise.

kaster the nct counsellor told me that they get hind milk right from the start, but that it's just a small amount and more fore milk. The ratio just changes during a feed, rather than one switching off and the other starting. I also do the same boob if we've had a short break in between.
There's a great site here that has a great bit on how milk is produced and stored in your breasts. Has really helped me to understand what's going on and know what milk he'll get and when.

I wonder when we'll get to the point where thinking of sleep doesn't dominate our every waking moment! Just think, only a month or so ago it was labour signs that dominated our brains!!

I know, it's so funny really, and reading the last posts on the antenatal thread make me laugh because the poor things are obsessed with labour and here we are, labour now a distant memory, obsessing about sleep, milk, boobs, germs, etc. I know the day will come when it'll be like waking up after a good night's sleep and we'll think 'wow, life is great'. The first six weeks are the hardest, there is no other way to say it, they are bloody hard and a total rollercoaster of ups and downs, but they are very, very worthwhile and by about three months we'll be feeling much more human, much brighter and happy. And just think how lovely summer will be when we have our seven-month old bundles to take to the seaside, the park, sit in the garden with, etc. It'll be lovely.

Katster, how about your sleeping situation? How cold is your bedroom? Babies should sleep at 18°C anyway. And I think they actually sleep better. You just have to dress them properly. Paula gets her best sleeps outside in the cold in the pram (with sheepskin).
And I agree with others, not being alone would really help, even if your husband would just change a nappy or cuddle him. If he needs his sleep for work during the week, he could at least help you and share the room on weekends.

And how about Broodzilla? How are you feeling? Didn't the HV come over?

Yup! I'm already thinking ahead to next Christmas, and thinking 'Gosh, Arthur will be running around and playing with DS 1 by then...' It will be so nice.

Oxfordshire girls, want to try and meet up in Oxford some time in the New Year when all the babies are a bit bigger and more robust..? It would be lovely to sit in a cafe somewhere with the babies and chat.

I've been very lax and neglecting my MN duties! I've tried to read up a bit, and the feeding issues seem to be common all round. southern great news re crutches.

After DD1, who didn't gain weight, needed topped up, my milk not coming in properly for ages after my c-section, constant stress and worry about her weight, compounded by (undiagnosed) nasty silent reflux and a never-ever settling baby, wee Isla is a dream.

I'm determined to be a chilled out mummy this time, and so far it seems to be working. It has helped immensely that my milk came in on day 3 or 4 and that Isla seems to be a little more placid than DD1 was. Scarlotti & katster I remember tying myself knots about feeding times last time, keeping a diary and crying every time she fell asleep before I felt she'd had enough. I'm not keeping times now and just feeding on demand for now, at least every 4 hours during the day. At night she goes for long stretches without waking - 7 hours is the record so far. The down side to that is that she cluster feeds all evening, sometimes until midnight. But we're all reasonably slept, which has made a big difference to our coping.

What I'm not chilled about is the food intolerance thing. Isla had exceeded her birth weight when she was weighed on day 11, but the mucus is still in her nappies and she's increasingly bothered by her reflux. The HV is monitoring things, and she'll get weighed again on Monday (day 22) so I'm going to keep a food diary 'till then. Chocolate is a definite no no - we get 12 hours of colic after I eat any . She's beginning to blow up like a little balloon around her tummy and is in obvious pain with it. So difficult to watch when I know I may be causing it.

DH on the other hand is being brilliant. He still has 9 days of leave to take between now and xmas so we're very fortunate .

No chocolate hobnobs, hobnob? Ack, I'm sorry!

My laptop power supply finally died So, I have been relegated to the pc, which is DHs and he is moslty on it, and I am mostly in bed. I have felt so lost!!!

I have lots to read up on, and probably won't do it all tonight...

Who are we waiting for now? Is everyone here?

Reuben was discharged from MW today, after weighing in at a massive 7lb13.5oz! He has put back on the little he lost PLUS another 0.5lb!!! Not surprised as he has been permanently attached to my boobs . But it is so refreshing, as DD struggled to gain weight, took her a long time to get this far! I read briefly what hobnob was saying about struggles with topups, milk coming in etc with DD, and it was similar with my DD, feeding was harder, seemed to have less milk, and worried constantly about her weight. this time, Reuben is a very chilled relaxed boy who has got it sussed in the boob department. I am trying the relaxed thing too. Not sure how that is going .

Hi everyone,

Scarlotti thanks for that link - really useful. And Usigurke yes you're right, he is 2 weeks today. Raggie I think we should probably try and sleep in the same room, it's just DH goes back to work tomorrow so I now feel a bit mean if I suggest it, especially as I think he doesn't have a clue how little sleep he will get! Maybe over Christmas.... Actually the MW was really helpful today and said when he is screaming, he is looking for the boob. She also watched me feed him and said in the short feeds he does, he is glugging A LOT, and may just be an 'efficient feeder' which is good, I think.... Just all so stressful!! BBL I had the same thought - pregnancy seems such a long time ago!!
Pav great news about Reuban. I think Sam is pretty chilled most of the time, it's just me that's completely not!!
BBL I hope you have a better night tonight. I would love to sleep more than 1.5 hours in a row, it is so exhausting How does anyone manage to have more than one child?!?!?

kaster dh and I are sleeping apart still. To be honest, I find it easier as I can get up and put lights on etc. without worrying about disturbing him and also I don't sit there watching him sleep whilst I'm up, getting annoyed at him for it!
Ioan also seems to glug away whilst he's on, so I think some are fast and efficient whereas others take their time and pause a lot. He does seem to get a bit more wind because of it though - there's a good bit on that site about fast let down of milk and fussy feeders.
At 2 weeks he will still be cluster feeding to increase your supply too so take heart in the fact that it will settle down into bigger gaps very soon.

hobnob 7 hours?! I'd gladly feed hourly in the evening if it got me that amount of sleep! We seem to feed every 2 hours from about 3:30 - 10 and then he sleeps until 3 or 4.
Hope you work out the food intolerance thing, must be hard for you to know what to eat and avoid.

Morning all! I had a better night last night. Toby was restless again in the early hours but no way near as much as before and I dozed through most of his snufflings and snortings (it is like having a baby pig in the room I swear!). He's a strange baby though. Just taken the DSs to school and he was wide awake all the way there and back in the pushchair, just staring at me. So we got back and I thought 'well I'll just try him in the basket' and he's happily gone off to dream land with just a couple of small cries. All I did was stroke his forehead to encourage him to shut his eyes!

DH is here today and has decided to get builders to give quotes on some work on the house and they've all left muddy footprints all up the stairs. Sigh.

I hope you are all well. Katster I think you are a total star coping with Sam's constant feeding and lack of sleep. It is very, very hard but it will get easier and he will go longer at night. Babies are amazing creatures really.