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!

Fruit, what kinds of formula are you trying? It could be something as simple as a dairy allergy.

Arthur seems much better today, thank God. He woke to feed every three hours all night, but then went straight back to sleep afterwards. He's asleep on his lambskin right now, arms outflung, and looks perfectly peaceful.

It's our six-year wedding anniversary today. DH always gets me one of the traditional gifts - for the paper anniversary, he got me photo albums, for the leather anniversary, it was handmade leather bookmarks. This year is apparently themed sweets - so I am now the proud possessor of chocolate willies, peppermint willies, toffee willies, and every possible permutation of candy penis possible. I kept going off into gales of laughter as I opened each box; apparently he wanted to make sure I didn't share them with my toddler-group mummy friends! No fear, I would never live it down!

Sass, I do wake mine up when he falls asleep on the boob - I have to burp him or he'll posset twenty minutes later and wake up crying. You also don't want them lightly snacking, not filling their tummies, and howling to eat again an hour later - strip off their socks and tickle their feet, tickle their earlobes, blow in their faces, anything to keep them awake and eating! You also want to avoid them getting in the habit of falling asleep with your nipple in their mouth or they'll ALWAYS want to fall asleep that way (take a bow, DS 1) - occasionally is okay, but try really hard to soothe them to sleep by rubbing their backs or their tummies or some other way...

I don't put mine in a dark room for naps, as I want him distinguishing between day and night. I also don't want him to only be able to fall asleep in a dark, silent room - when we're on the go, that just won't be possible. Also, his brother is hellishly noisy!

Sass evenings are a strange time. I always feel down in the evening.

I now have a poorly DS2 - high temperature and a 'poorly neck'. He wants cuddles all day, poor boy, and I am sooooo tired I could cry.

Toby has naps in our bedroom with a lamp on. The cats are often rampaging around in there and he can hear the noise of the DSs downstairs and up and down the stairs, etc.

sass, bbl so it's not only me then? I feel really down when the sun goes. Even though dh is running around me doing everything at home with me sitting like a queen bee feeding Lucy evenings always make me feel alone and sad. It's the time I always miss the old life most.

tamlin happy anniversary! And thanks for the tip about using nipples as a dummy. That's what Lucy seems to do. She'll munch away until she's asleep, then she does this cute drunk face and is off. I'll try to get her off to sleep in a different way. DH seems to have the magic touch - apparently it's to do with her not being able to smell milk on him, so she doesn't expect to have a boob shoved in.

sass talk to your mw or hv if you're already discharged. They should be able to help.

I feel down in the evenings too. It's weird isn;t it? Daytime is so much more manageable and people are around and night-time is just a cycle of feed, sleep, feed, sleep, feed, sleep. In the dark too. And so long at this time of year.

Moan moan moan.

Sorry to hear how tired you are BBL and poor DS with his 'poorly neck' . Thinking of you

Aw, tamlin your DH sounds very sweet! Glad to hear Arthur seems better today.

I've had an 1.5 hour long nap while everone else watched Muppet Christmas Carol and feel much better. I was sooo shattered. We had my dad and step mother, brother and neice visit this morning and I just couldn't focus on making conversation with them. My dad and step mother left Christmas presents and Toby's present is twice the size of him ... what on earth??? What was it we were saying a while ago about grandparents and size / quality of plastic tat mattering to them?

Hi ladies! So sorry i haven't had the chance to update sooner. I'll not go into detail but i ended up having a long and quite traumatic labour ending in EMCS. Grace was born on 08.12 weighing in at 8.4 lbs. Over her first day she became very poorly and ended up in intensive care for a week. She's absolutely fine now and we got home a few days ago. Starting to adjust to family life. Looking forward to reading through the post natal thread to hear how you're all getting on. I'm sure i'll pick up lots of tips along the way.

sassmonkey - 7 mins on one boob fast asleep straight back in the basket, none of this waking during nite to get to take the other one!! and no to dark during day, its random where the nap is

Grace yeah congrats! Sounds like you've been through a lot though with her being poorly - glad she's ok now and you're home. Are you the last of the November ones now?? We should compile a complete list of babies, dates, etc starting September with Lemontop and ending with Grace (I think).

Let the journey of parenthood begin!

Hello. It's so much harder to keep up with this thread now the babies are here.

I can't remember who asked for a poem to end the last thread? Anyway I have battled with my foggy brain and added one (not exactly Wordsworth though, sorry).

Alfie is very lovely. He's 16 days old now and sleeps for about 6hrs at night after an evening feeding marathon that usually ends anywhere from 11.30pm to 1.30am.

I have developed a bit of a fear about my CS scar getting infected. Any one share this one with me?

Congratulations Grace. Hope you are able to relax a bit now little one is home. When they get seriously sick like that sometimes it hits you a bit later on so make sure you take a bit of time to come to terms with everything that has happened.

Bryn is ill again - or is he still ill? It seemed to clear up for 12 hours or so. Just now he cried all the way through a feed. Litterally, was screaming whilst suckling. Passing part of a stool whilst farting, and seems to be hurting him again. Any advice? sighs Also being just generally miserable at times.

Am getting excited about Christmas... Though will be odd, as its my first year away from my family.

Forgive me, don't have the energy to read through everything right now, but I hope you're all well. x

Congratulations and welcome back sass and grace, was waiting on your announcements! Glad all is well with your little bundles.

Wait for it... (it's impressive!)

ARRIVALS
Lemontop: Isaac 30th Sept
Broodzilla: Lukas 7th Oct
Tamlin: Arthur 18th Oct
Nigella Tufnell: BOY 30th Oct
Fruitpastels: Cruz 31st Oct
Helips: Amelia Florence 1st Nov
Koumak: Olivia 2nd Nov
Homeinthesun: Kyla Nicole 2nd Nov
Preggok8: Joseph 3rd Nov
Ursigurke: Paula 4th Nov
Kyte: Alexander 6th Nov
Maman2Tom: Dan 7th Nov
Barnowl: Bluebell 7th Nov
Scarlotti: Ioan Scott 8th Nov
Wook: Hedy Lois Joy 9th Nov
ErikaMaye: Bryn George Jonathan 11th Nov
Tigger: Henry Peter 11th Nov
Pinkmich: Grace Poppy 11th Nov
Comma2: Esme 12th Nov
Sleepless: Charlotte 13th Nov
Roomac: Olivia 13th Nov
Eeyore: Nathan 13th Nov
Beckybendylegs: Toby Henry 14th Nov
Trikken: Annabelle Faora 14th Nov
Southernbelle: Leah Charlotte 15th Nov
Turtle: Tristan Robert 15th Nov
Lissyglitter: Emmeline 16th Nov
Weston: Lexi June 16th Nov
TOK: Anya 16th Nov
Wizzywoo: Daniel Phillip 16th Nov
Venusinfers: James 16th Nov
Tabbykat: Esme 17th Nov
Belgianbun: GIRL 17th Nov
Misssese: Pearl Edie 18th Nov
Fairybex: Benjamin Callum 18th Nov??
Easyeggs: Charlotte Victoria Louise 19th Nov
Beepbeep: Martha Lucy 19th Nov
Pootletheflump: GIRL 19th Nov
Tasjasamuminsa: Johandre 19th Nov
Fubble: Emma 20th Nov
Stormfly: Alastair 21st Nov
Hobnob: Isla 22nd Nov
Katster: Sam Thomas 24th Nov
Longwayaway: Maeve Rosalind 25th Nov
Pavlov: Reuben, 28th Nov
Claired21: Ethan Andrew, 29th Nov
Raggie: Rosa, 3rd Dec?
Laugs: James, 4th Dec
Ninja: Alfred Zukie Fox, 4th Dec
Grace09: Grace, 8th Dec
Skorpion: Lucy, 9th Dec
Sassmonkey: Baby boy, 10th Dec

Nice job, claire!

Congrats to sass and grace - you made it! Sorry to hear that your births weren't everything you hoped they'd be, but I hope you're both healing and the little ones are thriving.

Have a lovely Christmas, everyone.

wow well done claried that is an impressive list - both for putting it together and the number of babies!!

and i think every baby is called something different!

Toby just smiled!!!!!! Yeah! He's chillin' in his carseat after his morning feed and he just beamed at me that's all I wanted for Christmas!

We had good night - woke at usual times for feeds but slept really well between feel great today.

Well done Claire its great to see the full list! Wow how strange all the babies have different names.

Morning all

Have read through the posts in spurts so won't remember everything to respond personally, sorry!

Congratulations to sass and grace we're all here now!!

Sass how big is your DS? Mine is now 12lbs and I don't offer both sides so that's not a given. When I'm full of milk and a bit engorged (like now) he doesn't even drain one breast when feeding for 20 mins or so and he's very efficient. If they're more settled then I take each feed as it comes and see if he wants the other side. He's putting on 10oz a week so it's obviously fine!

Tamlin am falling into the snacking trap at night - any tips to stop it? 2am feed seems to go ok, vigorous winding wakes him enough for a second 10 min stint.Then today we had 5am wake, literally a few mouthfuls, then back to sleep until 6am, few more mouthfuls, then 7am when I managed to get a bit more into him
He's a bit snotty from the remnants of his cold so maybe that's why as he can't breathe as well?

We've both turned the corner with out colds now thankfully. He had the same as me and seemed to come out of it around the same time. Am wondering if that meant I'd finally made the antibodies in my body and then passed them on?
Anyway, it was lovely to have my wakeful baby back last night, smiling and cooing. He's been asleep almost constantly for about 2 days!

Question re bf: I had shooting pains in my breast a few days ago, got worse at night when it was cold. Has eased now but I'm engorged again. Is this normal? Was worried it might be thrush but then it wouldn't have disappeared ... anyone who's had a blocked duct - what does that feel like?
Think his 6 week spurt has sent my milk factory into overdrive

Morning.

Congrats grace, I'm glad to hear you have your little one in arms and at home with you. That's November done!

tamlin and scarlotti, it was another night in the snack trap for us. Good feed ending at 10:30, asleep in crib by 11:30, Slept through to 2:00. Good feed, wouldn't go back in crib, was making hungry signals an hour later, had a top up, a snooze, a top up, etc, until 6:30 AM, when I lost it and dumped him on my Mum and DH to deal with. Mum burped him, swaddled him and rocked him to sleep - I think the secret for us might lie in the burping. Not doing enough of that. Is a gurgly tummy a sign of impending posset? He always has a little puke about 30 mins after eating.

scarlotti have just got rid of blocked duct / mastitis. For me, it was more of a solid lump of pain, visibly red from the outside, but made my nipple very sore as well. If you can fee where the blockage is, hot flannels and massaging the lump towards the nipple will work wonders.

weston brilliant feeding, nice work!

Apologies, I can't quite remember who asked, but someone was wondering about types of bouncing chairs. We have the Baby Bjorn Babysitter bouncer - it got great reviews on Kiddicare. I liked it because it doesn't whir or vibrate, it just responds to the baby's movements. Has different angles of recline and folds up small. That said, haven't used it much yet so can't say if Baby Beans is going to like it!!

Morning.
sassmonkey, it was me asking about bouncers so thank you. I was actually interested in the babybjorn for the same reasons as you so I guess we will get that one. I suppose you have to pay for the brand but you can use it for longer than most others too.

grace, congratulations! Sorry to hear that it has been traumatic for you but I'm sure it has been worth it.

I had a terrible morning. I kept Paula in our bed after the snack feed at 6 as she just didn't seem tired enough to sleep in her cot. So I was curled around her and fell asleep again. When I woke up I had really terrible back pain, like a cramp. I tried to find a bearable position, even got out of bed and ended lying on the floor with a flat back. I just couldn't move. It was quite ok with the flat back but as soon as I tried turning it started again. My husband called the GP who could have come at 1.30! I was covered with a blanked and had a hot water bottle next to me and we were discussing how to breastfeed Paula (we do not even have formula at home) and whether to call an ambulance. As I really needed to go to the toilet I tried to move again and suddenly everything seemed to be fine. So I called the GP again and got an emergency appointment which I have already been to. So she doesn't know either what it really was but probably I pinched a nerve or it was some kind of cramp. Just imagine this would have happened with just Paula and me in the house! I really hope it was a one time thing!
Strangely Paula was really calm throughout the whole thing. I don't think that she has ever spent so much time lying in her cot or basket entertaining herself.

Ursi poor you! That must have been quite frightening. I did my back in when pregnant and I was alone with the two DSs. It 's very frightening, isn't it? I hope it doesn't happen to you again. Well done to Paula for being a good baby through it all though!

Toby has the hiccups and I can hear him via the baby monitor hiccupping - sounds so cute. He's not asleep though... He does seem quite awake today. He's had lots of alert time with the DSs so far today.

We're off to DS1's friend's birthday party today with 'the animal man'. This guy has snakes, millipeads, chinchillas, rats, etc and gets everyone to stroke them. I've seen him before. He's very good!

grace Congratulations!! Sorry to hear you had trouble along the way but happy that you're all home now and starting your life together.

So, that's all of us here now. The list is very impressive, can't believe we spanned four months.

HV came to see us for the first time today. Can someone explain to me what the point is of being given conflicting advice by mw and hv? How do you make correct judgement as a clueless brand new mama?
For example, books and mw say swaddling is great, hv warns us that it can contribute to SIDS. Also, co-sleeping is a big no no according to hv. And wearing hats indoors. Aarrggghhh!!!

skorpion, I know the problem about conflicting advice. I guess, there is just not one big truth and it is up to us mums to judge the individual situation and the individual child.
They shouldn't wear a hat because it is over the head where they can regulate temperature but I would still put one on if it was a very drafty house.
And I was wondering about the swaddling too (we did never do it as my husband hates it). I suppose it would calm her. But then again I think if she has this need of moving then it might not be nice to be swaddled. (sometimes she really hates being in the sling too)

sass it's lack of burping here that makes for an unsettled night too. He also brings up milk after a feed and that's wind.

Ursi hope you're feeling better now and good that your DH was there.

skorpion you'll get conflicting advice from different people and it is difficult. You are the best guide, go with your intuition. MW and HV's have to give out the latest advice, if they know it, and it changes all the time. The advice given when my DD was born was very different to now.
They have to say co-sleeping is a no as it can be dangerous if you smoke, share with a smoker, do when drinking etc. etc. They cover themselves by saying 'don't' but it's fine as long as you're sensible. Swaddling is the same, you have to do it with a light sheet so they say no to cover the people who do it with a think blanket and then baby overheats.
Ioan is in his car seat in the hallway as we speak ... wearing his hat and still covered in his blanket it's cold out there and he's sleeping so he's fine

ursi the premise behind the swaddling is to make them more secure and so sleep better and longer. They do not know that those hands flying around are theirs for about 2 or 3 months, and so get the startle reflex from noises or dreams and then distress themselves as arms fly around past their heads. Babies like to lay with their arms folded up by their chest, so tend to be most secure when swaddled with their hands there rather than down by their sides.
It mimics how they were in the womb.

It is hard when you get so much conflicting advice. I think swadding is great, personally, and babies, most babies, love it even if it looks a bit strange. DS1 wore a hat at night because our old house was cold at night. I think co-sleeping is fine so long as you are sensible about it. They don't really know what causes SIDS anway, it is just all theory.

Who was it that posted all the great co-sleeping advice earlier..? Basically, co-sleeping is okay provided that a) you're breastfeeding, b) you're not drinking, not a smoker, not taking sedative medication or excessively exhausted (hah), c) baby isn't next to your partner, other kids, dog, etc, and d) you're careful with pillows, duvets and other smothering hazards. There's some evidence to suggest that baby regulates their breathing, temperature and heartrate to be in tune with mum's.

With DS 1, I had one midwife telling me that co-sleeping was great, and another one saying grimly 'I could tell you such horror stories...' It's a call you have to make. Personally, I find it interesting that in those south-east Asian countries where co-sleeping is the norm (and smoking's quite common), they don't actually have a higher SIDs rate than we do. They used to call SIDs 'cot death' after all, before the manufacturers complained...

Personally, I hate co-sleeping just because I sleep really badly that way - I wind up with horrible cramps as I just automatically lock into a fixed protective position around the baby in my sleep. I do it when they're tiny or they're sick and won't settle, but I like them in the moses basket as soon as possible!