October 2009 babies - Waving arms and gummy smiles make the sleepless nights worthwhile.

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Here we are on the other side-finally. Well done ladies!

On 2nd lot of AB's and they are suitable for BF so no expressing needed.

HC
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fidelma - you must be knackered

Ruby went to bed at 7.45 pm

woke at 10.45 for a feed and then at 1.45, 4.30 and 5.30

anyhoo at least no mega cluster feed last night and am praying we are nearing the end of all of that

DS has his Xmas concert this afternoon - have sent him with an antler headband thingie

we have some snow - not settling but it is blardy freezing

hope everyone is doing ok
xx

Struggling to keep up with festive commitments but actually had to wake Matthew this morning, hope he sleeps through again tonight.

Will try and catch up tomorrow.

HC
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Good (early) morning everyone.
Yay I finally get a chance to post - it's been so long but I have been keeping up with everything.
So sorry there have been some poorly babies out there, I can't imagine how worried that makes you. Big hugs to everyone for that.
We have been pretty lucky with Sadie, she's doing really well (now 11lbs 8 and 8 weeks old). Obviously not sleeping through the night yet if you see what time I'm posting this, but otherwise only really cries when she needs something which I've almost worked out now, and I can still settle her with the hairdryer if I need to (though tonight is proving difficult)!
Have decided it's worth the 8 weeks or so of reasonable sleep and effort whilst DP is busy at this time of year, for a few nights of pain in the new year when we wean her off it and try and get her to get herself off to sleep. Hmmm.
I've tried a dream feed the past few nights at 11pm after what was previously her last feed at 8pm. It worked the first night and she slept through till 4:30 woohoo but past few nights it hasn't really worked so all she gets is an extra feed! Will keep trying for a bit.
I haven't got her a Christmas outfit yet, there are too many cute ones out there to choose from! At the moment I'm swinging towards the top that says 'All mummy wants for Christmas is a Silent Night'

I always struggle to remember who's said what in which post, so apologise for lack of personal replies. But I can still see fidelmas on the screen, and am sending sleepy vibes to your household.

Well this is the 3rd time I've tried to turn the hairdryer off now, fingers crossed she's stopped fussing - she's really good at 'pretending' to be sound asleep but the second you turn it off she's wide awake again!
Merry Christmas x

LOL at kowaikiwi - I was pacing the kitchen with the hairdryer on full power at roughly around the time you posted that message. I so want that xmas top as well!

So, last night was fun. Joseph fell asleep after a feed at 7.45pm. Slept until 9pm, had another feed then he had wind that took ages to get up. That woke him up completely and he sceamed the house down on and off until 11.30pm when DH made me go to bed. He shush-patted him and he slept from 12.30am until 3.30am when he wanted another feed. Feed finished at 4.10am by which time Joseph was wide awake and playful. Got him off again at 5.30am and he slept until 8.30am. This was all downstairs I was trying to let DH get sleep. Up at 8.30am for feed then top & tailed and changed clothes. Sang and played then he went off to sleep again at 11.35am.

Any tips? I really need to sort this out-my back is killing me from rocking him standing up to the sound of the hairdryer for so long each night and we're all so tired. He gets himself so worked up if I try to put him down, screaming so much that it makes him cough and fight for breath. Feel like I'm a terrible mother

fidelma full of admiration for you and your energy levels, you sound so busy all the time!

Love to all, hope your Christmas preparations are going well x

Hi all

off to get ds2 weighed now I hope he's doing ok after his illness.

Have posted a thread in sleep, interested in your views.

Last night he slept from about 8.30 (me too) till 3am ish. (dd came in at 1ish after a dream) He Fed and had some awake time till 4 ish then woke at about 6.30 I think!! All the times blend into one!!

I have ordered so many things online this week, I'm worried I will foget what exactly and get all mixed up!!

princessmel - hope the weigh in goes ok

HT - am sure you are knackered - poor you. Are you swaddling? Do you keep nightime dark and quiet to discourage playfulness? Am sure you are

do you rock him for naps - maybe try him upright against your chest and rhymically patting his bum for a change ...

princessmel good luck with weigh in

ruby thanks. We keep nightime dark, min eye contact/chat etc. Swaddling-sometimes he's ok, sometimes it makes him scream. We do rock him for naps, usually upright. Will try the bum patting though

Have had a minor revalation this afternoon though. J is fascinated by the door knobs on the kitchen cupboards. He's just spent 40 mins gurgling and smiling at them, 25 mins of that he was in his bouncer looking at the lower cupboard ones - its the longest he ever stayed in it!. No wonder trying to get him to sleep out there isn't working.(we go there because its nice and warm and the only room the person trying to sleep upstairs can't hear-v v tiny house.)DH just rang andmentioned tht it was only ehen he had Josepf facing a blank wall last night that he got him off. So I'l try that tonight, I think he's definalty overstimulated.

I could so do with a looong nap right now!
However...only 8 sleeps till Christmas! - gulp x

apologies for typos, am half asleep!

Thanks Ruby and HT
He put on weight which is good but he has dropped from the 75th to the 50th percentile. I expected that though.
He put on 6oz in 2 weeks and is 11lb 6oz now and will be 8 weeks on saturday.

HT I do the bum patting thing with ds2 sometimes
When he wakes in the night I bf him lying down. What happens if you just stay lying down in bed with him??

Hi all, struggling to keep up now as xmas approaches. Princess, hope the weigh in goes well. I'll check out your sleep thread.

HT, sounds like the sort of nights we had with William although they all of a sudden stopped. We found a change of scene helped e.g. calm him down in another room. Or open the window as it can get stuffy which bothers him (he sleeps much better with a bit of fresh air!)

I know what you mean re the overstimulated thing - I put William down on the bed for a few mins and just keep my hand on him so he knows I'm there. Then I rock him to sleep again, pointing him into the corner of the room.

HC go Matthew, you lucky thing!

I have cracked it with Faith at last, a dummy! If i see that she is tired, i put her into the MB, have the lights down low/off, and give her a dummy, she just drifts off to sleep now. I used to be pulling my hair out because she would be screaming, so im very surpised that such a small thing has made such a difference. She is also taking her last feed at 8pm, then up again at 1.30, 4.30 & then 7 onwards. The baby whisperer book helped alot, i dont do everything it says, but it helped to understand what her crying meant, and how to look out for the signs she was tired.....great!

Princess i keep meaning to ask, how did you get on with the bunkbeds?

Littlepea that's great!!!
F is showing signs of being a thumb sucker. He's got it in a few time so I think that's the way he'll go.

The bunkbeds came in the end. After they changed the delivery date a few times. The matresses caused a few headaches as they sent us the wrong size and because I opened it they wouldn't return it So dd now has a too narrow mattress on her bed.

Loads of snow here. School is shut, kids already been out to play in it It's a shame though because they're missing their last day and so missing their christmas parties

I've got another poorly baby here - Louis has bronchialitis, we spent the night in hospital after a very scary ambulance transfer we got home this afternoon and he seems to be doing ok, I think I'm in shock though - probably also due to two nights of no sleep! DH is off work now for 2 weeks, so I've decided to just feed and cuddle Louis until he's well again while DH looks after the DD's.

In the ambulance I kept reminding myself that a lot of the other babies on this thread have suffered the same and are ok now - so thanks for sharing...not sure if that makes sense

I'm a big fan of the mireana (sp) coil - though I thought it does have hormones in...anyway, I had it fitted between DD2 and DS and had no problems and no periods - result! Although, I have to say that I find being at home with 3 children under school age a very effective contraceptive

Hope everyone's well and feeling festive.

Hi all

Think M may have another cold as he wouldn't settle after waking at 4am.

wibbly-how worrying for you. Hope Louis continues to improve.

HT-don't know what else to suggest, you must be exhausted. So difficult to deal with the crying when you are so tired.

princessmel-that is a good weight.

littlepea-glad you have found a solution.

Only a scattering of snow and school is finished until the 5th Jan which is my Grandma's 100th birthday.

Big wave to everyone else!

HC
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HC at your grandma! Are you going to have a big family party for her? My grandmother died about 16 years ago aged 95, and i used to love sitting listening to her talk about when she was younger, they have seen so many changes. Hope M is ok, Faith cant breath at night & its horrible to hear them.

Wibbly i hope Louis is getting better, its scarey how many are on here with their little ones being rushed into hosp with the same thing. At least you are helped with knowing they are all ok, Louis can only go the same way

It started snowing here yesterday & still hasnt stopped. My DS is worried that it will go away when he wakes up. He doesnt understand that this is here to stay for the next couple of months! Need to buy some warmer coats & some snow boots!

Hi all, it is worrying re the poorly babies but at least they're getting better.

We had a horrible incident this morning-William had a choking fit going bright red and he couldn't breathe so called an ambulance. Luckily he recovered but it took ages to calm him down and he's asleep now. I think he choked on some snot or vomit - he was asleep on his back and we were watching him wriggle himself awake. I'd only just got comfortable leaving him in a room asleep but now I'll be paranoid again!

Has anyone done a first aid course for babies? After today I'm definately going to do one - I completely lost it as William struggled to breathe luckily DH was there and remained calm.

Anyway, not a nice story but I'm glad he's ok now! I feel I need to talk about it as still feel a bit shaky - I'll probably bore my DH to tears now!

Iggly-am not surprised you are still shaking. Poor William, these winter colds are awful. Matthew is back to being clingy day and night.....

littlepea-my grandma is in a home and they are doing the party which is very kind and my dad has invited about 20 people to pop in. Am taking DD1 out of school for the afternoon. Must take the camera.

Didn't make dancing at 9am this morning as our road is an untreated ice rink. There is a party at 2pm for the dance classes at the same place so waiting for DH to come home from work so he can drive us there. Just rang him and wondered why he was offhand-he was with a customer. Should have said so when he answered! Going to make some mulled wine later.

Hope all OK.

HC
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Mmmm mulled wine! I bought some non alcoholic stuff which is lovely but not quite the same as the strong stuff.
Yes winter colds are a nightmare - William's sniffles keep me awake! Also central heating makes it worse... I've got one of those suction things so will be using religiously to clear his nose.

wibbly and iggly - sorry to hear about your poorly babies

i think a first aid course is a good idea - i may ask my HV about some courses as i would have no idea what to do with a choking incident (for example)

Ruby seems to be dropping her cluster feeds - she is still feeding alot in the early evenings but now she has a bath and then a mega feed and into the basket by 8.30 pm

feeding to sleep - whose baby does this? I have no idea how to stop Ruby falling asleep this way especially at nihgt. I have tried unswaddling hr and sitting her upright to wake her but she is out like a light

i alos have to feed her practically to sleep for her naps which is fine whilst she is is teeny tiny but when she gets much bigger it is going to do my back in ... any tips???

hope everyone is ok - am not venturing out as it is very icy.

xx

ruby glad to hear about the cluster feeds!

Feeding to sleep - I do this for some naps if I'm too tired to jig/rock William to sleep. However, at night he pretty much always feeds to sleep - I get comfy with loads of cushions or do it lying down.

A couple of times I've got William to sleep for a nap after he's been awake without feeding and minimal rocking - just carrying him around at about the time he gets tired and not talking to him. He then drifts off. But I've not been able to put him down and he sleeps. I'm hoping it'll come naturally and will let him try over the next few weeks but rock him if it fails!!

not as pleased as i am Iggly!

I can't bear to hear Ruby cry so i don't want to leave her - from what i remember with DS he had a dummy and was swadddled until he was 15 weeks or so and then he was better at settling himself but it took time

hi all,

BT cut our line for the last 4 days - yikes 4 days offline {shudder}

fidelma I am boggled at how you manage all your DCs!

HT you are a FAB mummy! You really are, go give yourself a hearty pat on the back for all your love and hard work sorry to hear that you are having trouble still with the sleeping stuff, hope it improves very soon.

wibblydibs gosh, Louis had such a bad turn, how frightening for you all, hope he gets well soon, (and yes the sharing helps so much!)

ruby glad to hear the mad feeding sessions are coming to an end, and Annalise sleeps after a feed, but she so rarely sleeps in the day, that if I can get her off to sleep its a blessing

Annalise slept from 12 until 7am lst night! Had to wake her in fact. I do think that its just being over-stimulated yesterday with the in-laws and sparkling xmas lights and very little napping, and I still got up to express at 3am so don't feel really super, but still, better than horrible vomity 3am feed
Hoping that she doesn't get a cold; they are quite horrendous to deal with, sympathies to you all X

Enough people have suggested that Annalise's perpetual vomiting is possibly lactose intolerance that I've given up any dairy for a couple of weeks. So far its been 6 days and no change, but I'll give it a go, even though that means no mince pies, no cream and no cheese! If it means I don't have to change her a million times a day it'll be really worth it.

Having an early Christmas day today with the in-laws, as I'm at my brother's for real Christmas day. Sadly my uncle was found dead in his bed a few days ago, so my parents are really down.

Hi everyone Nathaniel sleeping so thought I try and post quickly.His operation went ok but took him a while to calm down from anastetic(sp?) but luckily were still able to go home same day and he settled better once we were home.

Calypso so sorry to hear about a your uncle must be especially hard before christmas.

wibblydibs sorry to hear Louis was ill too but glad hes better.And its good that youre all sharing your experiences but really frightening that so many babies on here had the same thing.

Princessmel its great that Freddie still put on good weight after his illness.
Nathaniel has slipped from 25th to 9th centile and only put on 3ozs in 2 weeks dont really know what Im doing wrong.He seems to feed often during the day but doesnt drink for very long only about 5 mins then he normally needs to burp and wont go back on.Even bought formular which I really didn`t want to but am desperate for him to put more on but he refused it yesterday.

Igglybuff glad William is ok after his choking fit.Its scary when that happens. First aid course is a good idea I`ve done one for work but think every parent should be offfered them with antenatal courses.

Sadly no snow here even though there was supposed to be so kids were really dissapointed.
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oh lordy.
my head.

night out was good, got in at 1.30

charlie wasn't keen on the bottle whilst i was out. he had about 4-5oz between 6.30pm and 6am which doesn't seem like a lot to me. but i'm sure he would have woken earlier had he been hungry.

i was in agony expressing when i got home. also , the top that i wore was fine when i went out but i was indecent by the time i got home. i couldn't believe how massive they were!

definitely never drinking again. ever.

Respect devils, had to be done.
I've been slowly building up my alcohol tolerance levels again so I'm not such a lightweight! I'm partial to a glass (or two ) of red wine a night. But it's Christmas!! And I've got some lovely champagne waiting for me in the cupboard for Fri mmmmmm!

Thoughts please ladies: spoke to my boss last week and a job I've been waiting 18 months for has finally come up. It's a new position and sounds like he's sort of tailored it with me in mind, company car, pay rise etc and even though it's full time he did mention flexibility for Sadie and childcare drop offs etc, possibly working from home sometimes too. I told him I was thinking 1 August start back to work but he says that's a bit too far away for them, but the ball is in my court and can I let him know a possible date for return if that's what I want to do.

I'm really confused about what to do here. I can't imagine leaving her, but I know it's early days at the moment. I'd like to breastfeed her exclusively for 6 months, and I'm quite excited about the job. But we only have 1 grandparent nearby for family childcare, although DP has said he will juggle to try and get 1 day off a week too. Has anyone else put a baby in childcare for up to 3 days a week? How would you all feel about going back to work say at 6 months? Am I being really selfish seriously considering this job?

Why is life so hard sometimes!

Merry Christmas
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