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

[HumphreysCorner]

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
x

PS
Sorry about the 'me' post, I know there have been some poorly babies and worried parents out there, I do feel for you.

kiwi - my DS (now 3.5 years) went into nursery from 6months old as i had to go back to work. He went 5 days per week and has only just stopped this October now i am on mat leave with DD

i will be going back to work in June 2010 and we have found a nanny for the 2 of them

i love working and enjoy my job (plus we need the money)

if you want to go back to work then go for it - sounds great. Spend some time finding good quality childcare

how is everyone else doing?

Ruby wnet down at 8 pm and then woke at 10 pm for a feed. She was up at 2 am for a mega feed and then up for the day at 6.30 am so not too bad

devils - are you feeling better today?!

expressing - have a question - when do you express???? I need to get into a routine of expressing as i want DH to be able to help a bit over Xmas etc ... can i add to it during the day - say i express in the morning and then leave in the firdge can i add to it with another session to get a good amount of milk?

is everyone icy/snowy??? Went out yesterday but was so cold ... everything has iced up again, so we are staying put ...

Bella Annalise dropped from 45th at birth to 2nd centile, and I completely empathise with the fear that your baby is withering away due to some fault with yourself. I battle with this everyday, and sometimes Annalise doesn't put any weight on at all between weigh ins. Luckily the midwife and health visitor and both really supportive of exclusive breastfeeding and haven't even suggested that I top up with formula if I didn't want to (I don't). A friend of mine, did top up due to poor weight gain and but by 4months her DD refused the breast altogether and the mum said, if you want to carry on BF, don't go down that route.
Of course you have to be reassured that there isn't anything actually physiologically 'wrong' with Nathaniel to stop him gaining weight, but I'm pretty confident that Annalise is healthy in every other way so she'll catch up eventually. Is his nappy output ok? 2-3 poo and about the same again for wet only?
Glad to hear that the operation went well, hope he's himself again soon.
I think that you are in London too? We can meet for tea and mutual support in the new year if you like? No offense taken if you'd rather not!

DA ouch! hope that it wears off soon

kowaikiwi I'm planning on going back to my PhD at 6 months and having her in child care for 3 days a week. I've done totally zero about putting her name down for a nursery so don't know if that will pan out, but considering having a babysitter here in my house with her, so that I can work at my desk, but BF maybe once during the day (as well as morning and evening) and the babysitter can deal with the rest of the childcare.

expressing sounds ridiculous but I express at 3am. Its when I have the most milk, and DH feeds her the expressed feed around midnight. Until just the last 2 days, I was waking her to feed her then as well so it wasn't much bother, but unsure when to switch the feed too... It's so handy having a full feed in the fridge for the day by the time I get up for breakfast!

Hi everyone

Well we're up to our ears in snow here, my older dc's are very excited. dd1 thinks santa has sent the snow in preparation for coming xmas eve in his sleigh! (hope the snow lasts till then)

devils sounds like a good night. Hope you're feeling better today

calypso and bella Amelie has only put on 4 oz in four weeks, I'm not concerned she's had a cold and exactly the same happend with dd1 around this age, mine all seem to pile it on at first then really really slow down (dd1 went from 75th percentile at birth to 9th at a year... she's back up to th 5oth now, ds was on 99th at birth and is now on 5oth) So far Amelie started on 90th percentile and is now between 75th and 50th, I expect she'll probably drop a bit further.

ruby you can express a small amount and keep adding to it for up to eight days, as long as it is stored in the main body of the fridge.

kowaikiwi when dd1 was born you were only entitled to 6mth paid maternity leave, so it was completely normal to return to work at 6mths. If it's a great job and it's what you want to do go for it!

Just really rainy here - wish it was lovely snow!

poor weight gain I was just browsing the breastfeeding / weight-gain pages on MN, and the same thread that Ruby posted on had a good link to KellyMom about fore/hind milk which mentions a great analogy:

"Your breasts don't "flip a switch" at some arbitrary point and start producing hindmilk instead of foremilk. Instead, think of the beginning of a nursing session as being like turning on a hot water faucet.

The first water you get out of the tap isn't usually hot, but cold. As the water runs, it gradually gets warmer and warmer and warmer. This is what happens with the fat content in mom's milk - moms's milk gradually increases in fat content until the end of the feeding.

Now think about the hot water faucet again. If there is a long period of time before the faucet is used again, then you go through the "cold to hot" process once more, but if you turn the water on fairly soon after it was used then the water is either pretty warm or still hot, depending upon how long it's been since the faucet was last on.

This is how it works with mother's milk too - the longer the time between feedings, the lower the fat content at the beginning of the next feeding. If feedings are closer together, you're starting off with a higher fat content."

This is a BIG revelation for me as I do only feed from 1 breast per feed, only as Annalise seemed to drain it and seem content, but I will try switching to the second, thereby reducing the amount of time that each breast is used and hopefully that might help!

Flying by - have read the thread back for quite a way, seems to be a few poorly babies, some weight gain issues and an operation (but I can't find what that was for

All starting to settle here - thumb, swaddling, amby, and chiropractors are all fabulous things imo

Quick hello to everyone-am frantically busy here trying to get my mum and sister out of Italy and back to Wales for Christmas. Weather has deteriorated badly in N Italy so they left for Milan airport earlier and will spend the night in the airport rather than chance train first thing. Hopefully flight I've got them back to Bristol will be ok-biggest problem is getting them home. Our village in Wales is quite high up and snowed in at the moment so my uncle is trying to get his car out tomorrow to pick them up.

A bit of snow here at the weekend (rare for here) which rapidly turned to sheet ice. DH went out for his Christmas meal with the lads and got taxi to drop him off at end of road (I though the whole point of getting taxi was to go door to door but hey what do I know?). Halfway up he slipped on the ice and hit his head. Luckily he's ok but I didn't sleep that night, doing 2hrly obs on him. Friend of ours not so lucky-she was deicing car next morning, fell and broke her wrtist.

Bella Don't worry too much about the weight gain. Next time, see if they'll measure Nathaniel-I figure you can't grow out and down at the same gtime so maybe he's been doing a bit of growing lengthways.

Calypso thanks for that info, makes interesting reading. So sorry about your uncle

ruby I feed to sleep-about 50% of the time

Love to all x

HT been thinking of you Connor has been high maintanence to say the least.I saw every hour last night.I am rocking him and holding him up right all the time totally exhausting and with everyone around and Christmas it is a slight nightmare.I fed him almost every hour for the last 24 hours as it was the only thing that would settle him but of course that made his wind even worse.I have made him wait 2 hours at least today which seems to of helped.

calypso 4 children seems crazy at the moment.I hardly get a second to myself.However the great times are fantastic but the crazy times are tough.We have a good mixture of both everyday.I do get help with the house work during the week.So that I can be with the children.I hate house work but love the house tidy and organised

We have lots of snow.We all went sledging in the field yesterday.Then home for hot chocolate with marshmallows.(that was a great time

Getting back into my clothes little by little.TOP TIP NEVER STAND ON THE SCALES !!!!!

CalypsoFramboise thanks for that its interessting might try both sides too.Glad Nathaniel is not the only one dropping down on the lines and reassures me.Really dont want to top up with formula and he refuses still to take it so wont bother again.Am secretly glad he doesnt take it.He wees a lot but poos infrequently last week it took 10 days thats why I was worried combined with the weight but has since pooed every 2/3 days.Even got laxative from gp but havent used it yet as he seems ok now,will only use it if he takes more than 7 days to do it.Meet-up sounds good am in Kingston where are you?

HT he seems very long but HV has so far refused to measure him as they wont do it till his 8 week check-up which he wont have till hes 3 months as couldnt get appointment till then.Its a ridicoulus thing they used to measure dd and ds1 every time they were weighed.Glad your DH didn`t break anything.

fidelma poor you being up every hour dont know how you cope 24 hours.Am thinking of you .Nathaniel is high maintenace during day hence my backs killing me right now couldnt cope all day and night.He was screaming for 2 hours till finally falling asleep now.During night hes normally good once he`s asleep he stays like that,wakes for quick feed once or twice and goes right back to sleep.

kowaikiwi if the job sounds good go for it happy mummy equals happy baby.Theres no reason why you shouldnt be able to exclusively bf till 6 months you can express so she can have the bm in a bottle but still get the benefits from it.

Finally snowing here

Oops-its finally snowing here just hope it stays till tomorrow so kids can go out and play in it.
x

fidelma you have my sympathy. The rocking standing up is tiring enough but hourly feeding in top is tough, especially when you have other DCs.

Tough night here, Joseph his usual fractious self until 9.35pmwhen he broke off a feed because phone was ringing. After that he cried and cried then really screamed. Putting hm down on changing mat helped a bit but the usual rocking did no good at all. DH tried and screaming got worse. He was getting so worked up I almost took him to hospital. Then he suddenly let out this deep internal-like burp that made his whole little body shudder. A few mins later, he did another one. I put him to the breast, he sucked for a few minutes and then went out like a light. Poor exausted little thing. Have tried ti dream feed him since and he's suckled for 10 mins then fell asleep again. Will try again later.

All flights out of Milan Bergamo airport grounded until 23rd Dec due to heavy snow. Ryanair are charging £400 per person to transfer to a later flight and saying they'll refund difference..mother and sister currently convinced they are spending xams in the airport [fhmmm]. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Yawn..,musy try and sleep x

kowaikiwi sorry, meant to say earlier-go for it!

kowaikiwi - I am going back to work on Feb 4th and Phoenix is starting nursery then, just a day before she is 4 months, so 6 mounths sounds fine to me! We still intend for her to be exclusively breastfed until 6 months and I am busily filling the freezer with nursery supplies already.

Calypsoframboise I also get up in the early hours to express and have done for 4 weeks since Phoenix dropped her night-time feed. My body still thinks it has to produce for that feed so it seems to work really well. It seems a bit crazy to be choosing to get up in the night when other mummies are trying to sleep and not able to, but I don't know when else I would have the chance to work on my stockpile!

aaaaaaaaaaagh - we have hit the 12 week growth spurt

have had a shocking night

will try to catch up later

snow everywhere here for the second day ! very strange for a very salty aired Blackpool, last time it snowed and stuck here was 1996 , children think it's great , have been having some poblems here with oral thrush and thrush on my nipples, ouch it does hurt, hoping it clears soon, sorry to hear of poorly babie still, maddie has a stuffy nose.......again!! well i wont be on again now for a while as i have so much to do, so merry christmas
and happy first christmas to all our beautiful babies !! x x x x

Merry Christmas everyone, happy 1st christmas to all the little ones.

Not posted much coz I don't really have anything to add, same old baby stuff!

i am exhausted.

Oh dear Fidelma, poor you...do you think Connor's having a growth spurt? If it's any consolation I'm shattered too, I feel like I haven't put Louis down since we got back from hospial on Friday. He's doing loads better though, hope all the other poorly babies are too

Happy Christmas everyone! We've loads of snow here - v festive

fidelma-I remember those hourly wakings, hope this soon passes as the exhaustion is dreadful.

Can't really add anything to those planning a return to work as I took a year off the first time then never returned after DD2. Still on a career break but shall never return to that job Good luck in whatever you do though.

Been to Tescos to do the Christmas shop and collect my turkey from M&S. Matthew was really good and slept until we got to Tescos when he screamed all the way round. Had to keep carrying him and it was sooooo busy in there. Snow still here.

Gave birth certificate to PIL so they could open a bank account and DH has managed to crease it when he brought it home so not pleased. He doesn't see the problem.

3 sleeps until the big day.

M still asleep after driving home at 8-30pm so I guess he won't sleep well tonight, had better wake him up. Big wave!

HC
x

ruby

expressing: adding to a bottle in the fridge over the course of a day is fine. i pour my milk in a freezer bag, you can keep adding to it in the freezer as long as you chill it first in the fridge.

i always feed to sleep, unless he is overtired then rocking is better. this will do until he is old enough for cc

can't wait for christmas, looking forward to ds1 getting some new toys to keep him busy for five minutes.

Have given up getting dressed today, even though I've been awake since 5am! Oh well, the family madness starts tomorrow, may as well revel in the depravity of spending a day in PJs

fidelma {hugs} hope it passes, you sound like you need a break!

Bella I'm up in Vauxhall / Oval way but can pop down on the train to Kingston for a change of scene. I'll send you a message on FB

HT crikey your poor DH, I hope his head feels ok now and that your folks made it out of Milan.

I'm pretty sure that the lactose-free diet is making zero impact on Annalise's vomitting, the last 3 days have been really bad; after the 7am feed this morning, I could have wrung out the muslin Poor (very) little thing...

Not sure I'll be much on again before Chrimbo, so those of you on FB, don't forget to take pictures of the babies in any Xmas outfits for us to mutually coo over! Big kiss to everyone X

Oh god....Faith has been asleep from 3pm, its now just after 7.40pm, she wont stay awake, im so going to be up all night with her now ...off to bang some more pots beside her MB

littlepea72 hope Faith will sleep ok tonight.Nathaniel was sleeping a lot yesterday during day and ok during night.Was up for day at 7am today and had to get up with him and he hardly slept during day today lots of crying and carrying around.

Calypsoframboise would be great to meet up in new year.Hope christmas day goes ok.It will be just us at home this year as I didnt want to go to DPs family and just spend it alone with the kids.Sorry to hear Annalise still vomiting so much.Nathaniel is being sick now after every feed too but not that much.

Wishing everyone a merry christmas and a good first one for all the babies xxxx [hgrin]

fidelma how are you feeling now? Better I hope x

littlepea sending Faith sleepy vibes!

Calypso So sorry to hear that Annalise's vomiting is still so bad

I got my mum and sister out of Milan just before more bad snow hit and they are now almost back in Wales. Didn't cost me the arm and leg I expected either.

Have just done a speed shop round Tesco in a snowstorm, it was so weird. We never get snow here. theboob I'm just down the road from you in Southport-not used to seeing snow in a seaside resort. This time it was me that fell and cracked my head-lethal sheet ice under snow.

Joseph has suddenly started to get screaming wind so I need to ditch the chocolate I've been slowly scoffing these past few days

Happy Christmas everyone! x

merry christmas everyone

hello everyone!

just wanted to wish you all a very, very happy christmas and hope Santa brings you all everything you wish for

hope those with poorly little ones are doing ok

will be popping on and off throughout the festivities

xxxx