Nov 09 and we're feeling fine, feeding, burping, not enough sleeping - that's us!

[BeckyBendyLegs]

Just thought I'd better create a new thread.

Raggie how about a trip to Burford?

He was 8 weeks on Sunday and is probably around 13lb now, going to clinic for weighing tomorrow.
BBL sounds like Toby sleeps as long. I do a feed at about 10/10:30pm and so he goes about 7.5 hours. Like you, the feed at that time isn't huge and if he feeds at 7:30/8 then that one is also small. The 9:30 one is long as is the 12:30 one.

Am wondering what will happen then, do I get the early morning one to be a big feed and just wait for the time to extend? Think I need to start considering a wake up time soon so we have the option to do stuff in the morning ... might wait a week or so yet though to build up my sleep stores!

BBL we use grobags so no blankets to kick off. Have you tried them? I have spares if you want to give one a go?

Pav I'd presumed he'd be like DS1 and wake at 4am until around 6 months so am not counting any chickens just yet!

bbl hope you're feling better and managing to get a bit of sleep/naps, i'm normally i'm a bit of an insomniac normally as i can't "turn off" all the thoughts that race through my mind at night!! think i'd go mad without audiobooks i'm generally to tired at night to read but the stories drown out all my thinking and help me drop off.

Def agree about bigger babys sleeping better. Dan now sleeps approx 10pm til 5am, a feed at 7h30 then he sleeps till 11am!! to be honest he's a really easy baby however before i sound really smug ds1 is turning into a nightmare!!!He's having a really hard time coping with all the recent changes, (new baby, mummy at homeall the time, starting school...) He's really clingy, cries for everything, constantly wants mummy, lots of "accidents" generally driving me potty. Hoping things will get better when i start back to work so he realiseds he can't stay at home with mummy

Right must get something done this afternoon, i have all morning to myself and all i seem to have done is eat breakfast and lunch?

Merry Christmas and Happy New year all!!! Am catching up with all your news..

BBL in the same boat..hope you're ok and thinking of you.
Feelings are strange at the mo. Had a terrible time in Belfast with the whole family having the D&V bug. Poor Charlotte was a mess..screaming and throwing up all the time...it was mare..I had no time to express and feed and my supply just diminished. She didn't take the boob without vomming due to the reflux so I spiralled into more and more depression. She is on formula now and its quite sad. I love bf and i know she is much better on formula its very sad for me..

Very pleased to hear that your babies are sleeping well bbl and Scarlotti may it spread to the rest of us!!!

Pav hope Reuben is better. Isn't it awful when they vom??? poor you and him and the washing machine.

Reflux is a terrible thing..i wish it wasn't.

Now I will try and catch up.

I have split my stitches. Just a bit but enough to be on antibiotics and to be grounded for the next two weeks (also not allowed to get my scar wet for at least a week - ugh!)

I'm starting to realse what a monster baby I have. He is over 14lbs at 4wks 4days. He slept from 1am until 6.30am when I was woken by the sound of a nappy being filled!

Sleepless big, big hug to you. Oh you poor thing. D&V bugs are just the worst thing ever, my idea of hell right now. Poor you going through that. I know exactly how you are feeling about the feeding - it is very sad and hard, isn't it, to stop?

I have just had a nap thanks to MIL and Toby has just woken too in a huge grump!!!! So eating lunch quickly! Better go get him.

Ninja oh no. Make sure you take really good care of yourself. It's hard to be told not to do anything, be grounded at home, esp in our situation.

Lol at the sound of a nappy being filled. I know that feeling: lying in the dark, all is quiet and then from the direction of the sleeping baby 'grunt, blurbbbbbpppppspllurrrrt'. Lovely!

Toby has really dry skin on his face and head (and has developed the delightful cradle cap) and all my clothes are covered, from boobie level to shoulder, in small bits of skin where he rubs his head against me.

BBL Hope you are feeling brighter today. Dry skin on baby here & cradle cap. Have been using Dentinox for the scalp (working well) and Aqueous cream for his face. I think the central heating hasn't helped the dry skin.

Erica Sounds like you're doing a great job with DS. Keep doing what you think is best for your baby

Sleepless Sorry you've had a tough time over Xmas. You have given her a good start with the bf

Ninja Poor you! Try your best to rest up and you'll soon come right.

Scarlotti Well done to baby!! Hope he keeps going with it.

DH is away until Sunday . Agghh and it looks like we're going to have lots of snow by tomorrow. I don't fancy the idea of being stuck in with DS1!! I'll have to get out in the garden and let him throw snowballs at me to run off steam! DH normally does the last feed of the night, so it looks like my sleep is going to be non-existent until sunday. Just hope we have a good couple of nights ahead, as sometimes I do get a good 4 hr block of sleep, if I'm lucky.

Anyone having to choose their child's school this week? It's such a lottery and rather stressful.

Ninja, Sleepless and BBL, sorry you're all having such a tough time at the moment . Sleepless your message made me want to come over to Geneva and give you a big hug. I hope you're getting plenty of support and that things are getting better now you're back at home. Ninja poor you being stuck in the house. I have to admit that would drive me mad. Have you got plenty of books to keep you busy? (Tell me what you like and I'll send you something, my shelves are too full already). Becky I hope you feel a bit better after your nap. Surviving on no sleep is no fun at all.

DH is back at work today, so normal life resumes for the first time since James was born a month ago. I had a pretty sleepless night worrying about it, but so far we've survived! DD is at nursery this afternoon. We made it to the doctors for a 9am appointment this morning and even went to a baby group - a small triumph but I feel like I've climbed a mountain or something. Actually with all the snow to trudge through it wasn't far off!

Erika It's hard that your mum isn't supportive of your decision to breastfeed. You find that most people's advice on parenting matters is advising you what they did and then they take it as a personal affront if you don't want to do things the same way. It might be easier to just nod along with her and do what you want to anyway.

Scarlotti and Tamlin thanks for your advice re thrush ages ago. I've finally been back to the GP (the surgery was closed, then I was away) armed with evidence and now have treatment for myself and James.

Fruit we use aquas too as DS1 has it for his skin.

Laugs well done for surviving the day. You will survive these days without your DH and as time goes by it'll get much, much easier. I know how hard it is though and how long the day seems when you get up. I was also dreading DH going back today but the day has gone really quickly and we've done it - without too much trauma. I did three weeks before christmas without him (was very hard) but after having him here for two weeks I think I panicked about being alone again but we're doing ok. Today has actually been easier than those three weeks were. Toby is now at least able to sit in his bouncy chair for short periods! He still sleeps for England in the daytime (really can't cope with more than 1 hour being awake).

Sleepless sorry to hear you've had a rough time, as others have said you've done a great job bf up until now so don't stress that you've moved to formula.

Erika I agree with Laugs in that I think your Mum is reacting to how you are choosing to parent differently to her. Probably not helped in that you are still at home and so in her mind are still her child and therefore need to follow her ways iyswim. Maybe you could (in a moment of calm) just say to her that your choices in no way invalidate hers as I doubt she even realises it.

Laugs and Fruit am sure you'll both get into the swing of it without your DH's around. I find it almost easier when there's a routine I have to follow and no DH to get under my feet!

Dry skin and cradle cap here too, and am dreadful for picking it off HV said to use E45 for his skin which seems to work - the dry skin by his eyebrows is almost cradle cap thickness.

Sleepless big hug on it's way to you.

BBL glad you got a nap in today. I'm glad you proved to yourself you can cope now DH is back at work too.

Skorpion thank you for the hug x

Laugs I'm reading The Memory Keepers Daughter which is a bit depressing and probibly not the right book for the moment so any suggestions warmly welcome.

I feel I should point out my stitches are from the emcs so hopefully not tmi.

Hope the snow doesn't cause too many of you too much trouble. Wonder if the schools will be open here tomorrow? Met has our bit of the map on red. Unlikely to get snowed in in the middle of town though me thinks.

Ninja hope you are on the mend soon. I've read that book, good but depressing! What sort of books do you like? I have lots I've read I could send you.
We're in the red patch on the map too so like you am hoping we're not snowed in!

Thanks Scarlotti and Laugs. I'm quite eclectic when it comes to books.
Books I have enjoyed: The God of Small Things, The Kitchen God's Wife, The Temple of My Familiar, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, The Ten People You Met on the Way to Heaven, The Catcher In The Rye, The Child In Time, War and Peace, The Time Travelers Wife... and so the list goes on.
Not sure how enlightening that is? But always open to suggestions.

Not much snow expected here. It never snows in Shrewsbury

Have a fussy boy who doesn't enjoy feeding off my right boob and keeps pulling away and generally getting upset - any ideas why? I was thinking he just doesn't like looking in that direction?? I've changed position and used the football cradle (I think it's called that!) for that side and he was much better with his feeding. It's only been the last few days where he's be noticably favouring the other side. I'm not liking the new position as I find it uncomfortable on my back, also not one I want to try in public

Waiting for the snow to arrive, might not be too bad our neck of the woods. I hope not, I get bad cabin fever!

Scarlotti Glad you mentioned the eyebrows, had that problem here. It's cleared now but it didn't look very nice.

sleepless sorry to hear about your Christmas, please don't feel bad about the bf.

ninja ow, ow, ow. I remember my fear of exactly that when they got me out of bed the first time after my cs. Mend soon!

laugs, becky yay for the good day. My dh was away today as well, and will be more from now on. I managed to make hv appointment with a clean-bottom, fed baby all on my own. Weird how such trivial stuff seems like such an achievement...

erika oh, I hope you can sort this out, surely you must be treated as a responsible adult capable of making decisions? I agree that a calm, level discussion is needed.

Lucy's put on 360g in a week!! She's 3.3kg (7lb 4.5oz). Am so happy.

sleepless oh you poor thing, how horrible for you all. I hope Charlotte is feeling much better now. Sorry you had to give up the breastfeeding earlier than you wanted .

books god I need some ideas on what to read to so thanks for the list so far ! I am a very very bad reader, but that is mainly as i tend when working to read too much theory/research etc so switch off with the whole reading thing when I sit down. Do you know I could quite happily sit in my front room with no tv, no music, no book and be there for hours before I realised i should be doing something? How boring is that? I sort of switch off if I get time on my own. I would often lie in bed sort of daydreaming, well, awake dreaming, with abook in my hand and I would not even open it, but would be awake for ages. Or I sleep (used to i must try harder to read more. I have recently read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo which i loved, and usually enjoy stuff like Orson Scott Card (no-one has ever heard of him that I know) or Robin Hobb, that kind of thing.

Laugs well done for surviving, and getting baby group too!!! more than i could cope with, and I have 2, and a DH around (although he might make it hardr ).

Reuben has grown from 8lb11oz to 10lb05oz in two weeks, even with the bug! HV said he would likely be heavier if not been poorly!!

Talking of poorly. He is on the face of it much happier today. However, he is vomitting more. And it is after a feed . He eats and when he burps, and sometimes instead of burping, he gurgles, coughs, gurgles, coughs, then gags/vomits his milk. One time though he smiled at me afterwards so not too bad for him! Poor little man, but it at least does not sound so painful to cough.

Thanks everyone. I got the same comments again tonight - Bryn projectile vomited everywhere, absolutely terrified me. Told by my mum that I should give him formula as he'll keep it down easier - which contradicts what the HV told me when I asked her. So upset and shaken up still. Scared of going to sleep in case he does it again and I don't wake up.

sorry all, going to be me me me but first Erika your mum's 'helpful' comments are anything but! What do you say when she makes them?
bbl hope you feel better- your post got me thinking, as did ninja's and i wonder if i too have some kind of postnatal issue- but with me it is anger, flashes of overwhelming anger towards dh. i feel so endlessly patient with the dcs, it's like all the frustration has to escape somewhere. i also feel a bit foggy and confused at times, kind of slow, and that makes me angry too, as does being fatter and yet hungry all the time.
i remember being a career woman, fairly trendy, thinking and acting quickly. Now i feel lost, confused, fat and unable to just enjoy this phase.
oh, crying babe, got to go, will talk to hv tomorrow, can't go on getting furious about trivial things like the rice not cooking fast enough!!!

erika, in my own experience, DD who was bf hardly ever projectile vomitted. The only time she did was when she was unwell. Sounds like Bryn might have a little bug, so keep an eye. But try not to panic too much. Reuben has a bug too and he has vomitted a few times in the last couple of days, although not projectile. It is really unpleasant, but I assure you, you will not sleep through it if he is sick in the night. Your mind, your instincts and the sound he will make, will all wake you instantly. Reuben was unwell in the night last night and I woke before he was actually sick each time. If, however, you are at all concerned at any point, call your out of hours gp for some advice/nhs direct. Do not wait for your mother to advise, just do it and then talk to her. Your mum is being really really unhelpful. What you need right now is support, a shoulder and some practical advice on how to deal with a newborn who is vomitting. .

I shall tell you about the first time DD projectile vomitted. She was, i don't know between 6-8 months, still in our room, in her cot. It was around 2am, she had a cold, and feeling sorry for herself, was awake fussing and it was DHs turn to get up and fuss her, check her temperature, settle her, but her cot was by my side of the bed so I was right next to them both and was awake with them. He was completely naked, sat on the bed, cuddling and shhing her, and I sat up and was talking to them both too. Then she gagged a couple of times and DH was like 'what is happening?' and before i could respond, she threw with great force, all over him . She also got me, all over my arms, it went so far, but mostly, it got DH. Not a drop on her, apart from a little around her mouth and chin I have never seen him run so fast into the shower going 'ew, ew, fucking hell, ew!' Leaving me with child, messy myself and the duvet to change! I laughed my ass off, as DD looked so much happier after it too!

Had two hours sleep last night. Feel dreadful. Toby slept like a dream. I can't go on like this

morning all

wook what you're describing is very familiar, and I'd say attributable to sleep deprivation but worth keeping an eye on. I get cross with DH rather than the DC's when I'm running on little sleep. I tend to forget I'm tired and then look for reasons why I'm so irritable. Clumsiness and confusion come with tiredness too. Try and give yourself a break mentally if you can. I have managed to do that this time and it's a real help.
Make a list of things you want/need to do, and if you tick one off at the end of the day then give yourself a pat on the back.
My career gives me a lot of self esteem when I'm working and I miss that, but I'm trying to see that being home with Ioan is my job for the next few months and brings a different sense of satisfaction.

Pav great that Reuben is on the mend and brilliant weight gain! Had to at your projectile story!!

Erika Sorry to hear you're getting comments again. When things are civil/nice between you then tell your Mum that the hv says bf is better for the bugs as formula will make him more suscpetible to gastro illnesses. Also tell her now about the latest research into making up formula - bottles must be made with water no cooler than 70deg and then cooled instantly for feeding. Bacteria multiplies between 70 and 5 deg, hence the info, and the powder isn't sterile. Tell her that bf is not only healthier for him whilst he's got tummy troubles, but also much easier for you at night times. Finish off with a comment about how you'd hoped she's support your decisions rather than criticise them, but you can understand why she's doing it if it goes against decisions she took years back.

BBL huge hugs your way. Is it dropping off you find hard? Have you done all the usuals like drink warm milk, no tv for an hour or two before bed, write down any thoughts in your head on a pad of paper next to the bed to 'release' you from thinking of them? Am probably teaching you to suck eggs so sorry if so. Can you now relax knowing Toby is sleeping ok at night, and hopefully that might allow you to then rest? Maybe the tablets from the doc might help?

Pasv meant to say am very of your ability to sit and do nothing. I am the opposite, always feel I should be doing something and find it very hard to sit and rest or take time out. Am a do-er which is great in theory but exhausting when it stops you taking naps etc. Am my own worst enemy at times.
Have the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo here ready to read, but trying to get through a David Baldacci at the moment. He's a brilliant read, just wish I had more spare time to read it in! Must learn to feed and do more than mumsnet!!

Snow here so no nursery, school or work. DH will work from home and DD meeting friends in the park, although with the blizzard outside am not sure they'll last long. I will be stuck with both DS' and not able to go outside - I forsee a long day ahead!
Oh, and got woken at 3:30 last night so the 6am was obviously a one off!!!
He did sleep from 9:30 though so for the first time since he was born, I went up to bed at 10 and was asleep by 10 past was nice to get to just sort myself out before bed, rather than nappies and feeding too!!

I had a terrible night too. James fed every 1.5-2 hours, but worst of all would not sleep in between at all unless he was being held. I must have had about 3 hours sleep and DH not much more. He is asleep now, in his bouncy chair {hmm] - that's no good to me though as DD is here and DH at work. Only 9 hours until 6pm...

becky what are you doing when you can't sleep? Maybe you could get up and have a bath or something, or like someone suggested yesterday, listen to an audio book / the radio so you can drift off to sleep. This website Audible has audio books to download. Hugs for you.

erika As far as I know breastfed babies are less likely to be sick. I hope Bryn's ok today and you got some sleep last night. I agree that I'm sure your instincts would wake you if he were ill, but even if not, he'd turn his head so as not to choke on it. James is a little bit sick quite often after a feed and it hasn't caused him any problems.

Wook I hope you're ok. I too miss all those things. I've found myself idly searching job websites the last few days, even though I am on maternity leave until August. Can you talk to DH about it? Does he understand that you're not just being snappy for no reason?

I'm finding it really painful feeding again and am seriously considering giving up. I know I'll really regret it if I do, but at the same time it feels like it would be such a relief. I don't know what to do

There's loads of snow here and it's just started again. I really hope we're not housebound - I might cry.

scarlotti I hope your day indoors is ok. Maybe you can persuade DH to take a few more breaks than normal to help you out. I am so over snow!

Been to the doctors again - defo PND. I've got anti-depressants begining with an f. And for tonight sleeping tablet. I've tried everything to sleep - at the moment it is both dropping off and getting back to sleep. It is like a switch is missing in my head to send me to sleep that was there before. My body relaxes but my brain refuses to. I've had sleep problems before, most severely during my finals at Uni, but then I could lie in and catch up. This time I can't! It feels as if I will never feel normal again. I feel so bad as DH is off work today to help out. I feel riddled with guilt about him and the DSs. I should be able to do this. I've done it before. Why can't I cope suddenely? I was coping fine before Christmas. My mum was sympathetic but wasn't today! She basically told me to snap out of it

Sorry for the me post again.