December 2009: for the sake of Auld Lang Sine

[LaDiDaDi]

Just thought that I would get this started before the ante-natal thread gets filled up, not that I've had much time to post since I had DS but others might be able to multi-task better than I can!

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GS - good start!

ABF - poor you - that sounds like a miserable way to feel ...I can sympathise as have been feeling very down myself today - lots of tears as the next saga in my daughter's life unfolds:

Took persephone for her hip scan yesterday and apparently her hip joints aren't quite developing and they should be - her ball and socket joints are less like cups and more like saucers - ie a bit shallow which can lead to hip problems later in life (but early - like 30/40s). So it's a bit frustrating as the treatment is more for the future - and it's not that nice - she now has to wear a pavlik harness the entire time - google it and you'll see - she looks special. And it could mean slow devlopment now for things like sitting up,, rolling etc. It's also probably down to me as I had a small bump and it meant she was squashed into a funny position - hence her funny foot when she was born and now funny hips. Wish I hadn't been so neat now

She will only have to wear it for max 12 weeks - really hope not that long as she would be 6 months old. (but if it doesn't work then traction is hospital or an op are possible so fingers crossed and i don't think it's anywhere near that serious!) Anyway I have to got the physio every week to get it adjusted and check her. I am taking her back to the private paediatrician to check tmrw for a second opinion. It's a bit miserable as it makes nappies hard and it's visible under her clothes too. Am worried the straps are going to dig into her etc - she had br.ight red and sore looking marks over her shoulders. She was being very screamy today so am not sure if it's that or her cold still or both. She's being sick a lot of mucousy stuff too. Anyway she was crying hard today and it's making me cry! I think she is annoyed with the harness...apparently is takes a few days to get used to. She also didn't settle well tonight which is v unlike her now.

The worst thing for me is how frustrating it all is as I felt we had just got the rather stressful reflux issues under control and she was a "normal" baby and doing so well for the past week. She had been so smiley and today she barely smiled except when I took the harness of for a bath - I just want my happy smiley girl back. Sorry for such a moan but am a little uncheerful today and a bit teary- I know it's not serious at all compared to loads of things - it just feels so frustrating and like another setback after just managing to sort the other stuff out.

Thanks for the congrats but It's not all sorted yet - I had a very full boob so I expressed some more for DH to try but she won't take it. Expressing is all a bit pointless if she'll only take it from me!!

Trying again now...

Catherine does the random waking nights too Claire. She normally does a loast feed between 9 and 10 and then sleeps till 3am but some nights she'll wake for endless feeds until around midnight and leave me exhausted! No idea how to fix it but I thought I'd reassure you that you're not alone.

So sorry to hear Persephone is having problems with her hips Kingsroadie. Hopefully, the doctors are right and she's just taking a couple of days to get used to her harness before getting back to being a happy, smiley little girl

That was a disaster. She got so wound up, she wouldn't take the bottle from me either!!

Managed 1oz out of a 4 oz bottle and spent a lot of that gagging and screaming

Watching One Born Every Minute now to remind myself how horrid labour was as I've been getting all melancholy about how I've never "given birth" and never will. Was feeling like I've missed out.

kingsroadie - hopefully your dd is starting to get used to her harness now. A friend of mines little girl had the same thing & she got used to it pretty quickly & didn't need any further treatment after the harness was removed. She's now 7 & the speed she runs at you'd never know she'd ever had anything wrong.

GS - breast is very definitely best for your dd isn't it. Keep persevering, you'll get there. One Born Every Minute makes me cry because I still don't feel right about how awful & out of control my labour with ds2 felt.

GS just reading through and catching up but have you tried nuk bottles, i have been through every bottle i coul find and nuk she took to straight away. they have hole in strange place to make it m ore like bf.

Thanks Damnit. Have had Browns bottles recommended too. We're using Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature ones at the moment but obviously they're not quite close enough for Catherine!!

Will try again later. I actually had her sucking from one for a while yesterday but she seems to get fed up of that after about 1 oz and gets grotty. I've been expressing and feeding it almost immediately so it's body temp and fresh - she just wants boob!

I can't really complain about Catherine's birth because I chose an ELCS but DS's birth was a complete clusterfuck and I often think we were both very lucky to get through it in one piece!

Not used to harness yet - gas been screaming all yesterday and so far today . and no poo for over 48 hours which is a long time for her so that isn't helping!

hi all. GS, just to say, we use the medela bottles for giving anna ebm. We tried the avent ones and she hated them, but medela ones have a little teat.

Hello all.

Sorry that you dd has to wear the harness Kings, so beneficial in the long-term but knowing that is little help now.

We went to A+E last night as I thought that I'd given dd a pulled elbow but after a2.5 hour wait, during which time she wouldn't move her arm for us, she waved it about for the doc .

Today I've been in to the city centre for the first time alone with ds and dd. It was gheavingly busy but dd was a star, for once, and I got most of what I needed. Despite her good behaviour though I was a nerous wreck, so worried she would dash off and I wouldn't be able to get to her or that she was going to have a big tantrum. She is watching tv now whilst I de-stress on here!

GS,i only replied quickly before as i was in a rush, but i tried every bottle available near me with ebony, who would not take ebm at all from a bottle, she was gagging, cying, getting all worked up etc.. i even tried to leave it as long as possible so she was really really hungry but none worked. that was until i tried the nuk bottles, the shape of the teats remind me of when babies suck your nipple flat (IYSWIM). Ebony then would take ebm and formula from it straight away. You can also just buy the one bottle for about £4 which makes it less expensive to try than some of the others you buy in a pack.

I really think the type of bottle depends on the baby. DD1 had TT bottles and i bought a whole new set of them for ebony. going to sell the unused ones on ebay if i can work out how to do it.

Sorry to hear about the harness kings, a baby at a playgroup i go to has them her mum is finding it really hard to find clothes that she can use with ease when she is wearing it.

Wish i felt confident enough to take both dd's out shopping Ladidadi, i curently take a bag of skittles everywhere with me so dd gets 1 every time she does what i ask ie, get in the car seat quickly, stand on the pavement and wait for me to get dd2 out of the car. Dont think i could manage without them

Well damnit, I only managed to buy shoes and a cardi for dd and some M&S hot cross buns! Forgot a handbag for me and couldn't find a tie in the colour I wanted for dp. Like your skittles idea though , may use it for the wedding on Saturday instead of lollipops (usual bribe to keep her quiet in weddings)!

Will have to try those NUK bottles then I think damnit. Catherine's still gagging with the TT bottles which makes her cry and fuss. I've been recommended Dr Brown's bottles too but they're mega expensive. I like the idea of just being able to buy one.

I did quite well with DS today. He loves going out to the park and today was the monthly "pushchairs in the park" in MK. It's just a set walk round one of the local parks but about halfway round they set up some activities to do - today it was water play, making bird fat balls, clay and they had a fire pit and were aking pancakes. I asked DS whether he wanted to go there or toddler group and he chose the park so I got us all wrapped up and off we went in the rain! Luckily, it stopped soon after we got there and we had a lovely time. Catherine slept the whole way round so I had time to play with DS and he's been a lot easier this afternoon thanks to a good walk and some fresh air. Only 1 accident today

Feeling a lot more in control recently...

That is fat balls to feed the birds not balls made from bird fat by the way!!

i had the cheapest latex teat tall bottles from asda for dd.... about 5 quid for 6 and she loooovvveeeddd them..... better than any posh bottle..... think it was the latex teat perhaps!!??

awwwwwww just been looking at our first thread.... seems soooooooooo long ago! loads of people have dropped off though!!!

Only the hardcore left now!

Just dyed my hair as the grey were springing up, esp when I tie it back, and no chance of a trip to the hairdressers at the moment.

Pleased that your DS is being easier for you GS. I really need to take dd to the park but I just keep worrying about how bloody cold my boobs will be if I have to bf when there. I hate the winter anyway but this time it's really made me feel trapped. Think I will have to wait until ds seems to be in a deep sleep and then make a dash for it!

just a quick question to all those using formula how much does your baby have and how often?

Ebony has been on formula for just over a week now (initially with some bf) but takes no where near the recomended amount on the tin. The recomended for her age is 5 feeds of 5oz ie 25oz in 24 hours and she takes between 15-20.

she has now been described lactose free milk so i hope it will improve but i just wondered how much others take.

Yey! Got Catherine weighed today and she's now 8lbs 14oz

Means she's sticking to her new line on the graph again.

She's just below the 9th percentile.

Catherine seems to sleep for longer in the pushchair LaDiDaDi. It seems to soothe her. Maybe your DS would be the same? I always feed her last thing then get her all snuggled up in her snowsuit and go out. Hoping it gets a bit warmer before she rumbles me and I have to feed while out

I fed her in the shopping center at the weekend. Sat myself on a bench and got on with it. DH thought it was great. We're taking DS out for the day to the Sea Life Center in Birmingham for his birthday next month so I'll have no choice but to feed her while we're out so I'd better get practicing. It's not like I can give her a bottle!

damnit-My DS is 12 weeks now and takes 4-5 oz at each feed during the day, and his 11pm feed i give him 6oz. He is still waking around 3am for a feed and im hoping he may stop that one soon. He takes probably 32 oz in a 24 hr period, but he is quite large, hes 15lb 6oz now.

Kingsroadie-Sorry to hear about your DD hip problems, it cant be nice for her having to wear the harness poor poppet, but it will be worth it iin the long run. Dont blame yourself for her hip problems, its prob nothing at all to do with having a small bump, bless you.

GoldenSnitch-I read somewhere (think may have been in baby whisperer book) that you should look for teat which resembles as closely as can, the shape of your nipple.

Hope everyone well, ive got both DS,s full of cold at the moment.
Anyone else got a baby who resists his/her naps? He gets overtired and screams the house down, i watch carefully for the cues hes getting tired, and try and get him down as quick as poss, but he really fights his sleep. He goes to bed great on a nightime though, which im thankful for.

Thanks everyone - she seems a bit more cheerful today - she has smiled at me at least! I wonder if she isn't feeling a bit unwell too though as she has been sick a lot the past few days - even more than usual for a reflux baby...and a massive projectile vom this morning!

damit - She eats between 3 and 5oz per feed at 12 weeks - she only started eating over 4oz about a week ago and it was a revelation for me - she has also started taking 6oz last thing at night, sleeping through and another 5/6 in the morning.

GS - careful before spending lots of money on Dr Browns bottles - I have used TT since the start and she has been fine but tried Dr Browns for colic and she wouldn't have them at all - just nibbled at the teat - it is less like a nipple I think. Just to warn you - she may well be fine!

thanks, i think i do need to get her to take more but i am not sure how. At the moment she still tends to go only 2 hours between feeds and will take about 2oz. however she had long afternoon sleep today so it was 3 1/2 hours before she wanted feeding and took 4oz . i think she is struggling to go longer so she will take more because she use to feed so often when breastfedand can not get out of the habbit.

Glad to hear she is a bit happier today kingsroadie.

I was much better bf in public this time round but dont know if i would have dared in busy shopping centre think i would have been too aware of people looking. But then again i was never the discretist (how on earth do you spell that) of breastfeeders. I was in asda the other day though waiting for the bench to try shoes on to become free so i could sit dd1 down to put them on. Anyway after about 5 mins i realised the woman using the bench was breastfeeding and might be there a while. The woman must of thought i was mad i stood near her for ages then walked off. Wish i had not felt so aware of people when feeding i might have been able to go out for longer than an hour at a time.

Regan will be 9 weeks on saturday and has 6oz 5 times a day but he is a big lad, he was 13lb last week.
He also has his 1st tooth coming through!! Couldnt quite believe it when I first saw it but its deffinatly there. Quite strange as ds1 could walk before he got any teeth

ds2 will be 12 weeks Sat & he has 4-5 ozs every 3 hours during the day. In 24 hours he has about 30 ozs

no idea how much ds has but feeds 6 times a day and when i express i get about 6 ozs off.....about 36 ozs..... he sleeps about 10 hours, feeds then goes back off for 2 or 3 hours so the 6 feeds he has can be clustered together! NOt sure how long i can keep bf for as hee is soooo hungry and i know i cant give him solids yet x

fEEL HORRENDOUS THOUGH.... TRIED FOR AN HOUR TO GET HIM TO SLEEP THIS AFTERNOON ADN HE WAS BESIDE HIMSELF.... GAVE IN ADN GAVE UP ON THE NAP AND HE WAS ACTUALLY STARVING AND I HAD MISSED THE CUES!!!

OOPS SORRY FOR CAPS XX

I don't mind feeding ds in public, just not on a park bench at 2.5C .
I've fed him walking around the supermarket, looking at necklaces in the jewellers, eating in cafes and restaurants etc and no one has batted an eyelid.