October 2007 - these little piggies are growing up fast!

[alicet]

Ok so a pretty boring thread title but thought we needed some distance from the last one!

glad you liked the presents Dal! and many thanks to NC for sorting it all out for us...

Hey ladies, not really got time to catch up yet but thought i'd post rather than not at all...

Nc - The lovley baby gro will definately fit Miles, he's wearing tiny baby size at the moments

Stefka - Sorry you're having trouble with anxiety, I experienced/experience this and it manifests itself as a fear of wasps mainly . My sil is a psychologist and can't recomment CBT highly enough. I don't know if you've already had that though... If there's a waiting list i've heard the book 'CBT fr dummies' is actually quite good, maybe you could read it whilst you're waiting for some type of counselling?

Re the breastfeeding, in the first few days it was just a case of every single feed being painfull all the way through. No matter how I tried to get the latch right he wouls squash my nipple (shaped when came out of his mouth and sore/blistered) and also it felt like he was chomping on the base of my nipple with his gums like a little pirana

The midwifes just kept saying he was feeding well and swallowing which is was/is but it was still excruciatingly painfull!

Saw breastfeeding lady on thurs and she refreshed my memory on how to latch him on better and get him to put his head back more. He has a really strong neck, can hold his head up already for a little while so fights with me when i'm trying to get him to put his head back and open wide.

I've been practicing the techniques the bf lady gave me and it's now the case that all feeds are painfull for first minute or so but then some feeds are 'ok' after that and just a litle tender. Sone feeds still nip all the way through and it doesn't seem to matter how many times I relatch him it still hurts , some times I have to just grit my teeth and take him off when I can't take any more. One side is worse than the other and I think that even if I do get the latch right on that one it still hurts a bit as it needs to heal.

The main problem at the moment is just that, they need to heal from the first few days of bad feeds but don't get much chance with him feeding every 2 hours. I'm using my silverette nipple cups in between feeds but healing is slow. I did use lansinoh in the first 3 or 4 days too but can't use that together with the nipple cups.

Going to see bf lady again tomorrow. Any advice greatfully recieved. I swing between being determined to make this work and sobbing on to my sore boobies!

Alicet - So so sorry to hear of your friends loss . I really can't think of the words.. No idea what i'd do in your situation. I guess just let them know you're there for them and to keep offering support long after other people think they should have 'moved on' iyswim.

Muppet - Sounds like you've had a tough time lately, especially on the sleep front, you have my sympathies! Hope you're dh recovers quickly and is able to help you out so you can get a break!

Hearofglass - Congratulations. I hope that as Mary J sings there is no more drama indeed. Sounds like you've had enough to last you all year. Keep resting and looking after you x

Well, Miles is currently asleep on dh's knee and he has also fallen asleep with his head back next to me, what a sight! Will have to rouse them as Miles is due a feed... I hope feeding is pain free soon cause I hate dreading feeding time!

Hi to all I have missed, sorry I've not replied to everyone individually but am reading and thinking of you all x x x

Dal - just wanted to post to support you in the BF - i remember just how painful it was for me at the start - I really had to be stubborn and take it one feed at a time. So glad you got some techniques from the breastfeeding lady. I never managed to get olly to feed without using nipple shields - these ones - as I just never got his latch right for whatever reason, so these shields were great because a) he could latch on and fed really easily, and b) it didn't seem to hurt as much. I know nipple shields are frowned upon by many, but they suited us just fine... The only other thing I remember is that babies that are tongue-tied mean it can be painful feeding - worth getting your health visitor to look at this perhaps?

Hello to everyone else - hope you are all ok. We have been to tescos and toddlers today - our normal monday things. Wish the weather wasn't rainy as I dug up some of the garden yesterday to put some new plants in, and i want to get on with this, not be stuck indoors!

Dal - Hopefully the feeding gets better. Sounds like you are making some progress... even if it is just baby steps! How is Miles otherwise? Is his personality similar to his brother? Complete opposite? Its funny just how different 2 siblings can be!

I had an absolutely dreadful evening yesterday! I mentioned before how Sofia sometimes sleeps with DD1? Well... apparently its been happening a lot more than usual lately (unknown to me ). Well... it culminated last night in Sofia absolutely refusing to go to sleep in her own bed at all! She was screaming blue murder for 45 minutes like I have never heard her scream before! My throat is killing me from trying to shout over her to try to get her attention. I then tried to just keep putting her down in her bed everytime she stood up. I then tried ignoring her but staying in the room to supervise. Finally I just gave up and let her cry it out! My poor DD1 who was in her bed at the time, ended up having to leave and sleep in DS1's bed. I finally got her calm and put her to sleep at which point DD1 returned to her room. Then at about 5am, she started the rampage again! She cried for about 20 minutes wanting to sleep with her sister. DD1 again left her bed, and then of course, all the noise woke the baby. He then started crying and I was pretty close to joining them! Finally Sofia gave up and went back to sleep. I nursed the baby and he stayed curled in my arms but slept until almost 9am. DH gave me a lie in til 9am as well, so that was nice. Forced myself to run 5km to work out some of the stress. Now I am just knackered! Am hoping she wont put up a fuss for her nap, or again for bed tonight since I will have a house full of girlfriends over for a girls night. I feel like a bad mummy for not realizing how often she was sleeping in her sisters bed andf forming such a bad habit. I am thankful that so far she cannot climb out of her crib yet, since it would be that much worse if she could. Sorry for the me me me post... not thinking very clear right now

Alicet - sorry about your friends loss. My best friend since nursery school lost her baby girl a month after she was born. (She had a heart defect and was actually operated on while in-utero but died from infection). It was very hard on the family since my friend tried for over 2 years to get pg in the first place. She is Catholic, so I had bought her some things to put around the baby while she was in hospital. Tragically, the parcel didnt make it before the baby passed, but I gave her the items all the same. They are now tucked away with all the other memories she has of her angel. I like the idea of giving a small gift to commemorate the baby's life/existence, no matter how short it was. I think the mum would be touched.

Muppet - How is your DH doing? I saw your FB updates... how horrible to have to wait that long for the scan. At least he can work at home for at least a little while.

HOG - Hope you are well.

Hello to everyone else. Will hopefully have a better day today, then will be able to catch up properly tomorrow.

Thanks strawberry, I think I have those ones somewhere from last time. I couldn't really get them to work for me last time but might try again.

Seen the lactation consultant this aft, she gave me another technique to try to latch him on and it felt more bearable when she helped me with that. Got to practice it and call her back in a few days if no better.

It is a miserable day weatherwise, hope spring comes back soon! I'm sure I heard someone say snow was forecast, I hope that's not true!

BB4, sorry x posted.

Thanks for the sympathies on the feeding, I hope I continue to make progress, I really don't want to give up!

Sounds like you had a pretty stressful night, hope things improve soon...Don't know how you manage to run so far on top of all you do already, you're superwoman!

Dal you are doing really well! It was three months before feeding sorted itself out for me but then I fed for 2 years and three months! My nipples needed to heal too, I already mentioned jelonet. I did not find the cups helped at all. I bandaged up the nipples after every feed with jelonet and used nipple cream. The moist wound healing was the only thing that helped for me. My hv got me a prescription for the jelonet and then I cut it up into little squares. You are doing your baby so much good, I hope you feel proud.

Babyblue, there must be something in the water as my son went mental last night at bedtime too after being really good for ages. It's horrible when they get so tired you can't calm them down. Can not believe you run to work!

Got a show today so hopefully all will go well!

Choc - I remember you struggled for a while and thinking what an amazing strong lady you were at the time... My nips do seem to be healing a little quicker since I went back to the lansinoh (was using the silverettes).

Dylan had a crazy 5 mins before bed too, he kept putting the dogs tea (dry dog food) in to her water bowl whilst she was trying to eat it. I had to move him away 4 times and he was being very dramatic!

Fingers crossed for your show x

Choc; toi,toi,toi. I hope the show goes well [fingers crossed emoticon]

Dal; I'm glad the lansinoh is appearing to do the job ...totally understand the problem with a very strong newborn, until you mentioned it I had forgotten but Alex was exactly the same, my mw eventually got me to cupfeed him a few mouthfuls of ebm before allowing him to latch so he wasn't so over eager(worth a try?[hopeful emoticon])hang on in there...(do you remember us all writing that to each other 2.5 yrs ago?)

BB;what a shocker I do hope she gets back into good habits again quickly..it is just sooooo easy for them to pick up bad ones....poor dd1 how good of her to put up with it in silence for so long.

Crochet; look forward to hearing about all your exploits... if/when you have some spare time

We have had yet another busy one this last week...FIL retired on Friday so we did a celebratory dinner for him and mil, sil and the nephews and Dhs aunt and uncle...a good night but rushed and a bit stressful as DNs 1 and 2 (12yrs & 5yr9mth)wouldn't eat the Indian meal I had cooked and DN2 was in foul mood (he has always been jealous of Alex and was on the verge of lashing out at him on a couple of occasions and Sat they had a big party at their house...I spent the almost the whole evening sat on a chair at the foot of the stairs because the kids were running wild (2@12yrs, 1@10y, 1@5y and 2@2y)charging up and down stairs playing tag and hide and seek...fine for those who are brought up in houses with stairs but Alex forgets to come down safely because he gets very little practise, living in a bungalow...I endured 3 hours of people telling me to come and join the party and stop being over protective then at 11pm when the older kids had run out of steam Alex and his 2.9yr old mate charged upstairs yet again and I broke off a conversation to run to the bottom of the stairs just in time to see the other 2yr old at the top 'tag' Alex (1 step below him)with a push with both hands in the back!!!!! Alex flew through the air half way down the stairs, landed heavily on his feet and bounced, flying down the rest of the stairs into my waiting arms......he was ok,thank God, shaken and complaining that his neck hurt but did anyone say "thank heavens you were there?" or "that was nearly a trip to A&E"? oh no! Not 2 mins later, still shaking with adrenalin, I got mils best friend and sil lecturing me that toddlers "bounce" and that they have to "learn"!!!!!!!!!!! Learn WHAT? to Fardling FLY ???? Fine! I'll let him break his neck next time then, that'll teach him! I'm still seething!!!...how I kept my mouth shut I will never know. What is more I was telling my pal at dog club on Sun and my cousins' dh overheard and only blardy agreed with them but after a whole night of fuming I shut him up by snapping "I have lost enough children without losing Alex too thank you very much!!!!"...at least he had the grace to look shame faced and say "oh...yes..mm"
On a lighter note...quite literally...Alex though he has started sleeping through the night has been getting up earlier and earlier (5am is not my idea of bliss) so last week we put a string of fairy lights round his bedroom door plugged into a timer set for 6.30 and told him to stay in his room until the magic lights came on and he would get a sticker on his chart..5 stickers and he would get a trip to the local softplay centre...the clocks going forward has helped too (we have changed the timer to 7am though )but today we went to softplay! yahoo!result!!! and his lordship is now sleeping off the effects of 2 hours running wild and pizza for lunch!

Just popping on quicly while I eat some toast and cheese before tonight. Need another day. Kids just don't get it. I actually had to give someone a note about not pulling their knickers out of their bum - yes the audience will see you do that you are under a 2000 bulb light dear. Really hope nothing major goes wrong at least!

I love the fairy light idea - so pretty! Luckily Dareh is like his dad and likes to sleep in! Well until about seven anyway but it is better than five.

FT - I would be more than at the way your family handled that situation!! I hate when we have company and the kids do not play in the family room but have to run up and down the stairs and go into the bedrooms. We have a play area and a basement filled with toys. It always seems like it is me who has to supervise. My sis and my SIL dont say a word! Thank goodness Alex is ok and that you were there to catch him. I think all that adrenaline would have caused me to punch the person who made the first bad remark! Good on you that you kept your cool.

Dal - When my DD1 was born, her latch was horrible. She had a very powerful suck, but would always slide her latch. My nipples were cracked and bleeding for weeks. I had a few visits from nurses, but she always behaved for them. At 6 weeks, I finally had enough and gave her a bottle. I regret that decision today. Hopefully you will manage to stick with it. Glad to hear that things are going better.

Sofia had a bit of a better time yesterday. At nap I promised her that if she went to bed without a fuss, she would get some Easter stickers for her window and mirror. She had a great nap, and her and DD1 had fun decorating the windows in their room with the cling type window stickers. Then last night, DH put her to bed and I could hear the screaming beginning again. I was so tired that I passed out on the sofa at 9pm (before all my children were even in bed!!). DH told me he put on a little puppet show for Sofia, and the screaming stopped. She didnt even wake up in the night!! Thank goodness! The cheeky little monkey says to me this morning "I sleep Mine bed!! No sleep Lina's bed anymore. Mine bed!!!" Hopefully thats true!!

So my girls night was a bit of a bust last night. Only half showed up... some didnt even bother to call... others called with lame excuses. Makes me a bit since I am the only one with so many DCs, yet I have to plan these nights. My friend who is here from the US had her 2 DCs with her (same age as my babies), so my my DD1 played babysitter to the lot. Was very noisy! Cant imagine how women with 6 DCs do it... sometimes wonder how those with 4 cope!! LOL
This morning my stomach feels crap... probably from the take-away. All in all... I sometimes miss the days when I could go out with friends, have some drinks, go dancing, and just have fun! LOL. Nowadays, I am lucky to go anywhere without a child strapped to me in some way! Wouldn't trade it for the world though.

sorry - a week of sicky UTI (me) and another admission for dd. Least it was an admission this time and she seems loads better now so fingers crossed that's our dramas done and dusted for a bit

alice - sorry about yr friends. It happened to one of my closest friends last year. Think texting is a good thing as it shows you are there but isn't too intrusive. I just texted my friend lots to say that I was thinking of them and was ready / there any time of the day night for a talk if that was what she wanted. I also ordered some groceries - really easy to cook food / ready meals etc to be delivered. They said recently that that was a really good thing at the time as shopping / cooking etc wasn't really on their radar. Other than small touches like that and just being there there isn't really a fat lot you or anyone can do. Such an awful, bewildering time

dal - aw glad you like the stuff. NC did a grand ol job there didn't she? Ouch for yr poorly nips. You are doing really well with the feeding and sure things will settle down eventually. I found it v v hard - took a couple of months I reckon before I felt like I knew what I was doing. Waiting for a big, open hungry mouth rather than latching him on the minute he parted his lips worked wonders for me. Along with loads of support / hand holding / encouragement from bf co ordinator. She also picked up on that ds wasn't actually putting his tongue down properly before latching on and thus he was flicking my nip with it - causing lots of pain / cracking. She did some thing here she put her finger in his mouth and it was fine after that

ft - good rsponse from you. Can't believe no one said owt and inferred you were being OTT. Stairs are not the best place to play. Our hv today (at 2 and half dev check - first tme I've seen her for 18 mths!)asked whether ds was walking down the stairs. I said he goes down backwards and I discouraged him from walking down. She pulled that face to whch I said his legs are too little and our stairs are really steep. Not the best combination

choccystar - I misunderstood 'Got a show today..'. Arrgghhh baby and birth obsessed I think I am!

Big hello to everyone else

oh inzi forgot to say well done to you both on the potty training. Wahey!

Evening ladies

Floria - Thanks for the feeding advice, he is very strong, both with his neck and the sucking! The lactation consultant gave me a good technique where I kind of press above my nipple with my thumb to tilt it so he gets a good mouthfull when he latches on. He chomps and tries to suck it in whilst i'm trying to latch him so have to be really quick. I seem to be getting the hang of it and every feed has been good since i've been doing it. Still a bit tender at first but I need to heal a bit more yet. I'm so relieved it seems to be better but am also scared i'll loose it and it'll get painful again, will just have to take one feed at a time.

at you relatives and their blase attitude to playing on the stairs. I certainly wouldn't let Dylan play on the stairs at all. He's only recently started to walk up them rather than crawl and literally just learnt to come down on him bum after dh teaching him. No way would I leave him unattended. Thank god you were there!

I'm all for them 'learning' when they take a tumble but literally flying down a flight of stairs is a whole other ball game.

The fairy light idea is very clever, might try that one in the future if we have simlar probs!

BB4 - Thanks for the encouragement re the breastfeeding. I was the same as you with ds1, gave up at 5 weeks and regretted it, I tried to start again after a 5 day break but never felt my supply came back fully and he had gotten used to bottles and eventually went on to them. I learnt that time to ask for help earlier this time, I left it too long with ds1 and by then the pain was so bad I just had to stop .

Glad the sleeping situation is getting sorted a bit by bit, sure you'll get there.

at your friends not turning up and making lame excuses. Not fair when you've gone to a lot of effort and hardly ever get to do stuff like that.

Inzi - Well done on the potty training, so pleased for you! Wonder when we'll get there

I'm not too tired thanks, Miles seems to go down after his last feed somewhere around midnight then sleeps about 2 and half to 3 and a half hours then wakes, feeds, poo's and goes back to sleep for another 2 and a half to 3 and a half hours. So depending on when we go to bed and when we get up we usually get 2-3 good blocks of sleep

How is your CTS now? (if that is what it is, I have a feeling baby brain may have remembered the wrong abbreviation). How is your sickness etc? When is your 20 wk scan again?

Breastfeeding going better as you'll see from my ealrier post to floria, i'm so relieved, hope it continues to improve cause I was close to giving up.

Heartofglass - Sorry you've not been well and have had the worry of dd being admitted too. Glad you're both on the mend now.

The thing you say about waiting for a big hungry mouth with the feeding is definately true, I feel like Miles is learning now and seems to be opening wide to latch on, before he was just chomping quickly and it was heard to find a gap to latch him on iyswim? He still chomps a bit but is getting better

The health visitor came today to weigh Miles for the first time as he's 10 days old. He's regained his birth weight and 4oz more so is now 7lb 2 and a half oz , I feel very proud that he is doing well and it's my breast milk that has nourished him so far . He's currently sleeping on dh's knee, has been feeding loads this evening, jsut waiting for him to wake for his last feed before bed.

Hi to everyone i've missed, am always reading even if I don't have time to post x x x

Really glad things are going better for you Dal! Well done for managing to keep going.

Lol BB - no I am not about to go into labour, a very different kind of show!

Dareh had a very late nap yesterday so ended up being up late. He then slept in bed with me last night which I fear might have been a bit of an error. He's been so good with his sleep, trust him to start to be a monkey with it again just before we are due to go and visit my SIL who's daughter will be an angel while Dareh will probably behave like a little monster!

BB4 sorry about your 'friends'..I wish you were over here, we would have come

Dal;truly thrilled for you that the bf is going so much better and that Miles is doing so well.

Choc; try not to fret over it, you did what you needed to for a decent nights sleep for both of you...it is always swings and roundabouts for all of us, all the time; just as you think you have 'em sussed the little darlings raise the bar...So what if your dn is an angel this visit and Dareh isn't quite so perfect? No child is perfect all the time (and if sil implies DN is otherwise I'm sorry but I just don't believe her) to tell the truth I'd be worried if they were 100% perfect (though will admit I wish Alex would get the balance a bit more on the positive side more often)and at some point when you visit it will be your sil that is at the disadvantage (with any luck).

Thanks Floria

BB4 I really hate it when people do that, it really bugs me. I would love a girls night!

I feel hellish. Tired and have been pre menstral for three days now. I wish my period would just bloody start!

Hello ladies

Well I have fallen behind again

Just wanted to say to Dal - Glad you liked all the pressies, NC did a fabulous job

Glad you have got the bf sorted and getting more and more comfortable every day, well done

Hello to everyone else, really sorry I am being so slack. Hope you all have a lovely Easter and I'll try and catch back up soon.

Oh and Inzi - Well done Jane on the Potty training

Hey ladies,

choc - I second what floria says re you sil and dn, who cares what she thinks! Don't be so hard on yourself, you're an amazing mum with a wonderful little boy

I hope you feel better soon and your period turn up... or not

LLL - thanks for the words of encouragement

By the way, does anyone know who won the creme egg? I haven't had time to check, got a feeling nc was close...

Dylan and Miles both have a cold, just a mild one so they're ok but really snotty. Seems sad Miles should have a cold already at only 11 days old . Think i'm getting it too, got a sore troat tonight, boo!

Hi to everyone i've missed as usual x

Just a quick post to wish everyone a very happy Easter weekend!! Eat lots of chocolate!!!

Dal - I was close to winning the creme egg but someone... not sure who... was closer than me. And speaking of creme eggs...

I HAVE A RECIPE FOR THEM !!!!!

Anyone game enough to try??? I havent made them yet, but my girlfriend says they taste exactly like them!!!!!

Try here

Missed so much again - must try and get on here more often.

I am so tired at the moment - there don't seem to be enough hours in the day. I was really looking forward to having a day to myself today as H was supposed to have Anya as he usually does on a Friday - I was expecting to have from breakfast until teatime to myself. He didn't turn up until 10:30, after I'd phoned him to see where he was ("sorting himself out" ), then he said it was too cold to take her out anywhere so he just played with her here, meaning I couldn't do stuff I wanted to do. He did at least take her out for a couple of hours over lunch but then I crashed out asleep in the afternoon and he helpfully woke me up (I was so deeply asleep I was snoring) at 4:30 to tell me he was going home. I promised myself I wouldn't put posts on here moaning about him but I just feel really down tonight.

Anyway, enough of me moaning...

Dal - so glad you liked your parcel - enjoy! (And lots of thanks to NC for organising) Glad bf lady helped - I only bf for a few weeks so no advice, others will give you good tips though I'm sure. Hope that the boys' colds are better soon.

Inzi - fantastic news on the potty training - well done to both you and Jane. Wonderful that the baby is kicking. Hope you enjoyed deep sea world.

NC - sorry but lol at wee on the sofa - makes me feel better to know that not everybody else sails perfectly through life.

Strawberry - well done your dh doing the bathroom, that's really impressive. Hope you enjoyed your second week off.

BB4 - lol at Sofia picking up bad habits from supernanny. I hope Anya settles in nursery as well as Sofia has. Don't beat yourself up about not knowing she was in her sister's bed - they're so sneaky at this age! It seems as though you've cracked that fairly quickly though.

Alice - hugs to you - I'm sure your friends appreciate what you are doing even if it feels to you as though you're not doing much.

FT - omg at Alex flying/falling down the stairs - a good job you were there. Don't know how the other adults could be so uncaring - I still never let Anya come down the stairs without me being there and she's had tonnes of practice. Well done Alex for sleeping through - the fairy lights are a good idea, I might try that when we get proper light mornings.

HOG - glad that dd is better.

LLL - hello and happy Easter!

hello ladies.

Sorry I haven't had a chance to catch up so not many individual replies and a bit of a me me me.

Those of you who have been here a while will remember my sister in law had puerperal psychosis after the birth of her dd1 just under 3 years ago. Well she had dd2 on Mon and she has already developed signs of it again. She was admitted to a general psychiatric ward last night as there were no mother and baby beds and dh went down to help them all.

Thanks for all the support about my friends who lost their dd too. It was her funeral on Thurs but they kept it just the 2 of them. I have still been texting every couple of days but haven't heard anything for a while (initially he was replying to the texts) but then again they weren't saying anything that needed a reply. Just wish I could be there for them to give them a hug but I have accepted that its not about me and what I want and that to respect the fact that they need this time is important (but letting them know that when they need me I am here).

Dal read one of your posts about breast feeding - have they checked to see if miles has a tongue tie? Sam had this and bf was agony and never got better. I only found out a few months later that having this dealt with could have helped. good luck - I can second the nipple shields!

Anyway off to get Adam up - a bit busy this weekend on my own with the boys as you can imagine1 I will try to catch up properly soon

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Happy Easter Lovely Ladies