FEB 2010 Valentines, pancakes and BABIES!!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Here it is, then - the post natal thread for the Feb 2010 gang - let the poo/bf/nappy rash/sleeplessness/crying

OMG whatdoIdonow!! conversations commence...

Who else has downgraded their definition of "a good night's sleep?

Mine used to be a seven-hour stretch. Now it's five hours in total.

Last night I think I got about three hours max... Better than nothing, anyway! Am slapping on the eye-cream like billyo.

I spent my birthday this year in bed having a babymoon being waited on hand an foot and entertaining guests from under the duvet. DS was only 3 days old. It was def best birthday for years. might do it every year.

IC the kangoo hammock on that site is very similar to the miyo, the others look like i would want to strap baby into them. particularly like the stands very stylish.

DS only woke once last night hurrah feel like a new woman.

Being waited on hand and foot? Gosh I'm so envious... I went home less than 12 hours after dd2 was born, with no sleep for two nights, and cooked lunch, tidied the kitchen, and tried to occupy dd1... Did you all really have a babymoon?

That reminds me, what travel mat did you get, comeon? I'm thinking of getting one myself...

Yes, RRR, I agree about straps and the koala has them. I tried DD in it at the shop yesterday and she seemed to like it. I like the fact that that one is portable, too.

DH took DD off in the sling this morning so I could catch up a bit of sleep. But could I nod off? Not on your nelly, grr!!

Still, DH weighed her while they were out and she's now a shade under 8lb, which is heartening.

Finally got round to posting 12 days after Henry was born (he was 12 days late so ended up being a March baby). He appears to be going through a growth spurt and is continually demanding food. The midwife weighed him today and he's 8lbs 11oz (birth weight was 8lbs 6oz) so he's a greedy little boy!

Is anyone else getting night sweats? I've been waking up covered in sweat; apparently it's due to prolactin levels with BF. I'm hoping it settles soon.

As for muffin tops - I'm back in some of my prepregnancy clothes (I was fairly fit throughout pregnancy), but have got a definite extra ring that wasn't there before. I'm desperate to get out gently exercising but my stitches are still sore and healing. How long does it take before they stop being tender?

Well we've had the last of our visitors now (seven weeks after Poppy was born!) and just have a 400 mile journey next weekend to look forward to. I'm thinking what used to take us 7 hours before is going to take us a lot longer as we'll be stopping regularly to let Poppy stretch.

I'm back in my pre-pregnancy clothes but I only put on 0.5kg during the pregnancy so really I have no excuse not to be. I'm hoping to drop a dress size before Poopy's christening next month, but DH keeps leaving me surrounded my boxes of chocs when he leaves for work . I've found a loose t-shirt with a stretchy vest top underneath works well for breastfeeding in public. My only problem is that Poppy doesn't seem to like discreet feeding. She's really fussy unless I have the whole boob out for her but there's no way I'm doing that in pizza hut so we struggle on!

I've been walking everywhere this week, I'm hoping to start buggyfit when we come back from 'down south' but until then walking is my only form of exercise. I just love pushing Poppy around in her pram .

yes to night sweats - urgh!

feeling pretty good except (tmi warning!) have got a huge spot between my bum and floo and a tiny tear on my bum itself?reckon thats down to rocky black iron poo? really bloody fed up, cos in constant discomfort and going to the loo fills me with horror? still, slapping germolene on and hoping for the best!!

portable mats - we got a skiphop with DD and 3.5 years later, still in use for DS?deffo recommend

no babymoon here, tho i was in hosp post-section for couple of days? DH was ace, but having my ma around is a bit like having a third REALLY demanding child in the house

I guess my version of a babymoon was the four days in hospital post birth - although removing even a single layer of DD's clothing would have been frowned on - honestly I am constantly being scolded for not keeping my baby warm enough - people here are obsessed with keeping babies warm... I always slip a finger down her front or back to check. I just have a fear of overheating.

And breathe...

I am getting stuck into my thank you letters. We have really been spoilt - or rather DD has - with lovely presents so I don't want to put them off any longer.

DD is a pearl - she is fantastic at night - but I just can not get her to nap during the day. I am slightly worried how the childminder is going to react to this when she goes at the beginning of May (oh she is so tiny I can't bear to hand her over to anyone else).

BG - We were also home after 12 hours but my mum came and looked after me the first day then DH was in charge. I doubt i would have gota way with a babymoon if it hadn't been my birthday but even other DC thought it was fun to be in Mum's bed eating birthday cake.

night sweats stop after a while

Cheers stoofadoof

Yes, I had an outrageous babymoon - but that was down to

1. no other DCs
2. manslave husband
3. the cold (other rooms in the house were too cold to hang out in, figured we'd save on the heating)
4. nothing much else to do, really (see 1.)

I know how lucky I am to have had a babymoon - I also figured if I manage to squeeze a sibling out for DD, then this would be my only opportunity to really go for a bed-a-thon with my baby. Now, I really appreciate being up and about a bit more!

I've only just written our thank yous, FC - 7.5 weeks after DD's arrival!! Tsk, very lazy of me, but just one of those things that got a bit lost in the haze of new babydom for a while.

Feeling much more cheerful today - the difference between 2.5 and 4.5 hours of sleep, I think! Also, I went and got a BabyBjorn bouncy chair yesterday and boy, is it already reaping dividends - worth every cent! DD is snoozing sweetly in it while I type, also leaving me free to pamper DH a bit (it's Spanish Fathers' Day) by relieving him of his usual morning duties - oh, and type two-handed! The sling is ace, but it's not ideal for absolutely everything around the house, so this is an excellent addition to the keep-baby-happy armory.

My mum's coming tomorrow - yay! She's a whizz at filling up the freezer for our future nutritional needs and being a nappy-changing, bottle-giving babysitter when DH and I need some sleep time out. Do you want to borrow her, FC?!!

By the way, hello scooby!

Welcome scooby

DS slept 6 1/2 hours without waking up last night! unfortunately it was between 6pm and midnight!So my plan of action is see if it happens again tonight and if yes, I'll have to wake him up at 10pm to see if he will sleep through and skip the 2am feed (this one is the killer) the following night... to be followed

AC I'm impressed you only put on 1/2kg during your pregnancy! I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight but as I was 1 & 1/2 stone (10kg) overweight at that point I'm still not into my normal clothes. I bought myself a pair of jeans from next, one size above my normal one which are high waisted so it keep the muffin top in! I'm planning to go back on my swiss ball to do abs as from next week when I'll see the obstetrician.

we also have Babybjorn sitter can reccomend it highly. Ds loves hanging out in it watching his big brothers.

Had lovely visitors this evening who jiggled and cooed and bathed DS. He loved it.
I had felt all teh visitors had disappeared and was feeling a bit neglected so was nice to hang out with friends and put teh world to rights.

Was on the wii fit today. I am so out of shape DS2 showed me up big style.

Oh I'm so glad you have only just done your thank yous, FC and IC. I obsess about doing ours daily, but by the time the evening comes and DP takes LO off my hands, I'm just too tired. I would pay someone to write them for me right now!

Am I the only one who is treating BF as an extension of being pregnant and eating loads of cake?! I actually put on weight this week . I think eating chocolate every night will be a hard habit to break .

Wading through my thank yous here too, good tip I read on here was to write down in a little notebook who bought what, been invaluable as we've had so much from so many - people are so kind aren't they, I've been overwhelmed .
I ordered 50 digital photo thank you cards, have used them all already and need more. Every evening have been trying to do a few - it's like having homework.

Many many hours of crying tonight, tough times

Oh, stress, poor you!

DH and I are proactively trying to ease DD's intestinal gas problems with massages during the nappy change. We gently make circles on her tummy (can actually feel the fizzing of all the gas bubbles, especially beneath her navel hernia...) then pull up her legs - some mighty eructations result, it's somehow very satisfying, even better than a good burping session (!) Seems to be helping, anyway. She slept better last night - went down more readily and stayed asleep for longer before waking up, which meant I managed to notch up a bit more sleep (around five hours which for me is A Good Night).

Massaging is also helping her remain tranquil during nappy changes - before, she was screaming the place down (also might be a sign of growing maturity...)

And - hooray - the nappy rash appears to be in retreat at last! RDR, the fleece liners you suggested are, I think, really helping. Those, regular botty bathing in chamomile tea and liberal applications of treatment cream. This might also be why her sleeping is improving - it's possible she was being awoken by urine stinging her poor nethers as well...

Onward and upward, anyway!

Hope everyone else is doing okay - I love reading all your progress reports, it's ace to know we're kind of all in this together!

IC and anyone from overseas I have a question...

Bought my first tin of formula (sob)...

How do (did) YOU prepare it? - From what I've read on the BF/F thread it should be made with water not less than 70 degrees but here everyone makes it cold (with mineral water) and either heats it up in a bottle warmer or serves it up cold. The tin says to make it with water a 40 degrees.

Am and DH thinks I'm being precious...

Apols 1 handed typing!

Well FC, we just used suitably cooled water from the kettle (tap water)! Don't forget that France - and indeed Spain, to some extent - have a much bigger and more entrenched culture of mineral water and a general lack of kettles, hence their approach to making up formula. Probably more for those reasons than because it's a better way per se...

Also, DH reckons that body temperature is a good heat to offer the formula - or EBM - because small babies aren't good at regulating their own temperatures and a cold drink would cool them down. BUT parts of France and Spain get very hot, so not a bad idea to give the formula cold during the hot weather. I don't think there are other health reasons relating to its temperature. And there's the baby's own preference, of course. Does that make sense?

I saw a woman warming a bottle in the doctor's waiting room the other day by sticking it down her cleavage... ideal!!

FC I boil a kettle of tap water, let it cool down and do the bottles that I then put in the fridge until needed. I use the bottle warmer in order to take the chill of the formula. I agree with IC regarding the lack of kettle in France!

Hope this help.

Forgot to say, when we're out DS drinks the bottle at room temperature as it's stored into my changing bag.

Thanks so much for your replies. I have just read so much on here about preparing formula milk with water that is no less than 70 degrees that I was a little confused by the instructions on the tin to use water at 40 degrees.

Oh whatever - I am starting to worry myself in circles! I will have to let a lot of my worries go when DD goes to the childminder.

IC - did I see a MrIC on the Living Overseas threads? It would be too much of a coincidence if that wasn't your DH!

DD had her monthly (or five week and two day) appt with the paediatrician yesterday. She weighs four kg and is growing normally. She screamed the place down though. She is quite unsettled during the day and I am never quite sure if it's hunger, tiredness (she won't sleep during the day if she can help it) or something else. The paediatrician was very reassuring though - she said some babies just like to cat-nap in their parents' arms for as long as they can and it's perfectly normal. I do worry about her lack of daytime sleep sometimes (especially as she will be forced into a bit of a routine when she goes to the childminder) but she sleeps so well (touch wood) at night that I can't complain.

However if she wakes after 5am she won't settle back to sleep after a feed as that is obviously daytime (and DH leaves for work at 5.30 - how can it not be daytime!?) That is when I bring her into bed with me and we sleep and feed/sleep and feed until I feel like getting out of bed. I love the closeness of it - but I do wonder -she falls asleep feeding, as do I sometimes - and she is on her side - is this ok or should I make sure she is on her back?

Stress - sorry to hear it's tough going for you. The crying is so hard to deal with, I find it a thousand times more wearing than the constantly interrupted sleep.

I too love reading everyone's progress reports - anyone getting smiles yet?

Right back to the thank yous. I think I may fall asleep before I even start.

I also love reading all the updates and empathise with the muffin tops. I bought a pair of jeans and a couple of t shirts in the supermarket because I found that I needed them for months last time and wearing maternity clothes for that long wasn't good for my morale. Bought a new feeding bra today which finally fits well and means I can chase DS1 without giving myself two black eyes!!
DH and I went to the pub for an hour last night without the children (Granny finally surfacing after house move) which was bliss, especially after a very difficult toddler day!
Have written 20 thank you cards but another shed-load to go. Now have to go and search for the missing Thomas the tank engine book - must think like toddler as this usually speeds up the process!! Yesterday my phone was in his toy garage!

Heh, I think it's the duty of babies to yell when the paediatrician starts pulling them about! After DD howled during her last weigh-in etc. and after hearing the baby after her doing the same, I reflected that I wouldn't fancy being a paediatrician as I would take it personally if every baby I saw cried when they saw me...

One of the reasons why they say good naps are important is so the baby isn't too overtired to sleep at night - so FC if your LO is getting quality sleep at night, despite the catnaps, I guess she's getting what she needs! Lucky you...

Oh, well-spotted, btw - yes, MrIC is indeed DH - he's succumbed to MN!! After the fourth post using my log-in I insisted he get his own. He's not as addicted as me just yet, but given time...!

The Cocoonaby is now with us and DD has obliged by snoozing very happily in it for her longest unbroken stretch yet overnight (3.5 hours), then settled back in it after the 0300 feeding session until 0730 (it took until 0430 to finish that, though...including the necessary nappy change-with-wind-reducing-massage and resettling) and nodded off again at around 0845 and is still asleep as I type now (1030). Hoorah!

LOL bethylou at thinking like a toddler...! Of COURSE your phone was in his toy garage - it's a little car, isn't it?!

Hi, may I join this thread please even though I didn't post on any antenatal clubs?

I had my son (Alexander) by CS on the 15th Feb, 5 weeks early because of IUGR. We were both in hospital for 12 days - him because he was small (birth weight 4lb 5oz) and me because of deranged liver function.

I'm breastfeeding exclusively now, although he had to have aptamil in the neonatal unit until my milk came in. It hurt like hell for the first three weeks and I thought I was about to give up but now it is fine.

He would have been due this weekend and he's now just a shade over 6lb.

I'm lucky in that my husband works from home and takes an equal share in everything except feeding. I didn't have a great night last night - he feeds well and unfussily but then takes ages (an hour or two) to settle back to sleep. Even though my health visitor said breastfed babies don't need winding, we've not found that to be true and even with winding we still get a few mouthfuls of sick after feeding usually. I'm just accepting that I need to change his clothes a few times a day.

He's grown out of some of his clothes already even though they say "up to 7lb" - I need to buy a load more vests quite urgently.

My mum lives nearby and comes round two o three times a week. She's irritating sometimes - she won't shut up chatting, but she's great with him and she's done really helpful things like bringing round a stew or doing a load of ironing while she's here. My husband's parents live in Norfolk and haven't been down since the weekend we got home from hospital, but they're coming tomorrow and staying overnight at my mum's house.

I've got a premaxx sling which works really well at sending him off to sleep.

Erm... That was a bit of a brain dump. Anyway, hello!

Hi bearcrumble, off course you can join us in our success, moan, rants, problem sharing!

The more we are, the better as it shows us that we are sharing the same difficulties!

welcome bearcrumble

Glad to read we are all doing ok. Well, muddling through at least. Some days go really well for me and I get all smug and think I am supermum, then the next day ds brings me crashing back down to earth with a thump! My dd goes to nursery 2 days a week and I look forward to getting lots of chores done on those days, only to find that ds will not feel the need for nap that day so I get nothing done and end up mega stressed. On the whole though I am enjoying motherhood much more the second time round.

~Took ds to get weighed this week and he is up to 9lb6oz after droppng to 7lb10 from his 8lb3oz birth weight. While he was in the scales he sprinkled the health visitor quite spectacularly. I didn't know whether to be embarassed or proud!

We are definitely having smiles here and ds is desperately trying to suck his thumb, which I am really pleased about.

Seriously impressed some of you are back at college or returning to work soon. I am particularly pleased to be nowhere near work at the moment, as I work for the airline which is featuring rather heavily in the news this weekend.

Right, I have managed to type this one handed. Lets see if I can now manage to order a Waitrose home delivery the same way...