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...

Sleep...yes...
Well, it IS improving - finally being able to put her down for sleep (earlier in the evening, too...) feels quite liberating! She settles faster (at night) and she's FINALLY getting the hang of breastfeeding, seems to have worked out that by flangeing her bottom lip (when she remembers) she gets more milk, so that makes feeds faster (and requires less/no faffing about with bottles of supplemental EBM). She's also desisted from doing much in the way of poo overnight, so I can skip one of the nappy changes. Can usually manage at least five hours kip for myself now, sometimes six (oh, heady times!)

AND at last the wind seems to be improving - she's not tending to wake herself up needing to fart, now. I worked out that the problem must have been caused by her immature digestive system not making enough lactase - needed to digest lactose - so consequently, some undigested milk has been fermenting in her tummy and causing a lot of gas (apparently this is very common, happens in something like 65% of babies) - advice is to feed from one boob only for three hours, then switch (gives their digestive system a chance to cope - idea is not to starve them, but encourage them to take more of the high cal-low volume hind milk, rather than big splashes of the high-volume fore milk).

Anyway, I've been trying that and it does seem to be helping somewhat. She still wakes every 2-3 hours for a feed, though - but I guess she's the weight of a decent sized newborn, rather than a 2.5 month-old, so her feeding habits would probably be similar.

Hope some of the above might shed some light on some of the other wind issues mentioned upthread!

Loads of delightful, dimply smiles coming through now - just so gorgeous!

BTW, daytime naps are sometimes taken in her nest, sometimes the pram and sometimes the sling, depending... I want her to associate her nest and our bedroom with sleep, but I don't want her too inflexible with that so we're not tied to the flat during the day. It's rare we get more than an hour or so at a time, though.

stoof!

Bad luck, evitas... keep telling yourself: it'll pass it'll pass it'll pass....

Just wrote long message and it's all disappeared - this sums up my day of poosplosions (DS2) and explosive sneezes (DS1). Luckily, the sight of DS1 mowing the lawn with his plastic version next to DH and the petrol mower was enough to remind me why I am doing this (and now have red wine so all okay..)

The gist was: still using the monitor in the evenings with DS1 (who was two last week); DS2 sleeping in the moses basket/chicco bouncy chair/pram during the day (except when woken by bloody irritating ice cream van chimes... Man seems to choose his time to arrive to coincide with me trying to sleep - at different times each day - even in the rain! ); DS2 still falling asleep on our laps each evening after 2 hour winding session

Hi All,

We've been doing a lot better the past few days - less of the mental cluster feeding in the evenings and he's sleeping better. I generally have 2 wakings between midnight and 8 am and he goes off to sleep pretty well sfterwards. I've worked out how to feed lying on my side facing baby and we feed like that in the night and I'm kind of semi-snoozing during that time.

Have found that the womb sounds gadget that comes with the prince lionheart slumber bear is spookily effective in getting him off to sleep.

I had been worried that I wasn't making enough milk in the evenings as he was so demanding but when we went to baby clinic on Thursday he'd put on exactly one pound in a week! He was 2 weeks corrected age and has gone up to just above the 25th percentile from just below the 9th at birth. I am so proud and happy about his weight gain on breastmilk alone.

Even though the sleep is better, I have to admit that my husband and I are a bit snappy with each other because of the extra stress and being on top of each other all day (he works from home - he's a music journalist). I also feel that he's titting about on the internet too much when he claims to be working.

We're going to make the most of the nice weather and go out to the park shortly.

Developmentally I've noticed that he holds eye contact for longer, does little smiles - but not big beams, can raise his head off the floor briefly during tummy time and has discovered the joys of thumb sucking (everyone says I need to start saving for orthodontics now).

Oh and do you find that some outfits are 'cursed' (normally your favourite ones)? For me it's a cute Petit Bateau sleepsuit - he will invariably do a giant cheesey geef down it within 5 mins of it being put on.

The plain white George at Asda ones seem to stay on for ages without a speck of posset.

OMG! I've started doing abs on my swiss ball at home and it hurts like hell!! I used to do about 300 with no problem pre-pregnancy and I've just done 80 and I can feel the pain in my tummy... But it'll be well worth in a few weeks time (hopefully)

Oh my word, I'm sunburned! April in northern scotland, where it was snowing last week, and I'm sunburned, I feel such a numpty!

Poppy's finally managing to settle on an evening on her own, so I get to have a couple of baby free hours, woohoo!

She weighs 10lb 12oz now, she's following the 25th centile. I still can't believe how big she looks in her moses basket, she's almost double her birthweight now but still, some babies are born at more than 10lb so how long do they manage to stay in their baskets for? She's on the 50th centile for her length IC so maybe that's why she's outgrowing it so fast?

GF wow! I thought I was good walking into town a couple of times a week, may have to consider using the gym ball for exercise rather than just rolling around on .

bearcrumble "titting about on the internet" i too have this - DH is a senior web producer for tv so has much research to do? yeah right? bless him

GF i just deflated our swiss ball in readiness for packing? the abs'll just have to wait for the container to arrive in the uk in (hopefully!) 15 weeks!

sorry, can't remember who asked - but we're heading home to cumbria! really REALLY can't wait (in case any of you were in any doubt!!) looking forward to getting back out walking with the DC's - DD is a brill walker and could already do buttermere etc at 2 (with only a little bit of help!) so we're planning on getting her first proper pair of boots when we get home! just got her some proper wetlegs and cagoule in the sale here too (her old all-in one won't fit now - she's grown about 12 cm in the last 10 months!) Will start gently on flat lakes before getting back into the hills next winter hopefully! yippee

have just drunk a glass of champagne! DH bought when DS arrived - so it's only taken 6 weeks to get around to opening it! hoping DS follows his recent pattern, and stays asleep for another few hours to get it out of my system before next feed - enjoyed it but feel a bit red!!

finally, thought i'd avoided it this time, but the last couple of days my skin has gone dreadfully dry - all over, but especially my face and hands - am eating really well and drinking about 3 litres of water a day - can anyone recommend any really good moisturiser or similar? i tried loads of stuff last time and it eventually just seemed to sort itself out, but it took a few months, and was really uncomfortable all that time (assume it's a hormone thing, which also means my hair is probably about to start falling out in chunks too mind, it's gone horribly greasy the last couple of days, so i might be better off bald for a while!)

Oh, Stoof - I love Cumbria. We went on a walking holiday there a couple of years ago - around the Howgill Fells. Stayed at a wonderful little farm called Shacklabank www.shacklabank.co.uk/site/content_home.php - the woman who runs it is so lovely and friendly and funny.

Exercise, hmmmmm... Does running around after a toddler while carrying a baby count??

Slightly at my wits end right now with my mum having been with us for over a week... I know she means well, but..................

Hi all,

I hope the retching is better bethylou. I have the same problem here, often a couple of hours after a feed though and seems to be caused by what sounds like mucus in the back of DS's throat, though he doesn't have a cold. He's been seen by drs at the hospital who can't find anything wrong but I have had some nasty choking incidents and have become really anxious and am scared to take him far or in the car etc in case it happens again. Hopefully he will grow out of it but I am taking him to a children's osteopath in the meantime to see if that helps....

Glad to hear things are getting easier on the whole for most of you. I have managed to get some sort of routine going and even getting some sleep....enjoying a welcome break from relatives too.

Hi all,

Sorry I have been reading but haven't been able to post... what a crazy week! So little sleep... great that so many people from the antenatal thread are posting again, it seems the fog might be lifting?

IC I think it was you that asked what my DH does.. he's a sound engineer for live bands so travels a lot! Luckily DD was born in March which tends to be pretty slow, am going to try not to have any summer babies as he always works festivals... but have probably just jinxed myself by saying that!

DD has had a terrible time with reflux and is still not putting on weight! She's just over her birth weight and has gone down to the 25th percentile. It doesn't help with her spewing up nearly every feed on Tuesday and Wednesday, she seems to be a bit better now so fingers crossed it was just a reaction to the antibiotics.

Henry, jack russell, is finally out of the vets - hooray! But what a nightmare that was! Really thought he was a gonna. Luckily my mum was ACE and came to stay for a few days to help out, couldn't have done it without her... especially since DD was screaming from 4pm to 9pm every evening, so being able to have mum there to burp her while I ate dinner really helped.

Stoof that glass of champagne sounds dreamy! That's just what I feel like but can't indulge as she seems to be reacting to everything at the moment and I want a quiet life!

Fizzi know what you mean about the prepreg clothes, I squeezed into my jeans the other day and strutted about looking very tarty, they were ridiculously tight and I didn't look like Sandy in Grease! Yuk!

Anyway, started bath, feed and bed routine and it seems to be working, although DD is doing some ace pant explosions since her bath, it's quite the symphony in there and I'm thankful she didn't do them in the bath!!!

What a lovely day in Scotland! We've manage to stay a few hours outdoors.
Yesterday we had another bad night and day... he was really really wind.
On Saturday we had an appointment with the Osteopath, we'll go back again on Tuesday. I know there are no miracles but hopefully it will help a little bit.
Today, after 8 days without a dirty nappy I felt he was very uncomfortable and decided to put a glycerine suppository. He did a big poo and during the day he seemed a totally different baby, more relaxed and happier.

Exercise ... I've been trying to walk into town almost everyday but I know it's not enough, so I decided to join a "BuggyStrides" group. I'll have my first class on Tuesday, so finger crossed is not raining a lot.

Good luck for the night shift!
xxx

abs you took the words out of my mouth/off my keyboard - I was going to say, does anyone else feel like the fog is beginning to lift? They all say it starts to get easier (or at least FEEL easier) after the first three months and I think that's what's happening for me...

Interesting to hear your DH is a sound engineer - is he doing WOMAD this year? Me and DH love festivals, went to loads before we settled in Spain (and even now we try and get to shows when we can - luckily, they have quite a few free open air gigs here) - Spanish festivals aren't a patch on the English ones, though (apart from the Rocket - which was run by Brits!!) WOMAD (UK) is ace for families and my in-laws live really close by so this year we're going to go along and take Rosie, but not camp.

Speaking of in-laws, they've just left after a few days enjoying their new granddaughter - they were very sweet and proclaimed me a "wonderful mother" - bless them!! Embarrassingly, DD cried every time MIL picked her up on the last day - I think she had on a scent that was bothering her. Luckily, she was good as gold in her pram when they took her out for walks and did some nice smiling for them, so she's well in there!

Exercise?! Blimey, I'm impressed! I used to run to keep fit - hah! Now I try and get a walk in most days and hefting the baby about plus lots of jiggling and rocking surely burns a few calories and tones up the muscles... DH and I have vowed to stop eating so many sweet things once our Easter stuff and other stash has been consumed. Can't rely on lactation alone to melt the fat off my considerable arse!

Sorry to hear about reflux/choking/wind issues...
I'm relieved that DD's gassy tummy seems to be much better now - I think her digestive system is finally catching up with her appetite, thankfully! She also did far less waking last night - I woke up more than she did needing the loo because of all the water I'm necking at the moment!

Where is everyone??!

Why is it a good night is followed by an atrocious one? DD woke every hour or so last night and has been tired and fussy as a result today, including not feeding properly (another bugbear - my poor nipples have finally succumbed to her bad latching technique and started to crack - OUCH!).

In desperation to encourage her to have a nap I parked her in her pram by the bathroom with the extractor fan on. Where she is now sweetly sleeping. Think I'll try and do the same

I've had exactly the same IC. DD woke every hour last night and was desperately uncomfortable ALL night and has cried all day today, only managed to have a shower at 3pm and was supposed to be meeting nct group at 1! What a disaster!

I'm here IC!

We had a brilliant night on Sunday - DD2 went to bed at 7:15pm and didn't wake until nearly 6am for a feed. Then she had a bottle and went back to sleep until I had to wake her at 8:15am so we could take DD1 to nursery.

Last night not as amazing but still pretty good. Bed at 7:15pm, then feeds at 2am and 6am before she woke for the day at 9:15am! No nursery run today thankfully so could let her sleep.

And I had her weighed today (I'm a bit of a slummy mummy in that regard), and she is now 9lb 5oz (at nine weeks). She's stayed on the 9th percentile since she was born at 6lb 2oz, so that's a relief.

Sorry to those of you who are having terrible nights. There is nothing worse than sleep deprivation. Hope it is just growth spurts and that it improves soon.

I'm here too! Just been busy with my 'normal' life which mean that I've managed to do things which are not baby relate!

Is is only my DS or others do he same, he'll be quietly asleep or staring at his mobile when I go to get a shower and as soon as I step into the shower, he starts crying!?

I think he may start to be bothered by teething as he's drooling a lot now...

Has anybody got an amber necklace? They apparently help the teething issues, but I don't know from when you can use it as obviously I don't want DS to strangle himself with it!

Nights are odds as DS still wakes up during the night for a feed but he doesn't eat! I may try a bottle of water to see if it'll help stopping the waking up. Our routine is bed at 7pm / Last feed at 8pm or 10pm (depending on what's happening during the day) / Wake up at 12am or 2pm - refuse to feed / Feed at 4am or 6am / Up at 8am

DS hasn't been weighed since he was 7 weeks, as I haven't seen the HV since and won't see someone (the staff nurse) until is 3 or 4 months - that's how precise the HV was

Crakey, that's a long post!

Must be something in the air, last nite was also a tough one for us, followed by a much earlier get up for a hospital visit.

Off for some strong coffee

I'm here too! So is DD so typing one-handed again .

I'm with you on the crying as soon as I step in the shower GF. It doesn't matter what order I do things in of a morning, breakfast or shower first, she doesn't like me getting clean! Maybe she objects to bathing in general, not just her own baths .

I've realised DD is having her 8 week injections the day before we are going to a wedding. Is this a really bad idea? Should I try to rearrange the appointment? It's been made for weeks, I'm not sure they will let me, but DD is whingey enough without adding being upset from injections to the mix.

watercress I can't believe your DD is going from 7pm to 6am at 9 weeks! I'm so jealous! We have had ONE evening in 7 weeks that DD hasn't grizzled almost constantly from 8ish to 11ish. We've even taking to eating our dinner in shifts, which we swore we wouldn't do .

Re growth spurts/constant desire to BF - DD seems suddenly to have gone back to 2.5/3 hourly feeds from 3.5/4 hourly. Growth spurt? I was hoping to settle her into a 4-hourly routine .

However I do feel the fog is lifting - it helps that she has slept from 11ish to 5ish the last few nights - I don't want to say too soon that we're turning the corner, but I am desperately hoping!

fizi my DS reacted well to his injections and they didn't affect him at all, but others may have another reactions!

DS likes his bath, I could make it lasts hours and it's a time of smiles and tries to splash! I have to use a towel per bath as DS always has a wee in it either before or after the bath

Fizi we do one pot cooking like shepherds pie or veggie lasagna so that we can eat in shifts too and the food doesn't go cold! We've given up trying to get her down so that we can have dinner together....

DH has gone to LA and isn't back for a couple of weeks! Today has been tough but hoping to cheer myself up with slice of cheesecake!!!

IC DH is not doing womad this year... he's off doing cochella in palm Springs (one hand typing again)

Off to put oven on...

Fizi My little boy had his first injections today - he hasn't been himself this afternoon. Not crying all the time, but not happy, not really feeding, a bit floppier than usual and when he does cry it sounds a lot more pitiful and heart-wrenching than his normal fussing. (it's quite upsetting tbh).

All babies are different though and yours may well be fine.

Fizi we manage to eat together only by sticking her in her bouncy chair and one of us eating whilst bouncing it with a foot , works quite well actually.

She seems to have caught on to the idea of going to bed on her own on an evening, every night since friday she's gone down at 7:30 ish and stayed asleep for 6-7 hours, gives me a couple of hours on my own and an extra couple of hours kip, if I go to bed early, which I'm ashamed to admit I have been (last night it was 9:30 . I know it's only 5 nights, but still, fingers crossed!

The only problem I have with this extra sleeping is that whichever side I've fed her from at 7pm ends up quite engorged by the time she feeds from it again, last night I had to hand express at 5am to get it to go down , maybe I should express before bed?

Anyhow, off to enjoy supersize v superskinny before bed!

Oooh, bearcrumble, I remember that from three weeks ago when Poppy had hers, I was in tears all afternoon for her. Calpol really helped her though (even though she had no fever I gave her some). She was fine the next morning, hopefully your wee man will be too xx

We can manage to eat together most nights the problem I have is cooking something to put on the table! We are eating lots of fresh pasta which only requires 2 minutes cooking time and zero preparation. When I only had one dc I would prepare dinner while she slept, but now when ds is napping I devote this time to dd.

Ds still wakes lots in the night but has started to settle down for the night between 7 and 8pm which is lovely.

I want to recommend to those of you without a monitor to get one ASAP. How else do you attract the attention of dh? (I have just called down for a cup of tea while ds is settling on my knee) then when the dc's are older they are invaluable for issuing threats encouragement to stop messing around and go to sleep, using the 2 way talking button. Dd had hers until ds arrived when she was 4.

watercress did you have a good day at the infamous farm near us. Are the renovations complete?