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...

Hope your LO is feeling better soon fizi

DS was weighted this morning and he's now 5.48kg or 12lb1.

We had another weird night! His feeding time was due to be at 10pm, he woke up but didn't eat. Woke up again at 2am, cleared the bottle, woke up at 6am and didn't eat. Then feed at 11.30am! I'm not worried just find his eating pattern odd and mysterious as it varies every day (He's FF only.)

But he's very alert and aware of the world around him even if he 'talks' to his mobile toys at 4am!

Weather is good here too, we had a nice walk this morning which hopefully burnt a few calories...

Expressing: Abs I use a Medela Swing and it's very good - you can adjust the strength of the suction so hopefully it won't hurt and it has a setting which supposedly simulates the let-down. First few times I used it, I didn't get much out and even now it varies. Mornings are usually best for volume (most people find this) and don't do it too soon after a feed 'cos the baby will have taken most of the milk and they are better at removing the milk than even the best pump (well, most babies - my DD with her iffy latching probably isn't!)

Another okay night, thankfully, although still smaller gaps between feeds than most of you are currently enjoying ...

Went to see a friend with her newborn yesterday - he's less than a week old. He won't sleep anywhere except in her arms - I sympathised and felt relieved that stage is over with my DD, sweet though it is. Makes me realise how far we've come in less than 12 weeks!

Been away for some time sorting out things. Realised I wasn't going to be able to function well at work with DD not sleeping through so decided to postpone going back to work and have extended my mat leave for the full 6 months. Plus it wasn't going to work out if I wanted to BF as DD is snacking the hunter-gather way according to Deborah Jackson's Baby Wisdom, i.e. every 1-3 hours. And DD's not been gaining weight per the charts as I was trying to get her to feed every 3-4 hours All out the window now, so she'll feed evry hour if she wants to!

If anyone's wondering why babies like to be carried, this book explains it. It's because for thousands of years, they were.... so they've evolved mechanisms to ensure they are as previously if they weren't demanding they won't have survived! Now it all makes sense. There was no Gina Ford a thousand years ago. In fact being carried helps their digestion. Gives a good insight into how other parts of the world care for babies which is quite confidence inspiring.

On expressing: Abs Ameda lactaline is my pump. It's absolutely fab. I used the Phillips Avent before and it hurt terribly, while with the Ameda I get 100 mls in 10 mins with no pain whatsoever.

watercress Impressed with your organisation together with the rest of ppl here. With DD we've tried to establish a bedtime routine bath, feed, bed but problem is no metter what time we start she doesn't seem to be asleep before 9pm, though if we start too late it might get to 10pm before she's asleep. 6.30pm seems optimal then there's about 7-9pm of feed where 7-8pm is usually trying to get her to feed properly due to wind still being stuck in her somewhere. And the last 8-9pm is her feeding till she falls asleep. She has been known to fall asleep once by 8.30pm!

flyingcloud I might try your continental friends' approach - thanks for sharing! If DD will not sleep till 9 then perhaps she can stay up after bath time an dhave a little nap intead! Let's hope that might work....

feeling it with you stoof

Hung the nappies on the line today and am astonished, no more flabergasted, that the sun really does bleach out all the stains.

Fingers crossed that the breasts don't take too long to catch up with her feeding demands.

Climber isn't that great to be able to dry the nappies outside? It feels like summer

Guernsey it is pretty amazing. Plus being out in the sun seems to calm LO as well, so double bonus

just checking i can get on first..

Have been trying to get on all week using AOL and failed but someone suggested trying through internet explorer so here I am - just wish I'd known that on Monday when at my wits' end (re baby not inability to post!)

Have had a hard week as DS2 has had a terrible cold and cough (as has DS1, but that's normal!) and it has really upset the reflux. Have had projectile vomit down my top and into my bra and lots of high pitched screaming (DS2, not me..). As for a bedtime routine, as he can't lie flat for upto 2 hours after evening feed, he's finally gone off upright in my arms now after ranitidine, colief and Boots' own apple flavoured gripe water . Will transfer to basket shortly on his side about 3 feet from me where I can monitor choking and intervene when required before starting again at half ten.

On Monday night I tried to post in despair (so probably good that computer failed me..) but the situation has improved somewhat as the week has gone on and I've picked myself up again. Sadly I know from DS1 that this is likely to continue for months so fog not really lifting here. Roll on weaning.. when reflux tends to improve (and the vomit becomes more interesting)

Other highlights this week:

1. DS1 sayng "I hoover DS2" as I ran to the playroom at top speed!
2. DS1 riding his tractor off the decking straight onto bricks below and mangling his forehead while I tried to feed DS2 a few feet away
3. Trailng DS1 round soft play place and squeezing my breasts between the rollers designed to fit the average 7 year old through, rather than a 33 year old with 'breastfeeding' boobs! Wouldn't recommend it to any of you still feeding!! 4)DS1 proudly telling FIL "Mummy's got boobies" whilst trying to show them to him by lifting up my top...
4. DS2 smiling at DS1 for the first time

Sorry for extra long post but have 5 days to make up for!

Couple of responses to other posts:
re expressing - have you tried applying Lansinoh before you do it rather than just afterwards? If it doesn't affect the baby when feeding directly from you, my theory is it won't affect expressed milk but makes it much more comfortable for me. I use a Tommee Tippee manual one too.
Clappedout - sounds very scary about your daughter going off - I'd have been terrified. Just can't contemplate feeding out in public at the mo with DS1 in tow so I think you were brave for trying with the choking going on as well.
Watercress - your juggling of two DCs sounds very familiar (yet still impressive, obviously). For those of you with one DC at the mo, I never thought I would be able to do such things with two DCs but somehow you just do. Mind you, we are not dealing with the shock of dealing with one DC though as most of that has stuck with us from last time.
Abs - infant gaviscon (presumably for reflux?)- persevere with tiny syringe (can buy 1ml ones from chemists if the bigger one is overwhelming your LO like it did ours) or spoon and they will probably get used to it soon like ours did. If gaviscon doesn't work, do go back to GP - don't assume you are on the wrong track as there are other options that are more effective. Watch out for changes to bowel movements - both our DSs got constipated with it. My GP said to try giving it on alternate days if that was the case. I also started with giving it only twice a day and worked upwards rather than giving the full doses straight away.

Here we go for the night shift.
Good luck everyone!

have also loved getting nappies outside and white again, just hope it continues.
for info : if your nappies are really badly stained in the winter putting them out overnight on a clear frosty night gets rid of stains also. moonlight apparently.

Thanks everyone for your expressing tips. I will give my boobs a day to recover and try again with my pump and then maybe a manual one if that doesn't work. i'm very impressed with those of you coordinated enough to BF and express at the same time. I did try it but my DD started spewing up and I nearly dropped the pump!

Sunangel did you ditch the Avent pump because it hurt? Bit depressing, forked out 80 quid for it!!!!

Bethylou I managed to get DD to suck down her gaviscon in a bottle - a real result and she seemed to like it . I think you are absolutely right about building up dosage gradually, good tip, thanks

My DP is in LA then goes to NY next week, hope that volcanic cloud has moved on by then - I have two other family members who were supposed to fly in from India and NY yesterday but are stuck... one of them has managed to book a flight at the end of next week to South of France - Is anyone else's family stuck?

My mum's stuck with us.... She came over just before Easter to meet dd2 while she's still tiny (mind you, at 10 weeks LO's grown out of the 0-3months outfits - where's my newborn baby gone??) and her flight back to the continent on Thursday was cancelled... So was her flight today... Now rebooked for next weekend. All not too bad but I miss home (currently staying in our old house in the Midlands where we used to live). Argh.
Dd1 totally delighted of course to get so much extra attention, and dd2 very spoilt because she's being cuddled by someone at all times and feels pretty cross if put down anywhere...
So, can't complain really but feel so restless , want to go home and get on with my own life..

my mums stuck with us too? was due to fly last thursday, and got turned back from the gate 10 minutes from boarding? is booked on the next available flight - 25th April!!

hope to goodness it clears before we're due to unemigrate in less than 4 weeks - being so close i'm not sure we could cope with having to stay here longer - besides which we're giving up the house, selling the cars etc etc so we won't have anywhere to go?.. hmmm

stoofadoof keeping my fingers firmly crossed for you... reading your previous posts I think you are in more need to get those planes moving than me... Very best of luck, too, for the move and your job search.
We are making the most of it with beautiful weather etc. Just feel so sorry for my dad who's in his 80s and has looked after himself (badly) for over two weeks now. He was in tears on the phone...

Aww BG your poor Dad hope this all gets sorted soon.
My brother lives in Iceland they are all hoping the wind doesn't change cos it would get a bit grimey.

Sorted out a sidecar cot for DS, amazing having room in the bed for us all wish i had done it earlier. Although was really cold without a baby all snuggled up close.

IC - did you come to a conclusion about a comforter, i was speaking to my friend about dummies. Her DS2 had dummy and they got rid of when he was 2yo.Her DD1 who his naerly 2yo sucks her fingers and over the winter had a permenantly sore face and fingers. she is preggers with DC4 and is going to give it a dummy asap. She reckons 2 weeks of hellish sleep at 2yrs old is worthit because then it is done with. It is horrid to watch her DD make herself sore by doing something to comfort herself.

DH has taken down the miyo hammock . Feel a bit sad DS has never slept in it, it looked so cosy.
DS is going to childminder for first time tomorrow eeeekkkk. freaking out a bit but sure he will be fine.

Thanks for the book advice sunangel I've just ordered it on amazon! Although my mum tells me to stop reading books and find my own way of parenting... I still find it comforting to read methods that back up my own instinctive 'pick her up' method of parenting.

LO wasn't sick again so it was just a normal vomit-it-all-up not a bug . Missed my group though .

We had such a lovely day with my cousins and their children in the park yesterday, what a scorcher for April! I'm so used to having a winter baby, I hadn't thought about a sun hat or sun cream and had to borrow it all from my more experienced cousins. Then back to my Gran's for tea, she had all her 7 great grandchildren in one room at the same time for the first time.

Onlys wish I'd managed to get the nappies on the line before we went out, they could do with some bleaching .

bethylou hope your DSs get well soon. And that you get some sleep.

Good luck to all of you/your relatives with getting flights .

LO seems to be sleeping a lot in the day at the moment (8 weeks), it's' a luxury to have time to go on mumsnet wash up etc but will she sleep at night?!

Ah fiziwizzle I came on to say the opposite. Nights are going much better but long day time naps seem to have disappeared for now. He has them regularly but they only last 45 ish minutes. Which if I remember correctly is the length of a sleep cycle at this age.

I was very brave this week and took both my dc's away on my own for the first time. Only to my sisters a couple of hours away but I still feel quite pleased with myself.

Sorry some of you have been inconvenienced with this volcanic ash business. (stoof I feel your pain re your mum. Mine is coming next weekend if that makes you feel any better!) I live next to a major airport and it is so wierd without aircraft flying around.

Well dp has actually cooked dinner and it is ready so I had better go. Supposed to start a bit of a healthy eating regime tomorrow so plan to stuff myself tonight.

Howdy All.

We had a load of people over for a soiree last night and DD obligingly stayed asleep in our bedroom throughout, bless her! She paid me back a bit my shortening her wakings to two-hour gaps instead of three hours, though...groo...

I went for it and cut DD's fingernails so she can find her hands without doing herself damage and stop scratching me during feeds - a bit terrifying, but an ultimately successful operation!

RDR re the comforter - I'm going with your suggestion of using the muslin during feeds/burping etc and at the moment I'm tucking it under her head when she sleeps. I figure in time she'll hopefully pick up on the muslin as a comforting thing. She's still using the dummy to settle - TBH, the main reason I want to wean her of it is because it's a royal PITA to keep replacing it as she's getting off to sleep (especially in the middle of the night, although thankfully she doesn't always need the dummy to settle then...) and yes, I guess I'm looking to the future and not wanting the dummy to become indispensible...

We're lucky that no one from the UK is due to fly out to see us at the moment - my in-laws got back with a week clear before the eruption. Hope this one doesn't last like a former Icelandic eruption in the 18th century - 8 months!!

I hope everyones flights get sorted out without too much waiting. stoof i'm sur e in 4weeks it will o.k., otherwise my emmigration in 8 weeks might start to come under threat.

Were using a dummy, as she she showed signs of wanting to suck her thumb. Though we only use it to calm her down when she's going to sleep. She doesn't have it when she first goes in the basket, but if she startles herself and starts crying i put it in. She gets rid of it normally before going fully off. Luckily at night once she slips off, then that's it. We've also assumed that a dummy will be a easier habit to stop. I have a friend, who when tired, will suck his thumb without realising, so i am very concious of this. I know most people grow out of it on thier own, but i'm going to try my best to avoid it becoming an issue. We're also using the babygro's with built in hand mittens so at night, she can't find her way to her thumb.

I am in awe of all those of you with more than one LO out there, RESPECT is all i have to say.

ic - good plan re tucking it under her head, i lay DS's over his shoulder like a sash, he has strarted grabbing it in that hand and rubbing it between his fingers while feeding. It is very cute. personally having no dummy experince hadn't thouhgt of dummy replacement when it gets spat out at least fingers are always there.

Hello everyone - marking my place to come back when I am less tired and more in coherent. Like you IC we had people over last night (and tonight) and DD was a dream but did wake more frequently than usual once everyone had gone home.