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...

Ooh, pictures. Very cute, bearcrumble. I like this one of my LO asking for a cuddle. Not the most flattering picture... obviously also have smiley ones

picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/X7UmmF2Hd1xyX7K-UnoSh2dfDLgswA6Ex6qhiUhMEbQ?feat=directlink

Hi al sorry havent been on for ages.. we are in a routine now.. Oliver is doing really well he has been sleeping through most nights since 8weeks old then he was going from 10pm till 6.30 am occasionaly waking at 3am for a feed. He will be 11 weeks on Monday and for the past week is going to bed at 8.30 pm waking up at 7am. he is on 7oz feeds now and weighing in at 13lb 9oz.

HUbby is away now he went last saturday and he will be back end of may so I am being kept really busy roll on when he gets back and he can have a week of work to spend with us. Hope you are all well, am going to have a quick read through the last couple of paged#s// not going to attemt the whole thread..lol

Thanks for all the congrats

Am thinking of getting an electric pump to replace the manual one I currently have, as all this expressing is starting to get tedious. Also figured with work starting in two months, that I might require something more efficient. Was wondering what peoples experiences were of manual compared to electric, if the difference is significant to warrant the extra cost and are there big differences between the brands?

These photos that are appearing are very cute. I took one the other day that for the first time, I want to show anyone and everyone (I never thought I'd be that person). Embarrassingly though (despite the physics degree), I've not yet worked out how to get them hosted on the internet, so you are all spared....for now

climberchick, I have a medela swing electric pump. it is quiet efficient and has served me well the days i am back at work and at college.

Hello everyone,

Got lost for a while - what with work etc and am back for a quick catch-up and hello.

DD is settling in with the childminder, which is proving heart-breaking for me! She has changed so much over the last couple of weeks - she is so smily and gurgly. Another who loves being sung to. I have a mix of children's music on my ipod and I got lots of gurgles when I dance around the kitchen to the Bare Necessities!

Just had my mum for ten days - she was a star but managed to drive me mad after about 36 hours. She is totally besotted by her first grandchild which is very sweet though.

I agree about dressing - especially at night. Last night it was so hot and humid and my mother and DH's aunt were with us for dinner - they both kept going to DD's room to remove/add a layer of clothing or open/close the window. DD loved it - but she didn't sleep at all and eventually around 10pm she started to get over tired and grumpy (as did I with everyone trying to decide what was best for her). I then had a bit of a meltdown as all I wanted to do was mother my child and everyone else seemed to think they knew better than me. Grrr!

I won't discuss sleeping at night except to say that one night DH and I went out to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary and DH's birthday and when we got back mother had fallen asleep on the sofa bed in DD's bedroom with a book propped on her chest, all lights blazing and both of them snuffling away in their sleep (sorry Mum!) It was such a sweet sight to see both of them fast asleep - one in the cot and one in the bed. DH and I got serious giggles but luckily neither of them woke up.

Abs I know exactly what you mean about the Gaviscon, hence moving off it as soon as we were allowed (and it didn't work for us anyway!) Sounds from your description as if it's not doing the job for you either. I took DS2 to a baby chiropractor today and I was interested to hear what she thought and so far, so good, there does appear to be some improvement. As I was about to give up on the breastfeeding (due to latching on/off approx 40x per feed - ouch), this is a very welcome improvement in the nick of time.

Have any of you tried 'waking to sleep' if your baby is repeatedly waking in the night at the same time? The idea is that they may have got into a habit and that by waking (or at least rousing) them an hour earlier than they have been, it breaks the habit. It worked for us but I was hesitant due to the fear that he might not go back off! Don't blame me if you try it and have a disaster!!

Climber I'm amazed that you have managed to finish off a PhD - my brain can cope with little more than planning the day ahead!!

Have a nice long weekend one and all. Threeplusone hope the time goes speedily for you.

Well done on doctorates, uploading photos (I can't do it either), and any other achievements (which includes making it out of the house wearing matching shoes)!. My (very minor compared to others on this thread) achievement of the week has to be phoning my GP surgery for an appointment for DD1 first thing in the morning, and actually making it. It doesn't sound terribly impressive, except that the appointment was just 25 minutes after I phoned and DD2 wasn't even awake for the day when I phoned. So I managed to get her up, dressed and fed, then got us all to the surgery (a five minute drive away plus another five minutes to find parking, park and get us out of the car and into the building). I even had fruit in my change bag for DD1!

It's been one of those weeks though, and I'm cream crackered.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Is it wrong to type one handed while soothing your ds with your other hand? Feels disloyal somehow.

Sounds like some of you are getting some long sleeps at night. Although I am of course slightly envious (ds wakes 3 times a night), the one promise I made myself before he was born was not to stress about sleeping through. Dd didn't until I stopped breastfeeding her to go back to work when she was 1. I survived that and I can do it again is my mantra. There is quite an interesting thread ongoing about sleep routines in babies the same age as ours. SOme people love them and others don't, but most babies seem to end up in a similar routine at about the same age, so I guess it comes down to individual preference.

My parents have been to stay and thankfully it was fairly harmonious this time. Though people keep commenting on what a handsome chap ds is (I agree but I am biased!) which is lovely, until mum said that she thinks good looking children grow up to be unattractive adults. Thanks mum.

Been a bit fed up this week as have been trying to buy a few clothes for the warmer weather. Nothing looks that good with a muffin top and enormous boobs does it? I even found myself eyeing up maxi dresses as I thought they would hide a multitude of muffins, then realised that breastfeeding in one would be interesting...

watercress that story is yet more proof that you should be writing a child rearing handbook. Had a lovely day at Godstone Farm this week. Apparently Kerry Katona just moved to Godstone so watch out for her and her tv crew next time you go!

Have a great weekend everyone. If today is anything to go by I will spend most of it feeding. The famous 12 week growth spurt has arrived me thinks.

Do you all get family and friends telling you who your LO looks like? Neither of my dds look very much like either myself or dh (and aren't similar to each other either) which has people stumped somewhat . With four nationalities between us I think they are both a very good mix.

Another gorgeous pic - BG! I immediately wanted to pick up your LO myself when I saw it!

watercress, that get-out was bloody impressive. I hope I get that efficient one day.

chinook your story about your mum's comment made me LOL! Some daughters do 'ave 'em, eh?!

Last night was interesting in that with the help of DH and the application of the dummy, we managed to stretch out DD's wakings a little. Whether we can use it as a jump-off point to start moving her in that general direction RTBS. Mind you, she's been leaving bigger gaps between feeds today too, so who knows?

We took DD to Retiro Park today to do a little bookcrossing and meet a chum for a drink. We used the pram to start with (as DD was already napping in it when we wanted to leave), then I popped her in the sling after about an hour, where she soon settled down and continued to snooze. All in all, a very successful day out with DD pretty content throughout, hooray.

I did a little blog about our Baby Massage experience with a few piccies, here if anyone's interested.

Hasta luego!

Love the photos - I'm in the not knowing how to do it camp. Having only just sat down after finishing the chores this evening, not sure I'm likely to learn anytime soon either!

DH has told me this evening that he needs to put a load of stuff on Ebay. Upon further investigation, this actually meant that I need to do it for him as he hasn't a clue! (a man who works on computers all day? ) I have pointed out that it may take a while to get to the top of my current priority list!

Watercress I second the child rearing book idea that Chinook suggested! This morning DH decided to stay in bed while I pretty much got both DSs up and ready (starting at 6:15am for the first feed of the day). At lunchtime I pointed out that DS2 needed his reflux medicine and he replied, "Didn't he have it this morning then?" Er, no... I forgot one teeny weeny thing... He's lovely really! Maybe i will feed tomorrow and then jump back into bed for an hour and a half and see if he remembers to do everything?!!

welcome back 3plus1 hope the next few weeks go quickly for you!

back off to the auction tomorrow with my car? hoping Swiss can work his magic again? he didn't say '?is like making love?' BUT he does look exactly the same, and he DID say (when entering an extra 0 incorrectly for the price) 'oh look, i've got a bad case of digitalis erraticus' seriously? with a really thick kiwi accent?. DH and I had to try very hard not to laugh?

Chinook i think you've got my mum!! Tell you what, life here is very different now she's got back home! She's been skyping regularly and is very chatty! think she's missing us !!

12 days til we fly? oh my goodness

my lo - 12weeks now only has naps on me during the day, il normally have to rock her to sleep then she sleeps on my chest for an hour or 2, if i try an put her down she will wake straight away or after 5-10mins. and she has never got herself to sleep except in pram or car, and whenever the car engine stops or pram stops moving she wakes again. is this normal or can i train her to get to sleep by herself and stay asleep.

brief stop tonight as have massive pile of ironing to attack - I lead an exciting life! Ems147 my DS1 used to do that and it turned out to be the reflux that woke him each time when I laid him flat. It took me four months to work that out so if you have a baby who is fretful during feeds or is very sicky it could well be that. Try putting your LO down on their side once the feed has settled and see if that works.

IC love your blog (and realise I miss Madrid, and travelling in general)

Did some quick (very crude) calculations this morning (dh quite impressed how awake I was at 7 after dd2 also woke at 4). Dd2 now happily knocks back 7oz (200ml) at some feeds and she's about 12 lbs (5.5 kg). Converted to my weight that means I'd have to drink about 2 1/2 litres (or nearly 5 pints) of fluid five times a day to match what she does! Well, but then I don't plan to more than double my weight in three months, do I... Still, most impressive I think, and she's welcome the odd wind or bringing up milk...

Ems, I have the same problem with my lo too. During the day I can rock him to sleep in his bouncy chair but have a nightmare in the evenings....he will go to sleep if rocked or bf but then the second you put him down in his moses basket he wakes up and cries. So far we have resorted to holding him after he falls asleep until he is in a deep sleep - he starts snoring so we can tell!! Then he usually goes down ok.

Anyone know if getting up time affects going to bed time? We've been getting up at around 8.30 / 9 when DS wakes up but was wondering if I started getting up a bit earlier he would go to bed earlier than 9pm, which is what he is on at the moment! Tried bringing his bath time forwards but this resulted in 4hours of bf / rocking before he would sleep. Any tips gratefully appreciated, including any on getting your lo to go to sleep on their own?!!

Thanks BG - always gratifying to know people enjoy looking at my scribblings (or whatever the MacBook version is...)

Ugh, had an awful night last night of wakenings and dummy re-pluggings. I vowed to wean her off the bloody thing with some cold turkey if necessary - after all, it's interfering with her sleep as much as it is mine. She's now addicted to the point that she's started to realise she hasn't got it anymore during a brief sleep-cycle awakening and coming fully asleep as she tries to find it. Before it was just the nodding-off that required it, but this is too much now. And anyway, the nodding off keeps being interrupted when the damn dummy drops out of her mouth... grrr...

So, in desperation to get her to take a decent nap today I tried the Dr Karp 5S technique (stopping short of the fifth S - "sucking"), despite thinking she was now too old for it and bingo! She's now been solidly asleep for more than 2 hours WITHOUT the dummy, or the need for pram back-and-forthing... Could be a fluke, I s'pose - but anyway, YAY!

ems, tinkerbug - have you tried the 5S thing? I got The Happiest Baby On The Block DVD for my friend and watched it first...works like a charm on her newborn too...

what does the 5s thing consist of? iv never heard of it!

IC were also having probs with the dummy, i was just so happy that i didnt have sit and rock like a loon to get her to sleep, that i gave her the dummy which gets her to sleep at night in her basket. but also have to replace it through the night when it falls out. but wish she would get to sleep by herself. also my nephew- nearly 2 has a dummy and now needs to see a speach therapist.

where do you put your lo to sleep during the day? is it confusing for them to be in same place as nighttime? i read to differentiate between the two.

IC I'm like you re the dummy, I want to try to get rid of it too as DS goes to nursery next month but I don't really know how, as when he's crying a lot or tantruming that the only thing which soothes him He has the odd tries to suck his thumb or finger but not long enough or not when he's crying... to be followed

We're having weird sleeping / feeding pattern at the moment. Ds still wakes up a few times between 12am and 2am. Then sleep until 4am where he normally has a feed but he refuses it with loads of screams then back to sleep until 6am where he feeds again. His last feed before that is at 8pm.
My problem (or worry) is that after this 6am feed he refuses his 10am and will only eat at 12pm. It seems to be a long stretch without a feed. His feeding pattern is:

6am: 160ml
12pm: 160ml
4pm: 160ml
8pm: 180ml

I guess he refuses because he's not hungry but as he's put himself on 4 bottles I think I should increase the amount he eats.

Sorry for the long post but just needed to put my thoughts on 'paper'.

I've no idea on the volumes GF are you getting plenty wet and dirty nappies? You could try asking in the feeding section maybe or do you have a Health Visitor?

DS is 12 weeks today! We've just moved the Big Cot to our room as he was hitting his hands off the sides of the Moses Basket and waking himself up- not good! I'm slowly reading the No Cry Sleep Solution - One of the things it said was sleeping through the night is classed as a 5 hour stretch, in which case he started doing that at 6 weeks, ha ha! It all depends on how you measure it I suppose. At least we're past the mind numbing 2 hourly night feeds ;)

Would love a quick lowdown on the 5 S thing

DS never took to a dummy, but does suck his hands. We have bought him "this www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3477568.htm" to try and help soothe him. It's fugly IMO but it won out because it has a remote control to set it going again. The nature sounds seem nicer than a washing machine/ hoover cd too for white noise.

Anyone else who is bfing noticed the speed of feeds reducing? He can glug down a boobs worth in no time now!

sunny I'll ask my HV next week but I have to say that she's not the most informative person ever! I do get lots of wet nappies and one dirty a day.

I've increased his bottles to 180ml each so I'll see how it goes

I'm too intrigued by this 5S thing...

Back from a long weekend away and have first lot of jabs tomorrow, should have maybe planned a day off inbetween.

sunny ever since the 6week growth spurt, LO demolishes one breast in 3 mins and the other in 5.

Sorry no advice for anyone, but I hope all you find answers.

Also interested in the 5S, but I guess for more details I should do some reading, as I imagine the devil in the details. Sounds like we've been very lucky with the dummy, she needs it to go back to sleep during the day (as everytime she hits light sleep, she wakes), but at night she goes through these until feed times (currently, despite efforts, every 4hours at nite).

oooh, learnt about online hosting....picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/1SHgze6mnyOcqmZV1eEA_A_bWvnG76Nm-hq0Ltb4m-U?feat=directlink. Can't believe I near.ly forgot

what a sweetie climberchick!

sunny we get through two boobs in about 25 minutes now? (apart from in the middle of the night, when of course it takes at least an hour?.)

found this when looking for something else?. blackout blind - looks ace (certainly better than the roll of black paper and blutack solution we used with DD when travelling!) first on the list of stuff to buy when we get home? 10 days and counting? www.bumpto3.com/sleep/Sleep_accessories/gro_anywhere_blind

8 minute feeds! Wow Climber that's fast! Its more like 30mins down from an hour here and longer at night as well.

The first night in the Big Cot was a success. I woke at one point and DS was making noises and what looked like lying down star jumps. He was totally asleep though and didn't wake himself up with his arms hitting the basket sides, yay

10 days Stoof, it's so close now.

We're off to baby massage this morning. Hoping for some good wind reducing moves!