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...

Hello clu and Phew - welcome!

Poor you bethylou - hope you get better soon - thinking of you in hospital. x

DD was fantastic at bath time today - didn't scream her head off during the changes and looked like she was going to crack a smile during the bath. I don't really wash her, just squeeze a sponge over her and take her out. She loves being in the bath.

She slept lots more today so had a massive cluster feed this evening and took ages to shut her little eyes.

A friend of mine gave me great advice today - she said to enjoy these early days as much as possible - and to get rid of the phrase "I can't wait for..." as they change so much and we shouldn't wish it away.

hey everyone, finally found time to get on and catch up, corey is 10days tomorrow, can't believe its gone so fast! thanks for all the advice re stitches, they seem to be getting better, although they are 'gaping' [as the mw so nicely put it, lol] but not split thankfully. bruising is also now a browny colour instead of black and purple
still expressing then feeding, but tbh I'm finding it a lot easier than trying to get him latched on and then him stressing out. I've also succumbed to a dummy, as hes a very suckly baby, but I've got him the natural tommie tippee ones, and he only really uses it to get to sleep, then spits it out.
had his 1st bath a few days ago, had a little bit of a wine, but didn't cry as such. hes ad a few little problem with spewing up after his feed, but as when the mw weighted him, he'd put on 1/2oz, I'm not worrying too much.

hope everyone else is doing OK, wondering when we'll have more of the thread joining us....

Thanks for the welcome everyone, finn has fed all day today must be a 2 week growth but my nipples feel red raw. FLyingcloud that is so true to enjoy every day , when I had my first I was so stressed about doing it write I did not savour every moment and now she is 2! I am loving every hour of Finn being small(ish since he is now 10lb 11)and wish I could freeze time.

shouldn't really be here as am now 41+2 and still over on the ante-natal thread? but i've been reading with interest - remembering what it was like with DD! anyway? we found that for us the Rough Guide to Babies was the best book we got? v straightforward and non-judgey, and kind of an overview of all the 'experts' plus commentary from RL parents? might be worth a look as it doesn't seem to get mentioned in amongst the whisperers and gina fords etc?

re the not settling through night and wind - have you tried any of the massage stuff? we found with DD that sun and moon, and leg cycling really helped the first few months though the rest of it just wound her up! also, concentrating on rubbing left side of her back rather than right to get wind up successfully and quickly! Oh, and always having something that smelt the same wherever she was sleeping seemed to help too - snuffle babe on a hanky did it for her til she was about 12 months!! (started that one accidently!!)

right, i'll mooch back over to the ante-natal desert!! hope to be here properly soon!

Ooh, good advice, stoofadoof!

We've got "Babylove" by Robin Barker - written for the American market, but a good'un - again, non-prescriptive, thorough and humorous.

Got the William Sears attachment parenting book, which was an interesting read but mainly justifies the kind of instinctive approach I think I would have taken anyway.

In another post I mentioned Naomi Stadlen's "What Mothers Do (when it looks like nothing)" and although it's not a "how to" guide, it was possibly the most helpful parenting book of all.

Massage - yes! Good shout. Our MW does sessions, I'm going to start taking Rosie. Good for my Spanish, too...

Oh dear, seems I missed the start of the post-natal thread . Haven't had time to get on mumsnet for a wee while but I'm sure I'll get chance to catch up eventually.

DH has gone back to work today, the first time since Poppy arrived. I was sooo nervous yesterday that he was leaving me alone with her all day! I was worried I wouldn't even have time to brush my teeth, but so far I've done okay and we've had no major problems.

I still can't believe that she's here, I had myself convinced that I would go overdue and they'd be inducing me on the 25th, and instead I have this four week old baby. She's gorgeous though and I can't imagine life without her.

Breastfeeding is going really well, although I've been lucky and other than the small blip on day five I've had no problems. She weighed 6lb 10oz last week, which is a good gain from her birth weight (5lb 70z). The health visitor was really pleased anyway. She's grown loads, I put one of the sleepsuits that DH bought her when she was born next to her yesterday and the feet were at her knees, it made me really sad, I want her to stay small for longer, she's growing too fast!

Ooh, and she smiled, it definately wasn't wind because DH made her do it loads.

I think I've said it before but I love Penelope Leach's "Your Baby and Child". It also seems to get overlooked, but is sooo useful. It doesn't tell you what to do (ie. breast feeding and bottle feeding), but tells you how to do it and is really non-judgemental. It is also the only book I have come across that is broken down into developmental stages, rather than chronological, so you have "The Newborn" then "The Settled Baby" etc. It goes right up to age five so I still dip into it for DD1.

I echo the "enjoy every moment" sentiment. They are only little for a short time, and it's so easy to forget. Take loads of photos and videos so you don't! And I also agree with the "don't wish time away" message. My experience is that it doesn't get any easier, it just changes...

Hope everyone is doing OK today, and looking forward to more from the AN thread joining us!

Same here AC - I thought it would be March before Rosie arrived - wasn't quite expecting a January birth!

Rosie's almost up to the 6.5lb mark (from 5.1lb), so she's thriving too. Still can't fill newborn clothes, though - we've got one preemie baby vest and it's the only item of clothing that doesn't comically hang off her!

Is Poppy a noisy sleeper? Rosie makes a hell of a racket for one so small...

Penelope Leach's book is great Watercress. It was my one baby book bought before LO got here as recommended by my GP and it's so common sense it's wonderful.

DH is back to work today after two weeks of Paternity leave. We seem to be doing ok so far, though I'm not dressed, but we are both fed and warm. He had a crazy cluster feed yesterday evening and managed to finish everything I had and still be crying for more. It was quite distressing. DH took him for 30 mins while I had a nap and that was enough time to get some milk back.

Still feel really tired from the PPH blood loss. I'm just so knackered, it's frustrating. Trying to concentrate on keeping up my milk though. Speaking of which, he's awake and filling his nappy.. which means a change and a feed, got to go!

Hi,

IC We celebrated Otto's due date too on 14th February, thinking of making it his second birthday. Glad to hear Rosie has put on so much weight, sounds like you are doing brilliantly. Otto has gone up to 5lb 6oz from 4lb 10oz in 3 weeks so good but not as good as I had hoped. Just can't face up to going back to expressing and he's getting better at BF-ing so think I should keep on with it, is this selfish? Hard to know what's best, doesn't help when I get slightly different advice from each MW, too confusing.

AC & SB my DP went back to work yesterday after a rather blissful 3 weeks (DD at child minder) doing lots of baby gazing. Really miss him, and the help, and don't know when we'll get to hang out like that again (though I was BF-ing most of the time!). Managing ok so far but early days, weekends are totally exhausting though DD being great with Otto.

Hope the feeding rage and cluster feeds aren't wearing you all out, sound advice above that it won't last, that's what kept me going last time, there is a light!

Very noisy sleeper here too!

Hi Clappedout

I think that weight gain sounds fine - after all, when they're that tiny, they only have tiny tummies, so can't fit too much nourishment in at a time. To be honest, I'm expressing less now too as Rosie is also getting better at BF - also, she's not so tolerant of being put down at the moment, which makes it difficult to express anyway. Managing twice a day at the mo, which is enough to keep up the amounts she needs for supplements.

Providing you're making enough milk to keep Otto happy and he's feeding regularly, I should think you're fine to express less - and the supply should adjust as he gets hungrier as well. Although it may be worth expressing once a day, just to be on the safe side...

I was told to relax the 2.5 hour feeding regime once Rosie got to 3kg, but I've already eased up. Her appetite is better, so I'm letting her determine when she needs feeding - if I stick rigidly to the 2.5 hour timetable, it either takes ages to wake her up to feed if she isn't ready or, if I force her when she's not hungry, she just throws it up again. It feels a bit easier now... still full on though, very impressed how your managing with a DD too!!

I guess what I'm saying is, the advice of HVs and HCPs is obviously valuable, but it makes sense to tune in to what our babies need in order to make it work for them.

At least the noisy sleeping means we don't keep having to check they're still breathing, eh?!

IC I thought exactly the same about the noisy sleeper during last night when I was going back to sleep. Samuel is a noisy sleeper too, lots of squeaking and little noises for him!

Tomorrow I'm having the 2nd visit of the health visitor, let's hope it'll go better than the 1st time! At least I'll know how much weight he has put on (he was last weight at 7 days) and I'll know about his hearing test (been worried about it for the last week but hopefully he'll pass it!)

Good luck with the BF and let's hope all our LO are kind with us tonight!

Poppy isn't too noisy during the night, which has resulted in me being quite reluctant to go to sleep some nights, I wanted to switch the light back on and watch her to make sure nothing bad happened , managed to stop myself though.

The first HV we had was awful, really, really patronising. The second one, who is Poppy's HV, was nicer. Some of the literature they give out though is a bit . We got a book that says 'I'm only a baby and I will get hurt if I fall, so please don't drop me' etc etc.

glad to read such positive tales of mummying! we're well here, Elisheba is feeding well, which i'm very grateful for, and hoping that by the time the hv makes an appearance she's back to birth weight! DH back to work tomrrow. he works from home, so i'll have to try not to pester, and start cooking again! am still anaemi from blood loss, but feeling better daily. phew! also have proper feeding bra now, which is making life so much easier! I just wish they were born potty-trained - i find it the hardest thing, oddly!!

love to all sleep-deprived feb mummies!

Any other breast feeders fed up with the sight of their own boobs yet?? They always seem to be on show and I quite often walk around the house having forgotten to clip my bra back up. I know, I am a complete yummy mummy....!

We are all doing well here although my little man has done nothing but sleep all day. I know I should be pleased but you can't help worrying can you? Plus it probably means he will be up all night tonight.

I have noticed a really big increase in my appetite the last few days. I guess it is since my milk has come in. Although I know it is not a time to be dieting I don't particularly subscribe to the theory that you have to eat loads of extra calories to breastfeed. Women in the 3rd world seem to manage just fine without gorging. So I am trying hard not to grab for the sweet stuff but it is sooooo hard.

bethylou hope you get home from hospital soon and that your treatment is successful.

Going to watch that 'One born every minute' midwife programme now. Am not scared to watch it now that my visit to the delivery suite is behind me. Bet I cry buckets, hormonal mess that I am!

Home again from hospital and kind of sorted for the time being - have a plan at least. The touch screen thing above my head was really wierd but I didn't have anything esle to do and was there for 8 hours. I'd sent DH home to do chores as felt there no point in both of us sitting there waiting for me to wee...!

Those of you getting used to life with two DC (or more) sound inspriational - especially Watercress with poorly DD). I will be going solo on Tuesday next week and keep trying to figure how to do it. Two adults to two children seems to work fine as they don't outnumber us. Preventing DS1 climbing onto DS2/shoving jelly tots up his nose etc.. could be interesting when trying to emtpy a potty me thinks!

Some of you first timers sound incredibly relaxed and sorted. I remember the world being a bit of a blur for a few weeks the first time round. I vividly remember being in my pyjamas after lunch - unlike now when DS1 wants us all up and dancing to Mamma Mia on dvd by 6:45a.m.!!

Need to go and check up on the ante-natal thread for latest deliveries and head to bed while the going is good. Last night DH woke the baby by snoring really loudly; DS1 woke us arguing in his sleep and DS2 vomited all over me and the bed (hence now having reflux medicine!) Night!

Sam is now 3kg 95 or 8lb 11.

The only problem is that he has now decided that he wants to feed every 3h to 3h30!

Someone was asking about reusable nappies earlier on, I'm planing to use Bumgenius but DS is still too small to fit them so I'm still using Pampers at the moment. Even if Bumgenius says that it's suitable from 7lb! We've planed reusable, spent the money on the nappies and now I'm spending more on disposable ... Ok, I know that in a few days/weeks he'll fit them and I'll still be saving money but it's frustrating!

Sorry for the rant!

Ha, chinook, yes! My DH is loving the whole boobs on show thing! And what's wrong with a couple of biscuits and a piece or two of chocolate when your body is processing the extra fat so nicely, heh? That's my excuse anyway...

behylou I have to admit, I'm still spending most of my days in or near the bed - saves heating the rest of the flat and I have this crazy idea about grabbing sleep when Rosie allows me to put her down.. plus the weather's been rubbish. I recognise this wouldn't be an option with DC2, so I'll enjoy it now!!

Yes, that is irritating GF. Must admit, I worried about that too what with Rosie being so tiny, but luckily the Pop-ins were ok on her at their smallest setting. They're so padded, she looks like a weeble, though!!

hey mummies!! sounds like a lot of you are already settled into [some sort of] a routine. people ask me how I'm doing, and I say brilliantly, he's fed, had his nappy changed and then gone back to sleep. BUT as soon as I say that, everything goes wrong! I find about the 8oclock mark to be the most difficult, getting very teary about then, DP is being brilliant, but all I can worry about is how he goes back to work on Monday. any advice from mummies who's DP are already back at work on how to cope?
anyone else having sick issues? Corey keeps chucking up about 3 mouthfuls after each feed, whether we wind him or not =[
oh and lastly, having a little issue with expressing, I'm finding it so knackering and my supply seems to have dropped so much, I've had to give him formula twice in the last 24hours, which I feel so bad about

Hey Nikki, don't feel bad about formula. If your supply is dropping then better to give him formula then leave him hungry. Lots of us on here doing the mixed feeding thing, whether through choice or necessity, so you are not alone.

As for coping on your own when your DP goes back to work, you will manage. You may be tired, particularly by the end of the week, but consider it a success if you get through each day and manage to feed and change your LO (and yourself). Let things go if necessary, and go easy on yourself - don;t fret if the floor is a bit mucky, or if you have to dial in pizza for dinner. Being a mum to a newborn is hard work, really full on, and shouldn't be under-estimated.

Had a difficult one here yesterday evening. DD2 decided to feed all evening (6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm), which was difficult as I was on my own with DD1 (dinner, bath, bed) then had stupidly decided to cook risotto for dinner, so ended up sitting on an uncomfortable kitchen stool, trying to BF and stir my pan! DH arrived home an hour later than he'd said at 8:30pm and I was exhausted (especially after two bad nights with poorly DD1). So when DD2 needed feeding at 10pm, I thrust her and a bottle at him and said I was going to bed! He came to bed with her at 11pm, and she only woke once at 3:30am for a 15 minute feed before sleeping through until 7:30am. So the feeding frenzy did the job, but nearly finished me off! Fortunately DD1 is better and slept through, so I managed to catch up on some sleep.

Nikki, can't remember, but are you using a hand pump for expressing? If so, then I'm not surprised you're finding it knackering. Electric ones aren't cheap, but if you're planning on doing a lot of expressing, it's a price worth paying. I gave up on the handpump and moved on to a Medela Swing - so glad I did!! I was getting RSI for the sake of 20mls of milk, too much.

Yes, watercress, Rosie's started doing the evening feedathon too. She went a bit overboard last night, it ended up rather spectacularly coming out of both ends this morning - one never ending nappy change, lovely!

Oh, Nikki our fabulous Robin Barker book is very reassuring about vomity babies - she says it upsets parents far more than the babies and that babies are "happy vomiters" - it's to do with their systems being immature and nothing to worry about. HTH

Baby Henry 7lb 14oz arrived 40weeks +5 on Friday.

First contraction at 3pm, needed to push at 3:30pm, got in a panic, called DH and mum, pushed in the car, head crowning in the reception of anti natal, waters all over the floor, made it to the 3rd floor where he popped out at 4:08pm!

Pain was horrible, no chance of pain relief or antibiotics for step b, but after a 4 day stay in nicu we are home and coping!

Our toddler is a bit intense but Henry is sooooooooooooo easy! Give me 3 newborns anyday, toddlers are HARD!!! Anyone else finding their toddler rather annoying?? I just want to shout "leave Henry alone!"

Nikki I really wish I had just time alone with Henry.....not the same 2nd time round though! If I was you I would spend the first few days your DH goes back to work in bed! Surround your bed in high calorie food, loads of fluids, tv etc. I wouldn't express. By resting and eating and feeding baby you will increase your milk supply and make just the amount you need. Vomit is fine, don't worry. ENJOY!

How come everyone seems to have really supportive partners... . I could happily send mine packing right now but with no other family alive or in the country I guess I'd shoot myself in the foot if I left now.
Feeling very sorry for myself.

I'd love to stay in bed with Corey all day, but [and I know its not the same as having another DC] I have quite a lot of animals to look after. could leave them in kitchen/conservatory overnight and just keep nipping down to check on them, but I'd feel a bit bad, and I don't have a TV in my bedroom.... odd I know, lol.
oh, IC, I'm using tommie tippee hand pump, I bought their electric one, but don't find the suction strong enough.
I've got the HIPP baby milk, is anyone using this? or would anyone recommend something better?
thankfully, I've just had about 2 feeds worth of milk come in, so going to stick it in the fridge and go to bed, leave DP to look after him for a few hours, as I'm about to pass out with tiredness!