November '09 and the months are flying by, our 3 month plus troop, and us, the knitted boob group!

[SirBoobAlot]

New thread, we chat so much!

scarlotti sorry to hear your DH is still being a prize turkey. It seems that long term you have some ideas where you might be headed. I really hope he sorts his act out in the next few months, but i think you already know whether that is going to happen or not. At least you are giving this your best shot. I admire that.

laugs you have no doubt been given millions os suggestions re moisturiser, but I shall add my two pence worth in! I use Avena which is water based (avena is a thermal spa apparantly). It is really really light on the skin, it a french pharmacology based one rather than a cosmetic one. You can buy the moisturiser. it from Boots for £13-14 and they do a sensitive skin one which is also for red skin (tinted with green to even it out) and is SPF protected. Just to add to your confusion . They also do other stuff too, including a rescue cream, which is a bit more intense and I use it once a week or so.

reuben rolled!!! {proud mummy emoticon]. For daddy . I am not impressed at his timing. I spent all day with him, he fed fed fed fed, slept, slept, cried, cried, slept, laughed, but always attached to me. I went out for 10 minutes to get DD from nursery, and DH said all proudly 'he rolled! for me!' Luckily, Reuben does appear to be a performing seal and he did it again for me! front to back, so funny, it surprises him no end!!

He also slept from 7pm-7:30am, waking a few times, but still the longest he has slept for and the earliest he has gone down for. He woke at 10:45pm, quick feed and back to sleep, he woke again at around 3am for a feed back to sleep. Then he woke at goodness knows what time, and lie there giggling, kicking and cooing to himself for 20mins! Then he fed at 6am and then slept til 7:30am. So, need to work on this waking business, but getting there! I also went to bed at 7:30pm so although it was stop/start, i slept a lot!

Oh sleep routines bbl - Reuben has a random routine, he is quite fond of the 10 minute power nap he sleeps i would say about 4 naps a day? between 10 minutes and 45 minutes. Unless we have been in the car, and he is due a nap, then it seems to put him in a deep sleep and he can sleep for up to 2 hours (sometimes longer).

My latest response to comments of "breastfeeding is disgusting, it should be done in private" etc - "I'm feeding my baby, not giving a lap dance." Am distinctly proud of this one

sirboob do you really get lots of comments? I guess I have a 'daggers drawn' look at anyone who stares. I have had the odd look, mostly by older people, and I have been so so tempted to give them a big ol flash of my boob . I fed Reuben in the Drs waiting room on Monday...that was funny, all these people all looking lovingly at him, then as i put him on the boob, all these people looking in every direction but directly at me, great for those opposite me .

Glad you have some good quips for the arses who comment. It is so rude.

Pavlov it cracks me up when people do that. I guess I do attract comments, possibly because I'm not the most subtle of breastfeeders But then, firstly, it frustrates Bryn if he has a muslin over him or whatever and ends up drawing more attention; and secondly, I don't see why I should be subtle, to be honest. People don't bat an eyelid if women walk past in skimpy little clothes (only if they're attractive, of course ) with their boobs all on show, and yet there is absolute disgust on the faces of some people when they see breasts being used for what they were designed for... climbs down from soap box It really gets on my wick!!

I've not had any comments about bf or any looks which I've been aware of. I do pull my top up tho & wear a bump band so there's hardly anything on show and I don't think most are aware of what we're doing. I'm not brave enough to pull my top down, definitely showing too much flesh for me!

Re sleeping, Ethan's middle name is random! Or it feels that way sometimes. Last night he slept 8 hours, fed then slept another 2-3 hrs. That's been unusual of late so we'll see if it continues. He seems to nap just after his 2nd feed so 11:30 ish and then again around 4. Naps can be 20mins or 3hrs. I only wake from naps if he is going well over when a feed would be due.

Looks like a good time was had at the London meet. It's lovely to see photos of all the mums & babies together.

scarlotti I can relate to you with your other half's laziness/ laid back approach. My DP does accept that he is a lazy so&so and is doing much better recently but I know when I look ahead that if we run into problems with our relationship, this will be the cause. I hope you and your other half can come to a happy conclusion whether that's together or not. I really admire you putting your daughter's exams first you must be very strong.

Sorry if I've missed anything else. I do read every day but don't seem to find much time to actually post! Must do better.

Laugs, tbh, I think Paulas frequent waking is more of a habit. There have been reasons like jabs, growth spurt, digestive problems,... and now it is just normal to wake up more often. She doesn't want to be fed each time, but often, so maybe you are right and solids will help.

bf, I was a bit worried as I had the impression that it was a little "problem" in the UK but I have to say, I never got any comment or look. I bf in the plane so the poor guy next to me could only stare out of the window to make sure he couldn't see anything
And twice some old ladies admired Paula and how hungry she was.
I do not show too much as I usually have two layers. I agree with sirboob, no one comments on "sexy" half naked women, but actually it is the feeding what the boobs are made for. But I also do not want to shock shy people, so I guess I stick with the two layers thing. I wouldn't want to hide behind a piece of fabric though. (As Paula gets easily distracted these days, I might actually need to hide the world from her )
Right, I better go to bed, I need to get some sleep.

Evening ladies

Thanks for all the kind comments re DH.

I've not had any bad comments re bf but I am a top up, strappy vest down girl. I find I get a bit embarrassed if I have to get my boob out, and then I tense up and the milk doesn't flow. Cue baby then screaming and so the cycle continues. Much easier all round if I cover up. I've noticed he is starting to get distracted now too and so daytime feeds are shorter, making night time ones longer

Have escaped!! DH has a friend here for the evening as he has a flight layover tonight. I've said I have to do the books so I can escape the footie on tv and blokey drivel and come and mn instead!!
Am sat on my bed now though, quietly typing and hoping that Ioan doesn't wake too early from it. Normally he has a feed at about 10:15 so that should buy me an hour of mn in peace!!

I just find it easier to get my boob out. (Wow, this in a conversation I never thought I'd be having a year ago..!) I do try to be subtle sometimes, but if Bryn is already crying, then I just get on with it. I was quite conservative before I started breast feeding, so am really quite amazed at my own daring!!

I wear a double layer too. I normally have a black vest top under whatever i have on, top up/vest top down, and if only that, i wear a cardy. I am not so much conscious, i prefer to be discrete, but if it is not possible for some reason, then i am not too fussed.

Well, Reuben has decded he will only sleep with me tonight every time i try to put him in his basket, he squeals, like he has trapped wind, or some pain or something. On my chest, fine. In bed, on his back, as he would be in his basket - fine. Sleeping happily with his little arms up by his head. So lovely. But not in his own bed!

DH went to see nurse yesterday about giving up smoking. He has patches, and an inhalator thingy. He was told not to go cold turkey whatever he does, that they are not bothered by his nicotine addiction, it is the other toxins that are harmful and in particular the tar, so if he wants more patches etc or more cartilages for the inhalator, then fine just ask as long as he does not smoke a cigarette. They also tested his carbon monoxide levels, which are at 8. Very good for him. he is in the 'non smoker who us around smokers' category, and the nurse said this is likely because he smokes rolling tobacco which has less toxins in, and also he only smokes around half to a third of each cigarette, compared to someone smoking a normal packet of them, would smoke the whole thing. And as he only smoke about 10 a day, he is smoking as little as 5-7. So, he does not need the higher level patches, and he is very confident he can stop. He has set a date for quitting completely on Saturday and he is using the inhalator in the meantime. he has smoked 4 cigarettes today, and has changed his top before going near Reuben, and cleaned his teeth. It has really freaked him out that he could have been harming his baby son.

And Reuben does seem a little better. Not clear nosed, still bunged up and coughing, but nowhere near as bad. So maybe it really is his smoking?!

Primark do brilliant vest tops for £3 which stretch enough to pull down under your boob but cling enough to still lie next to your skin. I have 3

Pav great news on dh's smoking. Wish him all the best as it's not an easy task but he'll feel so much better for it.

Sleep here tonight will be scarce I think. DH's friend is staying over and so is in the spare room, which means DH is back in with me. Bang goes me bringing in Ioan after his 4am feed, which means he'll probably not settle in his bed so I'll be up. Plus then if I do get him off, DH will then wake him up when he's getting ready for work. Sigh.

Primark vest tops are my favourite for PJ tops currently - though I will have to get some more as... DRUM ROLL PLEASE... I have lost enough weight for these to now be too big does a little dance

Pav great news on your DH, and your other thread did have me giggling

Scarlotti hope you get more sleep than you are anticipating.

scarlotti, if only I had known you were probably awake! We could have had a chat. I'm more or less awake since 4.30, definitely and completely since 5.40 when Paula woke up for the day (for some reason that seems to be earlier and earlier).
I guess, I couldn't sleep anymore as my body just can not deal with this unusual amount of sleep anymore. Last night I got at least 2.30 hour stretches, sometimes rather close to 3! (how sad is that, smilies over 2.30 hours!)

Oh, and goooooood morning to everyone!

ursi glad you got a longer stretch of sleep but feel for you as you must be shattered from the constant broken nights. We could have had a chat as it sounds like we've had the same start to the day

Managed to get to sleep at 10:30, luckily dh didn't stay up for ages, but am not used to sharing my bed! When he did come up he wondered if I fancied a 'cuddle'?! Funnily enough I opted for sleep! Ioan came in to feed at 4:30 but then with another adult in the bed it was too cramped for me to relax and know he'd be safe. I see an early night coming tonight!

went out on 'hot date' last nite! highly recommend getting a babysitter and just going out for a couple of hours, its fab! and we managed not to talk about the kids all the time!

stupidly went to baby weigh in yes and even thought she is following her 2nd percentile line and is now 11 7 hv told me i had to go back to the doctor...well that won't be another waste of half a day..she obv just has a small tummy as she is on bottles now and never takes more that 4 ozs in one go but surely she wouldn't be so happy and sleepily (dont scream) 14 hours a nite if she wasn't full...any tips for how to get a baby to take more ounces? bigger teat? go longer/shorter between feeds? ignore hv...

weston I would probably ignore the hv for now. Anya is exactly the same, only has about 4 oz at a feed and that is actually only in the last couple of weeks. Before that she only had 2oz-3oz! She is dropping centiles and I panicked. Then I spoke to my mum. She got my little book out from when I was a baby and Anya is putting on weight at the same rate I was at her age and no one was concerned back then (because they didn't have these silly, make mothers worry, growth charts). As long as they are happy, alert and getting hungry I'm not going to worry. I did change Anya up to the next teat and it made no difference whatsoever.

weston, I would probably ignore the hv too but obviously keeping an eye on how she feels. I'm bf so don't know how much Paula takes but she seemed to have a small tummy too and suddenly she started to take much bigger portions. How often do you feed? We are trying to do longer gaps now (between 3 and 4 hours) and then she takes much more.

scarlotti, thanks for your sympathies. I keep forgetting (and I think it was you who asked) about something I read (and tried) to get them to nap longer. (yes, I know, I am probably the last person you would trust in a sleep related question and no, it is not working with Paulas naps but it does sound reasonable)
Well, for babies who wake up after only one cycle the "no cry sleep solution" recommends:
You know how long the baby is probably sleeping so a couple of min before he is due to wake up you just wait there (and knit or read something). With his first movement you do whatever you do normally to make him sleep (rocking, even bf,...). Normally he should not wake up and go for the second cycle. After a couple of days, he should be able to do it without your help. (and it should also help for frequent night wakings).
Well, I have to admit, it is not working for us during daytime as Paula just wakes up too quickly and has her eyes wide open immediately and is curiously looking around, so usually not a chance.
But she used to wake 45 min after bringing her to bed and I tried for about a week to go in the bedroom just before she was due to wake up and as soon as she moved I put my hand on her chest. It really seems to work and she now normally sleeps "through" until 11pm or even midnight.

Weston ignore the hv!! Not sure if I've posted this already but on mother's day we discovered my niece olivia is 1st7 and on 2nd centile. She's 2 in May. Ethan is prob around 17lb so 1st3 and on 91st centile. Both happy healthy children. He was 7lbs 14 at birth so on 50th centile then went up and up. I do believe that babies drop or gain until they reach their level. Is she following the line?

Sorry just reread your post. If she's following her line I don't see why anyone should worry.

Oh all this baby weight stuff is just so annoying. Hedy has nosedived from 91st centile to 50th but there is a logical line if you join up the dots, it's just not the 'official line'. In the Baby led weaning book at the start it says that at the 4 month mark babies can start to tail off weightwise, that's certainly what she has done. I was pleased to see a sign in our clinic with advice on how often you shoudl weigh your baby and it is really not all that often, not when I think I used to go religiously every week with ds, so silly! Babies who are well and happy look well and happy whatever they weigh- a friend's dd is a titch but clearly not ill - just as you say DWB

Last night H fell asleep in her moses basket and hoorah! didn't wake up when I got in bed.
When I woke up thsi morning she was in the bed next to me. Spooky!!! DH didn't put her there and I have literally no memory whatsoever of picking her up in the night. So I will just have to assume that she climbed out in a superbionic manner.

how strange wook, but good that Hedy settled in her moses basket.

am really gonna have to think about changing Annabelle into her Cot soon as she is huge and I fear she wont fit in for many more weeks, plus she has started to stick her legs right out over one edge and am worried she might tip herself out. I know that it is not likely that she will manage this but it worries me all the same.

Lines, schmines as long as your baby is happy and alert that's all that matters. Babies suffering from dehydration (which is what would happen before starvation) have sunken eyes, sunken fontanelle and go a bit grey in colour. Certainly there would be no sparkly eyes and smile greeting you in the morning.
Of my 3dc's, DD was on the 2nd centile, DS1 on the 25th and DS2 is on the 75th so far. I suspect DS2 will drop a bit once he starts to move, at the moment he's just a little pudding!
I also suspect that the richness of bf milks differ from mother to mother. Ioan only feeds for about 5 mins, but my milk spurts out and is really sweet (maybe all the cakes/chocolate?! ) so I suspect my milk is calorific.
I also think then, whilst weaning won't fill him calorie wise as it's carrots etc. it will fill him feeling wise, and as long as he doesn't drop his milk feeds I can see he'd sleep longer as he's more satisfied iyswim.

That's my take on it all anyway so I am back on the solids today and am not going back to the clinic for another few weeks!

ursi meant to say I'd heard good things about that sleep method. Also, for early risers they suggest waking them gently just before their normal waking time. This is supposed to break that particular sleep cycle so they then settle down for another stretch of sleep. Might be worth a shot?
Ioan napped this morning for 1.5 hours - the reason? He was snuggled up next to me in bed Lovely though that is, it's not going to help when I'm back at work!!

wook, superbionic power here as well! Several times already Paula was not were I put here! I woke up with her in my bed or on my chest and could not at all remember that I had picked her up
scarlotti, interesting but not sure. Usually she wakes up often in the early mornings but sleeps until something in between 6 and 7 depending on the bedtime the evening before. It seems to get shorter though now. As she wakes up so often I don't know if I could time it right. On the other side, she usually has a very early nap when she is up so early. hmm, have to think about it