November 09 - rolling, laughing and cutting teeth ... but us mama's are still not getting sleep!!

[scarlotti]

New thread for us

sirboob, I actually think you are already a very good example of a young mum!
Pavlov, I'd probably go to the GP. But I have a very understandable GP and the bonus of a overly worried first timer ;)

How is your boob, sirboob? Improving I hope. I used to get blocked ducts all the time with dd1 as I was expressing all the time. Nothing worked better to avoid mastitis hell than force feeding her whilst on all 4's and a good old comb in the shower. Madness.

Having our usual afternoon nap hell here. I don't know what it is, but she gets tired and then screeches for hours on end refusing to go to sleep. I'm trying ear plugs today (whilst trying to settle her, I hasten to add). I tried the pram last week but felt so self-conscious with people staring at me as if I am a heartless wench for letting my baby cry like that when, in truth, she does it at home too [exasperated emoticon]. And who's bright idea was it to put a bell on dd's bike. It wakes her every time....

hmmm. overuse of the word 'hell' there. One of those -weeks- days I see.

Fart. weeks

nap hell here too, but not because of the baby. ds wouldnt shut up all afternoon and means I didnt a get a minute of peace during the time dh was home between split shifts (7-11 and 4-10) of course now he has fallen asleep on the sofa and the baby is awake after being asleep for about 20 mins. she's been trying to sleep for ages but every time she dropped off ds would start doing something really noisy. I wish i could find my baby-monitor, would make things easier for me as well. Tried putting her in her room for peace and quiet but ds just followed her up there. He has decided he loves her again now. (Though I suspect this will change frequently depending on his mood and if he is getting his own way.) Sighs

Well this is a weird situation... An ex-boyfriends girlfriend is in early labour and has asked me to guide her through it I've never even met the girl, and he broke up with me to get with her She's contracting every five minutes and has been for several hours...

Trikken sorry to hear nap time is a nightmare

Hobnob its still painful but not as bad as last night, thanks Bearable at least. Going to group tomorrow so will have a word with the HV.

Was nap hell here today too. Ioan finally caved in to sleep at 6:30 and is now hopefully down for the evening. Last dirty nappy was around 3pm so that seems to have eased, think it must have been some sort of tummy bug or other. He's been off his food today so tomorrow is going to be a nice peaceful (ha!) day at home hopefully where he can relax and get back to his usual self.
Naps here when everyone is home are nigh on impossible, Ioan is just so nosey and inquisitive now it's stopping him bf and sleeping.
Sigh.
DH has been painting the extra bit of the kitchen that's been done this afternoon. Am annoyed as now I will have to be grateful but am actually rather cheesed off as I've done the lion's share of childcare this weekend whilst he's swanned about with a roller in hand.
Today I went back to bed at 6:15 so he had them on his own until 9am. I then took them to church and he went back to bed. He got up finally around 2pm then started painting at 3, whilst I did lunch and then took all 3dc's to tesco.
When I said I thought the split of who did what today fell hugely in his favour, he offered to swap me dc's for painting ... at 5pm they go to bed at 7.
Sigh.

both finally asleep now, after ds running down the stairs screaming "mummy I want another story!!" after four fairly long story's already and dd crying as she needed a bum change and sleep. Took ages of nagging asking him to get into bed before he actually did. I miss the stairgate. dh took it off ds's room yesterday as he thinks ds is took big for it and thinks that if we treat him more grown-up he will act it, so far this hasn't worked.

Virtual group hug anyone??

passes wine to Scarlotti* * Hope you're okay

Is anyone getting their LO's to sleep during the day at all here? We are certainly not. One hour's nap is a good day

scalotti I wish I had your DH (I know that's not what you expected me to say!). Mine is in a rut of working too hard and feeling run down and sorry for himself, so he lols around tolerating dd1's attention/not (delete as appropriate) whilst I deal with dd2 24/7. Painting a wall sounds very proactive to me! To be fair he did take dd1 to the park for a bit today, and he always gets up early and does breakfast with her whilst I catch up from the night feeds so I really shouldn't be complaining at all.

I. managed to break the constipation a bit with a small sticky effort containing bits of peel from something, but certainly not a weeks' worth of solids. She was still distressed at bedtime and wouldn't lie on her tummy so I think we may be in for a rough night.

Add me to the virtual hug!

Thanks for the wine SirB, sorry i didn't get back in time re the tickets. Hope you have a good time

hobnob maybe we should swap!! Don't be fooled, it's taken 7 years of nagging and 2 months of relate to get the proactive painting. And that is all that's been done this weekend.

Never satisfied me!

Scarlotti we're still waiting for a few people, so if you want to come we can still add you to the number. No pressure though

Morning all

Ioan had a much better night so feeling much more refreshed today Looks like whatever he had is on the way out.

I can resolve the ready brek debate!! Ready brek has

If I pre-mix purees with milk/baby rice etc, all ready to eat, and freeze it, how long can i freeze it for? I am thinking of making a few different meals, then I can just remove and defrost, and when I go out, I can just take them out ready made up, just need to heat up/defrost.

scarlotti i just looked at the babypotz website, there are tons there! I might invest. Especially as they take paypal and I am about to sell some stuff, can use the proceeds.

Help! James is still constipated. He hasn't done a poo now since Saturday (and that one was like a pellet) and is really straining. I've been trying to get him to drink water (he doesn't take much though), giving him warm baths, massaging tummy, and nothing is working It's horrible seeing him struggle and of course I am feeling REALLY GUILTY as I started weaning him at 21 weeks and I'm worried it was too soon for him. I'm not giving him any food today.

Any luck on the poo front Hobnob?

Hope the christening went well DWB! The pictures on facebook are lovely.

Morning all.

Ethan's christening was great yesterday, a lovely day with the family and a few close friends.

I'd gradually reintroduced milk into my diet but it started making Ethan sick again so I cut it out last week in an effort to avoid him being sick all over his christening gown. I let my SIL give him a little yoghurt on Friday, didn't even think about the reaction it might have, there then followed lots of baby sick and red blotches on his face and head!! I phoned the HV and she recommended seeing the GP who could refer us for tests. I wanted to gradually introduce formula at 6 mths which is may 29th, so now I don't know what to do about formula! hobnob Do you know if there's a particular formula I should try? I want to use formula during the day and continue to bf morning and evening around working 9-5 from July onwards. I certainly can't expect test results in that timescale to let us know if it is a dairy problem or not!!

I can't believe we're at the six month stage, where has the time gone?!

laugs oh poor boy. I think solids can clog them at first, regardless of when you wean them, i am sure it is not that you weaned him too early. I hope he feels better soon.

DWB i am glad the christening went well, but sorry little Ethan is suffering.

Laugs will echo pavlov, it won't be because you weaned him early. Maybe his system just is taking a little longer to adjust.
I'd try just milk for a day or two (bf is a great laxative) and then maybe add in some stewed apple or pear. They are good for getting things moving. Stay away from any baby rice/porridge or anything carby for a day or two and see how he goes.

Pav that's exactly what I do. You can freeze things in your freezer (i.e. not the top drawer in a fridge) for up to 3 months. I make huge batches of whatever and freeze. Either then defrost at meal time or take it out with me in the morning and it's ready ina few hours. If you use ice cube trays, then freeze until hard then empty into bags.
Babypotz are marvellous!! Used them all the time with DS1 and they do last well. Great after then for keeping craft bits/taking to work with dried fruit/nuts etc. or any other crap you need to store!!!

DWB great news on the christening but poor Ethan is suffering.

Washing is on line, second load in the machine. Dishwasher finished and about to cook.
What a difference some sleep makes eh?!

Laugs Pavlov took the words right out of my mouth. You could have weaned at 20 weeks or 40 weeks - initially the change in consistency from milk to anything does leave them prone to constipation. I hope it clears soon, but don't be so hard on yourself

Scarlotti i have frozen ice cubes of puree, and they are in bags. but its a faff to then get it all ready. I say faff, but in reality it is less hassle than cooking a meal! But it is nice to be able to take out a pot to use when I need speed, or when we are going out.

A friend of mine, she is using jars for her 8 month old. Just jars. She says her DD does not like her food . Her baby has an enormous appetite and she eats two jars at each sitting! That is 4 a day (not including breakfast) And she buys HIPP Organic and wonders why she is skint! That is like £140 a month on food! I was rather .

Thanks ladies, you always make me feel better, even if it is undeserved! He has now had a tiny poo which I had to help prise out with DD wailing in my ear the whole time (god forbid James should get some one-to-one attention, although I'm sure he'd rather it wasn't that kind!). He was only having fruit and rice, but it's certainly bunged him up, Scarlotti I'll do as you say and just go back on fruit when I start again. He's also had banana a few times which I'll be avoiding for the moment.

If I only BF today, do you think I need to offer water as well?

DWB Sorry to hear about Ioan. You can get soya formula, but I think you're supposed to use that on GP's advice.

laugs we had the 1st poo in a week last night and it was sticky. Horrid. Just went to clinic and saw the HV and she suggested either giving 1:10 prune juice:water in a cup or mixing a bit of pureed prunes in with pureed apple or pear, once a day for a few days. I'm not sure about scarlotti's suggestion about avoiding carbs because I. hasn't had any at all yet is still bunged. It must just be the change of consistency of things in their guts. She's still miserable with it and up during the night in discomfort, etc. She's lost weight in the past month which I hope is due to the sickness bug 3 weeks ago and not any of this malarkey. Another weigh-in in 2 weeks...

DWB I'm amazed you got tests! That's incredible. I was told they are all too unreliable to be of any use, but I may just have been being fobbed off or they take you at your word when there's an obvious reaction so tests aren't necessary. You GP will be able to prescribe formula. There are a few, and they are pretty minging so you will have to start by mixing it with BM to dilute the taste. They'll probably offer Nutramigen first, which is the cheapest. Pepti is also reasonably priced so they are relatively happy to prescribe it. The proteins in it are incompletely broken down so may still cause a reaction in some but DD1 was happy with it and it tastes so much better than Nutramigen. The expensive stuff is Neocate. Still pretty minging, but it's made of amino acids rather than hydrolysed cow's milk so is totally hypoallergenic IYSWIM.

Of course it is deserved! Poor james having to have 'help'! bear cub has had the opposite. He has been doing very explosive, full smelly nappies. DH changed the first very smelly one yesterday and had to hold his nose! It was very funny! He could not talk to me for gagging .

I am ill today. I have a sore throat, swollen glands, crawling skin, headache. Yuck. I think I want DH to take bear cub out (DD is at nursery) so I can go to bed, then bear cub looks at me and goes 'ehehehehe, goooooo wewewehehe' and smiles a big cheeky grin and stopping me.

DWB also you can ask for a referral to a dietician for weaning advice. Basically, use formula where others would use cow's milk. He may be able to tolerate yoghurts and cheese later on for his calcium. Be careful with soy too, because many intolerant to cow's milk protein also develop an intolerance to soy and it is in everything. You'll get good at baking with oat/coconut milk so Ethan isn't deprived of bikkies and cakes! Bourbons are also dairy-free I think. We are monitored by the gastro at the hospital, but I'm not sure why TBH. It is a reassurance though.

Thanks hobnob - stupid question but can you buy prune juice, or is that the juice that's in a can of prunes? Has Isla had banana? I'm wondering if that may be the problem as James had loads of it the other day (couldn't get enough of it). Otherwise he's just had rice, apple and pear. I hope she gets sorted soon and starts to put the weight back on.

DWB If all the formula options sound a bit overwhelming, you might not need to use it. Was it 9 months you're going back to work? I went back at 10 months and on advice of HV only breastfed in the morning and night, she had water during the day. You could express some milk to get through the first month (probably just one bottle a day)? Of course, that might be more hassle than switching to formula!