April 2010 - our little bundles are here!

[lineky]

Thought I'd start a Post-Natal thread as there are so many of us now sorry about the uninspired name.
Well I am slowly realising the sleepless nights thing is no myth - VERY tired!

Hi all,
thanks for your ideas on potty training, might give the pasta jar a go. Just got back from the zoo - I put DD in nappies but they're dry as a bone as she's been good at going to the loo. Wasn't going to risk an accident in the car though. Every time I look at her now I snigger as we had our first home hairdressing session yesterday - I used my very sharp hairdressing scissors to trim her fringe but I cut a bit much off and it's half way up her forehead. She looks rather unhinged. Oh well, it'll grow...not before I take a photo of it though .
Good luck with positioning thedollshouse I always find it easier to position on one side than the other, it does get easier as the babies get older and they know just what to do.

Had the inlaws visit for the day on Sat to meet George. DH doesn't got on very well with them so it was a dreaded visit thar we knew we had to tolerate! First thing MIL did when she saw me was pat my stomach & say 'ooh, still got quite a tum'!!! I couldn't quite believe that anyone would be so insensitive as to pat the horrible jelly belly of a woman who only gave birth a week ago & who is likely to be feeling pretty self conscious about it as no normal clothes fit yet .

None of them expressed any interest in how the birth had gone (knowing that we had spent time doing a hypnobirthing course), how we were coping with 2 children, how DS was adjusting etc. In fact, other than bring a present for DS as well as the baby, they practically ignored him the rest of the time & were only interested in the baby.

In the afternoon, I really needed a nap so asked them if it was ok if they looked after George for an hour while I lay down which they were happy to do. DH had disappeared into the garage to do something as he can't bear being in the room with them for long. An hour later he came to wake me up & was fuming as he had found his sister sitting with George on her lap with her finger in his mouth which he'd been sucking for an hour. When he asked her politely if she could stop as we really didn't want him getting used to having a finger to suck, she said that we used to spoil her daughter so she would spoil our son if she wanted to! I went down and again commented that we preferred him not to suck a finger & again she ignored us. In the end I had to say he needed a nappy change so that I could take him. I know a lot of people do let their babies suck a finger to settle them, but I really hate it & have never done it with DS, as I can't bear the unhygienic aspect & it can become a real bind. I was just shocked that someone would stick their finger in someone else's week old baby and then refuse to remove it when asked. Oh god, I sound really unreasonable now!

Anyway, we all survived the visit, and won't have to see them again for a while!

Zeeky not unreasonable at all. Lucky she still has a finger! Bloody inlaws!

Hi all,
Have not had time to post as I dont know what I do all day but it seems to be 5 pm before I know it every day!
Zeeky sorry you had a stressful visit, families ( especially those you marry into) can be trying to say the least. I would have gone nuts if she has grabbed my belly!
Things are ok here, my health has been rubbish though, I had a really awful time with mastitis and have now got a horribly upset stomach which means I cant be far from a loo at any time.....its all a bit depressing really as I still feel really wobbly and as am iron deficient am ghostly white!!
with all of this breastfeeding has been difficult - I think I am getting there now and after visiting a bf clinic have mastered a position which seems to suit us both. She is cluster feeding most of the evening now though and last night was crying for food constantly, am a bit concerned about my supply so just feeding on demand in the hope that it will build up.
dollshouse dont be hard on yourself, Rory sounds like he is very content so he is very lucky, there is nothing wrong with mix feeding, dont know if you have been told by BF counseller about 'laid back feeding' I have been doing that and things have got so much better. google it but basically lie back on pillows so you are comfy( imagine slouching on sofa in front of good film) position bub face down on your chest and he will guide himself down with a bit of support from you and latch on himself. Its a bit fuddly to begin with but seems to work for loads of people - me included.....

ha ha i like the idea of a pasta jar for dh. think he would need it more than ds and the jobs around the house might finally get done.

might try it for ds but he doesnt really misbehave at the moment, im finding 4 a really lovely age, in fact he was brilliant at 3 as well its just getting them over those terrible 2's.

ds would stutter a bit a while ago but he seems over it now. it seemed like he was too excited about what he had to say and so couldnt get it out properly when he did it. it might just be a phaze that some kids go through

cant really give much advice on potty training as ds kind of trained himself. we really didnt do much and he got it within 2 days and was dry at night straight away as well. he has never had an accident and its been 2 years now. i just know kacie will be really hard to potty train as punishment for having it so easy the first time ha.

kacie is on comfort milk which has helped a lot with the vomiting. im pretty sure she has reflux, she dribbles out clear liquid sometimes that i thought was just drool at first but it smells vomity so i think its acid reflux. anyone had any experience of this?

zeeky its been 5 and a half weeks now and i still have a jelly belly and cant fit into my old pants. i think if someone tried to pat it they would probably get a smack in the face. how rude.

Been signed off by midwife & passes to HV care now. George was weighed Mon & has already regained his birth weight in just a week. The mw was very impressed as she said that it normally takes a lot longer for such a big baby to regain birth weight, esp one that is purely bf. I think I must have a lot of milk, as it gushes out & George seems more than satisfied, often having to be woken for his feeds. With DS1 one hv commented that I must produce "gold top" as DS1 was putting on weight so rapidly !

Hope everyone is doing ok - it's been quiet on here the last day or two.

I think almost everyone on the ante-natal thread has now had their baby. Maybe we should have an updated list of what everyone had?

If anyone is wondering about the times of my posts, it is because I am up feeding George & pass the time on my iPhone checking mumsnet & playing solitaire!

at your gold top, Zeeky. We used to tease my sister that she produced whale milk as she had such gorgeous chubby little babies. She's a tiny thing herself.
DD just off to nursery in her winter pyjama trousers as she refused to wear anything else . Am looking forward to today and tomorrow while she is there and it's just me and Alexander at home, might get some housework done!
I hear cries from upstairs...better go.

Zeeky I'm not surprised its quiet on here - Days just fly by here before I know it I'm in bed about 9.30! Election watch has been taking up a lot of time too!!!!
Hazel still has terrible wind problems - she is sooooooo noisy at night it is unbelievable. DH and I kept awake most of last night as she slept while grunting, groaning, squeking and screaming. The nursery is calling her I think.

lineky I sometimes think I gave birth to a puppy instead of a baby, as George yelps, squeaks, sniffles etc just like a puppy!

Had a bad night with him last night. Fed at 2.30am & then just would not settle. He was wide awake & whenever I tried putting him in his Moses basket he would squeak & yelp for a bit (until I dozed off) then start crying until I picked him up again. Then he filled his nappy & then he wanted more food. Finally got back into bed at 5 & then half hr later he was awake again. DH got up with him but had to bring him back to me as he was hungry again! Eventually he went to sleep at 7 just as DS was getting up! Managed to get an hr of sleep in after ds went to nursery. Have now had to wake George up for a feed and he keeps going back to sleep while feeding! So annoying. We'd a couple of good nights with him which lulled me into thinking he was getting a good little routine. Oh well, it's early days yet...

We had our HV visit yesterday and ds has put on 1lb since he was born 2 weeks ago. He is bf too so maybe I produce gold top too

We are having a very unsettled morning here. I was going to visit the school I work at but am giving it a miss as he is screaming so much. I think it's wind so am trying infacol with evvery feed - may have to buy it in bulk as ds feeds so much

Sounds like you have a greedy boy too mistymoo

Been awake since 2.30 when I got up to feed DD and then she was such a noise machine I didn't sleep at all afterwards. Am absolutely bloody shattered and had to do baby clinic weighing this morning.

On the downer side, b'feeding is just a bloody nightmare as DD really only comfort feeds, gets next to nothing out and my supply is just dying off. With my DP leaving the house at 6am and returning at 8pm monday to friday if I continue to b'feed DS won't get breakfast lunch or dinner and will be in dirty nappies all day. Not much support in terms of offering to have him/come in to help either from my Mum but thats not unusual. Expressed ONCE yesterday...and that was at 4pm, where I got a (count 'em!) OUNCE of milk between both breasts. Really want to give up.

Anyway, am very tired and very crochety which is mainly because my Mum said she would take DS one afternoon this week and today has "appointments" which means a manicure. And its the one day I really need to nap.

Did i say I haven't actually had one daytime nap since DD was born? Is anybody? If so, please tell me how!

no daytime naps here either adelaidejo but then i cant sleep in the day so thats my own fault really.

just bought one of those vibrating bouncers which has been quite good at keeping her happy so far today, usually im having to hold and jiggle her all the time.

nic i just wish people would stop telling me to sleep when she sleeps! Sure, if you take my toddler I will .

I just looked at vibrating bouncers - they look good, quite expensive though in mothercare catalogue.

i got mine off ebay for £5, look for ones that are near you then you can pick them up and you'll get a bargain.

Adelaide no naps here either, I did try a couple of times in the early days - once Alexander started crying about 5 minutes after I'd got into bed, and once the phone went, and then there was a knock at the door, so I've just given up trying. It's not too bad mostly I just drink lots of cups of tea. DD doesn't nap in the day so I can't either.

I take DD1 to bed with me when baby napping if really pooped - laying down is more restful and helps milk supply I find - I read to DD1, and she pretends to read to me.

Have a fever today which is not helping. DH is going to do 10pm feed (expressed) so off to bed shortly. both DDs in bed asleep by 7pm - result! Also had a very civilized dinner - all at table incl baby.

Baby had bath today too, so all in all a good day, despite feeling as rough as a badgers bum.

Off to Dr tomorrow for BP review - still up, and giving me headaches.

Was getting worried as nobody was posting, but I guess we are all pretty busy these days!

Sending peaceful night vibes to all.

Billie hates her vibrating chair and swing... will try weekly, and hopefully she will change her mind. She loves her newborn plus highchair though thankfully.

I really feel for you guys who can't nap in the day - how on earth are you still functioning?? The only thing that gets me through the night shift is knowing that i should be able to get at least an hour's nap next day. DS1 naps for about 2 hrs after lunch, so provided i can get the baby fed & settled just before or just after ds goes up to bed, I can get a bit of sleep. DH still on paternity leave, so if I've had a particularly bad night he takes ds out while I rest. Not sure how it will work when he goes back to work though...

For the colicky babies, have you thought about taking them to see a cranial osyeopath? DS1 suffered terribly with colic so took him see an osteopath. The ost said he could feel the tightness in his gut & diaphragm & that the base of his neck was compacted (as a result of a long labour). The treatment def seemed to help - didn't get rid of it completely but eased it so the evening screaming was only lasting an hr or so instead of 5!