July 2005 babies

[AussieSim]

Welcome all those with fresh new babies. Oh the joys and tribulations. Post the lot here!

I hope I haven't overlooked a previous thread here for us. Anyway, here goes.

DS2 was due 3 July but arrived 29 June, 9lb 6oz. He has been growing nicely and is 4 weeks old today. I am breastfeeding and have already had mastitis and thrush but am pushing on with it. Biggest problem is sometimes he sleeps too long in the day and then wakes up a lot in the night, not that he stays awake for long, just long enough to feed and go back to sleep. The Midwife says that I shouldn't worry about his lack of wakefulness for the moment in the absence of any other issues, and to see how he is going around the 6 week mark. She also said I should wake him up during the day, which I have been reluctant to do, but I think I will have to do. Anyone else got an overly sleepy baby who doesn't seem to be growing out of it quickly enough?

Eurgh, Mrs D, that does seem rather revolting. Don't envy you that school routine! At least I only have to do it either end of the day, that middle one is a real pain for you!

For those needing nametapes, I ordered some from easy2name - there's a mumsnet discount. They look fine but I haven't actually used them yet. I'm a bit ashamed at not using nice woven Cash's tapes but I guess that's the lot of the middle child

Bloody hell, DD has not stopped shouting all day, poor love. The only thing that cheers her up is farting! Think I'll leave her and DH to be revolting together!

Eulalia - can I have some of your organised week vibes?

Eulalia, you are like a catalogue family- totally gorgeous!!! so glad no-one knows the horrible truth about us and how knackered we all look!
Mrs D- we bought the Graco Urban Detour from Mothercare, it has the car seat and travel system, and the seat fully reclines for newborns, we have taken dd out and she looks like a little angel in its fake fur lining- and she sleeps so well in it. Plus very easy to fold too, but it is quite heavy for me at the moment.
I am having a lovely time in the country but have overdone it a bit and (gory bit coming up) split my wound a bit so spent all afternoon in agony yesterday. I am so rubbish at taking it easy! But I did take up dh's offer last night to sleep in a spare room and he did all the feeds and I had 8 glorious hours sleep and feel a million times better today, aren't husbands lovely?! (he is looking over my shoulder)

Eulalia, Harriett's right. You have a catalogue family. Gorgeous children.

We've got a Maclaren Techno XT. I think the only difference between that and hte Classic is that the classic comes with cosy toes. We've been very, very happy with our XT. The one we had for dd1 got a bit beaten up, so we bought a new one for dd2. We didn't really consider any other types. Sorry, I can't remember who was aksing this question. If you're thinking of buying one, they're a lot cheaper from kiddicare.com then anywhere else I found.

MrsD, I'll be in touch next time we go up North. It will be a while though as my MIL disaproves of breast feeding to a very high degree. I'll wait until dd2 isn't feeding every 10 minutes before we go up.

Off to Hungary on Saturday! Can't wait. 10 days in the countryside doing nothing (will have laptop with me though so will be able to keep up with news)

oooh, i spent my gap year in budapest, lolasmum. god it was a long time ago now though! where are you going in hungary?

both children are asleep. i should be sorting washing out but am on here. need to go shopping too as we have no food, but we'll just have to starve. or have another takeaway...

Third attempt to post this message - oh the joys of a dial up connection - however I have just found out that broadband is available down our lane and have received the modem etc from Virgin so will soon be able drop in to say hello more easily and the world of internet shopping is calling me!

I finally have a name to announce. Our little girl is to be called...Mia. A short and we think very sweet name after such lengthy deliberations. It's a good thing too as this morning we had a letter from the Registrars asking us to please make an appearance. Eulalia, we have only just decided and I have been waiting to post with our final decision. Loved your photos by the way.

Mrs Darcy - glad to hear the good results from the MRI.

We are going to Cornwall tomorrow evening. Practically to Lands End. The last time we made this journey ds was 1 and it took us 6-7 hours as we went during the day and had to keep stopping for meal times etc. We now realise that we can only do long trips if its evening and they are asleep.

Talking of sleep, does anyone have any ideas what to do with a 2 year old who still seems needs a daytime nap but will only go to sleep in the car during the day? I don't know if there is an answer apart from taking him out with dd everyday. He used to fall asleep in the buggy but has stopped doing that recently and has never slept in his cot during the day. I have just taken him for a spin and have an hour to do some packing.

We will probably get the In Step double buggy. It is a 3 wheeler and is very light and easy to fold. Also easily gets through doorways. Dd is asleep in the Gesslein which has wonderful suspension but totally impractical for flinging in the car for a quick trip out. For that we have the Microlite. Good luck with all the decision making.

I've just remembered that I haven't added any or many stats re Mia and family to this thread. Dd was born on 18 July so was 6 weeks on Monday. It was a water birth at home in the room next to ds's bedroom and fortunately ds slept through whole thing. She was 6 lbs 14 ozs at birth and was weighed on Tuesday and is now 9 lbs 12 ozs.

She seems more chilled out at this stage than I remember ds being. Ds has almost overnight hit the terrible 2s. He's ok today but has his moments. It seemed to start on Tuesday when dh didn't get home until 10.00 pm! I'm hoping a trip away helps.

Must go attempt that packing - really need a big new car. Very envious of all those driving bus like cars now. Hope you all have a good week.

Mia is a lovely name Latearrival. Congratulations on coming to a decision!

I'm pretty sure I used an earlier version of the Instep double buggy with DS1 and DS2. It was wonderful and after using an ancient Maclaren, quite literally transfotmed my life! It was so easy to control and get over kerbs. I'm keeping it just in case we have another one whilst DD still needs a buggy

Harriett - your poor tummy . You are in the wars aren't you? Have they stuck it back together again? (or whatever it is they do!)

Lolasmum - what objection does your MiL have to breastfeeding? After my in-laws viewing of my boobs during my Mastitis Horror, I can't imagine anyone being scared of great big udders!

Hoxtonchick, we're going to lake Balaton. My Mum is Hungarian and our family have a house there. It's in the hills on the north side. It's a 45 minute walk down to the lake but with fantastic views, great walks and some good wine cellars and restaurants nearby . How come you spent your gap year in Budapest? My brother spent his there too. I love Hungary. I try and go once or twice a year. I'm trying to teach dd1 what little Hungarian I know. Hopefully she will grow to love it too.

MrsD, my MIL thinks its stupid. She bottle fed all 7 of hers and she says they've all turned out all right. She is normally a meek and mild women, but this in the one subject that she gets angry about. The 1st question she asked me when she spoke to me after having Bessie was "are you bfeeding?" When I replied in the afirmative she went on a tirade against it. She didn't aske me how I was, how the labour was. All she was concerened about was her personal crusade. She was like this with dd1 too. I think I should just keep my distance for the time being...

Latearrival, I love the name. Impressed by the weight gain too!

Mia's a great name, Latearrival. Was always on our short list.

[simile]

mb: do CAT me... cos I can't find any of your e-mails... or maybe we only chatted here ?

[wonk]

Lolasmum: maybe it's MIL's problem, IYSWIM, rather than anything to do with you. You carry on if it's working and you're both enjoying it !

cuties all around, Eulalia.

[girn]

mrsd: your dh and my dw are meant for each other. She mixed her yucky red henna hair treatment thing in Precious One's Tummy Tub bucket... ooooh, yuck. It smells like poo. But then so do many things around here now.

My, we are a busy thread today.

Latearrival - congratulations on the name. Mia is lovely. Enjoy Cornwall and good luck with the journey.

Harriet, opening up the wound again has me wincing for you. Take it easy!

Hub, I did wonder if MIL was slightly jealous never having experienced bfeeding. In her time/environment formula was seen as being superior, which is why she did it. Maybe when she saw me doing it with dd1 she wished it was something she had experienced. She really is not the sort of woman to argue/voice her opinion on anything. In fact her most often used expressions are 'I don't mind' or 'Its up to you'. So, her anti-bfeeding tirades are most unusual. But, I don't want to cause arguments. Dh feels uncomfortable by me feeding around her as he knows it upsets her. We've seen her once since dd2 was born and I had to express lots of milk before we met up. Result of that was leaky boobs which drenched my pads! That probably didn't go down very well with them. They probably thought I was rather slovenly (which I am !)

Harriett, each time I post I keep meaning to say poor you and your tummy. Sounds horrible. Take it easy and hope you get better soon.

awww... Lola's.... doesn't sound like a very supportive environment at what is always a tricky time. I think you've hit the nail on the head re: her attitude though. I'm sure in her time there was also an awful lot of marketing / messages re: formula is best... Maybe you could give her one of the standard NHS breasfeeding trifold brochurette thingies, or let her look at that 'Birth to Five' book so she can see that current 'best practice' advice is a clear 'breast is best'. Possibly instead of you needing to convince her / argue your side, you can let the 'official text' do it IYSWIM.

Anyway, hope all works out.

Lolasmum - talking of MIL's and breastfeeding - my MIL is Canadian and in her 80's and today dh was going to finally be sending video footage of dd on a tape which has had to be converted to Canadian format. I just happened to be showing ds some of this tape today (as it also has him on a Thomas the tank engine day out) and to my horror the 10 minutes of taping of dd includes big close ups of her breastfeeding with my boob and her head taking up the whole frame. In Canada apparantly they don''t show breasts on tv and dh said his family would probably freak out . I had got the tapes mixed up and managed to contact dh at work just in time before the tape went on its merry way across the Atlantc!

Anyway,my sympathy for the situation with your MIL.

Harriet - hope your tummy is feeling less sore. It made my knees feel funny when I read your post!

Glad you all like the name. She'll have to keep it know its out there on the net!

Just noticed my typing is getting worse - not surprising due to dd's preferred bedtime of 1.00 am. Did sleep 6 hours in one stretch on Monday night and 5 hours last night - just takes her time to give in to sleep. Night night.

Love the name latearrival. I am sure you will be happy with it.

Well I got 2 of the kids settled last night, ds2 and dd but ds1 wouldn't settle. He asked me to put his tape recorder on and then I did something 'wrong' and he got really upset. Turned out I'd done soemthing in the wrong order. (that is what autism is like). Trouble is its hard to 'undo' what you've just done. Had to go out of the room and start all over again and lie down with him. By this time it was well past 10pm. After all that I just went to bed myself!

Still had a good nights sleep and the sun is shining... am thinking of going swimming this weekend.

latearrival - OMG on the tape - I can see the funny side of it as well.

Get well soon Harriet.

Eulalia, you sound like you have the patience of a saint.

Latearrival, like the tape story!

oh harriett, i'm wincing for you. hope it's a bit better. hey, do you fancy taking the girls to the cinema one thursday morning when you're back? the rio do mums&babies sessions which i keep meaning to go to. i'll e-mail you.

i took both children on the bus today for the first time - very proud of me & them! ds walked for miles, ate an enormous bowl of noodles for lunch & should sleep extremely well tonight.

poor dd had her 8 week jabs today (whoops, a week later, slack 2nd time mum). she's been much grumpier than usual so far this evening so looks like i'm in for a fun night. still, she currently grinning & cooing up a storm with dp so i think i'll just leave them to it. she weighs 12lbs6 now, which is a gain of just under 2lbs in 3 weeks. she'll be out of her 0-3 clothes soon . that means i can start getting rid of some clothes - we have serious storage issues in the children's bedroom atm, & if it carries on i may even have to stop shopping - even more .

i am properly on a diet now. it's very boring. no choc or cake or biscuits today. malt loaf isn't toooooo bad is it?!

malt loaf has negative calories it's so chewy.

marvellous, i better have some more .

If you spread benecol on it, you will lose calories from chewing PLUS ! you'll lower your cholesterol.

PS - If any July Londoners fancy doing a walk / picnic thing in or around Hampstead Heath / Primrose Hill / Kenwood etc. I'd be up for it. Don't know if any June mums also live close ? Hmmm... might venture...

MB: haven't looked for that catalog yet but I will.

I thought malt was good for you?

I would be up for doing a walk. I'm going on holiday today though. Yippeeee! Back on 13th.

It is, Lolasmum, but I think hc is contemplating eating the whole loaf as part of a regimented negative-calorie chewing regime.

May I bore you all with more photos of my little babu (and my hairy toe) ?

LOL

new 1 - 8 week album here