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?

merryberry: have e-mailed - we're walking across the Heath to Hampstead for lunch if you fancy a trip.

If anyone else lives near and wants to join us they're welcome, just post here before 09:45. (that is latest predicted departure time, LOL).

dd is starting to build up to longer hours at night which is nice, so we are both starting to feel less wacked. Smiles geting more regular and the first tentative babbles are coming, though they are certainly thin on the ground, LOL...

Hope you're all OK.

It's only an hours flight from Aberdeen - would love to join you for lunch

Well last night followed a fairly predictable pattern - got the older two to bed, ate something very late with ds2 lying across my lap - he finally drops off to sleep on the sofa in my arms. dh puts a DVD on about 10pm, I watch half an hour of it and fall asleep ....

BTW anyone here who posted on the August thread will be pleased to know that everyone has finaly graduated. Twiga just had her baby on Wed. I went into see her yesterday.

OK, Eulalia, do you need a lift from the airport ? LOL

Departure delayed due to problems with GateGourmet (erm... imminent feed due)... so... we're leaving a tad later. Get in the taxi to the airport E !!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone

thanks for tips on nappy creams, might go and see if I can track it down.

Glad I am not only one struggling with weight. After dd1 and ds I lost all my baby weight by 12 weeks with no effort other than eating vast amounts! This time it has steadfastly stuck at a stone to go since about week 2, despite the fact that I put on the same amount in all 3 pregnancies. In total I reckon I ahve a good 2 stone to lose as I was a stone over to start with. Think I might join weightwatchers, think I need something to make me get on with it. I keep getting on scales hoping it might have suddenly plummeted but I think I am going to have to face it soon that biscuits, cake and chocolate are not going to really help! I need to do it as I still cant fit in clothes, but maternity ones are getting too big, and I have nothing wintery to wear. I dont want to shop whilst this size. Oh, well, better go and eat some more cake whilst I can Have good weekends!

Hello everyone. Hope Mums, Dads and new babies are doing well.

We are adjusting to the new routine - getting me and both ds's ready to take ds1 to school - he has just started reception. Four days in we're doing ok (luckily the school is just round the corner). Harry is a lovely baby and at 7 weeks started smiling and cooing which I have to say brought a tear to my eye. So cute. I don't kid myself that the smiling is just reserved for me -he smiles at everyone! He is sleeping well - not much in the day just cat naps on the school run but thankfully he tends to save his sleeping for night time settling down around 8.30pm when ds1 goes to bed and waking around 4.00ish for a feed and then around 6.30/7.00am. So all in all I can't complain.

My dh is keen to get Harry into his own room (he is 9 weeks tomorrow). I'm kind of torn as I feel this is too young and I am still bf in the night so will have to get out of bed now. Anyone else thinking the same? The HV assistant told me that the recommended time that baby should be in parents room is up to 2 years old - surely that is not right?

Subject of nappy rash try Morhulin ointment - Harry had a really sore bum just after birth - one application of this wonder ointment and his bum returned to peachiness once again!

Hope the Hampstead Heath walk was nice yesterday Hub and Merryberry - fab weather. We had a lovely trip to Marble Hill Park yesterday with ds's and friends.

Good luck on the loosing weight front - I initially lost nearly 2 stone after birth but seemed to have put on a pound or so - it is probably all those Percy Pigs (from M+S) that I keep finding in my basket and the slices of cake that go so well with afternoon tea. I keep saying to dh that bf burns an extra 500 caloties a day - but he keeps reminding me that you are not supposed to just eat the extra calories! Whoops...

Take care everyone and here's to lots of good sleeping. We had a dreadful night last night (not the baby) but with ds1 - lots of vomit.

xx

If I join WW can I join in the dieting-motivation thing? We've just returned home from a lunch party where I had 2 main courses and 3 puddings . I have no idea what I weigh but I think it is bad. I veer between self-loathing, which requires comfort eating, and a conviction that because I am happy I am therefore gorgeous and can eat whatever I want .

Webwoman, of Harry going to bed at 8.30. The few times DD has gone to bed at the same time as the boys have been lovely, but it doesn't happen very often.

webwoman - personally I think he is too young because as you say you are just going to have to traipse through to another room to feed him. So at 9 weeks would you say you have a routine then? Getting a bit concerned as we are going away in a few weeks time and would like ds to be in a bit of a routine for our holiday.

I think its all catchingup on me - had a bit of a difficult weekend. Mainly with ds1 who wants friends and socialising like any normal 6 year old but has the social skills of an 18 month old Anyway am employing a childminder to help out a bit... yesterday was walking round like a zombie, kept wanderng into rooms to collect one child or the other and realising I was in the wrong room and spent the whole day preparing food for the 2 older kids, feeding dh, housework, trip to the park etc....

Sorry just feeling a bit sorry for myself today

MrsD - Your lunch sounds delightful to me! Are you breastfeeding? As I said before I use that as my excuse for eating lots of extra goodies! I am trying hard not to keep buying extra sweet bits and pieces but sometimes you just need that sweet sugar hit to perk you up a bit - my bad time is after the kids have gone to bed. I think it is because I have just done a monster b/feeding session with Harry!

Eulalia - Sorry to hear that you had a difficult weekend - hopefully with some extra help things will start to get a bit easier.

We seem to be developing a kind of routine with Harry, especially at night - luckily my husband gets home quite early from work and is able to help at bedtime - he tends to sort out ds1 and and I deal with Harry. While ds1 is in the bath Harry has a good feed and then we say goodnight to ds1 and I put Harry down in his moses basket awake so he settles himself. The first time we did this he did cry out for a bit but he now seems to settle himself. We also have our bedroom at quite a cool temperature and he tends to sleep in just a long sleeved babygrow and a single sheet so he doesn't get too hot. I've just bought a growbag type thing for when the weather gets a bit colder as they are fabulous if you have babies that always kick off the sheets - which seem to be the case with both our boys!

I'm going to put dh off the idea of moving Harry into his own room for a while - I think the reason that he is so keen is that when we had ds1 we were in a one bedroom flat and he was in with us until he was nearly 2 when we managed to sell our flat and move to a house. The first night that ds1 had his own room he slept right through the night! I think our snoring etc kept him awake!

Where are you going on holiday? A change of scene will probably be good for the whole family. Perhaps with a bit of extra help you can have a bit of time for yourself - easier said than done with 3 children, I know. We are hoping to maybe go away at Christmas but what with ds1 having just started school we are tied by term time. We have relatives in Florida and want to take my Mum away with us - my Dad died last year and dear Mum needs a break. Everything seems to be booked up already! How can people be so organised? It is so not me!

Hope the rest of your day runs smoothly.

Hello all. What a busy thread. I'm impressed with the talk of routines. I haven't tried to establish one yet as I keep saying that its too early. Maybe its not.

Eulalia, belated birthday wishes to your dh.

We got back from holiday last week and it already seems like an eternity ago. DD2 has been suffering from terrbile colic and cries between 4pm and 11pm. But, miracle of all miracles she is asleep now and dd1 has also gone to bed early. The peace and quiet is heavenly.

Well done on the weight loss front Pamina. I like the sound of your diet. I couldn't do one where you had to cut out pasta. I really should find out about classes local to me. I did running whilst on holiday which enabled me to loose 3lbs, but I haven't been able to get out since we got back and I can't see when I'll get a chance to. I did buy a 'Geri Yoga' video today in a charity shop. I'll have a go at doing that for a bit and see what that does for my flabby tummy.

I've got dd's 8 week check tomorrow. I've got the calpol on the standyby. I'm having a coil fitted. Will it hurt? Not looking forward to it. Also got to have a smear. Yuck.

Hi all, had a great walk (sans the berry who was elsewhere, and Eulalia couldn't get her flight ). dd slept through 6 hours of bumpy forest and noisy restaurant. Daddy did his back in being a plonker doing heroic off-road etxreme buggy manaoeuvers and is now walking around like a grumpy old git.

dw has not pumped for over a week and is delighted the milk bar has been safely closed, without a third bout of mastitis.

Sounds like most of us are having some ups and downs, so I hope all the babbas start stretching their night-time sleeps and give us all some more time for lovely R E S T !!

dw is threatening to drag me to WW tomorrow. I deffo need to go (LOADS to lose), but I'm a stubborn toad about doing it 'myself' IYSWIM, rather than with some Group / 'Leader' / Third Party dietary guidelines etc. etc. Hmmm... tricky one.

oh my goodness, all this talk of weight watchers and here's me eating ginger biscuits After all my luck at losing all the weight pretty much straight away I'm ashamed to admit that I have let it all creep back on and now have to do something about it. It's just too tempting though being at home all the time and still not able to get out much due to bad back. I am going to have to go to Fat Fighters with Marjory Dawes...
My dd is also gaining tonnes of weight and is now almost too big for her moses basket! We are now also going to have to do some serious reorganisation in out house and get her cotbed into our room- I also can't be parted from her for too long and need her in with us for as long as possible, which may be her 18th birthday!
x

I hope you're feeling better Eulalia. Welcome back lolasmum, and good luck tomorrow! No one's going near my underneath, it's closed till new year

I am very frazzled as DD is having her biggest scream EVER. She's really uncomfortable. The consultant we saw a few weeks ago wasn't able to confirm my assumption that by this stage the risk of hydrocephalus has gone. He said to watch out for her being unusually sleepy or vomity. What the hell does that mean with a 2-month old baby? I think he was hedging his bets really but whenever she isn't "herself" I worry that her brain is being damaged as we speak all because I'm missing crucial symptoms . You know when they are really giving their screams plenty of wellie and look as though their head will explode? Well, I am panicking that pressure is mounting up in there....

I know where this consultant lives (locally) and am tempted to accost him and ask whether this is "unusually vomity" and mash the pukey muslin into his face

Golly, that feels better

Sorry guys. Can't comment on the rest of you but Hub, you and DW are just right as you are

mrsd, I am sure you know the immensely red face and the REAL TEARS and the puke fests are universal, so I really hope there are no signs, no symptoms, nothing full stop. XX You are obviously watching so closely, as I know I would be.

Oh, and thanks for the erm, support. XX But I did only select really nice photos of both of us, LOL. To get to the top end of 'normal' re: BMI (I am well above 30 ), I need to lose about 35ish kilos (about 5 stones) - seriously. My weight doesn't show much in my face, just carefully secreted around my frame. . I plan to do it slowly, over the next year or so, so that when babba wants to have fun outdoors I can keep up. Might start a healthy eating / move yer arse thread in the weight loss club but it's a bit of a hard nut to crack IYSWIM. DW has less to lose to reach a healthy weight, but also ranks fairly high on a BMI table. At least we're in it together !

dd has been on a total feeding kick for the past couple of days - it feels like she feeds every half hour though i may be exagerating slightly.... she has stopped feeling like a floppy newborn, is indefinably stiffer somehow. and she has started batting things on her baby gym intentionally, hooray.

hope dd has stopped screaming now mrsd & you have wine/choc/heat magazine. ds had the screaming ab-dabs tonight as i wouldn't let him wear his tiger suit to bed (i'm such a mean mummy) which in turn upset dd, though she was transfixed by his tiger stripes. he was at nursery & dd & i had such a chilled day, we didn't get up 'til 11 .

How mean, not letting him wear his tiger suit . I won't DS1 and DS2 wear their invisibility cloak to bed!

we're continuing the animal theme today with dd's leopard vest....

Eulalia - sorry you had a difficult weekend. Also very belated happy birthday to your dh.
Mrs Darcy - hope your dd has had a more peaceful day.
My dh was 55 yesterday - we went to a nearby country hotel for lunch and it was so wonderful to sit still for a while. Dd kindly slept the whole time.
Dh and I had our own grand 'weigh in' yesterday and, as I thought, I am probably the heaviest I've ever been apart from when pregnant - and I have to return to teaching exercise classes in four weeks. I teach classes for toning, stretching and relaxation but what I need right now is aerobics to get this metabolism going - and that sounds like such hard work. I want to get a copy of Davina McCall's workout tape which I have decided is the answer!
Dd's new mobile arrived yesterday - the Symphony in Motion one and it gave me 20 minutes to prepare food as she was mesmerised. So I highly recommend it!

We had a lovely day yesterday and I bought a new jacket which pleased my shallow little soul

I went back to the hospital today to show DD off. It was LOVELY to be there with no medical appointments and not peeing every 10 minutes! It's a maternity hospital so every other person you see is hugely pregnant. It made me realise that I am really very pleased to no longer be pregnant.

I forgot to add my bit on the sleeping arrangements question - I'm keeping DD in with us probably at least until Christmas. Partly because I gather the current advice is to have them in your room for the first 6 months, and partly bacuse the room she will have needs the window replacing and that won't be done until Christmas/early next year. DH is working such long hours at the moment that he can't really cope with the interrupted nights, so he is in the spare room - that's the only disadvantage to the set-up. I think he also finds the intense milky smell of me and DD a bit revolting but thankfully is too tactful to say so! It's taken 12 years of marriage to acquire that level of tact so it was a slow process

Did you have a better day, Eulalia?

Well done on your weight loss Pamina! You've lost loads in the last couple of weeks! I have found out where WW is - that's the extent of my efforts so far! Harriett - I know what you mean about not wanting to be parted from DD. I won 3 months' gym membership and I don't want to use it as it would mean putting DD in the creche and I don't want to!

A friend has recently started doing hypnotherapy to help people lose weight and he insists he can de-chocolate me but at the moment I'm really not ready to give up choccy, and want to hang on to the "I've just had a baby" fat excusre a bit longer!

we have moved dd into her cot, but she's still in our room & will be for the next few months at least. it's working well, in fact we all woke up in our rspective beds this morning, something of a miracle!

dd seems to have done something painful to my left nipple, it's really sore. i suspect i didn't concentrate properly on positioning her for a couple of feeds & am now paying the price. it is getting better though i think.

there are some fab weight losses going on. i am still losing 1kg or so a week, but with very little contribution from my diet....

Morning ladies!

Pamina, very of all this weight loss. You are doing so well!

Eulalia, sorry you have had a difficult time - I find I am floundering some days too. We are having some problems with ds1's behaviour since he started school and because he's my first child I am finding it hard not to take any criticism as a personal attack on my parenting skills (or lack of them). So nice to come back here and read about babies which are comparatively easy compared to 4/5 year olds!

ds2 has nearly outgrown all his 0-3 month clothes and I'm finding it hard to find anything that fits him in the clothes that we already have (ds1 was a winter baby). I splashed out on a couple of new bits for him including some little shoes/bootees from starchild which will hopefully prevent sock loss whilst he is in his sling . He has also started to hold toys and bash his activity arch toys with conviction!

We haven't moved ds from our room yet as we have a bedside crib now by our bed which makes our night time feeds very easy. I think it should last until he is about 6 months old so he will go into the nursery after that.

Bagpuss and Pamina - I'm with you on the school worries! DS2 has just started and on his first full day he went AWOL! He didn't leave the school grounds but it took them a while to find him as he had wandered off on his own at playtime. I now really have to restrain myself from phoning school to ask if they can make sure he is with his class. I know how easy it is to run off as I went to that school myself and one day I was miserable so I got up and went home. The school had no idea I was missing until my mother phoned them up and said that I was at home

Also, whenever DS2 tells me something about school or wants to read his reading book, DS1 (in year 1) pipes up that he did all that last year and it's really easy. I know it's just big brother behaviour but he can be such a bully! I really don't want DS2 to be put off. He's the sweetest little boy but very non-conformist and at the moment I am just so relieved that he is enthusiastic about school.

Happy Birthday Mr Latearrival!

So sorry not had chance to read messages, hope to tomorrow when dp home with ds.

h2d: premmie playmates are sponsored by www.24weeksplus.com . It's a thursday morning group at Camden Children's Centre, 4 Greenland Road, NW1. tel: 020 7530 4820

hope all are well, see you soonest, xfx