May 2010: All the babies have arrived, welcome to the other side!

[rachelfruitloop]

Here we are ladies, a new Postnatal thread! I wonder if we'll fill this one up as fast with one-handed typing?!

who is packing for holidays? i have difficulty packing to go for out for lunch

hi ladies, just want to say to Den so sorry that Rian will need surgery, it's good that the doctors say it's routine but doesn't make you any less anxious as a parent. Racquel I've added a pic of George and Eric together on the Facebook group! Tomorrow, my DH is back at work - first day on my own with two kids, I'm a bit nervous! Quiet today, I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend! We're celebrating American independence day today with burgers, seasoned curly fries and a side of ranch dressing, yum!

Den - so sorry your LO needs surgery, but try to be positive. The docs sound laidback and confident about it all, so I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. Much easier said than done, I know. I fret if my LO has a cold, let alone needs surgery.

Millington - welcome! My LO has been sucking her thumb since about 5-6weeks. She sometimes pokes herself in the eye, though, or scratches her nose whilst doing it! The rest of the time, she noisily sucks her fist!

millingtonsmummy - hello - and yes it's been hot hot hot in london. For weeks no? It looks like more of it to come too - I'd prefer five degrees cooler but I'm grateful at least for the breeze today.

den - sorry to hear that Rian is looking forward to surgery. I'm also sure he'll be in good hands. Keeping my fingers crossed it goes smoothly.

first1 - I'm also shocked at your dh's timing. What a ! You must be in bits? I hope it doesn't all cast too much of a shadow over the first year with your baby. It does sound like you're probably both best rid.

newmomma - sorry to hear about your problems too - I can't offer any advice but I did once know someone who was told he cried constantly as a baby, until a problem with his shoulder or collar bone (can't remember details sorry) was noticed and fixed. Just goes to show that persistence may give you a solution. Re slings i recommend buying more than one. At least mine need frequent washes. I alternate between kari-me (like the moby) and babasling, depending on how hot it is or whether I'm able to put the baby down to put the sling on. There are plenty of both on ebay.

sweetkitty - I remember you said that jacob had baby acne. Has it cleared up yet? Did you treat it with anything? My LO has it now and not sure if I should do anything. I'm slightly worried that he also now has a bit of a faint rash on his arms and torso. Could be the heat I suppose. Not sure if I should take him to GP or if they'll think I'm nuts worrying about such a basic thing.

sassles - thanks for sharing your epiphany - v interesting. How does the 'let down' relate to that? I find that the baby does something during feeds that seems to make milk come out of both boobs. Is that the let down?

carikube - hope things get sorted out re your uncle soon. I'm also getting through several tops (often several tops at night too). I've never done so much laundry.

rachel - Can I pick your london transport brains please? Do you know a good source of information about which tube stations are really accessible to prams? I've been using our pushchair recently because sometimes it seems like it's been too hot for a sling and have been caught out at a supposedly accessible station. It seems that stations qualify for wheelchair icon even if you can't get anywhere near some platforms without climbing loads of stairs. Really annoying! Luckily the station staff were helpful, but I'd rather not have to rely on that.

I love the pic of george and eric on fb btw !!

I'm sorry to hear there's so much PND around - hope things brighten up for anyone suffering from it. I find it odd when midwives and health visitors have interrogated me about it. Makes me paranoid that I am in denial about it

I made the mistake of weighing myself for first time in several months. I'd discovered that the lose jeans I wore pre-pregnancy had become v tight. I've now taken up long walks in the hope that the jeans will get comfortable again one day. These walks are testing LO's patience. He doesn't like to go for more than 2 hours without a feed. Tried dummy once but he was having none of it.

Re sleep - last night was the first time in months I've slept for three hours in a stretch. Hope we can keep that up! I'm only coping because I can nap during the day. Don't know how anyone copes with other children to look after.

I'm bracing myself for my MIL's extended stay next week. DH will be at work for most of the day so MIL and I may well drive each other mad.

Hello all

den sorry your little one requires surgery, am sure it will all go smoothly but I can imagine its a worry.

My DH had a minor operation in hospital last week and waiting for his general anaesthetic saw a 2 year old little girl (we have 2 year old DD) waiting for hers with her daddy. He said he only just managed to not cry ... bless her. Its harder on the parents than them I would imagine.

At least this little there will be no fear for them.

On a less serious note, I am thinking of switching from breastfeeding to formula or to more formula. I just cant keep up with Alex's appetite and this afternoon I have felt very down about it, along with the "feeding again" comments which are making me feel useless

I cant really get Alex from 2 hourly, his night feeds have regressed to 2 hourly sometimes, last night was midnight (me) bottle 2am, 4am me, 530am me and didnt really re-settle. On a good night he wakes 2 and 5am. The formula at night (10pm and 5am usually) is not making him last any longer but I was thinking if he had it in the day he may be more satisfied.

This afternoon was horrid, he basically fed and fed (had his 6 week growth spurt earlier in the week so I cant keep blaming that ) and was never satisfied. Unfair on my DD and is making me feel mildly depressed. Its not like that every day but at least half the week. Then he is exhausted from feeding, over tired for his nap and difficult to settle and windy.

I am keen to structure the feeds a bit more, at least to 3 hourly and dont have the confidence to do that with breastfeeding.

I have harped on about switching for weeks and said I would wait until week 7 (which is now tomorrow) but it has not got easier yet

I dont think that I necessarily have low milk supply as leaking still (from all his feeding/stimulating) but I dont think its enough for him

At the 930/10ish feed he is drinking 6oz now and am sure he would drink more

Just offered cooled boiled water for the first time and he has drank 3oz of that, he is just hungry and sucky and refuses his dummy

He now weighs about 14lbs at 7 weeks so he is getting enough milk but just wants more he was only 7.7lbs at birth.

Hi Schipo, the best way to figure out how to get around on London Transport without using stairs is to go to the TFL website here and in the Journey Planner, click on the Advanced Options to the left of the blue button that says Leave Now. Type in your from and to destinations, time, day etc. and scroll down to tick the box that says "I cannot use stairs" under My Mobility Requirements. This isn't totally foolproof if trains tend to come and go from different platforms at different times of day, but it certainly is better than going by the wheelchair symbols on the map. Also, at the bottom of the section called My Mobility Requirements it says "For station access details click here" and if you click it brings you to a site where you can check the accessibility for different stations. Hope that helps!

Eric also still has the remnants of his baby acne and it's been a few weeks. It is getting better but he has some heat rash as well. I was told to just put olive oil on any dry patches, but TBH I've mostly just left it alone and it's going on its own gradually.

Pamelat I'm so sorry you're feeling down about the feeding. It really isn't easy. I think that there are pros and cons to both bottle and breastfeeding, and you have really given the breast feeding a good go. Don't feel bad about giving up the breastfeeding if that's what you decide to do. It's all about doing what works best for you and your baby, and your whole family. Alex will benefit most from having a happy mummy. Any mummy who has to give up on breastfeeding is not a failure!

virginia also has a little acne, the gp recommended oilatum cream (special baby formula) is about £8 but is working after just 24 hours, have also heard that olive oil is good.
den so sorry that you have to go through your baby in surgery, it will be hard for you, but your baby will very quickly forget it all. please keep us informed as to dates and progress.

my dd1 (15 years) is at a and e right now with dh (her stepdad) i wanted to go of course but virginia needed bath and feeding and we could be there hours and dh said no, he is right of course but i am worried about her, theyve been gone 1 1/2 hours so far. she was cleaning out our chickens and stood on an inch long nail, went through her boot, which filled up with blood, oh i honestly felt sick at the thought of it but bless her, she walked to the house to tell me and didnt pass out, she has work experience on a farm starting tomorrow, hope she is able to walk as she is really looking forward to it, it has started bruising already.

Catching up after a very busy weekend. Yesterday we all went to a friends DD's 2nd birthday. Scorching hot with the kids jumping in and out of the pool.

Today we went to a national trust house. The surrounding park has wild deer and we met the family there for a picnic to celebrate my birthday tomorrow. DD loved the deer, getting alittle too close for my comfort at times! One took a dislike to DH and nipped his shoulder. Great afternoon in the sunshine

DD is still being abit challenging this week. Shes very jekyll and hyde at the mo. One minute being adorable then the next super moody and whiney! She has abit of a cold and i think more teeth coming so hope its not going to last too long. Its very draining.

Still gtting odd headaches... may have to look into if it could be to do with the high bp?

Sassles- Some drivers are so impatient. In my old car I couldnt turn the front airbag off so DD1 was always in the back. In my new car I can but DD1 would not be impressed as she her 'job' is to look after Lucy in the back for mummy when shes driving

SK- hope you enjoyed your wine

Den- to hear that Sam will need an operation. Any operation is horrible and can completely understand where your coming from about being his head. Its reasurring though that the Dr says its safe At least this young he wont have any memory of it.

Hollyoaks- With you on the missing nice holidays. Our last one was Thailand 3 yrs ago. Last yr was a wet week in Great yarmouth... Not quite the same league!
Holidays now are.. If the girls are happy then so am i
DH wants us to do Florida and Disney with the girls in 2012 so something to look forward to.

First1- Thats one hell of a period. Poor you!
about H not feeding Chloe.

Millington- Lucy has got day/night pretty sussed too. Much better than DD1 ever was! DH is away for a few days this week on a course so I too will be busy alone with the 2 girls.

Alle01- Meeting up sounds good. Ill hold off til DD1 is abit better though as you really dont want to experience one of her strops

Schipo- Dont feel bad about your weight. As DH keeps reminding me when im moaning about mine - You have just had a baby!
I did put on a lovely maxi dress today only to find my boobs were literally exploding out the top..Not decent enough for a picnic with the inlaws!
Resorted back to my trusty linen trousers and a top but felt fat and frumpy in my 'mummy uniform'

Pamlet- Goodness Alex does sound like a hungry little chap.

Off to climb into the freezer as im boiling tonight!- Its so muggy here... Hope it cools down abit before bed!

Homebirth- Ouch, Poor DD. Hope shes ok.

Meant to add a funny thing that happened at the 2nd birthday party on Sat. Lucy was in the garden in her car seat and at one point all the guys were sitting round the table drinking and us ladies were laughing at hearing them cooing over her , reliving their newborn experiences and saying how they would like another We are the first of our friends to have 2 but waiting for some announcements in the not so distant future

rachel - thanks, that is really useful. I use the tfl site but hadn't ever noticed those options. With that option checked it recommends that I should have stuck to the bus for the trip I took the other day.

carikube - sorry, just realised I said uncle when I should have said cousin Didn't mean to sound glib - I've been to my fair share of family funerals and the younger the person the worse it is I think. I hope your cousin wasn't too young.

ML - I meant to ask about what you said about paracetamol too. You said you'd avoided them while pregnant and will now breastfeeding right? I thought they were ok - have I missed something?

kaffa - also meant to say I was pleased to read that my LO isn't the only one who plays rough while bf. He's very sweet (to me obv) but he does do a great impression of a hungry grub sometimes. I loved your description of Albie grinding himself into you. Amazing how determined someone so small can be right?

pamelat - you should definitely feel no guilt about whether you decide to bf or ff. I know it can be easier said than done but I think anyone making unhelpful comments about the frequency of your feeds should be told where to go, so to speak. It might be different I guess if the comments are coming from your dd!

homebirthmummy - hope your dd doesn't miss her work experience (i'm so impressed you have chickens btw)

pigley - hope you're enjoying the freezer. I'd have a cold bath if I wasn't home alone with baby tonight. He's sleeping now but I know that he'd wake if I ran a bath. Could the heat be causing your headaches - dehydration?

Can anyone recommend a nice big waterproof playmat? Especially when it's hot I'd like to let LO have some nappy free time, but there's no safe time it seems so I'm looking for a large wipe clean thing.

just a quick post in answer to schipos question about paracetamol..tried not to take them whilst preg but have taken them and ibuprofen whilst breastfeeding..its absoloutely fine

rachel thank you. Am trying one last thing, am implementing a loose routine and seeing if it helps Alex as I really am not 100% convinced its hunger and maybe he is over tired or just needing comfort (but getting huge in in the interim!!) last night we gave him hungry baby formula for the first time at 10pm. I went to bed but told DH to give him a little bit more if he seemed to need it and DH have him the entire carton !! (250ml) I did not mean that much!! Apparently it took Alex an hour to drink it, am not surprised, poor button!! Anyway he still woke at 1, 3 and 5, not a terrible night but seriously how much can one little person need to feed. So today .... am going to really try to "force" his feeds to 3 hourly by driving and walking all day!! I have this luxury today as its just me and him. So far so good but probably because he is stuffed from last night. I hope it hasnt done him any hard, he has now pooed yet today.

I am also going to make nap times, not gina ford style but almost .. i think he and I need it. I put him down at 9am and after 15 minutes of cuddles he did go to sleep and I am even going to wake him (ok so like gina ford) at 10am. I just feel this is something I want to trial before switching fully to bottles as maybe he needs some structure (I am quite a structured/boring! person)

homebirth hope dd is ok, bless her, sounds like she was incredibly brave. I think I would have fainted!

schipo thank you. I really take the frequency comments to heart. I have a small chest (normally A cup) and know its not meant to make a difference but makes me feel I am just incompetent at it. I think they just dont think.

Oh he is waking, wont need to make him wake up! Lovely, feel more positive today.

hello all!

pamela my Ds used to feed constantly too...it started at birth and didnt stop until he was getting solids! with DD i( sort of) use the baby wisperer technique, of listening to cry and then judging what she wants before i feed. with Ds i used to put him on boob at slightest noise. but then it could just be that he is a hungry baby, my HV always used to reasure me of this. i know its easy for me to say but ignore the comments of feeding again, remember baby animals graze all day, keep going back to their mums so why should human babies be any different..i was told that by my doctor!

florence is thriving and is starting to sleep a bit longer at night now, she will go down in her moses basket or cot, and will have outgrown the moses basket in another week or two. im going to have her weighed again this afternoon, she has put 7.5oz every week now for the past 3 weeks, so change in diet must be working!
im very excited as i graduate next week and both of them can be there...well in a room up the road watching on screen, then we can have family photos taken...the first one of all three of us actually! have booked hair appointment, just need to buy underwear and shoes and i will be set! althought i do wish that i could get back into more of my clothes as i have some fab dresses!
anyway off to doing some boring housework and take DS to school.
take care all xx

Hello!

alle I'm very sorry but it looks like my possible trip to Eastbourne isn't going to happen - long story, but the short version is basically that DH is being an arse...

Things here are going ok though I seem to have ended up with little open bits on my nipples again. I've been wandering round with my chest bare this morning to try and get some air to them to help them heal but I don't really know what else to do. I'm just worried that it's going to get worse as this is what happened with DD1 - I was told to express whilst letting them heal and that didn't work so I don't really want to try that again in case it's the slippery slope to stopping bfing altogether...guess I should start a thread elsewhere really.

Hi all just cannot seem to get on here anymore am reading but typing is difficult. Had a rough few days ever since Jacob has had his jabs he has been so fretful. Yesterday he was napping 20 mins or so maybe twice then was up crying most of the day. Nothing seemed to help him, I ended taking him to bed at 9pm. I don't think it can always be hunger although he is a hungry boy.

Seems to be a lot of stress just now even though DP has been told he has a job it's not the one he wants so he is going for interviews, we still haven't got MILs house on the market and we have the ongoing planning for the extension. Plus 4 children! feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything really.

Schipo - Jacob's acne cleared up after a week, he still has quite dry skin I have been using Diprobase and giving him a wee massage. Gp told me best to leave it alone, just clean with water.

pigley - Happy Birthday again, the pics with the deer look fab. And the girls look great too

itshappenedagain - whoohoo on the graduation, enjoy buying new clothes and spoiling yourself, I so need a haircut it is scary.

pamelat - sounds like you are having a rough time of it, do you think it really is hunger? I am not judging at all but I think by giving him formula you are on the slope to exclusive bottles as your body will not be getting the signals to make enough milk for him. I have been told that a baby will always down a bottle as it is the easier option for them and not indictive that the Mum is not producing enough milk. You can produce enough milk to satisfy him. I don't think structure is a bad thing either if it helps you. We don't have any routine just now I think we will have to go down that road once the schools go back as he will need to fit round the others. Anyway I have always said you do what you need to to survive whether it's bottles/breast, hey I would give Jacob anything if I thought it would settle him down a bit, he's such a grumpy wee thing

homebirthmummy - hope your DD is ok now

Better go he has woken up will want a feed now, going to try and go to my friends this afternoon for a bit.

Hi all,

Another rough night here.

I am in EXACTLY the same situation as you pamelat, Albie feeds constantly, no structure to his feeds at all. Last night he was feeding about every 40 minutes, I am FUBARed. Sounds like I am also trying out the same routine and like Alex, Albie won't take a dummy. I am having to feed him to sleep then he wakes himself up wriggling as soon as I put him down. He wakes himself up when he tries to de-swaddle himself, when he does a violent poo, if some fat chavs on scooters drive past our house... let me know if any of your routine works. We started Albie's bedtime routine last night, bathing him at 8.30, then a little massage, feed and quiet time and he went to bed about 10. He went off initially but freaked out the minute I put him down in the crib. Eventually DP took him into the lounge then put him in the vibrating rocker and he slept for a couple of hours. I pretty much haven't slept since then- maybe an hour this morning. SO frustrating, isn't it? I've tried replacing his last feed with formula too and it doesn't fill him up for long. It can be so disheartening with the feeding, but you've done so well up until now, he's a very healthy lad!

schipo I'm with you on the body image too. I have no clothes that fit/are suitable for summer/I can breastfeed in. I used to be a fashion stylist too so having no style or outfit options is doubly hard, I feel like a horrible frumpy mummy in loose tops and strapless beach dresses all the time!I want to be a yummy mummy! Instead I have massive boobs and arms like hams. Yuck.

rachel we had burgers, fries and ranch dressing too yesterday! Happy belated fourth july.

Day two of new regime is going down the pan, trying to get Albie nap now but to no avail. Might take him for a walk in the park, I think I need the fresh air too. No Wimbledon or football to watch! But Britain's Next Top Model starts tonight.

Just passing through but wanted to send support to you pamelat & KaffaCakes. I stopped feeding Harry at 2 weeks after his weight kept falling. The decision to stop, particularly so early on, was rotten but I had to do what worked for me & my family. The fact that you've feeding to this point is awesome, be proud! And pamelat what incredible weight gain! Remember that all the time you're feeding your hormones are raging which makes these decisions so much harder. Do what works for you. xx

Hey everyone, sorry not really time for loads of personals today, but am thinking of you Den.

Just found out my Grandad died early this morning

My dad drove me to Wales just over a week ago so Grandad could meet Darcey, and now he's gone. It's almost like he was waiting to see her. He's not been ill, but slowly giving up for a couple of years now. He developed pneumonia over the weekend and didn't wake up this morning.

On a happier note though, Darcey is almost 11lb now! And she has slept 11pm - 6/7am for three nights in a row. Her passport has arrived too, so we can go on holiday in a couple of weeks. W're driving to Saumur in France. Mum & Dad and my bro & his girlfriend are all coming so it should be a nice familt hol!

Hope everyone is keeping well. Will catch up properly when things calm down here.

pamelat- the same happens to me, oscar seems constantly hungry, finds v difficult to latch, so my breast hurt constantly, and we both end up crying in the evening, he is hungry, i feel guily, i gave it a really good go, 8 weeks, bf doesn't seem to work for us, i feel a lot better since i decided that i know best, i give formula, for hungrier babies, and a bottle of expressed breast milk when i have enough, i put him to the breast when i feel i can cope with it, by the way, formula doesn't make him go longer between feed, so don't worry, you know your baby and who is the hv to critise you?

dancing, sorry to hear about your grandad, very glad he got to meet darcey though.

for waterproof playmat i am using huggies bedmats (on nappies aisle)

dd did not go to work experience today but is looking forward to going tomorrow, she would have been feeding animals and weeding the strawberry patch at the farm today. she is limping and the wound opens up every time she walks on it but she is ok. thanks all for concern.

until today i had 5 chickens, fish in a pond, 2 cats a budgie and 2 canaries (huge cage so lots of flying). cats live outdoors/in conservatory, very happy.
went out to visit a friend today, got home to discover a VERY guilty and scared cat in the house and a budgie head and wings on the floor, i was so distressed! loved poor jemima! dh came home to comfort me/clean up.

dancing, sorry to hear about your grandad, very glad he got to meet darcey though.

for waterproof playmat i am using huggies bedmats (on nappies aisle)

dd did not go to work experience today but is looking forward to going tomorrow, she would have been feeding animals and weeding the strawberry patch at the farm today. she is limping and the wound opens up every time she walks on it but she is ok. thanks all for concern.

until today i had 5 chickens, fish in a pond, 2 cats a budgie and 2 canaries (huge cage so lots of flying). cats live outdoors/in conservatory, very happy.
went out to visit a friend today, got home to discover a VERY guilty and scared cat in the house and a budgie head and wings on the floor, i was so distressed! loved poor jemima! dh came home to comfort me/clean up.

sorry bout double post pc messed up

pamelat- i am catching up on the thread and answering as i go along, you must not take any notice of what people tell you, i have an e cup, so i am constantly told that i have plenty of milk, bullocks! haven't leak a drop of milk, ever, hardly express any thing, not sure baby gets a lot... unfortunatly, cup size does not make any difference
i actually started to tell people, specially health workers, where to go, so much inconsistent advice makes my heading...

carikube, never mind the trip, hopes dh gets better soon, knock some sense into him, another time...
re nipples, i don't know what to do either, and mine even bleed!, i'm expressing, waiting for them to heal, i really don't dare attach a baby right now, i told yesterday to dh that i may give up bf and just give him expressed milk, and he look at me like i was saying i am going to starve your baby to death, might try again...