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?!

home, glad your dd can make the most of her work experience, what a resiliant girl! you must be proud, many teenagers would be moanning in the sofa,...
dancing, at least he got to meet your baby,... i lost my granma a couple of xmas ago, is always hard to think about...

that's it, that me posted for today....

i am a bit worried, oscar has a few spots in his arms and legs, and is not settling today, will only sleep in arms, no temperature and feeding normally, u think i'm freaking out?

Den Sorry to hear that Rian needs to go in to hospital. I hope that you don't have to wait too long for the date. Mirror for the car is a great idea, but my tiny Ka doesn't have headrests on the back seats, may find one that sucks on to the window or something.

hollyoakes It's a maxicosi cabriofix. Think I can put it in the front as long as no airbag or turn it off.

first1 Grrrr at (tw*t)H not feeding her. How stupid can he be? Sorry your tear isn't healing too well. I've had 2 antib courses for my c section wound. Starting to heal better now, but at 6 week checkup during lovely smear test, the doc noticed a watery discharge (TMI?). She took a swab, but I am hoping it is not a wee womb infection or something as really don't want 3rd course of antib's in 6 weeks either. Sending you healing thoughts.

Kaffa Well done to your sis Marie shouting at that guy. I thought about shouting at him at traffic lights, but his cab was too high up for me to see in. I don't subscribe to Home and health, but would LOVE to know what the routine was for 6 week old boy who won't sleep!! Sounds like you me and pamelat have simmilar babies. Lets share any routine tips if we find something that works.

millington hope you coped ok with your hands v full at the weekend! I would love to hear any tips for trying to settle them in their own crib. Sam likes to fall asleep on shoulders or at the nipple with a wee smile

schipo I'm not sure about this let down thing either. I think it is just when your milk starts to come out. Some people get a tingle and think it can happen to one boob if baby is feeding from the other. I haven't had my PND discussion with HV yet. She said to me last week "we'll do your PND score next time". Can't say I'm looking forward to it. Sounds ominous! I too am bracing myself for In law extended visit. They arrive on Wed night. DH has taken days off for it though so will prob just retreat to a quiet room every time Sam needs fed which is almost all the time at the mo . Bit worried she is going to start giving lots of "advice". They are highlanders and sort of think that they can say what they like and they don't think it is being rude.

pamelat Think what ever you think is right for you and baby is what you should do. Breastfeeding is so much harder than I thought it would be. I thought the initial latching part was the hard bit, but it is very tiring and inconvenient and you are constantly paranoid that you are not doing things right, baby eating too little, eating too much, eating too often. The benefits are great though, but don't beat yourself up if it is not the best thing for you two. Maybe have few sleeps on it and see if you feel any differently? I would like to structure Sam's feeds more too. he is fine overnight, but seems to want fed an hour or sooner after the last feed, but it isn't everyday. Sam is 7 weeks on Thurs. I'm going to try to holdout longer to see if some pattern emerges. Trying to store lots of milk so that I can have some Mummy alone time when it gets too much. That is a fabulous weight gain. Just think, you did that!

homebirth Hope your DD is ok. you couldn't go to A&E with her, but sure DstepH did a fab job. So sorry to hear about Jemima.

pigely at all the broody blokes

pamelat read your next post. Glad you have a better day and good luck with the routine. I am a whopping G cup and Sam feeds constantly from me, so please try not to feel inadequate. The 250mls sounds like he is just a hungry boy and not any failing on your part.

itshappened Congrats on the graduation. Sounds like a lovely family experience together. Have a fab time.

sweetkitty Glad that DH has kept a job, but hope that his job hunting gets him something he really wants. Restructuring is horrible. Been through it once and not a fun time.

dancing so sorry to hear about your Grandad . Glad that Darcey met him. Congrats on the sleeping nights!

alle I'm with you on starting to tell people where to go with their inconsistent advice. Poor you and carikube with your sore nipples. Well done for keeping going and hope they heal soon. Not sure about the spots, but think no temperature is a good thing and feeding ok. That's what doc's keep saying to me when I've asked them about concerns. No temp, feeding and peeing/pooing lots = not big concern, but keep an eye on things is generally the advice. Why not call HV if worried for peace of mind?

HOLY CRAP I didn't realise the post was so long!! DH was tending to Sam so took the opportunity to try to catch up with all posts.

thanks sassles, i called dh at work, he said to keep an eye on him and see how it goes if worried called the after hours gp, if needed he'll drive to hospital, sound asleep now, feeding ok, no temp, nappies as usual, got jabs tomorrow i'll mention it, see what doc says, but not worried right now...maybe the heat? his baby acne comes and goes, gp said better leave it alone.

Hi all - will attempt to do a proper reply as helping DH with some work he has left to the last minute. He's got a meeting away re a job opportunity tomorrow. This is really major as he hasn't worked in 4 years due to illness and he's going to be away overnight leaving me with the 3 kids and the 2 dogs.

hi millington always nice to welcome a new "face"

first1 your H is such a twonk, unfeckingbelievably useless. Hope you're ok and such twattery should hopefully help you see you and Chloe are well rid. Belfast is a long way for rl support but if you're ever in the vicinity

rachel hollyoaks and other piles sufferers - I feel your pain, literally. A monster one popped out here at 39 weeks and has no intention seemingly of popping off. Have my 6 wk check on Thursday and this is on the list of matters to discuss - lucky GP

kaffa we all have heart in mouth moments - me and DH left DS in Boots when he was about 6 weeks old - both of us thought the other one had him

pamelat - hope you're ok whatever you decide. My Molly feeds much the same as Alex although I sometimes get 3 hours at night although when she wakens after a longer stint she feeds for 2 hours or more. It will pass eventually and ff may not be the answer. Whatever you do make sure you are at peace with it. I was hoping to be expressing by now but have no time. I couldn't face the hassle of sterilising and bottles but what works for one family is different. I'm not the routine type which is lucky as we have no sign of any routine just yet.

hbmummy hope dd1 continues to recover and that you're recovering too. Sorry about the budgie!

schipo I was hoping to be tackling the weight issue by now but not managing to, just yet. I was huge pre baby so have an even bigger task ahead of me. I'm sure you look better than you think.

carikube do try to get some jelonet dressing and stick it onto the nips with lanolin - saved my nips with dd1

SK sorry Jacob is still grumpy baby

dancingthroughlife sorry to hear about your Grandad. Glad he got to see his great grand-daughter though. Your holiday sounds lovely. We are thinking of a holiday but all depends on how it goes tomorrow for DH but if we do go anywhere it'll be - www.rockhill.ie/

alle01 so annoyed by your hcps - same here and I am one. For GPs I can tell you, we get no training re bf - absolutely none. I learned all I know from bf my own! So go with your own instincts!

itshappenedagain family photo sounds great - I want something similar when Molls is a bit bigger but probably just the 3 kids as I am a sight at the moment! I have a lovely picture of me and DS on the wall in our bedroom. 12 years ago - I was so young

pigley hope dd comes round soon - jealousy is so draining. My 9 year old is still super huffy!

schipo the let down is just when the milk starts flowing and mine was very painful to start and now I can only feel it first thing in the morning when my boobs are engorged. It would be nice to be more aware of when I'm leaking though!

Must go - sorry for all I've missed - Molly is calling

Hi everyone

I am also struggling to regularly read and reply to the thread but I am thinking of you all.

By replying this will be on my threads list so I will try and pop on again soon.

We are all fine, DD2 is now 11lbs 2oz at 9wks so following her 50th centile nicely. DS (2.5) is being a bit of a handful, I think he is having issues with the fact that DD2 is here to stay.

Hi all - DH has gone. HV has been and the glutton is 11 lb 11 oz at 6 weeks. She slept better last night - I think I've been so worried about her over heating at night with us co sleeping that I've been putting her to bed in just a vest and covered by a small cellular blanket on top of our duvet. The windows have been open and it's not been that warm here really. I think she's been cold as she slept much longer last night wearing a baby grow. Silly mummy!

Marking place as I'd lost the thread.

Poorly toddler + hungry baby = lots of sick + lots of washing + lots of cbbeebies

Morning all,

Just checking in.

sassles and pamelat Had some areas of success with my new bedtime routine last night! Fed him form one boob, then when he was nice and chilled we gave him a warm bath, DP gave him a nice massage in the low bedroom light, swaddled him with a blanket then attempted a formula feed with some colic drops in so he wouldn't wake himself up with wind. He only took an ounce so finished feeding him from the other boob and he was a bit sleepy so put him down in the crib while the light was fading. Checked back every few minutes and within about half an hour he was fast asleep! Slept for about three and a half hours beofre waking for a feed, then not much success putting him down again. He was REALLY sick- a whole feed's worth quite literally all over me. I had to change my nightie twice! Think it might have been the colic drops, as he has taken formula from the bottle before and didn't like it last night. So he didn't sleep all the way through, but three and a half hours is good, and putting him down awake was successful. If he hadn't been so sick I think he would have gone back down until 3, then 5. Slightly more acceptable than his last few nights which have been horrendous. The heat doesn't help; I think he was getting so thirsty and dehydrated, but refused cooled boiled water.

His new daytime routine is: long feed when he woke at 7, an hour's playtime then he slept for about an hour and half. Bliss! I had a bath, ate breakfast, put make up on and even painted my nails (fingers and toes!) so he has had a little feed now and is playing in his new jungle gym, then I'll take him out in the pram and hopefully he'll sleep. I'll probably need to feed him again before we go though for maximum full tummy/clean nappy sleepiness.

Luckily Albie only really cries when he has bad trapped wind or is super hungry or tired. so at least his nocturnal wakefulness is reasonably quiet! I am going to try the daytime feed-play-nap routine out as well as the bedtime routine all this week. Apparently babies love routine so he'll soon expect that nap comes after play time.

alle Hope your nipples heal soon! It must be so sore, my SIL had the same problems, and was expressing every feed as Theo had skinned her nipples and she couldn't even consider putting him to the breast! In the end he was so hungry she switched to formula. Eight weeks is great going so don't feel guilty if you do switch!

dancing SO sorry to hear about your granddad, it must be devastating. I have both of mine still so can only imagine how sad you must be feeling. My stepmum's dad passeds away just before Albie was born so like my Dad says, when one door closes another one opens.

Anyways, Albie is revvingup for a big tantrum. Toodles!

dancing so sorry about your grandad Its awful to lose a grandparent, feel for you. Its my grandmas birthday today and she has been gone 13 months and it still upsets me.

kaffa hello, thanks. I am perserving with routine bt today has gone a bit wrong today I am just concentrating on 3 hour feeds and almost there, would be much easier to just feed him but distractions, pram/car/sling kind of working.

he currently asleep on me which was not really the plan

our wakins were 2 and 4 but find it hard to settle him after the 2nd feed. I end up with him in bed with me which am personally not confident with (extended family experience of cot death, years ago before proper advice etc but still paranoid). Anyway I put him with me and he'll sleep and grunt to about 7am

afternoon!
thank you kafka for the support, i am very chilled about it now, my mum is surprised i am still trying... at least i will express as long as it goes, today i got a bit of bloody milk at the beggining, i mean literally, red milk i wash the pump and started again and it was fine.

pamelat- my simpathies there, i go sometimes to check he is still breathing, but having first hand experience of it, you're not paranoid, you're normal, i would be besides myself until he is 21, try not to worry too much...

those with piles, ouch! it must be something like my nips,...

i am sure i am forgetting lots, but i can think of nothing, oscar had a crying day yesterday, would only calm down in my arms, not a pillow, my arms,...dh took him half the morning so i could sleep

got a question, we are flying in september, i may watch too many customs programs, but... any problems passing formula through customs?, tell me your experiences.

right, off to 1st jabs, see how he takes it, i can feel another crying day coming...

dancing sorry about your grandad

alle hope your nips get better soon. I went to see a bf counsellor this morning at playgroup and got a few tips on how to improve the latch so hopefully that will stop things getting worse/give them an opportunity to heal. Also with regards to flying, you need to remember that you are limited in how much liquid you can take through security. Depending on where you're flying from, your best bet may be to phone Boots airside and order some cartons of ready-made formula - we did this when we took DD1 away last year. That way you can go through security with empty bottles and just pick up the cartons on the way to the plane. Powder should be ok to travel with (though check with the country you're going to whether you can import dairy as some places are funny about it - we went to New Zealand and although there's a ban on importing dairy, they allowed formula through).

afternoon all.
went to a baby sensory class this morning,virginia seemed to take it all in and fell asleep as we sang goodbye.

thought i would try supermarket again as only other time i took her she was hysterical. guess what...hysterical again! she is happy round village shops in her pram, and we did sainsburys with her pram but she is having none of it! our local shops are great but most still do half days wednesdays and you cant get things like spices and sweet potatoes etc.

she seems to dislike being indoors, will happily fall asleep outside but inside MUST be cuddled or fed. i am feeling SO drained, not sure if i am eating/resting enough for a four week old fully breast fed baby, what kind of diet/rest pattern do you all have???

alle...red milk!!!! OUCH i feel for you, it can be tender enough but to be THAT sore must be horrendous, i use kamillosan, i just adore the smell of it, i find just opening the cap is comforting (how sad i am!).

hope all the piles and sore nipples are healed soon but i wonder what is next to come, bitten boobies i should imagine

hi all
re nipples: i am trying to heal, will try your stuff home, see what happens...i got some new tips to latch and a website with wonderful videos, breastfeeding for dummies sort of thing, ...

re flying with formula: i am only going to portugal, 2h flight and then 2.5 h drive, and to my mum's, so i really only need it for the travel time, i can take formula powder, althought, a bit nervous of passing white powder in any security, but i'll need water, and let's face it 100 ml oscar would laugh at thst feed... i'll phone the airport and try to buy readymade after security, i think

re diet: anything easy, in reach and preferably made of chocolate, dh is making sure he cooks proper dinner and leaves me lunch ready to microwave, cereal for breakfast is not that difficult, and then snacks, biscuits, chocolate, but i do try to eat some fruit everyday, but i got anemia so i have to eat certain things to get more iron than normal, if you are worried, ask your gp to make a blood test, just to be sure, warning: being really tired is a symptom of anemia, so check it out.
got the jabs today, cried a bit but nothing major...

Hello ladies. Finally getting a chance to post. I still read from my phone while feeding and drives me mad not being able to reply! But finally at a computer and baby asleep!

Things are good with us. Jude is 9lbs12oz now chubbo. He's starting cooing and smiling which is just lush- dh and I spend way too long just staring at him

We've been away at BIL's wedding this weekend and was so lovely to show him off to everyone

My nips are almost fully healed after 2 weeks of expressing from right side and he's been back on it this weekend. I sympathise with all those who have sore boobs, it's seriously excruciating latchin them on & I cried a lot before they were healed!

cari how are yours?? I also get through several tops a day with ridiculous leakage. Last wk we met my NCT friends in a park and when I tried to feed J milk was just spraying into his face & he was crying so couldn't latch on, hence we both looked like we'd been swimming after that so embarrassing and makes it so hard to feed in public. Seems to have calmed this week though. Sorry to complain when others have lack of supply bu it really isn't much greener on the other side!

Den so sorry about the looming surgery but little ones are so resilient.

first1 at your (d)h!

newmomma hope you're ok this week. Really feel for you with the crying. Did you call that helpline again?

schipo Jude has had bad acne too, all round to the back of his neck too. We've just completely left it alone and it's clearing up now.

hbmummy hope your dd1 is enjoying the work exp. Ouch to her foot! I have some kamilosan my MIL gave me but haven't used it yet as the tube doesn't say whether to remove it before feeding. Do you wipe it off?

dancing so sorry about your grandad so lovely he got to meet your dd though.

SK sorry about your dh's job. Mine was made redundant last Sept and redeployed to another dept. We're so grateful he has a job but he doesn't enjoy it anywhere nr as much as his last one

Right, better go do some tidying now really!

hi all, no time to post - have been reading but Rian now playing up so will be back!!! just saying thank you for all your support and kind comments.

health visitor being great and chasing things up for us so we atleast know timescales

cupcake I saw a bf counsellor yesterday and got some tips on how to improve my latch etc (though for some strange reason feeding seems to be harder since I saw her ). I'm not as sore as I was though after starting another thread on here I am wondering whether there is the possibility that we have thrush so I think I'll just ask the GP tomorrow when we have our postnatal check.

DD1 is swinging between being an angel and a demon at the moment - deliberately shoving things in DD2's face one minute and the next getting all cute and excited as she lets go of whatever she's been holding on to and standing independently. We're off swimming in a little bit but as DD2 is asleep at the moment I can see that she will be awake and screaming just as DD1 and I get in the pool...

cupcake, if you put kamillosan on AFTER a feed, it should be absorbed into your skin by the next feed.

Virginia did not sleep at all at all last night, i am so tired i could cry.

dd1 is loving her work experience, yesterday she fed the animals, wormed the sheep and clipped their hooves, cut rabbits tails to avoid flystrike and weeded the carrot patch. i am SO jealous, it sounds dreamy to work on a farm, and you would not believe how stunning the view is from there, it looks right over the river Dee onto north wales. she did say though that she can now understand how even people who love their job get bored (3 hours weeding ). i am hoping to be there earlier than her pick up time so i can pay a visit to their wonderful cafe. tea and cake

i lost ANOTHER 2 pounds this week, which is fab as i have plenty to lose, but i have read somewhere that 3 pounds a month is healthy whilst breastfeeding, hope my milk supply is rich enough to be feeding her well still. neonatal nurse is coming to weigh her today so will see.

cupcake, i also shower Virginia in milk if she comes off before i am empty, so embarassing! could do with a cork! i tried using my finger but it dribbled down my arm i too find public feeding a bit offputting because of this, happy to get boobs out just dont like shower lol

carikube, you are amazing going swimming already!

Hi everyone,

dancing so sorry to hear about your Grandad. It must be hard for you but fantastic that you made the journey so he could meet DD. On a different subject, how wonderful that you're going on your hols soon. I spent 10 months studying in Angers 12 years ago (oh god is it really that long ago?!?!) so know the area well. It's beautiful and I'm sure you'll have an amazing time with your family

carikube how was your swim? I took my 2 yesterday, Harry loved it but my DD (2.5) wasn't in the mood, as soon as we got in she kept saying "out, out". I managed to string her out for about 15-20 mins, I wasn't going through all that effort to get the 3 of us there to only spend 2 mins in the pool. I actually don't think she likes going at all but I do like to take her so she's familiar with the water. Hopefully Harry will be more of a water baby.

Harry has his 8 week check and 1st jabs today. Can't say I'm looking forward to it but at least DD will be at nursery this afternoon so she doesn't have to witness the nurse using her baby brother as a pin cushion. Don't want her getting any ideas!

Love to all. xx

Schipo- I put a folded towel under Lucy whilst shes on the playmat naked.

Happenedagain- Yay on the graduation.

SK- Sorry to hear about DP's job. That uncertainity is horrible isnt it.

Dancing- Sorry to hear about your grandad. How lovely he got to meet Darcey though
All my grandparents died before DH and I got married and had the girls and i would of so loved them to see them.

Homebirth- poor budgie Glad DD is enjoying her work experience

Molly- My DH is away thursday and fri on a course so i too a not looking forward to being on my own with the girls.

Hollyoaks- Hope DD is better soon

Cupcake- glad to hear Judes doing well

Carikube- DD has been make at swimming lessons for 2 weeks now ( I go in with her) and so far have been very lucky as Lucy has slept though them both. Dreading the time when she starts crying during the lesson. Our instructor has said she will work with DD1 if that happens but still worry about it.

DH is going to come with me at the weekend and give Lucy her first. DD's lessons are underwater swimming and she prefers being in deep water as opposed to paddling ( 'proper swimming' as she calls it! ) so im not brave enough to take them both swimming on my own!! Your braver than me Millington!

Lucy has caught abit of DD1's cold so is abit snuffly today bless her.
No really routine here but have found she has begun to find her own routine.
Rough guide is feeds at 8,11,2,5,8,11 then 4 or 5 am - Give or take 30 mins either way. Also seems to have a big sleep about 1pm which is fab as thats when DD1 naps so i get a little break

Talking with a friend today and her DD is the same age and is going through exactly the same dramas with her DD so looks like DD1's hitting the terrible 2's .... oh joy!

Will catch up properly later. Just wanted to confess my silly and badly thought through idea! With a stone and a half to lose I thought i would go swimming at Alex's "nap time" (bearing in mind he has only had a "time" for 2 days and that involved driving him around!!) so I sat him asleep in his car seat beside the pool in a playpen, 6 lengths in and he woke up, by 12 lengths he was crying ... so me soaking wet and hardly having done anything, ended up having to quickly get changed and feeding an apparently "starving" child in a pool changing room - fortunately they are quite nice! Still not worth the 20 min drive each way and getting wet for, strangely I feel ok about it though and can laugh at myself (for now )

hbmummy sounds exactly like me with the milk spraying! Pressure on the nipples does stop the let down.
I have taken to rolling/folding up a muslin, stuffing one end into my bra on the non-feeding boob to absorb drips, and leaving the other end hanging out to press onto the feeding boob every time Jude comes off mid-feed. Works pretty well as long as he latches back on quickly! Still not that ideal for public feeds though and you end up washing a lot of milk-soaked muslins
I'm dreading when he starts dropping feeds and I'll be even more engorged!!

I had not witnessed the milk "squirting" until today, probably because Alex had never pulled away until the very end (hours and hours and hours ... or so it seemed) but today he kept pulling off and on (he did this the other morning too) and I saw the squirting in action! Isn't it odd. I sort of assumed it was a gentle flow rather than a squirting, more like when it rolls down you - does anyone else get that? I dont know if its when he isnt latched on properly but I will get trickles running down my sides, normally early on in the feed.

Hi All

I am reading every night but don't always get time to post. Am interested to hear how you are all getting on though!

Den - a colleague at work had a baby with what sounds like the same condition as little Rian - if it's any consolation their baby had the operation (at either Addenbrookes or John Radcliffe I forget which) at is now absolutely fine. I do remember her telling me that they spent a long time researching the surgeons who were going to operate as her local hospital was Sheffield and isn't known for being a specialist children's hospital, and so she felt very confident in the surgeon doing the job - don't know if that would help you or not really. I hope it all goes well though, let us know what is happening.

Dancing - sorry to hear about your Grandad. We have just lost DH's Nan at the age of 94 - she never got to meet DD, who would have been her 8th great grandchild, and now I feel awful that we have no photos of Sophie with Nan to show her later in life. I think it's lovely that Darcey got to meet your Grandad, thinking of you and your family at this sad time.

Happenedagain - well done on the graduation! Photo on facebook or profile please - do you get to wear the mortarboard or are you higher up than that?

Pamelat, Kaffa and others with v hungry babies, I feel for you. It is entirely a personal choice whether to keep on BF-ing or not - I guess it depends on whether the formula makes a difference to the time between feeds or not - if it makes no difference then I guess it indicates that they are getting enough food from you, it's just that they need feeding v frequently?? Not sure of the answer really, but hope you all find a routine that works for you soon.

Hope everyone else is doing well and sorry to everyone I have missed.

DD is doing really well. Had her weighed last week and she is 12lb 13, the porker. I have had to start packing away her 0-3 month clothes as some of them end at 12lb, and her feet are MASSIVE so even if the babygros fit, her feet are too big. Have shed a tear over the beautiful little outfits that have only been worn 2 or 3 times and are now being packed away....where has my baby gone?!

DS is still being a little troublesome. Has developed a nasty habit of hitting when I tell him what to do eg sit down for you tea, time for bath, don't suck the dishcloth (found him doing that today whilst I was tidying up from baking - eek). Have tried ignoring, shouting, putting him out of the room, and am now on the distraction method. So far he only hits out at me, but live in fear that he will swipe at someone at playgroup or a family member. He is also still difficult whenever I am feeding - we used to have a little routine that I would feed and read him stories at the same time, but now he won't sit next to me and insists on climbing all over his little sister whenever I sit down to feed, trying to pull her off, squeezing her hand or her head really hard, running up and bumping into the cushion supporting her....all very tiresome. I hate shouting at him, I sound like a fishwife! I think he is just realising that DD is here to stay and he now has to share me. Anyone got any advice on how to deal with jealous siblings (DS is just 3) or how long this stage lasts?!

Thanks for all the good wishes on the house move - we went for the 4 bed house in the quieter area in the end, as couldn't face living by the road forever and a day. I already have plans in my head for an extension to the kitchen to make my dream kitchen/diner, and have already planned where to put my Christmas tree (I LOVE Christmas!)!! Just finished marathon mortgage meeting with our IFA to complete the application and now head hurts - time for bed I think!

Best wishes to everyone and hope we all get lots of sleep tonight!!