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?!

sorry this is going to be a bit of an epic

sassles sorry to hear about your MIL troubles. I really hope you don't suffer too much in silence in RL. I'm sure your MIL at least intends to help. Maybe she just needs some firm direction, just don't wait for your dh to give it

pamelat - well done with the dummy - i was thinking that I should persevere - there are some times and some places that I just not really appropriate to start feeding even with a huge scarf and I don't want to get housebound.

tomlin re wills - are they really that important if you're married? We had ones made (from a template downloaded from a website for £10 ) a few years before we got married because we'd bought a flat together and had been advised to do wills. I thought that now we're married it's less important. Ours are certainly out of date now.

carikube congratulations on dd1's walking. It must be very exciting.

pigley there's no way I'd dare use a folded towel as a nappy free playmat . I lose count of how many nappy's he fills in a day - and by the sound of some of them they'd splatter walls. I might try with several unfolded large towels though. Also, I'm interested to know how the first swim went. Was she able to float without aids? I'm really not sure what to expect.

sk hope council's decision is what you want. I'm sure your boy will become chilled as soon as he realises how many sisters he has to spoil him.
It's good to know by the way that mine isn't the only baby that poos all day.

first1 our 6 week appt will be at 8 weeks too because i was late to book it apparently. That seems to mean all the inoculations will be later too. I hope it doesn't matter too.

re baby acne - I just wish my spots would disappear as quickly as LO's do!

re sleep - i still feel lucky to get a 3 hour stretch. It doesn't happen often. I must sort out some white noise for us to try. I'm thinking though that having boobs for first time in my life is compensation of sorts for lack of sleep. I'm also feeling liberated a bit now because LO has started to accept being put down - for a sleep in the evening or for short stretches on a play mat. I have to chose the moment carefully though.

re weight - he was weighed yesterday and he's 12lb 13oz. We're strangely proud. He was on 50th centile at birth and now over 91st centile after just 6 weeks of breast milk. I don't suppose he'll keep gaining weight like that because DH and I are both less than 5 ft 6 inches. Baby was strangely long at birth though

re eyes - mine are a bit of a mixture, a browny greeny hazel colour, DH's are blue and our baby's are a lovely dark blue. I don't think the chances of them staying like that are high with my ancestors but i hope they do. I've heard they can change at any time in the first year.

Does anyone else's LO hum while they feed? Ours does, and sometimes when going off to sleep. He generally seems very vocal. Wondering if this means we'll have a chatterbox on our hands?

Will try to catch up whilst Lucy is having a play on the playmat without being harrashed by her sister wanting to join in

All this talk of wills made DH and I admit that we should be thinking about Wills too. We were joking the other night... Who would WANT the girls though!

Carikube- Hope the funeral goes ok today. Well done DD on walking.. There will be no stopping her now! I have a video of DD1 when she first started walking.. she looks like shes drunk!

Sassles- at MIL's comments. Both my M and MIL both do it. They dont mean it intentionally but just think about what they are saying and how it would make you feel.
When DD1 was newborn DH had to say something to his mum. Everytime DD1 cried through hunger, tiredness, anything she would go on and on about how she had colic and was in so much pain. She wasnt.. just grumping for milk. It made me feel terrible as if i was doing something wrong and causing her pain. She would tell everyone how awful it was and how she was in so much pain making me feel like a bad mum. Anyway DH got cross and told her to stop, things were abit tense that day but the next day a bunch of flowers were delivered to say sorry for upsetting me and she hadnt realised she was saying it so much.

SK- I wrapped up DD1's presents the other night too although looking at them i think ive overdone the Peppa pig stuff abit!

First1- Glad you home now
Sounds like abit of bad planning for both the baby dr's to be off at the same time.

Homebirth- Ring the surgery about the appointment. Lucy and I had seperate appointments.. Mine with a nurse, hers with a dr. They were one after each other though which was handy.
Keep an eye on her for now and take her to the GP if she doesnt improve.

Schipo- Swimming. We had a swim seat/ring thingy from DD1 (not that she liked it) that we used for Lucy. It is too big for her to sit in so she layed across it asleep! When she woke she was just held in the water bobbing up and down. She was held floating on her back but not brave enough to let go. She was very alert looking around at everything. She lasted a long time before starting to get cold. DD1's first swim lasted about 10 minutes before she started shivering!

DD1 had her 2yr check this morning. Feeling very proud as she past with flying colours and was marked as above average on everything. The HV said her speech and understanding was amazing, was shocked at her knowing most of the alphabet phonetically and said that she was a very bright little girl.
DH took today of as he wanted to be there for the check so came into town with me to get bits as its much easier with 2 adults! Planning to go out for a family dinner tonight too.

Thanks all for the MIL advice and support. Great to be able to have a rant!

I hung the washing out with 1 hand in front of her yest whilst feeding him in a sling just to prove that I am wonderwoman!

She did it again today. DH was changing him b4 morn feed (a fact she was well aware of) and she took him and sat down. I was sitting eating bfast on the sofa waiting for him. She said "Look at ur mummy sitting there not giving u food" I said "well it's granny who's holding you". She then said "look at ur milk bottle just sitting there making sure she's fed instead of feeding you when you're hungry" I exclaimed "(her name) that's terrible you can't say something like that." She said in reply "don't worry Sam, come to granny and she'll look after you".

Was so annoyed with myself for not saying no /i'm really serious. Told DH as she doesn't say this stuff when he is about. He looked at me like i was being oversensitive and said "it's just her humour". I told him that there were things that you shouldn't joke about and telling a boy his mother wasn't taking care of him is out of line. He replied " yeah will ur dad said i was fat" (He did comment tht sam had a nice cushion to lie against when dh was holding him) and I said "yes and i stood up for you!"

U can't touch a MIL i think. I am not oblivious to any things my family may say and do that are maybe bit wrong, but his mum is a saint in his eyes and I look like the bitch.

If she says it again I will calmly and firmly tell her it isn't on.

DH had to go to work and they are out doing weeding. She again made tea for them even though i was in the kitchen changing sam. I walked outside and asked her to hold him then pointedly made myself tea and sat and drank it with them. Sam been awake all today and yest (which they know). When he went down for 5 mins I offered to make them lunch which they accepted. Sam woke b4 I buttered the rolls but made it anyway. They then took it outside without a thankyou, although mil did jibe that i had made them 2 rolls each when they only asked for 1 and a half. I think she thinks they are the "workers" and I'm sitting on my ass all day.

Any normal person would have made me lunch and taken Sam to let me scoff my lunch. I noticed today she had "tidied" our back room e.g. put stuff in piles that were already in piles to b put away when I had 5 mins. My P60 was lying on top of a pile face up, so she clearly had a look at it. I don't earn a fortune, but I get a good wage and prob 3 times whatever she or PIL earned and I earn a chunck more than DH. I think that it intimidates her a bit as she sees me as a city slicker and she lived in a wee village in the highlands all her life (which is lovely) and I think she hoped I wouldn't b coping with the baby stuff.

5 hours till thet leave!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poo - Sam has at least 3 v dirty nappies a day. Usually does 3 big rumbles in a row while feeding. Lots of wet ones too. Yellow and runny with chunks of milk . The odd green or v watery one too.

first1 at 6 week check uo appoint. that's crap.

carikube big claps for dd1. /that's awesome.

Will be able to catch up more next post and less about me. /taking Sam in to meet work tomorrow then 1st jabs!!

xpost pigely.

Congrats on the 2 yr check up. U must b one proud mummy!

sassles, seriously, how are you coping? not just her , but dh? humour ? he must be kidding...
you are a wonderful mother and doing a great job, and you should be resting taking care of sam and everybody else obeying your orders... i feel offended and is nothing to do with me, you must have the patience of a saint...

Me again. Do you know, I think behind all this I am just a bit upset that she hasn't been able to tell me I'm doing a good job or any encouragement. I think I'm doing pretty well despite knowing nothing b4 having him and it is really hard work.

xpost alle01. Think you read my mind! Thank you!! S xx

i am a first time too, and not a really young one either, i never changed a nappy in my life, before oscar, obviously.... my mil had 5 kids, she knows everything there is too know, etc... she will tell you if she thinks you should do something differently, in a nice way, and the thing she keeps telling to dh, is to make sure i am fine and rested, i have a son to take care of and it ain't easy...

don't put up with this, it isn't healthy

Hello everyone, am a bit late in joining this (didnt know it existed!) Hope you dont mind me nudging in?

My DS was born 21st May, and despite complications at birth is absolutely thriving.

I haven't read all of Sassles story, but IMHO MILs are ok in small doses, and there is nothing worse than little sarky comments. Hope your DH starts getting more on your side!

Poos - Mine goes for sometimes 72 hrs without pooing and recently have become harder and more adult like, he is combo fed with about 3-4 FF bottles and the rest bf. He also gets water as he seems so constipated! Lots of wet nappies though.

Had 6-8 week check at 7 weeks last Fri, and weighed 12'12 - so I know he is developing well for a baby with an Apgars at birth of 2...

Well done for getting through the first six weeks and almost to the three month hurdle, I hope I can get to know fellow mums with our abbies being so close in age!

babies.. silly me (that'll teach me to NAK and type left handed!)

welcome, nikki, it's never too late, what did you have/ and what did you call him/her?

I had a little boy, and we named him Theo Gabriel... Our little angel!

hello nikki and welcome i have 4 dd's, youngest is virginia and she is 5 weeks old.

sassles, 4 hours now, are you going to slam the door and clap your hands (cartoon style) together after they have gone?

have contacted thewillplace.com re. making a will, their head office is at the end of the road i have no excuse.

also contacted a firm to clean my oven for its 1st birthday treat

have also arranged with a jeweller to have a special piece of jewellery designed for her that we can add a diamond to every birthday until she is 21.

and finally, have organised her dedication at church

i have been so organised today i want to give myself a pat on the back [embarrassed] but it doesnt happen often now, i used to be soooo organised (was reknowned at work for being the organising manager

welcome nikki sounds like you had a stressful time at the birth. Glad all is now well my ds is 8 weeks and dd is 2.5.

re mil stuff, i actually like mine but i do think they get odd in regard to feeding, do you think its jealousy? I contniue to get "not again" comments and she offers to burp him mid feed which is nice but always seems to take a little too long with it (be next feed time before I know it

Also I was proudly talking about how he can sometimes go 3 hours now, very rarely, and I got patronising smiles. I rememnber this with my DD too. In all other respects she is fine so I let it go.

Also she positvely encourages me to give a bottle whih is odd. When DD was a few months and also on formula at night she came over one day to help me and I went to bed, which was appreciated but I got up and went down and she was sat giving DD a bottle!!!

hi everyone just back from good but exhausting day at the Safari park, DD3 was a scream, running about after all the animals, mooing, neighing, growling and squawking! She refused to get in her pram until the very end when she asked to get in it, I think she was shattered. The other two had a ball as well, Jacob mostly slept.

homebirthmum - if you can get 80ml out with a pump a baby can get more and faster. She has your boobs well trained.

pigley - well done Abigail on her 2 year check, B's was funny as well as she thinks she is 4 like DD2.

Eye colour - I have blue eyes, DP has chocolate brown, all the girls have my colour of eyes, they started off the newborn dark blue then got lighter by about 3 months. Jacob was born with sort of dark grey eyes that are turning more and more brown now. I think they can take up to a year to reveal their true colour.

Sassles - poor you, I would have to say something, sorry. Bet you are counting down the minutes. My MIL was lovely, it's my Mum who drives me round the bend.

nikki - hello and welcome

Jabs - it doesn't really matter if they are a week or two out of the 8 weeks, the next set will just be rescheduled for 4 weeks after that not at 12 weeks. I know someone whose DD dodn't get her first set until after 3 months as they cannot get them done if they are ill. Can I admit I haven' had my 6 weeks check and have no intention of having one either, a waste of time IMHO. If I had anything I was worried about I would go but I don't. Only thing annoying me is blooming piles, ouch, ouch and ouch, had same thing after DD3 as well.

Poos - Jacob must be an utter poo monster then, after every feed or sometimes during you can hear and feel it! He pees a lot as well. I think his would hit the walls if he didn't have a nappy on, definitely taken that after his father

Right best be off his lordship has awoken

Sassles - reading about your MIL has brought it all back to me. My Ex-out-law used to do this - and more! I felt so undermined all the time; she made me question everything I did. With DD2, it's just been so relaxing not to have her around (she's not the gran to this one!), commenting on everything and undermining me. Arghghghghghgh! Believe me, you have to sort it out early and set the ground rules, as she'll continue for years and years to come otherwise! In my experience, these things get worse the older the child gets.

Not long to go until you can say goodbye! Hang on in there!

Sassles..your MIL sounds a nightmare..I would not take kindly to being undermined in my own home..thankfully she will be gone soon then I would be telling DH that any future invitaions to stay have been retracted!

my ex MIL was hell on legs...I was glad to split up from ex p to get shot of her!

had a manic weekend of work..12 hours both days..DH had to give DD3 formula as I simply couldnt express enough..ho hum..
tomorrow Im training 6 people..I hate having to work so much but my business wont run itself

DD3 had second lot of jabs today..and weighed in at 11lb 6..she is 13 weeks on friday so still quite dinky!

my DD1 has very striking blue eyes and these became apparent from about 3 months...DD3 is looking like having greeny/brown eyes

about the eye thing, I am a bit confused. I have green eyes and DH has brown but DD and DS have blue.

They are definately our children!

i know its not my business, and do tell me to mind my own, but certainly from the last 2 posts, i am seeing ex mils. i have one as well, get on better with her than current. it makes me curious, how many on this post have new baby with 2nd hubby/partner and how many (again like me) also have step children. i am mummy to 4 girls but also have a stepson aged 18 and a stepdaughter aged 22, neither of which have anything to do with us as a result of our marriage and new baby. (i was not the other woman by the way and dont know why i feel the need to be so defensive, but hey ho)

Hello Ladies! I have been reading but never seem to have time to post now that my DSis has discovered the joys of skype! (Some of you might remember from the pre-natal thread that she had her DD two weeks before I had Felix, so we have lots of notes to compare!).

Welcome Nikkidale, never too late to join in!

Sassles - the MIL sounds like a right old dragon, I am full of admiration for your ability to hold your tongue. I hope you've got a good celebration planned for her departure!

Pigley - well done to your DD1 on her 2 year check-up! You have inspired me to look into baby swimming near me, I think Felix would love it as he adores splashing around in the bath.

mollycuddles - of pictionary! I love boardgames. We had packed one in my labour bag for the hospital, but didn't even get to unpack it as F was born just 30 minutes after we arrived at the birth centre reception!

Schipo - love the sound of your LO humming while feeding! Felix doesn't hum, but he does sometimes seem to chatter to the boob before he latches on. Am impressed with the leap up the centiles. F has gone from 9th to 25th, but I think he'll stay there, as DH and I are both on the small side.

First - sympathies on the jabs. I took F for his last wednesday, and was told he couldn't have them as he wouldn't be 8 weeks old until the following day, so I have to take him back again tomorrow. Grr. The GP did kindly take the opportunity to do his 6-8 week check while I was there though, even though I hadn't made an appointment for it (I presumed they did it automatically at the same time as the jabs).

homebirth - very impressed with your organisational skills. I am excellent at writing to-do lists, but not so good at ticking things off!

ML - you sound shattered, sorry you're having to work so hard. I hope the new trainees pick it up quickly so you can have a break.

Pooing - Felix used to be a 6-a-day man (one during nearly every feed like Jacob SK ), but then suddenly 3 weeks ago went a day without doing a poo at all (I thought he was constipated) and now does one every day or every other day. Although yesterday he did 3, but none today . It makes nappies much cheaper and it's such a relief not having to do a middle-of-the-night nappy change any more.

We had a bit of breakthrough this evening, although I'm not naive enough to think it will be a permanent change! After giving Felix a bath, I popped him in his moses basket to carry him downstairs, intending to get him out of the basket and have a little cuddle as he usually will only fall asleep if being carried around or during feeding. But when we got downstairs, instead of crying in his basket, he just gave a little whimper, so I took the opportunity to put the washing machine on. When I came back two minutes later to get him out of the basket for a cuddle, he had fallen asleep! That was 2 hours ago and he's still sleeping now.

Had a lovely day today - went into town for lunch with a friend who's baby is due at the weekend (the same friend I had lunch with when I was in the early stages of labour with Felix, although I hadn't realised it at the time!). It was Felix's first trip on the tube, and he seemed to like it. I'm hoping it will be a positive sign for our upcoming 10 hour flight in a couple of weeks' time!

Homebirth - yes, DD2 is my second child but my DP's first. He didn't have children in his previous marriage. His relationship with DD1 is just brilliant and it's happy families all round (even when the ex-outlaws come to stay now!).

I love the jewellery idea, btw - what a lovely gift for the 21st birthday.

And welcome, Nikki! Is your son your first child? Glad to hear he's doing so well.

Hello

SK I will email you, just bear with me at the moment as I struggle to get time to do anything! Was it Blair Drummond safari park? we are planning a visit there this week, weather pending of course. Also suffering with piles and I didn't even have a VB! the doc gave me an ointment which has worked wonders though so for the time being I am not suffering. Must admit my Mum drives me up the wall as well and I am worried about my Dad and his drinking habits but it has been great having them to stay this week even if it has meant me literally going to the toilet to laugh or cry!!

pooing DD2 is a once a day girl now, usually late evening and my word it is a nappy and a half worth!

MILS dont even get me started, I have an awful one and in fact we dont have anything to do with them. MIL and FIL are very bizarre and selfish people and I will firmly tell my DS to shoot me if I ever behave like my INlaws have

Ooops, baby up again, she is very unsettled tonight hence my late post.

Hope everyone is ok, sorry for such a disjointed post.

MDM..thanks..sadly these trainees are learning so they can go off and do it elsewhere..not to work for me

I sent a friend request to someone who I thought was on the May thread..they have a small baby and mutual May friends..but I had an email back asking who I was..apologies if its someone from this thread who doesnt just want to add random people..I completely understand