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?!

name changed, alle01...

home, my case, met the guy in my first year of uni, integrated in the family, got married, had a child, all of this is 11 years; my mil is sooooooooooo great i call her mum.
pamelat, you must have a blue eye gene both, which both kid inherited, pretty lucky considering that their chance must be about 6 %,...
and yet another night 10 till 6, i am starting to love this pattern
poo: oscar used to be 3 times a day, and one day stopped and didn't do any, got me worried, nearly call the gp, then he did one a day, but massive, and yesterday, he did 2, so very confused, lots of smelly wind that doesn't produce matter...
have my iron test today to see if i am still anemic, i can see those pills coming back to me...
baby waking up, that's the end of my peace.

Hello...

eyes both DDs have blue eyes like me. DH has brown eyes and when we were at the open day at the local uni recently, someone on the genetics stand was telling us in all seriousness that DH couldn't be DD1's father . When we said that was a load of cobblers, she told us that a few people had told her that and she couldn't understand why!!

first1 glad to hear you're out of hospital. Hope everything is back to normal v soon. At our practice, the 6 week check appt is made automatically for you; I rolled mine in to DD2's as I knew it was pointless us all traipsing down there just for me to see GP as it only ever takes 2 mins - 'are you feeling ok?' 'yes' 'do you want any contraception?' and then you're done...

sassles hope you're feeling calmer now that PIL have gone.

MILs in general - DH and I are both on our first marriage (though I don't mean that to sound like we're planning many more ) but I think I find MIL hard to deal with as he is her only child so the DDs are her only grandchildren so she is completely gaga over them. My parents are now up to 14 DGC so they're far more restrained and I find that easier to cope with - MIL is just so OTT (she once told DD1 that 'even your vomit is perfect' ).

nikki welcome!

schipo wills are important even if you're married as it is the best way to ensure that your LO is taken care of should anything happen to you; we never got round to making a will after we were married but as soon as we had DD1 we felt that it was something we should do to ensure that she was properly taken care of/got to live with someone that we chose etc. Also even if you're married, if there is anything still in only one person's name it can cause issues until probate is sorted (eg our house is in DH's name as he bought it before I met him).

ML don't know how you're doing it - you must be shattered!

Currently have both DDs napping which is nice. It's the first time that DD2 has gone in to her moses basket for a nap as she normally sleeps in her chair in the daytime. However she is hopeless at self-settling so I'm hoping that if she gets used to having a nap in her basket (she was asleep when I put her down, mind) she will know that each time she goes in there, she should sleep. I had to let her suck my finger to sleep last night and then when she woke for her 4am feed I was awake til 5am getting her back to sleep - I'd love her to just go back by herself!

Went to my cousin's funeral yesterday and it was one of those days from start to finish. We left home before 9am as were going to get a lift with my DB and DSIL; DD1 threw up all over herself (and her carseat and the sling...) before we'd even gone 30 minutes so we had to stop at a mothercare for a clean up job and to buy some new clothes (the spare outfit I had in the changing bag included a t-shirt claiming 'I'm the queen of temper tantrums' which I didn't think was entirely appropriate for a funeral). The service was obviously v sad so felt emotionally drained. Had to bf DD2 in the pub where the wake was being held and then ended up changing 5 nappies in 1 hour as DD1 just didn't stop pooing and DD2 had such a bottom explosion that everyone in the room heard her . Didn't get home until gone 9pm, just in time to have a fight with DH and we didn't really talk for the rest of the evening . He won't be home from work until nearly midnight tonight so we won't have much time to make things right tonight either...

carikube, may i make a suggestion, as your dh is getting home late, you can leave him a surprise, something really nice that he wouldn't expect,... you know what he would appreciate.

wouldlike you're right...I think I need to be the bigger person (though it is so much easier continuing to niggle at each other...)

Sassles- Are you more relaxed today?

Nikki- Welcome Good to hear that Theo is doing well now after a scary start.

MDM- yay on the sleeping. Do you take a buggy on the tube or wear a sling?

SK- Sounds like a fab day out

Carikube - lovely when they nap together isnt it
The funeral sounds like an eventful day. Did the family behave themselves?
Think I need that t-shirt for DD1 at the mo! Such a madam and really pushing her luck! Not like these Terrible twos very much.

Been busy planning DD's 2nd birthday next week. We are taking her to the Zoo the day before, having a family do on her actual birthday (sat) and then a few friends round for a play on the sunday. Just need to finish getting the cake decorating things.

Well both girls are asleep so going to grab a cuppa and flop on the sofa whilst i can

Yay!! Freedom from the MIL!!

Much more relaxed now they are gone thanks and yes did a wee cartoon style clap once they went out of the door.

Relief actually came from PIL in the end. I overheard him MIL and DH in next room. He said "ur mum's been upsetting Sarah, she had to tell her off for what she said".

DH "oh, was this one of your wee "jokes" that only you get mum. I think I remember you upsetting Kirsty (other daughter in law with grandson) too" MIL just sort of laughed but in a sort of guilty way like she knew what she was doing, but hopefully will not say anything quite so awful in future. Will be nipped (not physically, although I wish ) in the bud. My terrible BFing can't be that bad as Sam put on 23 ozs in 2 weeks. Big raspberry to MIL.

Carikube Funeral sounded like quite and ordeal. You never have the things you need in the changing bag when they happen do you? I went out on Monday and forgot wipes! Sam did 2 massive poos within 30 mins. Thankfully was with other more organised mummy. I hate letting the sun go down on an argument too. No fun waking up thinking "oh yeah, i'm still mad". hope you resolve things tonight and have some fun making up

pigley good luch with the bday organising. Sounds like loads of lovely things planned. well done you on being so organised. Hope it all goes well.

wills I do have one but just says any offspring will inherit if DH and I die. Sounds like I need to update it to say who would look after Sam if we dies. God forbid he goes to MIL! That will be a fun chat with DH.

first1 Glad to hear that you are out of hospital and back with your lo. My 6 week check was quite quick too. Had look at section wound as hadn't been healing well. BP taken and contraception chat.

wouldliketoknow nice new name. on the sleeping pattern, That's fab. I've been off iron for 2 weeks and was eating like a horse while on them. MIL says that appetite is enhanced, but she may be talking mince. Not fun out the other end either

Brightred It's nice to know that I'm not on my own with nasty MIL. I'm sure you have way more sense and a much nicer person to ever become like your inlaws.

MDM at the moses basket sleeping. Fingers crossed that's a new routine! Sounds like a lovely day out too. Where are you off to on your hols. Hope somewhere lovely!

honob ML thanks for the MIL advice. Think you are right that need to set ground rules now. I think you are right that future invites will be limited till she can behave herself. Both your ex outlaws sound worse than mine. Glad they are no longer a thorn in your sides.

ML You are wonderwoman and I mean that with all my heart. 12 hour days working. Hope you go home to a lovely cup of tea waiting.

Oh. That was a good long time for a post, but Sammy now stirring, Had 1st jabs today. Few tears form him, but not too bad. Had long feed then off to sleep. Will be giving him loads of hugs tonight. Hope everyone's jabs are going ok. More next Sammy snooze!

Thanks again everyone for your support through the week of HELL/MIL!

hi all,
sounds like i should be pleased with my gp, my check up took 40 min, and we talked about everything and lots of medical checks,... it might be because i see him very often
sassles, glad you're finally free, and sounds like someone is going to put your mil in her place, one thing, don't doubt yourself, there is no reason to

carikube sounds like you have really been through it Not sure I would have coped with the funeral and children. Cant have been easy.

In fact I am a bit rubbish when I have both of mine, did last thursday and friday as first full days with boy of them. I really admire those of you who have more than 1 each day. Soon I will have DD and DS 3 days a week and really think I am a bit rubbish. DD (2.5) is being very clingy and just crying/tantrums etc for "mummy mummy mummy" which makes breastfeeding DS difficult, esp in public. Dreading tomorrow and friday which I then feel guilty about.

Alex still waking twice at night, 2 and 5am for full feeds. He 14lbs now but must need them.

On a more positive front, he now always (well for a week) goes to bed by 730pm which is nice. I have had an essay due this week so that would have been impossible with Alex up.

pamelat, we have have to make the best of what we got, mine sleeps 8 hours at night, but 6 in the morning till ten at night i am his slave, i can't tell anybody i will go somewhere/do something 'cos who knows, or i just get there an hour late, but i have the greatest of excuse, if anybody starts moanning, you get the cute baby out, garanted to get you out of any trouble...
carikube, hope you sort out financial problems with will, peacefully... and take your time to grieve
hope you make up with dh, he can't be that bad.

hi all totally knackered have spent the evening decorating the house for DD3's 2nd birthday tomorrow (DD1's is on Tuesday) so have a pink Princess theme with about 50 balloons and 4ft high Princesses poor DP's birthday today and it has been horrible weather so we stayed in (DP quite happy playing his new Wii game), family BBQ is on Saturday for everyone.

Was saying on FB that this time 2 years ago I had had enough and was on the trampoline getting the girls to bounce me, must have worked as my waters broke a few hours later, 45 mins of contractions and out she flew. DD3 is my extra special girl as I had a mc before her and she was a threatened mc and we thought I would lose her as well but here she is.

Jacob went down at 8 last night, up at 11 and 1 then he was up at 5 until 6ish, grinning at me and filling his nappy and over onto his vest!

pamelat - motherhood comes with a heavy dose of guilt no matter what you do, whether it's SAHM/work, Breast or bottle, dividing your time/neglecting their needs etc etc the first few months with 2 is hard as you all adjust but it gets easier promise. You are doing a great job.

sassles - yey well done on surviving, honestly don't know why MILs/Mums think they can be so horrid. Well done Sam on the weight gain, am loving his pics on FB too

pigley - 2 can you believe it? Safari park was B's treat but early die to weather. She's a complete madam as well, keep having to tell her off for battering her sisters.

Carikube - poor you what a day. Don't fret too much about your row, it happens and I think every couple has more fights just after a new baby is born and you have two so close together it's tough. Hope you make it up soon x

Oh on the eye thing, I studied genetics for a bit at uni and it is a bit more complicated than very basic Mendalian statistics, all manner of things can contribute to eye colour. I was hoping DP had the green eyed gene in there somewhere as his neice and SIL have stunning green eyes but no he's got dominant brown and recessive blue although I used to tell him my genes were stronger as all the girls look like me now he has gone and cloned himself. Jacob is his spitting image.

brightred - yes it was Blair Drummond, wouldn't go again this year though as the roadworks on the erm M9 I think are horrific all the way to Stirling nearly. Girls had fab time as ever. We are going to try and get to Loudoun Castle next week depending on weather.

MDM - well done on the tube, I remember taking DD1 on it in her sling, we used to go into London a lot and I used the Maclaren on the train then just walked everywhere as it was faster than the tube. We used to meet DP for lunch at least weekly and then I would have a good old wander, lovely days remember feeding her in Trafalgar Square.

Jacob was sleeping but I can hear him stirring poor DP hasn't even hinted at his birthday treat we have no chance of that happening anytime soon.

ML - shame about the trainees not working for you. I hope you've had a calmer day today on the work front.

wouldliketoknow - happy new name!

Carikube - sounds like you had a stressful day yesterday. DH and I often end up arguing when we're both stressed or tired, I hope you both manage to kiss and make up soon.

Pigley - sounds like you have a busy birthday weekend for DD2 on the horizon, she's a very lucky little girl. I took the buggy on the tube. The baby bjorn would have been easier, but I was meeting a friend for lunch and thought it would be easier if Felix could snooze in his buggy while we ate. Luckily he obliged!

sassles - Hurrah on seeing the back of the MIL I suddenly thought of a line from a book I had when I was very little about a family that finally got rid of a rat that was living in their house "good riddance to bad rubbish"! For our holiday we're off to Canada. DH's brother lives over there and is getting married by a lake in the Rocky Mountains, so we're making a two-week break of it. Can't wait - it might be our only proper holiday this year (unless you count visits to the grandparents, which I don't!). Hope Sammy is ok after his jabs.

Pamelat - great news on the 7.30 bedtime. Felix tends to wake twice at nights for feeds too, also around 2 and 5. Although occasionally he'll do 3 and 6, but I still consider 6 to be night, which some people wouldn't!

Am knackered this evening. One of the girls from my NCT group has organised a personal trainer for us, who puts us through our paces once a week! It's more healthy than our usual cake and coffee morning, but pretty exhausting.

Well, after my tentative celebration yesterday evening about Felix falling asleep in his basket 15 minutes after his bath... he did the same again this evening, but even quicker!!! I'm still not counting my chickens. I think he was tired after having his jabs this afternoon. (It broke my heart to see the big fat tears rolling down his cheeks in the GP's surgery ). How many times does a baby have to do something before you can safely consider it a new habit / routine?

X-post SK. Birthday plans in your house too! I hadn't really registered before that you and Pigley have identically aged DDs. Feeding in Trafalgar Square sounds great! I fed F in public for the first time yesterday in the cafe in John Lewis! Nobody even seemed to notice, so it has made me feel a lot braver about trying it again. I have found that layering two vest tops means you can feed without revealing anything!

MDM - how does the vest thing work? I can't picture it. Wouldn't you need to lift both anyway when feeding? I'm being dense!

Sassles..glad to hear that nightmare MIL has left..bet you are so incredibly releived!

I dont feel like wonderwoman tbh..just knackered!..HV told me off yesterday for going back to work too soon..she ahs offered to come and weigh Olivia at home so I dont have to go to the baby clinic..she said just ring.. and she will come over

had a workshop day today..and Im really tired now..thank fully no more work (accept sitting in the office) until Friday 23rd (just over a week)

have booked the RHS at Tatton Park as a wedding anniversay treat for me and Dh..DD's birthday on tuesday (same as SK's DD1 ) cant beleive she will be six..shes been the baby of the family for so long now she seems so grown up..she is having a Hello Kitty themed tea party at home complete with Pink choccy fountain..and a disco party on weds..

I think Olivia is desperate to be on the move..probably because she sees all the activity round her and shes desperate to join in......she rolled over onto her tummy today! and squaled with excitement when she realised what she had done!

I can remember touching on genetics in human biology A Level at college.. blue is genderally considered to be a recessive gene and brown is the dominant gene, this is why its possible for 2 brown eyed parents to have a child with blue eyes (my dd1 has blue eyes and both me and her dad had brown eyes) and the general consensus is that its impossible for 2 blue eyed parents to produce a child with brown eyes because they would not carry an on copy of the brown eye gene..but I beleive it has happened as genes can mutate in the copy of the eye colour gene..
all quite complicated really..

Homebirth what a lovely idea for a present for your DD, something she will no doubt treasure when she is an adult.

Welcome nikkidale

Pamelat I think you and I have similiar babies in respect to sleeping and feeding..Olivia is still night waking..sleeping little during the day and cluster feeding a lot..all quite draining really..thank goodness for fab DH who is getting up in the night at the mo to give me a break...your DC's by the way will have blue eyes because both you and Dh prob baly only have one on copy of the brown eye gene, so the recessive blue has come through

Hi all

yeh to mil bogging off sassles

try and take it easy when you can ml - I've been "wonderwoman" in the past and it isn't good for you. Olivia sounds fab - I remember you saying about her smiling and cooing and not wanting Molls to be at that stage too soon as they grow so fast. Now Molls IS smiling and cooing and Olivia is on the move. Scary.

hobnob - the vest trick I think is dependent on one being big enough to pull down and then it's one up and one down and very little skin on show. I do a vest one up with an oversized shirt pulled across hooked under the hand holding Molly's head. I feed anywhere at all. No exceptions and never had any hassle with dd1 either. My GP reckons anyone would be too scared to approach me

Re eyes - mine are hazel, dh's are greenish and ds has amber/hazel and dd1 brown. Molls are dark blue at present. I don't understand how it works at all.

Will post more later as unexpectedly Molls has settled and I know she'll be up in about 4 hours

oh and just in case anyone is interested..AF arrived at the weekend and its no different to before I had Olivia..I was pretty heavy anyway..cant beleive that jusy 12 weeks after giving birth..my body wants me to get pregnant again...well its tough!!

Only got 3.5 hours
So not much routine or sleep here just yet. But as you said wouldliketoknow you get what you get
Hope you're ok carikube - tough day. Hope the making up went well
Happy birthday to the big 2 year old girls. sk - the party sounds amazing. Dd1 has now grown out of all the pink princess stage but I wonder if I'll be doing it all again for Molly. Hope the weekend goes well pigley
Well done on the essay pamelat
Welcome nikki
Glad to hear you're out of hospital first1 Hope the recovery continued
to the tears mdm Our appointment is next Tuesday. Not looking forward to it. Have an appointment in the morning for me for blood test and contraceptive injection. Dh will be pleased!
Fantastic present idea homebirthmummy Virginia is a lucky girl!
Sorry to hear you have mil hassles too brb. My mil died when ds was 9 months. She was lovely. Fil is a bit rubbish. Was a crap dad to dh - never there for his kids and abusive for years to mil and dh especially. Turned on the other kids when dh left home. Dh has gained some peace re this and fil is now just a lonely old man who has no relationship with his grandchildren. Guess you reap what you sow.

Had a rubbish day yesterday. Took dd1 to my friend's house on Tuesday evening to meet her new kittens. I'm allergic to cats but knew dd1 would love it. She did but even though I stayed away I still had a major asthma attack - I don't have asthma normally but fortunately had inhaler in the house from last year's brush with swine flu. I am a health disaster. Anyway the inhaler made me jittery and gave me palpitations and Molly was grumpy all day - maybe as a result. Blooming cats. I only went to try to improve dd1's ongoing moodiness post Molly. Didn't even work. I am so sick of rolling eyes and dirty looks and stampy feet. We've been really focussing on family fun time this week. Me and ds won the pictionary! Dh took ds and dd1 to see shrek yesterday and we're going to the library tomorrow. Seems pointless though with dd1's attitude. She is bonding with Molls more and even dressed her yesterday - took forever and Molls not too impressed but she was so proud of herself but every little victory seems followed by more strops and disasters. Blooming heck this parenting is tough.
Molls is off the boob so need to stop typing and get offline on phone so can use my fab white noise app. Night all x

Carikube - funeral sounds very draining Hope you're OK.

SK - happy birthday to your DD, you sound rushed off your feet!

MDM - congrats on feeding in public, the two vest tops thing is really useful.

ML - RHS Tatton Park sounds great! We're near RHS Rosemoor and it's a fab day out.

It's my DD's birthday today as well so have a bit of a manic weekend. We were going to take her out for her treat tomorrow and then have a picnic party on Sunday but the weather has put paid to both plans really since it's v.v.v.wet here so waiting to see what happens. DH is coming home early from work so we can give her a birthday tea though. I'm sure she'll have a good time whatever we end up doing though!

Molly - thanks for explainign the two-vest trick. I'll give it a go. Tbh, I just lift whatever I'm wearing and cuddle up with LO and nothing shows - apart from when I lift her away to burp her or put my norks back. But I got over my shyness long ago with my ever-hungry DD1.

Initially. i was more apprehensive about feeding in front of friends than with complete strangers. Seems odd, I know!

Sorry to hear about the asthma attack, Molly.

ML - I'm eking out my 10 KIT days, doing LOADS of work in each session and then not working for as long as I can manage until the next one. I'm hoping I can eke them out till after I go on hol at the end of the month.

Pink chocolate fountain sounds AMAZING! My 6yo would LOVE that (and so would I!)

Happy birthday to your LO, 20th century.

Stupidly put some washing out this morning, thinking it looked dry enough... NOw it's so wet, the drains have overflowed. I'd better put on my wellies...

hobnob - the two top thing works like this... You layer 2 tops, they don't have to be vest tops, the only requirement is that the underneath layer needs to have a low enough neckline that you can hook a boob out of the top of it! As molly said, the idea is that you lift the top layer (the upper top) up and the underneath layer (the under top) down. Logistically, I find the easiest and least revealing way to do it is to pop your hand in through the neckline, unclip your nursing bra and scoop the under top and bra below your boob (i.e. pop your boob out the top). The upper top is still in place, so no boob showing yet! Then, with the baby in position to feed, you lift the upper top up from the hem until it goes over your boob, and latch the baby on. The baby's head hides the nipple, the upper top hides the top of the boob, and the under top is still covering your tummy, so you don't have to expose yourself to the public, magic! Hope that makes sense.

ML - interesting explanation of the genetics of eye colour, thanks! I have hazel eyes and DH has blue, my dad has blue and mother has hazel, so I guess F could end up with anything!

Molly - boo to your rubbish day yesterday, I hope today is an improvement.

Heffa - hope the weather clears up for your picnic on Sunday, fingers crossed.

We're going to a wedding on Saturday, but it's a 'no children' wedding, not even nursing babies, so we're leaving Felix with my parents for the day . I'm a bit nervous about it, I'll need to express like a demon today and tomorrow to make sure he has enough milk in the freezer!

Off to baby massage shortly, first week we did legs, then last week tummy. Not sure what we have in store for today!

x-post hobnob! Your method of just lifting up whatever your wearing sounds simpler!

MDM I heard 3 consecutives is a pattern so if he goes down early tonight ....

Re vest thing, I bought mine from blooming marvellous. Sale on at the mo. Sounds live your vest idea but with a lift up panel. About £10 in the sale. I have 2 and they are all I wear at the mo!!

Hi guys, i am back! been a busy couple of days for me, and everytime i try and come visit Theo starts smiling and squealing and/or fussing for boob!

Thank you for being so accommodating,Theo is y first so I have no idea what I am doing!! Making it up as I go along!!

pamelat Theo slept from 10.30 - 6.00 from about 10 days,but now he is up ALL day so altough I should be getting lots of sleep I am still booby slave all day!

Question, how soon after birth did you all 'do the deed'??

Sorry if this offends anyone

MDM - don't forget to take a pump with you to the wedding! I went to a friend's wedding when DD1 was three months old. I expressed loads of milk for her gran to give her during the day, but forgot to express throughout the day itself. By 6pm, my boobs were ready to pop! I kept trying to express down a sink in the loo, but I had to leave to go to a 24-hour Tesco to buy an emergency handpump! My poor DD didn't know what had hit her when we got back - I was desperate for her to relieve my norks, but she could barely get a latch on!