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?!

Oh. Forgot to add.

Had smear test at 6 week check up. Got letter yesterday saying that there were not enough cells present for a thorough check of cells and I have to go back for another. Not too happy. Letter said it was quite common and not to worry. Anyone else ever had this? Should I worry that there was something there that they need to "thoroughly" examine?

Morning sassles

No routine here either. And no sleeping without bf or cuddling but I didn't expect it. I also don't believe in leaving new babies to cry. IMO that just teaches them that Mummy isn't bothered by their distress and their feelings aren't important. I've spent enough of my life believing I have to ignore my feelings and I'm not passing that neurosis onto Molly. No doubt she'll have other neuroses but not that one!

Re the smear - v common to have an inadequate smear at 6 weeks so in my practice we don't do them so early postnatally especially if bf. If you've never had any abnormal smears I wouldn't get it repeated until after at least 3 months postnatal so you don't have another inadequate one.

Hello,
Curry last night was lovely; fortunately we went out early enough that the place was quite empty so it didn't matter that DD1 practised her walking round (and round and round and round ) the restaurant between courses.

DD2 spent her first night in the cot bed last night in her new room (she's been in her moses basket in our room up til now) and she slept like a dream - just up the once for a feed but otherwise not a peep from her. Although we don't have a routine, I have been trying to put her down for a nap during the day if I manage to catch the cues in time. She's niggling now so I might see if she fancies a snooze.... The only other thing we're doing in terms of a routine is putting her to bed at the same time as DD2 - I feed DD1 whilst DH gives DD2 her bottle so hopefully when they're both in the same room (DD1 moves in with her next weekend if we can get ourselves organised) they'll go to bed relatively easily [hopelessly deluded emoticon needed]

sassles, i had that with the test several times before preg, doesn't mean a thing, but surgery not planing to do one for quite some time.
had baby massage clas today, oscar needed a bottle, so hv come to me to say: oh, you've gone back to work, so explain my sob story with unsuccesful bf.... but i don't think i need to explain, what happens if i had chosen to ff for some reason?, girl, -cow- in there had the answer you just need to be really determined and never buy any bottles, dh was very impressed that i didn't bite her head off
routine is dictated by oscar in this house and no unnecessary crying here either, leaving him to cry is just cruel imo

Hi all

QUick question: When will you all be moving from a pram to the buggy?

Glad to hear all your news - I read every day, but am just toooo busy ever to do a full catch-up!

wouldliketoknow stupid cow has no idea. There may be some people who just don't try hard enough but there are far more who try and try or who lack proper advice and support. Ffs. And also many people like me who have been very lucky and who have needed no determination to bf as it's been really easy. I'm very pro bf but not in the ignorant way some are. Grrr on your behalf.

wouldliketoknow I second what molly said : I was very determined to bf DD1 and didn't buy any formula apart from 2 ready-made cartons (preparing for the scenario whereby I'm run over by a bus so DH had to feed). However bf just didn't work out - I'd spend nearly every feed in tears and more often than not my nipples would be bleeding. I'd have bitten that girl's head off I think... Also my current experience would show that just because it didn't work for one, doesn't mean it will never work - DD2 is 9 weeks old now and we're still going strong and even the cracked nipples don't seem so painful this time.

hobnob I think we started on the buggy at about 6 months old when DD1 could hold herself up pretty well. As we're now using a double buggy it will just be a case of turning the reclining bit in to a seat when the time comes.

thank you ladies, i have 4 more classes with the same people, if she ever even look at me funny, i'll make her feel really guilty she ever said anything, and dh will have to sit and watch, group of 10 ladies my dh was the only one who bother to turn up, he told them being the best dad he possibly can is very important to him, took time off work

buggy, my dsis said she did it at 5 months when he could hold his head, but every child is different,... by 2 yo he chose to walk, so they gave me the pram and got him a light push chair

Molly- Glad your feeling brighter about things now.
I too really need to start doing some more exercise. I tempted to buy a workout DVD.

Rachel- Before DD1 i used to babysit for a friend who had the Angelcare monitor. I found myself a bundle of nerves staring at the monitor petrified it was going to off! I thought getting that would for myself would make me even more neurotic!
Def with you on keeping baby books going. DD1's hasnt been updated since shes was a yr old. I really really need to do it - when i get the time!

Carikube- Belated birthday wishes Glad you got a good nights sleep!

Sassles-No real routine here. Lucy seems to be finding her own kinda pattern at the mo. She sleeps mid morning then a long nap after lunch then another mid afternoon before going to bed around 8. She has a dreamfeed about 11 then sleeps till 5 or 6 am.
However today shes been all over the place as shes really unsettled

re smear- I was told by the nurse not to have one till DD was 6mths as hormones can effect the readings.

Hobnob- We are using the same pram as we did for DD and she lasted in the layflat hard carrycot till around 6mths when she moved to her rearfacing seat part of the pram.

Wouldliketoknow- I never comment on anyones feeding as you never know what can of worms you are opening. Im sure they mean well when people comment but its such a different story for everyone.
Lovely that your DH can be a the massage classes. My DH would of liked to come to classes i did with DD1 but couldnt get the time off. I just showed him what we learnt in the evening. Im sure its the same for many of the other mums in your class. I guess it depends on thier jobs as to how each it is to get time off.

Lucy is soooo shattered as she has only hadtiny cat naps all day. She doesnt know what to do with herself right now Not holding much hope for a good night tonight.

Wouldliketoknow - wow, sounds like you had a horrible time, I'm so impressed you didn't lamp her. BFing didn't work out with my DD (she just would not feed from me, I expressed all her feeds for 7 weeks then my supply dried up and I had to stop ) and I'd have cried buckets if someone said that to me. Some people have no idea how hard it can actually be.

Sassles - all we do for a routine is give them both a bath and then put them down for bed (at the same time) which they both respond to fairly well. Otherwise, when he's looking tired I feed him, cuddle him and put him in his cot/sling/let him sleep on me depending what's easiest.

Hobnob - we started propping DD up in her pram with a cushion for a little while when she was little so she could see out a bit more easily (sounds a bit dodgy but it was very safe). Then I think we put her in the buggy when she was about 4/5 months or so.

Carikube - glad you had a nice curry

monitor a have a baby angel thing too, but i only use it to go to the garden to hang the washing, so i can hear if he is asleep.
caricube congrats!!!! 19 is it?

pigley. i know they didn't mean to be insulting, but telling someone who just told you that needs to mixed feed, mostly formula tbh, that you only need to be determined is at least a bit insensitive. this is a class for first time parents, different topics every week, surely not all the fathers could take time off work to attend, but some were saying their partners didn't even consider, and dh should be proud of himself for going to every app and doing as much as he can. but i recognize i was crossed when i wrote that post[flush]
oscar is now asleep so tea and toast with preserves and feet up, soon will be bath, feed and cot, hope he sleeps...

tch- cross post. yeah, i didn't take it kindly, especially because i was just telling the hv, that i had an awful birth, no milk till 10 days after birth, extremely rare, and even so i have never been able to express more than 6 oz in 24 h, in a good day, bleeding nipples so painful that i need to use breast pads to avoid brushing from bra, and besides all, i still put him to the breast at least 10m twice a day, even know that won't feed him, imo i am doing bloody well, and yes i get frustrated and cry lots, because i never wanted to give any formula, but nothing i can do about it. so,... rant over...

Don't get me started on the feeding debate!! I have nothing but admiration (well OK a bit of envy too) at Mums that are able to bf. wltk you're doing better than well, you're doing amazingly & try not to feel any different. IMO, regardless of reasons why, how a mother feeds her baby is her choice. Nobody elses business. Could somebody remind me I said that the next time I justify why my DS is ff and I'm explaining myself to complete strangers

hobnob we have a Phil & Teds double & DS had his 1st outing in the seat rather than laying flat yesterday. He's 11 weeks tomorrow.

rachel we have the bt 150(?) baby monitor which is great but just wanted to say I bought some replacement rechargeable batteries for it recently & it has a whole new lease of life. Could your existing monitor be revived?!

Hi Ladies,

I'm really impressed by those of you who are developing routines! I can sort of see one emerging here, should probably try to get a routine going this week, particularly as DH is on late shifts this week and I have to orchestrate dinner and bedtime for DS1 along with keeping Eric happy. That is what really stresses me out! I don't know how you mums of more than two do it!

wouldliketoknow I'm proud of you for not punching her, I think I would have!

Hobnob I abandoned the Quinny at 7 weeks and started using my Maclaren Techno XT as I was fed up with the front wheel of the Quinny turning sideways making it near impossible to steer forward. It was nice to be able to see Eric as I went along, but I used the Maclaren with DS1 from birth and couldn't resist putting Eric in it, I just love that push chair. I guess it helps that he's already so huge so he doesn't look too small for it. I've also had to stop carrying him in the wrap sling as my foot problem is flaring up from carrying his weight.

Sassles, Pigley and wouldliketoknow thanks for your feedback on the Angelcare monitor. I wonder if I would find it nerve wracking to have the breathing monitor... DS1 has asthmatic tendencies and whenever he has a cold I hardly sleep with worry about his breathing so I'm thinking it would be reassuring to know that I'd be alerted if he stopped breathing. I like that the sound transmitter has lots of channels as interference was a problem with my last one (Tomy Walkabout) so had the volume turned down most of the time. Now the volume is stuck on 0 and I can't turn it up! Pigley how is the BT monitor with interference/finding a clear channel?

I had the Merina coil put in today, and I just feel like I'm having my usual period right now, so far so good. I wasn't expecting it to be that uncomfortable to have it put in! The first one my GP was going to put in was faulty so she had to open and prepare a new one and all the while I started feeling more and more sick, but I tried not to panic. She told me it's fairly normal to get that reaction, something to do with the bp dropping due to cervical shock? I thought I might faint but she had me stay laying down for a bit after until I felt better. Luckily it didn't take long! I was suprised I had that reaction, though I used to always feel that way when getting blood drawn, before having babies gave me lots of exposure to needles.

I hope everyone sleeps well tonight!

x-post Millingtonsmummy, hadn't thought of trying to replace the battery, but it might be worth a try! Thanks for the suggestion! DH wants me to wait until next month to buy a new monitor so that could be a handy stop gap if it works.

Morning!
I apologise in advance for gloating but I am so happy this morning - both DDs went down by 8pm last night so DH and I were able to watch a film together and then DD2 slept through until 6.40am which is just stunning. I know it's only one night but to have our evening back and still get a full night's sleep was just lovely. Let's just hope that we have a repeat tonight.

DD2 did then pretty much have a double feed - she normally takes 10-15 mins but this morning was on for nearly 40 (and that was constant sucking) but I think she deserved a big breakfast after that night .

Right, off to get them both dressed...hope everyone has a good day...

hello all! Still here!! Just about!!! busy busy busy!!

dd3 has decided that she hates her pram carrycot and screams every time I put her in it I took the covers off it to wash the other day and put it in pushchair mode and she loved it. Trouble is she sleeps in it at night (which she does fine) so instead of having to keep taking it apart and putting it back together every night, I have just bought a crib. Theres no room in our bedroom for a cot, and I don't want her in with the other girls at the moment, she's too little. Was very unimpressd by the mould growth that had formed on the covers of the pram though on a £500 silver cross.... sigh... My loola I bought for the boot, doesn't FIT in the boot properly (so if anyone want's to buy it I am open to offers!) but I have just ordered the new gorgeous zapp that reclines and faces you as well!! perfect for the boot I hope!! And the bouncy chair has broken too, cue snotty email to fisher price. And I have done all the ligaments in my hand as well which is very painful. So in that respect it's been a bit crap!!

BUT I am loving having the houseful of kids, just a shame the weathers been awful!! Luckily it's only the first week here, so boredom isn't setting in with them yet even on the quiet days! We've been having comeptitions on the wii and reading through a book all together ( i read it out loud to them all!)

DH is off work next week. YAY! Planning some good days out. Be nice as be and DH have done nothing but argue lately. Tried to dtd last night but I was very tense and that was that.

DD has got her 2nd hip scan tomorrow Was supposed to have her injections too but I've put them off a week, didn't think it would be very good for her to have them, then go and have her legs pulled about for a scan

carikube it's nice isn't it?? DD3 tends to have a bottle about 8-9pm then sleep til about 5.

wouldliketoknow I am for you. Why can't people mind their own business!?!

I am mixed feeding now. Feed dd in the night myself, and a few times in the day. She has a bottle first thing in the morning, another one about 2pm and another one before bed.

pigley willow only catnaps some days too, but she is so tired by the evening she is inconsolable!

hbmummy wow well done on the outfit!! I love making things. I started making a patchwork quilt for dd2 but never finished it, so glad I had a girl again so I can finish it for dd3 hopefully!!

sweetkitty our pelvic floors should be shot to pieces really! I am actually pretty impressed that mines holding up ok!

heffa I know what you mean about the ILs. Mine have been bombarding me. Ever weekend they have been over here, insisting on taking the kids out etc. I never seemsed to get any 'fun time' with them since dd3 has been born. I am really upset actually, MIL took the kids out to the school fayre at the secondary school the other weekend and ds1 told me a few days ago that he heard her talking to someone there, she didn't realise ds was stood there, and she was telling this person that she likes taking the kids out as apparently me and DH don't bother FFS... she's the one insisting on taking them out so how can we?!?! So she text this weekend asking about taking the kids out and i text back saying 'no sorry we are busy' They did come over yesterday but I made sure the kids stayed with me. They have gone on holiday today for 10 days now so we will actually have peace!! Don't get me wrong, I know they do a lot for me and I appreciate it, but that comment really upset me. DH is upset too, he wants to know how I haven't shouted at her!!

cupcake dd3 not really bothered about toys as such. She will lay on her mat under her musical gym and will sit fascinated with that. But shes not grabbing anything yet, but then shes only 8 weeks. She is fascinated by the telly though, and sits in her beanbag making noises at it and trying to laugh!

ML SLOW DOWN!!! Or I will tell you off!!!

mooseymoo welcome!!

Right, sorry if I have missed anyone but I need to go do something with the kids before any arguing starts! Miserable day here and waiting in for a parcel but hoping to go for a walk later with them all and the dog if my parcel comes sooner rather than later!! I will try and get back later!!

first said, i am aware that this will not make much sense and it might be paranoia any way.... this morning, i put oscar to the breast, he only stayed there 5 min, and made a big fuzz, so i took him off and gave him a bottle, but he took nearly 2 oz less than normal, you think it took any milk from me? should i let him stay longer, even with the complains?

Hello everyone - I am trying not to feel guilty that I am never here but it's so hard to find the time! And let's face it, as a mum, who needs more guilt???

wouldliketoknow it's hard to say with just one feed - would it be possible for you to wait and see if a pattern emerges?

My news - Matilda is stunning, stunning - had her first weekend away from home and behaved SO well - I was very proud of her.

routines we have settled into something that sort of suits us both - if anyone needs to know more, with our rough timings, please shout.

question what do you all do about bedtime routines? Sounds pathetic but I can;t come up with anything convincing, would love some tips and ideas.

Thanks all and I will try to be here more often!

wouldliketoknow there's a strong possibility that Oscar got some milk from you and I would certainly stick with it - if your breasts can bear it, try offering him breast at as many feeds as you can. Even if he only gets a bit, the stimulation should certainly help your supply.

luckyC our bedtime routine basically follows what we're doing for DD1; we were very bad with her about giving her a bath in the evenings (she hated them until she was about 5 months or so, so we only did them once or twice a week) but would always get her ready for bed together and then give her a bottle before putting her down and putting her mobile on. We still do the same thing now though she has a bath far more often and we've incorporated toothbrushing in as well. We now need to get her off the bottle and on to a cup and should really introduce a bedtime story. But anyway, with DD2 we are tending to dunk her in the bath before DD1 gets in (as she is far more chilled out about them) then one of us gets her ready for bed while the other bathes DD1 and gets her ready, then DH gives DD1 her bottle whilst I feed DD2 and then they both go down. As of next week when they'll both be sharing a room, it will be interesting to see if they then go to sleep or whether they keep each other awake...

thanks, yesterday evening he was in the breast for over half an hour, i think he is latching better, my breast no longer hurt, i am using all my creams,...it does get a bit sore and it bothers a bit after a feed, but no real pain like before, so certainly trying, a little breast milk it's better than none.
bedtime routine, 8.30 massage or bath, feed after, straight to the cot, and cross your fingers, sometimes it works, sometimes needs a tiny feed and huge cuddle...
caricube, good luck next week, hopefully they'll both sleep, otherwise you can try what we do with my nephews, 6 and 3, boys,... who sleep first competition?, as they don't know who felt asleep first, you can give them both a price separately
we got today the first library sticker, and enrolled in the summer holidays book crawl to get a certificate, a space one too.

i know last post was mine, but nobody post in between
i got a question, maybe molly can answer, hv has told me that my milk supply is always going to be low because of the scared tissue due to my cuts in the breast(this particular hv has not seen my breast), sounds like rubbish to me, and the 3 gps i saw never mention that and 2 of them are mums, one has an 11 months old, my usual gp though that a new mum would be more helpful to me than him, but...is that possible?

Wouldliketoknow - I think you're doing fantastically well. Yay for library stickers too! (I'm a librarian )

Millingtonsmummy - I don't get why some people are so obsessed with how others feed their DCs

Rachel - having the coil put in sounds awful, made me wince!

Angel - at your MIL, what a nasty thing to say Mine has always bitched about us to other people (we know because people have told us in the past), I have no idea what she says about me these days but glad I don't know tbh. She's desperate to take DD "off my hands" but doesn't seem to realise that I want to have time with my little girl, not just have her whisked off. Luckily DH is onboard and we've avoided that yet (for various reasons, I wouldn't really trust her looking after the kids on her own either). Argh, I've been feeling really suffocated by it really, it was not a good time for them to move so much closer, it's been a huge adjustment when I've already had another huge adjustment by having DS. Oops, ranting a bit. I'm impressed you haven't shouted at her either!

LuckyC - I start running the bath at about 6.20 or so, then leave Corin naked on a towel for wriggle time while I wrangle get DD in the bath. She has a bit of a play in the bath, we brush her teeth etc, then I put Corin in the bath with her for a bit, let him have a splash. Then get him dry, dressed and into his Grobag and take him off to be fed. Once he's been fed, he likes a bit of a cuddle, then goes in his cot (and often has another feed while I'm lying down - bedside cot) then drifts off. DD gets dressed and has a story, some milk, a cuddle and then goes to bed.

We started storytime at about 6months I think. It all seems to work quite well for us. I used to give her a bit of a massage after bath as well until she got too wriggly. Actually, that reminds me to start massaging Corin a little bit. They both always sleep all evening and I give Corin a dreamfeed when we go to bed.

Hi everyone, I'm still here! Try and check as often as I can, but never seem to be able to post...

LuckyC - We're getting a sort of routine here - but following Darcey's cues mostly. We'll try a 'bed'time at around 3 months I think, which gives us a few weeks. It's hard though, as she falls asleep around 11pm and can be quite grumpy during the evening. Nothing we do will get her off to sleep earlier. I'm sure she'll sort herself out though, and while she's sleeping til 8am I'm not complaining! Heffa, your routine sounds great, I might pinch it...

wouldliketoknow - we've done the competition with our nephews too, it seems to work quite nicely.

Angel - Darcey is like that with her toys too. She'll lie watching the bear on her moses basket for literally hours but no signs of grabbing for stuff yet. Sounds like you're going to a have a fab summer with the house full!

Pigley - love your zoo photos, looked like a really good family day. Glad you all got home in one piece too, what a shock!

DH has a fortnight holiday now. We're at home this week, then a wedding on Saturday and off to France on Sunday for a week. Can't wait for the holiday, but a little apprehensive about the drive. We're driving to the Eurotunnel overnight, so it shouldn't be too bad. Not looking forward to the 6+ hour drive the other side though...

Darcey's been really unsettled this week - not sure if it's her not used to having her Dad here in the day or a delayed reaction to her jabs or something else No temp, normal looking nappies, feeding fine - but sleeping less in the day. Maybe she's getting overtired?

dancing- don't worry, oscar also stop sleeping during the day when he started to sleep at night, also 11 to 7/8, i think it is because he slept that much that he won't sleep until afternoon and then again a bit in the evening, bedtime routine and 11ish, give half an hour earlier or later, he falls off for the night. i told my lady gp pretty much your post word by word, and she looked at me with hatred, she then explain, she has an 11 months old boy who still doesn't make it through the night in one go.