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?!

morning all

just marking my space and skimming throught the post quickly

caricube i gave milk by a cup at the beginning cause really trying to bf exclusively, it's really easy, it has the shape of the bottom lip, (you can get the cup from the hospital, just call the labour ward), just put it to baby's lip, with the milk just reaching up but don't get milk into his mouth, he'll sip it up just like a kitten; oscar is mixed feeding at the moment and he takes a bottle but still lactches properly at the breast, although careful with this, not every child does it, i only started giving bottles because the first few weeks he couldn't latch at all, and he had very bad jaundice and was very dehidrated with a great loss of weight, but i kept trying breast feeding and now he does it, also expressing i couldn't get more than a couple of ounces in a day but persevere, do it for a coupole of days every hour and that will increase your flow, it worked for me i now express like a 6 ounces a day, maybe more.
sorry chaotic thionking today and terrible spelling, but you know what i mean...

Hello all, will read today, just marking my space for later. Had a mild panic as lost the thread

carikube, very sorry about your cousin does put life in to perspective.

Hollyoaks my LO is just over 3 weeks now and can take 4oz of expressed milk in on sitting (he is a little guzzler though!)

On my first attempt at expressing (using Medela swing) I only managed 1oz but now usually express from one side whilst feeding from the other and have managed nearly 5oz in 15 mins!

Hope that helps

good morning ladies, typing on my mobile so sorry about the format and missing some of you out! I'm happy to report that i've managed to pack a small case as well as 2 rucksacks. DH can be reasoned with after all! ML how exciting about the footballer's party, wonder if she was the same Bolton WAG who was on Come Dine With Me!? Heffa glad camping was fun! cari i gave DS1 formula from a cup when he was newborn, but haven't had a problem giving either baby bottles and breast, i find my boys like the MAM teats, they're a bit flat like breast feeding. hollyoaks i recommend soaking in tea tree and lavender oil baths for the piles. Which reminds me, think i forgot to pack the piles cream, but don't think it was doing much TBH! Also have been giving Eric about 4 oz of expressed milk but sometimes he only takes 3 and he's quite big, so 2 could be fine I think. Hope everyone is having a good day.

Hello again, Alex is 6 weeks old today. Getting some lovely smiles and he is generally "good" ie) doesnt cry all day! However we cant really get him beyond 2 hourly feeding, whether its me in the day (manage 3 hours occassionally) or formula at night. He now has 2 bottles of formula, 10pm and 5am ish and still wakes 2 hours after, seeminly hungry. Anyone any experience of hungry baby formula? does it cause wind?

He drinks 150ml, think thats about 5oz?!

He is just over 11lbs and was only 7.7 at birth so is getting huge, HV says that is ok and he must just be a hungry chap Anyway its all do-able but would like some let up soon!

hi all
pamelat- oscar is 7 weeks old and from about 5 weeks he seemed to be constantly hungry, feeding hourly, even, so we tried the hungrier baby formula, and got a happier baby, we didn't noticed any difference with the normal one on wind, or anything, he just can go longer between feeds, but only about 2 hours or 3, apparently is normal for babies to feed more when it's hot, on top of that he has breast milk (sometimes even from the breast), we normally give him 4 oz only, but as he is getting closer to 2 months and 5 kg weight he are thinking we are going to try to get back to the normal formula 6 oz and maybe the hungrier for the night if needed. you just have to experiment, mw and hv totally clueless, gp only says as he is gainning weight by the chart, keep doing what you're doing, but try to get as much breast milk on him as possible, even if you have to express it.

more awake now, i feel better now that all my laundry is tidyly in the drawers and closet.

caricube sorry i think i forgot to say earlier how sorry i feel for you, make sure you talk to someone if you need to, we will lend an understanding ear here...

have a good day everyone, will be back with oscar's permission

Hi everyone.. have been reading posts but find it difficult to find 10 mins where I'm not feeding, changing, washing clothes etc but FINALLY, have time.

Carikube, sorry to hear about your cousin, so sad and such a shock. Had similar thing happen to a friend of mine early in the new year

memory total admiration for you going back to work. I can barely string a sentence together some days and found the dishwashing tablets in the fridge this morning...

twentieth good to hear about your camping trip, we're going to do a couple nights in our bell tent near Worcester next month. Fingers crossed.. most friends tell me this is the best time to do things with babies as they are "so portable"... we'll see.

homebirth at MIL. It's so difficult I find when you have difficult in laws as a smack in the mouth often offends... (sorry, not usually a violent person, it's the lack of sleep)!

angel I'd go insane without a washing machine, no wonder you've been feeling grumpy!

molly hope you're feeling better, sounded grim.

sassles Know what you mean about shutting your ears to all that "helpful advice".. hope you enjoyed your champagne!

LuckyC I laughed at your post. I feel very fortunate that my DP works at home so I can give George to him while I grab a shower or need a break but ARGH! Sometimes, it's really difficult. "helping" me out sometimes means there's more for me to do in the end... HOW HARD IS IT TO FOLD WASHING UP WHEN YOU GET IT OFF THE LINE?! Etc. He's very attentive to George though and I try and get a grip and put it into perspective.. (thinking of Carikube's post) but I empathise!

Anyone heard from/in touch with Forces? Don't think we've heard from her for ages.

All going fairly OK here. Got a call from the local hospital the other day (well, it's an hour away) to say that George's 2nd heel prick test had come back with an abnormal reading for the thyroid test and could I bring him in immediately for a further sample. Am hoping it was due to sleep deprivation (rather than becoming a hysterical mother) that I got so upset about it. Had to drive home, get his red book, pick up DP etc before going to hospital. Having learnt more about it, worse case scenario is that George will be on medicine for ever to artificially give him what he's lacking. They think he's either got a lazy thyroid gland that will kick into action soon or he's got a hormone deficiency. Got to go to hospital every Friday for his blood to be tested. HMPH.

George will be 4 weeks on Thursday and seems to be feeding more in the last week and has put on weight although still seems small to me - 8lbs. I feed him twice in the night but he goes straight back to sleep for stints of 3 hours or so.

On Friday we went to a restaurant with 20 friends for a birthday dinner and it was fine (I spent most of the night feeding him though). He got more attention than the birthday girl.. It was good to go out as I was a bit anxious about it, while we're at home, it's all manageable but out in the real world it's a whole new thing! Am making an effort though and walking 2 miles a day as George falls asleep as soon as he's in his pram. Got a stone to lose!

Have put some pictures on the FB group. It's great to see all our babies on there, they are all gorgeous

Sorry for anyone I've missed, can hear crying.. hope you are all well.

morning all.
just me and virginia this morning, everyone else at school or work, it is lonely,i cant wait until virginia is more 'interactive' but i dont want to lose these newborn days, they are so precious.
on saturday we bought a 'heimess' (i think that is it) pram chain www.hellobabydirect.co.uk/products/10031-heimess-horses-pram-chain-wooden-baby-toy.html with ponies for virginia. hope link works. she spends ages just staring at it. it is a real success, they have 'boy' ones too.
have spent some time looking at nursing bras this morning, its just too confusing! any reccommended brands/styles anyone, i think i am a 36f

holloakes we had that cream to put on Sam's belly button etc for his skin infection. Took wee while to look better, but all cleared up now. Hope Grace's heals soon too.

Any tips with the breast pump. I had a manual one and started good and got 100mls onmy second go, but trailed off. Now got my sis's Avent IQ electric one and tried twice and got only 40mls. Am I expecting too much? I have v large pendulous breasts, so maybe that making it harder? I've tried doing it while feeding on other boob, but too hard. Tried after feed. Tried feeding from one boob during day and expressing only from the other. Nothing seeming to help. Any tips. Worried I can't express enough to give me a bit of freedom.

The expressed bottle went ok. DH tried and Sam creamed the place down. He kept pushing it into's his mouth and got annoyed at me saying to just nudge his lips a bit with it and bring him into it when he opened his mouth. Think it was just too much new stuff with new bottle and DH trying to feed him. I took over and sat back relaxed and let him take it. He didn't love it, but soon scoffed 4 ozs in about 2 mins and that was after a not too distant feed.

Carikube poor DD2 with coughs and sneezes. Hope GP visit goes well and she gets better soon. No experience of cup to give advice i'm afraid.

alle01 just read your post. I think I am expecting too much with the expressing volumes. Just worried as Sam feeds so often. for you on the successful bfeeding despite the difficulties.

rachel Well done on the packing. Impressed you are managing to get it done.

pamelat Sam is 6 weeks on thurs he was 10lbs 11ozs last tues, so prob aroud same weight as alex too. Still feeds loads during day and seems to want more food 2 hrs after last feed regardless of how long he fed for. Nightime he goes about 3-4 hours till 3/4 in the morn and then another 2 or 3 hrs if we are lucky till up for the day. He then has break while I bath and get dressed and by then he wants another long feed. Not trying any formula yet though. Think we have hungry babies!

racquel Planned champagne turned out to be corked Smelled and tasted awful. We had another bottle, so had 2 glasses of itthe next night and it was delicious!! Poor George with all the heel pricking. I hope that his thyroid is just needing a wee kick start. Very impressed with the 2 miles walking a day!

homebirth Have a look at the website www.nursingbra.co.uk I am a G cup and got a fantastic underwired one. Think brand is Anita. V comfy and loads of support.

DH and I had first fight last night/this morning. Hate when fights don't get resolved at night and carry on. It's over his Mum and Dad. They liveabout 2 hours away, so visiting is not as easy for them. They are lovely, but hard work to talk too as they don't have a lot of chat. They also announce that they are coming to visit and even if it is totally impractical and not a good time for us, DH will not say no to them. It's not even saying no, it's rearranging for a better time. It drives me mad. He says that I am just being a total bitch (not in those words, but implied) as I don't ever want to see them and always come up with some excuse why I don;t want them to come. Last time i was out on the Fri night, nephew's bday party for 5 hours round trip onthe Saturday and antenatal class on the Sunday. We had no plans the following weekend, yet DH said they could come. What's the point. This time they are wanting to come on Wed night for 5 or 6 days . To be fair they are wanting to come and also do work in the garden for us, which is really nice. It is the first week that I will be able to drive and leave the village in 6 weeks and Sam also has no routine yet to speak of and I still have some truly awful weepy days where he feeds constantly. I was also meant to go to my friend's bday dinner on the wed night. First time away from Sam and I have free tickets for the Scottish Golf Open on Sun that i wanted to go to. DH says I can still go, but I think it looks to the in laws like I always plan things for me to do while they are here. He always gets his way and they always come. I wouldn't resent them coming so much if DH would organise a good time for them to visit and save us arguing every time.

Sorry for the major rant. I'm I totally losing perspective on this?

sassles, you are not losing perspective, i think we would all feel the same way you do. i am sorry that i have no advice to offer (particularly after my weekends disastrous mil visit) but i would hope that you continue with your own plans. is your dh going to be there all the time that your in laws will be in order to take the pressure off? i know there is nothing worse than feeling both weepy and self conscious. best wishes.
oh, and as for the bras, i have always worn underwired, didnt think you could get nursing ones so i am glad to hear it, will have a look.

Hi ladies.
All those with los feeding so much- I feel your pain!! Jude has fed constantly all weekend I think it's his 3 week growth spurt combined with the heat making him thirsty poor mite.

Carikube we've used a feeding cup for J too. When I first started expessing cos of sore nipples I was using the medela bottle but after a few feeds he started refusing to take it and just crying. We used the cup then which he took well and now using a TommeeTippee bottle which he doesn't fuss with at all as it's more breast shaped. Hope you have some success! I'm hoping to have J back on both boobs by this weekend as we're away at a wedding!

angel sorry to hear about your troubles! Don't give up the feeding just yet she may just be having a funny few days (or weeks?)

hollyoaks I sympathise with the piles!! ouch indeed. I actually resorted to using some sudocrem the other day. Another good tip is to use wet wipes to wipe rather than toilet paper... a lot kinder to the sensitive rear!!

mogg Jude takes 4, sometimes 5oz of expressed milk in one go too! Such a greedy boy. In fact he's crying for food now so I'd better go!!

Sassles I've used both electric and manual breast pumps and find I get the most milk out with the Avent manual pump without the comfort pad insert. It's also so important to relax. This sounds graphic, but with an electric i found i couldn't always trigger my let down, with the manual i can do it as gentle or hard, fast or slow as i need and can vary it - i can only equate it to masturbating, sorry TMI! After some practice i got the feel of what was the right pace for me, now i can pump 8 oz in one go, but usually just do 4 to save the rest for eric as he prefers it straight from the source! HBmummy I have an Elle Macpherson Intimates nursing bra that is lovely and super comfortable gorgeous fabric, it's white with pink stripes and lace detail at the top. I got it at John Lewis and cost 34 quid but is well worth it!

also forgot to say Sassles I don't think you're losing perspective, i would find that maddening, too! (I say as i'm sat on a train about to spend 3 days with people i find completely awkward and couldn't get out of cos I'd be a total bitch!) The phrase "I'm not saying never, now is just too soon!" is lost on some people!

Moggmum/Rachel/Pamelat/cupcake - thanks for the advice about how many oz's she might take. Sounds like I need to express a little more and see how she goes, I'll try to get to 4oz by bedtime. She's only little though, 7lb 7oz at last weeks weigh in though she may be nearer the 8lb mark by now. I guess it's trial and error.

Rachel - I'm using the Avent manual pump to and wasn't overly impressed at first but I think it was because I was at home and Grace was in hospital. Seemed to work better this morning when she was with me.

Raquel - of course you were upset with George's heel prick result, I can't imagine many mothers being calm when you get a worrying phone call like that. Hope he's all right and that he won't need medication.

Sassles - thanks for the reassurance re the antibiotic cream and I also think yanbu about you pils coming at a different time.

Cupcake/Rachel - thanks for the advice about the piles, they hurt more than childbirth and the cream doesn't do anything to relieve them. Hope I get time for a soak in the bath with lavender and tea tree oil.

God, sorry all, started this post and reading all of yours and am still a page behind.

Carikube - so sorry to hear about your cousin. Dreadful for the family, so quick, no real time to say goodbye. Hope you OK. Cuddle your lot for me.

Katey - cool, will wait in line for Medela!

rachel I still ahve not said anything to DH. Am biding time and trying to simmer down. God, don;t envy you packing for the family in a handful of rucksacks - I pack more in Matilda's change bag than I did in my rucksack when I went travelling for a year!

Homebirth she sounds like a cow, tbh.

First day of DD2 in reusables and we have had massive poo explosion. katey (or anyone else using reusables) what do you use as liners? I'm trying to work out whether I should wait until DD2 fills out a bit more before really going for it or whether this one would have got out regardless of what type of nappy we used. I'm also trying to work out whether I'm completely barking mad having 2 of them in reusables (and whether the washing machine will survive )

Also please you experts - two questions!

1. Anyone tried cranial osteopathy? What were the results? I would like Matilda to be able to poo more easily (nothing since LAST TUESDAY! and terribly smelly farts, and she clearly is trying - poor little duck, we are off to docs today.) Would also like her to be calmer and more contented.

1. Grizzliness - what's 'normal'? Silly question I guess as all babies different, but our angel is tearful and grizzly most of her waking day at the mo. Obviously I would also be grumpy if I had not done a poo since last Tuesday but even when she's regular she is quite niggly and grizzles most of the time she is awake.

Thanks so much.

Rachel really, honestly, 'Is there a muslin?' - 'I don't know' - ARGGH! SO ANNOYING and same for me here.

sassless, at your dh, i can understand your in laws trying to organisse your life, even if it is with good intentions, but your dh should be more considerate, especially after telling him how you feel. i also argue with mine, but we both know it is because we are sleep depravation, and nobody means it, also difficult to put yourself on each others place...
katey, hope to have an answer for you tonight.

carikube, i am currently using muslin squares as nappies, with nappy nippers which are great and these absolutely amazing washable fleece nappy liners, i got mine from www.thenappylady.co.uk/public/productdetails.aspx?id=3&cat=4 they are £12.50 for 20 but will last forever, are dry as soon as they come out of machine and i can honestly say that poo stays in and wee goes through. virginia never has wetness next to her tiny little bum. we seem to go through about 8 or 9 in 24 hours which neonatal nurse says is average for her age so 20 would be good if you washed every other day even. i even bought washable wipes from her which i thought sounded gross, but tbh i use at most 2 wipes per explosive poo (have usually used liner and/or muslin for a quick wipe first). they wash very well and i even use them to wash her face. these also wash well and best of all you dont need to dry them as they came out of machine ready to use. darn, i sound like a flipping advert! sorry, i just love my nappies

Raquel..Forces is updating her FB..I think shes just too busy for MN at the mo

Sassles..yanbu..your DH should be a little more understanding

quick post as Livvy is hating the heat and feeding all day..Im worn out with everything else I have to do...working tomorrow so Livvy is going to my mums.after a long phone conversation in which a few home truths were bandied in her direction.should be interesting!

Hello Ladies!

No time for a proper post I'm afraid, just wanted to catch up on all the news and mark my place!

Carikube - sorry about your cousin.

Alle - sounds like you're getting on brilliantly with the feeding now, I'm glad it's working out for you!

My sympathies to everyone whose DH's are being less than helpful at the moment.

Rachel - I hope the trip to your FIL's isn't as bad as you fear. Good work on the packing!

20th - am full of admiration for your camping trip, sounds fantastic.

Felix has been feeding constantly for the last couple of days. I'm sure it's the heat making him thirsty. It does mean that I can't get much done though, as I'm constantly tied to the sofa! The little monster munch is waking up again now, so had better go and see to him!

Does sound like the heat is sending all our los crazy with the feeding! Poor souls. MDM I read while feeding Jude which is brilliant as I love reading so means I look forward to the feeds too

hollyoaks your piles pain is worse than childbirth?? Gosh then you really are in pain- mine pales in comparison to that back-to-back labour!
I should think Grace will take less than 4oz at one go. Jude is nearly 9lbs now and a very hungry boy so not surprising he guzzles so much. But see how she gets on.

Well, we're filling the thread quicker now so we're obviously getting more used to our babies. I'm feeling a lot better but still very tired - though that might just be the two hourly feeds and the fact that Molly wants to be held by Mummy all the time.

hollyoaks if you're still concerned about the wound then see your GP again - maybe antibiotic liquid or can you see the surgical team again for an opinion on the stitch. Afraid I have no suggestions re piles. Prescribed stuff like xyloproct or scheriproct is better than anything over the counter like anusol but if anyone discovers anything else I'd love to hear too!

So sorry to hear about your cousin carikube and your friend sk Life is hard

Re breast pumps - I haven't started trying yet - I'm planning to do so when I reach 6 weeks (next Monday) When dd1 I found I got a more natural let down with the avent manual pump as opposed to electric pumps. I have all the kit ready and waiting for next week. But Molly will have to let me set her down though or I can't see it working. With dd1 I worked up to about 6-7oz a day after a few weeks of regular pumping.

sassles sorry about DH and ILs - I have little contact with the ILs, thankfully. Try to not get too stressed and if they're coming when you have other plans then so be it.

My DH is driving me mad intermittently too. But he mostly behaves himself. He has always done things differently to me but we have managed to find a compromise and we don't fight much any more.

heffa - I'm impressed with the camping. I'm hoping to go on a camping/caravanning holiday over the summer but not sure as yet.

angel - even the thought of life without a washing machine traumatises me

ML - football/WAG party sounds amazing. I love football but am luckily not an England supporter. I'm not anti-English like some Irish/Scottish/Welsh but England were dreadful.

I'm not bothering with reusables as caused major problems with dd1's skin and Molly has the same v dry skin/eczema. Probably extremely bad of me.

I'm going online now to surf for a new nursing bra or two!

LuckyC we did cranial osteopathy with DD1 - my MW recommended it as she said it was often helpful after a traumatic birth (she was forceps). We went to the guy that she recommended (she had taken her own daughter there) and thought he was great. He was very clear about what it could achieve, how it worked etc adn also didn't try and 'sell' us too many sessions. DD1 hated the first session and pooed everywhere in disgust and then was completely chilled during the second. She slept pretty well from early on and I don't know how much was related to us having taken her to this guy (she went when she was 2-3 weeks old) but we have recommended him to others. I tried to take DD2 to him as well but after talking to me on the phone he said that it sounded like she was doing well enough without his help and that I should only go to him at a later stage if I thought there was a problem - advice like that always makes you trust them more as he obviously isn't out for the money!

So,yes, I would recommend trying one, but more than anything I would say only go to someone that you have heard good things about or you know someone who has used them. Friends have tried other ones in our area and have come away completely disillusioned and feeling ripped off so there are some charlatans out there....

Also, long story but following the death of my cousin I have his 10 year old nephew coming to stay for a few days later this week. Any ideas of things to keep him entertained? He's said he's happy playing with the girls etc but as he has been at my cousin's house for the past couple of weeks, I think he could probably do with a bit of a treat to make a change from being in a depressing atmosphere...