New thread for TTC graduates - PinkB, MrsmcJ, Bodkin, Fettle, Chooster etc!

[KitKat30]

Hello! Thought we should leave those lovely TTCers in peace!!

Yay - so far we have 2 girls and 2 boys! How very balanced of us.

Greedy - I'm with you on the leaving them to cry for a bit. Want them to be independent sleepers as soon as possible! (Remind I said this in Sept when I'm tearing my hair out because I've only had 2 mins sleep...) More tips! More tips! And I know this is really basic ... but ... how often do you have to feed them??? I know nothing!

Chooster - I love the old biblical names for boys... not quite Moses!... but David, Luke, Matthew etc are all so nice. (Needless to say the one we've chosen for our little man isnt in that list! Why are we being so quiet about the names we've chosen???! Havent told anyone in RL either!)

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fisrtstar - depends how hot it is really! you can buy little room thermometers which tell you the temp in the room and how many layers baby should have on! i used them religiously with ds although it was so boiling hot when he was born that he lived in just his nappy most of the time. AAAAAAAhhhhh! i have just remembered how long and scrawny he used to look in just a nappy! BLESS!

re feeding. you are MEANT to feed on demand, but i have to say that i never have really. i have always tried to get at least 3.5 to 4 hours between feeds even when breast feeding. easier said than done sometimes though especially when shoving a boob/bottle in their mouth stops them crying! there are loads of good books kitkat! i would highly recommend the one we aren't allowed to mention on this site!

oh my god!!!! all this baby talk....i am getting SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited and i still have SOOOOOOOOOOOO long to wait!!!

Glad you all approved of my list!

Moses basket- never personally owned one, but i know people who used them for about 1 week only. I put babies in cot straight away and then get used to it quickly- then you dont have to move them into something else and stress them out! Their cot will feel familiar straight away- and therefore a nice place to be.

Changing mat- cold/plastic/pee pools up under baby...i just always used a nice towel and lie them on the floor or bed.

Bouncy chair- good idea greedy
(A nice cheap, simple one- no gadgets!)

Sling- Babybjorn are great! A bit pricey but definitely the best IMO!! I lent mine to lots of friends, but then sold it at a carboot sale when i got rid of loads of baby stuff! Whoops!

Nappies- I did use disposables with my DS and DD- but that was as i didnt appreciate the alternatives. I fully intend to go down the Real nappy route this time around.
Kitkat- you have a nappy liner which holds the poo and this you flush away, so you dont actually wash pooey nappies! Thenappylady is a great online resource on the subject. Some councils also give you money towards them.

Tips for new born babies-

Dont hold them the whole time! they need to get to know themselves and be happy on their own. I had my DD just before Christmas and of course all the relatives just wanted to cuddle her all the time. I kept having to tell them to put her down!

Use cotton wool and cooled boiled water for cleaning bums not babywipes as these are much too chemically for newborn skin.

feeding-
some people like to have routines, other people dont, you just have to find out how you like to do it. I personally fed about every 2-4 hrs. But basically whenever baby started rooting and looking like it wanted some. Cos I LOVE breast feeding (sorry i really feel sorry for babies who arent BF)- it's really not just about food- its about social interaction/ cosiness/ mother-baby bonding/ comfort for baby... And there is nothing as satisfying as seeing your baby grow because of what your body has given it. Ok, lecture over!

I just made an appointment with the midwife for 15th March!

I'm definitely going to get that book! Makes a lot of sense to me. Right! Not saying anymore about that!

God - feeding every 3 or 4 hours... I'm going to be a walking feeding/changing machine!!! Damn men and their lack of boobs!

Good tips honeyapple - thanks. Am definitely going to give BF a go - but I dont know how long I'll be able to keep it up. Especially if it hurts!

i am going to try BF again too. i only manage 3.5 weeks with ds and 48hours with dd. i will try again for ease more than anything, but i WILL NOT get stressed if i cant manage it! the pain doesn't last for long twix, not once your nipples get toughened up!!!

Kitkat- it does hurt to start off with- I think that is why a lot of women stop. I mean imagine a hard pair of gums chomping down on your nips every couple of hours! OUCH! With my DS especially (as he was first) I got very sore nipples- but I gritted my teeth... and it got better... and then it didnt hurt at all. It definitely helps if you have a supportive partner/family/friends who have BF/ a good BF advisor/midwife. My mum was such a strong influence on my decision to BF and to stick with it- she always tells people that she had me because she wanted to BF again!
It is also, once you get the hang of it, so easy. I am quite a lazy person... and the thought of preparing bottles/ washing bottles/ warming bottles etc...V. just wopping your boob out... well no contest for me! And you can do it discreetly anywhere. I have BF on the bus/ walking around Ikea/ in the supermarket... You might get some old fart telling you they dont think that that behaviour is suitable in public- but you can just tell to NOB OFF!! Very satisfying!

Oh I am pleased Greedy! why did you give up Before? but even a few hours gives the baby the really important yellowy stuff- what's it called??? Mind gone blank1

colostrum?

phew - i know one thing at least!

oowwww!

first time i gave up mainly cos it was so unbearably hot (summer 03) that everytime i fed ds we were both dripping in sweat and really uncomfortable, no skin to skin contact for us, there was always a muslin between us to try and make us less sweaty! and i started to really resent feeding him and to dread feed times! i was getting hugley stressed by the whole thing and decided it would be better for me to give up, let dh have a go at feeding and become a more chilled out mum! which is what happened and i think in my case it was much better for ds to have a chilled loving mummy than one who hated feeding hima nd was a big old stresshead!

second time, i was weak! i had gastroenteritis for a few days prior to giving birth and my ds had it before me so i went into labour already having had 3 sleepless nights! when we got dd home and she demanded CONSTANT feeding throughout the night cos my milk hadn't come in yet...........i just screamed at my dh to go and give her a bottle and let me sleep! not a good reason, but at the time i was so tired i couldn't cope with anything!

this time.........i will try and succeed! HOPEFULLY!

I think that's the right attitude Greedy - much better to have a happy mum and be bottle fed, rather than having a stressed tired anxious mum...

well here's hoping we all take to it like ducks to water!

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Man, you are all at it again! I'd just caught up and then go off for a couple of hours... Anyway, am back up to speed now.

Re: names, I like traditional and unusual - MY DS is a Max. I quite like short and snappy first names but having said that I still dont have any ideas! Help!!!

Bokin - Fab news your scan went well even if the baby was being unco-operative to start with... Really pleased for you. I also loved your comment about telling people the names you've chosen and them telling you about all the people that name reminds them of (especially the ones smelling of catfood!). I told my DH my favourite girls name (before we found out we were having a DS) and he said that only ugly girls are called that name . Needless to say it put me off

Firststar - Really pleased about your triple test results - thats great news!! Its so nice when you see a nice mid-wife isn't it - It makes all the difference.

MrsMc - Firstly good luck tomorrow - I really hope you are not too nervous about tomorrow. I'm sure it will be a great experience for you and DH. Please let us know ASAP how you get on.

Re: Breastfeeding - I really struggled the first few days with DS and had to resort to syringing (sp?) expressed milk into him as it just wasn't working. I was getting really stressed by it but then a really tough (but great) mid-wife really helped me out and it was wonderful after that - I did it for 7 months and only gave up because I was going back to work. I'll definately do it again although I do find that for some strange reason my mother and MIL are not massively supportinve of BF. I think its because they both bottle-fed their babies and they seem to think thats the right thing to do. I think its just a generation thing and also they probably can't really relate to breast-feeding. If I was feeling a little cynical I'd suggest its because its one area they can't offer me their wisdom about .

Greedy - My DS was exactly the same as your DS when put in a moses basket. I'd get him off to sleep and then just as I would lower him he'd flex his little body, bash himself on the basket and be awake again! So he was in a cot very early. We'll probably just use a cot from day 1 with this one as well. Also totally agree with your comments on sleep Greedy and I wish I'd read that when my DS was about 3 or 4 months old. I was constantly pandering to him when he cried because I thought that was the right thing to do, but as a result he wasn't a great sleeper. But once I'd had enough and used a bit of tougher love (i.e left him a little longer to cry) he has been fantastic!!! And getting a good night sleep is so much better for him so now I wont think twice about letting this one settle themselves. I dont agree with really rigid routines as decibed by 'she who can't be mentioned' but I understand the principle.

Anyway, I'd better do a little work - Oh, I just can't get the motivation today!!!!

Hi everyone - busy today!

Mrs - Good Luck with your san tomorrow, what time do you have it?

With regards to breat feeding , excatly same as greedy , want to really try and get it right this time but last time with DS i feed him for 4 days ( well i tried) he had trouble latching on and i also struggled, midwifes even tried to help us but to no avail and they suggested in the end to put him on bottles, couldnt even express enough for him! But hopefully get good MW this time and hey - I have you lot!!!!

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My goodness, I've only been away a day and look at the topics you lot have got through!

Glad to hear everyone is having a good day.

Chooster and Bodkin - good to hear your scans went well and Firststar that your midwife appointment was good and your triple is low risk.

Hello NT&B - I have seen you on other threads. Glad to hear you are doing well. You are now first to "pop" on this thread.

Kitkat - glad to hear you are feeling better today! You are sounding very positive and raring to go with all your questions!!!!

On the moses basket/crib debate. I didn't have one with ds1 as we were on a tight budget so he just slept in the carrycot bit of his pram for a few weeks then into cot. Had one for ds2 and quite liked it to be honest. Passed it onto two friends after that so it's done its bit and past it best. As this baby is definitely last one and we are buying from scratch again and on a non-luxurious basis we won't be having one this time and baby will go straight into cot (am buying quite a lovely cot though!) We did consider a crib but decided against it. I would have liked a basket/crib as I think they look so little going into big cot that early but can't really justify the spend and sure it will be fine.

With regards to people putting you off names, ds1 was orginally going to be called Dylan but dh's cousin had a little boy a month before us and called him that so ds1 ended up as Jack (after my grandfather). DS2's chosen names were Louie or Ellie if he had been a girl and some people's response was "oh at school he would get pooey Louie or spewey (sp?) Louie and she would get smelly Ellie. Needless to say we were put off both names and DS2 is called Benjamin!

Can't really think of any off putting comments that could be made about the name we have chosen for this little one but keeping tight lipped just incase. If baby had been a boy we had decided on Fynn Alexander and I loved Isabella Grace for a girl but DH wasn't keen.

On the subject of breastfeeding I am not even attempting it this time. It's just never worked for me and I've always ended up so stressed that it has ruined the first days/weeks with my newborns - I know this one could be different but just not taking the chance on going straight to bottle. Really hope you all have good experiences as I hear it can be fantastic - just not for me!

MrsMcJ - You are quiet today, hope you're ok and not too stressed about scan tomorrow. Sure everything will be fine - we will all be thinking of you and waiting to hear how you get on. xx

Oh sorry Pinkranger - forgot about you.... how could I forget my fellow pinky! Hope you are having a good day!

WOW Babymad ? can?t let DH see that list he?ll be worried about money forever!

Fettle hadn?t thought that the nipper might grow out of the moses basket so
soon! I think one of the reasons that DH and I don?t want to share our name ideas in RL is that people might laugh at them it?s much harder to laugh at a baby with the name rather than just the name! I know what you mean about time dragging, I?ve known about this pregnancy for 4 weeks tomorrow and I?m still waiting for a booking in appointment! Maybe they are waiting to see what happens at my scan tomorrow, please pray for me! I hope the 9 week mark come round very soon for you.

Hello Bodkin ? I love this thread too and the fact that we can share so much with those we?ve already shared so much with already ? can?t wait for a reunion with all our nippers! Glad the scan went well. Bless your DD, how cute is she?!

Firststar ? yes, one more sleep (and a lie in ? yippeeeeee!) but will I sleep? That?s the question. Had some pretty strong MS today, which was great as I was at the dentist first thing, was also doing that extra salivating thing, also lovely for him! Got the check and and clean for free though ? bonus! I have felt how I imagine sea sickness to feel all day too, seeing double of my documents ? not ideal when there were too many to start with! Hope all went well with MW and with triple test.

Thanks Greedy for wishing me luck I?m 33. I?m let you know how it goes ? of course!

Kitkat ? glad to hear you are feeling better today.

Ahhh run out of time to read the rest, will come back later x

Oh and missed my point regarding ds1 orginally to be named Dylan. My mother still tells me to this day how glad she is that we didn't pick that name as she would never have been able to use it without thinking of the druggie rabbit in the Magic Roundabout! Lovely! Thanks mum!

Oh Fettle and HoneyApple - forgot to say hello to you guys too! See, this is why I can't deal with the ante-natal threads, there are just too many people to keep track of and I can't even manage less than 10! I'll just continue to blame my old pal "placenta-brain"!

placenta brain! i LIKE that! my dh calls me porridge brains! i think i prefer your name!

MrsMc - i just wanted to wish you lots of luck for tomorrow and im sure you will see your bouncing beanie baby with a strong fluttery heartbeat! i have been following your story since your bfp but havnt really chatted to you since you graduated!

big hellos to everyone else from the ttc hope you are all well.

sorry for crashing...il sneek off now

Just I quick update i'll catch up later!
Been hospital all day, went doctor this morning then ended up in hospital as doctor thought my waters had broken but after 5 hours of tests and a scan no they have not thank god, and me and babe are fine! GTG, check back in later!