Babies born December 1st-15th 2010 #1

[purplepixie1978]

Hello all, sorry I have been incommunicado for the past... I don't know how long? I hope all in QLD are safe, I was in tears watching the footage this morning. What a nightmare. Has anyone heard yet how we can get clothing/blanket/towel donations up there? We can't help out with cash at the moment but we need to clean out wardrobes and linen cupboard - was going to donate to Vinnies but think this is more urgent.

We're travelling okay at the moment. In spite of all my efforts (fenugreek, cookies, expressing like a mad cow) my milk supply has just about given up the ghost. It's bizarre because Millie's attachment is heaps better now and the pain in my left nipple has really settled down. She is still getting a little breast milk, but she is taking so much "top up" now that it can't really be called comp feeding. She is a much happier little girl with a full tummy and is sleeping really well too. It's a bit of a spin out to suddenly have multiple wee-soaked nappies (I hear you on the leakage... my goodness!) and so little poo! I take it from the chatter above that this is normal for formula babies? I also need to look at the teats so thanks for the advice above. I'm at peace with it - I was a bit disappointed at first as it was great to go from comp feeding to exclusive breast feeding, and to have it drop off was upsetting. As my Mum pointed out though, Millie has had 7 weeks more breast milk than I ever got. I always said I'd give it a red hot go, and I have. I have a lot of knowledge for next time around too

(just watching Glee - Quinn is giving birth. Tuck your chin in, girl!)

Millie had her follow-up paed consultation yesterday. She's up to 4.23kg and 55cm! She's doing well, but has been referred to a paedeatric cardiologist for a heart murmur. It's not too sinister but the paed wants an ECG to make sure. He told me what to look out for in terms of symptoms of it worsening - turning blue, sweatiness, listlessness, refusal to feed etc. For now though, she's doing so well - sleeping longer at night (after fighting sleep soooo hard for a while, I think just to make a point ), smiling at us and starting to coo, grasp at things etc... It's another reason I'm at peace with her feeding - with the long bfs, followed by bottle, followed by expressing, sterilising everything and preparing feeds, we were both exhausted after feeds and she was off to sleep before I could read to her, sing to her or play with her, which I really want to do. I applaud Kaz for persisting - it is an exhausting regime and I just couldn't continue.

...just heard from the church, Millie's Baptism is on for the 6th March

Sorry, this has been all about us! Will post again soon - Millie is awake and sooking!

[cathie5]

PP - Jack had a heart Murnur when he was little, he was referred to a Cardio Dr and all was fine. Amelia will be fine.
Myboys - just keep doing what you are doing, some days it's going to work and other days it won't that is the joys of having children. Big hugs from me as i'm thinking of you.
MadB - How did the scan go?

AFM - Well Charlie gets his hearing checked on the 3rd of Feb so we will see what happens. Charlie is laying in his cot at the moment looking at himself in a mirror and listening to Bach. Well I hope he can hear it, I was saying to my hubby last night that might be why his such a good bub he can't hear the screaming children. ha ha ha. I'm feeling better still get a few pains every now and then.
Took the kids to the movies this morning to see Tangled, it was really good. Better go Charlie is starting to sqawk.

Cathie

[onthefly]

pixie, I'm glad you're feeling good about it. It must be very hard doing all three jobs, so I can completely understand not wanting to continue that way. Sounds like Millie is doing fantastically - hope all turns out ok about the murmur.
Ther'es a little note on DD's discharge thingy that mentions a murmur - but noone said anything to me about it so I'm just assuming it's ok...

Does he enjoy the BAch Cathie? DD loves lights and mirrors too

Jules I can delete it for you. Sounds like JAcob is starting to settle better for you - that's really great to hear. Lol at the computer shushing - what a great idea! IT really is amazing what 3 hours of sleep can do for you when you've got a newborn, isn't it?

Myboys - what your nurse said sounds right. This will pass with a bit more time. Hang in there, I'm sure you're doing well by her.

How'd the rest of the day go Audax? Are you still on poo alert?

How's pip behaving for you now Kaz? DS just wants me to "put she down" all the time. He even dragged the bouncer out to the front room yesterday so I could put her down to play with him. I did get a chance to play golf with him yesterday - it involves a golf ball and a fly swat, only I had to use a plastic hammer... you can imagine.

Saw our midwife today - next week is her last visit DD is 4.5kg now, dunno how long. She spent 2 hours last night grunting trying to get her arms out of the wrap... only she won't sleep well with her arms out.

ETA - oh, I was going to say re daddies doing things differently - I know how hard it is, but sometimes I think it's really best to step back and just leave them to it. They figure out their own way of doing things and can only do that if you give them the space to try and fail a bit first. DH got soooo ****ty with me with DS was little as I kept trying to direct him and tell him what to do. He did things differently, but that worked for him. In fact, he's always been better at settling them when they're really distraut. Anyway, that's what worked for us.

[purplepixie1978]

I'm back for personals!

Myboys, LOL at Charlie eating playdoh – was at a friend’s place on Sunday and her DD2 came out with an icecream for us she had made out of playdoh… Lex took it and said, “This is soggy… Abby have you been eating this?” “No!” she says, out of her blue mouth… Millie still does the inconsolable screams sometimes as well – it is so heart breaking isn’t it? I’ve discovered she gets very stressed when she has a blocked nose – even just one nostril partially blocked makes her very upset. Fess Little Noses is our new best friend. Not that she particularly likes having saline dripped up her schnozz… but once she gets it cleared she’s a much happier little girl. The screaming fits are becoming less frequent though – I think perhaps girls are more prone to this than boys? My sister said that and I’m pretty sure Cathie has mentioned this too…

Crumpet, my DH is addicted to Amelia’s smile as well – this is another good thing about her bottle feeding now as she is at her smiliest with a full tum and he can feed her and get lots of smiles. He hates it when he comes home and she’s asleep, I can tell he’s just itching to poke her so she’ll wake up and he’ll have an excuse for cuddles.

Jules how’s the oral thrush going? *hugs* about the issues with DH, it truly is a weird adjustment for guys to make. DH and I (who are usually the most sickeningly loved-up couple you ever laid eyes on) had a few issues early on as well – sounds like you have been really proactive in contacting a counselor.

Kaz, so glad you got the pump and that all your hard work is paying off!

MadB, the same thing happened with Millie’s discharge sheet and no one said anything. The Paed said that he noted it so he’d remember to check it – apparently most just settle down in the weeks after birth. He was reassuring and DH and I are taking it in stride. If there’s an issue we’ll deal with it then, no point worrying unless something comes of it! “Put she down…” I love it (as a linguist – as a Mum I can see how hard that must be!) I hope DS adjusts okay.

I have to step back from DH as well, he gets frustrated very quickly when trying to settle Millie – he spends ages up there but doesn’t stick with one strategy for long enough so Millie gets confused. He’s also a bit shy about singing to her so he hasn’t yet unlocked the power of Cat Stevens…

Georgi I hope all is well after the mastitis. I hope you’re safe from the floods?

Audax, LOL at the protective armour! It’ll be a good ‘un when it comes, that’s for sure! Hot tea? What’s that? I ended up buying a mug with a silicone lid, kinda like a takeaway coffee lid… still end up leaving it til it’s cold! Green tea though so it still tastes good.

Cathie Charlie sleeps so well! And he drinks a lot – Millie is almost 8 weeks and takes 140 – 150 per feed when she has nothing from me. Which formula do you use? I stuck with Nan HA as that’s what the hospital sent us home with, but my sister used S26 Gold. Glad Tangled was good, it looks like a good film. STILL have to see Harry Potter – it came out the day Millie was born and I’m determined to see it at the cinema!!! Mums and Bubs sessions are off during the school holidays though so stuff it, I think I’ll just take her into a day session. I saw the last few HP movies surrounded by feral teenagers so they can live with it if Millie decides to yell Oh and Bach? My favourite. My iPod is in Millie’s room and she gets Bach when she can’t settle. Funny – I labored to Bach

I’m off to Zumba tonight! First proper exercise in ages. Can’t wait! Just hope I can still lift Millie tomorrow…

Take care all.
xox

[Georgi]

Hi all. I haven't been on since my last post cause Mastitis hit me again! In the other breast. Oh lord.... It's been horrific. High fever, pain etc etc etc. Just think of the worst mastitis you can get and I've got it. I'm losing all my milk and the pain of feeding is the pits. I'm hoping i'll be on the road to recovery soon. I'll get back on once i'm better to catch up.

[onthefly]

bloody hell georgi!

In my experience pixie, boys do a whole lot more screaming than girls

[Kazbah]

ohno georgi

I'm terrified of mastisis - with my surgery, who knows what shape my ducts are in :shrug:

Us - Left DH with Will & Pip for about 3.5 hours today, apparently Will screamed for all bar 5 mins, when Pip shoved a dummy into his mouth and woke him up to start screaming again ... Just drinking my prescription beer here ...

So ladies, have you personally found anything that increases your supply? Friend of mine was saying that peanuts boosted hers!!!

[purplepixie1978]

...had to drop back in because I'm about to burst trying to keep from laughing. Went off to Zumba tonight, having left DH with a warmed bottle and a hungry baby. Came home after an exhausting but fun hour of booty shakin' (must get a better bra in my new size...) to a very frazzled husband - he opened the front door as I came in, holding two very full nappy sacks and a poo covered romper and wrap, as well as a rather manky spew cloth. He said, "it has been an eventful hour." I had to try soooooo hard to make appropriate soothing noises, but given that I have dealt with the vast majority of her explosions so far it was hard to be sympathetic! She hadn't pooped all day, so this was obviously The One... She was lying calmly in her cot, awake but settled - completely unconcerned by the events of the evening... poor DH. I think he was starting to think I had it easy on my own with her during the day... I'm actually kinda glad he got to experience that.

Kaz, how's that beer going down? Sorry, no wisdom here on lactation boosters!

Georgi... that truly sucks. I hope so much the pain eases for you soon.

Take care all.
xox

[*EJ*]

Hi ladies, still no personals from me i'm sorry i really want to get there some time soon. I'm not winning at all today, i feel like i'm going around in circles and i probably don't really have time to be sitting here.

I do read all your posts though i just don't always get a chance to reply to them.

But quickly, big hugs Georgi and lets hope that mastitis is gone soon and gone for GOOD.

Jules the link didn't work but i'm not sure that you're allowed to post them, can you PM it to me please? I'm trying to remember some of the things i used from the boys but i'd love to have a look at the site you found.

Had a couple of pooexploisions here also, nothing major but it was funny reading your stories as i was thinking to myself we haven't had anything to compare to those yet... then a couple happned. Always the way

Keep well girls xo

[Jules84]

PP - You've done such a great job to stick with bf'ing for 7 weeks with all the hurdles, I admire your determination. Most people give up within a few days even when they have milk!! so to have gone what you went through and still continue for as long as you have then you should be so proud. There is nothing wrong with bottle feeding, hey, who can complain about less poopy nappies?? I have about 10-15 a day here and it makes me want to cry sometimes, I'm so exhausted at night I'll walk out of his room from changing him and he'll pass a big heap of wind and fill his nappy AGAIN!! if it's not the nappy then it's the damn hiccups grrr. Oral thrush is still hanging around unfortunately but I have a feeling we are getting on top of it, he's not making so many noises, his bum is basically clear - (he only ever had slight redness, nothing too serious) and my nipples aren't as painful when I feed (thankfully!) We have another appointment with the health nurse tomorrow so I'm looking forward to her checking him out and hopefully saying we're on the mend!! I'm sure Millie will be fine with her heart murmur, they are generally just a precaution. Good luck.

Georgi - You poor thing!!! I had it once and that was MORE than enough!!! I hope you have a speedy recovery and don't end up having to deal with anything else!

MadB - Jacob loves lights too, he cranes his neck to try and stare at any light that we walk past when in the house I know what you mean by leaving DH to do things his way and not tell them what to do, I've tried that SO many times, last night once again in fact...I left him with a calm baby to rock to sleep and went for a shower...came out to a SCREAMING child and DH saying "here, you can take him, I don't know what he wants, I'm not doing a good job" I told him "you're doing a great job, it always takes time to settle him, you just have to stay calm and persevere..." but anyways, we'll keep trying at it I guess!! Oh and you are officially my lifesaver!! I have been having a REAL bad day here, haven't been able to get Jacob to sleep most of the day, a few five min naps here and there and crying and unsettled the rest... I was so exhausted and had enough so I picked up the carrier and popped him in, walked out to check the mail and by the time I came up the stairs he was fast asleep - still is!! thank you thank you thank you!!

Kaz - not sure about things to increase the supply but your friend may be on to something...I seem to have bulk milk happening and I have been eating peanut butter on toast most mornings? Does that count? no idea... I don't normally enjoy it but I can't eat vegemite or anything with much sugar so nurse recommended peanut butter toast (how thrilling)

Kaz and Pixie - How funny on the stories of your DH's left alone with bubs....gives them an appreciation of what you deal with on a day to day basis!!

Myboys - whoops!! I obviously don't know much about the site, luckily it didn't work! I will send it through to you after I'm done here. Hopefully you find it useful in some way. about the poo stories - you wouldn't believe it!! I was reading everyone elses and thinking 'oh gosh, thank god that's not me!!'.....that was until YESTERDAY when my little treasure was having nappy change 1000 for the day and I was popping cream on his butt (for the thrush) and he passed wind and shot a splash of poop onto me!!! ewwww, thanks baby boy!! Hope you have some time to yourself soon, you poor thing.

Oh, gotta go, hungry boy here!!!

[onthefly]

Myboys. Sorry things are so hard for you right now. You're just coming up to the worst time - 6 weeks. It will pass

Kaz - feeding lots On beer, I've read that it actually doesn't increase your supply. what happens is it reduces teh flow, so you get less milk out leaving your breasts feeling fuller, so it seems like you've had an increase. I certainly hope masititis gives you a miss! You've already got enough on your plate.

Jules, with all that feeding it's no wonder you have heaps of milk. DS was the same with all that poo - my goodness it's nice to only have 1 or 2 a day (though now of course I worry slightly that it's not enough... no pleasing some people, hey?)
Adn don't thank me, thank whoever invented those things. DH was telling me about something really interesting a while back that he heard on Radio National. There was a guy talking who'd written a book about the interplay of technology and evolution (can't remember the name of it) and he basically said that slings made us smart. In order to stand up, we had to decrease pelvis size, so couldn't birth babies with fully formed, smart brains. So we needed ways to parent completely helpless babies - enter the sling, which allowed us to get smarter, but with much of the brain development ocurring after birth.

DH has a pretty good appreciation for the hard work involved as he was a SAHD for 5 months after I returned to work last time.

[*EJ*]

MadB that's what i keep thinking to myself... Just go with it, i think it's one of 'those' times and it'll pass. Yesterday she was calm as calm just slept and fed and had only a littlish tantrum to get to sleep. Today is the opposite, she's barely been in bed for 30 min at a time and seems to want to feed every hour or so. Just go with it..... (talking to myself... )

[cathie5]

Myboys just keep going with the flow like MadB said and I said a few weeks ago the first 6 weeks are the worst. big from ME!!!!.

[Jules84]

Myboys - shocking day here, will send u info tomorrow morning I promise!! Sorry! don't worry, I'm having trouble here too. Jacob has changed once again and doesn't like what we started. *sigh*

[Kazbah]

MadB that's what i keep thinking to myself... Just go with it, i think it's one of 'those' times and it'll pass. Yesterday she was calm as calm just slept and fed and had only a littlish tantrum to get to sleep. Today is the opposite, she's barely been in bed for 30 min at a time and seems to want to feed every hour or so. Just go with it..... (talking to myself... )

we've been the same today - Will's very sticky and sweaty and hot, suspect that's got something to do with it.

[Picketty]

Audax - our little man hadn't done a poo for over a week either and the paediatrician suggested using a glycerine suppository (can get them from the chemist) to aid the pooplosion. He had been getting very fidgety for a few days so I thought it might be affecting him. After much effort to get it in, the next day he did a massive poo and has been like a different baby since, much happier, and he even did a poo of his own accord this morning.

I have so much reading to catch up on, I don't know how you ladies find the time to post on here. I still seem to spend all my time feeding, playing, or catching up on sleep. Despite my earlier doubts about my parents, my mum has been a godsend and I haven't had to lift a finger since he was born. I know I will really miss her when she goes back to the UK in 2 weeks and I have to do everything myself.

Jules and Myboys - I hope you have better days tomorrow. We had a bad day here too with him not sleeping properly in the morning and me in tears by 11am.

This probably sounds like a really dumb question, but what do you ladies do to entertain your little bubs in their awake time? I find myself getting a bit bored with waving toys in front of his face, and I'm sure he does too. I need to learn the words to more nursery rhymes, my repertoire is rather limited.

Our little Connor is still quite a good sleeper at night - usually wakes inbetween 2-3am and then again about 5ish, and goes straight back to sleep after feeding. I would like him to drop the 5am feed, but maybe it's still a bit too early for that. He generally only takes one boob at each night feed though before falling asleep, which is frustrating because if he took more he would sleep longer, if that makes sense. But the daytimes are a different matter and he won't sleep longer than 30-35mins in his cot. Yesterday someone suggested that if he won't sleep for long and normally likes lying on his front, to try putting him on his front to sleep, so I did that for his afternoon nap today and he slept for an hour, which is unheard of. I had to keep popping in and checking on him though so it wasn't a relaxing time for me.

I will try to get on here again in the next few days, but it's time to express now so DH can give him a feed a bit later. Take care ladies x

[*EJ*]

Whenever you get a chance Jules

Ok so sounds like none of our little ones liked the 12th. What a day!!??

Horrible evening had here last night, when she finally settled in my bed after so much screaming she slept until 4am (last fed about 8:30ish)!!!! I had the largest chunck of sleep i'd had since she's been home.

I wonder what today will bring??

Lets hope it's better than yesterday ladies

[onthefly]

Hope you guys have a better day today. DD is fine during the day generally.

Picketty, that's a great night sleep you're getting there! Sometimes I get one 3-hour stretch. Mind you, DD is a whole month younger than your boy.

I don't think they really need entertainment as such at this age, just looking them in the eyes and talking to them (or singing if you feel like it) is enough. (and cuddles of course) They love looking at lights and mirrors too - the dappled light through leaves, especially if there's a bit of breeze, is often a baby favourite. They're all different of course, but I know with my DS we had to avoid too much sensory input in the first few months or he'd very easily get overstimulated and then spend (several extra) hours screaming at the end of the day.

Myboys - glad you caught a break overnight.

Heard from my sister this morning and she is no longer flooded in. Hope you are all staying safe and well (if not particularly rested).