Babies born February 16th-28th 2009 #2

Meg - love the sound of the beachhouse.

OP - can you promise DH a pretty darn good time if he waits?

Kaz - Alex gets fussy when he's been on the boob for awhile and he's overtired, but he's never cried while on the boob - its the only thing that shuts him up.

AFM - Alex slept for 3hrs yesterday afternoon, then kept me up most of the night! Two hours was the max sleep - loads of one hour sleeps. Had to go to the hospital for DH's checkup for the stint he did in hospital early feb and waited three hours to be told nothing to worry about. Alex was a good bubs and was cooed over at the hospital. Came home with one side really hard, and expressed 120ml without any problems, so DH is on one feed duty tonight!

Take care girls!

Kaz - that can be caused by reflux. I will come back later and quote from a book *wanders off to get book* Ok - It says that there can be breast refusal because of starting the minipill. There can also be refusal because of reflux. it says if they refuse feeds for more than 12 hours, you should seek medical advice. Hope that helps

Shell - UI will be interested to see if she sleeps longer on formula. I may give it a go too.

tarkine - hoping you get a better night tonight.

DH is on annual leave for a month at the end of next week. Might head up to the other holiday house in Bright. (one house is owned by my parents, the other is owned by my grandparents.) J just has such a good time at the houses. It is also a great stress release.

Sleepy vibes for all.

ETA - Miss E has a terrible cold. Thanks to her big brother.

After my awful day/night yesterday I tried really hard to make today successful.

You see I think my problem has been that I over feed DD as it is the best way to settle her. But its a catch 22 because then by overfeeding she gets so much wind and that stops her from sleeping.

After not being able to get her to sleep yesterday for more than 10min at a time up until 11:45 at night I finally got her to sleep.

We co-slept last night as I was so exhausted!! Both had eyes shut by midnight. Well I woke up to DD's whingin for a feed and to my shock it was 6am!! :hooray: SHE SLEPT 6 HOURS!!!! :hooray: I then fed her and she went back to sleep until 9am ANOTHER 3 HOURS!!!! :hooray: I fed her and then she went back to a light sleep and I fed her at 11:30am. My sister then came over and DD was crying. I was so tempted to feed her to settle her but my sis said it was okay and that she was happy to try and settle her for me (Oh I was so relieved to hear this)! Well it worked even after all that screaming she settled her and got lots of wind out of her and then she left and DD then slept until 2:30pm ANOTHER 2.5 HOURS!! :hooray: I then fed her and then SIL came over and settled her for me. She slept from 3:30pm- 5:30pm! ANOTHER 2 HOURS!!! :hooray:

I then fed her and had a bit of trouble with her waking up as soon as I put her down but managed to restrain myself from putting her on the boob as I knew that my sis and SIL could both settle her without resorting to that so I knew I just needed to perservere.

It was hard work and have had lots of almost asleep and then eyes wide open but I finaly put her down 15minutes and she has stayed down!!! (Touch Wood)!!

I feel really proud of myself today and need to give myslef a :clap: but also couldnt have done it without my sis and SIL being here to help and show me that it can be done.

Anyway I am so sorry that that was long and "all about me" but I really had to share with someone as I feel it was a big accomplishment for me :redface:

Heaven- Bouncing on the fitball really helped me to settle DD.

Oh and I know this is late in the day but........

:happybirthday::happybirthday::happybirthday: HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY LAURA!!!
:happybirthday::happybirthday::happybirthday:

Hope your day was a great one!!

Happy Birthday Laura!! Hope you had a ball at your party!

Ali - That is awesome about the feeding and sleeping with Ashlyn. So glad you got a bit of support today too (not saying your DP isn't supportive, just that he is away at work so much). I think you're amazing to be doing this most days and many evenings by yourself! I seem to be unable to settle Jacob very successfully (unless he's going to go straight down after a feed anyway) and I would probably have been doing the same as you (over feeding) except that DP has been home and has been excellent at taking him to settle him to sleep.
Shell - Thanks mate. Those alternative explanations make a lot of sense. I have been trying to eliminate things it could be and decided that when he does that, I'll either change sides, if its the beginning of the feed or take him off if he has fed reasonably well up to that point (could be too full?).
Meg - Thanks for the info. I have just started to consider reflux today but don't know much about it and don't know how much possiting and spitting up stuff is 'normal'. Need to investigate/research. Going for another break away sounds unreal. I have started dreaming about a holiday in a tropical location to lie in the sun (need a new body first though LOL!).

AFM - Jacobs feeds have been a bit all over the place. Sometimes he cries straight away and does the on-off thing, other times its at the end and he has taken to getting really upset when I take him off to burp him during feeding, even when he wasn't sucking or was almost asleep :wall: Last feed was really good the whole way through until the very end when he fussed again. I fed him twin style on the left which seemed to work. Maybe he only likes lying on his left side? Gave him three goes of on-off and then took him off. He didn't really settle so I put the dummy in. He has been lying in his cot, possited three times in the last hour.

Is anyone else finding that they cannot settle their baby? Jacob tends to just cry with me. I have settled him after feeding on a few occasions but I usually just hand him over to DP or put the dummy in. He gets really worked up - screaming, even after a big feed. I tried him in the sling tonight and he settled for 10 mins and then screamed again. The sling usually works really well with DP. I'm worried about what I'm going to do once DP goes back to work after Easter if I can't settle him. We only use the dummy in the evenings and overnight when needed and I don't want to start relying on it too much. Also, I don't feel like I am getting to know him - I can't decipher what his signals are (although I know the winding up to scream signs!).

hey girls
just a quickie
paperwork Again!!!
Had weigh in today- Levi has now hit 6kg! 13lb 4! So put on nearly 800grams in two weeks. He has also grown 4 cm in this time- what a champ!
No wonder he is getting heavy for me lol

all good- alothough he is unsettled tonite as i took him out to dinner with me, being sleeping longer stretches at nite- anywhere between 4 to 7 hours one nite - WHOOT!
The nite that he slept 7 hours- i had DS up sick with high fevers - grrr. AH well Murphy's law!

now we just have to get all this paperwork done so i can get some sleep as well!
hang in there girls- i will start to get easier soon!

I PROMISE!!!
mwah

Ah Odette we will all keep hanging onto your posts as the light at the end of the tunnel...!!!!

Well DD is sleeping so I will try and catch up on some personals!

Det - sorry that DS is sick hun. Hope he is better today!

Kaz - Isabel's feeds are all over the place too, don't stress yourself out too much about it, just go with the flow. She had a really bad stint where she would pull off the boob, scream blue murder like I was feeding her pins, then either spill out a whole lot of milk or do the rooting thing (where they mouth and rummage around for the nipple) and reattach herself and start sucking again. I think with her it was possibly two things - either a pain in the tum or possibly getting frustrated waiting for the let down. Like she was impatient.

On the occasions where she did it over and over again I'd persist for a while but if she was really cracking it I'd try the other side. This seemed to work. She did it mostly in the evenings so I think she was possibly looking for more milk but had drained one breast so switching helped.

If its any consolation, Isabel is still a bit mischevious at the breast - when she has finished feeding, if she is particularly awake she will ease herself off the nipple then start poking it with her tongue. Cheeky monkey! But the actual fussing during the feed has passed.

Just checked my Baby Love book for you - she talks about "regurgitation", which used to be known as reflux vomiting. Regurgitation in babies is normal and mostly harmless. She says that the majority of regurgitating babies have no ill effects from their regurgitating. She also says there's no real treatment and that it seems to concern parents more than babies sometimes :D

She says you should seek professional help if/when the regurgitation is accompanied by other symptoms - vomiting, dry nappies, loss of interest in feeding, weight loss. Hope this helps...

I also asked the MCHN about spitting up milk - Isabel seems to still do it during or after most feeds. The MCHN said it is normal!

Ali - how fantastic about all that sleep! Having your sis and SIL must have been great for your confidence as well - if they can do it, you can do it too. It is so hard figuring out the best way to do things!

I didn't think you could overfeed breast-fed babies though? :dunno:

Meg - I know what you mean about it being a good stress release - we're thinking about heading down to my in law's beach house for Easter or the week after that and I know it will be relaxing for both DH and me - whenever Isabel is unsettled I will have willing hands there ready to help out.

Tarkine, hope you got some sleep last night. How frustrating about the hospital trip but fantastic that DH is all good!

Shell, how did the formula feed go?

Hmm, Isabel is stirring, she shouldn't be awake for a bit longer... might have to try and settle her...

nai - was that you that sent me a msg?

hope you had a great 21st laura!!!!
ypu make me feel ooolllllllld !!!

thanks ajp - lol u are looking well umm different... haha

Happy birthday!!!! :)

Just got back from the Chiro for Miss E, and took J to playgroup. Turns out her Right shoulder is out, so she had some gentle manipulation.

Hot here today, so not sure what we will do this arvo. E has thrush in her mouth. So will have to make a trip to the chemist.

BBL E is crying, and J wnats his lunch

Nai- How clever of Juliette rolling over!!!!
Ali- IKWYM, it takes so long to get organised to go anywhere! And just when you think you're ready they need a nappy change or a feed! I give DD the boob to settle her too, lol, no wonder she's such a chub. But sometimes it's the only way, if she's not being fussy that is. Yay for your sis and SIL, what a big help!
Holly- lol, I find it hard to keep up too, hope you're feeling a bit better and got some sleep :hug:
Shell- I hope you got some more sleep last night!
Meg- Yay for DH having leave for a month! That will be so good for you!
OP- :( Bummer about no DTD for another week, hope it gets better quick for you!
Kaz- Oh expressing for a wk was hard! So lucky I had DH here to do everything else, lol, so I could fit it in. Between steralising and feeding and expressing that's about all I did!! So glad it healed before he went back to work!! I don't know about the fussing at the breast, DD is still doing it and it's so frustrating!! When I went to the MCHN today there were lots of ppl there with bubs about the same age and I heard them talking saying the same thing is happening to them, lets hope it's just a phase. It usually happens on the second side with DD so I'm thinking maybe she's had enough and just wants to comfort suck and the flow is too fast for her coz when she comes off milk goes everywhere. But it's hard to know bc sometimes she's still looking for it so I feel like I'm starving her, lol. But I spose if she was really hungry she would take it.
I also felt exactly the same as you with the settling. After the cs I couldn't do much so DH was doing all the settling and then I felt like I couldn't do it and he could do it so much better. But by the time he went back to work (after 3 wks) I was feeling a lot better and found it wasn't as bad as I thought and I could do it. I was really worried too and used to cry to DH thinking I wouldn't cope with him at work. So try not to worry, you will be fine!! Promise.
tarkine- that's great news about your DH!!
det- Yay, what a great weight gain!

Went to the MCHN today and DD has put on another 220g this week so going well! Now if she would just quit it with the fussy feeding!!

Happy birthday!!!! :)

Just got back from the Chiro for Miss E, and took J to playgroup. Turns out her Right shoulder is out, so she had some gentle manipulation.

Hi girls, went to the MCHN today and Ash has put on 240grams in 10 days. She is now 4.23Kg. SH ehas also grown to 56cm (4.5cm in 3 weeks). She is inthe 95th percentile for height so I think she is going to be a tall girl like her dad.

In regards to the feeding it wasnt so much that she was overfeeding but she was 'snacking' too much and therefore more often and its a bad habit to get in to if she continues that way. THE MCHN told me not to worry about rocking her to sleep, cuddling, etc yet, its by about 3 months that you need to get them out of that habit as that is when habits will start.

OP- i have the Baby Love book as well. Havnet read it yet, but heard good things about it. Hope that you heal up down there soon but not overheal again! Just make sure you keep tellin gDH how much you love him and tell him it wont be long. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Kaz- I think the settling thing is just a patience thing. Today I have really had to just be patient with the settling as I'm on my own again but at least I now know that it can be done. Just enjoy make the most of DP while he is home. How is the fluid thing going? Any prgoress on healing?

Meg- Hope Miss E's thrush clears up. Do you know how they get thrush??? Is it something we eat that off balances their systems or can it just happen?

Jols- you do look quiite different today!!! ;)

Det- I love your positive posts! Thankyou :)

Ali- Ash used to be like that, snacking constantly and it did eventually get to a point where i couldn't go out and leave her cause she was so dependent on the breast to settle. That why this time I do whatever else, dummy, rocking etc cause at least anyone can do that whereas only you can do the breast settling. yay on the big sleep last night!

meg- Hopefully going to the chiro will make her more settled. How has the nights been? We're having an at home day today, don't want to go out in the hot, tho its not overly hot.

Heaven- Thats a nice weight gain, thats about what Em puts on in a week. Nice to see it cause then you know your milk is doing good!

AJP- yes love the new look!

Det- I'm looking forward to a 7 hour stint, tho I'll prolly end up laying there listening to her breath and worry if she is ok!

Kaz- Try not to stress too much, you'll be fine, just take each time at a time, sometimes what works one day won't work the next, Em some days settles well and days like today needed alot help. I try all different things, rocker, battery operated swing, my hugabub, pram, patting her bottom in the bassinet, dummy. Remember if you feel anxious he may feel it so just try be calm and relaxed and see how it goes. Don't think you can't do it, tell yourself you can! It does take awhile to learn what they want, i do find it a bit easier 2nd time around, with Ash i had no idea, so I used to chuck her on the boob anytime she cried!

Tarkine- Hopefully he'll have more of those 3 hr sleeps and hopefully overnight for you!

Well Em slept from 7 til 10:30 last night so only gave 50mls formula and rest breast casue thought my boobs will pop if I don't feed her. I'm just relieved she took it no probs, Ash flat out refused bottle til she was 9mths and I ended up getting really down and felt trapped with it cause it meant I could not have anytime out to myself, and cause she used boob to settle as well if I did ever leave the house without her it was for like 2 hours max. So we'll prolly give it to her every few nigts just to keep her used to it. So glad she had no probs, such relief! She then slept til 2:30 then til 6:30 so good night.

lots of lurking but not much energy to post!!
off to have millie weighed today so be back later, also taking sophie to dr's as she has ringworm AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

had millie weighed,shes
5.0kg
37.5 head
57.5 length

Hi girls,
It looks like we are all just exhausted and probably everyday feels like Groundhog Day at the moment. I know I woke up this mornig with no idea what day of the week it was and had to ask DP 3 times if it was garbage bin day. Brain is a little mushed!
:grouphug: to us all.
Well since I have been strict with myslef about this feeding business and not letting DD feed unless it has been 3 hours (gee I'm mean), things have been going well. Last night she slept midnight until 6am which was fantastic. If I can get one decent sleep like that each night then I will be a happy.
I even got out of the house this arvo (BY MYSELF) and went to the shops for 2 hours! I bought a new DVD player :hooray: I can watch dvd's now, a new iron and a top! MIL came over to babysit for me.

Jols- great stats on Millie! Ash is almost up to her and she is 3 weeks behind her!!! Crazzy! I am going to have a tall little girl I think! Its amazing how quickly they grow. Hope Sophie is being good as well.

Shell- That is great that Em took the bottle. I must remember to try Miss A on the bottle soon.

:hello: to everyone else.

Question- when does the fontanel thing close over?

Hi All, I haven't had internet for a few days so am just off to catch up on all the happenings - will respond properly soon.

Ok - had a quick read through :D

OP - sounds like a granuloma which is what Miss J has on her belly button. She got hers burnt off on Monday but it is still there so she is going back next Monday :(

Big woohoo for us - DP and I went to the movies Monday night and my mum looked after the 2 girls. Miss J slept from 8pm - 2am which was great. It was so good to get out. Not much else going on except that I have my 6 week check up tomorrow. DP is champing at the bit to get some DTD action but I don't think he will be getting any just yet as I still have some discharge (sorry TMI).

Ali - think the fontenal thingie hardens up about 12mths or something like that.

Laura - sorry wished you verbally happy 21st but didn't type it! DOH!!!!

Nai - Congrats on getting out to the movies WOOT!!

Sounds like we have a bunch of porker babies (which is a good thing!).

AFM - woke up this morning at 4.30am to have a shower, was soaking with breastmilk. Went back to bed about 7.30am and woke at 11.30am to find no DH in bed, and then looked and found no baby in the room and then looked at the clock - went into the lounge and found the two boys sitting on the lounge, having downed a bottle of breastmilk (well the little one had been doing all the drinking), so I'm a happy camper. We had to change around the feed/play/sleep cycle - we change the nappy when DS wakes, instead of 1/2 way thru the feed, coz I couldn't get him settled afterwards. I admire you girls being able to keep them to 3 hrs - after 2hrs my bbs just go crazy and hard, milk goes everywhere and I'm looking for bubs to do his job!! Went around the MILs place today and she was like gimme gimme gimme with bubs - no problems there - she had been interstate and hadn't seen him for two weeks - told her he was ready to start high school, she'd be gone for so long!!

Take care girls.. wishing you a decent sleep!

Evening ladies

Yawn, should be toddling off to bed but DH has just put Grey's on so I'm sitting watching it instead of zzzzzzzz.............

Tarkine, that was a nice surprise - your boys having some quality time :D Glad you made the most of it!

Nai - awesome on the movies. Told MIL and FIL we need them to babysit in May for a hens/bucks that we have both been invited to, might do a movie or something before then as a trial run! Also totally understand about the DTD thing... I still have discharge too, which is apparently due to the over-healing. Granuloma sounds familiar... I have had to promise DH we will DTD Weds, Thurs and Friday to make up for his patience. He is being pretty good about it...

Ali, YAY on the new stuff and the sleep and the feeds!!! You are sounding much more relaxed about things in general :D That's fantastic.

AJP, nice work on the weight gains!

Shell - that's great about the bottle. DH gave Isabel one this morning too, which she guzzled down and looked for more! Woo. Mummy might be able to have some time to herself yet :D

Meg - saw your other thread but didn't post there - big :hug: for you. Hope you are feeling better hun. We are all here for you!!!

i have a bad feeling AF is on her way, and boy do i hope im veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery wrong :(

nai yay on the movies!!! what did you see???

ali how are the breastpads going?? its nice o go out without taking bubs along! makes things alot quicker!!

tarkine yippeeeeee on the sleep!! bet you felt like a new woman!!! my boobs are soft and saggy :lol: even after 5 hours now!!!

op i have a skintag down there from sophies birth, will get looked at next week at checkup!!

went to bed at 9pm ,last night, millie went down at 7.15, fed at 1am then 5.45!! so only up once lst night! woot :D

Morning ladies,

Quick check in while DD is still asleep. After Isabel went down last night finally at about 11pm, she slept thru til about 5.15am which is awesome. Fed her in bed and back to sleep by 6am, it is now 8.45am.

But AJP - how are you getting Millie down so early in the evening??? Isabel just does not want to sleep between about 7pm and 10 or 11pm. Its like her witching period - she just cries cries cries until someone picks her up, then settles, then wakes and wants to feed, then cries more!

We really want to get her to sleep at 7pm... I guess we just need to give it more time?

Also are you one of the few people who actually ovulate while BF??? Interesting! My sister still has not ovulated and my niece is now 9mths old. She wanted to be pg by now so is really frustrated that she isn't!

Hope everyone has a good day today! DD and I are off into the city to meet friends for lunch today. Have had a few days at home so I'm over it!

op not sure how we get her down, though i do admit ive never had witching times with either girls, last night she slept in the sling til 6pm she woke, fed, had a bath with sophie, fed again then into bed at 7.15pm. some nights its later.
i hope im wrong about af, i didnt get it back til sophie was 9 months last time, hoping for the samw this time
have a great lunch today!

We had most the arvo witching hours yesterday and of course its the day Df had parent teacher so he wasn't home til 9:30. Thank god for the hugabub, only thing that saved my sanity, miss E just wanted to grizzle and be miserable.

AJP- Yay on millies weight, I hope AF isn't coming back, that'd suck getting it so soon this time! With Ash I remember mine coming once I'd dropped to 3 feeds a day.

OP- Em too often doesn't settle til 10ish at night, some nights she setlles earlier but average is about 10pm. Most evenings now I do our bedtime routine bout 7:45 then feed her, get comfortable in front of tv and cuddle her for a long while to get her into deep sleep.

tarkine- Looks like you have plenty milk, all those feeding frenzies he has prolly helped it along, is he getting a little more settled for you?

Nai- What movie did you see? Its great you got out, I think I'd be too tired to go out in the evenings anyway! Need to see a day movie I think, lol.

Ali- Thats great she'll spread out to 3hrs, I find during day Em will but later in evening its more like 2hrly, filling up i think before bed. DVD player be good, you can cuddle up with Ash and watch movies.

Got soaked this morn, we went to gymbaroo hot came out and the storm had arrived, running to the car with Ash and Em in the sling.
She spreading her feeds overnight to 4hrly now, just annoying when she wakes in between trying to fart!
Very happy Df is on school holidays now, have him home for next 2 weeks! yay, esp since we are going thru that 5-6 week mark that supposed to be the hardest.

Odette - fantastic weight gain hun!! I love how positive you are too. Makes me feel like we'll all get there in the end.
OP - Thanks so much for your post. It's good to hear that other babies the same age have been doing the same thing. Jacob also does that playing with the nipple thing but he can do it anytime during a feed. I know it will pass - has only been going for a week or less really but does seem to be getting worse! How was the city and catching up with your mates?
Meg - :hug: for the thrush. I know what a PITA it is. We are still treating DS and myself because his bum hasn't cleared up yet and I don't want it coming back!
SJ - Thanks for your support darl. 220g gain is fantastic!! So the fussing at the feeds hasn't stopped her putting on weight which is good to hear because it's what I'm mainly concerned about.
Ali - Great that you got out of the house and went shopping for yourself! It makes all the difference in the world. With the settling stuff, I guess we are both learning how to do it. I have had more success the past couple of days but usually after a feed and with the dummy and cuddles. It's good to finally be able to cuddle him without him screaming and if the dummy has achieved that then whoohoo for dummies I say! The fontanelles take a while to close over I think - not exactly sure but could be a couple of months or more. I still have fluid sitting in my belly but the good news is that my legs have returned to normal and my feet can wear shoes again! :dance:
Shell - Were you giving Em the bottle to make sure she'd take it? I've heard that some bf babies won't take it. That must have been so frustrating last time with DD1. Great that DP is home for the next fortnight. Hopefully you'll get some afternoon sleeps in now? :crossfingers:
AJP - Fantastic weight for your DD! I hope you're looking after yourself - are you taking iron supplements? My heamoglobin has come up to 113 but I still get so tired!
Laura - How was your party?? Great photo hun! You look hot! How is the bf'ing going?

AFM - I think DS is the only non-porker here. :( He was still 20gm below his birth weight at 2 weeks 2 days old and then yesterday had only put on another 120gm (in 6 days). They want to keep weighing him weekly, which I'm happy with. The MCHNs are all saying positive things like "well it's a gain" and "you're doing really well" or my fave "you're trying really hard" but they've both said "hopefully next week we'll see a little more". How to put the pressure on!! So now he's being weighed again next Wed. The weeks are only 6 days long! It's hard when he is fussing so much - now on both sides some feeds worse than others. We had a nightmare night last night with him being unsettled and this last feed started at 3:50pm, he screamed and would not suck, even on the dummy at times (last fed at 12:30pm so should have been hungry). Left him for a while, tried each time he settled, eventually he fed at 4:50pm but it was reasonably short. Put him down. He then possited about 20 mins later and wouldn't re-settle so I broke the 2 hour thing and fed him again at 5:50pm and he had another shortish feed and has been reasonably settled since. I've put the fan on in our room (quite hot here today) hoping the background noise would help. I can't see how he can still put on weight with shorter feeds, possiting a lot and expending all that energy screaming.

Phew - sorry for the long me me me rant but I'm struggling at the moment. More teary the past few days and less patient with Jacob when he is fussing and not feeding properly. Sometimes we both end up in tears!

All, selfish question - Isabel is 6 weeks 2 days, today once she woke at 9 I fed her, changed and dressed her, at about 10 she seemed ready for sleeping so put her down - normal so far.

She grizzled for a bit then slept... went into the city and she slept all the way in, put her in the pram and she slept until close to 2.30pm :o

She had a half-hearted feed, then we took her home. Stopped to get something from Target and Coles near home, she fed a little and we changed her at the shopping centre, then she went back to sleep and slept all round the shops - about an hour. Then we came home - she grizzled a bit on the way home, I fed her one side when we got home and she fell asleep again. An hour later I fed her the other side and she's now asleep again.

She's pretty much been asleep all day, since about 10am. Any one else had something like this? Is it ok?

Her nappies have been normal... wet and pooey still... but she's just been so sleepy.

Is this ok? Growth spurt maybe??? She's never slept this much during the day before...

shell boy did it rain today :o we had soooooo much the rd was flooded :o
lucky duck having DP home, or is is it :think: :lol:

kaz i was thinking about you today and wondering how your fluid was going and if it was going, glad to hear it is.
like you said a gain is a gain, its hard when they fuss and i wouldnt worry about not feeding 2 hourly, id do it if he needs its, millie has feed 2 hourly today. i have also had to use the dummy more, not that i want to but millie jsut loves to suck her hands.

op millie has done the same today, slept allllll day sometimes she has only lasted 40 mins before going back to bed :o not sure why either :dunno: but i liked it :lol: as did sophie :lol:
sophie always slept more when she had a growth spurt

Kaz, hun, :hug: sorry its getting difficult with J.

Anyway just wanted to say keep doing what you are doing... if its any help, I demand feed and when I say demand I mean demand... if she wants it hourly, she gets it hourly.

Oh and as for catching up with my mates, the two I was having lunch with stood me up - one of them let me know at 9am but I went in anyway as I was meeting other friends before and after the organized lunch, but the second one messaged me at ten to twelve (due to meet at 12.30pm) and said "Been called into a meeting, don't know what time it will finish and don't want to stuff you around or make you get wet so let's leave it".

Like hello... does she have any idea how much of an effort it was to get into the city, in the rain, with a six week old?? Sigh.

AJP nice to know it isn't just Isabel... we were a bit worried that she's sick or something but nappies are ok so... :dunno:

Shell - yay for hols! Enjoy having DF home :D I know, how bad was the rain today! Saw an accident between a tram, a bus and two cars... there were fire trucks, ambos and police all attending. Looked bad...

AJP and OP - Yeah I'd been thinking about not watching the 2 hourly thing so much while he's being so fussy and unsettled at the feeds. So far, he hasn't really demanded feeding much before then anyway and sometimes he can take an hour to feed, change, burp, top up and settle anyway so it's only another hour or a bit less before I'm potentially feeding again anyway.

I would probably worry if Jacob slept that long in a day too - mainly because I'm getting it drilled into me that he needs to feed 6-8 times at least (for almost a week he fed 7 times a day every day - that changed yesterday though) and the MCHN were encouraging me to fit in another feed - I was like, when? Anyway - I bet they don't do it tomorrow!!

OP - that really sucks that you got stood up!! Obviously your mate doesn't realise how much effort it is to get into the city with a 6 week old!
AJP - I don't really like the dummy either but Jacob came out and sucked his fingers and it seems to be the only thing that will calm him down sometimes. We have used it heaps the last couple of days but about an hour ago he kept spitting it out and crying. The last time he did it, I was in the bathroom and couldn't get there straight away. By the time I went in to him a few mins later he was fast asleep and has been ever since :dance: I keep holding to the mantra that you can't give them bad habits this young. If he's still relying on it so heavily to settle in a few months time we might re-look at it.

op how rude!!! i'll meet you for lunch one day and i wont stand you up!!

kaz arrhh i see, i dont blame you, and hour break is not long is it :hug: pop into breastfeeding area if you need some help, barb glare is wonderful at answering questions!!
dummy millie usually spits it out and goes to sleep without it, so not too concerned!
oh and i just took my iron!!
off to dr for 6 week check up so going to ask some more questions regarding my iron levels

Kaz - I have a GF whose bubs refused the breast, and when she tried to feed him formula, he wouldn't take that, so she ended up having to express and bottle feed him breast milk. I know its probably no help but each baby is different and its a case of finding out what works for your bubs :grouphug:. Try not to feel pressured by the MCHN or anyone else... Just do what works for you.

Does bubs get sleepy after the feed? Just wondering if you need to change around your feed/play/sleep cycle (I had to - sleep, nappychange, then food, burping then sleep)

Gotta go Alex wants booby!

Back again - finally got him to sleep - was up at 7am because the neighbour had loud music.. tried to settle A down, just got him down and there was a loud thump (they were listening to beyonce/rap/dance music), so I put on my dressing gown, looked in the mirror to make sure that my hair was sticking out on ends and wrapped A up and we trundled next door to knock on the door - no answer so I knocked very assertively on the window and the music stopped and no one turned up to talk to me, so we left. Then of course we were up for the day, and I've only just got A down for sleep - no more daytime naps for me!! Went to the GP and got the all clear. Stupid Babyco still haven't got our pram in yet, and the pram they lent us, the tyres keep going flat.. argh, so my exercise has been restricted.

OP - How bl@@#y rude of your friend!! Not only is it a major feat to get into the city with a 6 week old but also on a day like today - you deserve a medal!

Kaz - I'm sorry to hear that J is still fussing at the breast. He is still gaining weight which is good but as Jols said an hour isn't very long :( Barb may be able to help.

Shell - we went to see the Watchmen. It was 2hrs 40min!! We went to the Sun Theatre in Yarraville so we were able to buy wine and have that while watching the movie - it was pretty decadent for new parents

Meg - I hope the chiro helps and that you can get some rest over the weekend

AJP - I hope it isn't AF. That would really suck! I'm still bleeding slightly but the OB said it is still normal

AFM - had my 6 week check at the OB today so had to catch the bus there and back in the thunderstorm with a pram with 2 kids - not my idea of a fun day out! Anyway all is good and I can drive again now woohoo!! DP also booked in to get the snip in May. Miss J had a bad day yesterday as she only had 2 x 45min sleeps all day. However she then slept from 6pm to 2am - yes 8 hours!! She must have been sooo tired, poor little thing.

ooohhh wine nai, very jealous :lol: and yep today was not the day to be out and about!!
cant believe your still bleeding :o i stopped about 3 weeks ago!
woot at 8 hours!!

as for the snip DH tells me hes not ready yet as he;s not sure he's finished having kids :think: i asked with me or someone else :lol: he said me :o now he's got me thinking about #3

Hey girls
Hang in there !!!!!!
OP- Levi slept nealy all day as well and he has been in his cot asleep for an hour now as well- YEP definately could be growth spurt! Its all good! You might find that Isabel will have one day where she is alert and wake a bit, and then sleep the next day or so- its normal. How dare you friend stand u up!GRRR!!!

Nai- great that you can drive again- i would have gone insane not driving that long! Glad everything is OK! So i guess the DND sign can go on the bedroom door hey! LOL

Kaz- Hugs hun! Keep going you are doing a great job- and a gain is a gain. My twins had to be weighed daily at first and then weekly for the first 6 weeks i had them home! As long as they keep going forward it is all good, and if his weight does go back a little, just give it a bit before you start to panic. I would feed whenever he wants it at the moment- but only if it works for you. I demand feed Levi and he gets boobycinos when ever he wants, but i kept the twins at 3 hourly as i would have gone insane- If if works then do it !!! You are right Kazz- you cant teach them bad habits at this age- they arnt trying it on and only cry for a reason. Its after 6 months of age that you may want to set some boundaries - but that is what works for you! If he is unsettled whilst at the breast and fussing, it may be that he is really hungry and tired and doesnt know what to do with himself. Try swaddling him and feeding him that way. Keeps his hands still and may settle him down enough to feed when he gets himself in this state. Also try using a triagle pillow around you- give you more control as it frees up your hands a bit and also elevates him a bit. He could have silent reflux - hence the positting, and laying flat to feed may be a bit uncomfy for him. My DD had this and would feed exactly how you are describing as well. Keeping him up a bit whilst feeding and keeping him up for a period of time afterward may also do the trick. Also the good ole telephone books under the cot legs down one end to put the cot on an angle may help as well.
Also Kaz, there is no set formula how much weight bubs should be gaining. Those damm charts in our blue books do our heads in! They are old and outdated!!! My twins were so far off them - below the lines until they were 2 years old. Then at the next weigh in at 2 1/2 years- DS was so far above the chart it wasnt funny. Now he is the right height and weight for a 9 year old- he is 6! So what do I do? Stop him eating a growing- please! As long as the lines keep going up- that is all that matters- wet nappies and happy bubs are the best indicators!

Shell- 5-6 weeks is great- so dont stress- you may even start to get a smile in this time- they start to realise that they arnt the only ones in their world as well. Its priceless

AFM- all good here- Levi up most of yesterday and slept most of today- had a pedicure and a massage done at the shops he was soo asleep! WHOOT! Levi now has the head control thing happening so he is a bit more robust - thank god - dont have to stress that the twins are gonna snap his head off as much now. He has started to laugh as well now, and is ticklish- he was laughing in his sleep the other day- too cute! He is a baby that harldy ever cries, but around the 8 week mark, babies start to amp it up- so its been funny to actually hear him cry twice today- its was b/c i was trying to attend to 3 kids at once and he was making the least amount of noise lol- it lasted a whole 10 seconds.
Twins are on hols now- so my social life is on hold till they go back to school. Gonna try and do thing with them as last hols we hardly did anything !

mwah and hugs to everyone else

Nai - well done on the bus trip with the two kids. Glad to hear you got the all clear. Just be mindful with the snip of the blokes, my bro had it done after their two kids, and the Dr who did it messed up and well they had a number 3, so make sure there ain't any swimmers in there.

AJP - love your talk with DH.. hehe.. its so easy for them, they can just had the bubs over to mum.

OP - i would have been cheesed off with your friend.

Want to sleep but have to write a job application due monday...argh!!

Can I get one of those babies that sleeps through the night for longer than 2 or 3 hours? A can be up during the day, with a few cat naps, and I get a 3.5hr sleep out of him at the very longest (then after that it can be 1hr sleeps).. going insane here.. ohh hang on was already insane, so must be flipping back to being normal maybe??

AJP- lol, at least your considering it! I told Df seeing as he is refusing the snip if he gets me pregnant he can take sole care of it, lol.

Nai - I used to go to the sun theatre heaps when I lived over that side town, grew up in Newport so was just up the road, quite nice there and you don't get lots of annoying ppl like you do at major cinemas. Good on you with the bus trip!

Kaz- from what I've been told at least 20g a day weight gain is fine and thats exactly what jacob is doing, as for settling just do whatever works, I spent alot time worrying with DD1 about what I should or shouldn't be doing (thanks to ILs) and I learnt that you just gotta do what works. Is he screaming at all feeds? Cause maybe then he might have reflux or something?

OP- Does the standing up friend have kids of her own? I'd be annoyed it takes ages to get organised to leave the house. As for the sleepy thing, I wouldn't worry some days they just do that, might be growth spurt, I always found Ash slept alot more when she had growth spurts.

Amazingly Em settled really well after her bedtime routine/ feed, just needed resettling once! Hopefully we'll have a good night.

Well everyone posted at same time!

Tarkine- Are you applying for a job soon? Planning to go back to work in near future?

Det- ooh pedicure and massage sounds great! I need to go and get a wax done, might have to book in while Df is home. Yeah smiles are great, we been getting few big ones last couple days. Thats so cute bout levi giggling, so gorgeous the first time they do everything.

Shell - not planning on going back to work soon.. it is a promotion.. have been acting at a higher level for a year now and need to make it permanent, but as you can tell, I'm procrastinating on BB instead of writing the stupid application.

BB alot more fun than job application!
I'm watching footy, go saints! Its nice being able to watch in peace.

Thanks for your support and encouragement girls. I just came back in here to report that we just had an excellent feed - a bit of fussing initially (but no crying) and then he fed really well. One small possit at the end. He is not particularly settled atm but we're getting there.

AJP - Yeah - I'd like to have another blood test at my 6 week check to see where my levels are up to. I hope yours are rising. He tends to only 2 hourly feed in the evenings - during the day its 2.5 to 4 hours and same overnight so it's not too bad.
Shell - The MCHN that was here on Wed suggested reflux. I'm not yet convinced because it's rarely anything significant he brings up but she said reflux babies can gain at slower rates, love sucking because the swallowing helps and can be unsettled when feeding so I'm letting her run with that theory and a lot of the strategies will hopefully help him bring up less anyway because he's doing it every feed now. Whoot on Em settling quickly for you.
Tarkine - Breast refusal is a big fear of mine. Especially because earlier in the week we had breast, bottle teat and dummy all going at once for a day or two. He is often sleepy after a feed but then will possit and wake himself up. Sometimes though he comes off crying as well. Bugger about your pram - that really sucks! They were going to have it for you well before now weren't they? Wish I had a bright idea about how you could go and make them produce it now for you. It's kind of funny when the neighbours ignore you in a situation like that. It's an admission of guilt and awareness they were overstepping the mark in my opinion. Hopefully your knocking on the door is enough to help them think twice about volume next time!
Odette - thanks for the tips mate! We have recently started doing some of that like we have elevated his bassinette mattress at the head end etc. I tend to unswaddle him to feed so he is awake because he was getting sleepy early for a while there (and then swaddle at the end for a final go), but that's a good idea. I swap sides, have tried twin style on the left (with 50/50 success) but will re-swaddle him next time as that may help. I really take my hat off to you and other twin mummies feeding two at once :o :clap: I was only saying to mum the other day I don't know how women manage that, especially if one or both are fussing.
Nai - :hooray: on the all clear and being able to drive! That's fantastic - I can't wait til I can drive. Good on you for navigating public transport with two kids.

Alright, nearly time for the next feed here - he hasn't slept since coming off an hour ago so it might be time to go again and then hopefully he'll settle and sleep. Hope you all have good nights girls!