Babies Born February 2007

Hi everyone. Bella's asleep at the moment so I thought I'd try my hand at two-handed typing for once!

I'd just like to thank everyone for their support. I'm still beating myself up a bit about the breastfeeding thing, but I'm sure I'll eventually "forgive" myself for not trying harder.

To top it all off, I think I've finally got the baby blues - a couple of weeks late, but they sure seem to be here. I had a cry earlier and when DH asked what was wrong, I had to tell him I had no idea! :rolleyes: Wierd. I hate not having control over my emotions, so hope this will pass soon.

Bella is starting to stir, so will have to do personals next time. Have a great weekend everyone.

Hello ladies ive found my way here finally my name is kath i had bubs 4 on feb 20 Ella Elise was 8lbs 6oz she has the most amazing full head of black hair im totally smitten with her.
Ella has been feeding 3.5 - 4hrs thru the day but at night its been 2 hrly i cant figure it out myself ive been trying my best to b/f latching on no probs bubs i have been replacing 1 feed a day with formula i dont think i have enough in me for a full feed so i try to feed the formula at night. She gets alot of wind and my god i havnt seen somthing pooh so much alot of farting too lol lol .
i hope i can join in with you guys some name a familiar to me through belly buddies it will nice to catch up
kittykat

Hi girlies and hi to Char and Kittykat, good to "meet" you both!

Yay, another hairy baby - both Liebling and Jemima are hairy ones. Liebling looks so grown up with all his hair, it's sad to think he no longer looks like my "baby", but he's soooo big now. I swear he's grown at least an inch this week.

Char, you're not a failure. I was made to feel like that in hospital - day 2, my milk hadn't come in (of course!) but the evil midwife made me feel like I was killing my lad, even saying if I didn't give him formula they'd take him away and do it anyway. So that started us on the formula route, then he has a slight tongue-tie (so tiny I wouldn't have noticed it if not told, bad mummy me, he can stick his tongue out and everything) so I was told the BFing problems were all due to that... actually, Liebling had an infection and was soon refusing all food I didn't express and pipette down his throat (he's a feeding champion). Liebling ended up back in hospital (on day 6) on the special care baby unit, but thankfully everyone there was very pro-expressing, but he was still topped up on formula a lot. I've only just started to catch up to his demand needs and will look at dropping the bottle today. If the SCBU team weren't pro-expressing then I'd be having to formula feed now. It has taken a couple of weeks for me to stop needing to top him up quite so much anyway. Anyway, the point to this long bit is that the more you BF the more milk you get, so you can re-start BFing now if you want, and keep topping up until you have enough milk, and you really aren't a failure for giving the lad formula; you'd only be a failure as a mother if you had your heart so set on BFing him that it killed the lad. Well, that's what I had to tell myself as I couldn't stop crying for those first few bottles in SCBU and I usually make my DH do the bottles now.

Amy, 1am to 4pm sounds perfect for a first stage! Mine was 7.30am on Monday until about 10.30am on Tuesday... well, 10.30 to 1ish, as I started wanting to push at 10.30 and was given the go-ahead, but "officially" it was 1pm as otherwise the hospital team had me pushing for too long without seeking Obstetric advice! I really hope the next one will be easier.

Kel, yay for Jemima being perfect! I knew she would be, she was in the perfect babies thread! This will have to be the new perfect babies thread, so all the other Feb girls can join in with their perfect babies. I can only make out that it isn't Liebling crying when we're out because all the other babies at my coffee morning are sooo much quieter - including the four month old lad! When Liebling starts, he just goes for it. So I try not to let him start, of course. But he's great at when I can't settle him, just turning his face to my ear and yelling "hwaa, hwaa" straight down it... I think he wants me to cry too!

Wow, Nat, Beau was a big lad! Congratulations! Liebling lets me get just over five hours in the first stretch of the night now so I'm feeling fantastic in mornings, but once we've done the 5.30 feed I usually can't get back to sleep because that lasts until 7, or just after. DH had a week off, but his anxiety problems (and me being back in hospital) meant he didn't take longer off, but my mum stayed for a week after that. Must confess, I did appreciate the help, but I'm glad it's just the three of us now. I was getting most jealous of letting her have play-time with Liebling! Well, aside from at meal-times - but I'm getting used to eating and feeding at the same time.

Michelle, poor you! I (fingers crossed and touching wood) missed that, but then again I did all my sobbing over giving Liebling formula, so had no other tears for anything else.

What is new with me? Well, the heel pr!ck test didn't work on day 6, so they're going to do it this morning. I'm not too happy with another needle, but it's something we have to do. DH is being fabulous, keeps telling me what a wonderful mummy I am, but is still not ready to come back to bed all night with me, although we did have a nice cuddle this morning. Thankfully Liebling was quiet for about an hour before starting to snuffle about so we could have some grown-up time... I really miss that!

hey ryn
if not too late get them to do liebling's heel pr!ck while you are feeding... i thought this was the most awful cruel idea in the world, rang my SIL, asked my paed and worried and cried about it the whole morning (it was done about day 4 i think) and then i talked to midwife who suggested it about my worries and she said she always did it that way and they didnt even notice it being done (i was worried about turning jemima against feeding... ie i take booby they poke needles in me) BUT i know i was also lucky that the blood flowed so quickly from her foot but it took less than a minute and she didnt even notice... in this case evil midwife was right.

after jem's morning feed we have her in bed with us... do you sleep with liebling all night? SIL does the same with hannah but her husband is overseas at the moment... we have the bassinette in our bedroom so that we can hear her but will get it further and further away and buy a baby monitor.... where is ur dh sleeping???

this wind thing is confusing.... do i try for wind after every feed???

I thought i was finished giving the formula top up after Griffens pre-bedtime nightly feed,, but yesterday he just would not have a descent sleep all day,, and i was feeding all afternoon long,, so by the time it came for that feeding at 12am in the morning,,, i gave both sides,, he was still protesting,, so had to give him 50ml formula too,, then had to lay down with him just so he would nodd off.
My milk did not come in till day 8 mind you though,, and in hospital they did not want me giving formula,, so much so that by day 4 when all he did was scream out of hunger even after i had given him all the first milk i had,,, the paeds finally stepped in and told the midwives that he was starving to death and to give him some formula topups,,, as he has totally stopped weeing and pooing (damn midwives thought i was just being a neurotic mum) he lost way more then the 10% he was allowed through this, and was quite jaundiced,, but thank god we persisted with the BF's and now he has only had to have that one top up feed for the last 5 days.
Good news though,, my woud has finally started to settle down a bit and does not leak too much at all now,,, hopefully in the next few days the holes will start closing up!! :D

I hate it how some ppl make u feel like a faliure if u don't BF. I gave up after about 3 months with Mya, it was just to painful. Heaps of ppl would give me kinda dirty looks when i told them i wasn't BFing. Its so hard for a mum to feel like that without other ppl making it harder. Luckily this time round i'm finding it a bit easier with Bodhi.

Nat- Congratulations on the birth of baby Beau:D he is a big boy!
Ryn- Wow ur first stage was heaps longer than mine. I guess i have nothing to really whinge about compared to some other ppl's experiences lol. I also hope 4 u that ur next one will be easier. As 4 me i wont be doing it again, i have my boy & my girl & i think i'm pretty lucky:D

The heel ***** is just awful. Poor little Bodhi had his the day b4 yesterday & they couldn't get enough blood from him, he was just screaming~ i was almost in taers aswell

Hello everyone,
It's me! Old ouchy nipples!
I just can't seem to feed him without the ouchies! Bring on Friday and the clinic!!! Quinn is being a bit sooky today - DP has him at the moment - although he has a sore back from bouncing him on the ball for most of the day - today Quinn is the hungriest man in the world...do you all get days when they want to eat all day, the MCHN said he should be eating between -60-90 mls per feed - wrong - he has about 150 per feed and sometimes wants more! He's a hungry hungry hippo!

Re: heel***** test - Quinn didn't even notice his being done he had it on day 4.

There is sooo much pressure to breastfeed isn't there - but there is also that whole old school 70's view of feed them formula as well. I get the "advice" from my MIL that I should be giving him formula to make sure he learns how to use a bottle!!!!!!!!!! I would be happy if he never had to learn that - he drinks from a bottle all the time except one or two feeds a day because I am expressing all the time. I don't have a problme with supply but I am still being told to formula feed him by her! It's a gets a little frustrating - espeicailly when you are really tired!!! That's the worst time to get advice!

Re: tears - I bawled my eyes out the first time Quinn was fed from a bottle - I felt like such a failure (and really guilty) that I couldn't even feed my baby - even though it was my breastmilk I still bawled! Michelle, I had the irrational no reason crying thing at about 9 days after Quinn was born and it lasted about 4 days...no reason just random acts of bawling:)

Anyway better go try to settle this little man, so maybe I can have a lie down. Is anyone else queen of being topless - I spend most of the time with boobs akimbo! I have to make sure I have a top on when I leave the house :D

Good on you everyone! You're all doing really well!

I had forgotten about the chance of the added "pressure" of SIL having baby almost same age.......
I do not have a job, my job is to look after Jemima. I have nothing else to do but whatever she wants me to do..... if she wants to be fed every hour most afternoons, then she gets fed every hour.... ESPECIALLY while she is only 2 weeks old.... OBVIOUSLY I am not going to feed her every hour until we go on to solids....
My BIL came over the other day and I was feeding Jem, he went and did something and came back and I was feeding her again (this though was actually about a 2.5 hour morning gap) anyway he says "are you feeding AGAIN?" then goes on to tell me that SIL was told to try to make baby wait at least 2 hours between feeds......

so now I feel like I feed Jemima too often.... it's not like I rush her when she feeds she gulps it down, overflows and quite often falls asleep! I wake her and make sure she doesnt want anymore, burp her, change her nappy and offer her the other boob and she seems like she is done... and in the afternoons ESPECIALLY as I have been fitting a lot into our days and it is blimen hot she has been heaps thirsty....

my question - can you feed baby TOO much? it's not like it is "comfort" sucking either when she comes for more she is full on hungry and bobbin for it! grrrr

I will be telling BIL next time he says "SIL said...." that SIL's baby is different to Jemima and has different needs and there is no right and wrong... and stop calling my baby Gemma!! definately getting enough advice from everyone else that I dont need it from single 23 year old no children BIL!!!

not ready to think about a dummy yet, i dont have anything against dummies as i had one as a child but she is not sucking just for the fun of it..... and doesnt cry and cry and cry

I am lucky that I can BF but, luckily if I couldnt I am not feeling any pressure to BF, it is just cheap and no sterilising required.... it would be so much easier not to and I kinda think about it some afternoons, especially when people are around.

Kel, I wouldn't worry about feeding Jemima too much. I read somewhere that breast milk is a lot easier to digest and it's not uncommon for bub to want a feed 1.5 hours after the last feed. Also, when they're having growth spurts, it feels like they want to be fed every five minutes! Demand feeding is just that - feeding bub when they want to be fed. So don't you worry about what anyone else says or does - every baby is different.

You are sooo lucky you are able to BF (I'm still not happy with myself for not being able to BF, but bottle feeding does have some advantages, so I am trying to concentrate on those for now!) so continue to do as you're doing, I reckon!

As for me, well I think my blues have passed, thank god! I really didn't want another day like yesterday. All I wanted to do was cry, and Bella was awake from 8am to 6.30pm with only about 40 minutes sleep in total!!! I did not cope very well! Lucky for me (and her!) she then slept until 3.30am and then I had to wake her at 8am so I could take DD to school. Phew! She's asleep now, so I suppose whatever it was keeping her awake yesterday has passed.

Have a great week everyone.

Hey Michelle
You so shouldn't be feeling bad about not being able to breastfeed, there are pros and cons for EVERYTHING in life! You at least know how much Bella is getting and can share the responsibility (i am so wishing benji had boobs) AND can leave her places!
OMG 6.30 until 3.30!!!!!! that is incredible, sounds like you both had a rotten day yesterday and now after a good nights sleep will be happy as larry... do you have any more photos of Isabella??? she looks gorgeous... email me?? benjiandkel@optusnet.com.au

Hello,
Kel - it drives you mental doesn't it when there seems to be this 'competition' on whose baby does what and when! Just keep doing what you're doing - you're a legend and doing really well. Jemima is your baby and you what is best for her, not BIL.
I am also not using a dummy - I haven't had a need for one so haven't given one - we got one in one of the freebie bags you get but I don't even know where it is. DP's Nanna was on at us about giving him a dummy when we were at her house and he was crying - he was crying though because her house was so hot and closed up that we had to go outside into the fresh air before he would stop crying - she was still pushing for the dummy though! I don't have anything against them either, just don't feel the need to use one at this point.

Michelle, GLad to hear the blues have passed - it's so much harder when they won't go to sleep isn't it!

I have my breastfeeding clinic tomorrow now - they had a cancellation in tomorrow's class so I am IN LIKE QUINN!!!! Whoo Hoo - although how I am going to get there (dressed and showered) at 8:30 in the morning is anyone's guess!

Hello girlarinos!

I love mein kleiner Leibling! He rocks! He only cried when the blood was being squeezed out, not for the FOUR attempts at *****ing him, and he's now not crying at every nappy change, nor all the way through his bath. He is a true wunderkind!

Kel, Liebling sleeps next to the bed usually, but as it has been a bit cold he wakes up every time he goes into his little Moses basket, so I'm going to put a hot water bottle in there before bed tonight just to warm it up for him. Liebling also feeds quite a lot - he'll feed and feed and feed, then throw up a bit (why can't he stop before then?), and half an hour later want another feed! I do make him wait a little longer if he's thrown up, just to avoid that again, but he usually goes to sleep after a quick little top-up now. I have no problem with feeding on demand, despite my mother telling me otherwise (how can she tell me I have a problem with it?); after all, I grab food/drink when I'm hungry/thirsty so why shouldn't Liebling do the same?

Lil, hope your wound continues to close! Wow at your hungry baby, that's a lot of milk!

Kirsten, I don't do naked days now. I did try one day where I was in just jeans and a towelling robe (too cold for fully naked!), so much nicer for my nipples, but BiL popped round to see Liebling and of courseDH let him in... well, can't complain, but I really wasn't dressed for it! I really don't care who sees me feeding Liebling, but when he's bobbing on and off and I'm flashing the world I'd rather have had some warning! Just a minute to get Liebling off, give him to DH and pull my robe clossed! People have also told me it's "good" Liebling knows how to use a bottle, but let's face it, how hard is it to learn?

Michelle, yay on the blues passing!

As for dummies, I hate them (well, I hate the way MiL and SiL stick one in Niece's mouth whenever she makes a noise and she is 14 months old and only has one word so far... personally, I love to have Liebling talk to me, just not suck constantly on me because when he's not hungry he just nips at my nipples, which hurts!), but Liebling loves to suck and until he discovers he can control his hands then he can have one... my fingers were being worn to the bone! I still prefer him to have my finger to the dummy, but sometimes I just need to put him in his chair with the dummy so I can eat. Liebling also does longish days - yesterday he was up from 11am til 4pm and 6pm until gone midnight: I confess I fell asleep feeding him and only woke up at 2am to get myself to bed. This is where co-sleeping rocks... Liebling woke up, had a feed and went back to sleep without me having to do anything but register that he's on there! He's been in bed with me the last two nights just so we can sleep as he's not liking his crib right now. DH is in the nursery so I don't have to worry about the bed being too small. Coffee morning this morning has been called off, so he can stay sleeping for the morning: I quite like him sleeping until midday because usually he goes to sleep at 10.30ish at night then, sleeping until 6 with only one feed in the middle of the night. Plus I go out in the mornings and everyone tells me what a well-behaved and handsome little man I have and I like that too! Liebling slept through Church yesterday morning, which bodes well for the Christening next week. He likes having his hair washed too, so I hope he'll stay nice and quiet for John as he does the dribbling water bit.

Oh, Kirsten, forgot to say - my nipples are a lot better now, I used a combination of Avent Nipple Soothing gel that came with the expressing machine and cool gel packs in my bra after feeds. Don't know if you've tried either of those and it didn't happen overnight, but things are better now... until the little blighter decides to take a chomp! It only hurts when he's elongating the nipple so he can get a latch now; see, I told you all my nipples were too small!

Hi everyone,
I am a bit slack at posting lately, i have been meaning to get on here for about a week and do this.....
If you dont know me, my name is Jenni, and i had my baby boy Jett on the 23.02. He was a healthy 8lb 3.5oz 51cms long and h/c of 34.5cms. I am not BFeeding, i have troubles (Jett is babe #3) i have with all my kiddies. So FF it is and he drinks a whopping 80-100mls a feed!! No wonder i was having troubles. He has a dummy he doesnt settle without one.
Zhai is doing well with Jett, i thought he would be very jealous of him, but he is actually really protective of him and runs up and sees if he is ok when he cries..... He is an AWESOME big brother. I am so proud of him.
Jett is having a little trouble doing #2s. He is constipated. He cries everytime he has to do one and i hate it..... Can anyone suggest something to help him? I do the whole lifting legs up at stomach level etc, that seems to help when he is doing one but his #2s are really hard like pebbles. Is he too young for coloxal drops?

Better go Jett is up

Hi Jenni
I have no idea really about constipation, probably still have that fun to come but I have heard clockwise tummy rubbing can help???
I can already imagine if DH and I have more children that Jemima is going to be jealous, very jealous, she is only 17 days old and already spoilt rotten and treated like a princess we are at her beck and call, the dogs are adjusting but I dont think she will give up her spot as top "dog" in a hurry.... you are so lucky Zhai has become protective of Jett, that will be so good when they get older, is Kymmy helping heaps?

Hi girls :hello:

I have been soooo busy lately and have obviously not keeping up with things in here... I will try to catch up!!!

James had a school camp last week, and Maddy had a combined schools netball tournament, Mum had a Drs appt and so did Harrison!!! I am exhausted... I have taken the day off doing anything so I can spend some cuddle time with Harrison!!

There is fantastic news though... On Friday, Harrison had a Dr's appt with our family Dr... this is the first appt since having Harrison... anyway, I got Harrys 1-4 week check done, and found that Harry had lost more weight, despite me doing everything I could to make feeding better for us. Dr M checked out Harrys TT and told me that he would refer us to Paediatric Surgeons who visit the hospital once a month. He called up to find out when the once a month was, and it was the following Monday. I got the last appt available, which was 10:45am. Dr M told me that they would assess Harry there and book him into John Hunter hospital for the actual snipping.

Harry and I went there yesterday, and we saw the most lovely surgeon who assessed Harrys TT and snipped it there and then!!! Harry cried for a second, I think it was more because of his head being held, when his head was let go, he stopped. There was one tiny drop of blood, and Harry smiled at me when I changed his nappy... So, I don't think it bothered him too much. OMG, the relief that I felt with his first BF was indescribable!!! Harry is drinking like a trooper, he was guzzling so much yesterday, you could hear his gulps. He fed for an hour, and brought up his wind, then had a little vomit. I like to think this was because he was so full!!!
He slept much more soundly yesterday too... although, he was demanding feeds every hour... I guess he is catching up.
It is so nice to feed without dreading it, and without shields.
I am just so happy to be feeding properly that I could cry. I was standing at the formula on Sunday night, and was about to give in and buy some. I am glad that I have persevered.

Sorry for the selfish post... I promise I will come in and do personals asap... it will hopefully be easier now that Harry is feeding better

Lisa, that is fantastic news hun!!!!!!!
What a relief to finally have it over and done,, and at a young enough age that it didnt bother him at all,,,, now you just have a nice long and happy breastfeeding relationship to look foward to with him :D Congrats!!
Love Lil

hello ladies
jen coloxal drops are fine at this age 10 drops a bootle 3 times a day. im having the same probs with ella im breast and bottle feeding she takes 100mls 6 -8 feeds a day i just cant keep up, i express twice a day formula about 4 a day then booby at thru the night 2 times it easier than heating up bottles at 2am
Ella has a dummy but doesnt need to always settle with it i wasnt going to use a dummy with bubs 4 as weening can be tough on eveyone but Ella was sucking her thumb shortly after her cord was cut so i figure if she wants it she can have it i wont push it i can take the dummy away i cant cut her thumb off.
kittykat

Hey Lisa
that is awesome!!! cant believe they took so long to do it though! lucky harrison, why dont they just do it as soon as they notice it if it is so easy to do??? that would relieve so much heartache...

my life now revolves around finding the baby change rooms in the shopping centres! it is so freakin hot i try and get out ESPECIALLY with benji home to drive me places but we have to stop at least once every shopping trip to change or feed ho hum....

i am tired today, even though i had a nap this morning, now i dont want to have a nap coz when i wake up i see benji - bless his cotton socks - has tried to help but did everything in wrong order.... yes we need to organise back room but probably after brekky dishes, which i coulda told him if i was awake!!!

Hi all!

Jenni, are you giving Jett cool boiled water as well as milk? I've been advised to only use water for Liebling's top-ups now (if he needs them) and that will sort out the tiny bits of solids in his poo, but also that FF babies need water more in hot weather - not a problem for me at the moment!

Kel, isn't it wonderful that you're meeting all fo Jemima's needs? She's going to grow up to be a very content, secure little girl and not need so much pampering when she's a little older! Well done you!

Yay Lisa for the TT snip! Harry sounds like Liebling with the feeding - stuffs himself so full he has to get rid of some! Huzzah for our champion feeder-men!

Any ideas from you wonderful women how to get Liebling to sleep in a crib? Yes, I do love co-sleeping, but TBH Liebling is heavy, doing my back in, and last night the only sleep I could get was sat up in bed with Liebling on the breast ALL NIGHT - even asleep, if I tried to lie down, even still cuddling him, he'd be upset until he was back on the breast! I'm trying to put him in his crib when he starts yawning, but he cries once he goes in there, even with dummy, rocking and singing. I'm so tired from all of this! I did manage to get him to sleep in there from awake this morning, but that's because I wasn't in the room and I can't do that all the time as I'm tired and want to use my bedroom on a nighttime too!

Hellooo!

Kirsten - I'm not using a dummy either. Bella likes to suck on her entire hand at times, but that's only when she's hungry, so I really don't see any use for the dummy when a feed is all she's after. How did your breastfeeding clinic go? I'm crossing my fingers for you that it went VERY well!

Jenni - Congrats on the birth of your little boy! I've heard that some brands of formula can cause constipation (only what I've heard, and not personal experience). I'm using Karicare and haven't had any problems - lots of non-solid poos! Also, like Ryn mentioned, giving cooled boiled water is supposed to help too - maybe you should check with the child health nurse??

Kel - Glad to see you're spoiling Jemima which is exactly what little princesses are there for!

Lisa - great news about the TT. It's just a shame you had to wait so long for it!

Kittykat - I used a dummy with my first DD because thumb-sucking was a big bad habit in my ex husband's family (neices and nephews all sucked their thumbs until well into their TEENS!), and I wanted to be able to take it away. It worked well!

Ryn - Not sure what to do about the crib situation. He obviously likes to snuggle up with mummy! Bella's been in her own bed since day one, although sometimes when she's unsettled I have to walk around with her in my arms until she falls asleep before I can put her down. I hope someone else has some good ideas for you!!??

Me - Even though I'm REALLY tired today, I am feeling FANTASTIC! My milk has nearly dried up :( so I've stopped expressing (I was only getting around 20ml out anyway), so Bella will be on 100% formula from tomorrow (I'm still having a little bit of trouble being "ok" about that, but I'm sure I'll get over it...). She's still doing lots of poos and wees and my sister mentioned yesterday that she looked like she'd grown. Will book her in for her 4 week checkup for next week so we can see how she's going. I'm sure she's going to pass all tests with flying colours! We had a lunch date today and she cried for the last 5 minutes of the trip (she was hungry) and was an angel again when we got there. I'm sure people think I'm lying when I tell them she actually does cry!!!

Better go - Daddy's got a cranky baby on his hands!

Hi everyone,
I got some coloxal drops from a friend, i only put 2 in his bottle, may try him on some water today,.... But if i remember from Zhai, the water doesnt help much. Zhai did the same thing around the 10 day mark. After we get this sorted im sure he will be fine! He is in a pattern at the moment, with his feeding, he wakes up at 1.30am and then again at 5.30am, by the time im finished feeding him Zhai is awake, so i put Jett back to bed and get up with Zhai..... BUT it being wednesday, its pre-school day for Zhai, aswell as tomorrow, so guess what!! Yep you guessed it, relaxation day for me!! YAY.

Michelle- My milk is drying up, although i have helped it along with some cabbage leaves, not having hot showers (boohoo) i wasnt getting much milk at all, i dont even reckon i was getting 20mls...... I know how hard it is with the thumb sucking, Zhai does it and some days id rather him have the dummy but he chucked it @ 3mths of age and started sucking his thumb.

Ryn- Do you wrap Liebling? He may like to be wrapped? If i cant settle Jett i wrap him tight and he settles, maybe he doesnt like laying flat on his back? You could try rolling a blanket of his lengthways and putting it behind his back so he is propped to the side a little...... Ummmm, Music, a watch near his head (they reckon the ticking sounds like your heartbeat) thats all i can think of at the moment, i hope that helps....

LIL and KK- Yay its so good to see some familiar faces in here!!

Lisa- Good to hear on the TT situation is sorted, I hope little Harrison becomes a champion feeder now!!

Hi to anyone else i missed, Ok better get going and get Zhai ready for the day, catch up with you all later..

hay girls........

im pretty slack these days.......sorry.

Hows everyone travelling?
i have the rest of this week and all of next week then im starting to work again very slowly.
im going to name my hours,as i work from home. but i need the money as the medical bills are pilling up big time.

Jonah is going well. so much better than when i had DS1. he is so much more settled, maybe becasue im more relaxed this time. he is feeding well too 80 to 100mls of formulae. im getting him weighed next week and he looks so much bigger. and hes only 2 weeks old.
he is getting circumsised (sp?) tomorrow we had a metting with the doc yesterday and its pretty straight forward DS1 was done by my OB last time but my new OB doesnt do it. and its $440. More bills!!!!:wall:
the thing that has freaked me out this time around id that DS1 was a screamer and i had to control cry him he used to hold his breath when he cried. Jonah never cries....WTF? he grizzles but he never fully gets really upset, its blown me away this time. everytime i have taken DS1 to school Jonah has been asleep so im trying to feed him just before i go to school to take DS1 and just before pick up in the arvo, its hard getting in and out of the car tho with having the c section as i have a 2 door honda. but what can you do?
well i better go hang out some washing while my little man is a sleep. i sorta have a bit of a routine down the last 3 days he has fed at the same time roughly everyday. 7.30am (just before school run at 8am)
sleeps till 10.30am.
feeds at roughly 11am (i will work from 11am till 1pm most days)
he sleeps from 11ish till 2pm then i have to feed him and take him up to school at 2.30pm...then he sleeps till 5.30pm
and he has awake time from 5.30pm till 7.30pm
goes to bed at 8pm
DP does 11.30pm feed.
i do the 3am feed and then he gets up at 6am and i get DS1's school stuff ready.
so im pretty happy with that so far so good.

have a great day ladies.
chat again soon.
take care love TG

Hello,
Man I'm tired!
Quinn slept last night for 8 hours! YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT! 8 hours! DP kept getting up to check that he was ok! My boobs were massive and hard and very sore this morning when I woke up because of it!
BF clinic went really well, I have fed him all day yesterday and all day today so far! Last night not at all because he didn't wake up :D Just a few tiny little fine tuning things made all the difference - I have inverted nipples so they are sore from stretching at the moment, but not sore when he feeds, so I have the attachment down pat and just need to work on getting through the stretching thing! I'm doing well so far.

Quinn has a bit of colic so that's been fun! As much as I love to cuddle him and soothe him all the time anyway, it's hard when he is screaming and bent backwards, got a few tips from the MCHN and the BF clinic midwife, So i have had no tomatoes and he seems really good today. DP makes lots of tomato based dinners so that might have been upsetting him. (they weighed him yesterday he now weighs 5205!!!! Big little man.

Lisa: YOU MUST BE SO RELIEVED!!!!!!! GOod on you for sorting it all out I can imagine the relief you feel being able to feed properly!!!! GO Harrison!

Kel; I'm like you - I spoil Quinn rotten, he gets lots of cuddles and whatever he likes :D Anyway you can't spoilt them when they are this age!

Ryn: Quinn gets very sooky sometimes when I'm around and I think that's because he can smell me and I am the food station. When he gets like that I usually get DP to settle him and then put him in his bassinette, that works sometimes...and just the wrapping too like Jenni said. Cool packs seem to make my nipples hurt more, probably because they are innies!

Can everyone believe I managed to get to the BF clinic (ON TIME) with clothes on and showered and with enough stuff for Quinn to stay for a week??? I'm amazed at my skills!

Hope everyone else is doing well!

Jenni: I have heard the water thing too, but can't really help more than that - sorry! The McHN today said that if you put 30 mls water in with the last 10mls of formula and feed that to them it really helps with constipation. But not to put the water in before that.

Hi girls

Kirsten, yay on feeding! I have fairly flat nipples and DH is scared of them when they come out of DS's mouth, they've been pulled that long! Yay for 8 hours too, I can usually get 5 from Liebling (when in bed together) so I hope he's reading this.

TG, yay on the routine, that sounds great! I have to impose routine as DS will sleep through day feeds and then be up all night, must be so nice when they do it themselves! Having said that, now he's used to it, DS is waking himself now.

Jenni, I can only wrap my lad for about 10seconds... I'll do him up as tight as anything and as soon as I put him down the hand is out! He is not into swaddling at all, but doesn't complain about it one way or the other.

DH has anxiety issues so he can't/won't do crying duty, although he has been quite good otherwise. I'm a bit annoyed he hasn't done the pots for 2 nights now (he didn't even cook last night, and has time for computer games) and he knows I hate leaving them. I think I may have to try leaving the lamp on all night tonight, but will just cuddle him all night if I have to; I'd rather he be happy and settled! And I'm sure it won't be for long.

TG I have a 2 door car too (new beetle - worse than most small cars coz of the shape!) I had c-section too and freaked out the first time I got Jemima out as it really hurt then I figured out to reverse out..... i get in front ways undo the seat belt and sometimes sit down and get her out then get up turn around and walk backwards out of the car, no stomach muscles necessary. Is your car auto or manual?? are you already driving?

Kirsten I am so glad feeding Quinn is going to be awesome for you now, I cant imagine what it would be like to have pain when feeding! I hate the constant feeding and would be quite prepared to give it up if it hurt as well!

Ryn, Jemima loves to fall asleep on me as well but as soon as she is asleep she doesnt really stir when i put her in th4e bassinet.... i have heard that babies have 20mins of "fake" sleep then they are fast asleep..... so maybe you have to wait 20 mins before trying to move DS??

I am finally ok with the fact i do whatever Jemima wants, I dont care what anyone else does for their babies and what people think will or wont affect Jem in the long term, we are doing things for the now and she is only 2 weeks old, when she is 6 weeks old i might think about changing things or if we havent figured out a routine by ourselves I might see about that but I have almost got the confidence to say tell people that I have nothing else to do but what she wants, and i dont care if she is spoilt, she is our princess!

went on our first picnic today, i am going to put photos on her site she slept through it! then went to see the baby of a friend of benji's we met in the hospital he was born 2 hours before Jemima, (benji hadnt seen the dad in 6 or so years and they ran into each other in the labour ward! and turns out they live 5 mins away) and I only have fed her twice this arvo!!! that is amazing considering afternoons is usually when i get frustrated and feed her almost hourly! tonight could be interesting!

how is it that we women can survive and function on so little sleep!!!!!! Ella is just so unsettled after she wakes for her first fed during the night. she doesnt cry shes just awake. She is now on full time FF boobs are killing hopfully they wont take long to dry up still a little upset about it Ella will be my last so i wanted to bf her for as long as i could its just to stressfull with 3 other kids to deal with i miss the contact already. Ive put her into her big cot tonight maybe the bassinet was a little uncomfortable for her who knows i give it a go if i get more the 3 hrs sleep ill be happy
clinic tomorrow ill have a chat with the mw on sleeping you would think with 3 other kids i would have a clue by now but they are all different .
Kel if jem is happy than thats all that matters and you are right dont worry what others are doing
jen sorry i forgot to mention the water feds when on formula it will help but i found if that doesnt work the coloxly will or maybe try 50ml cooled water and a teaspoon of brown sugar let the sugar desolve and give to bubs it work for me too one on the old wives tales i was told but it does work
kittykat

Hey Girls,

Just a quick one.. Ryn I put a heat bead thing in Sari's bed so when I do put her down, the mattress is all warm and she thinks it is a body. Works a treat.
THe swaddling works too sometimes. If she is really tired she fights it for a minute and then goes to sleep almost mid cry, it is quite funny. Anyway she is grunting and waking for her morning tea so better head off.

:hello: hello everyone will try and come in a bit more regularly and do personals! Have a great day.

Nets

Hi all :D
Great to see you on again Netty, I hope your little angel is not making you too tired these days.

I got to see the Early Childhood Nurse for the first time yesterday,,,, and got Griffen checked over.
Little piglet has put on 305 grams in one week!!!!!,,, no wonder he can finally fit into the 000's!. He is also now 55cm in length, with a hc of 38cm,, and 9lb 3oz.
With that all good,, she then dropped a bonbshell on me that the doctor who checked him over before discharge from hospital made a not in hid blue book that he has a heart murmur!!
They did not say one word to me about it, so now Ihave to get into my normal gp and get a referral to a paediatrician to get it checked out. Now I have to sit and worry about another thing,, just when things were looking all rosy,,, not impressed!

Took him out for his first actual excursion this morning to my eldests swimming carnival at the town pool,,, and got there to see my eldest win first place in his age group!!!! So very proud :D

Oops,, gotta go,, he has just started stirring and grunting,, lunchtime!! hehe
Love Lil

hay girls.......

smylie: Yeah i am driving i have a 7 year old so i have to take him to school as DP only had a week and a half off work. so i have to do the 8am morning run and also the 2.30pm afternoon run. If i didnt have to do that then i think i wouldnt be so tired. but getting bub in and out of the car all the time is hard work. im lucky he sleeps pretty much the whole time i try and feed him before i go and get DS1. but yeah back to normal for me im afraid, im even going to start working from home next week. and yeah my car is auto.

hows everyone?

well bub gets circumsized (sp) today.......im a little nervous even though i know the guy doing it is the best there is. but still im a bit nervous. i just applied the numbing cream to him and i have to kep doing it for the next 2 hours till our appointment.

well i better sccot off mr J is calling me.....i cant get anything done sometimes i start something and cant finish it.

take care love TG

TG: Ha ha - I know what you mean with the start and stop thing - so hard to get anything done - or completed!!!

Lil: That's terrible for you that they didn't even tell you about the heart thing!!!!!! How ridiculous! Don't worry though - heart murmers are fairly common.

Quinn did a 7 hour sleep last night - I am almost feeling human apart from the gigantic almost bursting boobs you get when you wake up!!!!!!

I thought I had screwed up and unsubscribed to the thread when i didnt get any bellybelly emails..... but nobody had time to post yesterday!

How on earth are you supposed to get anything done when you have no idea when baby is going to want you?? How do you cook dinner and feed at the same time? ho hum for the first time in a very long time (and I'm only 25) I am faced with a challenge!

Kirsten what time does Quinn go to bed to sleep for the 7 hours?? I can get 5ish but that is from 9 or 10 until 2 or 3 then we wake up when the sun does i think... maybe i'll try making her bassinette darker .....

All the babies in this thread have such nice names..... I'm already feeling the pressure when naming bub number 2.... Benji is already (has been since day one) talking about bub number 2, apparently I cant give birth for 12 months but seems like it wont be much after that that I do.... how exciting...... what a handful!

Benji goes back to work on Monday, but then my Mum is having a week off to spend time with us, so I guess it wont be until the week after that that I actually get a chance to be a 'proper' mum, do everything without relying on anyone... at the moment I know benji is there to change a nappy or burp Jem or even just put her in the bouncer when I have my handsful.... that will be kinda scary but I cant wait, me without routine has been weird....

Going to the Bright Bots factory outlet this afternoon, I cant wait!!! I am going to get some more cloth nappies, Benji and I are finally using them around the house, I knew if I put it off any longer they would be forever spew rags! She looks so funky in her bright coloured nappies, I will have to buy some trendier pilchers she only has 3 pairs and two of them are the same.... now that I know I have a little girl I can buy the bright bot cloth nappies that have a pink and a lilac one in them - yippee

Then engagement party tonight.... that will be interesting..... she has been a bit funny lately, but as long as we pick her up and cuddle her she is fine.... will have to get her out of that I guess - but not right now....

ps - i cant believe you have to drive already TG.... does it hurt?? did it hurt?? i havent tried yet, been lucky that benji has been home to drive me places and next week mum will..... then i will make myself the week after which will be week 5 so i'll be fine...

pps - we weighed Jemima at the chemist (for the fun of it) and she was 4650 and last week at the clinic she was 4210 so yippee become a chubby bubby!

ppps - Lil why did you circumsize your boy?? because of the father? brothers? religion? I just realised i hadnt even thought about it and will probably have to if I have a boy next time....

Kel - none of my boys are circumsized,,, you must be thinking of TG hun :D
TG - I know how you feel too hun,, I have been having to drive for the last 2 weeks too,, but our car is a huge bulky nissan patrol,,,,, manual too.
Sux major time, and I constantly worry about having to brake suddenly and popping open more of my wound,, but i have had no other choice.
Take care though for goodness sake hun,,,, I mean,, it is bad enough driving,, without having to climb in to a back seat to get a bubba out!!!!! Please make sure to take your time so as not to twist or pull at your wound :hugs:
Gotta go girls,,, I have to go to Big W,,, I bought a fisher price swing from there,, supposed to have 5 speeds on it,,,, it only has one on all the settings,, flat out. I am afraid to put bubba in it in case he gets shaken baby syndrome!! So I am taking it back and seeing if they all do it,, if so, i might get one of their rockers with the vibration on it for him,, as he wants to be held all the time,, even after feeds etc,, so i am having a hard time getting anything done,, even the toilet breaks i have to just listen to him cry for a few minutes in his cot while i run to the loo.
Love Lil

Kel: Quinn usually goes to bed around 9pm ish! Last night he slept for 9 hours again - it's so nice to feel human after a sleep. Although he dictates his own routine - I can try a lose routine but he ultimately decides what will happen and when!
I was told by a friend that just when you think you have it all down pat at about 5-6 weeks they change it all on you and won't settle and have different times they sleep eat etc so it throws you out again. Oh yeah, and Quinn doesn't have a very dark area where he sleeps, we have a street light outside our bedroom so the room is never completely dark and we have timber venetians so they don't block out ALL of the light, so I am not sure it's darkness that keeps him asleep for so long. During the day he sleeps in the lounge room in the BRIGHT light and with noise around all the time and at night it's dark-ish and quiet - I think it's that differentiation between night and day that helps - or he is just a sleeping baby - mum said I slept really well as a baby too, who knows~?

The hardest thing I've found with having them by yourself is that when you have tried everything to settle them or your arms just hurt because your baby is so big you have no one to hand them to and you can't just put them down when they're crying. That is what I have found exhausting.

DP was getting sad last night because Quinn would settle when I held him but would cry when DP held him...poor DP.

I have still not used a single disposable nappy - someone bought us some as a present and Quinn is too big for them now - he weighed 5205 last Tuesday and they are the newborn ones that go up to 5kgs.

I have also breastfed completely - no expressed milk from a bottle since Tuesday. My nipples are very sore but slowly getting better...Hooray - I'm getting there. HArd work with all the pain but worth it to be off that pump!!!!

Hope everyone else is doing well and you all get a chance to have a rest every now and then!!

See ya

Hi Girls,

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your precious little bundles!

I'm a little late in joining in here. For those of you who don't know me - I'm 26, married, and totally boring! Tee hee - I wish I was boring! When I'm not being a Mummy I work part time, volunteer with the CFA and have just completed a degree in Nursing. My (not so) little DD was born on 21st Feb via c-sect after an induction 6 days post EDD. I've been spending the last few weeks dealing with my birthing experience which was (unfortunately) less than positive. And of course I've had a few hiccups with little miss which seem to be sorted now (tell me I didn't just jinx myself!). I've missed all my girls on here but needed some time out. I can't wait to get to know those of you I don't know and hearing all about your beautiful babies!

My DD had a few drama's feeding and has been getting formula top ups occassionally. She ripped the shreads out of my nipples when I was in hospital but all seems back to normal (is there such a thing?) and is feeding well. Although she really doesn't like the right side... She sleeps through anything (fantastic considering the frequency of my phone ringing and noisy dogs in the area) although we are having trouble getting her to settle at sleep time at the moment. She has some great mannerisms and a friend of mine (who is a paed nurse) told me DD has attitude already. LOL. But I am loving being a Mum and everything it entails.

Lil: I'm going to give driving a go this week. I am missing it so much and HATE having to rely on DH to drive me anywhere! Plus, I can't wait to go walking on my fav walking track (which is flat) since I live in such a hilly area and it feels like I've run a marathon when I've just walked 1Km! I'm so sorry DS has a heart mumour. I hope you get into the paed quickly and it isn't too serious.

Sorry for the lack of personals - I will try harder next time!!! I promise! In the meantime, I am going to make the most of DD being asleep and go to bed...

Have a lovely night!

Love MG :)


ETA: Jen, DD has had some wind/constipation issues and my MCHN put us onto Infacol. The pack says for use from 4 weeks on but I have been assured it is fine from 2 weeks onwards. It has worked a TREAT for DD. Her wind is MUCH better and her bowl motions are much better as well. The other thing you could try is warm water followed by some some tummy massaging and leg movement (especially that one pumping their legs up towards their chest). Hope he settles soon.

Kirsten do you use flat nappies or fitted nappies? I have been using flat nappies (they look SOOOO cute) and am heaps confused about soaking or not soaking and sterilizing ect.,.... help?????

engagement party went great, Jemima slept the whole time no worries. Tried to go to the movies tonight (got free tickets so thought why not) but Jemima could obviously tell it was a crap movie and benji didnt get to see the first 20 mins and then we watched it for about 15 mins together then i went to feed her and then Benji joined me and Jem did a teeny spew on me so that sealed the deal that we came home and watched Macgyver on dvd! ho hum 3 weeks and 2 days first movie didnt work... but it so could have, so we will try again and go to a later movie the prob was that it was 6.30 start and that is Jem's awake time at the moment.... ho hum

benji went back to work today so i was a good wife and didnt wake him for the midnight feed or the 5ish am feed this morning, and he appreciated that.... I had been getting him to do the midnight burp and nappy change.... so I better go to bed so I can do the same tonight.....
I dont know what she is going to be like tonight she has been asleep ALL day and not feeding heaps in the day time and was very awake at the movies and at home, fell asleep feeding so hmmmmmmmm

my mum is on holidays this week.... i have been a grumpy bum yesterday and today first to benji and today to mum mainly because i want to try being a mum by myself, with nobody watching, i have not had a chance i feel to just sit and stare at my baby and to get a 'normal'.... mum came over and i said your just in time watch jemima and i'm having a shower.... then jem almost cried and mum says 'what do you normally do?" and i crack the ****s because i dont have a normal.... i have not been left alone for the last 3 weeks to get a freakin normal, we have had to go places or had people come over the whole time Jemima has been around.... NEXT WEEK i get to be alone and mum knows my problem at the moment and so we are getting along NOW was not pretty this morning.
on a lighter note she DID clean up my tupperware cupboard!

Hi everyone. Kel, I prefer my "alone" time when DH is at work because I can get myself into something that looks a teeny bit like a routine, although today you wouldn't know it as I was out the entire day! Isabella was an absolute angel of course! So I totally understand the frustration you're currently feeling. Although it is good when you have others around because you can have a shower without having to hurry. I hope things settle for you next week when you're living the "normal" life!

Welcome MG! I am glad to hear your feeding situation has settled for you.

Kirsten, good on you for sticking it out with BFing! Glad to hear things are getting better!

Lil, I have to do the same when I need to pee! I'm sure our babies will survive away from us for a minute while we do that and I know they grow out of this phase eventually!

TG, I find the school runs a bit hard sometimes. DD #1 started acting classes last week, so I don't have to pick her up on Tuesdays until 5.30pm thank god!

Me - I'm going well. My milk has completely dried up, so I am officially able to sleep on my stomach if I want to. Bought a Baby Bjorn carrier on the weekend because Isabella's not settling during the day and wants to be held. If I try to leave her either in her bassinet or on her mat on the floor for more than a few minutes, she gets really upset so I figured the Baby Bjorn will be the only way I'll get stuff done. It'll also make it easier to pick DD #1 up from school on rainy days. She loves it and falls asleep whenever she's in it! My SIL gave me a Babasling, but I don't like it and I worry she'll fall out of it, so it looks like I'm giving it back to her! I'm taking Isabella to the chemist tomorrow to get weighed, so it'll be interesting to see how much she's grown. I can already tell her legs and face are much chubbier. How cute!

Better go as I'm supposed to be "working". Have a great week everyone!

Kel: I am using mostly flanellette flats and some fitteds, all I do when I take them off is rinse the poo off if there is any there and put them in a bucket - no soaking is required! Then when I have enough for a load I put them in the washing machine (water 60 degrees) and with only half normal amount of washing powder and then hang them in the sun - the water and the sun sterilize and the sun also bleaches out any stains that might be on them - although I have only had stains once. The older generation will tell you you need to sterilize and soak nappies but you don't as long as you wash them on hot they will be fine (I have a front loader and it has temperatures on it). It's easy peasy! Oh and I also do exactly the same for fitteds (and pockets which are my favorite kind)

Michelle: THANKS it's been hard keeping with the BF but for me it's worth it - although now I have nipple thrush which just adds to the pain - but I've been using some gel stuff and it's getting better - man it hurts! I feel like I have had aching sore boobs for about a year!! Lucky you getting to lie on your stomach :) Those front carriers are great aren't they - Quinn loves his, we got a sling from ABA and he sleeps in his too :)

Hi MG: Congratulations on your DD :)

My little boy Anthony was born on 13th February 2007 at 1700hrs. I went to my Ob for my 38 week check up, not feeling too great (who does when your that size). My blood pessure was high and I had lost 2kg in a week. He did a ultrasound and found out that the fluid in the sack was reduced. This was 10.30am my OB then decided he needed to do a emergancy C-section. So by 2.30pm I was in hospital with my husband and I couldn't believe we where going to see our baby today (so much for all the classes we went to). The C-section wasn't as bad as I thought and the scar very small. At 1700hrs we had our little boy weighing 3.375 kg (8lbs 3 oz). I can only imagine how big he could have been if he had made 40 weeks. Iam so in love with him.

Hi girls! Long time no chat!
Hi Nik & Anthony :) That sounds like my last OB appt, except I didn't have to have a ceasar, I was induced. Hope you are both doing really well now.
Kirsten - Congratulations from me too! It can be such hard work to stick at BF when it is painful. My nipples have been feeling pretty rotten again (read: raw) since Ruby has started to get some wind issues late at night and bites and pulls while screaming. Sometimes I just want to pull her off because the constant pain over and over again is awful.
re: nappy washing - I was wondering about sanitising too??? Thanks for clearing that up. BTW did you know that you can get biodegradable liners that catch the poo so you can flush it and skip rinsing nappies?
Michelle - I hope Isabella likes the sling! In theory Im sure it will free up my hands too, but we are still practicing, Ruby's still not quite sure of them.
Kel - I'm sure you will do really well on your own next week! You're a supermum remember! Hint: try to get your mum to clean your house before she leaves so you have one less thing to do next week ;)
MG - Welcome! Sorry to hear your birth experience wasn't great, but glad that things are going ok for you now.
Lil - sorry that DS has a heart murmur, and even worse that they didn't tell you!! I hope the docs can help him andput your mind at ease.
Hi TG, Netty, Nat, kittykat, Ryn and everyone else... sorry I've run out of time, lil miss is needing some attention.
Chat to ya later :)