Sonie - just go to a pharmacy and ask for it, it costs around $10 and has an aniseed taste. Caleb HATED the gripe water and would gag and spit and make the most heinous faces with it but he takes the infants friend and all i have to do after a bottle is sit him up most times and usually before i even get to pat his back a burp comes out, its really good stuff.
I will SMS you the book details now
WOOHOO- 2 nights of self settling and working slowly,am gonna stick to it like glue,says takes about a week or so....oh yeh can someone contact me private n change my bloody ticker,i dunno how...ill give u my username n password,ok am off to challenge DH with a game of ten-pin bowling on the Wii
Welcome Meaghan! I have two little ones as well and am off work until December. I am lucky that I get 12 months on half pay, but I'm still tempted to use some of my Long Service Leave to extend that even longer. It makes it so much easier not having to worry about getting up and out the door for work each morning.
Soph, totally with you on the hug a bub. I really like how it totally supports their head too so you are totally hands free even when bending over. I ran into a girl from Ben's mothers' group today while I was wearing it and she said that the recommendation I gave her for a HAB was the best product recommendation she ever got!
Ren, good on you for persisting with Bfing. As Runner said, it WILL get easier
Us, we had a good night last night. Jared went down at 10:30 and didn't wake until 3am for a feed. I had a lovely sleep! Ben slept for 11 hours as well which was terrific as it was one of DH's busy nights at work which means he starts early and finishes late... ie. no help to me because he's not here!
I ventured out again this morning too. Took both boys to Big W to buy some nappies. I had Jared in the HAB and Ben walked until we got a trolley. I'm starting to think that it was a good move not to bother with a tandem stroller as Ben just isn't interested in sitting still anymore.
Jared is getting so big now, I bought Crawler nappies (Huggies) for him. I don't know if I can handle putting him in cloth until his poos settle down. I'm changing him about 10 times a day and his nappies are always either dirty or really wet. It's no wonder with the amount that he eats! He's also almost grown out of his bassinette, but I don't want to move him out of our room until he's two months old or so....that's a whole month away!
Anyway, must go do the washing up (oh the glamour!) while both boys are asleep
Amara and I are doing well, and her big brother loves her as does Daddy so much!
the only thing I see happenning quite often with Amara is hiccups........I personally think my milk is coming down very quickly and I have quite a lot of it, and Amara tends to fuss a little and therefore taking in air too.
I usually feed lying down at nightime, but may try being in the seated position and see if that helps........also have to raise the head of her cot. Yes??
well, I have read everyone's post - and there are so tough nights and days for some of you. It is such a big learning curve.
well, I better go and try and make Jamie Oliver's Chicken Pie !! I cannot wait for the weekend!!!!!!!
Hi mummas
Mel A-sent you my username and password to change my ticker,im so blonde n dopey!!
Well last night the self settling worked again,my DH more persistant than me and its paying off,i think cos im so unwell i have less patience..Boy how the hell do i keep the nightowl awake during the day,,he just sleeps n sleeps,today he been going down every 3-4 hours then wakes for 2 hours..he woke up at 7pm ish for a feed so now keep up til 9ish and bath n bottle..he takes a good hour or so to self settle but we are persisting,has no set wake up n sleep routine during the day he just does it automatically.i dunno whether its worth implementing a set daytime one or just let him go as he does so automatic...Last night he did ok,the worst was the 2am feed,had to change his bum and that was like charging the batteries,he didnt self settle til about 4am then went back to sleep..awake at 630am and in with me and we both slept like we in a coma,i love our morning naps...He's a bugger to feed soemtimes,doesnt have a full bottle then other times wants more,am hoping he aint got a touch of colic as its usually 7pm ish he squealing and carrying on after bottle,wont relax,hes having gripe water and that helps and loves the taste,ewww i still can remember that taste from when i was a kid,hasnt changed,just now less potent and no alcohol...haha
Well tomorrow im soooo excited,my mum gets to meet her grandson for the 1st time,she suffers from bad back n hips with arthritis and cant travel for long periods,so we are off to the country to see her and my other family...i miss them heaps an wish they lived closer
Does anyone know that can you MCHN or local council offer home help with new mums who need help or are ill,im falling behind in anything from fatigue and illness and need help,cant expect DH to do it all and thought they offer something thru ur local health nurse/health centre..Also has anyone joined a mothers group in ur local area? ive asked my MCHN but havent heard a thing
p.s thanx for the ticker mel...........
cheers bon
Things have been a little unsettled in our house the last couple of days. Yesterday Max decided to feed every 2 hours, the cheeky bugger (to those of you who do this all the time - I don't know how!). Anyway, by 4pm I was exhausted and desperately needed my nap, which I had tried to have at 3 but Max didn't settle after his 2pm feed. Luckily DH came home soon after, so he was able to look after him while I slept. Only problem was, he didn't put him to bed, so when I got up Max was v v tired. He ended up not settling properly till about 11 last night! I think that's the first time we've been through that. Although, we are still quite lucky, cos even though he wasn't setlled, he doesn't cry much if we hold him.
Anyway, today has been better. Max has still been waking up 2 hours after his last feed, but I've refused to feed him till 2.5 hours after. Again, he's been pretty much ok so long as being held. Hopefully he will settle back down to 2.5-3 hours between. DH is doing the middle of the night feed for me tonight - yay! I just hope I manage to sleep through and my breasts don't get too sore and full!
Someone mentioned that their bubs hadn't had a dirty nappy for 2 days - lucky you! EVERY SINGLE time we change Max his nappy is dirty. I am starting to use my cloth supply cos I just hate the waste with disposables. The other morning I went through 3 napies in 1 one change - first he pooed on the clean one, then he weed on the next one - third time lucky and I got the nappy on. So, we're using the few MCNs I have that fit and also old-style cloth, but still only part time as I don't have enough for full time use yet. Also, at this stage I just can't be bothered dealing with cloth during the night, so think I will keep him is disposables at night for a bit. Also have ordered some more MCNs. Can't wait till they get here.
Speaking of cloth nappies - does anyone know where to get flushable nappy liners? Can you get them in shops, or are they only available online?
Sonya - talk to your MHCN again, i talked to mine and she arranged for a baby sleep specialist to contact me and someone will come and observe how i am with Caleb to see if i need to tweak anything, she also said at the Royal Womans Hosp there is a day stay of some sort that helps mothers out, cant remember the details but i gather its so you the mother can get some rest.
Just reading your post and it seems to me that Nixon is overtired and thats why he is taking so long to settle, it should only take 20 mins in total to settle, anything longer and he is overtired, he should only be having a maximum of 30 mins playtime after a feed otherwise he will get overstimulated, if you look for his tired signs there will be a 10 minute window where you will be able to settle him down to sleep easily, if you miss it then he will be overtired and you will have problems... im learning so much these days its incredible, had the PERFECT day today. now that i can "read" Caleb i know when to feed him and put him to sleep. IF you have a consistant wake up time every day he will learn to wake up at that time and go from there. Caleb feeds every 3 hours (you do this till they are 4 months old for bottle feeding)starting at 8am, has a playtime with mummy or daddy for around 30 mins (maybe a little more or less depending on when his tired signs come) then 15 minute wind down time in his darkened bedroom where we just have cuddles in the quiet to settle him down and take away the stimulation of the rest of the house, then once he is drowsy i pop him into bed (with his eyes still open) say goodnight and he sleeps for 1.5 to 2 hours. this happened today every single time, it was wonderful. He is literally putting himself to sleep. Sonya if you are interested i can send you my routine if you want to try and follow it, after doing it for a week he should only wake up once in the night for a feed.
Wow that was a long post but honestly ladies, i cant believe the difference in my little man, now that he is sleeping properly and eating regularly he is so happy and smiley, he is so content that i am really able to enjoy every little bit of him, its so enjoyable to be his mummy when im having days like this.
jo-that would be great,i need help with the housework not nixon sleeping..hehe however if i can get him into the same routine u can and read the tired signs it be great,today n tonight success easy to put down,,,he wouldnt even self settle last night afte his 4 hour sleep and wake up for 2am feed,woke up bottle,bum change and awake,,i think today has worked much better as he been going down for 4 hour sleeps and awake 90mins to 2 hours,,i cant get up at 7 or 8am as im feeling toooo crook,the middle of the night feeds/wake up kill me,even if joe feeds him,he cries i wake up,im not having daytime naps as my metabolism is up the creek and im sped up.once i can get me right,might be able to get him right,im gonna try my darndest to get him doing well,last 2 nights he been sleeping by 730pm,please email me over your routine,i got a tizzie hall one but if you got a different one im keen.i think too also we been at fault as we been putting him in the car most days as i still am running my business and am driving over to my in-laws,he has a arvo sleep im car,,im really gonna start the 8am get up and start the day routine as of tomorrow,even though we have a long trip i can still implement the feed,play sleep,i cant read nixons tired signs,hunger i have a rough idea cos he grizzly ands mouths for food,tired i sorta can,eyes glazy,fidgety etc.,,
i feel to blame for this as i have just been out of the house and doing whatever willy nilly,i couldnt stay inside all the time to start the routine as i was going cuckoo being inside but now realise i have to do this and get him in a pattern or at 3 months onwards ill be paying for it..i feel like ive let him down,i just wish i wasnt so sick n fatigued so i could do what im supposed to.
they have a sleep school/mother baby unit that i can go to at my private hospital where i gave birth if i cant get my routine to work,i gotta iron me out 1st b4 ironing Nixon out,so far hes not too bad,we have had way more good nights that bad,about 5 bad nights in 4 and a half weeks so i shouldnt complain.
Sorry for the long rant,just need to get it off my chest and feel and hope im doing the right thing,
Jo- your so blessed with Caleb.
Last edited by soniebon; February 20th, 2009 at 09:04 PM.
,Bon You may be able to get some Home Help for a short period of time through your local Carer Support Program. Basically, if you have some sort of illness or you've had an operation or something they can fund Home Help by saying that your DH is caring for you and it eases his stress as your carer by funding Home Help. I managed to get funding for 6 weeks of Home Help through that program, as DH has depression and because I had the Cesar, they classed me as his carer and it meant I was eligible for Home Help. My MCHN referred me to the program after speaking to the local council, so I would go back to your MCHN if you think you can wangle something.
BTW - thanks for the link to the thread about increasing your milk supply, I'll check it out.
Owen was very unsettled all day again yesterday, ended up going for a long walk in the pram which quietened him down for a while. The upside was that he slept fairly well overnight, waking at 2am for a feed and then going down again quickly. Gotta go , he's crying.
Ava has put on 120g in two days!!! My LC came over today to weigh her and if she hadn't put on weight we were going to have to put her on FF top up's which I was upset about but now we don't have to!! She's done so well the last 5 days! She's finally at her birth weight now, well just above it - now 3.68 kg!! I'm so proud.
Still expressing after feeds and topping up with expressed BM and my nipples are still very sore and tender but we are getting there day by day. So proud of us!!!
And she's a MUCH more settled baby too. We don't even think she has colic anymore she was just a hungry baby the first 2 weeks as she wasn't getting enough milk (which I feel soooo bad about).
Last night she fed and just fell back asleep each time so it was a great night.
Hopefully tonight is the same!!
Ava doesn't sleep much during the day either, I know a few of you have been saying that about your bubs too.... its frustrating esp as I am so tired during the day. But at the moment if she's sleeping well at night then I don't mind too much. ALthough I always did think a newborn would sleep, eat, sleep, eat but Ava doesn't!!! She is wide awake most of the day!!!!
Gypsy- that was Ava who hadnt poo'd in 2 days it was bad.....cos meant she wasnt getting enuf of my milk..... i was sooooo glad to see her poo!!!!!!! dirty nappies dont bother us. lol. had a whopper today!!!!
Gotta go express now.... takes up so much time but i have to. either feeding, expressing or settling LOL
Hope everyone is doing really well sounds like most of you are.....
Ren: I have also been having the tailbone pain when sitting and when getting up and it is driving me crazy! I googled childbirth+tailbone and the first website gave me some good info on what we are going through and then there is a report under the information from someone who has some answers -under erin. It sounds like it may have some thing to do with our pelvic floor which i suspected as if I try to move those muscles it changes the pain. I also have a contact for a physio who specialises in this area and I am hoping she can help me with some exercises and/or refer me to someone. Have a read but I think it might be a good idea to see a physio if does not get better. It has been three weeks for me and it is not making any improvement and sometimes feels worse.
I am going pretty well with Emily but getting sick of being covered in milk and smelling like milk. The nipple sheild makes it worse and milk pools in it and then either spills out when she comes off or she knocks it off and I get milk everywhere. It is very frustrating. Sleeping is ok nights are the best but she is daily having times where she won't sleep between feeds and just wants to cry. We are experimenting with different ways to settle her. She is crying right now.. and I am trying to let her settle. Also bought a dummy today. I am not that keen on the idea but thought it is worth having some in the house but just tried it and she spat it out..not at all interested.
Gotta go...finding it hard to hear her cry. Hope you are all doing well
Hi everyone - thanks for all of the updates of your bubs.
Sam is doing well. We have now put a radio in his room and it is going 24/7 - he just seems more settled if there is a constant noise and especially when it's music. Sam is so alert sometimes now so we've been reading lots of books and I bought a few hand puppets too. He's even given me a few little smiles over the last week, they don't last long but it is such a good feeling when it happens (and it's not because he's about to fill his pants because until now that's what the smiles had been all about).
DH is now back at work, I'm coping ok though because I spent a few weeks on my own when I first come home from hossie as DH's holidays were booked for when Sam was due. It's just hard now when I want to nip into the supermarket quickly, no such thing as a quick trip with a baby.
I've just about finished putting together my pregnancy scrap book, Sam's baby book and his photo album. I had fun putting them all together and found it quite emotional actually. Re-living it all really. I even wrote my birth story last night (anyone interested you'll find it in birth stories) and I got really emotional doing that.
I've spoken to the priest at our church and am currently making arrangements for Sam's christening. I just need to set a date. Waiting until we get a settlement date on the house now as we will have sooo much more room at the new house (not looking forward to the packing though but will just chip away at it bit by bit). Have chosen a gorgeous christening gown so now need to find someone to make it for us. Godparents are my sister and her husband and DH's sister and her husband. It is going to be a beautiful day, I am really enjoying planning this day for him.
I went out today and forgot to wear breast pads - oooh dear. Luckily I was wearing the baby-bjorn because I was standing at the counter in spotlight and felt a really strong letdown. Oh dear, valuable lesson learnt! Should put a few emergency ones in my handbag.
Ren - yay for you persevering with BF. I just joined the ABA actually because I'm hoping to BF until at least 12 months.
Jo - yay for you with the routine. Sounds like you and baby Caleb are doing really well.
Bon - hope you had a lovely day with your Mum today!!! I bet she looooved meeting Nixon.
gypsy - Sam is the same, he doesn't cry when we hold him. He loves cuddles. Sam also feeds every 2 hours still for about 4 feeds per day - usually in the evening but sometimes it extends to around 2am which is tiring.
runner - Sam gets hiccups all the time. He did when I was pregnant too. We too have raised the mattress in his bassinet. I lean back at the start when I feed him because I think I have a fast letdown too. Sometimes he gets into a frenzy when he feeds though and goes really hard and fast (slurp slurp) and there is not much I can do to avoid that. Then when he is finished he usually lets out a big sigh (as well as some big burps) and has milk all over his face.
Meaghan - welcome! Looking forward to getting to know you and your William (and Kate too!).
Everyone else - Hi and big hugs. Am sure we are all finding it as hard as each other to keep up in here.
hi guys
Had an awesome day today with my mum and some family meeting Nixon for the 1st time..my nieces couldnt leave him alone..i took some photos of my niece feeding him,oh it makes me teary just looking at it..
Well im happy cos now we have the little man in a good routine,thanks Jo for sending me the routine sheet,hes pretty close to what you sent me,today i recognised his tired signs like yawning etc and put him down and whaddya know,i mustve worked it out cos lights out,hes been real good the last 4 night,he doesnt have an exact hour to work to but we are pretty close,and hes learning to self settle,yay on that one,that was more a night time issue..
Jo-we will have to catch up when im free and do that thing together,be very interesting,you might have more willpower than me..or can tweak a few things,ill see how i go the next 2 weeks and if its not as good as it is now then ill ring you.
Well im sooo tired,couldnt sleep much last night,metabolism on overdrive,hot,sweaty n insomnia,the only good thing was got quality time with DH for a cuddle and some US time..Tonight i was wanting to go bed but some morons behind me are having a party,and they are big maori's or samoan so i dont think ill be breaking up there party anytime soon,however if it continues til 1am i will ring the police.
Well thats it for me.
chat soon
bon
JO- Can you resend me that routine sheet,i deleted it by accident,if not sms me your email address and ill email you my email so you can email it back to me so i can print it...do i make sense?hehe
AJC - I forgot to bring extra breast pads when on our first outing out on Weds (just me and Ava) and I was b/feeding in front of the LC at the pharmacy she was assisting me in a corner (private corner) and the breast pad tore as I took it out! so i then needed a new one but remembered i didnt have any!! So just went straight home after the appointment incase i leaked LOL luckily i didnt that time.....
Ava and I are doing so well with the BFing now and enjoying it much more now that Ava is getting more and feeding much better and putting on weight
Also my cracked damaged nipple is healing so well!!
Thats cute Sam is giving little smiles now!!! And more alert and playing etc.... and you are sooo lucky your DH has been home for weeks with you, I'm so jealous! My DH got no time!! It's been so hard.....
MeLisa - thanks for that info re:tailbone pain. Was Emily posterior too? Ava was! It huuuurrttt..... I will have to see my physio soon might talk to my GP at my 6wk checkup about it too. I have to sit down on a pillow as our dining room chairs are too hard. Even sitting on our soft leather couch it hurts!!!! I have been doing my pelvic floors more lately hoping that helps. And yes, i too get a bit tired of the milk dripping everywhere and all over our bed sheets!!!! I can't believe how much can drip out!
I just had the most beautiful moment with my daughter.... She was feeding and after a good long 40min feed came off and just let her head rest against my arm and I looked at her and all this milk just dribbled out of her mouth and down her chin.... it was so cute!!! (and it wasnt a vomit!) Made me feel good that that's my milk and I'm feeding her with it!! It was just special. After all the issues with BF the last 3weeks it was really great moment.
Anyway, DH and I got hardly any sleep last night. Poor Ava has a cold My niece came over Thurs with the sniffles and now she's given it to Ava. Something we didn't need..... so she is crying alot and not sleeping. She hasn't slept since 5am her nose is all blocked and stuffy.
DH and I feel like we've had a big night out drinking and hungover when thats not the case at all!!! Hopefully tonight is better.
Ren - Head to the pharmacy and get some Fess saline drops for Ava's nose. Just use them before a feed and it will help with all the sniffles and clear up things so she can feed properly. I still use them on Henry - he's still pretty snotty! Poor little mite.
Been AWOL for a few days....hard to catch up again!
Henry still a mega wriggler at night and not sleeping great. No set routine here but can't really expect him to get into one with the other 2 and being everywhere throughout the day.
BBQ at the SIL's tonight so better go and ger organised..........
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