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..........
grrrrrrrrr i have been doing everything right and unfortunately my kid hates working to a strict schedule,tried today and hell no,cos i tried to follow it to a tee he cracked it,would hardly sleep all day as he was woken to start it and have had problems getting him to sleep n settle all day,its 920pm and hes in bed,still being a bugger,we are taking it in turns to rock the cot,a car trip is imminent shortly as that knocks him off...
i think ill let him work his own daytime routine out but close to my guidelines cos doing it to the hour has proved a big no-no,hes never been this bad during the day..And the self settling driving me nuts but something i have to persist with,when he wont self settle it can go on for hours..i think its a case with him if it aint too broke dont try and fix it.anyway off i go to try get the squirrel back to sleep
Hello everyone....it has been a few days for me so will write personals for the last few posts (even though I have kept up-to-date with reading all the posts).
Soph: Your DS really suits his name - he really does look like a 'Henry'. Too cute!!
AJC: DS is having a naming day on 4th April....we are busy organising everything now. Invites go out tomorrow. It is exciting, isn't it!! We bought DS a light blue linen overall set to wear (he wore it home from hospi but was waaaay too big).
Jo: How's your routine going? Glad you found something that is working for you and Caleb.
Ren: Yeah on Ava gaining weight! My DD was slow to gain weight because she didn't drink much each feed (and she was bottle fed!). She has only now hit 10kg at 20 months and now eats like a horse.....think she is just a petite one (but very tall). Glad that Ava is getting a full belly of your milk now! You are doing a wonderful job!
Bon: You know what is best for your DS! You sound like me when I had DD - I thought that routine was the way it had to be but to be honest, it is not for every bub or parent. Just do what you think is right. If DS is happy at the end of the day (and therefore so are you), then that is all that matters. As for self-settling, it can take time (as you probably know). Both my bubs have self-settled from day dot but I am really lucky......I didn't 'teach' it, they just did it??? I have watched friends self-settling their bubs and it did take time - but well worth it in the end!! Hope DS settled for you and you didn't have to go for that drive (but it works hey!).
AFM DS still has really bad reflux...in fact it is worse. We are lucky though, it isn't interrupting his sleep thank goodness....he is a happy chucker!! But am tired of being spewed on and he has quite a few feeds during the day as he can't keep more than 90mL down at any one time. Poor love power chucks and it even comes out his nose. Off to the doctors tomorrow to get a perscription formula and drugs (probably losec).....we tried to defeat it but the time has come to surrender to medical intervention. Still can't believe how relaxed and calm he is even though this is going on. He is a really lazy, chilled dude!! I think his motto will be "in my own good time" or "what's the rush" he he. A nice change from my tornado DD!!
Anyway, am going to bed now. DS has started doing a 7-8 hour block at night yeeha!!
Linda
Well, Ava was awake yesterday from 5am until 10pm last night DH and I were pulling our hair out cos' she was so unsettled.... she slept on and off sometimes when on our chest or in our arms or in the sling but hardly at all!! DH and I were so tired.
Last night was a good sleep she slept pretty well however I kept waking to her noises. They are such loud little sleepers aren't they!?
Do most of you girls find your bubs are extra clingy? And I thought newborns just sleep and eat??? Ava doesn't!!! lol Ava won't settle unless we hold her in the sling and even then she will fall asleep but if we put her down later on she'll wake soon after.... thankfully we don't have those problems at night and she seems to sleep well in her hammock at night time. She is only little and they must suffer a bit of "womb withdrawal" I guess!!
Lactation Consultant visited today and weighed Ava and she's now 3.79kg so YAY we are fully breastfeeding now and don't need top up's of EBM!!! so proud of Ava and I.
We have come along way through all the pain and problems of attachment etc.
Orange - thank you for saying we are doing well!! You are so lucky your two self settle from day dot!! yehhhaaa 8hr block for a 6wk old?? how good is that!!!!!! whats your tip?? lol Soph - i'll get some of that stuff from the chemist this week, thank you! It would be hard for you to get routine for your 3rd, with two other littlies. You'll get there.... hope bbq was fun! Sonya - we are doing self settling also but i've heard it can take weeks/months for some babies so we have to be patient. It is hard tho hey. Just when you leave the room and think they are falling asleep by themselves then 10 mins later.... whhhaaa!!!
Anyway, while Miss Ava is asleep in her sling I am going to finish my lunch while I can! I've given up on making cups of tea cos' i just never get to drink them cos' i can't drink it while holding her and by time i get to it, it's cold!!!
And with regards to a routine..... well we aren't even worrying about that just yet!!! Only routine we have is the bath routine at night I'm still just trying to get used to having a newborn and BF!
Ava is 3 weeks old!!!!! where has it gone..... still got to type birth story!
I'm still around, reading all the posts just not posting - seems as soon as i start typing something, Ella decides its time to start up!!
REN: - I hear you loud and clear on the not settling unless in the arms - Ella is opposite to Ava though where she sleeps well during the day, but come night time its hell! - im managing about 3-4hrs sleep a nite so im feeling like a walking zombie and as for routine, uh, yeah, my routine is what ever Ella wants - i just keep telling myself, she is only 4.5 weeks old and i need to be patient.....not a strong point of mine!!
I hope everyone is well and enjoying their babes (even with the sleep dep, crying etc!!)
Gill - yeah you sound like me hun!!! I keep telling myself "it will get better" as everyone reminds me.... and don't worry, I too, am living off about 3-4hrs a day too. It's amazing how I'm still standing!!!
Every time Ava cries, I think "omg are you hungry AGAIN?" and I feel like I need to offer the breast all the time!!! It's so difficult knowing what they want and learning her different cries etc.....
Yeah I'm not really worrying about a routine until from 8wks onwards. Just going with the flow, what she wants at this stage.....but definitely trying to get her to self settle gently.
Gill: Sounds like bub has day and night muddle up? Have tried some sleep cues that are only for night time sleep (like wrap tightly etc).
My guy sleeps in his cot during the day unwrapped and self-settles with his mobile and fish bowl within a couple of minutes. Once asleep his music goes on his CD and he sleeps for up to 3 hours. If I am going out and want to have a small sleep, I don't put the music on and he naps only. At night, he goes to sleep with his music on (no mobiles), wrapped (from under his arms) and well fed (he cluster feeds from 4pm-7pm). DD had the same 'routine' (I use the term routine loosely) and she knows that when the music comes on it is time for bed. She just says 'nigh, nigh, love you' and gets into bed now and goes to sleep.....hope DS does the same (eventually).
For those having trouble settling bubs, have you tried white noise? Put the radio on an off station....it drives you nuts but is supposed to produce a similar noise that bubs were used to in the womb. I used this earlier on with DD and it worked....drove me insane so I switched to music. She hates it when I change CD's...she has her favourite (that is slowly driving me insane but why change something that works right??). Anyway, just my two cents worth he he.
Ren: With Ava having trouble gaining weight, routine would be the last thing I'd be thinking of....think you are doing the right thing feeding her when she needs it....she has some catching up to do. You are right, maybe at 8 weeks she will be ready for a routine.
Took Dash to the doc today and is on Zantac. Little porker has gained 500g in 10 days!! total weight gain is 1.5kg in 6 weeks!! And that is with reflux....go figure! Will see how we travel with the Zantac. Hope that is all we need to settle the reflux.
Anyway, bye for now.
Linda
PS. Have any of you put together a photo book at Big W site before? They are under $10 at the moment. Give it a go...it is too easy!!
Oh girls, im hearing what you are all saying and ive heard it before and then seen the answer and a very happy mum and baby after they put the advice into practise... please please check out the baby whisperer website, im telling you, its been a godsend for me. We still have our routine going, Caleb feeds every three hours and sleeps for an hour and a half to two hours four times a day and sleeps almost through the night as well
Ren if your little one is crying out for food and its been less than an hour and a half since she ate then either you have a low milk supply or you arent reading her cries properly, she wont be hungry that soon but if you give her your breast she will take it and not learn to self settle and you wont learn how to differentiate between her cries. Just imagine you go into a restaurant and ask for the bathroom and get a plate of food shoved in your face or you ask for some food and get taken to the toilet, how frustrating. if she doesnt feel that shes being heard then all her cries will become the same and you wont know the difference at all.
I hope i dont sound like im "preaching" i just know how valuable all this information i have received has been and I want you all to benefit the same way i have, i have so much sleep and energy, im able to go out, i dont have to drive Caleb or rock him to put him to sleep he just falls asleep because ive learnt how to read him and know how to settle him down so he has now learnt (in just two or three days) how to put himself to sleep in his bed. Its not a strict routine, its just a guideline and you work out how your baby fits into it as every child is different.
BTW the baby whisperer does NOT condone crying it out at all.
Here is a rough guideline of what the cries mean:
From Secrets of the Baby Whisperer p.86-88
Tired or overtired
Listen
Starts as cranky irregular frequency fussing but if not stopped quickly escalates to an overtired cry: first 3 short wails followed by a hard cry, then 2 short breaths and a longer, even louder cry. Usually they cry and cry and if left alone will fall asleep.
Observe
Blinks, yawns. If not put to bed, physical signs can include back arching, legs kicking and arms flailing, may grab own ears or cheeks and scratch face (a reflex); if you are holding him, squirms and tries to turn into your body. If he continues to cry his face will become bright red.
Of all the cries the most often misinterpreted for hunger. Therefore pay close attention to when it occurs. It may come after playtime or after someone has been cooing at baby. Squirming is often mistaken for colic.
Overstimulated
Listen
Long hard cry. Similar to overtired.
Observe
Arms and legs flail; turns head away from light; will turn away from anyone trying to play with him.
Usually comes when baby has had enough playing an adult keeps trying to amuse him.
Needs a change of scene
Listen
Cranky fussing that starts with noises of annoyance rather than outright cries.
Observe
Turns away from object placed before her; plays with fingers
If it gets worse when you change position then she might be tired and needs a nap.
Pain/Wind
Listen
Unmistakable shrill high-pitched scream that comes without warning; may hold breaths between wails and start again.
Observe
Whole body tenses and become rigid, which perpetuates the cycle, because the air can?t pass; pulls knees upward to chest, face is scrunched in an expression of pain, tongue wiggles upward, like a little lizard.
All newborns swallow air, which can cause wind. Throughout the day you?ll hear a tiny, squeaky wincing sound in the back of the throat ? that?s air swallowing. Wind can also be caused by irregular feeding patterns.
Hunger
Listen
Slight cough like sound in the back of the throat; then out comes the first cry. It short to begin with then more steady: waa, waa, waa rhythm.
Observe
Baby starts to subtly lick her lips and then ?root? ? tongue starts coming out and turns head to side; pulls fist toward mouth.
The best way to discern hunger is look at when baby last ate. If she?s on EASY it removes some the guesswork.
Too cold
Listen
Full-out crying with bottom lip quivering.
Observe
Tiny goose bumps on skin; may shiver; cold extremities; skin can sometimes have a bluish tinge.
Can happen with a newborn after a bath or when you?re changing and dressing her.
Too hot
Listen
Fussy whine that sounds more like panting, low at first, about five minutes; if left alone will eventually launch into a cry.
Observe
Feels hot and sweaty; flushed; pants instead of breathing regularly; may see red blotchiness on baby?s face and upper torso.
Different from fever in that cry is similar to a pain cry; skin is dry, not clammy. (Take temperature to be sure)
Where?d you go? I need a cuddle
Listen
Cooing sounds suddenly turns into short waas that sound like a kitten; crying disappears the minute baby is picked up.
Observe
Looks around, trying to find you.
If you catch this straight away you may not need to pick baby up (pat on back, soft words of reassurance).
Overfeeding
Listen
Fussing, even crying after a meal.
Observe
Spits up frequently
This often occurs when sleepiness and overstimulation are mistaken for hunger.
Bowel movement
Listen
Grunts or cries when feeding
Observe
Squirms and bears down; stops nursing; has bowel movement.
May be mistaken for hunger. Mum often thinks she?s ?doing something wrong?
Ok so this is a really long post but i hope it helps somebody in this group....
Sonya, I will resend you my routine for Nixon, like i said just sing out if you want some help!
so proud of Ava and I.
where has it gone..... still got to type birth story!
- i just keep telling myself, she is only 4.5 weeks old and i need to be patient.....not a strong point of mine!!
yeah you sound like me hun!!! I keep telling myself "it will get better" as everyone reminds me.... and don't worry, I too, am living off about 3-4hrs a day too. It's amazing how I'm still standing!!!
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