Babies Born~ May 16th-31st 2009 #1

Hurrah first post in the Babies Born thread!!

Have just posted my Birth Story

Arrival of CJ

Well all has been going well until tonight, CJ has not slept really since 11:30PM and just keeps wanting to feed then falls asleep for 10 mins before wanting more food! At 3:30AM gave up trying to settle her in her room and fighting off sleep while feeding her (any tips on good position for bf where you don't have to worry too much about keeping their nose free?) and decided to come online - so did a video conference with my mum and dad who just went goo goo over her and then she did fall asleep for about an hour (she seems to like being on the sofa next to me while I am online) but has just woken and had another feed and is semi asleep now - so fingers crossed she will sleep for a while now as I am shattered!

Looking forward to chatting more in this thread later today after some sleep I hope!

vic... i have big boobs and have to keep the nose free, i find lying on your side with bub tucked into your chest works. i prop up on my elbow to support my breast and hold it still for bub. the only other position that works for me, is sitting on the couch, sometimes cross legged with a pillow on my lap, then bub come across, almost from underneath. again, i have to hold my boob so she can latch. if this is confusing, i can email you some pictures. LOL my mum has taken heaps of BF photos to show in her conferences. LOL
the drugs from the c-section can take a while to wear off too, and they can interfere with bresatfeeding and sleep routines. just take it one day at a time, each day is different. and if you are still taking painkillers, although they say they are safe they can still disrupt baby a bit. i have found coffee makes ralie irritable too. had a cup and she didn't sleep for the whole day!! never affected Q. he is still a sleep avoided!! LoL


I want SEALS new album.

'two free hands' time is over. bubby is awake.

BG: Wow, that's an amazing sleep! She sounds like a happy little soul.
Naomi: Of course Bailey's cousins love him! Hope your weekend with the fam has been good.
Jess: Good on you for establishing a routine. I am still flying by the seat of my pants a bit. I am crapping my dacks at the thought of DH going back to work. Am going to have to work out a pattern before that happens.
Vic: Agh, we had a night like that a few nights ago. I've since discovered that if I feed Phoebs and she's sleepy, I'll change her nappy to wake her again then top her up. This helps her go for at least 2 hours. Bummer is that sometimes she poos straight after I've changed her, lol. Then I have to interrupt her to change her again.
Will endeavour to read CJ's story tonight...
Raindrops: What's this "two free hands" concept that you speak of? ;)

had to get out of the house for a while today - was going stir crazy with cabin fever so went with DH to go to the shops and pick up some stuff from my bro's place - ended up being a much longer arvo than we expected, but Emerald was just perfect the whole time - she fed really well while we were out, slept in the car both ways (about 20 minute trip!) so all in all it was a good day. am rather tired now but i'll get over it i'm sure...

have appt with GP tomorrow, paed on Thursday and MCHN on Friday - big week coming up - i think today was a good idea just to see how she travelled! no idea how we're going to be ready to leave by 9.45 tomorrow given she seems to sleep really well from about 7 til 11... uh oh...

Vic! welcome to the thread!
Hi all. Very tired. We drove to Melb today but left DS with my parents... although DS refused to sleep last night ( Allira was her usual brilliant self), so DH and I are the most tired we've bene in months.

Not alot happening..... same old really, just thought I'd stick my cyber head in quickly.

Hope everyone's keeping warm... it's freezing!

Hi Mummy's

Buggered after a full on long weekend, just cleaned out two kitchen cupboards as in the past 6 weeks have been doing everything at a frantic pace when Bailey sleeps and my cupboards got to the point where I was scared to open them in case everything fell out as have been unpacking my dishwasher and literally throwing everything in cupboards at a speedy rate LOL

Looking forward to a hopefully productive week!!

BG - LOVED the birth story, and fingers crossed re Emeralds sleeping, what a little champion. Its always daunting venturing out for the first time, sounds like it was a success!!

Jess - nice that Andy is developing a routine for you, I hope you catch up on your studies - I cant imagine finding the time to do them with one child, let alone two - legend!

Raindrops - Good to have you in the new thread :) I saw Seal on Sunrise this morning - he is lovely, he was talking about his children

Vic - love CJs FB page, and welcome also!! I read your birth story too, what an welcome to the world for CJ

Amy - I change Baileys bum mid feed sometimes when he is sleepy so he takes the 2nd boob (and hopefully fills up a bit more so he lasts longer till the next feed). How is Phoebe going - cant wait to see some pics (hint hint LOL)

Niadla - watch out for swine flu in Melb LOL! It was cold here today too. I have been using our heater heaps more than normal now that we have Bailey so it will be interesting to see what our electricity bill is this winter.

All OK here, Have been having increasing issues with wind, poor little tyke was beside himself last evening, had tried a every burping position possible and have tried Braurs products and Marina's formula with mixed success but my SIL said she had success with Infacol with her babies years ago so I have tried that and it seems to be the magic tonic for Bailey, so will keep using that I think, he has been burping up a storm since using it and much more settled - Yaaaaah

Anyway, he is squaking for a feed so must go

Hi Krystie and Jacinta

Naomi
x

Hi Everyone

Janelle - thanks for the tips on positioning, I have been using the lying down one all day after you reminded me (I did that in the hospital a bit but had switched to a sitting up type one at home) and managed to lie in a position where was pretty comfortable and able to give CJ's nose enough clearance! I think maybe because I have felt more relaxed in that position CJ has also felt more relaxed and has been feeding longer, and made her sleep more - will see how it works overnight!
I am only on panadol now in terms of pain relief for the c-section, the first few days in hospital they were giving me something but it made me feel out of it a bit so opted to stop taking that and then went to just panadol and volataron and now only the panadol.

Amy - Am trying the changing halfway thing now as well and seems to be working well. Yesterday CJ kept refusing my right breast if I offered it to her first but was always happy to take it second but today she seems to be over that - I wonder what it was - what was going on in her little mind :-)

Naomi - I am also interested to see what our electric bill will be like, this is our first winter in this flat though so won't have a lot to compare it to, but I think definately put the heater on more with CJ to think about.

MCHN visit tomorrow, the midcare midwife came on Saturday and CJ got weighed and is putting on weight well - which is great. Is funny how many different opinions there are on weight gain even within the same hospital, when they first weighed CJ the midwife who did it was all like panic stations because she had lost dead on 10% even though she was feeding great, my milk hadn't come in yet and she was clearly thriving. So then they suggested I express to top her up, I was pretty confident all was ok but agreed anyway, she didn't take to the EBM from a bottle or little cup well at all. Anyway then my milk came in and was suffering from engorgement so expressing was only encouraging more milk - next set of midwives said weren't worried about her weight at all and could stop expressing unless I needed to make breasts more comfortable. CJ got weighed again following day and had put on weight so everyone happy. Heard the lactation consultant telling girl next to me she didn't believe in weighing till day 5 anyway! If you were a little unsure of things and maybe hadn't done that much reading on it could all be a bit scary.

Have just changed CJ's nappy and her cord stump has come off - hurrah, makes nappy changing easier now don't have that to contend with! She is now doing what I call her truffle pig routine so time for a feed.

Hi girls!

Small boy is starting to grumble so I'll be quick! Hope you are all doing well. :D

Kyson's had a couple of outings recently. We took him out to a family dinner in a restaurant the other night and he was a little champ. He slept for half of it, and fed for the other half. :clap:

Then we took him out to the shopping centre yesterday. We took him in his pram (which he usually loves) but he ended up being carried by me most of the time. He was fine in the pram while we were walking and moving, but as soon as we stopped to look at things he decided he wanted out. Oh, and then he decided it was dinner time in the middle of target. The only chairs in the entire store are outside the change rooms. They were pretty exposed, plus people were sitting on them, so I ended up sitting on the floor in the women's "camisole and granny undies" section feeding him :ROFL: There was no one else in that area except a person that worked there, so I didn't care. My baby comes first, hehe.

We had a bit of a shocking night last night though. DH was working for most of the night (he DJ's on the weekend) so Kyson and I were on our own. Kyson decided to cluster feed all night. Plus he was feeding strangely which meant he was taking ages to do each feed. Then he would be wide awake and it would take me ages to get him to go to sleep. Then of course he was awake again half an hour later to feed again! I was one tired little mummy in the morning. I must have looked shocking because DH told me I looked exhausted and took Kyson after his morning feed so I could get a couple more hours sleep. Hopefully tonight goes a little better!

Does anyone know what this might mean..? Kyson has been feeding strangely lately. He's usually such a good feeder, but the last few days he seems to get quite upset while he's feeding. He latches on great still, and for the first part of the feed he is perfectly fine. Then halfway through he starts pulling off and jumping back on repeatedly and crying in between. He even tries to cry while he's latched on sometimes. It's really heartbreaking! After a while he tends to go back to feeding normally, but it's usually when he is starting to get sleepy. I thought maybe he was draining the breast and not getting anymore milk from that side, but a quick test in which I managed to squirt milk in his face accidentally ruled that out. He still gets wind, but it doesn't seem directly related to that because he'll do some really good burps and still do the same thing. I'm at a loss as to what's wrong :( I'm even thinking about asking the midwife to come out again.

just a quick hello while i havetime lol

well im all caught up on the study front so i am pleased with my effort over the long weekend. Andy has a cold so we r off to the Dr's but will have to pay for it as medicare card hasn't arrived yet.

Andy is starting to stir so i gotta go

KL - I was going to suggest that it did sound like wind, sometimes they confuse the pain for hunger (you probably know) and that may cause them to not feed properly, it also could be lower bowel pain if his not getting enough wind up during his burping sessions. I burp a few times during a feed and generally only feed with one breast a feed (did with Rochelle too and for the first weeks she was putting on anywhere from 300-600grams a week - I usually express that breast too after feeding so when bub has a growth spurt, it's not a big event cluster feeding because the extra milk is already there in my breasts). But it sounds like your pretty confident it's not wind pain, so the next thing that comes to mind is maybe your milk has settled down and isn't coming as fast as it has been and he is having to work for it more, but since he is a bit sleepy he's feeling a little lazy?! That's what MCHN told me with Rochelle fussing at the breast through a feed. I also remember reading in 'The Wonder Weeks' that about 6 weeks is a developmental stage and they might be a bit fussy etc. It'll pass mate, try and remember that when your feeling a bit frustrated. You sound like your coping well though :)

Vic - Loved your birth story... kind of puts me to shame though - yours was quite interesting where as mine is pretty straight forward and uninteresting. Arrived at hospital, jumped in shower, felt like I needed to poo, so got on bed, Ob arrived and made me deliver on my back... story over! Well third stage was pretty horrific because my Ob actually had to put his hand up inside me which I thought hurt more than the baby coming out. Yuck! Sounded like you did a FANTASTIC job hun... I've said it before, If I had anything longer than a 3 hour labor and arrived to hospital before 8cms dialated, I'd definately be having drugs. I even wondered whilst Brooklyn was on her way out (literally her head was easing out) why on earth we do it without drugs?! It just seems crazy to endure that pain when we don't need to. lol. Great job anyway. In regards to the big boobs issue, I don't have ginormous boobs, but I have had a couple of boob jobs and at the mo my maternity bra that I have on is a 12 DD (so not terribly big) but I do find when I cradle feed if Brooklyn isn't laying straight across my chest with her bum right under my underarm and legs wrapped around me, she is burried in my boob - but soon as I bring her bum back up under my underarm, it seems to leave her nose clear of my breast and her chin firmly planted into my breast. Don't know if that helps, otherwise football/twin hold - if your holding her right, should leave her with plenty of room clear for her nose. Don't forget, her head should fall back a bit - sometimes if I'm feeling abit tired and tense, I hold her a bit tight and push her into my breast a bit much, if I losen up my grip a bit, her head falls back a little and fixes the problem of my breast suffocating her. Just my observations with feeding my own children.

Naomi, Sorry to hear about Bailey's pain... It's heartbreaking isn't it. I think that was Brooklyn's problem the other day and why she was cluster feeding. It only lasted about 48 hours... but I ended up giving her a nice warm bath with some lavander, a little massage of her tummy and lots of time on my shoulder and she finally passed a load of wind out of her bottom! It was an exhausting time though... but I'm so glad she is back to herself. She hasn't gone back to sleeping 7pm till 4.30am, but she's still sleeping 5/6 hours feed and then 4/5 hours through the night, which is still great. I hope the infacol keeps the peace in your household for you. ;)

BG - Maybe you could dress Emerald before you put her down for her sleep at 7 tomorrow morning, so when it's time to go you can just pick her up and pop her in the car. I thought it would be hard leaving the house with two... it's really not that bad! Just have to be organised with nappy bag and outting stuff (food, drink bottle and books (to keep her busy while I'm feeding Brooky while we're out) for Ro, hat, nappies for both girls and all the usual stuff). I'm actually enjoying a few days at home, as just about every day from friday week ago we had been out and we live 45mins out of town, so it's quite exhausting! But we had farm fest here last week which we went to and it was great... My pram is great for events like that.

Snacks - Don't you hate when you change their nappies for them only to poo straight away... that's almost every nappy here with Brooklyn. lol. Little bugger can't stand to have a clean nappy, so she has to go soil it straight away. I hope your keeping well and Phoebe and Natty are being good girls for Mummy.

Hope everyone else is well! And Hi to those I didn't do personals for. Everything is great here! Rochelle has a little stuffed friend that she favours (it's a little lamb who's name is coincidently 'Lamby') and the other day I said to her, 'is Lamby hungry? Does Lamby want some booby?'. We were so surprised when Rochelle lifted up her shirt and singlet and put her lamby to her chest as thought she was breastfeeding it! It was so cute, but also so fascinating that she has picked that up. I haven't showed her how to do it or gone through what I'm doing when I'm feeding Brooklyn. I guess I do say things like 'Ok, Mummy is going to boobyfeed Brooky now', so I guess she has just caught on from there. The age she is at at the moment is just amazing... she is picking up things so quick and mimics everything we say! We really have to cut out saying the S word because on the weekend Rochelle was wearing a dress and her nappy fell off a few times and each time she said 'Oh *****'... I was besides myself when she said it, but what really shocked me was how she used it and the tone! She used it so casually. Fortunately I think if we just stop using that word, that she will just forget about it since she is still quite young. Maybe we'll replace that word with 'snap' instead. We'll I better get off and wake Brooky for a feed and do a little housework before Rochelle wakes up at noon for lunch. Have a lovely day ladies. =)

i love the names of all the babies. a friend of mine had her baby in the 29th and named her chilli heavenly-rose. :) sweet.

catherine L... we have the same thing happening with Q, but i think its hilarious when they swear, and i have to try really hard not to laugh. he said 'for f**ks sake' the other day and i cracked it.
OMG, try leaving the house with 4!! i have to get everything ready the night before, and we have decided to go for tuckshop now instead of making lunch. its handy having a 12 year old though, he gets lots of extra chores poor bugger. LOL

[COLOR="rgb(255, 0, 255)"]vic...[/COLOR]with the 'big boob' and 'nose' issue, if you support the top of thier back instead of thier neck back it makes them tip their head back slightly which makes their tongue come foward and helps them suck, also leaving room for the nose. :) this breast feeding stuff is quite an art!!
i am on ibroprofin and 1 panodol/1 panadine still, at maximum hours. i am scared to reduce less just yet. i went under general anethetic becuase with mx epi i could still move my legs!!! and i woke up in pain. plus i had natural labour and tubal ligation (they have to seriously move all your bits around and you get lots of bruising). then my drip fell out so i was in and out of high levels of pain for about a week. no one beleived me and the midwives refused to give me pain meds the docs had signed off! its just started to subside. with first caesar i never felt a thing!!! don't know what i was on but it was great. never made me sick or out of it.
but now part of my scar has become red, and looks slightly infected and underneath i have a haemotoma lumpy bit. its not too big but i have to watch it and be careful. its hard not to pick Q up, he gets mad when i want to cuddle him on the couch instead of picking him up.

[COLOR="rgb(255, 0, 255)"]naomi[/COLOR]...SEAL is gorgeous. his kids are gorgeous too! i thought my kids would look like that and was shocked when Q was born. he was so white and then just turned a golden colour. his hair is a light golden brown and he has greeny/blue eyes. Ralie is darker, and will go darker and has black hair and brown eyes. her hair will probably be more curly than Q's but not as curly as Seals kids. they are so cute! Q is yelling at the Tv. LOL

Vic - I agree with the weight / breastfeeding advice, if you listen to everyone you will go mad re what should be happening re weight, feeding etc etc as everyone (midwives esp) have their own interpretation, so I think mothers intuition definately helps here, its very confusing though when one person tells you one thing (and you worry) and then another tells you its all fine !

Krystie - re Kysons feeding and crying, we had a few feeds EXACTLY like that (and it was so heartbreaking I ended up in tears), and for Bailey it was indeed wind, he didn't know what to do with himself as was obviously hungry and wanted the boob but once on would cry and scream and I'd take him off. Re my last post, we are finding infacol useful, although I would have preferred if one of the homeopathic remedies had worked (I tried marina infact mixture but the dose was 4ml which was just too much and Bailey wouldn't take it without a massive fuss, Braur's you have to give half hourly then 4 hourly - too hard to keep track of, but infacol is only 0.2ml dose at feed time whenever that may be), Anyway although its more 'medicinal' it seems to agree with Bailey so I am going to keep using it until he is over his 'windy' period. We were having no wind issues that we couldn't solve with a burp until he hit the 6 week mark, so hoping its just a faze. Anyway, not sure if it helps but you are not alone with that issue :)

Jess - didn't medicare give you a temporary paper card? You should be able to get one. Hope all is well with Andy :)

Catherine - good tip re expressing to make more when bubs is cluster feeding, must remember that one (also can give Dad the bottle of EBM and he can help out). Hmmmmm I also like the idea re the lavender bath - might give that a whirl!! LOL@ Ro's breastfeeding efforts with Lamby :ROFL:

Raindrops - Yeah, Seals kids are gorgeous as I bet yours are too, its freaky though to see some so dark and I think its their little girl who's very pale. BTW Aralia's name is gorgeous!! :)


Another weight gain this week > 240gms so Bailey is a healthy 9lb 2oz now. I had tried him in infant size nappies and realised they are still to big as had leakage issues LOL so went and bought another box of newborns this morning. He is pretty much all in 000 now as his 0000 suits are all too short and he cant stretch his legs out in most of them now, its sad to see some of the cute outfits he has grown out of already :(

I put him in his nursery last night to sleep (has been co-sleeping with us in the cradle in our room or in our bed) but went back to our room and burst into tears and realised I am no where near ready for him to sleep apart from me as yet, will give it another month or so. I was trying to help DH get some more sleep but he said he was a bit sad to put Bailey in his own room too, so for all our sanity we will continue with things as they are for now

Hope everyone else is well

Naomi
x

Thanks everyone for all the tips on the breastfeeding/nose issues - we are definately getting somewhere with it.

Just had the MCHN visit, CJ has put on another 90g so is well on track to regain her birth weight in the next few days.

Sounds like my mothers group wont start for around 8 weeks - which I am really disappointed at. :( I know other new mums but none who live close and as can't drive for five weeks is a pain. The MCHN thought was a good thing (??? said something along the lines of no need to be out socialising yet - but other friends have said how great they are to go to early on ). Maybe will post on here see if can find others in camberwell/hawthorn.

What does everyone else do in regards to where baby sleeps during the daytime? CJ has only really been sleeping in her cot at night (which is in the other bedroom), the other sleeps have either been in bed with me after a feed so I can snooze too, or next to me on the sofa while I am on the laptop (because she seems to love it there). However the MCHN says am storing up trouble and should be putting her in her cot in the daytime to sleep, but it just doesn't seem to work as well or am I just being lazy not wanting to get up from bed and put her down etc? Out of four nights at home we have only had one bad night Sunday night other nights have been great. Should I persevere and try and make her sleep in her cot in the day? E.g. she just fell asleep in my arms when MCHN was here so then went and put her down in the cot - she lasted about 5 mins before crying, so now she is next to me on the sofa again and is fast asleep. Am I just being lazy in not trying to make her settle in her cot? Aaah yesterday was such a good day and was happy with how things are going now I am all unsure again!

Naomi- I know what you mean about not being able to straighten legs in the 0000 suits, CJ was like that from day 1 if I did all the poppers up! And no chance of getting a cloth nappy on her in a 0000. She was born 9lb 2oz same as Bailey is now so makes sense. I am so glad I didn't buy many outfits and just borrowed as she would have had only one or two wears out of them. She has also developed this habit of when trying to do the suits back up after a nappy change of holding her legs straight and totally rigid so I can't get the suit back on! Sometimes have to leave undone for a bit and then catch her unawares to do it up.

Janelle - sounds like I have had it really easy regarding c-section pain - hope yours subsides soon.

CatherineL - not sure I want quite such an interesting birth story next time ;)

BG - Which cloth nappies are you using? I have a few different ones but had CJ in green kids this morning. The weather in Melbourne is making drying them a bit of a pain at min, so still have sposies on occaisionally.

Vic - Don't let the MCHN get you down about the sleeping situation. Kyson has not slept in his cot ONCE since he's come home. He co-sleeps with us during the night, and during the day he either sleeps on me or sleeps in his pram. I think he likes the pram because it's slightly raised and helps his wind, plus if he wakes he can see me straight away. Everyone seems to have an opinion about our sleeping arrangements, but at the end of the day you have to do what works for you and your baby. Plus, there are so many studies around now that show that co-sleeping has huge benefits and "attachment parenting" is also hugely beneficial. I'd say that keeping CJ near you during the day would be classed as a type of attachment parenting :)

I have the links to some of the articles about it all, so let me know if you would like me to send you the links.

I say you can never cuddle or love a baby too much! :D

Krystie - can you send me the links - so I can show to DH, he was here when MCHN was and I know he will think we should follow her advice, so would be good to have some stuff suggesting that there is no one "right" way. I agree with what you say - I really can't see what harm it can do, and if I have to spend hours trying to settle her in her cot instead of relaxing or sleeping myself that can't be right. Seems contradictory to in that she was saying SIDS recommend cot be in same room as parents, but ours isn't (really not enough room or practical), but that we should still be putting her in the cot.

today we had a visit with the mchn took jamie in there and for the first time didnt sook when being naked lol only time he doesnt is in the bath which reminds me i should do that soon

hes now 4570gm thats 1080gm since birth lol wat a fatty and hes 4.4cm longer and gained 3cmm HC my fatty is growing up 2 fast

vic: CJ is gorgeous j is still in 0000 in all his clothes but he doesnt like grow suits so not sure if they would still fit i found these jumpsuits in best and less very cute polar fleece with zips and hes still in 00000 in those i love them so much i already have 2 in his size and 2 in 000 i'm definately going to get more coz were in for a cold winter

naomi: they grow 2 quick lol u know baileys mobile the seseme street one? hows it going coz the motor on jamies one burnt out now it doesnt turn :doh: maybe we over used it lol

krystie: hope kyson is feeding better soon and feeling better

janelle: aralia is so cute Q is just as cute love his hair

jess:it took less than 2 weeks to get my new medicare card when did u send the forms away?

catherine: its hard bot to laugh when they swear but u have to be careful coz they might think its a game and say it all the time

afm: jamie settles very well after a feed and a burp but hes wetting through his nappies and i've already changed sizes i might have to go up another size or try different nappies :doh: not fun changing his clothes 6 times a day got my close baby carrier today i love it anyways hope everyone is well
xoxo

Raindrops - I know it's hard not to laugh, but I really tried not to. I don't think it's particularlly cute when a 2yr old says the f bomb.... especially when your out in public and you have people giving your dirty looks! Thankfully that hasn't happened to me yet, but I can just imagine it. I know myself I've been quite shocked when I've heard others small children swear.... LOL. You explained that breastfeeding perfectly! That's what I was meaning when I said letting her head fall back, but you explained it so well.

Naomi - It is nice to have that break and let DH take over a feed. Even though it's frowned upon, with Rochelle - for her last feed of the day 7pm, Danny would give her her last feed of EBM. We found it eliminated witching hour (I think she used to get frustrated that it wasn't coming out as quick because I was a bit worn out by that time of the day). We didn't start that till we had established breastfeeding though - will probably try it out with Brooklyn too once my supply has settled and breastfeeding is well and truely established. The size Bailey is now, is the size Ro is born (like CJ) and she didn't fit into 0000 either, but she was only in NB nappies for 2 weeks before we moved her up a size... too many poo explosions in NB because they were too small on her. So don't buy too many more NB sized nappies... because i'm sure at the rate his growing he won't be in them too much longer! Although Brooklyn on the other hand will probably be in them for months! lol.

Vic, I hope you have an uneventful birth next time too! In regards to where my bubba's sleep - with both girls I have been pretty fastidious with putting them asleep in their cots for all their sleeps and putting them down before they actually fall asleep. That's just me. With Rochelle I was so concerned about creating bad habits - but honestly, I think you just have to do what works for you and your family regardless what that is. Personally for us, happy Mummy = happy family and I need sleep to maintain that. I tried with both girls to have them sleep in the bassinette in our room initially, but I just can't stand it! Every little snort, murmur or whimper wakes me! I prefer to get up and walk to her room to feed and sleep well the rest of the night (selfish perhaps, but it works for me). I've mentioned before that I'm a routiner and it works for us, simple as that. With Rochelle, I never had to control cry or any of that crap, had a baby that self settled from early on, slept 12 hours over night from 8 weeks, never had any issues with having to get her to readjust to a new bed etc. (although she did adjust to her big girls bed with no problems) she was a great baby, hardly evver cried because her demands were always met before she was starving or over tired etc. BUT, in saying that - I did have the problem that Rochelle would never sleep ANYWHERE but her cot. She was a cot baby and although we could just put her in her cot awake and she'd fall asleep without any hassle, she just wouldn't sleep else where - not even the pram when we were out. She wouldn't even be rocked asleep which sometimes would be painful. I guess it makes sense because her sleep association was her cot. But she is a well adjusted child, extremely loving and picks up things so quick! She knew most of her body parts by the time she was 13 months... we could ask her where it was and she would point to the corresponding body part. I've heard all sorts of negative stuff about routine ranging from how cruel it is, the child not being well adjusted etc. Most of my gf's routined also and have all had babies like Rochelle, so I don't *think* it's just her temprement. One in particular, a good girlfriend of mine who is on this forum, Angela - had great success with her first daughter on routine from early on too. But I still feel strongly that it's an individual thing and for some attachement parenting works better for them and they are happy to continue attachment parenting for years! I think that's great and kudos out to them. The lesson I learnt with Ro was, find what works for you and do it. Whether that be rock your baby to sleep, pacifiers, formula etc. At the end of the day who is really to say your wrong, I think our instincts are pretty spot on. ;)

hiya ladies

WYSIWYG - we're using ummmmm, flats and mazalicious covers some of the time, fitteds (happy heiny sherpas and kissaluvs) when we go out - again with Maz covers - i didn't buy too many teeny weeny nappies, though i think i might try her in some other stuff in the next couple of days. have some gorgeous widdlewun nappies to try out on her - and the idea of AIO's is really appealling at the moment. my main issue is the drying time and the fact we have NO sun at the moment for stain removal - will have to see how we go - this kid is a pooping machine!

with the question of where to sleep your bub - sleep them where they are most settled - really, what's the point of sleeping them in a cot if they only sleep for five minutes??? Emerald sleeps on one of us and then in her bouncer in the lounge. we co sleep at night and put her in the pram when she's in a deep sleep - and we're getting up to 5 or 6 hours at a stretch! i want to put her in the hammock but she seems to end up head down bum up a bit - Amy have you solved this problem with Pheobe?? my MCHN didn't seem at all phased about sleeping arrangements when she was here on Friday - and GP today said it was all fine doing what we were doing cos baby and mummy were content! we don't have a baby monitor as yet so the notion of putting bub at the other end of the house doesn't appeal at all - there is no way i want her to get so worked up she's screaming before we hear her...

not much else to fill you all in on - i'm reading regularly but just don't seem to be posting much - i think i'm too busy filling my time with our girl!

Ooooooooh - one little thing - DH gave me a present this morning to celebrate the birth of our girl - a gorgeous star necklace - we have a stars theme in our nursery to represent our angel babies, and this was a gift to celebrate our Earth Angel finally arriving. it's got diamond chips in it and is just magnificent! love it (and love him sooooo much!)