Babies born~April 16th-30th 2010 #1

[~Phoenix~]

Morning everyone

Another 10.30-4.15 sleep, then 5.00-8.30ish again last night could I even hope it becomes a regular thing? Hoping for 3rd time lucky tonight but think my time is coming for all night screaming & floor pacing.

My next challenge is to learn how to breast feed lying down in bed, at moment I get up as only way I can get her to attach properly is rugby hold.

Kellie - she has a right 'ol suck on her for a little thing so figure she's getting enough since she's sleeping etc. Isn't a walk such a nice sanity break - just to get out and get some fresh air, makes me feel semi human again.

BW - ahhh the leaking, nothing like trying to get into shower and have milk flowing everywhere and the same again getting out trying to dry yourself and realising it's the milk dripping everywhere and not water I've had to express a couple of times to take the edge off otherwise my chest would explode but nowhere near as much as you other guys.

All you girls with two or more, how do you do it? I've got a relatively easy baby and find it hard to get organised by about lunch time most days, sometimes it's nice - like today when it's cold and rainy but sometimes I find it frustrating.

Tan - sounds like your getting good night sleeps too, fingers crossed for a 3rd night as well.


A big hello to everyone else.....I'm slowly catching up lol.

[Kirley64]

All you girls with two or more, how do you do it? I've got a relatively easy baby and find it hard to get organised by about lunch time most days, sometimes it's nice - like today when it's cold and rainy but sometimes I find it frustrating.

im the same!!! 10.30 is the earliest so far!!

[Majella]

Hi everyone

I'm finally returning from the edge of dispair!

My little gingernut wouldn't go for more than 2 hours without a feed and still would not put on any weight. We finally cracked the birthweight (2.86kg) last week at her 4 week mark and today we've past the 3kg mark so I feel as though things are finally swinging. I've had two nights of 3+3+2 so am feeling relatively normal again. I bought in formula a couple of weeks ago to help with the weight gain, and quite honestly, to help with my sanity. So I'm doing BF, topped up by formula. I really wanted to BF exclusively for the first 6 months so I was a little disappointed, but came to the realisation that this was going to be the best thing for bub, my toddler (nothing like a mummy chained to the couch and chained to the baby) and me.

Same with the dummy! DD1 never had one but it seems to provide DD2 with a lot of comfort, especially if she isn't being held. I received some Avent dummies in a gift pack and they are working a treat - I think they are about $8 for 2 at grocery stores. Maranui - she will suck it until she sleeps and then it drops out. Don't beat yourself up about it! Honestly, whatever works for you is 100% ok.

Tan - Hallelujah, ABC for Kids!

Great to see some new people in here, looking forward to getting to know you better!

[maranui]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the advice on the D word. I have to say that the benefit of a good nights sleep I am now a convert. He settled last night without it as well (I know it will become more of a crutch) and so far no signs of a middle ear infection and he still knows where his food comes from

So by absolute fluke, I got a 6+3+3 last night! Dont be too impressed. He screamed all day yesterday. I am like you Majella - our little tykes need frequent feeding. We have now hit 4kg and are out of newborn naps - its amazing! I think about Tans thumper and marvel again that you pushed something the size of L out of your VJJ!

We are also using Infacol which really helps with wind and reflux.

Better run, a rare awake happy moment and I am hunting smiles!

[Ayapi]

Hi ladies,

Kellie - I'm recovering okay from my second c-section. At the beginning I did find it a little more painful than my first but that is to be expected I guess being cut twice I have driven twice but only short distances and without the girls in the car. But I guess you can start to drive when you feel comfortable. My day with both girls yesterday was okay, DD1 was very testing and I realised I can't leave her alone with DD2 as she pokes her eyes and even sticks her finger in her mouth (hence us using the naughty corner) quite a bit lately. Hopefully it will settle soon.

On a good side I managed to go to my MG yesterday morning with both girls on time (9:30am) which was pretty impressive for me even managed to straighten my hair

sounds like you are all getting some good sleeps between feeds we manage to do every 4 hours which is lovely.

Well better go and start on dinner now that I'm on my own I need to do everything while Milly is sleeping otherwise it doesn't work

[shonalouise]

Hello guys, so this is where you all hang out these days. Will have to have a catch up with how you are all doing.

[shonalouise]

I too am an illegal with Elliot born 14/04 but i'd like to stay too

i've had a quick catch up looks like everyone is having similar problems to me which is reassuring!

kirley: i agree with others on one breast until empty then offer the other if necessary. the hind milk is packed with fat and calories and satisfies them for longer. i asked about 2 hour feeds in elliot's 2nd week and was told was growth spurt and they feed more often to increase milk supply to meet their new demand, seems that they know what they need and feed accordingly.

maranui: we too have succumbed to dummy, a big pre baby no no and one of themany rules we have now broken! I was tired of being an on call pacifier and as much as they tell you to avoid dummies as you have two natural pacifiers, who really has the time to allow a baby to pacify themselves attached to your chest! Has helped a lot with our night time sleep struggles.

AFM BF going great now and little man gained 250g in last week, yay! Has about 20 min feed but i seem to have flow issues too, it's hard for him to handle at times, poor thing. we have taken to elevated football hold so he has to suck against gravity which really helps. i expressed in the early days too due to attachment probs and therefore had a few days when i stopped where supply was too much but now settled down

Saw child health nurse yesterday due to bubs having huge vomit every evening, appears he is overfeeding but as gaining weight not too concerned. Also trying to burp him more often but was initially told no need to wind BF babies but he always brings up a bit.

We are currently trying to reverse our nocturnal habits, got some great advice from child health and last night was first full one in basinette so fingers crossed managed 4, 3, 3. Trying to keep him awake during day is proving challenging, if we are out it is so convenient for him to sleep but we pay for it at night!

Anyway hope everyone is well and not too sleep deprived.

[maranui]

Hi everyone

I am having a ($(%))$&## of a time at the mo. Parents over which is very stressful and little L is having a 1 day great, 1 day ****ty rotation. On his bad days he barely sleeps and is super whinging (even the dreaded D doesnt work). The good days he sleeps all day and I rarely seem him. Need to figure out how to smooth these edges! Needless to say its a bad one today.

Gulp. Quite down and stressed today - feeding every 2 hours doesnt help the perspective and my parents are v needy too.

Argghhh

[Tan2705]

Hi y'all just a quickie - I am "paying bills" HAHA


Maranui hugs hun! Take it one day at a time! And grrrr at the needy parents! So any smiles yet?? Keep hunting I am sure they are just around the bend!


Shonalouise you found us YAY! For a moment I thought you had jumped ship! Apparently I've got a gutzy night time feeder too! Power puked for the first time (several times) last night which resulted in changing his crib sheets, my bed sheets and 2 lots of pj changes for the both of us! Than he shat all over me - charming lil fellow!


Ayapi snaps on making it to mothers group and I am most impressed that you managed to straighten your hair, something I haven't done for 3 weeks but used to do daily!


Majella good to have you back, despair isn't a nice place (and I bet they don't serve ****tails there ) Awesome news on cracking the 3kg mark!


Kirley how's windy Will doing? Any improvements?


Phoenix have you mastered the laying down BFing? I have tried as a measure to not drown Archer but am rubbish at it Any tips, send them my way!


Well I knew it would happen eventually - DF is going back to FIFO work with a 28 on 7 off roster Have no idea how the hell-o I am going to cope!! Daytime is fine, I have handle things reasonably well considering he went back to the cash in hand job the day after I came home from hospital. But it's from 5pm onwards - dinner, bath, bed with Cooper and Archer in his arsenic hour element (which last about 3 hours with cluster feeding being the answer to his horridness) that will push me to my limits!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!! I can feel a panic attack looming....

.... hi to anyone I missed...

[shonalouise]

Tan: LOL, we have just had a power puke all over Dad but my boob was engorged so I think he got too much! Sounds that with Archers weight gain that you are going great with BF! I was told by midwife early that the ways and means they tell you to BF are only a guide and you do whatever works for you! Cluster feeding is painful, have you tried to feed more in the afternoon to try and fill him up befor evening? We have stopped cluster feeding now which I am very grateful for!

Maranui: sorry to hear about your troubles. We are currently trying to flip Elliots routine and keep him awake during the day. Waking him up every 3 -4 hours for change, playtime and feeding so that he sleeps at night. Fingers crossed seems to be working so far! In bed by 20.30 and only 2 feeds overnight, i'm not counting my chickens yet though!

[Tan2705]

The 3 hours of cluster feeds is really the only time I can complain about him (except for last night I was cursing the lil critter) other wise he feeds for 10-20 minutes and sleeps!

Typical day - starting with the night (cause I am abit backwards )

* Asleep by 9pm up at 2
* Down again by half 2 up at 6
* Down again by half 6 up at 9
* Down by 10 up at 1
* Down by 2 up at 5

*ARSENIC HOUR (S) argh Arch is all about the boobies here!!!

Dinner on table by half 5
Coop bathed by 6
Coop in bed by 7 (this is where daddy is really needed and what I am going to struggle to achieve when he is away!)
Arch bathed by 8
Arch in bed by 9

With my days and nights going so well (TOUCHWOOD TOUCHWOOD TOUCHWOOD) i really don't want to mess around with them!! I can survive 3/4 hours of unsettled bub, even if it is at the most unconvient time!

As for the overfeeding - I feel that "let down" sensation and this is when he gulps and gulps to the point where he is attached and sucking and milk is pouring down my boob! If he pulls off he generally gets a mouthful of air and as a result a bellyache - must get myself an appt with an LC to try find a soloution...... appreciate suggestions in the meantime TIA

[maranui]

Tan - I just looked at your timeline and am going to stop my whinging. The timeline, in combination of the 10lb bub officially makes you a hero!!!!!

[Tan2705]

pfft Maranui - stop it or else my head will be as big as my whoohaa now is and there was NO timeline with DS#1, I think 2nd, 3rd, 4th (however many ppl are crazy enough to have, have little choice but to adapt to what's going on already! Well that is my theory and I am stickin with it!!

OH i forget to tell you all my lady garden got a ring!! I wear it on my pinkie finger and alternate hands as I alternate boobs! Such a sweet idea - even I had to remind him several times that the lady garden was very deserving of something super special!

Two sleeps til DF flys out than the poo will hit the fan for shizzle! EEEEEK! Watch this space... my world will come crumbling down before your eyes!!!!!! I have such admiration for single parents!!!!!!

[Tan2705]

Hi y'all

Happy Mother's Day for yesterday! Hope you were all throughly spoilt, espeically you 1st timers! My big boys made me pancakes YUM but forgot to wash up OH: obviously they need more training. Than we went to the circus - twas fab! Coop danced and clapped (was more acrobatic than animal) and Archer slept though the entire show, bless him! DF flys out today BOOHOO still waiting on his itinerary to come through... hmmmm may not be back on for a while until I adjust! Wish me luck, goodness knows I will need it!

Was going to post Archer's birth story - BellaMia you are a champ for getting yours up so quickly - but I can hear him stirring on the baby moniter and we all know I am not the best at keeping posts short! Oh and any of the newbies there are a few of us who have met up on FB if you are interested in 'friending' us feel free to add me Tania Spagnolo, profile pic is a bw with a toddlerr in a bucket hat and I can let the other ladies know!

Take care mummas xo

[~kellie~]

good morning everyone
Hope you all had a wonderful day yesterday for mothers day. We had a great day, out for breaky with my mum, then home for a nap and then in the afternoon we went to the aquarium.

Massive congratulations to Healthychick and bellamia on the arrival of your little men!

Ayapi - very impressed that you got to straighten your hair, I havent even brushed mine yet today!

Shona - I'd be interested to hear what you've been doing to teach Elliot about the difference between night and day... think my little man is becoming a bit nocturnal too!

Tan - good luck today, I totally agree with you on how hard it is with 2!

AFM - Lewis had his health centre check last Friday, he has already cracked the 4kg mark, put on 485 grams in 8 days! He is going well, getting his nights and days a bit mixed up at the moment, so I need to teach him that one! We've had 2 bad nights in a row now, we even resorted to taking him for a drive last night, but even that didnt work! He is fast asleep now though! Think I need to try and wake him a bit more during the day, and also, I am going to try and cut out dairy and caffeine as his wind is terrible, he curls his little legs in pain the poor little chicken. Need to figure out what other foods might be causing problems. My health nurse told me to eat whatever I want, as he has to get used to it, but she's not the one up with him all night when he is in pain!

Hi to everyone else!

[~Phoenix~]

Morning guys

Tan - oh I take my hat off to you with your DH working away and on that type of roster. My DH works away to but on a 2weeks on / 2 weeks off roster, I've got him home for another 5 weeks on annual leave and really looking forward to when he goes back to work coz admittedly he's a great help around the house & with DD.

Haven't even attempted laying down BF'ing just going with what I know works at the moment with the rugby hold coz she is a such a thrashing monster when she's hungry and knows mum's milk bottles around around. I've still got to try and get hang of normal front hold for that time I'll need to BF outside of home without the comfort of all my pillows etc.

Question for everyone breastfeeding - how many pooey nappies do you get? I get one every nappy change or very close to it, just a wet one is a rarity that I comment I'm going to mark them on the calendar. She is putting on weight - 190gms in 6 days, sleeps 4hour stretches so don't think and is geneally a pretty settled and cruisy baby so don't think it's upsetting her tummy too much.

[~kellie~]

Phoenix - I get a poo every change too, and I also did with my DD, so I wouldnt be too worried if bubs is gaining weight and is pretty settled

[Ayapi]

Morning all,

Hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day yesterday. Our day started with my parents, brother & SIL with their two kids coming over for breaky as we thought it would be easier to handle with toddlers and newborns. We wanted to go out for coffee or something in the afternoon when everyone left as a family for my day but my parents decided that they were going to stay the whole day yep so from 10am till 6:30pm I had them here and I really didn't enjoy my day with my new family of 4 Oh well maybe next year!

Milly is doing really well, she is growing nicely fingers crossed I will know more on Wednesday when we go and see the MHN. It's nice to hear that everyone is getting along well with there little ones, I'm finding it a little hard with my DD1 as she is only 21mths and is playing up heaps, hopefully it will settle soon

A BIG to everyone, sorry no personals this morning.