Babies Born~July 1st-15th 2009 #1

pregainpan - she could tell he didn't have reflux because of the way he was laying. He was laying on his back (semi) happily, with his limbs kind of spread out. Apparently, if he'd had reflux, there's no way he'd lay flat on his back calmly and I guess would have had his limbs more tightly balled to his body?
O is the same, with the feeding, a tonne quicker than N was. I was having a little bit of a look up and am wondering if perhaps it's an Over-Active Let Down Reflex? Looks like it might explain the extra fast feeding along with the vomiting?
Poor second child though! I have begun assessing how much vomit is on his clothes before deciding if it warrants a change or not, lol.
Have fun in Sydney!

For any of you breastfeeding, kellymom.com is a really good site, that answers a heap of questions you might have.

Also, wanted to say to the first time mums on here, though the MCHN's are the professionals, no one knows your baby as well as you do. There are a heap of "rules" (back in bed within the hour, naps must be longer than 90mins etc) but at the end of the day every baby's different! I just felt the need to get that out, as I remember with Noah, I took the MCHN's word as gospel and afterwards regetted it a bit. At about 4 months, he was not napping longer than 30-40mins at a time, and they insisted it wasn't long enough and I had to do anything I could to get him to sleep longer. Never mind he was happy, growing like a weed (was 8kg by then!), and only waking once at night to feed (bliss!). I began rocking him to sleep, and ended up having to do it for the next 12 months! Plus he went from waking once a night, to 6+ times a night!
So mummy's (and daddy), trust your instincts! As long as baby is growing well, and has lots of wet & pooey nappies, you're doing a great job!

ETA: Oh and to answer your question preagainpan, I'm pretty sure our extension is never, ever going to be finished! It's "technically" supposed to be completed today, but there's still no lights connected, no flooring down, doors to be hung, steps to be built and ducted heating to be installed. *sigh*

Wow pregagainpan that reno really does seem to be taking forever, wasn't it meant to be finished before Jacob was born?

LF I hear you on the waking time, I had read the same thing and asked the MCHN about it and she said try for 1.5 hours waking time, but if they want/need more then let them have it. It frustrates me so much how the different nurses project their personal 'standards' on you and how much the advice differs.

Well I have good news... Little Ash has finally surpassed his birth weight!!!! :dance: I took him into the health centre today for a weight check and he was 3.85kg and had put on 200 grams in the last week - finally we are meeting the average that they aim for. Like you say LF, we shouldn't put to much weight on what the nurses say, but as a first time mum it is so hard not to question whether or not you are doing things right... Anyway as the days pass by I'm starting to gain more and more confidence and back my own judgement more and more.

DH went back to work this week and I have really been enjoying being home with little Ash. The two of us have established a good routine where I'm now only having to get up once in the night (fingers crossed that lasts). We do the last feed at about 11pm, then Ash wakes up around 3 or 4 am for a feed, then again just before 7am when we get up for the day. I am having to squeeze in a lot of feeds during the day to get the long stretch at night, but it is so worth it. The pain from my CS has almost gone completely which has meant we've been able to get out and go for a short walk each day which I'm really enjoying. But, I can't wait to be able to drive again and get out and about more. I know I probably could now, but I think I'm going to play it safe and leave it the full six weeks. We live on a shopping strip so there's a fair bit of action on my doorstep which means I'm not too isolated.

Anyway, hope all the mums and dads are doing well and the bubba's are letting everyone get some sleep x

Hi everyone.... :hello:

Just thought I'd pop in... I know it's not really my thread but I have so many buddies here I wanted to say hi to you all & thanks to everyone who stuck with me on the BellyBuddies thread!

Arlea finally arrived on the 24th, 10 days late, which we pretty much expected. She was a good size - 4770g (10lb8) and had low blood sugar, although neither she nor I are diabetic apparently it is common enough in big babies. So we had a few extra days in hosp, in SCN on a drip while her BSL sorted itself, it's all good now. We arrived home yesterday afternoon & everything is going great except that I have severe oedema in my breasts which apart from being extremely uncomfortable, is making bfing impossible. We are expressing fulltime atm & just waiting for my fluid to disappear & then hoping to get back on the breast :crossfingers: So time is non-existant for me atm, it takes me an hour & a half to express and then I do it all again an hour & a half later... Luckily she is the cruisiest baby I have ever had or seen for that matter, nothing seems to faze her & she rarely cries. I know it probably won't last but if she can stay like that while my breasts are like this I'll be very grateful!

I haven't had time to catch up on everything yet but will try to over the next day or two.

Hope everyone is doing well :hug:

hi everyone hope everyone is well. Anton still has a cold but is getting better he has also started sleeping 4/5 hours in his cradle at night he was spending most nights in bed with me. as for me im trying to keep my chin up trying to hold back the tears keep telling myself anton wouldnt be here if i hadnt lost my angel. lots of fights are happening between the kids dad n me we were trying to put our family back together but there is no way of that happening now twice this week he has hit me he has never hit me in the 6 years we had been together. i cant even get him to sign antons birth certificate i have no idea what im going to do about that

:grouphug: for you Jess, it sounds like you're doing it really tough at the moment. Stay strong and put you and the kids first, nobody should be treated the way you are at the moment.

Good to have you here Jasp, I hope you plan on sticking around, it wouldn't be the same without you!

I think I must have jinxed myself yesterday by boasting about what a good routine little Ash and I now have. Last night he decided to mix things up a bit and had me up and down like a yoyo... hopefully it was just a one off :pray:

:hug: jess, hope you're okay & have lots of other support to help you

miss e - i hope it was just a one-of & ash settles better tonight!

jas - great to have you hear!

LotusFlower - thank you - it's very easy as a first time mum to take all the 'professionals' at their word. i hoper your extension is completed soon!

lovelycate - back to sleep within an hour? she's optimistic!

afm, i ordered a peanut sling the other day & i'm just waiting for it to arrive. i'm hoping it will allow me to get a few more things done around the house during the day & also be good for going to the shops etc. :crossfingers: that corey likes it!

Oh no Jess, that is not on! All I can do is send you lots of hugs :hug: and hope that it doesn't happen again.

Jasp - of course you belong with us!

Sorry guys, I don't really have time for personals at the moment but will catch up with you all soon. I hope everyone is getting some rest.

Amelia is doing well although she has been a bit unsettled and a bit lazy with the feeding last night and this morning. Just not latching on properly and not sucking much. She is fast asleep at the moment so I guess she isn't hungry.

Have a good weekend. It is lovely and sunny here although that wind is a bit chilly. I don't like wind.

Have been trying to catch up a bit with how you are all going... unfortunately if I sit at the computer longer than 20-30 min my swelling goes through the roof :(
MCHN is making noises about going back to hospital as my BP is up a bit too, it's not high in itself but for me it is if that makes sense. They are worried about pre-eclampsia, I never knew it could develop after bubs was born.
So I am on strict bed-rest instructions.
FWIW I think I'm fine but I do NOT want to go back to hosp. So I'm trying to get the swelling down, and so far the rest seems to be working.

JessC big hugs, you don't need that hon you & your kids deserve better. Things will get better they always do, lets hope it happens very soon for you :hug:

MissE, :lol: that does seem to happen.. hope it's just a one off for you!

Sloane, what is a peanut sling?

Tinsel beautiful weather here too :) unfortunately I'm not out to enjoy it!

:grouphug: hope everyone else is doing well

jas - i was just going to reply to your other thread!! i haven't been in exactly the same position, but had a milder case i think - i had high BP through PG (which was medicated & fairly well controlled during my PG) but i never really had much swelling until i was in labour. when i got home from hospital my feet and ankles were still swollen & probably worse. when the midwife came for the first visit, my BP was up (even tho i was still taking the meds) and she said to keep an eye on the swelling. on day 6 home from hospital i had my first nurses visit & they were still swollen, but my BP was a bit better. she suggested it was down to me trying to do too much & that i really needed to rest more. i'd also been doing most of my napping on the couch & only managing a couple of hours in bed each night. i took her advice & stopped trying to be on my feet as much & spent more time in bed each night & almost overnight the swelling went & when i had my BP checked a week later it was really good. dunno if that helps...think it was just my longwinded way of saying that i agree that bed rest is probably the best thing!

a peanut sling is a brand of baby carrier - i guess a bit like the ring slings in the way you wear it (as opposed to an ergo etc) & you can have the baby in a cradle hold or facing the front or on your hip. it arrived yesterday but i haven't tried it out yet!

thanks everyone me n the kids r doing fine. nothing beats a change im rearranging my house the kids are loving it as some toys that had been put away have reappeared its almost like christmas watching there faces light up as they play with the toys

Jess - hope things start improving for you soon...take care of yourself hun.

Tinsel - send some of that sunny weather this way! Has been miserable lately...cold, on and off rainy and cloudy. Really sucks because the washing is starting to stack up, especially the 'big stuff' like sheets which are impossible to hang up inside, and our clothes (baby is ok!) which take forever to dry inside. Loungeroom looks like a chinese laundry at the moment..nappies and baby stuff hanging everywhere!

Sloane - hope bub loves your peanut sling! I have been spending most of my days on the lounge...feel so lazy! But our house isn't very big so I don't see the point in getting a carrier...i'm happy so sit on the lounge all day, if only daytime telly (especially weekends) weren't quite so crappy! Lol

Jasp hope your swelling/BP improves...going back to hospital now wouldn't be very nice so hope you are feeling better soon!

MissE hope little Ash sleeps better for you tonight! The last day or so Hayley has been waking every 2.5 - 3 hours for a feed...it's exhausting especially overnight when she has been sleeping for 4 hours between feeds, sometimes longer if she doesn't wake up and I hear my alarm but kind of sleep through it...

AFM we had our first visit with the early childhood nurse yesterday, she did a home visit. Hayley is now a tad over 4kg, 54cm long and HC 37.5cm so she has grown really well (has put on a bit over 1/2 kg, grown 3cm longer and head is 2.5cm bigger). Nurse was really happy with how she is doing, but I did feel like she was trying to force me to go back to b/f instead of EBM & formula...
Anyway better go, it's been 4 hours since her last feed and she's still sleeping so I might go and wake her up. She is probably fine but I don't like her going more than 4 hours between feeds when she is still so young, and if she gets too hungry she gulps down her bottles more than normal...can hear her little tummy gurgling away as the milk gets there!

Hello Everyone,
I am new to this forum thing, my son Samuel was born on 15th July 2009 and as he was breech the entire pregnancy he was born via c/section at 39 weeks. Stubborn little thing! It would be great to see how other mums with babies the same age are coping! Sam is starting to be a little bit more alert but I am trying to learn when he wants to go to sleep after a feed and when to keep him awake. It seems most of the time after a feed when I put him on the play mat for say around 20 minutes or so he looks around etc and we talk and chat, I try not to do too much, but when I put him to bed he won't go to sleep. He has usually yawned a few times so I think that he is tired. He then lies in his cot awake for the next 1 1/2 hours!! he doesn't cry so I assume he is okay. The next feed I put him to bed straight away thinking he didn't sleep last time and he still won't sleep! I feel like I am reading his cues all wrong!! I don't know whether I am over stimulating him or not stimulating him enough!!
Anyway, I look forward to hearing other mums talking about their newborns and how they are all coming along!

*** Warning - Marathon Post **** :rolleyes:

Hi everyone!
I've just caught up on all your posts over the past few weeks...

Jng1977 ? sorry to hear about your bf challenges. I really hope things settle down for you soon. You are so good to persist through all the pain. Big hugs.

Jesscook ? how did the 5th Birthday party go?? I really don?t know how you do it!! You really are a super Mum? I am amazed at what you must have to do in a day, as I struggle through some days with only one baby!! I do hope Anton?s cold has gone & you are getting some help from family & friends. Take care. I just read your most recent post Jess. I?m so sorry you are doing it so tough at the moment. Huge hugs to you & the kids. I wish there was more we could do for you sweetie. xxx

Miss E ? I know that they encourage you to stop using a nipple shield? however I have a gf who began using a ns with her little man, as he was 6 weeks premmie, and she?s still using it months down the track!! She?s tried a number of times to bf without it, but hasn?t had a lot of success, so she?s continued, figuring whatever works for her & her little man. Hope you find some peace with whatever works for you & Ash. Xxx It's great to hear that he?s surpassed his birth weight ? you have every reason to feel more confident!! :clap:

Chrissy ? we too are having some challenges with Annie?s wind pains ? and have tried Infant?s friend as well. I was giving it to her following a feed & then giving her a little bit more of a bf to wash it down (she doesn?t seem to like the taste!). The first day it seemed to be working a treat, but the next couple of days she was so unsettled? so we stopped using the drops only last night. Now we?re not sure if it was to do with the drops, as she?s had a few fussy moments today. It?s just so hard to know what?s causing her unsettled periods. But I have also made sure my diet has been pretty bland, keeping away from those supposed ?problem? foods.
Can I ask how you knew Blake had silent reflux? And how are you managing/treating it?
So cute that you are calling Blake your little turtle! Annie looks to the sky too. She seems to have quite strong little muscles, which has really surprised me as a first time Mum. She can really kick those little legs, and careful not to get ?swatted? by one of those flailing arms when she?s cranky! Still waiting on a smile? but I don?t think it?s far away, she?s definitely responding to our voices & faces. I can?t believe Blake is already 6 weeks! The time sure is flying!

Sarah ? aren?t their little noises so cute? I?m always laughing at Annie?s ?wake up? noises that seem to be more like little grunts. But look out when she?s cranky (particularly when we swaddle her arms) ? it?s a real growl & she goes really red in the face. Funny little monkey! Great to hear Corey is growing so well! Our Annie is a bit of a guzzler too & she?s steadily gaining weight & getting longer!! I?d love to hear what you think of your new peanut sling when you?ve had a chance to try it out!

Cat ? great to hear how much you & DD are enjoying little Grace. I too love the muttering bubs does behind the dummy!!

ControlFreak ? Congrats on baby Blake. I can relate to your fear of what it will be like with a new bub on your own when DH goes back to work? it is daunting isn?t it?

Chopsticks ? Lovely to hear from a proud Dad! Congrats on baby Ryan!!

Preagainpan ? Re ? Jasp's BA - Sorry, I was thinking I should have posted a note to check the BA?s on this thread too. I posted on our old pregnancy thread, but forgot to mention to check the BA?s here! No good that little Jacob has a cold! Poor little man. I had to laugh at your reference to ?arsenic? hour! We actually find Annie has a grumpy time mid morning (or maybe that?s her ?late afternoon/evening? atm!) I do hope things settle down for you and you find a rhythm for the evening routine! Big hugs. What sort of sling have you got? Hope your weekend in Sydney is going well. Re your concerns about short feeds ? as I mentioned in my first post, I was exactly the same, and I was basing that on hearing other Mum?s saying how long their bubs take to feed ? so when Annie was only taking max. 10 minutes & also would only really want one side, I was very stressed until our first weigh in. The m/w said it?s just a combination of my fast let down & Annie?s efficient suckling? she has the strongest sucking reflex. I too wonder how many other Mum?s are in the wee hours of the morning feeding bubs. ;)

Storm ? Sorry to hear you are having some night time battles with little Hayley. It can wear you down can?t it? We too have found music helps Annie sleep. I have a couple of mini speakers attached to my Ipod, with an ?Annie? playlist that I put on repeat. If only you could put the musical mobile on repeat! :)

Cate ? I hear you about the ?what?s wrong roundabout?! We still haven?t really sussed all Annie?s cries & noises? I really thought we would have, by now; . A gf has recommended Dunstan?s Baby Language DVD? I?ve just put a hold on it at our local library. There is definitely NO rule book when it comes to babies!! I hope things ease up for you with the bf, expressing & formula rollercoaster you are on!

Lauren ? I do hope your extension is finished really soon! You sure have been patient, given it?s missed it?s EDD!!! You might need to consider induction!!
I also hope there?s less puking from Mr Oliver!! :) We also had the experience of the m/w at the baby clinic telling us Annie had 2 strawberry birth marks that we hadn't noticed! One we?d thought was a rub mark from her nappy too. DH & I have been thinking we?d done her nappies up too tight & caused some kind of friction burn!! In all of our defence ? it is winter ? so it?s not like we?re spending a whole lot of time gazing at our bubs without their clothes on!! Annie (like her Mum) hates the cold! Spring cannot come soon enough! LoL about the dimple at the base of his spine and whether you?ve been gazing at your bum to know if you or DH have the same! :lol: Thanks for your words of encouragement for us first time Mum's and how we should trust our instincts. I know I've certainly looked to the professionals for advice? and worry when there is so many different opinions amongst all these so called experts!

Jas ? Great to hear from you! It wouldn?t be the same without you!! How?s bubby Arlea? Sorry to hear about her initial low BSL?s ? but great that?s all settled down now. Really hope your oedema settles down soon. You poor thing. Great that little Arlea is so relaxed about it all! I do hope you don?t have to go back to hosp. I too didn?t know you could get pre-eclampsia after birth? But I had perfect BP all throughout my pg, then when labour started naturally, my BP went through the roof, which ultimately stressed out Annie enough for me to need the emergency c section. I hope you can relax & get the swelling & BP down to normal levels again. Big hugs hun.

Tinsel ? Annie has those ?lazy? days, where she?s more interested in sleeping than being on the job with feeding! Hope Amelia is back to some good feeding for you now. It?s hard not to worry isn?t it? And happy 4 weeks to your bubs, as I know we share the same birth date!

Jetta ? Welcome! Samuel was on our shortlist of boys names & our EDD was the 15th? but we ended up with a baby girl that arrived 11 days early!! How are you going after your c-section? I too feel like we?re not reading Annie?s cues ? it?s so hard to know isn?t it? As mentioned above, I?ve had a gf suggest Dunstan?s baby language DVD.


Big hugs to those with angel baby anniversary?s in the coming weeks/months. xxx


AFM ? Annie is 4 weeks today? so hard to believe. She?s growing well, has put on a kg & grown 4cm since birth. We are still finding our feet with a routine, but all in all I think she?s a pretty good bub ? not that I have anything to compare it to! I?m finally starting to feel much better, as the wounds from my c section heal. Still very tender & I certainly know when I?ve overdone things? I?m just finding that I feel a bit housebound? not being able to drive & we also hadn?t got around to buying a pram, as Annie decided to arrive the day we?d planned to go ?pram shopping? (our last thing on the list)! So I?m really not mobile at all. We?ll have to rectify that really soon, or I?m going to go bananas!

How do you ladies find time to get on the computer so often?? Tonight has been the first time I?ve found time to jump on & it?s been in so disjointed? it?s taken me ages to finish this! (Mind you, I did have lots to catch up on!)

Which wind drops is everyone using & having success with?

We have resorted to use of a dummy to settle Little Miss. I always said I wouldn?t use one? but it really pacifies her, particularly when she?s really unsettled. What do you all think about using a dummy?? How hard is it to break the habit??

I was also wondering how many of you have bubs sleeping in your room v the nursery? We?ve had Annie?s bassinette in our room to date? but we?re wondering how soon to move her to her nursery? any advice?


Sorry for the extra long post? it?s pretty much 4 weeks worth? I?m sure you?ve all missed my marathon posts! (Not!) I have certainly missed chatting with you all. xxx

hi all things r starting tom look up. the kids dad n i r talking n working things out it will take awhile to get things back to the way we were but its a start. i have mould staring to appear on the outer wall of 2 of the bedrooms which could explain why the girls r coughing so much as the worst is in there room so ive started taking pics and the kids dad is going to help me build a case against goverment housing n hopefully they will find another house for me n the kids to go into but for now i have to go round the house every evening and morning wiping damp wall dry.

the 5th bday party went well. i here about the washing pileing up i have 2 airers of washing drying 2 large baskets of washing to fold n put away and lundry almost overflowing of washing waitng to be washed. ive done all my nappies n towels as i have used the dryer to dry them

Hello Ladies!

Sorry it has been so long.

Seems we are having difficulty diagnosing Sophie's fussyness and extreme gas. We are trying a lactose free formula. Hope it works.

Wow Deb, I don't know how you manage to do so personals. The wind drops we were using were the Infacol ones. They worked really well for little Ash. The chemist told us to give him 2ml before and after a feed, three times a day. The packaging said to just give them before a feed up to 12 times a day. We found that the 3 times a day approach worked really well for us and haven't actually needed to use them the last couple of days :crossfingers: it will stay that way. So I'd try giving Annie the drops before the feed and see if that helps her, I found that what I gave Ash after would end up being thrown up anyway.

Also I hear you on the CS recovery. Every time I think the pain has finally gone it comes back. I'm also going a little stir crazy not being able to drive, but am thinking I will give my OB a call this week and see if I can get a letter allowing me to drive. I'm feeling like I'm okay to drive now and at least that would let me get out and about a bit more locally.

We've had little Ash in his room since we came home from the hospital, except for on the occassions he's had really bad wind or been hard to settle (or I couldn't bear to have him out of my sight) when we've let him sleep with us.

Tell me about the washing people. I love my dryer right now, but my washing machine is very close to death, which is really annoying because it is only three years old, but thankfully we bought an extended warranty when we got it. I had the repair guy out on Friday and he says the motor is going, so now we have to sit tight until they can order another one which could be a couple of weeks. Every time I use it it sounds worse and worse, so I am just praying it will get us through until the new motor is ready...

Hope everyone is well and getting some sleep. DH gave Ash some EBM this morning which let me get an extra couple of hours of sleep - gee I needed it, I think I could've slept all day if he'd let me ;)

Deb - I've bought some Bauer's colic relief. I like that it's natural, can be used on bubs of any age, and doesn't have to be given every feed whether they need it or not (Some over the counter meds at the chemist do, Infacol I think is one?). I used donnalix with Noah a little too, most of the mums in my mother's group then swore by it. It is a pharmacy one though, and was a bit hard to find.

As for the dummy, don't stress! I always said Noah would never have one and ended up giving in. He did become really addicted, like REALLY addicted, but I figured he'd have to get rid of it eventually. The way I see it, you don't tend to see too many 5 year olds running around with one in their mouths. He actually threw his in the toilet last Sunday (trying to hide it from daddy) and we took that as our opportunity! So far, so good!

Oliver's sleeping in our room (obviously, his nursery still isn't bloody built!), and probably will for the first 3 months or so. Noah slept in our room for the first 3 months and it worked well for us. I think this is purely a personal choice though, if you feel comfortable with Annie sleeping in her nursery now, there's no reason you should wait. On the other hand, if you want her in with you until she's 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, nothing wrong with that either!

Anyway, sorry for the lack of other personals, had a crappy week here, Noah had gastro ontop of everything else and I just don't have the energy. Hope everyone's well!!