hi everyone
jess - i cant believe he is teething already! that is crazy!!! our babies are growing way too fast!!
i just took Jacob to the MACH nurse for a weigh in - he is 5.4kg... so i wont worry about his super fast feeding i guess...
i was alittle concerned re a flat spot developing on his head and she confirmed it - so i need to keep him off his back as much as poss when he isnt asleep. he sleeps more than DS1 so this isnt easy!!! anyway he is in a bouncer now... she will check again in 2 wks. i mught take him to a physio too in case he has some stiffness in his neck. donmt know if i mentioned to you all that he has a small fontanelle? anyway she checked this and his head is still growing but it is a bit of a concern so she will measure every 2 wks also. app they have to make sure it doesnt fuse too early... aaah the worries of being a parent! the good news is his dermatitis is looking great (she didnt notice he had it so that has to be a good sign). she recommended i work a bit to get rid of the cradle cap scales - interesting as everything else says not to worry about it. i think this is bc he has a lot of hair so she said i may not be able to get to it after a while and it may spread to his forehead - yuk!
anyway sorry for the selfish post - i will try to keep up with personals from now on.
Jess - I can't believe that Anton is getting teeth!! Is that possible this early! I didn't think that could happen but it obviously does!
Preagainpan - there is always something to stress about! Hope all goes well and everything is okay at each check.
Can I ask people how often they are feeding? Sam is usually every 3 1/2 to 4 hours during the day and I do have to wake him often. I do this so he doesn't have his feedings more throughout the night. He is doing 7 feeds a day but today only 6. Just wondering what other babies are doing as I worry about him getting enough! He is putting on good weight and has enough wet nappies but you don't want that to slow down!! Perhaps I am just stressing too much!
Jetta - at our ante-natal classes the midwife said a very small percentage of babies are born with teeth! How freaky would that look!! Lol
Hayley has her 6-8 week checkup tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait to see how much she has grown! Although she has only just grown out of all her 0000 clothes! I wish there was a size in between 0000 and 000's though...she fits in the 000 bonds wondersuits ok but her other 000 suits she swims in!
Guess who got me up this morning, only to go back to sleep...
I was just watching the Today show & a woman (in Russia I think?) gave birth to a baby weighing 6.8kg, about 15pound
Cate - what a fantastic gain! Great to hear he is doing so well It was great having mum here, I am hoping she can get back for another couple of days before my sister has her baby in about 4 weeks.
Sloane - I have decided I prefer the cranky baby! Not all the time mind you - just in the evenings - she is quite often a bit unsettled for the hour or two before she goes down for the night & needs to be held & rocked in various positions. The payoff is that she then sleeps for 6+ hours... and I'm lucky I guess because apart from DH I have the older kids who are able to help out a bit too... I have re-discovered the art of doing things one-handed, lol...
Jess, yay for getting the 8 seater! That will make things so much easier for you. Teething already...woah... hope that doesn't give him too much trouble.
One of the ladies in my other baby buddies thread has a son who was born with 2 bottom teeth. I had never heard of it before then!
Jetta - those feeds sound fine to me? I think as long as they are gaining weight & having plenty of wet & dirty nappies, everything is fine.
I know exactly how much Arlea is getting due to the expressing. It seems to me that she should be having much more than she is, but she is gaining an average of 150-160g / week, which is enough. She snacks too, she will quite often have half a feed and then have the rest an hour or two later. I have tried getting it all in in one go .... but you cannot feed a baby who doesn't want feeding! So I just follow her lead.
I guess if it were me I would probably be waking through the day as you are too though, so that you can hopefully get that longer stretch at night.
As for day sleeps I just do whatever I need to to get her to sleep a bit, rocking, holding etc, usually through the day she needs a bit more help but I am becoming ok with that as I see it as the price I pay for a better sleep at night - she does need some sleep though otherwise by late afternoon she is completely strung out.
Pre - nice gain! Good luck with the flat spot. I was reading your post & wondering how I would keep Arlea off her back? (if I had to) She spends a lot of time on her back, although she does roll her head from side to side a lot now. Is it ok for them to be in a chair or bouncer? (I don't think I could do anything else with her!)
What does the small fontanelle mean... they are worried about it fusing too early? ahhh they do give it to us to stress about don't they... hope it is all good for you
Good to hear the dermatitis is clearing up though : )
Storm, doesn't the time go so quickly! I can't believe Arlea is 6 weeks on Friday, it makes me a bit sad. I am finding a big difference in the fit of her clothing, it depends a lot on the brand & where they are from. She is wearing mostly 000, but the odd thing in a size either way too. Even the 000 stuff can be tight or loose depending on what it is they don't make it easy.
AFM... After the couple of BFs with the shield we are back to square one, nothing doing. I have figured out that what was stressing me WRT feeding was not all the expressing, but the trying to BF... I am getting so anxious each time we try & then so disappointed when it doesn't work, it was getting way too stressful for us both. So I have stopped & am taking a few days break, just expressing atm & will try again at the end of this week when she is 6 weeks old.
I have to say I am feeling much more relaxed for it & am enjoying her more. So if we are unsuccessful again then it might be time to think about giving up on the BF & just expressing for as long as I can, although I would like to try for another couple of weeks.
At least I have no problems with milk... my supply is still increasing by about 150ml / day each week. At the moment I am expressing 1500ml/day & running out of room in the freezer. I am hoping I will be able to reduce the number of times per day that I express, will speak to the LC about that this week.
Did I mention that she only has one dirty nappy a week? Right now it has been 8-9 days. I have spoken to a couple of nurses re this... they say as long as she is gaining weight & having plenty of wet nappies not to worry, & she's not constipated, it's normal BF consistency.. but it is always a drama when she finally does it because she has so much to move! She obviously becomes very uncomfortable. I can see the signs & I think we are in for it today...I hope so anyway, the sooner the better...
Everythig else is good. My other sister's baby is due in about 4 weeks, (this sister is in QLD) I am hoping to get up & see her before she pops! Also hoping that mum can come back for another couple of days before then, it was so good having another set of hands here.
[Hayley has her 6-8 week checkup tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait to see how much she has grown! Although she has only just grown out of all her 0000 clothes! I wish there was a size in between 0000 and 000's though...she fits in the 000 bonds wondersuits ok but her other 000 suits she swims in![/QUOTE]
SS Storm - I am exactly the same! Sam is in 000 wondersuits but just fitting into 0000 everything else. If I tried putting him into 000 for everything else he would be swimming too! All the sizing is so funny. There are some 0000 that are too long in the legs too!!
It sounds like everyone is doing such a great job!!
Question for anyone. I am having trouble getting to any parent groups or breast feeding classes or groups becuase my husband and I run a business so in between having to help out sometimes with SAm in the office and trying to get some rest at home it is hard to juggle everything. I am wondering how you guys all co ordinate life in general. There are so many opinions on parent directed feeding and feed on demand. I have always been a pretty structured person so am finding this go with the flow hard to deal with sometimes.
For example, I have a feeding in the night around 3/3.30am as he wakes roughly around same time and then have first feeding starting the morning at 6.30am structured by me. He normally goes til around 10am until he wants to be fed again, after going down for a nap at around 7,30am. This weekend I have to pick a friend up at 8.30am to go get our hair done, so would you feed him again before you leave or get him out of his cot asleep and put him in the car and then hope he doesn't start crying on the way to the appointment!!
I haven't had many outings yet so am trying to work it all out. Hope this isn't a stupid question. I think I get myself in a flap sometimes.
Had our appt...Hayley is a little fatty! She weighs 5.6kg and is 58cm long, and is in the 90th percentile for both weight and height...she'll be taller than me by the time she goes to school! Lol. I'm about 160cm tall I think... Her measurements make me even more surprised that 000 clothes are still a bit too big for her!
Nurse made me feel a bit crappy about some things though, mostly about her sleeping habits during the day. I just wanted to know if she is getting sufficient sleep....but that's all in another (extremely long!) post in the boo hoo room...
Oh and they don't even do her immunisations!! I thought they did so kind of got told off for not having them done yet as they can be done from 6 weeks now. Have to go make a dr's appt now, and to make it worse the dr i used to see has apparently left the practice, i don't know if she is still in town or has gone completely. So have to find a new GP as well. It took us long enough to find our old one!
Jetta - I normally try and feed Hayley just before we go out, but she is bottle fed so it's a bit easier to manage...I don't know about b/f. We are in a bit of a go with the flow routine so sorry I'm not much help! But if he goes that long between his morning feed, he might not be hungry if you try and feed him before you go?
Jasp- how did the number 2 go today?!? Lol. Yesterday we had two huge poos that kind of went everywhere (thank god all was contained within the nappy!) so I don't know what would be worse!
Preg - hope Jacob's head goes ok...I've become paranoid about Hayley getting a flat spot..poor thing is probably sick of me feeling her head all the time! It's hard to tell though, as like your bub she has lots of hair so you can't see anything, have to go by feel.
Wow I can't believe Anton is getting teeth already Jess. I know they say they can get them at any time, but I've never actually heard of anyone getting them this early... I guess you've got an over achiever on your hands
Try not to let the nurse get to you too much storm... Ash was 8 weeks yesterday and I haven't gotten his immunisations done yet. I'm actually not having them done till next Tuesday cos that was the time that suited best, I don't think it's too bigger deal if you're a week or so out.
Jetta I'm a person who likes structure and routine too, so I have had Ash on a routine since we got home from hospital. We generally feed every 3.5 to 4 hours during the day (I also wake him if he doesn't wake himself but am finding that I have to do that I rarely need to these days) and then he does one 6 hour stretch at night between about 9pm and 3am. So all in all we get 6 feeds in each day. I try to plan outings around his feeds so that we go out after his feed and he can fall asleep in the car or the pram. However when I have had to go out in between feeds I have just transferred him from bed to the car/pram. He does usually wake up, but then will go back to sleep. So I'd say if Sam is like Ash and used to being fed every 3.5 hours or so, you shouldn't have a problem getting him up to go and pick up your friend at 8.30 as long as you're able to feed him at around 10 like you normally do. Don't worry you're not the only one who gets worried about going out and getting stuck with a crying baby, every time I try something new I stress, but I usually find that it works out okay, and if it doesn't most people are pretty understanding.
Wow Jasp, 1500ml a day is heaps! Does Arlea have that much each day? By the sounds of things taking a break from the BF is just what you and her need. Maybe a break will help take away the stress and it will all get much easier when you try again. But if it doesn't don't stress! BTW I was wondering how much EBM do you give Arlea a day? I sometimes give Ash EBM and at the moment am giving him about 120ml when I do, but I do wonder if that is enough...
Preg you've got me wondering about whether Ash has a flat spot now, it's hard to tell though because he has a ridiculous amount of hair. I guess I might ask the nurse when we see her on Friday. Mind you I have know idea how I would keep him off it, he hates being on his tummy...
How's the sleep going Sloane? How many hours a day does the 'No cry sleep solution' say they should be getting a day? I also worry that Ash doesn't get enough sleep because we really struggle during the day.
AFM I don't really have too much to report. We're starting our mothers group on Thursday which I'm really looking forward to, I'd like to make friends with some mums with bubs of a similar age. Then we've got our 8 week check-up on Friday. I'm hoping he's continued with the good weight gain (looking at him I think he has) but I can't help but worry after the rough start we had. I'm also dying to know how much he's grown, I think he is quite long for his age, there is no way we'd get him in 0000 now and I am finding a couple of his 000 aren't quite long enough anymore.
Anyway, I hope everyone else is doing well and having lots of fun with their bubs! x
all our babies are growing very fast anton is now in mostly 00 now some 000 still fit him i never put him in 0000. all his 000 wondersuits ive been giving to the lady next door who's daughter inlaw is dur to have baby in about 2 weeks i know im not going to need anymore baby stuff as im not having anymore kids, got a appointment with gyno in 5 weeks to talk about getting tubes tied. have been doing alot of clouthes shopping getting size 1 for anton next year so far ive got about $300 worth of stuff for about $100
[QUOTE=Miss excited;1954422]
Jetta I'm a person who likes structure and routine too, so I have had Ash on a routine since we got home from hospital. We generally feed every 3.5 to 4 hours during the day (I also wake him if he doesn't wake himself but am finding that I have to do that I rarely need to these days) and then he does one 6 hour stretch at night between about 9pm and 3am. So all in all we get 6 feeds in each day. I try to plan outings around his feeds so that we go out after his feed and he can fall asleep in the car or the pram. However when I have had to go out in between feeds I have just transferred him from bed to the car/pram. He does usually wake up, but then will go back to sleep. So I'd say if Sam is like Ash and used to being fed every 3.5 hours or so, you shouldn't have a problem getting him up to go and pick up your friend at 8.30 as long as you're able to feed him at around 10 like you normally do. Don't worry you're not the only one who gets worried about going out and getting stuck with a crying baby, every time I try something new I stress, but I usually find that it works out okay, and if it doesn't most people are pretty understanding.
Miss Excited, thank you sooooooo much for your response! I have had trouble finding anyone else who has been doing things like me!! Everyone says just feed on demand but my attitude is if he knows to sleep well at night time, don't I want to get most of the feedings in during the day so he knows day time is play time and awake time!! most people I know are feeding every 2 hours or so, and so it has been hard to find other people who's babies are feeding 3 1/2 to 4 hours during the day as well! You have made me feel much better about the routine thing and waking him. I had a melt down last night as I was so confused about the whole breast feeding thing, my husband listens and is very wonderful but he gets upset cause he doesn't know what to say to me!!
Sounds like Ash is growing wonderfully well. Sam is having trouble with day sleeps today, he is onto his second nap and I don't think really slept the first one and just keeps waking up every 10 or 15 minutes. I might resort to the dummy shortly if he doesn't resettle himself!!
We are off for our vaccinations today so hopefully Sam will be okay with that!! Hope everyone is doing well.
Jetta, I don't know how much advice I can offer as I am very much just letting Arlea do what she wants atm - but having said that with 3 other kids we have to fit in a lot of outings, footy games & dance comps etc already, plus other day-to-day stuff. One of the reasons I choose not to have a routine is I don't think we could stick to it anyway, but that's just us.
I might have an advantage with the EBM as I just take a bottle of milk with me wherever I go. (EBM is ok at room temp for a few hours & she rarely has it warmed. Very convenient.)
I guess if he is used to going until 10am I would pop him in the car & hope for the best - how far away is it? You could try offering a feed before you go but I would guess he mihgt not be interested if he's used to going without. Do you use a dummy? I use one (only in the car) for Arlea... good luck, btw I don't think it's a stupid question at all, I find outings stressful sometimes too.
Good luck with needles today!
Storm - don't let the nurse make you feel too bad. Some of them just do make you feel crappy I think; it's them & I totally agree with MissE, I don't think it's a big deal if they are a week behind in fact some of my kids ended up a month behind due to colds etc. What a bugger you have to find a new GP - a good Dr can be hard to find.
Arlea did end up doing her poo last night, she seemed to find it a bit better this time & there was heaps although I am a bit worried it wasn't enough given how long it had been since her last one. I will ask again when I see the nurse.
MissE enjoy your group tomorrow, EBM - yeah 1500 is heaps, she is only having beween 450-650 ish a day. It's less than they say she should be having based on her weight (she was 5200g 10 days ago) but she is still gaining weight, & I can't feed her any more than she will take! Usually the most she will have is 100-110ml at a time, & she does a lot of snacking - 50ml & then another 50ml 60-90minutes later.
Because I am double pumping the LC said it's as though I am feeding twins, atm about 60-70% of what I express is going into the freezer. I am going to ask her advice about slowing down a bit, not to decrease my supply but hopefully I won't have to express as often. I have been really diligent about 3hrly pumps as I was so paranoid about my supply, but I guess I can relax now, it is still increasing. I thought I might see about donating to the milkbank here too, I don't think I will use it all in time, plus I am running out of room in the freezer.
She is asleep now... the last few mornings has been down for 3-4 hours so I am off to see if I can get some too!
wow I can't believe how much ebm some of you are getting. I struggle to get 40mls per express!!! I express once per day and freeze it just in case of an emergency.
Jess - anton sounds like he must be way ahead on everything - growing out of 000s, getting teeth... you won't be able to keep up with him!!
Preagainpan - how about propping him up on his side or on his back but slightly propped up IYKWIM - I've been told to use tightly rolled up towels to wedge them in place, so you could put one under one side of his back, or put him on his side and put one on either side to stop him from rolling. It's not an issue for us as Zac seems to happily sleep with his head on either side - although he is getting a bald ring around his head :-)
Jasp - I am so impressed with how much you're expressing! The most I've ever managed was about 20ml, and that was from the side that hadn't been in use for a day due to a bad crack... what machine are you using?
Storm - what is it with these nurses?? I get a hard time about Zac's daytime sleeping habits too. And I'm sure I will get in trouble about the immunisations - at the 8 week visit she was harping on about them. I was supposed to go to the community thing today, but the car has broken down so will have to book in to see the GP next week - if the car is working by then
Sarah - funnily enough, what should I receive in the mail yesterday from my sister but "the no cry sleep solution" (among a wealth of other things)
Re clothing sizes - isn't it confusing? Zac is mainly in 000s now, although there are some that he is already too long for, even though there seems to be plenty of room around the middle. The only thing is that he draws his knees up to his chest a lot and pulls his feet out of the growsuit legs, and then he gets them stuck in the crotch Has anybody else noticed that in the shops they do the same things as with adult clothing - even though it's only just spring, all the clothing has switched season to warm weather clothing. Seems stupid when you think you're more likely to buy stuff as you need it - when you know what you need and what size. My SIL is due in a few weeks and wanted to get a little jacket for her bub - and can only find summer clothes
AFM - Zac was 9 weeks old yesterday. It seems incredible.
I've also just got copies of "The Science of Parenting" and "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer". I've had a good flick through "Science" - it is fantastic. I got it because it had been so highly recommended on bellybelly, and it really lives up to its reputation. All based on real scientific studies about the effects of how we parent on the child's brain. It has made me feel much better about what we've been doing so far. Haven't had much of a look at the Baby Whisperer yet, but I like her attitude about treating a baby as you would an adult who you are caring for - with respect and good communication.
I agree with you bekz! I can't believe how much ebm everyone gets as well. I also try to express once a day and max get 40mls if I am lucky, normally around 30mls and I too have it in the freezer for emergencies but also am having to go back to work next month as my husband and I run our own business so will have to do some expressing then too.
Storm -- what was the nurse giving you a hard time about the day sleeps for?? Today Sam had is injections and we went to the centre for lunch, had injections, stopped past the office for an hour or two and home and he had not slept a wink. He is so strung out now I have fed him way earlier than normal and taken about an hour to settle him because he is so wired!! Dummy had to go in and he has finally been quiet for more than 10 minutes so he should sleep for hours now!! - oh just had to go and settle AGAIN. Good luck with the doctor too, my doctor is in a medical centre and there is no way I am waiting for hours in there so we had to find another one. Its hard!
Lovely Cate - I agree about the clothing, it is so silly. They are meant to be keeping warm still with a layer more than us and there is still a few cold days I am sure and they have short sleeved everything! Sam does exactly the same things with his legs too!! I thought he had lost one the other day breast feeding and realised it was all tucked up!!
Sam at present starts drifting off to sleep in my arms and then the minute he is in the crib he is howling. He bunches his legs up as though he has wind but the minute you pick him up he is fine so I think he might just like being in my arms! He had his injections today and he was fine. I had been told by people about side effects and have the panadol ready but our doctor said that the new injections are fine and it is more uncommon to have fever or reactions.
Just a quick note re the expressing; When I was BFing my other kids I never ever was able to express this much. I think I'm probably getting a lot more than someone who isn't expressng fulltime if that makes sense.
when I first started I was expressing for up to an hour & a half at a time! partly becasue of all the fluid I had - but I think that as time has gone by my body has gotten used to it & adjusted? not sure but that's my theory.
Also I have been expressing more than I would be feeding if she was BFing. I started expressing almost from day 1, even before the feeding problems, because she was lazy & the nurses were worried she wasn't feeding enough to bring my milk in. Guess that's well & truly fixed it...
I am using the Ameda Purely Yours double electric pump... RRP is $330-ish, I got mine for $285 on Ebay (& then about 20 postage) but you can get them second hand for around $150-200. It is the same as the one the hospital lent me & I bought it becasue it was doing such a good job, if I need to do this for a long time, and because I am looking at the re-sale on Ebay when I'm finished with it.
Didn't get ANY sleep today.. last couple of days she has slept from 9am till 2pm - but not today when I was ready to get some too! Argh
cate - what a coincidence! and what a great sister have you had a look at the book yet? the 9 weeks have gone so fast, haven't they? seemed like only a week or so since we were discussing GD & being induced etc!!
jetta - good news about the injections, we had the baby panadol ready as well but didn't use it either
jas - they have such a knack of changing something just when you think they've gotten into a routine! hope you manage to catch up on some of that sleep are you still preferring cranky baby?!
miss e - good luck with mother's group tomorrow! the no cry sleep solution suggests something around 7-8 hours of napping during the day i think...and suggests it's better if it comes in amounts of 1.5-2hrs. we've had a bad couple of days with the daytime sleeps here & corey has been really overtired - much crankiness
ss_storm - sorry to hear you had a bit of a crappy appt with the nurse. some of them really seem to have a way of making people feel bad. but at least hayley had a great weight gain - you know you must be doing the right thing
preagainpan - there always seems to be something to worry about, doesn't there? i didn't realise that about the fontanelle. did you end up seeing a physio? i was thinking of taking corey to an osteo at some point just to make sure there are no lasting effects from the forceps delivery.
afm, corey has been hard to settle in the last couple of days & is fighting sleep during the day. grrr! last night he had a horrible sleep - i feel so sorry for him today, he looked so tired. hopefully tonight will be more settled!
hi all. how is everyong doing? my 4 year old son has gone from wanting to hold and help take care of Anton to poking him in the eyes and hitting his head ha even scrached anton just near the eye he started doing this in the car yesterday but today its been everytime he goes past anton
Ughhhh I'm sooo far behind on the personals I'm not even going to bother this time I'm afraid!
Hope everyone's well!
Oliver was 2 months old yesterday (9weeks today) and had a check up this morning.
He now weighs 5.550kg and was 59.2cm long. He was smiling up a storm and passed the little "eye tracking" and "hearing" tests they do. When she placed him on his tummy, he did what he always does for me. Pushes straight up on his arms and flops to one side. That's how much he hates it, lol. So seeing that, she's convinced he's not far from really rolling, which will be good, then I can stop feeling bad about not enough tummy time!
The only "concern" was his skull. I asked about it as the boney plates seem to be quite prominent. She agreed they were and that the bones are overlapped, probably due to such a fast delivery. They like to see it correct itself by 3 months, so we've got an extra appointment to check. She can't have been too concerned because she wasn't going to mention it until I did, and she did say that his fontanel was big enough to cope when/if they do flatten down.
I promise to keep up with personals from now on!
It was great having mum here, I am hoping she can get back for another couple of days before my sister has her baby in about 4 weeks.
- she does need some sleep though otherwise by late afternoon she is completely strung out.
they don't make it easy.
Has anybody else noticed that in the shops they do the same things as with adult clothing - even though it's only just spring, all the clothing has switched season to warm weather clothing. Seems stupid when you think you're more likely to buy stuff as you need it - when you know what you need and what size. My SIL is due in a few weeks and wanted to get a little jacket for her bub - and can only find summer clothes 
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