Babies born~July 1st-15th 2010 #1

Dr T - so cute about B's first horse ride!!! Did you get the photos up?

That's great that your mum will be here for his birthday, well timed :D Will make it even more special.

Re the smelly poos - X's smell quite a bit too, you're right, bf babies aren't supposed to have really smelly ones, I'm thinking it's a boy thing - my DD's never smelled that bad!!

X does really stinky farts too - when he is able to anyway!!

We have mammoth poosplosions too. We got some of them with DD but it seems like every poo with X is an explosion that takes out the PUL nappy cover! I've got four covers for my nappies and there was one day where I had three dirty ones washing and one on X - if he'd had another explosion we'd have been in trouble!!!

We're off for my 6 wk post natal check up on Friday - can't believe how fast it has gone!!!

Question: has anyone jumped back in the saddle yet? The metaphorical saddle, iykwim?? DH thinks we should try before my check up, to see if everything feels ok. He's only thinking of me, if you believe that :rolleyes: :rofl:

hahaha OP hilarious about jumping back in the saddle I think we are going to give it a go this weekend I just want to get it over and done with - the whole fear factor thing, I dont feel sore which is great, will just be a bit nervous. Poor DH had to wait 6 months after I had DD.

Remember me telling you all about the 36 nappies well after I went out and brought some mcn's we got given 300 yes 300 newborn nappies lol I couldnt believe it. Problem is now he is pretty much busting out of the nb ones so I am hoping that maybe somewhere like big w might swap an unopened box for some in the next size up. Can only ask I guess. My next door neighbours are the managers of our local big w so might ask them.

Nothing else to report here really just enjoying every moment.

Sal - that's incredible, 300 nappies!! Nice gift! They'll last you 9 days at your current rate :lol:

I reckon they would swap them. Definitely worth a try.

Hmm I think we might give it a go soon too... Poor DH is feeling a bit unloved!

hmm 9 days god thats a lot of nappy changes in a short space of time no wonder my hands are like sandpaper.

Salad - What a fantastic present to be given. With any luck you should be able to exchange them. If they are unopened, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to

OP - Still no luck on getting the pictures posted. I asked about it in the gallery help section, but so far no one has answered me. Hopefully soon.

As for 'getting back in the saddle' I've gotten back in both saddles :rofl: (that is horse and husband)
:tmi: after completely loosing my sex drive when I got pregnant, it came back with a vengence as soon as B was born. I was so toey I'd get turned on if I saw DH with his shirt off :shakehead: SO I managed to wait an entire 4 1/2weeks....felt like AGES. DH kept asking me...are you sure this is okay. You got stitches you know. I don't want to hurt you :lol: kinda sweet really. The first time did hurt some but not very much. Now it's mostly back to normal...I say mostly because :tmi: (again) I'm sure it's better then it was before!

Dr Tal - You go girl good for you getting back in the saddle(s) lol. DH can hardly wait for the weekend, one of the guys at his work asks him everyday if he has got some yet lol. Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone! I have been reading when I can, but haven't had a chance to reply and now I have forgotten who has posted and what, sorry. :redface: Travis is just not a sleeper, most days I can't get him to sleep at all until between 7 and 9pm at night, except for the odd 20 minutes if I'm lucky. Today has been unusual, he's had a couple of naps that have lasted an hour or so!!

I've been thinking of all these things I want to ask but just never get around to it and now I've forgotten what they are! One was actually whether anyone had got back in the saddle, so it has been interesting today to read the latest discussions! I'm really nervous about DTD again, I'm still tender down there - there's scar tissue that's quite hard. I also have a fissure on my bum, not that I expect it to be a problem for DTD, lol.

Another thing I was going to ask was whether anyone else had abdominal separation? I had 6cm :o - I don't know when I'll get back to trampolining! I miss it so much.

On the subject of nappies - I gave up on MCNs and bought 200 biodegradable nappies on ebay (they were left over from a bulk buy so relatively cheap, and it turned out i knew the seller!). When they run out I'm going to use terry towel nappies with baby beehind PULs, had been doing that a bit but the nappy is so big on little Trav.

Cat meowing at me! If not bub is cat. Must go feed her.

Hope to be back soon!!
Emma

Sal - Good luck for 'jumping on the horse' :rofl: again this weekend. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you :crossfingers: That's hilarious that your DH has someone at work who keeps asking him if he's gotten any yet. One of the guys my DH works with before I gave birth told him that he shoudl ask the Dr. to put a couple extra stitches in if I needed any :o

Emma - No I didn't have any abdominal separation (that I know of) but it doesn't sounds super pleasant! As for the scar tissue, I had quite a bit, and that's what hurt at first (I think) but now it's good.

AFM - My question for everyone. How are you all going with your pelvic floor exercises? I'm having a hard time even finding mine...as in I really need to concentrate hard to tighten them, and even then sometimes they don't respond....any tips/suggestions??

Just a quick reply from me - DH woke me up around midnight last night (had only been in bed for half an hour sigh) looking for a bit of action... He has been so patient, think I might have to make an effort tonight... Wish me luck... Libido just hasn't returned...

Just a quick post for me before I have to get back to making dinner!

Dr Tal - maybe you should contact the physio about the pelvic floors. They helped me figure out how to activate my transverse abdominals with ultrasound and some breathing techniques so I reckon there's probably a similar thing they can do for you. I was surprised by how well I could do my exercises soon after birth, but your question made me realize I hadn't been practising for a while and now it's much harder!!

So who else has a pukey baby? Travis brings up something after every feed, and often quite a bit, even though I'm breastfeeding him.

Just wondering what everyone else's days are like? Does anyone get time to do house work? How do you put your baby to sleep? How do you know when they are ready for sleep? What do you do for "play" time?

I got an hour this morning where bub was happy to just lie in bed and look around the room while I made myself breakfast and did last night's dishes. It was wonderful!!! And this evening he is actually having a sleep. I so hope that doesn't stop him from going to sleep after his feeds tonight.

Hope everyone is well!

Hi Ladies
Sorry for not posting for weeks. Living a bit of a nightmare here at the moment.

Emma - sounds like we have similar bubs. DS hardly ever sleeps longer than 20 minutes during the day unless it is in my arms, pram, car etc etc. Its driving me crazy not being able to do anything and my poor toddler is getting no attention at all. I usually take him to bed with me during the day when toddler is sleeping so at least we both get a bit of rest. Its just so hard. Anyone got any advice.

My first bub was extremely pukey. Spewed all day every day - a happy chucker - but continued to thrive so was a mess more than a problem. I breastfed as well. It will eventually stop but get used to doing plenty of washing in the meantime.


As for getting back in the saddle - if I had a spare 90 seconds in my day that would be the last thing I would want to be doing !!!!

Abdomen and pelvic floor all intact so sorry cant help anyone out there.

Took bub for 6-8 week check with GP. What I thought was dry skin and baby pimples/rash turns out to be infant eczema - has anyone has any experience with how to deal with it. Its not too bad so hpefully won't get any worse. I ahve a neice who sufferred horrendously with eczema and allergies to everything and it has got me really worried and stressed.

So that together with a non-sleeping windy colicy bub i'm not doing so well at the momenht.

Sorry for the downer post. Will try and get a minute to post a bit more often.
xxJac

Hi jacki - sorry to hear you are not having a fun time right now, big hugs to you xoxo. Have you thought about getting yourself some sort of sling or baby carrier, so you can pop baby in and go about your day. Just a thought.
As for the eczema everyone has something different that works and what works for one might not work for the other but I swear by moogoo, google it and have a read. If DD ever got it really bad I would treat it twice a day for 3 days with cortisone that the dr gave us then manage it with moogoo. Some littlies cant have any other material on their bodies except for 100% cotton thats just something else you can try if nothing else works

Hi to everyone else lurking but not posting.

So as I said I would I got back into the saddle over the weekend, glad the "1st" time is out of the way now lol. I was very pleased that it didnt really hurt which was great I had a second degree tear but my ob stitched me up using one long stitch and I reckon thats made the difference. hahaha I was joking to DH that he has sewn me up a neat little package, before giving birth to E my inner lips protruded a bit so they were always visible now they are all tucked away lol sorry for the TMI but I said to DH he must have used my "excess" labia to repair me hahahaha.
Dr Tal - laughing about the giving you an extra stitch if needed, its so funny how guys think you are stretched after having a baby. Cute that you take B on the horse, how special.

OP - how is your DD going is she sleeping, did you end up putting a night light in her room. How is your little man going?

Thanks Salad. Have checked out the website. Is it the moogoo eczema cream you use? How old was G when it started? Does she still have it?? - sorry for the 100 questions.

I am going throu DS clothes to see what is 100% cotton. So many are cotton and nylon/polyester/elasten - running out of clothes for him!

Good for you getting back on horse - my poor husband. I dont have the highest of libidos at the best of times

yep thats the one, she was only very little when it started, probably due to the heat as she was born in the middle of summer. I use it on E now for his baby acne on his face as his face is so dry because of it. Dont say sorry for the questions thats what we are here for - to help each other. It is very hard to find 100% cotton anywhere, I know pumpkin patch stuff is usually 100% cotton but can be expensive however i pick up a lot of cheap stuff off their clearance racks all the time. Maybe start a thread and see if anyone else can help you.

As for G still getting excema - she does but its related to additives and preservatives in food. Your breastmilk could affect your DS too depending on what you eat but it may not be the cause - just a suggestion. Be careful of MSG the 600 numbers.

Hi ladies,

Have grabbed the laptop finally and can write a proper reply, yay!

Sal - good on you for getting back into it this weekend. We sort of attempted to but no go. Maybe tonight. See what time little X settles...

As for DD - sleep is better than when she was sick, she still wakes during the night sometimes... last night once, the night before twice... it varies from night to night. She's generally pretty easy to resettle, but she's waking early in the morning (between 5 and 6) so that sucks. We haven't tried the night light... She seems to be getting better... maybe! I think her four eye teeth (or canines?) are all through now so that's probably helping.

Jacki - so sorry to hear things are getting crazy for you guys. I am exhausted enough running around after toddler and dealing with X and he seems pretty settled and cruisey most of the time. I don't know how I'd be dealing with it if he was unsettled... I think I'd be moving in with the in laws!!!!!

I second the sling/carrier idea - I'm currently in possession of an Ergo, a baba sling and a hug a bub! Trying to work out which one I like the best... but for the times when X wants to be held and my DD is awake and needs attention, the carrier is invaluable. Liking the HAB best at the moment. Have you contemplated something like that? Might help??

Do you have much support? Family live near by? Any friends that could take toddler for a day, give you some good rest time? Spend the day in bed with DS? Big hugs... you sound exhausted. :hug:

Oh and WRT to the eczema - DD developed a little red spot on her cheek around 9wks, which turned into eczema over a few weeks. She had flare ups on her face, neck, some on her arms and also back of the knees. We did a few things to combat it...
- Cortisone/steroid creams to treat the initial outbreak (or when it got really bad - you can only use them once or twice a day, for only a few days as they are too strong to be used any longer)
- Only bathe in water, or use a bath oil - something soap free is the important thing (we switched to Dermaveen bath oil, seemed to help coat her skin and not dry it out)
- Dermaveen lotion for after bath - every bath
- Switching to a sensitive washing powder (we use Omo sensitive)

I hope some of those help! I can also report that she seems to have grown out of it... hasn't had a flare up since she was about 12mths. We still use Omo sensitive, we still bathe her in non-soap products (mostly) and I've still got the cortisone creams on hand, but touch wood we won't need them. I never changed her clothes... no one suggested that!

Emma - our days are dictated by what activity we have planned for DD, or if we need to go out anywhere or do anything. DD is generally awake between 6-7am (or earlier sometimes!!) and generally X feeds sometime between 5 and 7, after which he'll have a bit more sleep, so once he's asleep I do brekkie for me and DD and then get her and me ready. I can have a shower etc and she's happy to play in the bathroom or run up and down outside the bathroom terrorising the cat :lol:

Around brekkie and getting me and DD dressed I can throw on a load of washing or two, sort clothes, do dishes if I'm lucky. X generally wakes around 8 or 9, depending on when he fed, then I get him up and ready. He'll have some awake time - sits in the bouncer watching DD, has some tummy time/floor play, nappy off time on the change table... that's about it. They don't need a lot of interactive play stuff at this age - I do have a play mat that I'll be getting out soon!

So then we either go out for playgroup or something, or DD goes down for a sleep. X cat naps (he's having lots of awake time during the day ATM and little short sleeps) - so if we are out, he naps in the pram or the car, if we are home he naps in the bouncer or sometimes his cradle if I'm lucky. Sometimes he settles himself without needing anything from me, sometimes he feeds to sleep, sometimes he needs bouncing/rocking. I was so stressed out with DD, she needed to be rocked to sleep every single time and I was freaking myself out that I was "teaching her bad habits" and stuff. I'm trying to be a whole lot more relaxed this time around!

Night times are hectic - DH will get home some time in the afternoon (tradie hours) and we generally have an awake baby, a tired toddler, dinner to get ready and numerous other tasks! I'm trying to get X into the bedtime routine of feed, bath, feed, bed... seems to be getting there, apart from the bed thing, LOL. DH does baths (both kids together) and gets kids dressed for bed while I'm doing dinner or helping, we eat with DD, generally with me feeding X at the same time, then DD goes to bed at 7pm and we deal with X. Some nights he has been asleep by 6.30pm, most nights he'll feed, be awake, feed some more, doze, wake, feed... going to sleep some time between 9pm and 1am!

Once DD is in bed we can attempt to do dishes and washing (generally just nappies) and have some down time, as much as possible with X anyway.

Wow, that's very long... sorry! Will post this, give X a feed and come back for some more...

Ahh, just when you think you have them settled... you take them off the boob and they wake on up! Sigh... back in the bouncer for you, little X man!

Emma - I think you asked about abdo separation? I had a big split with DD, about four fingers' width - so that's probably about 6cm like you. Go see a physio - they will give you some exercises to start them knitting back together. My physio told me it was important if I was planning to have another bub close to DD, which we did.

Interestingly I don't have as much of a split this time around... so its not all bad for you :D

Dr T - you asked about pelvic floor? One good way to test whether you have any pelvic floor issues is to try and stop the flow when you are doing a wee, if you are able to then you do have some pelvic floor control! But don't try and do it more than once... apparently it can cause UTIs or something.

I thought my pelvic floor was ok-ish but then I had my 6wk post natal check on Fri and the GP said that I need to do my pelvic floor muscles as I have a slight prolapsed bladder :o She said its nothing to worry about but I need to get on top of it and be sure it doesn't develop into anything else...

Argh, gotta try and feed X some more... sigh... go to sleep, baby!

Salad / OP - thanks so much for your advice and support. It means a lot. Poor DS sometimes he looks terrible and sometimes you would hardly notice it. There is a bit under his arm that bothers me. I am taking him for needles tomorrow so will get Dr to have a look - I am not too sure how bad it is before you should use the cortisone cream.

Hi to everyone.
Im off to try and have an afternoon nap with DS
xx

Hi ladies. I am making dinner while DH tries to settle T. It's been another day with no sleep since about 9.30am. How can a 6 week old baby go that long without sleeping??? I got him to the point of closed eyes, calm breathing a few times. First couple of times I put him in his bassinet and he woke up and started bawling and I couldn't resettle him in there. So I eventually just let him sleep in my arms but even then he woke up after about 20 minutes, which if I'm not mistaken isn't even one sleep cycle! Gah!! Tried taking him for a drive, picked DH up from work early and drove to the shops, but he was awake the whole car trip. At least he wasn't crying this time, drove my sister home last night and he was hysterical by the time we got home. Sigh. It just occurred to me, it's like he cries instead of sleeps during the day. I wonder if there's something to that.

Jacki - Sounds like you're having a tough time of things, sorry to hear that. I thought a sling was going to be my saving grace, but T needs me to be moving all the time or starts to cry. Gets very tiring! And is hard to do housework still! Have you tried that yet?

Salad - nice work getting a little cosmetic surgery for free down there! It's great that DTD wasn't too painful for you. I'm so jealous - we tried on the weekend but I found it really painful. Hoping it just needs a few warm up attempts!!!

OP - Thanks for the run down of your day, it's interesting to know the routine of other bubs and their mum! And I'm glad to hear the abdominal separation doesn't have to be as bad the second time. I'm off to a review class tomorrow before I start some physio led exercise classes at the hospital, presumably I'll find out what to do about the split then.

Gotta run... talk soon!

Jacki - I find if the excema doesnt budge by itself or with normal moisturiser, then I use the cortisone, but only twice a day for 3 days max as it can thin the skin. I think bad excema can get infected so its important to stay on top of it. Definantly talk to your Dr.

Emma - you poor thing your really having a hard time, I wish I could come and help you just so you can get some rest, you must be exhausted, do you have someone other than your DH to help you. Does T have a dummy, is he wrapped, could you get one of those baby swing things that he can sleep in maybe the movement might help him sleep and leave you hands free. If he is wrapped maybe try unwrapping, I really dont know I am just trying to offer you some options. I hope it gets better.

Does anyone elses bub have baby acne, E had it bad on his face and its a bit better now, but his skin is so so dry and flaky and red, I thought maybe it could be excema too but I am not sure.

Sorry I've been MIA

Will explain that later...won't try personals, but will answer some questions, but I can't remember who asked them.

Bamboo is also suppose to be good for eczema. It's suppse to by hypoallergetic.

For 'play' time I'll give B nudie baby time, tummy time and back time on his play mat. I have a musical thing that plays music and flashes bright lights that he likes to stare out. We have a mobile that he's fascinated with as well. I also read to him once a day. Not that he can understand and he doesn't look at the pictures, but it's suppose to help their literacy later in life.

Because B likes the sling so much I am able to get lots of housework done because he's happy to be in that while I do it, so I can vaccuum, do the dishes, laundry all that stuff. The sling also settles him really well when he's upset.

B spits up alot. But because he's gaining weight well and he doesn't seem to be distressed by it I've been told not to worry about it.

AFU - I've had an interesting week.

Three things I've learned in the past week.

1. Apparently it's okay to take morphene and oxycodone while breastfeeding but not neurophen :wtf:

2. Apparently there is a HUGE black market for breast milk in Australia/world wide :o That's why they keep the EBM fridge in maternity wards locked and people need to sign in and out.

3. Apparently appendicitis is a common post labour (yes....post labour) complication, especially over the summer/fall winter/spring seasons.

How did I learn these facts you ask?

Well, it all started last Saturday (this is LONG so grab your bub and pop em on for a feed :D )

Started spotting Saturday morning. Thought great....AF....just my luck. I was hoping she'd hold off for a bit longer since I was breast feeding. Saturday night started to get some mild cramping. Didn't think anything of it.

Sunday the cramping got worse, but I just assumed it was worse period pains and that since I hadn't had a period for a while I just wasn't use to them. They got quite bad by Monday morning. DH told me to call the doctor....but I didn't listen :rolleyes: By the time he got home Monday they were pretty bad and he MADE me call the doctor. I got an appointment for the next day at 10.

Put B down for the night and I was in heaps of pain. Took me ages to get into bed because it hurt so much and finally get to sleep. Think I fell asleep about 10:30. Woke up at 11:30 in excruciating pain. Worse then what I went through when I was in labour. Plus I was freezing and had uncontrollable shivers. Looked over at DH and he didn't have any covers on. That's when I decided things weren't right (that's me...Dr. T the brain scientist :doh: ) Woke DH and told him I needed to go to hospital. He got up, got dressed, stocked the nappy bag. Got B strapped in the capsule and into the car. By that time I'd just made it out of bed I was in so much pain. Took me ages longer to get dressed.

Got to emergency, took me about 10 minutes to walk the 100m from the car to the entrance. Told the nurse I had severe abdominal pains. She was less then helpful until she found out I had given birth just 7 weeks earlier. I was straight in when she found that out. Took my temp was 38.9...that got them moving.

Got into emergency. They put a cannula in...after 4 attempts.....vomited....got given maxalon.....vomited again. Was curled up in a little ball whimpering in pain. B needed a feed...was barely able to feed him. They wanted to give me morphene, but I refused until I found out if it was safe while breast feeding. Made them send up someone from maternity. This is when I found out the first half of my interesting fact 1. Morphene AND oxycodone are both considered breastfeeding friendly....go figure. So this is where I entered lala land and B joined me about 2 hours later. Wasn't happy with the fact he was high and told myself I wasn't having any more morphene or other drugs that would affect him.

Don't remember too much. Had heaps of tests done. DH and B went home about 4 (I had a few feeds of EBM frozen...thankfully). Got brought to the surgical ward about 9. Had been able to express about 160 ml. EBM came with me and got put in surgical ward fridge which was not locked. Was told I had to have surgery as I had either one of two things:
A. Appendicitis
B. Abcessed fallopian tube and ovary.
Either way it/they needed to be removed as I was septic and would die. (way to be melodramatic). called DH to bring in some more milk.
Wasn't too happy with the tube ovary scenario, but didn't really have much choice. DH and B got back to hospital with freind (to look after B while I was in surgery as DH had a job he HAD to do as it was a reno) about 10 minutes before I got wheeled off to be prepped for surgery.

Got wheeled out. Was asked if I knew what was happening. and to tell them in my own words. Was I happy with this. NO to the tube and ovary thing but didn't ahve much choice so told them to do what they needed to so. Signed all the forms. Stared at the light in the ceiling...then I was in recovery.

It was my appendix...thankfully. It had burst Monday night...probably when I woke up in excruciating pain with the shivers. :tmi: My abdomen was filled with pus and my appendix had gone gangrenous (as in had gangrene...not sure if I spelled that right). Was pretty close to dying because I'd gone septic and was told my milk might dry up.

Got back to my room and saw a tin of formula. I saw RED. Went off at my friend for givign him "that S@!t" there was EMB in the fridge. She said she went to get it and it wasn't there. Called her a liar, continued to go off at her. That's when the lactation consultant came in. Heard what I was yelling about and this is when I learned fact 2. She asked if the fridge was locked. we both said no. She said it had probably been stolen as there is a MASSIVE black market for EBM and it fetches VERY high prices. Apparently cancer patients use it as they think it has healing properties. So somewhere there is a cancer patient who was recently high on my morphene laced EBM.

So my poor boy had to have two feeds of formula. Didn't agree with him much. He got constipated and had tummy pains for about 3 days.

I refused more morphene as I didn't want B to be high and asked if I coudl alternate between panadol and neurophen instead (one or the other every two hours). But no...apparently neurophen is not breast feeding friendly (but morphene and oxycodone are...go figure).

So have been in quite a bit of pain...well A LOT of pain, but would rather that then have B high.

Surgeon came in on Wed. That's when he told me that apparently appendicitis is quite common post labour. Something to do with all the hormone changes in the body that make condition just right....go figure. It's also more common when seasons change from summer to fall and winter to spring.

So, I've been hanging out in hospital with B. Got to come home yesterday. Saw the LC heaps as my milk got a lot less and it had a lot less fat in it. She gave me lots of tips and hints to keep my suppply and get the fat back, and today it seems to be more normal.
B's a lot more settled then he's been in days as well, so fingers crossed it's all right again. And thankfully my milk didn't dry up enitrely.

OMG Dr Tal I am so glad you are ok you poor thing. Will pop back in later to talk more but have to go now. Oh and by the way FYI it says on the side of the nurofen pack suitable for breastfeeding mothers.

Sal - Huh...it does too. After I read your post I sent DH down to the store to get some for me. Makes you wonder about the medical system when they say neurophen isn't OK but morphene and oxycodone, to powerful and addictive sedatives are.

Can't wait for the neurophen to kick in. Should cut the pain some....thankfully!

Oh my Dr T you poor thing!!!! I'm so glad you're ok! My sister's appendix burst when she was about 10 and it was terrible!!

What a brave woman you are refusing pain relief. Hope little B appreciates it!! :hug:

Can't believe those 3 facts... They are all crazy crazy!

Hope you are feeling much improved soon hun.

:huh: :hug: :hug:

Dr Tal, that's crazy! You poor thing. I'm glad to hear you didn't die on us and your milk is good again!

OP - I don't really consider myself brave for refusing pain relief. I just didn't want to do anything that would harm B. I'd have never been able to forgive myself if I had done something to him just to make myself feel better. Thankfully between the panadol and neurophen (thanks Sal!!) which I am alternating every two hours now I feel pretty good....all things considered. I still can't figure out why the doctors told me it was 'counterindicative' (whatever that really means) to breastfeeding when it says on the packet that it's okay to use. The company wouldn't put something like that one there and risk opeing themselves up to lawsuits if they hadn't fully had approval.

Emma - I was pretty happy to find out I hadn't died to :lol: And B is VERY happy that my milk is back to normal. He's back to his old mellow self again which is nice.

AFM - Just sleeping mostly. DH has been watching B a lot for me and I've had a couple friends who gave me a surprise cleaning visit yesterday. Cleaned the whole house for me and did a heap of laundy. Can't tell you how thankful I was to them for that!

Gotta run. B needs a change.

:

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AFM - Just sleeping mostly. DH has been watching B a lot for me and I've had a couple friends who gave me a surprise cleaning visit yesterday. Cleaned the whole house for me and did a heap of laundy. Can't tell you how thankful I was to them for that!

Gotta run. B needs a change.

---

That is such a lovely thing your friends did for you. Glad they are stepping in and helping out - and good on your DH for being able to help too.

Rest up hun.

Just thought I'd pop in while having my midnight snack. Brie and crackers tonight. Usually a bowl of nutri grain but we're out of milk!

Today was awesome, T had 3 or 4 sleeps in his normally sleepless day! I think there were 3 this morning as well as one in the afternoon but I can't remember times and can't think how they would have all fit in. Anyone else having memory problems still? Thought that would finish with the pregnancy!

Anyway, have eaten way too much cheese now so better go back to bed.

How were everyone's weekends? Dr Tal - so good of your friends to come and clean for you.

How is everyone? Can't remember what's going on!

Not much excitement here. DS seems to be doing about four hous over night these days, which is kinda wearing me out. I know it sounds ok but by the time I get to bed i'm only getting 2 or so hrs before he wakes and often being woken after that by DD too.

Just getting a bit tired.

Hope everyone else is going well!

Hey everyone. Is it just me, or have some of our posts gone missing? I could be wrong but I think we're missing about two weeks worth of posts. Also I'm sure I got an e-mail notification saying that Jessey had posted (Monday I think it was) yet there is no post here from her.

Just wondering if I'm going crazy.

OP - Sorry to hear that you're not getting much sleep. Hopefully DS and DD will get on a similar sleeping pattern for you.

AFU - It was my birthday on Sunday. DH made breakfast for me then took me out for lunch and dinner. As a present he booked me in for an hour long massage yesterday and organised for a friend to watch B for me. It was SO relaxing.

I have a question for you about poos again though. B's seem to be very...mucousy. not sure if that's the right way to explain them. :tmi: But they foam when they come out now instead of squirting and they kinda resemble snot. And as per usual I'm a bit worried that they're not 'normal'. I guess I'm paranoid that the antibiotics they gave me after my appendix was taken out have affected his gut bacteria.

Gotta run. B just woke

Yep Dr T - bellybelly crashed Sunday night. Restored Yesterday morning but two weeks' worth of posts were lost. Bummer!!

Re B's poos - I'm not too sure about the frothy poo! I'm thinking its ok.... Does he seem concerned about it? Like unsettled or in pain?

Are there still globby bits, like mustardy-looking seeds, in his poo?

Yeah, he's still got the curdy looking bits in it, and they're still the same colour, they're just frothy and mucousy.

I know entirely too much about his poos :rofl: it's all the nudy baby time I give him. He almost always does a wee and a poo while I have him on the floor on a towel :lol:

That is a bummer about the lost posts. I was really looking forward to reading what Jessey had written since we hear from her so infrequently.

What colour are they? The frothy poo I mean.

Hi girls, hope everyone is well, sucks about losing the 2 weeks worth of posts, I cant remember what everyone is doing.

Dr Tal - I think the poo sounds normal, I think I remember DD being a little frothy with occasional mucousy stringy bits in there.

Had E weighed yesterday and he is 5.96kg he is a big boy, well big for me, DD was small and petite, I am thinking E is going to be big like his daddy. I have had heaps going on so havent been able to come in and make any post so I will try and say as much as I can now, while both kiddies are asleep.

Last thursday DH and DD were mucking around in the rumpus room and DH was doing army rolls (lol) around the floor cracking DD up and as he rolled she ran into him and he rolled on her ankle and sort of bent it back, so we had a trip to the emergency room, they said nothing was broken and that it was probably strained, poor thing couldnt walk for 4 days, she crawled everywhere, or wanted to be carried. Mum came around on the friday to play with her while I cleaned the house thank god, then DH came home early from work because he felt so terrible that he had hurt her. She is all good now though, still limping but its only been a week.

We have DH's nans 80th birthday party tomorrow and its at my in laws house, they only live next door, well the back of their yard backs onto the side of our backyard if that makes sense, they technically live around the corner. We live on an acre each and we have a gate between the properties and share a small tractor and ride on mower. My FIL is a wonderful man, he and DH's mum were divorced years ago and now he has remarried and the lady he has remarried is a real pain in the butt, lets call her R for the purpose of this story. A couple of week ago, DH was talking to his dad at the gate and I needed him to watch the kids while I ducked down the street, so I wrapped E in a blanket and went outside to see him. I didnt realise that R was there at the gate talking aswell, if I had known that I would not have gone out there. She is the kind of person who never asks how you are but raves on about how tired she is coz she does night shift and she is dying because she has lupus etc ** insert rolling eyes here** no one has it as bad as her apparently. I bite my tongue I am friendly and just nod smile and agree. Anyway as I got to the gate she says to me "hello stranger" I said hello, then she said in a *****y winey voice "oh you have E with you, well I havent seen him since he was born, only that time when you brought him home from the hospital" (picture really sooty voice)I said jokinly "oh well you know where we live" all the time thinking typical R making it out to be all about her, she then said the me "oh well you know where we live, we work night shift you know and everytime I go to your house your not home" I was blown away at this attack at me, I said "well I cant help it if you work night shift, thats why I dont come over here because I never know if you are sleeping or not" this was all in front of my DD too, I got so mad at her and just turned around and walked off, then she started saying something behind my back so I turned around and said "no R dont your even make a comment, I walked out here and you didnt even ask me how I was you just started at me, dont say anything" and I walked off and thats the last time I have spoken to her. So anyway this brings me back to DH's nans 80th birthday on saturday at their house, this will be the first time I have seen her since and I can tell you she better keep her mouth shut or it will be on for young and old. Sorry for that long story just needed to vent I think lol, I will let you know how it all goes.

We were ok during the floods, they are saying though that it was just a preview and that there are chances of more floods so we will stay tuned for that one.

I am also in the process of starting a business, it will be an online store specialising in maternity and nursing clothes, new and preloved. We do not have a lot to choose from in my area so I am also hoping to do some markets and in the long term open and shop in town. I will fill you in more when my website is up and running, my launch date is going to be 1st October and I am hoping to join the BB market place. My website is nearly finished and I have another order of clothes arriving this week very exciting.

Anyway I will shut up now, talk soon xoxoxo

Hi all! I actually wrote this last night but realized this morning that it hadn't submitted...

I was wondering why bellybelly wasn't loading, thought it was my new ipod being weird. Bummer about the loss of posts. I was thinking one day I should go and copy it all so I have a record of some stuff since I'm not keeping a diary! Ah well, it was only 2 weeks. I wonder what the best way to save all the posts in our forum would be.

Dr T - Happy birthday for the other day! On the topic of poo, it's hard to know without seeing it, but I think the poo you're describing is like T's sometimes.

OP - Sorry to hear X's longest sleep overnight is only 4 hours, at least I think that's what you mean? There was a mum at my exercise class who reckons her baby sleeps straight through already, from 6pm to 6am! So jealous. I thought we were doing well with T sleeping 7 hours or more the last week, starting with that 10 hour sleep last Thursday night. It increased all of a sudden to that after it had been consistently 4 or 5.

Salad - I can empathize with your run in with R. I can't stand people who never ask how you're going, especially if they're like my FIL who LOVE to talk and tell the most boring irrelevant stories (about people you'll never meet and on topics that seem totally random) with great excitement as though his audience is hanging on every word, when in reality I'm usually avoiding eye contact or staring at him trying to convey my wish that he'd just SHUT UP!!! And he came over one day a week after T was born, and I was totally sleep deprived, and for some reason he thought it was a good idea to say, "I knew you guys would struggle." I lost it, and went off at him! What a stupid thing to say!! I called and apologized the next day for swearing at him. I didn't want to let him get away with it entirely though so I said something like, "I'm sure you were just trying to reassure us but said it the wrong way." This was my diplomatic way of confirming that what he said was just DUMB.

Oops sorry to have my own rant there! Good luck with your new business, sounds like something close to your heart which is a key ingredient for success, or so I hear! I wish there was somewhere that sold preloved nursing clothes near me. Great idea!

Hope your DD's foot is better now. Ouch!

How is everyone else doing? I've been thinking about the girls doing it alone, wondering how they're coping. I don't think I could do it by myself and have such huge admiration for them! Can understand why they haven't had time to pop in!

AFM - T had his first round of vaccinations today. I was going to take him by myself but got the yips and called DH just before I left and asked if he would come and he said okay. Phew! So I picked him up from work and he held bub while he was getting jabbed. T's cried heartily, but it was a similar cry to one he's had the last couple of days after waking up, so it wasn't too hard to listen to IFYKWIM. Though I wonder if he was in pain both those time? Poor little guy. He went to sleep in the sling and stayed asleep when we put him in the car, and I was thinking, "Woohoo, he might be one of these babies that get sleepy after their shots!" But then he woke up before we got home and did the usual fight to stay awake thing. Bah. Oh yeah, in case anyone remembers that I was having some success getting him to sleep during the day, turns out that was only a short phase!

Gotta go take a skype call!

Update: Looks like we have one of those babies who are unsettled after their shots. T was making noises all night!! And had the shortest first sleep of the night in over a week. I got about 3 hours sleep. :(

EJ - Sorry to hear that T was so unsettled after his shots. You're lucky you were able to get your DH to go with you to hold him though. Mine was out of town and it near about broke my heart holding him. Hopefully he's feeling better now and is letting you sleep at night again. B was really unsettled the night he had his shots too add to that that DH was out of town and I was pretty exhausted come the next day.

Skype is great isn't it? I've been talking to my mum on it once a week and I'll be calling my brother this weekend. We also have really close friends that live in England that we call. It's been good because they can see B plus it doesn't cost us anything!

Salad - I think I'd have had a hard time holding my tongue too. R sounds a bit like DH's mum. A right pain in the butt. Everything is always our fault. She NEVER is the one to blame and has mastered the pity party!

That's really exciting about your business. I'll be looking forward to seeing your nursing stuff. Everything here is either really frumpy (yes I'm a new mum, but I still have some sense of style) or REALLY expensive. So I only have 3 tops, which I wear and when B is having a really spitty day I generally end up smelling like sour milk cause I'll go through all three tops in a day :rolleyes: Make sure you PM me the website as soon as it's up and going (I don't think you can post them).

OP - They're sort of a mustard yellow colour, so the same colour they've always been, just really frothy and foamy. Had to laugh because DH changed one of the frothy mucousy ones last night for the first time. It really grossed him out, I couldn't help but laugh at him. :lol:

AFM - Looks like it's my turn to have a vent. I have two :shakehead:

First one is MIL (surprise surprise) I am SO SICK of her telling us how to raise B. Especially since I COMPLETELY disagree with what she says. She's constantly making snide comments about how we're spoiling him and how we're making a rod for our back and how we'll wish we'd listened to her down the track. GRRRRR As if I'd take advice from someone who hits her other grandson with a rolled up newspaper that is duct taped together or throws things at him if he's too far away so she doesn't have to get up :o I wouldn't even do that to my dogs! She gets up us when we go to him straight away if he cries. Apparently "he needs to be left to scream (yes scream...not just cry...we need to leave him till he works himself up so much he's screaming....apparently) so his lungs develop properly" what a load of $h!t. The only time he EVER cries is if he's dirty, hungry or has wind. I'm not about to leave him there uncomfortable because she thinks we're 'spoiling' him. THEN she had the audacity to go off at us because we never leave him alone with her!! She's outright said that if/when he's ever left with her she'll raise him the way 'he should' be raised and won't be 'cow towing' to him like we do :o As if we'd leave him with her KNOWING that he'll be left to cry when he's dirty or hungry!! She even told me the other day that I should hit him!!!! When the milk is running out in my breasts, he'll start to tug on it a bit and will knead it with his hand. That's how I know it's time to change sides. Well she told me I should hit him when he touches my breast because it's 'disgusting' :WTF: It's NORMAL baby behavour. Hit a baby that's less then 3 months old!!! What kind of person does she think I am. For that matter what kind of person is she??!!

Next vent is about everyone that thinks they need to 'save' me from using cloth nappies. I made a concious decision that I wanted to use cloth on B. I am not using them because I can't afford disposables. I wish everyone woudl just stop criticising them or trying to convince me to change to disposables. I like his washable nappies. Disposables give him nappy rash. I have no problem doing a load of them a day. And the next person that insinuates I must be using them because we can't afford disposables is going to cop a real tongue lashing! I have one friend that insists on calling me up and letting me know which shops are having sales on which brands of disposables and telling me how much money I'd save by going to buy them there. She got really stroppy with me the day I told her exactly how much I was saving by using washables! I don't go around trying to convince people who use disposables to go cloth, so why do so many people feel they need to tell me how horrible cloth is and how I'd be so much happier using disposables? I know cloth nappies aren't for everyone, and I don't look down on people for not using them so why can't people give me the same respect and just accept that I like using cloth?

Dr Tal - I am so glad you have your head screwed on tight, people should just mind their own business. You sound like you have a similiar parenting style to me and my DH not saying what we do is right but its right FOR US so keep doing what your doing. I know you will anyway. You poor thing having to put up with a mother in law like that. How the bloody hell is B touching your breast disgusting - some people. I have a friend who's partner used to tell her off for breastfeeding in front of people and made her out to be dirty and a tart, can you believe that, you cant even see anything so how is that being a tart.

I said to my DH I would love to organise a huge australia wide event where all the breastfeeding mothers get together in the one spot in their local town and all breastfeed at the same time as a kind of message to those people who think it is wrong to do in public. Kind of like those flash mobs that turn up in the same place all at once and start dancing. How fun would it be if all of a sudden all these women start breastfeeding in the one spot. I said to DH that every one who particpates could give a gold coin and we could donate it to the Breastfeeding association or mcgrath foundation or something.

Oh and as for using cloth nappies I think those that do are amazing.

I will send you a PM about the nursing tops.

Hi everyone else :hello:

Dr Tal - I hope you won't be offended if I say your MIL sounds like a terrible person!!! But can I also just say how lucky you are that B only cries if hungry, dirty or windy? Life would be so sweet...

I know what you mean about the cloth nappy thing. A pregnant friend of mine was like, "Aren't you supposed to be a greenie? What about all that water?" It wasn't so much what she said but how she said it. Very snidely indeed! She's a neat freak, I bet she dreads the thought of poo in general. :D

Salad - love your breastfeeding flash mob idea! Do you go to ABA meetings? I'd love to see that actually happen and be a part of it!

Dr Tal - My other post that's gone *POOOF* was pretty much just a poor me post about DD1's horrible behaviour just lately. So you didn't really miss anything :rolleyes:

Smack a baby!?! Are you kidding me!? What is wrong with her... I get the same sort of "opinions" from family... the one i'm not looking forward to is the "Are you STILL feeding her!!" With DD1 it started at 3months and didn't finish til she self weaned at 19months! Apparently its "wrong" feeding for that long. One distant relative even said it was sick letting her anywhere near my breasts after 6weeks of age :o
By the time DD1 was 4months old i'd pretty much learnt to filter their "advice" and take the bits i agreed with and the rest was like water off a duck's back.

EmmaJane - Hope T is doing better, i truely HATE needle time. I personally have a slight phobia of needles cos imo they hurt like hell so i hate watching my girls go through it.

Salad - Your business sounds awesome :) buying maternity/breastfeeding friendly clothes is crap. Its so hard to find something nice and when you do it'll cost you an arm and a leg. And as for R, good on you for standing up for yourself she was WAAY out of line.
Also someone's own partner making them feel like crap about breastfeeding... So not cool that poor woman.

Sorry if i missed anyone and that was all over the place.

AFU - DD1's tantrums are still happening at least once a day, she gets so worked up that the lights are on but nobody's home she just moans and screams but her eyes are vacant. I try talking to her, cuddling her she just hurts me (bites, scratches, pinches, smacks head butts hurts me in any way she can)... DF made me leave her in her room to cry it out yesterday and she scratched and bit herself :'( I really don't know how to help her...

Shay is doing really well such a laid back baby compared to Lyla at that age. She gets to FINALLY meet her Great-Grandma tomorrow (she's been having chemotherapy since i was 8months pregnant so i haven't been able to go near her) i'm so excited.

Hope everyone's well :hug: to all of you and your little bubbies

hey Emma, nah I dont go to ABA meetings but BF is something I am very passionate about and would one day love to be a lactation consultant and help other ladies. Maybe we might have to organise the oz wide flash mob meeting lol. If we all work together I am sure we can get the word out there.

Sal - I would LOVE to do an Oz wide flash mob breastfeed! I know a couple of ladies here where I live that would join in, and I'm sure we'd be able to find HEAPS more.

That's really horrible that your friend's partner is so nasty to her about breastfeeding. I know some people who are like that as well (my father for one) and it's just ridiculous. It's those type of people that make women ashamed of breastfeeding and have made it need to be done behind closed doors so women have 'lost' (so to speak) the knowledge of how to do it IYKWIM.

As for MIL I basically let it go in one ear and out the other. But it just makes me mad that she could even suggest I hit him...at 12 weeks old!!?? I also feel really bad for nephew because SIL's ideas of child raising are just as screwed up as hers. They use to leave him to just cry and cry and cry, and now can't understand why he's distant,never gives cuddles and doesn't listen to him :wall: I remember going out there one day and he'd been crying so much he'd cried himself horse and they were still ignoring him. There's controlled crying, and then there's just cruelty! But I won't get started on that one or I'd never stop.

Jessey - I can't beleive people started on you about breastfeeding at 3months :o Why wouldn't you be! All the health organisations recommend it until at least 12 months and then as long after that as you are able! I think it's FANTASTIC that you were able to BF DD1 for so long :clap:

Unfortunately, I don't have anything to help you with DD1's tantrums. They seem to be really bad, and it must really be heartwrenching for you to watch...especially when she hurts you and heself! One of our close friends has a daughter that use to throw really bad tantrums one day the mum was at her wits end and hosed her off and that brought her out of it, but I'm not sure I'd suggest that :o

EJ - No you won't offend me at all by saying that about my MIL. She's a real piece of work, and I'm sure I've said a lot worse then that about her myself.

As for your friend and her comment. How is using water worse then filling up the landfill with diapers that take years to break down? Plus if you have a front loader it really doesn't use much water anyway :shakehead:

AFU - B's been rolling over regularly now! As you probably remember he rolled over for the first time at about 3 1/2 weeks, but he didn't do it again until father's day. But now he rolls over probably every other day (from his belly to his back).

He's also started doing this thing that I call his Steevie Wonder :lol: He'll start to move his head from side to side (kinda like Steevie Wonder use to do when he sang....hence the name) and he'll really get up a rock going and he'll nearly get over onto his side, but he always seems to stop too soon. First time he did it I thought he was having some sort of convulsion, but now I find it kind of amusing. He always seems to get so frustrated when he opens his eyes only to see he's still on his back :lol: