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

[sas85]

Erica - You sound like you have an awesome supply going - am green with envy, lucky Lachlan. Hey, most cinemas also have once a week 'babes in arms' sessions, usually on a week morning where you can take your bub in with you without having to worry about them making noise etc for the movie of the week, one of my gf's hat worked at Greater Union said they used to keep the lights on the low (previews type lighting) setting so Mums could change bubs in the cinema too if they wanted. I'm going to check my local one out but something to keep in mind if you decide you don't want to leave bubs yet.

Alex - I just cannot comment without saying - i LOVE your bub's hair!! I thought Lilah had lots of hair till I saw Chloe's little picture - it is so sooo gorgeous. I had a horribly cracked nipple with DD1 and it was such excruciating pain - even this time with perfect attachment still had the 20 seconds of toe curling pain as my nipples got used to the stretching for the first 6 days, is that the amount you could express at EACH session because WOW, I can express 10ml an hour, Oh dear.

Rumpled Elf - Tell me about the after cramps - They were as strong as contractions for me for 2 days and I don't remember them at all with DD1, I could not believe the pain, was rotating nurofen and panadol through it which is hilarious because had a natural labour/birth but drugging up for the afterpains.

MummytoA- Glad your little boy is adjusting so fast - it seems to not take them so long when they're so little. That's great you're doing so well on your own too.

Poopie - Ah yes the night-time thing. Well here is what I did that I DO recommend. Waking baby every 1.5 to 2 hrs in the day - which I did by changing nappy or giving bath (only way) then feeding, so that they are 'tanking up' through the day and more awake then. (My midwife recommends this too) As for the first night I actually got her to sleep - well I highly do NOT recommend it (because your bub is putting on a huge amount of weight so you have a great supply you don't want to mess with)- after Lilah feeding for 6 hours straight (as in cluster feeding would fall asleep on boob but not sleep for more than ten minutes before waking wanting other boob and no end in sight) I was in tears at 11pm and sent my DH to get formula, gave her one F-feed and another suck on my boob and she fell asleep for 5 hours. Needless to say my Dr put me on Motillium again after that (medication for building supply - I have stupid boobs and terrible supply issues with DD1 I won't bum this thread out with as vent in the breastfeeding thread) so the long stretch I've been getting after the one top-up bottle I give her at night of formula (though today I gave her 60ml of EBM instead (took me 2 days and 4 sessions to get it though), then she sleeps usually for another 1 or 2 blocks of 2.5 - 3 hours-ish and settles quickly (usually) after these - but she's still lso little so it changes a bit every day. But definately try the waking her for regular feeds, if you feed her soon after she's woken up properly she shouldn't stay upset IYKWIM.

Cmar - Why would you not take your bub up out - yes, you have had a baby, why be a hermit and keep your bub in a bubble inside the house, never to see fresh air, the sun, or be stimulated by another environment. Pfft to her. And my tummy was back down in a couple of days (I mean it's never totally flat because I'm not a size 8 I'm a 12) but could not tell I'd had a baby at all before a week was up and yes - everyone feels the need to comment. I DID put on weight (Read: 16kg, lost 7 first couple of weeks, looks like maybe half thus far this week as am trying to shed the remaining 8) but the weight I put on was spread around me and not at all on my tummy, so with such strong afterpains my uterus was back in my pelvis within a couple of days and wasn't big enough for my skin and abdo muscles to be too affected so at least my tummy is back even though I don't fit into any of my 10's.

[deletedit]

I'm still in maternity jeans and very bump-y - I put on 21kg and babystuff was 8kg of that. I had my last in summer so I wore skirts, so theres no jeans in the house that fit. Lots of 8s and 10s, no 12s ... I want a support girdle thing but can't find any on ebay in a small.

My little lump keeps falling asleep when I feed him. Actually, he sleeps through most things, even his sister throwing cars over his head into a bucket. And you can MOVE him when he's asleep. DD#2 was (is) virtually impossible to get to sleep, would wake when a pin dropped and was impossible to move once she was asleep so this is all new to us He's a really good baby, she was horrible.

[BlackRose]

Hi Mummas!

Just trying to catch up on all the latest happenings while my little man gets some shut eye. No double he'll be up for his next feed in the next hour or so...

Elf - Sounds like you have a model baby! Share your secrets!! Please !!!

Sas - Yeah I heard about those "Mums and bubs" sessions at the cinema. I was thinking of going and checking it out, but my sis and I have see the previous twighlight movies together so it's become our "thing" to do... besides, I really really really want some me time, just for a couple of hours. And it will do DH good to be with Lachlan alone... will make him understand sort of what I am doing every day all day! But once I'm feeling more settled I have a girlfriend with a 3 month old who lives nearby so we might organise a movie session then. Sounds like you're having a tough time with your BF, I hope it's all settling down for you now and your supply is getting better.. have you tried the herbal suppliments - Fenugreek and Milk thistle I was reading up on... oh yeah and drink plenty of water!!

cmarfol - woohoo let it all out baby!! How annoying to have total strangers comment to you on how you shouldn't be bringing your baby out yet... *pfft* to them I say! I mean, don't bring bubba out in the dead of winter around massive crowds in the middle of swine flu season, but a simple trip to the shopping centre isn't going to do too much harm as long as they don't have too many people just randomly come up and touch or hold them right?

Poopie - I'm trying to keep Lachlan up more during the day... but when he wants to sleep he gets grizzly and just wants cuddles and then he's out like a light. But I have tried to keep the house bright and airy, normal noises of the TV, washing machine and normal talking... and I have tried to spread out his feeds in between changes, burping and tummy time and playing on the play mat. His sleeping pattern is still feed for 1 hour, sleep for 2... but I think he's going through a growth spurt or something at the moment cos he needs a 'top up feed' sometimes only an hour after feeding..

Mummy2Aiden - hello! So impressed that you are going solo with your 2 little ones. My hat is off to you. Sometimes I am so glad when DH gets home from work so I can let him deal with Lachlan for a bit so I can have a break.

AFM - Does anyone else's LO have episodes of grunting and straining and loads of farting just before they wake up? We notice for around 30 mins before he starts waking up for a feed Lachlan starts to grunt and fart like a trooper. I've been doing the tummy massage a little and pumping his little legs. Not sure if that's helping. It does sound like he's in pain but he doesn't cry at all... his poos are the normal yellow colour, quite thin... but does a good couple of solid-ish poos a day. I'm figuring its just wind... he does good burps but is a massive guts on the boob...
We had professional photos taken of Lachlan yesterday, I hope they turn out OK.
I'm still feeling a little emotional, but I think it's the lack of sleep that's killing me. Seriously, I would sell my first born son for a good 10 hours solid sleep!! hehehe I keep thinking that "this too shall pass" but maaaaaaaan sometimes I don't know if I can string sentances together I get so tired. Last night DH made me go to bed at 6:30pm! Lachlan woke at 8:30, 11:30, 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30. So I guess I managed to get some sleep in blocks. I must say, I do feel alot better for it. When do they start sleeping for more than 3 hours at a time!! I'll take 5 hours any day!

Sorry, a bit of a whinge there... I'm going to make something to snack on for lunch before Lachlan wakes up... Take care mummies!!

Erica xx

[mummy2aiden]

cmarfol: that night I had the worst sleep! lol .. we didnt get to sleep till 1:20am .. But every other nights been good .. Every 3-4 hours .. Once or twice its been closer to 5 .. I couldn't imagine how hard the night feeds would be bottle feeding, I find it hard enough trying to get her to latch on with my eyes still adjusting to being open, let alone measuring powder and stuff .. lol ..

sas85: I went out already, just a walk to the post office, and then to my grandmas for lunch .. She was much nicer this time .. Last time when I dropped in on the way home from the hospital, she had a few 'not very nice' comments .. eg "Ohh chinese" & "How can you call that cute" .. yup, talkng about Ayva. When Aiden was a newborn he was a "little jap baby" .. They are half vietnamese .. But my genes were dominant .. lol .. And this time I gained 20kg .. but i gain/lose really easy .. I went on a diet last year and I ate 1300 cals a day, which was what I was supposed to be eating so not a diet really .. And i lost 10kg in a month .. Without really doing any excercise .. I just really love food .. lol ..


Erica1980: Its not easy thats for sure .. But its all worth it My dad helps. He had Aiden the night I was in hospital (first time lol) and he does stuff like mows the lawn and he got my groceries last week. And did my washing last week too .. I'm really close with my dad I love him lots My mums 8 hours away, down on the south coast ..

And with the farting, thats why little miss was awake till 1:20am (from 8:30) .. everytime I put her dwn she'd wake up, so i tried the belly rub and the legs and she did 3 of the biggest farts i'd ever heard out of a newborn .. lol .. then she slept for 4 hours .. I burp her after but I guess some still stays in there .. So now I know how she is when she has wind. Its hard deciphering everything at first ..

[deletedit]

Elf - Sounds like you have a model baby! Share your secrets!! Please !!!

Luck of the draw. His big sister was horrible to live with. My partner was so stressed we'd get another one like her, so this new baby is a pleasant surprise

Personally I think that anyone who sternly tells you that routines are all you need to settle ANY baby were just blessed with good babies that you can get into a routine to start with. These people were placed on this earth to make us feel inadequate. If you get a bad one, virtually NOTHING will get them back to sanity.

My partner is getting sleep deprivation though. He's normally a bad sleeper and wakes easily, so he normally goes to bed very late and gets up very late, but I'm co-sleeping (its cold) in our bedroom and he has the lounge with the cat, just until the baby is sleeping a bit longer at night. So at 7:15 every morning, our toddler barges in on him and DEMANDS he get up/dressed/turn on ABC/make her breakfast. She'd normally leave him sleep in until 11am .. poor thing

[*Infinity*]

Hi all

Sorry not much time for personals but just wanted to pop in and say hello and see how you're all going. Life is crazy busy for us right now but I'm pleased to say that DD is going so well in NICU. She regained her birthweight over the last few days which is a great milestone, so we're really happy. And everything else is going well, she just has a whole lot of growing to do LOL!

I feel like I spend half my days with my breast pump expressing for her but I know how important it is so makes it all worthwhile. I'm tired but managing somehow, I don't think the adrenalin has worn off.

Take care xox enjoy having your bubbas home in your arms.....I miss my baby girl so much.

[Leigh26]

Hi Girls,

Do you mind if I join this group too? I had my 3rd baby via c/s on the 23rd of June. Her name is Lexie. She was born at 35 wks and 6 days so technically she isn't due until the 22nd of July. We have two other girls as well, our eldest is 5yrs and our middle girl is 20 mths.

So far things are going well. Lexie is quite a good baby (thank god)! I'm breast feeding and because she was born early I am trying to stick to a 3 hrly feeding schedule which is quite hard because sometimes she is too tired and not interested in feeding. I have to wake her every 3 hrs but I find if I let her wake on her own she wakes around the 4 hrly mark and has a much better feed.

We have her sleeping in our room in the bassinet but I find I'm not getting much sleep with her in there. I am a really light sleeper and like your bub Erica, she has episodes of grunting, straining and farting (all while still asleep) for about 30 - 60 mins before waking up. I keep thinking I should put her in her own room to sleep each night just to see if it helps me sleep but I know that I will just worry about her being in there.

Sorry for the lack of personals but I am going to go for a shower while I have a spare 5 mins.

I look forward to getting to know you all!

[deletedit]

I hear you on the schedules ... had the midwife say to wake him more often to feed him or my supply wouldn't build up. Pft, I wake him up when I feel too full or just let him wake up on his own. Sometimes that is 2 hours, sometimes that is 5 hours.

Babies are so noisy in the same room! I'm just figuring out that if he's fussy and noisy and grouchy I can just put him to bed, ignore the noise for 5 or 10 minutes and he's sound asleep for hours as long as he's out of smelling distance of the boob. Last baby was noxious and if you put her down grouchy she'd just get worse and scream the house down. She HAS to be 100% calm and settled before bed.

When we've worked him out a bit more and are in a better routine I think we'll move his bassinet to the lounge room and reclaim our bedroom.

[AngelPants]

infinity, do u no when DD will be able to come home?
leigh- welcome! course u can join
hi everyone else! sorry for lack of real personals, i am grabbing the 5min today that mr c has decided to actually settle to catch up on the 5zillion emails etc that have built up.
hes been soooo unbelievably unsettled and off colour the last weekish, hes had a reaction to something i ate last week. we think it is msg or another flavour enhancer so has had a nasty itchy rash all over his face and neck and i spent friday at the GP then the womens and childrens hosp with him, getting checked it wasnt staph or anything similar... but fingers crossed it doesnt turn into anything more serious cos food allergies run in my family.
anyway my 5mins is up *sigh* hope everyone is settling in with their bubs or getting their bubs home soon.
xoxo

[Asparagus and Lemons]

Hi everyone,
its amazing how busy we all are with our newborns!! They take up so much time, but its so special, I am really loving it! The last few days I have been in hospital with an infection of the breast.. no fun, they thought it was mastitis but the antibiotics they gave me didnt work and it got worse, so they changes the drug and its slooooooowly getting better. Harlee was not 'meant' to stay with me according to hospital regulations, but she had to if I wanted her to eat. So I looked after her the whole time, all by myself and didnt let the doctors take her for a moment. I was really proud of myself
FInally home now, on more antibiotics 2 kinds so hopefully it will all clear up soon.
Better go to bed now. Will be back soon. Hopefully.

[Bad Mummy]

Hi all,
My second daughter was born on the 22 of June via scheduled cesarean at term (yay!) she was 2870g so still a little one. We're having some interesting sleeping problems at the moment - as in she doesn't sleep unless I'm holding her or if I've gotten very lucky, which isn't very common. Otherwise she's crying or feeding and I think I'm going a bit crazy.

Congrats to everyone on the births of their little ones!

Infinity - my first daughter was born at 26+3 weeks and spent 5 months in the NICU. I hope you guys are having a nice smooth ride and that your bub will be home with you soon.

[Dansta]

wow chatter boxes!
i wont even try and do personals.

Infy - i hope your little one is going well i can understand better how hard it must be for you

well we're HOME! yes. me, Vic, Dj AND DH are all HOME- under the one roof. happy as friggin' larry i am. i have BOTH my babies here. not one or the other BOTH!
the short story of the LONG one is:
last tuesday we got sent to Monash (bigger hospital) for a "few hours" to have a long line (more long term drip/ IV access) but vics vains had other ideas. so we had a Hickmans (google it) line put in (which ment a grenral anthetic) (so thursday) by friday it had become dislodged - so we had that removed - they just pull them out. so friday night they put a CVC line in (its eather that or a CBC lol) which was under sedation. and we spend friday night/saterday sunday and most of monday in ICU - due to the CVC - they wanted to keep an eye on Vic so it didnt come out again due to back IV access again. then late monday we got sent back up to the peads ward. and where there until today. yesterday at 10pm was the last of the Anti's and we came home around 2pm. i better go and put some clothes away and some washing on while Vic is asleep. he's a boobie champ and feeds every 3.5-4hrs. at a guess. i never look at the clock and just let him feed when ever. as for the after pains - mine caned for the first 4 or 5 days. my stiches have healed up. its just the "itch" i get from them (healing) that bugs me LOL. Ohh and with boobie pads the J&J ones are sooo nice and soft for any one who's boobies are hurting they're also really absorbant too. but i'll be getting some of the cloth ones made by maz once we send off all the paper work for Vics birth LOL!

[Leigh26]

Hi Girls,

Dansta, glad to hear you're home and everything is well. I use the J & J breast pads too and find them great!

Bad Mummy - Welcome, I am new to this group too. I am looking forward to getting to know you.

Sorry for the lack of personals girls. I am sooooo tired, last night I was over tired when I went to bed and couldn't for the life of me sleep. I fed Lexie at 2am but was still awake just after 4am and then she was back up at 6am for another feed. I then had to get up anyway to get DD1 up and ready for school. Wish I could have a sleep. I am up until midnight everynight. DH goes to work around 4pm and doesnt get home until at least 1am so I am always busy at night with the 3 girls. They're all usually asleep by 9pm but Lexie is then due a feed around 10:30 - 11pm so I stay up. I think I need to just go to bed and get back up at 11pm.

How is everyone else managing their sleep? I was feeling ok before today, managing around 4 - 5 hrs of broken sleep. Hopefully Lexie will sleep through the night soon. DD1 slept through from 6 wks and DD2 from 5 wks so fingers x'd Lexie will be similar.

[Bad Mummy]

Dansta - wow, that all sounds like a bit of a trauma! I'm glad you're all home together though

Leigh - Sleep? We're usually late to bed too but I think that's going to have to change REALLY soon. Abi's taken to waking up at 12 and not going back to sleep until 4, I got two hours sleep last night and three the night before. I can't really sleep through the day with a three year old either so I'm thinking I'm going to have to go to bed as soon as Abi falls asleep in the evening and then wake up when she does at night.

This whole not sleeping thing is making me feel really stupid and out of my league. We didn't have Erin home as a newborn so I have no experience with this kind of thing.

[BlackRose]

Hi Mummies!

Looks like sleep is what we are all lacking at the moment! *lol* I don't know how you mummas do it with more than one child. I'm so tired if I don't get an afternoon sleep in, even if it's for an hour or so!

My FIL has been visiting this week and has been giving Lachlan lots of cuddles. Well it turns out that he is now sick and it might be Whooping Cough!! So I'm having a bit of a freak out thinking Lachlan might get it, so I called my paediatrician who said that there is nothing I can do and just to be on the look out to see if Lachlan has any signs of cold/flu, changes in temprement etc etc. He said that because I'm BF that I should be passing through my own WC immunity to Lachlan..

Dansta - WELCOME HOME to you and VIC. So glad he's doing so much better!

Leigh - We had our bubbas on the same day! YAY! Don't worry, I'm with you with the sleep thing. I'm feeling constantly jetlagged. I'm finding that I can't just automatically sleep when lachlan sleeps and it takes a while for me to wind down after each feed. he also takes about an hour or so to feed, change and settle so by the time he's asleep it's only another 2 or so hours before he is due to wake next. So great that your LO's slept through the night so early! Were they breast fed or formula fed? I hear that formula fed babies sleep through the night sooner? Oh and we moved Lachlan out of our room already and I am sleeping so much better even though the sleep is short it's alot deeper and I feel a little more refreshed when I do wake up, where as before DH and I were sleeping so lightly and waking at every grunt and fart.

Poopie - welcome home from your trip to hospital. So proud that you looked after Harlee all by yourself while in hospital! I was surprised at all the mums that gave their babies to the nurses during the night so that they could sleep. I had lachlan with me the whole time too

Infinity - so glad your LO is doing well! How long until your little girl can be brought home?

OK, must go.. need to get some stuff done before Lachlan wakes up for a feed... and I'm GASPING for a cuppa!

Erica xx

[Leigh26]

Hi Girls,

Erica, DD1 was breast fed and slept she was the one who slept through from 6 wks and DD2 was formula fed and slept through from 5 wks so not much of a difference between the two. Last night was the first night that Lexie slept in her room for the whole night and I slept so much more soundly as well. I'm buggered right now and wish I could go to bed but I fed Lexie at 7:30pm and I may as well wait up until 10:30pm to feed again, plus I still have DD1 up watching The Wizard of Oz. I hardly ever get a sleep during the day, you're so lucky that you can, I'm jealous lol. Fingers crossed Lachlan doesnt end up with whooping cough, jeez that's all you need.

I had Lexie with me the whole time I was in hospital too.

Gotta go, sorry for the lack of personals but Lexie has just started crying.

[Dansta]

poopie: well done at looking after Harlee all on your own in hospital with a boobie infecton!

Bm: i understand the whole newborn thing. DJ was in SCN for the first week of his life. and now little Vic for the first two! but it'll settle down soon.

erica: wow WC! thats scary but the pead is right. if you have antibodies you'll pass them onto him via BM - its a natural way of protecting them (and it works too!) as for sleeping though from DJ it didnt matter if it was BM or FF - he would wake every 3.5hrs day and night for a feed. vic seems to be a bit better (at this stage lol) and feeds every4. but he's a snacker so has a few snack feeds - and im also his dummy so he's more often then not attached to me LOL!

Leigh: wow you have good sleepers!

i'll BBL for an update, about to run off to the IL's - and tomorrow the family invasion begins!

[BlackRose]

Sooooooo it's just me and my little man tonight. DH has gone on a training course and is away tonight. I'm so jealous cos I know he's going to get unbroken sleep tonight for the first time in 3 1/2 weeks! *lol* So Lachlan is in bed and I've just ordered chinese take away! WooHoo!! My only concern is that I won't hear Lachlan cry during the night ... DH usually does the nappy change before I feed him during the night so he gets up first.. I sleep so deeply and we've moved bubba out of our room and into his room (which is right next door)..

Lachlan and I watched daddy play baseball today. He slept pretty much the whole time except for a feed in the car. No sign of any sickness from FIL so I'm starting to breathe a sigh of relief!

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far !

Erica xx