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

[Persephone1]

Hi Ladies,

I've been reading but not posting lately cause it's hard to get enough time on the computer before A starts looking for boob. DH is back at work today, one A's one month birthday, so my first day completely alone as a SAHM - it went well! Although trying to shower when A decides he's hungry is challenging. We're off the MCHN tomorrow for a weigh-in, and I'd guess that he's broken the 4kg mark by now. Everything is going pretty well, he's feeding well, becoming more alert and awake and mirroring me when I stick my tongue out and talk to him. His dark hair seems to be disappearing and blonde hair is coming through - DH was a blondie when he was small, so I might end up with a curly-haired blondie (like Ashton, Mel!). And we're loving the Close Carrier!

I've got some really heavy family stuff happening at the moment so may be a little MIA now and again. It's hard coming in here and not feeling able to talk about it, so I've been reading instead. to everyone, and apologies for the lack of personals.

[tubbles]

Entreat - I love seeing your posts, you are not hogging the thread I am really happy for you that you don't think Jack has colic. I was told that parenting it is just about us learning who our little ones are and all about them and it really sounds like you are doing this. Yay for you.

MissyMoo - your new pics on facebook are to die for! and yay for that weigh in, so so great. Gotta love the mummy milk.

Can someone tell me how to get an extract from someone elses post and comment on it? I am so clueless.

Yesterday we had X weighed and measured yesterday and she is now 4650gms and 56cm long with a 38cm head. She seems to be taking more milk than usual too. I have only been one sided feeding but in the last few days she has been taking a little bit off the other side.

Anyway my biggest news is about my boob massage this morning. It was AWESOME. Firstly, he had me lie on my belly (and OMG painful boobs = painful to lie on belly) and he rubbed my sides. This really hurt, I didn't realise how much pain I was in. He did my sides and all around my breasts first including the pec muscle as he said it is important to get the lymph nodes drained there first before massaging the breast. I was crying by the end of it, it was SO SO SO painful I can hardly believe it. All of this time, I was leaking everywhere. He even said that I was the messiest client he had in a while but it was great I had so much milk. At one point he had to duck out of the way as I was shooting towards him. *cringe* When he did the breast, I could feel him rubbing away at lumps that I previously didn't know existed. I thought that I had gotten all of the lumps out but turns out I was totally wrong. I also had quite a few blocked ducts which he said from the feel of them were old so probably left from the mastitis. It took 1.5 hours but when I got up off the bed I felt like a different person. I could actually swing my arms without wincing in pain! The best $65 I have spent in a long time and if I even get a hint of mastits again, I am making an appointment with him quicky. Just awesome.

PS - Mrs Hendo - I know you are headed this way soon and I saw on facebook you have been having some lumps - it is totally worth it!

Have a great week all.

Wow, that does sound like a good session. I bet you did feel so much better. Pretty funny about the milk, but at least you are making enough

Also, to quote multiple people's posts you can click on the speech bubble with the quotation mark in it with no writing. When you click on it it will have a tick on it, then when you have finished, click on reply to thread and all the posts you selected will be quoted

I have come to the conclusion that Jack doesn't so much have colic, but rather gets so over tired, he can't cope. Throw in an increased appetite (he emptied me last night & I have to get a bottle of EBM from the freezer!!) - no wonder the kid has been crying. I'm glad the MIL has gone home because now I'm not getting conflicting advice that opposes my instincts. This morning had potential to go the same way as yesterday, but I recognised his tired signs better today & got away with no screaming. He should have a good sleep now. The poor little critter wakes up tired some times, but gets all confused & tries to stay awake after his feed... then we head towards a meltdown. He still gets burps stuck some times, and that is probably a large contributing factor to him not going to sleep (uncomfortable). We have about 4 different potions on the go for treating it (gripe water, Infant's Friend, Infacol, and some homeopathic pills) - Not all at once though!

I also found out today that a girlfriend on facebook lost her baby daughter at 21weeks pregnancy, only 12 days ago. I'm so sad for her - she's such a lovely person, & deserves a strong & happy family. I changed my profile pic on FB back to my wedding one as I'm sure it would be incredibly insensitive to leave Jack's chubby face there when she's in so much pain. It may sound selfish, but it makes me cherish Jack even more.

Sorry for hogging the posts... I'm suffering a bit of isolation due to not being coordinated enough to leave the house. The closest I got yesterday was backing the car out of the garage!

Cuddles to all & their bubs. Xx

Ahh! I know about the isolation. When everyone went home from here (we live in an area with limited family - only my grandma who is over 80 - and no friends) I would leave the house open and unlocked, including the front door, leave the car unlocked when I went to the shops.. I had my head in so many places trying to orchestrate a trip out, it would seem I would often leave it at home!
That is really sad about your girlfriend, I think I would do the same if I was in the same place as you.

Persephone, sorry to hear that you're having family stuff. Hope it improves soon.

Who is who on fb btw? I am thinking we should have a group on there so I can figure out who everyone is! Plus its easier for me to check for updates on there than on here from my mobile/ipod which is what I usually use around the house while I am breastfeeding etc. Would anyone be interested in creating a group for us on fb? I think you can make a private group so what you post to the group doesn't get posted to your profile or to the news feed.

[Visitor8]

hugs to all the beautiful mummas. Thanks re: photos. I think people must get sick of all the pics though LOL

Sarah sorry about the family stuff Please feel free to chat to me privately, here or FB if you want to get it off your chest hunni.

Tubbles I am Mel A on facebook.

ETA: and you are currently commenting on my pics LOL

[starangelk]

Hi Ladies,

I've got some really heavy family stuff happening at the moment so may be a little MIA now and again. It's hard coming in here and not feeling able to talk about it, so I've been reading instead. to everyone, and apologies for the lack of personals.

Seph I am so sorry to hear that you have got some heavy family stuff going on - it's the last thing you need at the moment. I got some potentially scary news this afternoon and had tears over it so I think my hormones are still a little all over the shop. We are all here for you. Xx

Wow, that does sound like a good session. I bet you did feel so much better. Pretty funny about the milk, but at least you are making enough

Also, to quote multiple people's posts you can click on the speech bubble with the quotation mark in it with no writing. When you click on it it will have a tick on it, then when you have finished, click on reply to thread and all the posts you selected will be quoted. Who is who on fb btw? I am thinking we should have a group on there so I can figure out who everyone is! Plus its easier for me to check for updates on there than on here from my mobile/ipod which is what I usually use around the house while I am breastfeeding etc. Would anyone be interested in creating a group for us on fb? I think you can make a private group so what you post to the group doesn't get posted to your profile or to the news feed.

Tubbles - thanks for the tip about the quoting. If this looks silly, it means I didn't understand your instructions but if it is right - yay for me!!! I am on facebook - I would be cool with creating a group but I wouldn't want any of my other friends to know about the group or see posts etc. It's funny, I like being able to share with you guys everything that is going on with X and talk about my feelings etc. I don't really feel like I want to do that with ALL of my facebook friends in fear they think I am becoming one of those people who only talks about their baby. Plus, probably wouldn't be keen for my Dad to read about my boob massage experience - hahahhahah.

hugs to all the beautiful mummas. Thanks re: photos. I think people must get sick of all the pics though LOL

Every single time I tell you how much I love your photos, you put up even more adorable ones. OMG re the professional ones too. We are FINALLY picking up Xanthe's professional photos next Wednesday. We also get the massive canvas we ordered too - yay. That means this weekend I need to pack up the glass cabinet stuff and move it all downstairs to make space on the wall for her gorgeous pic.

Just a general question - out of a normal 24 hour period, how many hours are all of your little ones awake? X is awake around 6-8 hours/day on average but she generally does it in 2 big blocks or occasionally (like today) 1 big block. I can't work out whether this is okay or whether we are letting her get overtired....she isn't really that difficult to put to sleep after a big stint and not that difficult to entertain in those last couple of hours but she does get more whiney.

[entreat]

i am at the end of my rope. I have no idea what he wants. I feed him fine for about 10 mins (with some burping), and then he starts screaming. Mum said to run a bath or just run his bum under the tap, but when I run the water, he stops crying & starts going to sleep. If I think it's because he's wet, I change his nappy (he doesn't like being wet), but although he stops crying on the change table for a while, he'll start back up again as soon as I pick him up. He starts rooting & trying to suck on anything near his mouth (but ironically, won't take the dummy when he's worked up like this), but if I try to feed him, he'll suck from around 20 seconds, and start screaming again. Or, if he's not too stressed, he'll 'nibble' - not really drinking, but cries if you take him off, while staring at the ceiling/wall/anything.

I think he's over tired, but I seriously don't know. He doesn't seem to get enough sleep sometimes, but I barely think a 3 hour sleep is enough. He doesn't vomit much, but part of me thinks it could be silent reflux - but should I expect that every feed? His night feeds are almost perfect - we change, feed, and sleep. I'm questioning every thought & action I have. I keep being told to trust my instincts, but I'm not even sure I have any. I've been crying almost as hard as he has, and I've given myself a headache.

I feel like asking for help - but have no idea where to start. help what? and what could be done anyway? Surely, at some point, I have to be able to wrangle this baby on my own.

[Persephone1]

I don't know the answer/s Entreat, but can you put him in a sling/carrier and take him for a walk? Archie settles really quickly in the carrier or HAB. If you can't take him outside, can you wear it inside and walk around the house?

FWIW, Archie has had some really unsettled times recently too, fussing for the boob then rejecting it just as quickly, then sucking on anything that moves, then fussing, farting, etc etc. I hope you and Jack can get some rest soon.

for you hun.

[Visitor8]

oh dear hugs sweety

Does he get upset laying flat? That's how I know Eli has reflux, he HAS to be sucking after a feed for about the next hour at least otherwise he'll cry and get very upset, and he wont lay flat so it's propped on a pillow, in a sling, or in my arms all the time.

When he's really upset and you don't know how to settle him, wrap him up and go for a walk. Just getting out into the fresh air will often calm them down, and if it doesn't, a screaming baby doesn't sound so loud outside

It's nothing you are doing, being a new mum is hard and it takes time to learn what your baby needs and wants. Then there are just some babies who are higher maintenance than others!

What was the birth like? Sorry I can't remember and I really HAVE to get to bed otherwise I'll regret it tomorrow! If he had a traumatic birth he might still be healing from that. Also if it was physically stressful on him he might need outside help, see if you can find a chiro who specialises in babies Some people swear by it if bubby had a rough entry into the world.

[UntoldAngel]

Entreat - sorry you're having a rough time with your little man *hugs* have you tried giving him the dummy when he's fairly settled whilst on the change table etc and will manage to suck on it?

[tubbles]

hugs to all the beautiful mummas. Thanks re: photos. I think people must get sick of all the pics though LOL

Sarah sorry about the family stuff Please feel free to chat to me privately, here or FB if you want to get it off your chest hunni.

Tubbles I am Mel A on facebook.

ETA: and you are currently commenting on my pics LOL

I love photos! They inspire me to take photos of Lily.. I have SO many photos of her already though.. hehehe

i am at the end of my rope. I have no idea what he wants. I feed him fine for about 10 mins (with some burping), and then he starts screaming. Mum said to run a bath or just run his bum under the tap, but when I run the water, he stops crying & starts going to sleep. If I think it's because he's wet, I change his nappy (he doesn't like being wet), but although he stops crying on the change table for a while, he'll start back up again as soon as I pick him up. He starts rooting & trying to suck on anything near his mouth (but ironically, won't take the dummy when he's worked up like this), but if I try to feed him, he'll suck from around 20 seconds, and start screaming again. Or, if he's not too stressed, he'll 'nibble' - not really drinking, but cries if you take him off, while staring at the ceiling/wall/anything.

I think he's over tired, but I seriously don't know. He doesn't seem to get enough sleep sometimes, but I barely think a 3 hour sleep is enough. He doesn't vomit much, but part of me thinks it could be silent reflux - but should I expect that every feed? His night feeds are almost perfect - we change, feed, and sleep. I'm questioning every thought & action I have. I keep being told to trust my instincts, but I'm not even sure I have any. I've been crying almost as hard as he has, and I've given myself a headache.

I feel like asking for help - but have no idea where to start. help what? and what could be done anyway? Surely, at some point, I have to be able to wrangle this baby on my own.

Maybe he has wind? Lily gets all disgruntled when she has wind. I try and do bicycle legs with her to try and get through the wind pain, of I try to pull her legs up to her chest to put her back in to the foetal position so that she calms down. Its really hard when you can't work out what is wrong with them. I have only had two days like that and I just cried and rang DP and then cried to him while Lily was screaming in the background. Sometimes it just feels better to get the tears out.. Hope things have improved xx

Entreat - you are so lovely to write such nice things Right back at you babe. Hopefully the mucous isn't anything serious. My SIL's baby had the same thing and my brother said she was going to get it looked into and I never heard anything else so in their case I don't think it was anything harmful. So now you know when things are going a bit all over the place you need to think to yourself "Stop over-thinking!" which is funny in itself as you need to think about thinking that. Hee hee. Ikwym though - I feel a bit the same way with X, when I am hanging out with her and she is just looking at me expectantly I often wonder what I am supposed to do to keep her entertained. Basically she does these things - sits in our arms or on us and we talk to her, sits in our arms or on us and looks at the lights at nighttime, goes in her swing, lies on her floor mat or looks at books. And that's the extent of her fun time. What does everyone else do?

I usually sing and talk to her, sometimes read some books, put her in her swing with some dangly animals, walk around with her in hugabub while talking to her about what I am doing, what the weather is like, etc, I sometimes put her on her play gym/mat, but she doesn't really appreciate that at the moment. She also likes the lady beetles that dangle from her portacot, so sometimes I put her in there too, but I feel a bit bad sometimes putting her in there like I'm not interacting with her enough.

Seph I am so sorry to hear that you have got some heavy family stuff going on - it's the last thing you need at the moment. I got some potentially scary news this afternoon and had tears over it so I think my hormones are still a little all over the shop. We are all here for you. Xx


Tubbles - thanks for the tip about the quoting. If this looks silly, it means I didn't understand your instructions but if it is right - yay for me!!! I am on facebook - I would be cool with creating a group but I wouldn't want any of my other friends to know about the group or see posts etc. It's funny, I like being able to share with you guys everything that is going on with X and talk about my feelings etc. I don't really feel like I want to do that with ALL of my facebook friends in fear they think I am becoming one of those people who only talks about their baby. Plus, probably wouldn't be keen for my Dad to read about my boob massage experience - hahahhahah.



Every single time I tell you how much I love your photos, you put up even more adorable ones. OMG re the professional ones too. We are FINALLY picking up Xanthe's professional photos next Wednesday. We also get the massive canvas we ordered too - yay. That means this weekend I need to pack up the glass cabinet stuff and move it all downstairs to make space on the wall for her gorgeous pic.

Just a general question - out of a normal 24 hour period, how many hours are all of your little ones awake? X is awake around 6-8 hours/day on average but she generally does it in 2 big blocks or occasionally (like today) 1 big block. I can't work out whether this is okay or whether we are letting her get overtired....she isn't really that difficult to put to sleep after a big stint and not that difficult to entertain in those last couple of hours but she does get more whiney.

I think Lily is the same. She usually is wake, feed, sleep, except for maybe 1-3 periods where she will be awake for a little while. I don't really try to fight what she wants to do, but I usually look for tired signs, so if she is yawning or sticking her hands in her mouth..

Weight today at 6 weeks 5.100kg and 58cms so she has grown heaps! Little piggy!

On the whole awake thing, C is slowly having more awake time, but still seems to sleep most of the time. Seems a bit odd as DS did not sleep much at all (too busy screaming!) but she seems to wake up, have a feed, have a cuddle, then (if not already asleep after the feed) go back to sleep.. Struggling to find enough awake time for tummy time... Does this seem odd?

Better go, DS is waking up..

DH goes back to work on Sunday and I am SO scared! HELP!! Don't leave me alone with 2 of them!!

xoxo
Feu

What was Carys' measurements when she was born?

I don't think so.. we hardly get time for tummy time either, but luckily Lily doesn't mind it too much so we can make up some time when we do do it. Our ECN recommended trying to do it for a few minute or so when you change nappy if you can't fit it in or bub doesn't like doing it for too long.

Good luck with DH going back to work. DP went back only 2 days after I got back from the hospital cos he had just started a new job so had no time off But it was okay, I think I might have just ended up fighting with him if he had, I get frustrated at him sometimes.. I kinda like being at home alone cos I can stay in bed or sleep in, or just do whatever and I don't have to feel guilty cos DP is up doing things about the house... but then again I only have one. Not sure how I would cope with 2!!!