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

:pHi girls,
Can i join you?
I had a beautiful big bouncing boy named Daniel on 9th March (10lb 10oz) and also have Lucy 2 years.
I had planned a home birth but transferred at 9cm to have my waters broken, ended up being convinced to stay the night in hospital which I regret but otherwise all went well.
I work part time (already back) and have crazy busy, wonderful life.
I like the feel of belly belly as a baby wearing, cloth nappying, vege mum...seems it could be my cyber home. I have read another forum for a while but often it made me feel sad, and i was very attracted to Bellybelly!
As for the BFRP...I discovered triathlons and running after my daughter. And let me say I COULD NOT run, I started with one minute on the treadmill and increased a minute a week until 7 weeks when I found I could go 10mins then 15...and I ran 12km. Then I did the Pink triathlon (a little one for all sorts of women) on 2008 and although I mostly come nearly last, I'm hooked.
So my BFRP starts mothers day, i am going to shuffle (not quite a run yet) the Mothers Day Classic 7.2km with a friend in Adelaide who lost her mum to breast cancer last year, And then I am going to get training for the Pink in November, Just have to work out how to stop eating so much chocolate.
EAster really was bad timing for me

DD home from childcare, will write more soon, Cuddles to be had!

Hi everyone, well I should be able to get on here quite regularly now. DH left for the mines today he is doing 5 on 4 off, then 4 on and 5 off so we are hoping it will work quite well and get more quality family time when he is home.

I feel for you Cass, I welled up when he left today :crying: but had to pull it together as when my parents left I fell apart at the airport and poor Emma was so upset because of me :comfort: I cant do that again. I will miss him but for tonight I shall enjoy no snoring, no fighting for the quilt and implant myself right in the middle of the bed:dance:

Hi Polly hope you like it here, most of us have a newbie and a monkey keeping us on our toes ;)

M2W & Sunny - Yay for Soph and Harper on the self-settling, Lily has been doing this now for a week she has one of those projector lullaby cot thingy's (iykwim??) and it is working a treat she watches it for about 10mins then peacefully drifts off...Emma on the other hand screamed for minimum 30min every night until she gave in. I hated the idea of control crying but she seriously would just not give in and in the end it was all I could do and we were both crying (ahhh memories:shakehead:)

Lily is really only sleeping an hour at a time, if i can get to her early enough she will go back down but otherwise she gets too worked up and feeds mostly 2-3 hours (3 if were out doing things) But night time is a dream really I cant complain 6.30-2am feed then maybe through till anywhere between 4- and 6.30. The "dream feed" hasnt worked for us as she still wakes at 2 which defied the point for me.

And yes I am starting the BFRP this week:o with dh away I can control my food better but I still need the chocies;), I have lost 9kg but need another 9kg to go now. Does anyone have a wii fit I am thinking that with my lack of babyfree time I might invest in one.
Got to love the incentives QB - we have a wedding in Uk next June and I intend to be stunning by then, or at least slimmer hehe

Also I know its a bit personal but has anyone or is anyone going to have an IUD fitted (sorry) I am trying to get dh to have the snip but its proving harder than giving birth :protest: so figure I may have to go down this route.

Wow what a waffle....Big hello to everyone else

Hi everyone, welcome PollyA!

First of all I am so happy for you Cass! I was crying just thinking about you seeing your DH after such a long time.
I am the happiest person alive when my DH comes home from work for the day as I miss him so much!

Lennox has been such a happy little bub unlike DS1. He does cry a bit and grizzle when he has wind but I can always settle him which is such a relief.
He is having a lot more awake time during the day and I am loving seeing his gummy little smile and hearing all his coos.
At night he is sleeping from about 7.30 till 12.30 and then still waking ever few hours after that.
He gets very grizzly at about 4.30/5am so I give him to DH for cuddles and he is the only one who can put a dummy in his mouth as he refuses to take it from me.

This Sat I am off to a PT session with some gals and very excited to meet them all. Met a lovely girly on here and get to catch up and get fit. Should be fun. Though I know after all the chocolate and junk I have been snacking on I will be a bit sore afterwards.

A big hello and hugs to everyone, so tired after DH went out last night and had a toddler sleep on top of me and a bub that kept pooping in the middle of the night, which is very unusual for him as he has never done a poo at night b4!

If anyone wants to have a chat or catch up on FB with me also I would love that!
My name is Danielle Cadwell.

Off to sleepytown now.

Welcome Polly!
Where in WA are you?? Im in Perth.

My name is Jessica Caldwell if anyone wants to be a FB buddy too :)

hearing you all on the weight loss thing. I want to lose about 30 kilos by my wedding in February. I have a wii fit but haven't had the time to get back into it. Hopefully will now Lacie is sleeping more of a day, its a lot of fun!

Better go as we have doctors check up this morning. I'm Rachel Ward on facebook if anyone wants to add me. There's a few with the same name I think, but my profile picture is of me and lacie if that makes it easier to find :D

Oh the baby fat, I still have my 13yr olds baby fat to get rid of so I really do have to get my A into G!

Welcome Polly. My neices name is Polly as it was my Nannys name so its a great name. Woo hoo go you 10lb10oz that is impressive. I thought I had baby elephants but none of mine cracked that 10lb. Close at 9lb15oz but not quite.
I cant run and I really dont like it either. Maybe if I wore a 3 sizes too small wetsuit I wouldnt have the whole wobble factor putting me off :lol:

Liz I had an IUD for many years and aside from making my periods heavier (although the mirena is supposed to be a better type to help with this) I thought it was great. Didnt have to think about it aside from making sure the strings were stil there.
DH never wanted to get the snip either but after five he has finally come around to my way of thinking :clap:
We have a wii fit and it is my dust collector. Like many things it was all go in the beginning but unfortunately for me anyway it was a five minute wonder :shakehead:

Deedles love the new picture of Lennox - so cute

Well after a shocker of a day yesterday, 20 min catnaps and only wanting to sleep on mum Peppar finally went to bed at 8 oclock last night and sleep right through to 7 this morning :o
Fantastic I know, but I dont want her stink sleeping during the day in order to have such an awesome overnight sleep.
I just couldnt do anything yesterday and it drove me nuts! I am a bit of a control freak so looking around at my shocking house and not being able to do anything about it was very hard indeed!
Happily she is sleeping better today so I hope yesterday was a result of the diet coke and jellybeans I have been having ;) Cetainly an incentive to lay off them anyway.

I just jinxed myself I think, I can hear her stirring. Hope everyone else is well and happy with not too many unsettled issues

Stacey McCance on FB seeing as we are all adding each other :D I have picture of Scout and Peppar as my profile pic

My DH is all for having the snip but I said I am worried that if I passed away he might meet someone who wanted to have babies...yeah OK i know I think too much. Plus he'll be 40 this year so maybe he shouldn't be having anymore babies (though he is quite fit).

I definately don't want to be pregnant again, if we have any more kids it will be adoption or foster care. I wish it was easier to have your tubes tied, I would definately consider it. We really need to consider something a little more failsafe than the old rubber, we both seem to be so fertile that an oops could easily happen. I don't like the pill much, I was on it from the time i was 16 till we had DD but it gave me migraines.

Do you think an IUD is the way to go?

Thats funny QB that was dh's response what about my next wife???? I told him she could pay for the reversal :lol: He is going to be 45 and needs to be sensible about this....he's thinks he's Hugh Heffner :rofl:

No I'm with you, I love my girls but I don't want anymore and its not like im a fertile-myrtile but on the rare occasion we manage to have sex i dont want to think about protection...I think I have earned that right!!! Just thought an IUD sounded like a good alternative, it could buy dh a few more years and then i'll drag him to the clinic myself hehe.

Gosh, lots to catch up on.... here's my quick post for today. I'm going to go and make myself a cupppa then catch up and reply to some personals! Bub's is sleeping so fingers crossed I can fit all this in!!

Well we had our 6-8 week appointment with the CHN (bit late). Bubs is doing everything he should be doing and growing nicely - he's grown 7.5cm and put on 2202g since birth. I asked her about the length of time between feeds and she said because breast milk is digested quicker than formula to not let him go more than 3 hours between feeds during the day to build up his calorie intake so he can go longer at night. I told her that last night he fed at 11 then 130 and then didn't wake until just after 530. She said that because he went so long between the second and third feed that he's definately getting enough and that the wake up at 130 was probably due to the change in the temperature - with the cool setting in. I told her that DH had him swaddled up nice and tight (he put him back to bed after the 130 feed), she reckons go with that because he obviously likes it. Some babies prefer to be swaddled.

Because he's gaining on average 240g a week she told me not to worry about him not getting enough to eat (yes I still worry). Over the next couple of weeks my milk will change again to provide him with more "bulk" and he will also be able to drink more at each feed (because his tummy's growing) so the times between feeds should stretch out.

We got a showbag from the library - they give them out at the clinic visits. He got his first picture book as a gift. Tomorrow's mothers group meeting is at the library (and the last one).

More importantly, yesterday Robert had his MRI done at PMH. The hospital staff were wonderful.

They had to put a line in him incase he needed the dye put through for a better picture. This was just awful (who said their baby needed this and they couldn't get the vein??? I feel for you it was just horrid). The doctor couldn't get his vein and after a couple of tries gave up and called an anethetist who got it in first go (but today he's sporting bruises on his poor little chubby arm). After the line was in I gave him a feed and put him to sleep. I think he was worn out from all the screaming and fell asleep quite quickly.

I took him into the room for the MRI and put him on a "bean bag" on the table. You hold the bean bag around bubs then the air gets sucked out of it and it forms a nice solid cosy cocoon around their body so they don't move. First try and he was startled by the noise so we stopped and I gave him a top up and resettled him and he went back to sleep. I got to sit in the room and can't believe that he actually slept through 20 minutes of really really loud banging, whirring and other sort of vibrating noises. It was so loud that i had to wear earmuffs and i wasn't even in the machine. Oh, he had the cutest little earmuffs on, they were self adhesive and bright yellow - he looked like he was a little alien!

ANYWAY... the wonderful news is that the MRI came back all clear. The doctor was extremely relieved. He said that the flickering in his eyes looked very severe and showed all indications of a brain tumor.... WTF??!! He told me that's what he (and the paed) were concerned about. They almost had to wipe me off the floor from relief. This was something that was in the back of my mind but I figured that they didn't seem too concerned and were treating the test as a standard procedure. DH is gratefull that I didn't know because I would have gone through nearly two weeks of unecessary worry. Anyway it looks like it was infantile nystagmus (which basically means he has trouble focussing) and that he's growing out of it. We have a follow up in 4 months and that should be it!!

Now, I'm going to get that cuppa and re-read your posts!

Stacey I just added you as a friend on FB. I'm "Cassandra Stephenson" and have a pic of me and Robert at the beach as my profile picture.

Re "the snip" my DH has had the snip. We went through ICSI IVF so Lis/QB don't worry about your husband's next wife :rofl: that's so funny .... there are other ways around it. Um, just don't explain to him about the needle that goes into their manly bits to extract the semen to make the baby

Polly, welcome... wow :o your little one's not so little! Hope you like it here with us other mums! You're lucky you've joined a fantastic group here.

I keep hinting for a wii fit. DH said yesterday though that he's going to get me a 3 month membership at the new gym up the road. Monday - Friday they have a free creche between 8 and 11. I used to go with him after work but it's just not going to work so this is a great option. I'm having withdrawals, up until now I've just been happy to go for my daily walk. Now I'm wanting to get back into it. Oh and I'm 10kg lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight, must have been all that up-chucking for the first 4 months!!

Deedles you sound as bad as me. I'm sure DH must sometimes wonder if I'll ever shut up when he gets home. I'm like an annoying puppy (except I don't piddle everywhere ha-ha-ha).

Guys need your help.
Hannah has been very clingy the last two days, ill describe her, clingy cries when u put her down most times, likes to be held standing up,very wingy not like her at all, clamy but no temp, doesnt seemt o want to play on her mat or bouncer AS MUCH as normal.she also when we hold her she keeps pushing her head against us and sometimes real hard which she cries from

She just is not herself but is still alert feeding smiles etc just something is diff..am i over reating is she being nornal lol.. help

Shell - my first reaction was to wonder if she's over-tired? Doesn't really explain the clammy - unless she's tense and struggling a lot, but the rest sounds to me like signs of being over-tired.

Will be back later for a decent post!

Ok - it's been quite some time since I posted so I'm sure I won't be able to reply to everyone's news but I'm going to give it a crack!

Firstly, we've decided that DH will get the snip at some stage. I figure it's only fair as I've had both my tummy and my woohoo cut to get our lovely children here. He can have something cut to stop any more from arriving uninvited! I think I'll wait for a year or 2 though as I'm really enjoying Toby as a baby and can't quite bring myself to remove the option of another just yet. It's so nice to be enjoying him so much as I was so tired and stressed with DD that I wished away so much of her early days :shakehead: That said, looking at the big picture I can't see myself going through another pregnancy and birth! We'll probably use nasty ol' condoms until we decide as I'm not keen to go back on the pill and I'm too much of a wuss to get an IUD. Plus I already get very heavy periods and don't want to risk making them worse.

And Lou - I'm with you. Haven't DTD yet but I think it's probably in the pipeline! TBH our sex life is pretty pathetic at the best of times so no surprises it's not happening at the moment.

I'm trying to get myself motivated to lose the lard. I have the desire but lack the energy, which I know is a totally vicious cycle as if I exercise I'll have more energy :doh: It's just the getting started that I have a problem with... actually that's a lie, it's exercise in general :rofl: I'm about 4 kgs heavier than pre-pregnancy but I had a good 15 kgs to lose before I got pregnant so I have some work ahead of me. Cutting out the evil chocolate will be a good start but like many of you I'm struggling with a small addiction. DH has allocated some money for me to buy myself some new clothes so I'm thinking I'll just get a couple of things now (including some good walking shoes!) and use the thought of going on a big shopping spree to motivate me to lose the weight. I'll let you know how that goes. I wouldn't hold your breath :D

I'm feeling a little hopeless compared to all of you that have some sort of routine sorted. We just seem to be all over the place. Toby's a pretty chilled boy most of the time and we don't have many episodes of screaming but he doesn't really settle at any particular time each night, and definitely not during the day. Some days he just cat naps and others (like today) he'll sleep for a couple of hours in one hit. Over night he wakes about every 3 hours. Sometimes he'll do a 4 hour stretch but it's usually in the evening rather than over-night. I'm very jealous of you ladies that are getting a good few hours in a row over night :)

Cass - Wow, you must have felt so shocked and relieved at the same time when the dr mentioned a tumour. I'm with your DH - totally better that you didn't know. Imagine how awful the wait would have been :shakehead: So pleased that wee Robert is all okay. We swaddle Toby as he's super physical and will keep himself awake by hitting himself in the face (and then look around as if to say "Oi, who just smacked me?!") if we don't. Hope you're enjoying ;) having your DH home. I so feel for you ladies that have partners that work away.

Ok - going to post this and start another as it's getting rather long.

Can't remember who was chatting about where the babies sleep during the day but Toby sleeps on me (in Close Carrier), in his swing, in his pram (I have a bassinet attachment so it's like a little bed) or in the bouncinette. He won't sleep in his cradle during the day and I've given up trying as he'll be fast asleep until I put him in it when his eyes ping open and he's wide awake :doh: He sleeps in it for some of the night - usually the first stint - before he comes in with me. I love having him in my bed and intend to let him stay there for as long as it's working for us all. He's so snuggly and he sleeps so much better tucked up next to me. I feel like I need to make the most of it as this will probably be the last baby. I also know from experience with DD that it doesn't seem to matter how great their routine is it doesn't take much to throw it all out so I'm trying very hard not to worry too much about the sleep thing. I'm still jealous of you guys getting good sleep though!

Welcome Polly - this really is a great group. There's a nice mix of styles here ie. cloth/disposable, boobie/bottle, co-sleepers/cot sleepers/non-sleepers, natural/C- Section. And the awesome thing is that at the end of the day it doesn't seem to matter much as we're all just here to support each other what-ever's happening. Ok, time for a group hug since I've gone all gooey :grouphug:. Big ups to you for getting in to running. I would love to get in to running but since I can't even get my butt out for a walk at the moment it could be a very long way off... possibly never :D Do you run with a buggy? I always look at the fit mummies out running and think I should get in to it - they always look so hot!

I've definitely done my dash for tonight. Well done to anyone that made it to the end of my rambles :redface:

I'm going to try and post more often so I don't need to write such novels. I have been reading each day and love hearing how you all are.

What are you all hoping for for Mothers day? I've just asked DH to get me a massage as my back and neck are killing me from pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Ok, I'm going now.

p.s - My bad if these posts are a little disjointed (read 'all over the place'), I've been chatting to DH, settling DD and making cups of tea in between typing!

HI Ladies and Welcome to Polly!

Ciaran is 2 months old now, and has hit the 6kg mark (gained over 3.7kg and 11cm since his birth), so is clearly getting enough breastmilk!

Ive just started to think about contraception - I have used natural method successfully for many years. Does anyone know how long/soon it can be before you start ovulating/bleeding again when breast feeding?

DH plans on getting the snip (when we have had another baby), as it is at least reversible for him but not for us ladies.

I started on my quest for my pre-baby body a few wks ago - walking the dog and back at the gym once a week. Plan to go 3 times a week now, and also get back into my dancing. I lost 9kg post birth, but have 9 more to go... pity the stretch marks will stay permanently, but DH says I should be proud and treat them like battle scars, as a mark of the journey with my first child.

No plans yet for mothers day, will prob do lunch with the family - although I am hoping DH does something for me, but since he isnt so good at those things its best I dont have high hopes!

Have read all your posts but will get to personals next time.

Cheers, Bree

Hey girls,

Thanks for the welcomes, I have a lot of trouble getting onto this site and tried for over an hour to post a looong reply last night then accidentally copied something else so lost it :wall:
Does anyone else have problems getting on here? I only have success 1 out of 4 times about.
Anyway, re: running, we have a jogging stroller which doubles as a bike trailer but DS needs to have a bit more head control still. So we run at the moment in a Phil and Teds sport with Lucy sitting in the toddler seat on top, Works pretty well
I am very slow..especially now, in fact last week on our first post baby run a woman walking her dog passed us:redface:
I was never good at sport and I am a big girl, could stand to lose 35kg but I set my mind to it and it is an awesome feeling to realse I can do it. I carry my daughter over the finish lines at tris (She usually is in the stroller for fun runs) and I come usually about 3rd last but I really want her to know that you should just enjoy life and not worry if you;re good at things.
People don't sing because they're not good...but singing makes you feel happy, even if you wouldn't make Australian idol.
I have always had body image issues and desparately want to make sure my gorgeous girl feels beautiful no matter what size she is or how fast she can run.
If anyone wanted to run google a program called C25K It stands for couch to 5km and eases you into the distance.

Anyway, I'm running on 2 hours sleep last night. DD was up a couple of times and Daniel is just getting over bronchiolitis so feeding more often after 2 days feeding about 1/2 of normal. So my eyes are hanging out of my head today but I am so glad he's getting better. Also highly recommend the humidifiers you rent at the chemist, it really helped my chesty, snuffly little man breathe better and was only $1.50/day.

Due to my internet issues I can't read back and reply to individuals but I will get to know your names so I can do it from memory.

Happy days all,
Thanks agan for your warm welcome
Fingers crossed this post works
Polly

Breesa - Our DD was the result of natural family planning (trying NOT to conceive!) so I'm not too keen on using that method again. I got my period back at about 7 or 8 weeks after DD and I was fully breast-feeding. I felt totally ripped off as I know friends that didn't bleed for months. I think it was Queen Bee that said she had got her period back already?? So it could be anytime for you. Hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones and not have to worry about it for a while yet.

Polly - I have problems getting on BB when we run out of broadband power. So frustrating when you've just spent ages typing a massive reply to lose it! I'm totally going to check out the website you recommended. I'm also really aware of not passing on body image issues to my beautiful DD. Girls have so much pressure to look a certain way I desperately hope I can instill a deep sense of self-love in my girl before she gets bombarded from the outside world.

Gotta run. Toby's having an awake day and is calling for me.

Breesa - We also used that method which worked fine for 3 years until we fell pregnant with Tobi, I said it must have been immaculate conception (you know, like Mary) or some super sperm, LOL. So I don't trust us anymore because we seem to be VERY fertile. Yes, I have already had my period, exactly 4 weeks after I stopped BF. With DD I was BF and it still came back after 6 weeks. I would only using BF as contraception if you are OK with it possibly not working.

Polly- Welcome, I find it inspiring that you are running and that you are not going to wait to have "perfect" body before attempting Triathalons. You go girl!

Breesa - We also used that method which worked fine for 3 years until we fell pregnant with Tobi, I said it must have been immaculate conception (you know, like Mary) or some super sperm, LOL. So I don't trust us anymore because we seem to be VERY fertile. Yes, I have already had my period, exactly 4 weeks after I stopped BF. With DD I was BF and it still came back after 6 weeks. I would only using BF as contraception if you are OK with it possibly not working.

Polly- Welcome, I find it inspiring that you are running and that you are not going to wait to have "perfect" body before attempting Triathalons. You go girl!

So to I take it that Breastfeeding is not a reliable form of contraception? Had heard it works quite well, but certainly am not taking any chances regardless!

I sure hope I get a few more months before my cycle returns... isnt that meant to be a perk of breastfeeding?

On another note, I had my first Night away from bubs tonight (have had short stints of an hour during the day and thats it so far) - went dancing for 3 hrs and DH had a bit of a tough time as he didn't want to sleep (as normal) in my absence. Anyway, I worried the whole car trip there and home that he was ok and well behaved... cant believe how much I worried - guess it will get easier? Here's hoping. :pray:

So I also keep trying to post and every time I do the page goes offline. There is nothing wrong with our broadband so I am not sure what is wrong. Fingers crossed this post works.

Well we had our check up on Tue and Lennox is 5.11 and was 3.37 at birth so he is doing great.
As for me, I am still so sore after she had to do a dreaded internal. She said that there is still some skin that needs to heal together so thats why it still stings alot, sorry (TMI).

Jandals, we will be using those horrid rubbers when we finally get to DTD, as I am still not healed it will be a while. I was thinking about getting that injection in your arm, though I am not sure.
When I was 7 wks preg I had a cyst on my right ovary the size of a navel orange and was caused by ovulating. So I am not keen to get any more of those nasty suckers. The pain was worse than childbirth I swear!

Cass, I am so glad that Robert is A OK! What a scare they must have given you. I am not sure I would have even wanted to know.

Polly, what a wonderful outlook on life. I bet your lil girl is so proud to have you as her mummy!
We also have the phil & Teds sports double. Its so much heavier than our old single pram that I am scared it will tip over as we have such big hills.

QB, wow immaculate conception he he he. I would'nt just rely on BF to not get pregnant either. Having 2 is great but we just couldn't handle or afford 3 right now.

Breesa, go Ciaran, 2 months already. Time flies!

Shell, How is lil Hannah feeling? Do you think it was that she was a bit over tired or under the weather? I hope she is back to her normal lil self!

Hope tonight is a better one, Lennox still wakes up quite a lot and spends most of the early hours of the morning in our bed.

I read some of you are having trouble with BB, I am too. It took ages for my last post to upload. In the last two day I have stop receiving email notifications and have to log in each time I post. And has anyone else lost the quick reply function? I loved that function.

BTW- I admire you ladies who write personals, you'll have to forgive me for not reciprocating, my goldfish brain can't remember your post long enough to post a reply...sorry.

Wow - just read all the posts and I have missed alot! Yes - another shocking week here...we seem to just be going from one sickness to another in this household. The past five weeks - Soph sick and hossy visit, then Will sick with cough, then Soph sick from needles, then Will sick with vomitting and last week the whole family sick with cough, cold and sore throat and tummy upset!! At this to sleep deprivation and I surprise myself with how well I am functioning...and DH asked when I was sending the Thank Yous for Soph!!!

Everyone still sick but improved so hopefully only a few more days of this! Think we have done our time on the illness front for a while.

With the illness - Soph's overnight sleeps have reverted back to four hourly...fingers crossed when she is better the longer stretches come back.

She is awake for 1.25-1.5hours in the day and then sleeps - anywhere from 30mins to 3 hours! No predicting it. She never sleeps in her cot in the day - will just wake the instant you put her in there. Sleeps in the sling, rocker and on the move!

Shell -Bubs does sound sick (if not overtired as suggested). Any better???

Jandals - Soph's day routine is not really a routine - just I know how long she will be awake for before she gets cranky and needs to go back to sleep.

Bree - Gr8 job on weight loss - and breastfeeding does not stop ovulation...my friend had her second 10 months after her first!!

Stacey - Diet Coke could def unsettle bubs...How restrictive are you breastfeeding mums with your diet? I am have no caff, no alcohol, no onion, garlic etc....but would love a drink!! Do you think 1 drink would be fine? What others have?

Deedles- I sympathise with having bubs and toddler in bed with you...One night this week, I slept sandwiched between the two in bed (with both waking at intervals)!!!

Cass - I took Soph out of the swaddle and she slept longer but she loves sucking her hands (trying to suck her thumb I think). Great news re Robert but the poor poor baby having to have the line inserted..they tried with my son when he was 10mths and it was horrible! Well done on losing 10KG on your pre-preg weight! Impressive!

Lou -Hope Sophie is feeling better. What swing do you have?

Sunny09-Go Harper with her sleeps!

PollyA - Welcome...hope bubs is feeling better! I have a just turned 2 boy - Will...so we will be able to relate!! What a challenge the two are! I agree with your sentiments re Belly Belly.

Lis - Yay for Lily's night sleeps! I ditched the dreamfeed too!

Well done to all doing so well with their BFRP! I have no idea what weight I am... the last time I was weighed I was 41weeks preg!!!

Although, I know I have lost weight as my pre-preg clothes are no loose on me! Don't have scales at home..maybe I should weigh myself...but I would love to lose more weight too! Was prob 10kg over my ideal when preg with Soph - I only put on 4 kgs with Soph...so I was hoping I would lose a fair bit after her birth (I was on a restricted diet due to Gestational Diabetes so lost weight as I grew bigger)...and I think explains why Soph was a skinny girl when born.

Looking into getting an electric swing for Soph and deciding on what double pram to get! Can't spend a fortune...

Wow - my house is now a war zone...toddler has been amusing himself happily whilst I typed this and manageed to pull just about every toy out!!!

Got two poos to change!!!

Happy Mother's Day to you all...

How do you all juggle your family with your mothers on the day?? MIL insists on being taken to lunch (has caused drama each year since son was born) and I never want to spend the day sitting and waiting with kids in a packed restaraunt...not my idea of relaxing...what are your thought??

M2W- If MIL insists on being taken out to lunch I say take her to Maccas so Will can play, he he.
Glad to hear that you are on the mend, I would have been going out of my mind, well done for surviving.

M2W alcohol goes through your milk the same rate it goes through your blood. Your body digests one standard drink per hour so I reckon one drink shouldnt hurt your milk either.
Just have it straight after a feed and it should be sweet by the next feed. :D
If your concerned you could always express the following feed off but I never worried about it and I didnt have any problems

Hi All,

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Must say, my first Mother's Day was lovely ... we had lunch out in the Hunter Valley with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, niece and my in laws. It was gorgeous to have everyone all together and enjoying each other's company. Little Willow was quite well behaved as well. Woo Hoo.
DH gave me a sleep in this morning while he handled the morning feed and play routine ... I would have accepted the extra 2 hours of sleep as my pressie, but was surprised with another gift.
I was concerned about what DH and Will might have picked for a pressie for my first Mother's Day ... Will's fave things at the moment are milk and boobies and well, DH LOVES one of those things as well. Ha Ha. I was very spoilt with a gorgeous diamond ring this morning, to celebrate my first Mother's Day ... I think too, DH was a little lost as I kept insisting that I DIDN'T want an eternity ring (I think he wanted to buy one on our wedding anniversary), so he used my first Mother's Day to spoil me with another ring.
Won't expect this every year!!!

We've had some hit and miss days this week with little Willow, but I must admit overall we are doing better.
Someone said to me today something about in their day (it was an elderly lady at the restaurant admiring Will) that they didn't leave the house till bubs was about 3 months, so she admired me for being so brave and taking her out and about with me. This made me think - instead of saying how unsettled Will is, I should probably praise her for being such a great baby, she does take it all in her stide the way I cart her around to the shops and people's places. I guess we do expect a bit of our bubs and our lifestyles these days compared to the house bound mothers of the past.

Someone else was prattling on the other day about all the activities we organise for our kids and how this is a new phenomeon in parenting - the gymbaroo, music appreciation, baby yoga type activites that are all the rage - how all these activities are meant to stimulate and enhance the development of the child. What happened to just letting the child develop without all the raz-a-ma-taz. Whoever it was that was giving this speil went on to say she thought it was the fact that women are now leaving careers to have children, and so child rearing is being treated as another 'project'.

Interesting thoughts I suppose.

Having said all that though, I think I'll take Willow to some of the activities mentioned above.
Hey, if they are available why not take advantage of them ... can't hurt?

M2W - I'm having a glass of red wine as I type.... I agree with Stacey, a drink after you've fed isn't going to hurt and you can always express if she's not due for a feed.

Robert slept really well last night, yesterday and today (so far). I gave him a feed just after 5pm yesterday and then he had his bath and crashed so we put him to bed. He slept until 10 when I gave him another feed then went to bed. Then he didn't wake until 2.50am which was great then he did another 3 hour stint after that. I think going to bed works better for us at home (the whole 12 hour "overnight sleep" thing). DH gets up at 530 during the week and I like to get up with him. Plus when I go back to work in September, I'll be getting up early anyway so we'll stick with the early to bed routine.

Had a lovely mothers day. DH cooked me eggs benedict this morning - poached egg on an english muffin with smoked salmon and spinach topped off with homemade hollandaise sauce. The kids gave me the collectors tin of Buffy (yep, hopeless Buffy fan here). I've done not much all day except be waited on.

Is anyone elses bub eating more at each feed? Robert now empties both boobs but, as above, he's also sleeping longer.

Cass we must have posted at almost the same time!

Yeah, I notice Will is taking varying amounts at each feed.
When we were BF she would take one bb sometimes and both bbs other times, now she's FF she takes 100ml for a few feeds, 120ml for a feed or two and then sometimes she'll drain the full 180ml. It's actually interesting to see her have a growth spurt, as now that she's FF and I can see exactly how much she's drinking and on the BIG drink days I can usually see in a few days time that she's grown a little more (her wondersuits suddenly look smugger).

Anyone have an estimate how long babies are in sized clothes for - Will was in 0000 for 5 weeks from birth, she's now in 000 and has been for about 2 weeks, someone said to me to expect her to be in sizes for about 3 months - does anyone else agree with this?

I have some lovely summer type clothes in 000 & 00, but not sure if Willow will still be in 000 come summer/warmer weather??

Thrilled, Robert's 000 wondersuits are pulling a little tightly mainly with the length, last night we put him in one of the 00s but they are a little "roomy". I've been wondering about clothes sizes too. With clothes that were given as presents I've kept the tags on them until he actually wears them so I can exchange them if need be. I was given a couple of lovely winter outfits but I couldn't see him fitting into them for at least another 4-6 months and they definately wouldn't fit next year so I took them back for something he could wear now.

Hope you've all had a lovely day today. Pretty special day for all of you first time mummies :D

My mothers day started at 5.20 am with a poo explosion :o It was a projectile number that travelled well over a metre, in a nice yellow line right across the carpet. It also managed to spray the drawers, change table and of course, me. Yummo! I'm having trouble getting it out of the carpet so any suggestions for removing baby poo would be greatly appreciated. Toby gave me the cutest little giggle when he was finished so I couldn't be mad... lucky for him!

The rest of the day was much less ****ty :ROFL: DH made me a hot breakfast - I got a home-made hollandaise too Cass. He then cleaned out the hall cupboard and did some washing. I was thrilled as it's a job I've been meaning to do for ages. I've also got a massage voucher - my poor back is hanging out for that!

M2W - Wow, you've had a rough ride. Hope everything settles down for you. It's so draining having sick littlies. DD has a nasty dose of tonsillitis and Toby has been a bit unsettled since his immunisations on Thursday and I feel exhausted and very house-bound.

I'm with Feijoa and Cass on the alcohol thing. I would have a half a glass of wine when I was BF DD, but always just after a feed. A dietician I saw once told me it wasn't recommended to drink any alcohol while BF but I think sometimes a little sanity saver is in order. I've only had a few sips of DH's beer this time but if I get a real hankering for a wine I'll be having one! I also stay away from caffeine as a rule but I'll occasionally have a Coke Zero if I'm out for lunch.

thrilled - You lucky thing! I've been begging for an eternity ring for the last 5 years and still no luck :shakehead:I've told DH that it's going to have to be pretty impressive when I do get it to make up for all my waiting :lol:

I have to agree that lots of kids these days spend way too much time in structured activities. In my humble opinion it leads to a really sterile environment and kids so need to be allowed to lead their own play. I think classes definitely have a place but like everything I guess it's about balance. It can be nice on a social level for both Mum and baby to get out to these things. I intend to take DD to gymnastics soon as she's a little fire-cracker and I think she'll love it. A good place to burn off some of her excess energy! But most of her time is spent playing with friends, running around outside, drawing, dancing, dressing up, and a bit of t.v sneaks in too.

Cass - Toby seems to be a feeding machine at the moment. Suddenly gone from one boob at a time to totally draining both. I think he's still getting used to it though as he's spilling a bit and the fore-mentioned poo speaks for itself! Just waiting for the sleeping longer to kick in.

Sounds like it was a lovely mothers day for everyone!
I got to have a bit of a sleep in and cooked Brekky. My DH tried for my BDay to make Hollandaise sauce but totally failed, so today he just made me poached eggs on toast.
Got to go to Bunnings though, got some nice flowers for the garden.

Lennox slept from 7pm-1am then slept in 2 hour stints till 5am and was awake after that for a few hours. Luckily I got to go back to bed and my DH fed him the BM I expressed in the middle of the night as Lennox had never slept for 6hrs straight. I ended up being able to express 125ml and can I say, I just felt so relieved after I did that. They were at the rock stage and leaking everywhere, I couldn't even sleep on them!

As for the clothes sizes, I am not too sure. I know that every brand varies in their sizes. Bonds is always so much smaller than every other size (not sure why, maybe it's just me who thinks that)
Lennox is in size 000 but growing so quickly he will be out of them quite soon, 00 is just that bit too big though. I guess it will just be a bit loose on him for a while.

Hope the rest of you had a lovely mothers day and got spoilt rotten.
Off to bed now as I had my first PT session yest morning and I am still paying for it now, I can hardly move a muscle.

Toby's in a 000 but starting to get away with some 00. He's now 60 cm long and just over 11 pound so he's definitely growing! DD was so much smaller and didn't put on weight very quickly so she was still in 000 for months. She even had a pair of 00 pants that she was still wearing at 2!

Deedles - totally agree with how much sizes vary between brands. Can be really frustrating when buying online. I find Bonds on the small side too.

Breesa - have been meaning to ask about your decision to delay immunisation. How long will you delay them for? We decided not to give Toby the Hep B shot at birth but will stick to the recommended schedule other than that. I'm interested in how others have made the decision to vaccinate or not??

Oh, and AF arrived yesterday. Gutted! Was hoping for a bit longer this time. Not enjoying the tummy cramps and headache that goes with. Think I'll go and get my iron levels checked as they were pretty low in hospital and I know BF can make it hard to boost levels so I imagine AF definitely won't be helping.

Anyone got any good suggestions for healthy and easy meals and snacks that can be pre-prepared? I'm wanting to get started on losing weight but finding it hard to come up with good things to eat during the day when I'm often stuck holding Toby.

The different sizes in outfits can do your head sometimes cant they? Peppar is in 0000,000 and some 00's so now as a rule of thumb I check the height recommendations instead. Its much easier and that way you dont get caught out with the different brand sizings.
We are lucky here in Brisbane the weather is still really quite warm so we dont have any wondersuits. In the past I have found them to be weird sizings and the feet restricted my long babies. In NZ we had them without feet but I havent been able to find any smaller ones without feet here.

My mothers day was a quiet affair really. DH worked Saturday night and then last night too so he was practically asleep all day yesterday. My darling boys did make me breakfast in bed though (scrambled eggs on toast) and they managed to do it without fighting with each other and waking me up! Scout helped me eat it and Peppar watched so it was a family effort.
I also got a new nappy bag which I have been wanting forever so I am a happy camper.

Not sure if im liking this new BB setup? I guess I will just have to spend a bit of time on here sussing it all out (like I need an excuse hahaha)

Hi...when this changed over I forgot my user and password...so have changed from Mum2Willie to LilsJula...

Cass - Soph has just started taking more at each feed in the last couple of days.

Thanks QB

Feijoa Mum - Had a beer straight my last feed last night and luved it!! Definitely a sanity saver!!
Thanks for feedback on that all!

Thrilled - Glad you had a brilliant mother's day and what a gr8 pres! Re clothes sizes - Bonds is definitely smaller - no doubt about it...Soph is wearing 00 Bonds wondersuits and Bonds onsies. She is wearing some 00 Target and Big W shirts, but 000 pants.

Re clothes sizes - this is what I learnt from my son who was born on March 19 2008 - He wore 0000 for 1 week (Soph was a couple of weeks). He wore 000 til 8 weeks ( Soph is moving sizes). He spent most of winter in 00 but I had to scrounge around at the end of winter for 0 which was hard as summer stock was in...so I think pick up some 0 stuff and you can always take it back. Will spent most of summer in 0. He wore size 1 tops at the end of summer but still size 0 bottoms (he has some size 0 bottoms he still wears and he is 2). In winter he wore size 1 (with some size 0 bottoms). His size 1 bottoms still fit this year...but he is mostly size 2 on top. So size 1 stuff lasts forever - 12 months and size 0 for the entire summer!!! Hope that helps!

Jandals - You poor thing re the poo explosion! I have found baby wipes are great straight away for all carpet disasters! Hope your two are feeling better...it is shocking feeling housebound! I have vac'ed Soph as per the schedule. My question is about my toddler and Soph for the swine flu vac??? What others doing??? I go with the vacs - as I work in a school - I see all the diseases that come up (alot not divulged due to privacy reasons) and so I went with the vacs.

I had a very strange weekend. Toddler got sicker - taking him to doctor today. He has had this cold and cough now for 10 weeks!! Got it while I was in hospital having Soph! Got better and worse three times now and this is the worst. The coughing at night is awful! This is the third docs visit and I am really going to push for antibiotics this time..poor little bugger.

Below is a massive vent - re problems I am having with DH - read or don't read...just need to get it off my chest!

Sunday was my DH's birthday. He told me his Mum really wanted to go out for mother's day to lunch. I said I would rather not, unless he wanted to for his birthday lunch (or suggested going another day when not so busy). Admist the sick kid craziness in the week - I repeatedly asked what he wanted to do for his birthday...and he kept saying he didn't know.

I got to shops to get his pressie with two sick kids in tow - but didn't make the cake I had wanted and hadn't organised anything as he hadn't told me what he wanted to do...

Sunday came! When we all got up ( I got a gift voucher for a shop that I wanted some clothes from and we gave him his birthday press) - he said he wanted to go surfing. Aok! No probs. So off he goes to go surfing and buy his Mum a mother's day pressie. Meanwhile I make brekkie for me and toddler and do jobs like washing...Gets home a couple of hours later (still haven't had shower as kids both whining as sick...house a shocker). Tells me his Mum coming around for a visit in about 45mins. So quickly tidy house with Soph in baby bjorn and ask him to mind Soph so I can jump in shower. When I get out of shower, Soph crying - so have to feed her. He gets in shower. I haven't cleaned teeth etc...hair sopping wet. When he hops out of shower - putting Soph to sleep after feed -he asks if I can wrap pressie soon as Mum be here soon...so put Soph in baby bjorn and do that...and he sits at computer...Yes - I get huffy!!! Soph crying - I am a mess! Toddler whinging! He then comes in and says do you want me to take Soph for a walk around the block in pram (nice offer) but Soph won't go to sleep in pram! She falls to sleep in baby bjorn! and I brush hair and teeth and inlaws arrive and stay for two hours. MIL has dig about not being taken for lunch! She does have two daughters - one with kids (aged 12 and ten) and another without who live close by.

Then it is lunch time and DH asks if I want a burger and chips as he doesn't want lunch..I ask why not and he says he wanted to go out for lunch but I wouldn't go...It is true I did say didn't want to go when he said his mother really wanted to go (as it doesn't always have to be about her!!) but later thought about it and said we could do whatever he wanted for his birthday - just not go to really super busy place. He doesn't remember this bit!!!

I said there is still time to go...he didn't respond..toddler started whinging and Soph crying and he gets the sh*** as I haven't answered what I want for lunch and all hell breaks loose and we have massive fight. I go out with kids for afternoon - do grocery shopping, get petrol in car etc. It was quiet out!!

He says I am crazy at the minute. That I am always mean to him on the weekends. It is true that he p***** me off. I have told him I am jealous of the freedom he has - (the only three times I have been away from Soph were three ten minute trips to pick something up from the shops). I know this is the sacrifice that I have to make and fully expected it but it does get to me at times... I have told him all I look forward to on the weekend is to have a peaceful shower at a reasonable time in the morning. Last weekend, I said that if he could tell me if he was going surfing in morning (which I do like him to do) to tell me and I will get up before he goes and have a shower...didn't do it this weekend...leaves me both mornings with kids for a few hours and he gets home and I am crabby!

I really don't know what to do...He holds Soph for about 1 hour in total (broken into 15min slots) each day on the weekend. I get no break at all. He takes toddler down backyard for 1 hour on 1 day.

I actually feel trapped when he is home on the weekend. I can't plan anything and end up getting stuck at home all day. I know I should just do what I want...and perhaps this is how I need to operate from now on...

Sorry for the massive vent! I am frustrated with sick kids, sick of being on my own (can't visit friends as the kids are sick), toddler not been able to go to kindy as he is sick so no break there!

Sorry for being a sook! Also a bit scared PND may be rearing its head again (as it was pretty bad after my son). Don't feel like I know what is real (as my hubby tells me how I am but I can't see it that way).

Guess things will just come right soon.

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Anyone have an estimate how long babies are in sized clothes for - Will was in 0000 for 5 weeks from birth, she's now in 000 and has been for about 2 weeks, someone said to me to expect her to be in sizes for about 3 months - does anyone else agree with this?

I have some lovely summer type clothes in 000 & 00, but not sure if Willow will still be in 000 come summer/warmer weather??

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Depending on how big bubs was born and genetics, this is a rough guide to sizes:
0 to 1 or 2 months - 0000
1 to 3-5 months - 000
5 to 8-9 months - 00
9 to 12 months - 0
12 to 18-24 months -1

DD was just under 7lbs born and in 0000 for ages but by the time she was 12 months she had caught up to average size.

DS1 was 8lbs and followed the above, DS2 was almost 9lbs and I figure he will be ready for 00 in winter, 000 fit perfectly atm.

LJ, don't start worrying that you are getting PND. Have you thought that maybe it's not you and it's him showing signs of PND?

You said that you had PND after DS was born - I hope you don't have people around you that suggest that you are going down this path again. Nothing worse than wellmeaning(????)people who think (and say) "oh, she's got PND - you know she had it with her first child".

You've been at home with a sick toddler and a new baby and need to give yourself a break. Your DH is a grown man and can make up his own bloody mind what he wants to do for his birthday - it's not like it suddenly crept up on him, I'm sure he's well aware what date he was born!!

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Then it is lunch time and DH asks if I want a burger and chips as he doesn't want lunch..I ask why not and he says he wanted to go out for lunch but I wouldn't go...

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Sounds to me like he was sulking because he didn't get his own way, or rather that he wasn't the centre of your attention (that would be your kids). Sorry to be hard on your husband, but judging from his mother's self-centered ways I guess sometimes the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Personally I think your MIL should have brought around lunch for you (some lovely yummy takeaway) then set the menfolk to clean up afterwards while you lounged about on the couch with a girly movie.

With regards to going surfing in the mornings on weekends. I would ask him straight out, are you going surfing - yes or no answer thanks. You're going, then okay. I'll get up early and you can take care of the kids while I get a shower and get some breakfast together for myself - then he can take off!

Please feel free to vent, don't keep it bottled up inside. Sometimes it just makes things better to get them out there in the open. :grouphug:

Well said Cass, LJ (I like that, my DD is LJ) it does sound like he is being a bit sulky, guys get PND too my DH did. He needs to suck it up and help you out more, as my DH says "happy wife, happy life" and someone said last week "we are on the same team" in other words instead of getting p***** off with each other, work together as a team. Communication is key, you need to let each other know how you are feeling rather than bottling it up. Feel free to vent any time, we understand.

Jandals- re: poo on carpet, my DH is a carpet cleaner so I will ask him tonight. I agree baby wipes are great. Some meal/snack ideas: Freeze soup into 250ml tubs. Nuts, sticks of vegies & hommus, yoghurt, fruit and my fav - thin rice cake with thin layer of jam and cottage cheese, my take on cheese cake.

Started the BFRP yesterday with a bit of yoga, who would have thought you could be so sore after yoga. Obviously have a lot of fitness to regain :(
I think a bit of a Fitball workout today and see how I pull up after that. I've been resisting a cold for the last week and have been trying to get Tobi to stretch out his night sleep (which means I am up and down between 3am - 6am) so I am conscious of not wearing myself out, it's a fine line.

New thread is here