December 07 Mummies!! Thread #1 [Archive] - Bub Hub Pregnancy & Parenting Forum

Sammilee

02-01-2008, 23:16

Just noticed this thread... :D. Wow! Still so hard to believe that it's time to say farewell to our 'Due in December 2007' thread and now have a 'December 07 Mummies ' thread. Where did the time go? And I must remember to change my 'bookmark' otherwise I will continue to post in our old thread and wonder where everyone is :D.

Call me weird, but there are times where I miss being pregnant :confused:. Don't get me wrong, I'm soooooooooo happy that my lil' man is here with DH and I, but I miss the fact that he's not a part of me anymore. I miss that I cannot feel him move inside of me etc etc. I know, very weird, but just how I feel.

Well, my Caden is going well, though I too am now facing the issue that he prefers to sleep in the day and then struggles to sleep at night. How can I go about changing that? Hehehe! :laughing: During the day he feeds about every 4 to 5 hours, and falls asleep pretty much after his bum is clean and has a full belly. But come night time, he seems to want to eat every 2 hours, and then takes a good half hour to an hour to fall asleep... gggrrr!!!

I'm persevering with BF, though Caden is still struggling to latch on properly, which is resulting with my poor ol' nipples feeling very sore and tender. I brought a pump and have expressed and bottled fed him for the last couple of feeds just to give my breasts a rest. I think if he continues to struggle to latch on properly I might have to see a lactation specialist. But in the mean time, has anyone got any good tips for getting bubs to latch on properly? His issue is that he can latch on great to begin with, has a few deep sucks but when he goes to swallow and catch his first breath he loses the vacuum seal, so then when he starts to suck again he is just sucking on my nipple. I take him off and try to latch him on again but this is where he clamps up and prefers to suck on his own tongue... gggrrr!!! Such a struggle!!!

Ooohhh, and he had his first poo that travelled all the way up his back today... nice!!! Hahaha!:laughing: That was such a lovely bum to change, just a shame it wasn't DH's turn to change it... hehehe!

Well, I'm sleepy so I might try to head off to bed now. Caden has been unsettled for the past hour (after his feed), but he seems to be quiet now. :fingerscrossed: he's asleep for the next 4 to 5 hours to I can get some shut-eye. Nitey nite all.

Sam...

sniper wolf

03-01-2008, 07:41

hi sam - sounds like you are doing really well! Odette just settled into her own routine of sleeping well from 8pm until 8am - with about 3 food breaks interdispersed. This has only occurred in the last week or so and previous to that we were flying on random times. We didn't do anything in particular to make it so. Except to say that we put here in a dark room to go down at 7-8pm, and sometimes we use the 'sounds for silence' cd as extra backup. just recently i have been making up larger bottles for the evening so she can have more at each feed and then hopefully sleep longer. this seemed to work last night. we'll see how it goes, but i wouldnt try to impose anything much right now, see how he goes over the next few weeks. I duno, others more experienced might have other suggestions?

I had better go as we are painting her room and so i have to take her so DF can get on with it. be back laters

hi to everyone!!:wave:

Widget

03-01-2008, 10:56

Sam I can totally relate!! I didn't breastfeed Annabelle so this is all a new experience for me!
I have inverted nipples and they became very "plump" when my milk came in and Becca has trouble attaching properly... The lactation consultant actually told me to attach her incorrectly to draw the nipple out then to reattach her properly... The reattaching isn't working though... While it hurts less when I reattach her it still freaking hurts... I am perservering with it though and haven't expressed into a bottle for her as yet... I didn't get to breastfeed Annabelle because she was on a bottle basically from birth in SCN and when I tried she refused and preferred the bottle so I'm really worried about expressing for Becca. I'm *hoping* to get breastfeeding established before I start expressing to go back to work... Probably in the hopes that she will still feed off me at night when I am home... I don't know how it will work...

Becca is doing ok with her sleeping and feeding... She goes between an hour and 7 hours with thankfully the longer breaks at night. She feeds for about 20-30 mins at a time so I do get a break on the hourly feeds, though it doesn't feel like I do...

I'm not sure how routine's work with breastfed babies... Annabelle was sleeping through the night by 8 weeks (4 weeks if you count 4am as morning) and by sleeping through I mean 6 til 8... She still goes down about then now...

I'm scared that if my nipples don't stop stinging soon that I will give up... I haven't had any major problems apart from the ouch factor with my nipples but I cringe everytime it's time to feed her... I don't want to give up yet though... I gave in too easily with Annabelle and I know that formula was best for her as I couldn't be around food without feeling nauseas but I still felt horrid that I gave up expressing... It was just too draining to feed then express, feed then express... it was like I never got a break... So yeah, I'm scared of going through that again and just going to formula coz it's easier... I want to hold out as long as I possibly can and hopefully make 6 weeks as when mum's stop breastfeeding for ouch factor or not feeling right with it, it's generally before 6 weeks... if I can make 6 weeks I've done 4 weeks better than I did with Annabelle...

Ok, I've rambled and both the girls are wanting me... :wave:

Sammilee

03-01-2008, 12:45

Thanks for the tips Jackie. I must admit whilst DH is on holidays (he has the next 6 weeks off) it isn't too bad. I do the 2'ish and 4'ish feeds in the morning, and then DH gets up at 6am to take over the duties while I sleep in til about 9am :D. I've been expressing so he has been able to give Caden his 6'ish feed. I suppose Caden is not even 2 weeks old yet so there is a good couple of weeks before I should expect some sort of routine or order... or maybe I am expecting too much? Hehehe! :laughing: Oh well, we'll just go with the flow for now. I'm just so thankful that DH is supportive, would have no idea what I'd be doing if he wasn't... love him to bits (at the moment anyway... hahaha! :laughing:). Good luck with your painting! If I remember rightly you are doing stripes? So cool! You should post pics once done...

And Widget, I can't relate to the inverted nipple thing, but I can soooooooooo totally relate to the stinging nipples! :crying: The day before yesterday was the worst for me, to the point that one of my nipples started to bleed... a BIG ouch! So I brought an electric pump and have expressed for the past day and a half just to give my nipples time to heal. They are feeling good today so with his next feed (due in about an hour's time) I'm going to see how we go about attaching him. I don't mind expressing, only takes about 10 mins to get a good 125mls, but I would still prefer to actually breast feed him. I'm like you, going to persevere with it and see how I go. :fingerscrossed: that we both have success!!!

And a BIG hello to everyone else (I hope that everyone has found this thread too... I was a bit slow myself in finding it... hahaha!).

Widget

03-01-2008, 16:52

We had the CHN out today... Becca is exactly her birth weight again 3.36kgs!!

I had her check out our attachment and while I have a cr@pload of milk and a more than fantastic flow Becca just doesn't open her mouth wide enough when I try and reattach her hence it hurts so much...

Sam you may be interested in trying this as I've now had 2 painfree feeds...

She said that instead of chin to breast (as they say in the rhymes and brochures) tease her with the bottom of my areola with my thumb pulling the nipple upward... When she opens really wide push it all in (doesn't matter if your thumb goes in too as you can pull that out once the nipple is in). So far Becca has done well with that...

We've also just given her a dummy... She does nothing but want to suck all day whether she's hungry or not, so I sterilised the dummies we bought the other day and she had a good 2 hour nap during the hour of (what the heck did the nurse say??) hell that actually lasts 3-4 hours!! She's awake now no dummy (just spat it out) and quiet after a feed an hour ago...

So I might see if I can give her the dummy after the feed (as she suckles in her sleep when I try and get her off) and when she's almost out to it, take the dummy out then so that hopefully she doesn't become reliant on it...

Widget

03-01-2008, 20:18

If anyone can help re: Angelcare S&M monitor (http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?p=2229721#post2229721)

Sammilee

04-01-2008, 10:54

If anyone can help re: Angelcare S&M monitor (http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?p=2229721#post2229721)

Sorry Widget, can't help you with that one.

Well, I had a pretty good night last night, maybe a sign of better things to come ?! :D Caden had a feed at midnight and then slept til 4:30am. Had another feed when he woke and then slept through to 9:00am this morning. Yay! :yelclap: I won't mind if he continues that for a while, much better than waking every 2 hours for a feed :yes:. And then once he is a bit older hopefully I can then wean him out of the 4:30am feed :p

So how is everyone else going? I tried your suggestion Widget about how to get nipple in mouth, but still not working... :mad: Will I ever get this right? I have spoken to a couple of my girlfriends as well who have had children and they too said they faced the same hurdles, but with perseverance managed to succeed at it. My only trouble is that I'm starting to feel very frustrated, which obviously can't help the whole process. Gonna give it another go at the next feed, and if it still isn't working I think I'll give ABA a call.

Well, I hope everyone has a great Friday. We are off to my Mum's later this arvo for Christmas dinner. Yep, that's right, Christmas dinner... hehehe! As DH, Caden and I were in hospital on Christmas Day we missed our traditional lunch with my family, so my Mum was adamant that we don't miss out so she organised to do another today. Gotta love her! And there are presents under the tree for Caden too. Better make sure that DH takes the camera.

Anyhow, best be off. Hello to all and chat again soon! :wave:

Sam...

07lolly

04-01-2008, 14:30

:wave:Hello to all the december mummies I am new here and just thought I wolud pop in and say a quick hello

My little nudie is doing well although the poor little guy has thrush in his mouth so there fore I have also got it on my nipples , talk about pain :(. I can't imagine what it must be like for him ??
I have taken to expressing since yesterday until things clear up a little

How are everyones bubs sleeping ???
I think I am getting used to the weird hours of sleeping , I used to be a real night owl before but I am adjusting
Anyway I will be back later its time for my nap :sleeping:

Lorren

04-01-2008, 15:00

Hi everyone!!

Gee I've been away for a really long time... I got completely rushed off my feet at the end of the pregnancy panicking trying to get my business under control and just couldn't get around to any 'recreational' activities. But as you all know, i didn't know the half of what 'busy' meant and I'm now seeing it in a whole new light!

A big congratulations to all the December and November mums - it's so cool to come on here and see all these new babies in the world.

Well my December bub arrived safely on 7th of December, exactly a week early which was great! He's a boy (as expected), his name is Escher, and he's soooo cute that I spend hours of every day just staring at him :cloud9:. He was 3.4kg which was a nice average size and I had a pretty quick easy labour, despite the fact that he was nearly born on the toilet floor in the maternity ward as they didn't believe I was really in labour and wouldn't put me in the delivery ward!!

Anyways things are going pretty well so far. He's a total greedy guts and at last check had been putting on 60 grams a day which I think is hilarious. So he's more than a third bigger than he was born already and growing fast. He already has a double chin!

And yes like many of your bubs he has just reached the unexplained crying age. I had been bracing myself for the 3-4 week onset and it arrived bang on cue. He has taken to refusing to sleep which puts him in a bad mood and things go downhill from there. It was just evenings earlier this week, but he put on a pretty good 1.5 hour performance this morning too so it looks like the next month or so will be fun!

Sleeping is a thing of the past too. I can't believe I haven't had more than 3 hours sleep at one time for more than 4 weeks now. No wonder I look like a zombie! We're on 2 or 3 hour (if we're lucky) night sleeps and shorter in the day so I'm afraid he's not a natural sleeper. But what can you do hey? I'm just riding it out while it lasts.

I heard a baby's circadian rhythyms kick in at 6 weeks so that's why lots of them start to sleep longer through the night then. :fingerscrossed: here's hoping!! I've been attempting to do some part-time work (first day back at 9 days of age) so day time sleep is not really possible sadly.

And to all of you who are struggling with the breastfeeding, you are definitely not alone. Everyone has trouble to start with. I do have one suggestion - if you want relief from poor attachment and sore nipples I have an instant solution but it's hard to turn back from... I was given a nipple shield in hospital after spending 3 unsuccessful days trying to get Escher to attach and he instantly went from a 1 minute feed to a 1 hour feed! And my cracked and blistered nipples healed up and bingo, no more pain. Also attachment is not an issue cos he has a 'teat' to hang on to so he can bob on and off when he wants and I don't have to reposition.

Of course, there are two drawbacks. One is that he is totally uninterested in feeding without the shield still (he won't open his mouth wide at all) so if I want to wean him off it it's going to be a struggle. Two is that if you don't have much milk apparently your breast doesn't get as much stimulation so you could end up with reduced supply. i've had an over-supply issue (ending in mastitis) so it's not a problem with me...

OK that's enough blab from me :ecomcity:

Hope you're all coping well and I'll definitely be back on here regularly - too many parenting questions I don't know how to answer!

Ciao for now (and Happy New Year!),
Lorren xo

Lorren

04-01-2008, 15:01

Oh and I had to mention that Escher rolled over this morning! No doubt it was an accident but we were so proud :yelclap:

He also smiles at me when i go to get him out of his bassinet. he's a Mummy's boy already!

Widget

04-01-2008, 15:14

Nice to see you again lorren!!

With regards to the minimal sleep thingy... I found that with DD1 the only way I could get her to sleep was in a swing... I've put Becca in it but it needs new batteries, she seems to prefer MY bed to the swing, but not sure how long that will last either...

Nipple shields are a great idea, though I think I'll hold out as long as I can as I really want her to stick with me, I didn't get any of this one on one time with DD1 so am getting as much as I can with DD2.

Thankfully she sleeps well when she does go off... she was fed at 10pm, then 4am, then 10am, then 1pm and is still asleep now... :fingerscrossed: it doesn't change too much for me... Well, yet anyway...

OMG she's going to wake soon for the "hell hour" that lasts for 3 or 4 hours!! And her bum just went nuts!!

I might pull a bouncer out into the loungeroom and see how DD1 goes with her closer to the floor, they have to get used to each other sooner or later!!

Ok, off to do more baby clothes sorting while the smaller one lets me and the bigger one makes more of a mess...

sniper wolf

04-01-2008, 15:42

wow - hi lorren - what an exotic name you have chosen - any background to that choice? congrats on your (relatively)easy birth too!

widget - what is the question you are asking about the monitors? not that i will be able to help necessarily.

well odette is loving the baby einstein activity gym these days as well as the bouncer. both certainly buy me some time int he day and we're settling into these as part of play routines after feeds and so on. as well as some concerted no nappy time in the gym.

she's 6 weeks today!

DF goes back to work this tuesday and he is now putting the final coat on her room. will indeed post the pictures sammilee once it is done. even though it is a small room it has been a mammoth effort on his part. looks pretty good.

Widget

04-01-2008, 16:24

Jackie, it's a link to a thread that I made about it...

I think I've worked it out now though...

Lorren

04-01-2008, 18:45

Hi Snakeeater!

Yep it's an unusual name - everyone always says 'what?' when i tell them! it's actually the surname of DH's favourite artist - M.C. Escher. We have lots of prints and books of his and it just popped out at me one day...

Love your name too. Is it a Swan lake inspiration? Or just a pretty choice?

That's good that she likes playing with the gym etc. Escher likes it if I'm lying there with him but if he can't see me or he's been there more than 10 minute he gets cross!

Plus I really have to watch him because he is very susceptible to getting 'over-tired'. If I let him stay up for too long he just refuses to sleep and then demands to eat and eat until he's so full he's vomiting. I'm sure he wishes he was an adult already and could just hang out with us all day!

I've also been making him have 'tummy time' for 5 minutes or so a couple of times a day and he really doesn't enjoy that for long. he's getting pretty good at pushing up though so hopefully he'll get to like it soon.

Have you got pics of Odette on here?

Widget

04-01-2008, 19:00

I meant to say it before but had a grumpy toddler at the keyboard...

:wave: Lolly!! The sleep cycles DO get better as they get older... I found DD1 slept brilliantly til 2 weeks then refused to sleep during the day until 3 months - the only way I could get her to sleep for any period of time was with a swing...
DD2 so far is doing well with her sleep but I'm not expecting it to last for too much longer... In the last 24hrs she ate at 11pm went back to sleep, ate at 4am, went back to sleep, ate at 10am and went back to sleep, ate at 1pm, stayed awake for an hour and ate again at 2pm, but as there was a burp between, I consider that one feed, went back to sleep, ate again at 6:30pm and is currently asleep on my bed... She should go til about 11pm again :fingerscrossed: She didn't have that much awake time today that I know of - I was dealing with her big sister and trying to get a nap in myself!!

Does anyone know when we're supposed to start tummy time?? No-one told me about with DD1 until she was almost 4 months old... Same with nappy free time... I heard that they brought that in because of the old style cloth nappies and that it's not overly necessary with disposables and possibly the MCNs... DD1 never had any nappy rash until her teeth started coming through at 5 months and she rarely had nappy free time...

DJWebb

06-01-2008, 14:59

Hi everyone! Its nice to see everyone settling in well with the new bubs!

Madison is such a little princess! She eats well and sleeps well and I dont have any complaints! She also has hours of wake time! usually 2-3 hours of awake time 2-3 times a day...and when shes awake she is so alert..looking around, and paying close attention when we talk to her! She loves to be held..and when she is awake she expects to be held hehe! She has gotten so big already...its amazing how fast they grow! Im really enjoying having another baby she is just so sweet :flowerz:

Ive been busy trying to keep my house together..but notice that after cleaning, my bleeding will start up again, so Im trying to take it easy for the next couple of weeks. Im ready to be all healed up!

DH is going to be off work for another 2 weeks then I will be on my own! A bit scary, but I think with a bit of routine things will go smoothly...hopefully hehe!

We all went to my DN birthday party yesterday at my sil new house...it is such a nice house! DN was sooo cute he kept telling everyone hes now 2! Such a smart little guy :D He was being sooo good with Madison! Hes going to be a big brother, my sil is due in august! Im really hoping she has a little girl :bee:

well not much else to report...have alot of shopping to do in the coming weeks...with the kids going back to school and I need to get some new clothes! My size 8's are still to small...so I need some size 10's to wear until I get back to my pre preg size!

Hope all is well and you are all having a great start to your new year! xx

sniper wolf

06-01-2008, 19:04

hi to everyone:flowerz:

lorren - yeah she has a fairly short attention span- although it is growing everyday. we got her a fisher price rainforest bouncer thingo for xmas and she has just started to actually pay attention to it and love it. the gym she has less patience for but we'll get there... I camn empathise with the over tired thing - mine does that as well, hard to know when to catch them to put them down though...

Odette's name wasn't necessarily from swan lake, although i was aware of it. It was out favourite name from the first run through the books - we both loved it so and had it chosen by the 12 week mark. SOOOO unbelievably happy she turned out female! (saved a lot fo hassle and the boys name we had less consensus and less happy woth)

here's some pics for you -
here's one I posted last time - this is around a coupla weeks old -
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/banana_in_the_clutch/th_thethinker11decresize.jpg
here's some more recent ones:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/banana_in_the_clutch/th_NYE_07.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/banana_in_the_clutch/th_fightthapower.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/banana_in_the_clutch/th_stonor.jpg

4and1 (or is that 5?) - sounds like you have a sweet one there! My DF goes back to work this tuesday :eek: I feel fairly confident about being at home with her alone though... still, it iwill be a change.

sammilee - yes well the room is half red and half white on 3 walls and then one wall a lightish blue - i will definitely posat pics when all finished - carpet laid on wednesday and the curtains will be a couple more weeks away - will end up being the best room in the house.

widget - you have the routine down pat! re: tummy time I am not sure if there is a clear starting tme - I have been giving mine some tummy time - but quite a short amount at tis stage - i find she has a lot of opportunity to raise her head when she is at my shoulder. still i do give her tummy time at least once a day, she doesnt like it much at present though.

ok that's me for now. been getting into bed around half 9 at present, god that's so boring!!!

oh - odette was babysat for the first time todayy!!!

anyway that's it- bye for now.:wave:

Sammilee

06-01-2008, 19:29

Hiya everyone!

Wow, the first week of January is all but over! Where is the time going?

Glad to hear that everyone is going well.

Hiya Lorren, long time no speak! Glad to see that you haven't disappeared off the radar totally, and welcome to the world your lil' man Escher. And like Jackie said, a very exotic name, and love how you chose it!

Hiya Jackie. Wow, Odette is already 6 weeks, where is the time going? My lil' Caden will be 2 weeks tomorrow, and it only feels like he arrived yesterday :D. And yes, please post some pics of Odette's nursery once all painted :yes:. Can't wait to see!

Hiya Widget. Sounds like you have a nice routine there with Becca. My lil' Caden still seems to be all over the place. We get periods where he will sleep a good 4 to 5 hours, and then the next he only sleeps about 2 hours and is then demanding a feed. Oh well, I'm sure we'll work it out soon.

Hiya 4and1ontheway! Glad to hear that you lil' princess is doing so well. And I totally agree about how fast they seem to grow. Caden is only 2 weeks old but he is seems to have grown heaps in the last week. But that's a good thing, would be worried if he wasn't growing. We have our 1st child health nurse visit this Wednesday so :fingerscrossed: it will be all good. It will be interesting to see how much weight he has put on. On day 3 he had lost about 300g which was acceptable, but then when we left the hospital on day 5 he had lost another 80g, which they said was very unusual but still within the acceptable limit. I'm sure that he has put on weight since being home, but would just like it to be confirmed when the nurse visits :yes:.

In regards to the nipple shields, must admit I have tried these. I was given one in the hospital when my milk came in. Caden was struggling to latch on as my boobs were so full and tight that there was nothing for him to latch on. The shield worked well for a little while, and totally agree with Lorren that it acts like a teat so he sucks quite well. But I was finding that the shield was causing friction against my nipples so they were getting sore (which I think is totally the opposite of how they're suppose to work :confused:). I'm still persevering with the breastfeeding, though I'm still expressing as well 'coz I find that sometimes when I breastfeed he doesn't take in a lot so I top him up with expressed milk. When I spoke with the CHN she said we'd go through it when she sees me as she is also a lactation consultant. :fingerscrossed: she'll be able to shed some light on it all.

Well, can't wait to hear how everyone else is going. But for now I better make a move. Hopefully I can get dinner cooked and eaten before lil' Mr Caden awakes demanding a feed.

See ya!

Sam...

Sammilee

06-01-2008, 19:36

Jackie - just saw your photos of Odette... what a cutie!!! :flowerz:

katesmate

06-01-2008, 20:36

Hi, I also cant believe we are a week into Jan already! Also Andi is 1 week old today! It has gone by so quickly.

Things are going really well so far, she is up a lot in the day and then sleeping in 3 hour blocks through the night since night 3 so I feel like i am getting some decent sleep. Today she was a bit agitated and wanting to feed all the time. I am sure some where in there we crossed from hungry to over tired but I just kept up the feeding and now she is having a good sleep.

Snake eater - those pics of Odette are gorgeous. I also cant wait to see some pics of your nursery!

I am off to bed now! I cant even joke that its so early because I was going to bed this time when i was pg!

Goodnight :sleeping:

Sammilee

07-01-2008, 20:29

Hiya everyone!

Well, nothing too exciting to report on. Caden is exactly 2 weeks old today... wow! We went and did a hand and foot cast this morning, should be ready in about 4 weeks. Hopefully it turns out OK. Caden has this cute but weird habit of stretching out his big toe away from the rest of his toes (sort of like a Star Trek hand gesture), so we are hoping that the cast captures that :D. We also attempted to do prints of his hands and feet for his lil' baby book, but boy, how hard is that?! :hair: We got his feet OK, but the hands? Mmm... He kept scrunching them up into little fists, so try stretching them out and then putting them to paper... haha! :laughing: Oh well, we attempted to do it, and we'll have a good story to tell him when he is older about how uncooperative he was!!!

Caden's sleeping and feeding times are still a bit over the place. He can sometimes go a good 4 to 5 hours between feeds, and then the next only 2 hours. I'm hoping that this can be sorted out sooner rather than later :yes:.

We have our 1st CHN visit tomorrow. Hoping that it goes well. The house is in a bit of a mess at the moment, but I'm sure she has seen all sorts of places in all sorts of 'states'. Mmm... I might still run the mop over the floors though before she comes :D. And what's with the deal that they come out to your place for the first visit anyway? Is it to make sure that you aren't living in squalor? Mmm... personally I'd much rather being going to the clinic myself.

Anyways, I better get going. Need to make a start on dinner. DH is busy folding wash at the moment. I still can't get over how much wash one little person can generate!

See ya's later! :wave:

Sam...

Widget

07-01-2008, 22:11

By the looks of things, I'm not going back to work as DF just refuses to give up his job that leaves me wondering every week whether we'll be able to pay the bills or not and I'll be giving up breastfeeding...

I've had enough with the last couple of days... At the moment, Becca has been at me since about 4pm constantly wanting feed, so I've had Annabelle and Becca both in my face all afternoon while DF hasn't been home, then he come home with my 8 yr old brother and is not helping me at all... I'm in tears as I type this, letting Becca scream for more as she's had both of my boobs constantly and my nipple are too sore to feed her again!!

And to top off my mood, I have the worst headache I've ever had!!

:crying::crying::crying::crying::crying::crying:

sniper wolf

08-01-2008, 06:58

sammilee - I think the main purpose is to weigh and measure the baby with a bit of checking out of the circumstances and so on. there's a domestic violence element to it as well - as in they ask you point blank. they also see if yr coping ok etc. Mine is a bit weird and doesnt answer questions that well, she's alrioght but she ****ed off my DF.

Seen her 3 x now, the other 2 times we went to her.

widget - sounds tough:hugs: you're doing a very good job. maybe have a chat with your partner at a quiet time about what you need (and don't need) from him.

katesmate - mine at 6+weeks is not sleeping a hell of a lot throuygh the day but has, for the last few nights now, had a night routine, which helps. She basically sleeps pretty well from 7-8pm, through to morning with 2 or so feeds at around 2-3am and then around 5-6am. she's asleep right now in fact but i will probably have to wake her so to give DF a lift to work.

this is my first day at home alone with the baby people! wish me luck! oh and thanks for the nice comments about the pics.

carpet is installed in her room tommorrow! yay!:bee:

Sammilee

08-01-2008, 12:06

Hiya everyone :wave:

Oh Widget, :hugs: to you! I know it's easier said than done, but don't stress too much. Like Jackie said, maybe wait for a quiet time and have a talk to your DF, letting him know what you need and expect from him. Honestly, when it comes to men (sorry to generalise here, but I'm gonna) picking the 'right' time to discuss these types of things with them makes all the difference. And definitely don't stress about the BF. If it isn't working for you, then so be it. Sometimes I think this whole BF thing is so over-rated, and we are made to feel like failures if we don't succeed at it. Don't forget that you gave it a fabulous attempt and effort, but you've just found out that it's not right for you.

Jackie, I thought that there is an ulterior motive for the 1st CHN visit being at home. :fingerscrossed: my CHN is OK. I have heard of some not being so 'friendly' or helpful. Oh well, I'm sure I'll find out soon enough. But yeah, hopefully after this visit I'll be going to see her at the clinic (which isn't too far away, actually it's walking distance from my home which is good :) ). Good luck with your 1st day by yourself. But I'm sure you'll be a star!!!

Hiya katesmate! Isn't it so scary how time is flying by? I still can't believe that my Caden is now 2 weeks old... wow! I hope your lil' one is settling in OK. My lil' man is a week older than yours, and he still has his moments too. I'm hoping that with a little routine and order we can soon have him 'sussed' out. I don't mind if he is up and awake more during the day (actually I like that 'coz I can cuddle him, and talk to him etc etc), but come night time I really want him to sleep in bigger blocks so I can get some good shut-eye time myself. I'm a definite grumpy-bum with little sleep... haha! :laughing:

So I wonder where everyone else is? We haven't heard from many, huh? I hope everyone is doing well, and hope they pop in and say hi to us soon!

Well, bye for now from me :wave:. Chat again soon.

Sam...

sniper wolf

08-01-2008, 12:25

DJWebb

08-01-2008, 12:38

sammi- I think its great having the chn come to my house! was much better...as it would have been hard to take all 5 kids to see her!I find they are really nice and helpful! I wouldnt worry to much!

widget- oh hun...sounds like you are having a rough time! :hugs: things will get easier!

jackie- odette is so cute! thanks for sharing the pics :D and good luck with your first day at home alone with bub!

Not to much to report here..had a nice day yesterday took the kids to my inlaws and stayed there for dinner..that was nice! Im exhausted today! Mady and Aidan were up at 4am and I have been up since! And I am not liking this heat at all! well hope you all have a nice day! Hope to hear some updates from some of the others soon!

Widget

08-01-2008, 19:36

I've decided not to call it quits just yet, I had a really bad night last night... Becca ended up letting me have 10pm til 5am to myself so that was much needed and very refreshing!! Though I think I may not have had such a hard time if I'd offered her the dummy instead of my boob - but I didn't think of that last night did I??

Almost 3 weeks down, only 3 to go!! I WILL get to the 6 week mark exclusively breastfeeding, I refuse to give in!!

It also helps when we don't have the right equipment to give her a bottle yet (DF suggested just giving her a bottle but I made him understand that she'd choke with one of DD1's teats as they are fast flow)... I want to put her on a different brand bottle to DD1 as well coz the Avent numbers on the teats would be too hard for DF to read and it'll be a pain checking all the time...

We may be moving out of Sydney too... Figure the Landlord isn't looking after us like we should be - especially being 2 months in advance with the rent - but to get a place for a price we can afford with what we need, we have to downgrade the area and I don't really want to do that - it took a LOT to get DF to move to The Hills and further away from his Mummy...

Sammilee

08-01-2008, 21:56

first day going really well thus far - she's managed to have 2 decent sleeps today - which is the first time in a long time for decent sleeps (i.e. ones longer than 40 mins and not in bouncer etc).

this is good! yay for my baby! she's also in a damn good mood and smiling lots! (I assume at more than wind).

Yay for you and your first day by yourself! :smiliedance: I bet it was a great feeling to have gone so well :yes:.

yeah maybe we need to go round up a few of the december mums!! mind you, ours was a slow month - i guess coz most didnt want a baby around xmas? i dunno, maybe we are all ultra busy..:idea:

Yeah, maybe we need to round up a few others. I feel like I'm 'hogging' this thread with all my posts... hahaha! :laughing:

sammi- I think its great having the chn come to my house! was much better...as it would have been hard to take all 5 kids to see her!I find they are really nice and helpful! I wouldnt worry to much!

Yes, I suppose for you with 4 other lil' ones to look after a visit to your house by the CHN would have been ideal. For me, well, I can easily get out and about. I actually like to get out at least once a day so I don't go too stir-crazy... hehehe!

Not to much to report here..had a nice day yesterday took the kids to my inlaws and stayed there for dinner..that was nice! Im exhausted today! Mady and Aidan were up at 4am and I have been up since! And I am not liking this heat at all! well hope you all have a nice day! Hope to hear some updates from some of the others soon!

Sounds like you had a great day yesterday at you inlaws. And it's always nice to have someone else cook you dinner, huh? And yeah, tell me about this heat! All I can say is thank goodness we have air-con. How did you go with the heat on Xmas day and Boxing day? That was one good thing about my lil' Caden arriving on Xmas Eve, DH and I were in the cool cool air-con of the hospital on both days and missed all that heat.

I've decided not to call it quits just yet, I had a really bad night last night... Becca ended up letting me have 10pm til 5am to myself so that was much needed and very refreshing!! Though I think I may not have had such a hard time if I'd offered her the dummy instead of my boob - but I didn't think of that last night did I??

Almost 3 weeks down, only 3 to go!! I WILL get to the 6 week mark exclusively breastfeeding, I refuse to give in!!

Yay for you! :yelclap: If you feel that you can still persevere with BF then go for it. But always know that you shouldn't feel guilty if you do decide to call it quits. I must admit I'm still persevering, but I've also expressed about half of Caden's feeds too. At least DH is liking that I do that 'coz he can feed Caden too. Caden is still struggling to latch on properly ... gggrrr!!! And another thing I'm finding is that if he does feed from the breast he seems to be hungry again sooner. He has a good go of each side for about 20 minutes (ie. a total of 40 minutes), but he mustn't be getting enough. So that's a good thing about expressing, I can see exactly how much he is getting.

We may be moving out of Sydney too... Figure the Landlord isn't looking after us like we should be - especially being 2 months in advance with the rent - but to get a place for a price we can afford with what we need, we have to downgrade the area and I don't really want to do that - it took a LOT to get DF to move to The Hills and further away from his Mummy...

Good luck with finding a new home for you and your family! Is it tough trying to find a good rental in NSW? Over here, there are some real horror stories of people trying to find a rental in WA. So I hope it's not like that for you.

Well, not much more to say. Caden is still asleep ATM so I might go have a wee lil' lay down myself before he wants another feed. Oh, such is life... so hard to get my mind around that my life is now dependent on this lil' person and his feeding/ sleeping habits... hahaha!

I hope everyone has a great night, and I'll chat again tomorrow.

See ya! :wave:

Sam...

Widget

08-01-2008, 23:27

Yay for you! :yelclap: If you feel that you can still persevere with BF then go for it. But always know that you shouldn't feel guilty if you do decide to call it quits. I must admit I'm still persevering, but I've also expressed about half of Caden's feeds too. At least DH is liking that I do that 'coz he can feed Caden too. Caden is still struggling to latch on properly ... gggrrr!!! And another thing I'm finding is that if he does feed from the breast he seems to be hungry again sooner. He has a good go of each side for about 20 minutes (ie. a total of 40 minutes), but he mustn't be getting enough. So that's a good thing about expressing, I can see exactly how much he is getting.

Good luck with finding a new home for you and your family! Is it tough trying to find a good rental in NSW? Over here, there are some real horror stories of people trying to find a rental in WA. So I hope it's not like that for you.

Becca still has trouble attaching and some feeds we struggle for a while just to get the nipple IN her mouth... I know if I choose not to breastfeed that it's for the best... Everyone tried to tell me breast is best with DD1 but honestly, for her it wasn't, the circumstances are different this time and I'm actually able to eat and be around food without wanting to :barf: my boobs are behaving themselves as well...
I let Becca go for as long as she can as one side (or until the stinging gets to me) then if she burps I'll offer the other side - ratbag usually wants more anyway after I pull her off so usually both are drained... It may not work for you, but maybe if he seems to be hungry sooner from the boob, let him go for longer on each side?? Some women feed for an hour as that's what bub wants before is full enough to last...

Rentals in Sydney are horrid... Haven't tried outside yet LOL We don't necessarily have to be in NSW either, so long as DF can get work (I suck at interviews so if we move, it's all him...) and we find a place... At the moment there is a job in Nambucca Heads and the rentals aren't too bad - though I don't know what cost of living is and if the pay on the job would justify $280 a week with 2 young children and me not working...

DF was talking about me going back to work and him still working, but if he insists on continuing work I will resign because I won't have someone else "raising" my baby from 9 weeks old!! I'm not comfortable leaving her with someone else other than Mummy or Daddy at that age...

Anyhoo, rambling and Becca's been down for almost an hour and Annabelle is down and DF is down, so I'm gonna get some shut eye while I can LOL

Be back tomorrow, I always am!! :o

Sammilee

09-01-2008, 20:56

Evening people! :wave:

Yep, just me, back again. You'd think I didn't have anything else to do... :p

Well, we had our CHN visit today, all seemed to go OK. Pretty casual actually. Lots of pamphlets handed over (many I'd seen before from the bag of goodies I got at the antenatal class that DH and I did back in November). Caden was weighed. He's put on 140g since leaving the hospital, which she said was a little under what is the norm... :thumbsdown: So she suggested feeding him slightly larger quantities when I express (can't give him any more when he's on the boob as I keep him on there til he wants to come off). Also got some info about a mothers group that's starting on 15th Feb, so looking forward to going along and meeting other new mums. So all-in-all the meeting went well :yes:

So how is everyone else going? And where is everyone? Mmm... I'm thinking about 'crashing' another month 'coz I'm feeling pretty lonely here... :laughing:

Well, I hope that everyone has a great night. Just about to go eat dinner myself. See ya!

Sam...

Widget

09-01-2008, 21:09

Hmm Sam... I'm going okay, the Jan girls aren't occupying me as much as I'd like though LOL

Facebook - scrabble

That's what keeps me busy - so long as I'm being played against LOL

Reidymac

09-01-2008, 23:45

So how is everyone else going? And where is everyone? Mmm... I'm thinking about 'crashing' another month 'coz I'm feeling pretty lonely here... :laughing:
Sam...

:laughing: oh no, dont do that, dont leave us!!! I must admit I always come in to catch up on the chat and I am always dissapointed if no one has posted. At the same time I am a hypocrite and quite shy so don't often post myself :rolleyes:

I discovered BH and the Dec 05 mums a few months after my first DS was born and those girls have been a great source of friendship and support, always good for a reality check and a laugh. I look forward to sharing this journey of the Dec 07 babies with you gals too.

Sam - I am glad your chn visit went well. dont worry about the weight stuff. Babies put on lots of weight some weeks/ months and hardly any the next. My babies were always lightweights but happy and healthy lightweights ;)

Things have generally been going pretty well here ( as well as can be expected with a new born and 2 little people ) I took Little Rowan to the GP last night for his follow up blood results as he had pretty bad jaundice in the first week and has been having blood tests every couple of days to monitor the progress of his billyruben....anyway its not diminishing at all and the levels are still very high so they are recommending that we get readmitted to hospy for further photothereapy. I know this isn't a huge deal and he will be OK but it has knocked the wind out of me. It broke my heart to see him stuck in the humidicrib last time and I don't want him to go back, I don't want to leave my other children again and its almost impossible for DH to get more time off work (new job), and i feel hugely guilty that this is somehow my fault because of how crappy I am at pregnancy and because of my own health dramas before and after his birth. Anyway.......so we are off to the hospital tomorrow to see what they say we need to do and might be stuck there for a few more days.

See thats why I dont post much......once you get me started I cant stop :ecomcity:

sniper wolf

10-01-2008, 07:14

last night i woke up and tried to adjust/move DF's head coz I thought he was the baby.

:confused::confused::confused:

getting some great day sleep shere at the moment and she is still having the 5 hour sleep every night from 9pm-2am. i think having a quieter house in the day allows her to sleep. and she's a lot better for it.

she seems to be going through her clothes quickly - she's in clothes athat are meant for 3 month olds (according to the tag). she's a pretty big baby - the carpet layer asked if she was 6 months and I said "err no, 6 weeks". at the 90th percentile for length and weight - i'm going to be out of all the xmas clothes and so on she got by march.

at the 6 month weigh - she was 5.6 kilos and 58 cms i think.

reidy - it is most certainly not your 'fault'. How many days do they think he needs to be in there for?

sam - glad yr visit went ok, mine was meant to refer me to a mum's group but hasnt... dunno if i want to go anyway, the only positive thing might be some interaction for odette with other little tackers at one point.... i find this forum pretty good for canvassing people's experiences... and yeah we were a quiet group (comparatively) in the due in threads - most months seem to lose some people in the transition to over here... we may well be struggling, which is a shame coz we had some nice people.

because DF has gone back to work i have been doing the first nasty shift (2am run) on working days. I have one more - tonight and then he gets the 1st shift on the weekends - looking forward to that!!!

actually managed to play some of my video game yesterday - in her arvo sleep time - that was good and promising. there's some good games coming out very soon and I was hopign to have some time to play them!!:laughing:

anyway - that's me- have a good thursday peoples.

Sammilee

10-01-2008, 13:30

Hiya everyone! :wave:

Reidymac - Oh you poor thing! BIG :hugs: to you. I'm sure all will work out with lil' Rowan. Bummer that you have to go back into the hospy, but it's for the best if that's what needs to be done. And don't go beating yourself about it all. It is definitely not your fault. Sometimes things like this just happen. I know, probably not that much comfort to you, but things will definitely get better, and real soon :yes:.

I seriously think we have all been blessed and lucky to have the bubs we have. When I was out the day before yesterday I saw a woman pushing a pram/ wheelchair-thingy with a girl who was probably about 4-5 years, and she obviously had some sort of handicap. Seeing that just made me all well up and realise how blessed I am to have my lil' man exactly the way he is.

And look here Reidymac, I'm :ecomcity: away, so don't you feel bad if you think you gabble on, I loooooooooove reading everyone's post, short or long! (Actually the longer the better... hehe! :laughing:).

And I promise not to disappear, was just saying that out of frustration when I pop on here and the last post is mine... haha!

Jackie - Hiya to you! Great to hear that Odette is getting some good daytime sleep. And that you're able to play your video games :D. And Odette is growing nicely, huh? Yay for her! So what size is she in now? 000? My lil' fella is still in 0000, but hey, he's exactly 1 month and 1 day behind your little girl so that's probably about right. I must admit I felt a little horrible when the nurse said that Caden could be putting on more weight, made me feel like I was starving my lil' man. But when I think about it properly I know I'm not 'coz his bottles seem to fill him up, and when he's on the boob he stops when he is full. So as Reidymac said, some bubs may have their growth spurts at different times, so Caden still has his to come.

Widget - Your Jan girls are probably busy with impending births of bubs, huh? Never fear, I am always here... haha!

Well, I had a girlfriend around this morning for a coffee and of course baby cuddles. It was so nice to see her. And Caden got spoilt yet again with lots of pressies. I seriously didn't need to buy anything before he arrived 'coz he's gotten soooooooooo much from all the pressies! My girlfriend gave him a gorgeous blanket (amongst other things). It is so soft and cuddly, and perfect for laying on the ground for his 'tummy time'.

Anyhow, gonna go now. I think I've done well here, haved typed this long post with just one hand as my other arm is a little busy holding Caden. He had a feed but then wouldn't settle down (sometimes he does that and I have no idea why... he has a full belly and a clean bum). Anyway, he's asleep now so gonna lay him down and then have a spot of lunch myself. Will probably be back a bit later to see if anyone has posted...

Hi to everyone else! If you are reading but haven't posted 'coz you think you haven't anything to say, at least just give us a quick hello... please!

Anyways, bye from me for now!

Sam...

sniper wolf

10-01-2008, 13:52

as for sizes - they all seem to vary from brand to brand.

she's in some 000s (e.g. stripey bonds) - althoug these are soon to be too small, some 00s and even some 0s...

I'd say she'd be 00 about now though...:D

bit of a funny ol day down here, as it is hot (30+) she hasnt slept as well as usual which has made her kinda unsettled i think. oh well, gotta roll with it.:yes:

Widget

10-01-2008, 16:38

Widget - Your Jan girls are probably busy with impending births of bubs, huh? Never fear, I am always here... haha!

:laughing: Actually, by Jan 2 we'd had 14 babies and only 2 of them actually born in Jan!!! I think of the regular posters there's 3 left :laughing:

I'm always here but I noticed that this moved rather slowly even in the Due in Section - so even though I KNEW Becca was coming early and in December, I never left the Jan ladies as they all :ecomcity: almost as much as me!!

For a while there I was the only one with a baby who was posting... Thankfully I'm not anymore LOL

Becca is in 4x0's for long sleeve, long leg clothes but she's actually a 5x0 in the body - long legs on her... Her foot (excluding toes) is as long as my middle finger!! She's gonna be a tall one!! What can I say? Doesn't surprise me, Daddy IS over 2m tall!!

I spoke too soon re: the feeding routine/patterns... That "routine" only lasted 2 days!!

We had a 6 hour break today (and yes my boobs were KILLING me) but I think that was moreso that we were shopping so in the car and when in the shops (MIL needed a new washing machine and dining table and we got some new underwear) she was left int he capsule, so never disturbed apart from the sun occasionally hitting her face...

And after 6 hours, she only emptied ONE boob :( I was hoping she'd empty both but she fell asleep (after only 20 mins) shows how good my flow is and how full the darn boobie was!!

I must say though Jackie, the Bonds wondersuits do seem to be a size smaller than the other "brands"... I can't put my girls in them as the legs are WAY too short for them and they look gangly if I put a bigger size on them, we usually wear Kmart, BigW and Target clothes...

Sammilee

11-01-2008, 19:04

Hiya everyone!

Hope all is OK with everyone.

I must admit today I had my very first 'meltdown'. I didn't get much sleep last night. Caden had a feed at about 9pm and then slept through to 3am (yay!), had another feed when he woke at 3am, but then wouldn't settle after that... gggrrr!!! :hair: I was up and down like a yo-yo trying to get him to sleep.

Anyway, today I spent a good half hour/ 40 minutes expressing a feed for Caden as I wanted to lay down for some shut-eye and DH needed to feed him whilst I was asleep. I finished expressing, was in the kitchen dismantling it all and putting the lid on the bottle when, yep, you guessed it, I knocked the bottle over and watched in disbelief as my precious milk spilt all over the kitchen counter. I cried! :crying: No, I wailed. I was soooooooooo tired and needed to lay down for a bit, but now couldn't as I knew that as soon as my head hit the pillow Caden would wake up for another feed. Poor DH, he really didn't know what to do as I stood in the kitchen weeping and telling myself off for being so stupid to knock the bottle over.

But there you go. Thankfully I'm feeling better now as I eventually did get my nanna nap (after I feed Caden). I suppose what really triggered my meltdown (other than being super tired) is that I'm getting more and more frustrated as Caden won't take to the breast as I had hoped he would. There were two things I really wanted to achieve with this pregnancy... not have an epidural (and I didn't... yay!), and I also wanted to breastfeed. So I suppose I'm feeling like a bit of a failure in regards to that... :(

Well, enough of my *whinge*. I hope everyone has a good night tonight, and I'll chat again soon.

Sam...

Sammilee

11-01-2008, 19:17

I'm always here but I noticed that this moved rather slowly even in the Due in Section - so even though I KNEW Becca was coming early and in December, I never left the Jan ladies as they all :ecomcity: almost as much as me!!

I know that I didn't post a lot in the 'Due in Dec' thread, but that was because I worked full-time up until 2 weeks before my EDD, so didn't have a lot of time to post. But now that I'm a full-time mum, even with the demands of my little fella, I have more time to go on the net and post here. It might change as Caden gets older and more demanding, but for now I have time on my hands to :ecomcity: :ecomcity: away... Looks like there's not a lot of us that can/ do... so sad as we had some really nice gals here to chat with...

Mummy2my5

11-01-2008, 19:43

Hi girls.... :wave: missing in action yet again it is a bit harder in school holidays to get a turn on my puter :geek:

Jackie - moving dh's head mad me laugh i have done things like that.......LOL sounds like Odette is doing really well.

Widget :wave: hope all is going well

Sam - big :hugs: it is hard to cope when you are so dog tired i have had a few of those days lately. Hopefully you can get some more nanna naps in.

Well all going well here my youngest dd started pre-school yesterday :crying: she seemed like such a big girl and she settled in without a drama. Benjamin is doing well most nights waking once then up around 6-6-30am have the odd crappy night.

well better go put this little man to bed i hate typing 1 handed and my arm is about to fall off...LOL

Promise i will be back more often especially when school goes back!

Hi to all :wave:

Widget

11-01-2008, 20:04

Sam, have you had him weighed??

With our attachment issues the CHN was a little worried about Becca putting on weight so she came out again today just to weigh her... With having trouble getting the nipple in and it hurting and me pulling her off after 15-20 mins she still gained 350-500grams (it was 500 on the scales, but Becca was dressed, didn't want to wake her to undress her if she'd gained enough) the nurse was very impressed and even though we have poor attachment, I have a great supply it seems...

How often is he feeding?? If it's more than 3 hourly, if you can handle it, make a rule of not before 3 hours, that way your boobs at least get a break!

Also, I don't care what anyone says... Newborns do cry for attention as well!! If he's well fed and clean and has no wind and 3 hours isn't up, chances are he just wants some attention...

Speaking of which - an hour and a half... time for the dummy Becca... She's got til 10:30 for a feed my boobs can't cope if it's more frequent than that...

Oh, she stopped all on her own... :eek:

I might have another self settler on my hands!!

Sammilee

11-01-2008, 22:23

Back again!

Widget - CHN weighed Caden when she came out last Wednesday, and as he hadn't put on enough (so she said) she's going to pop out again on Monday to weigh him. :fingerscrossed: he has put on some more weight.

In regards to the breastfeeding, my nipples are actually feeling pretty good. And he is feeding about every 3-4 hours (sometimes I get a good 5-6 hours at night if I'm lucky). So it's not like he's wanting to be on there all the time.

The issue is that he takes foooooreeeeever to attach properly when he does feed. He gets frustrated, and I get frustrated. Eventually he attaches and is feeding but I think as he wears himself out trying to attach he doesn't take a lot in... does that make sense? Probably not... haha! Put it this way, he takes about 10-15 minutes to attach properly, and then once he's going he'll feed for about 20 minutes but tires out and falls asleep. I go and change his bum to wake him up, and then it's the same thing all over again on the other breast. So as you can see it can take me a good hour and a half for one feed. So that's why I'm expressing and feeding him via the bottle. Takes less time, and I also know exactly what he is taking in. I feel guilty as I really want to BF and I'm taking the 'easier' route of expressing and bottle feeding. But how can I get him to attach properly and in less time? Beats me... mmm...

Sounds like you are getting there with the BF Widget. I'm so happy for you! And I hope it only keeps getting better.

Sammilee

11-01-2008, 22:33

Hiya Trish!

How are you? Great to hear from ya!

So all is well with you and Benjamin? Sounds like he is settling into a bit of a routine. Yay for you!

I can only imagine what it must feel like with your youngest DD going to pre-school. The way these past couple of weeks have flown by I feel like my little fella is going to be a big boy too soon... hahaha! :laughing: I know, silly, but I want to savour every single second of every single day that I have with him when he is this tiny as I know he'll be growing up way too quickly.

Take care, and definitely chat again soon. :wave:

Sam...

Widget

11-01-2008, 22:57

Mummy2my5

12-01-2008, 11:00

Hey Sam :wave: yep all going well here! I did however have the same problem that you are talking about where he just wouldn't attatch properly and I was a mess stressing that I wasn't going to be able to feed :( and after successfully feeding 4 babies it hit hard. Benjamin ended up loosing weight for the first 2 weeks (10% of his body weight) and each feed was a nightmare. I ended up having a melt down and going down the street to get formula,came home made it up ready and then when he wake for his next feed I gave breast feeding a go again and lo and behold he attatched straight away and had a great feed! :yelclap: So my suggestion would be to relax your whole body as thats what I did as I knew I had the bottle there just incase. He is now putting on around 175grams per week so I am happy with that. Big :hugs: to you. And if it doesn't work out and you end up putting him on the bottle don't be hard on yourself you gave it a go :yes:

On the kids growing up too fast OMG they do,my 13 yo DS is now as tall as me and in year 8 at highschool and I remember the day I brought him home as clear as day,so yes you do treasurer every moment as it goes by so fast.

Hi to all :wave: hope you all have a great weekend.

Reidymac

12-01-2008, 13:15

The issue is that he takes foooooreeeeever to attach properly when he does feed. He gets frustrated, and I get frustrated. Eventually he attaches and is feeding but I think as he wears himself out trying to attach he doesn't take a lot in... does that make sense? Probably not... haha! Put it this way, he takes about 10-15 minutes to attach properly, and then once he's going he'll feed for about 20 minutes but tires out and falls asleep. I go and change his bum to wake him up, and then it's the same thing all over again on the other breast. So as you can see it can take me a good hour and a half for one feed. So that's why I'm expressing and feeding him via the bottle. Takes less time, and I also know exactly what he is taking in. I feel guilty as I really want to BF and I'm taking the 'easier' route of expressing and bottle feeding. But how can I get him to attach properly and in less time? Beats me... mmm...

I sounds incredibly frustrating, but you are doing really well to persevere. Keep hanging in there and it will get better. I am a big believer that babies need to 'learn' how to breastfeed just as much if not more than mums do. It takes them time to get it right and they eventually do, as their little mouths get bigger it gets easier for them to attach too. With the sleeping ....is he fully asleep or is he in a BFing coma ;) All 3 of my little ones have gone into a peaceful stage where they rhythmically feed (pausing for periods) but seem to be sound asleep. They are still locked on though and they do this vibrating thing with their tongue that makes the milk flow into them without too much effort.......we call it the Breastfeeding coma.

Just remember it will get easier eventually. The only way I stay sane is to expect that I will be feeding 23 out of every 24 hours in the early stages so I just put my feet up and relax/ resign myself into it (if it takes less time its a bonus). The more you feed the better your supply in the long run. This is my 3 baby and my 4th consecutive year of breastfeeding and I still have some really crappy days, sore nipples and blockages with this new little man but mostly its easy and cuddling up with a baby is kind of a nice way to spend the day :p

keep up the good work and be kind to yourself:thumbsup:

sniper wolf

13-01-2008, 08:50

justa a quick one for now (back later) to announce a news flash -

Odette slept 8 hours straight last night!!!!!!!!

from 10:30pm - 6:30am!!!!

as DF was on the first shift I only just got up out of bed...:laughing:

Widget

13-01-2008, 10:11

Yay Jackie!! Good work Odette!! :yelclap:

Sammilee

13-01-2008, 11:21

We have problems getting on as well!

Can you try something for me?? Just to see if it works for you...

Once he has attached and falls asleep, instead of changing his bum to wake him up, stroke him under the chin or gently pinch the top of his ear lobe...
These worked with Annabelle (and she was bottlefed) but I haven't had to try them on Becca yet as the threat of losing the boob from her mouth gets her sucking again...

Might make feed time less "strenuous" for you and hopefully if it works for you less time consuming so you can rest more!!

Mmm.. tried that Widget, but not working here :no: . Do I have a stubborn child or what? I prodded and poked, and even gently pinched his ear but no go.

Hey Sam. Yep all going well here! I did however have the same problem that you are talking about where he just wouldn't attatch properly and I was a mess stressing that I wasn't going to be able to feed and after successfully feeding 4 babies it hit hard. Benjamin ended up loosing weight for the first 2 weeks (10% of his body weight) and each feed was a nightmare. I ended up having a melt down and going down the street to get formula,came home made it up ready and then when he wake for his next feed I gave breast feeding a go again and lo and behold he attatched straight away and had a great feed! So my suggestion would be to relax your whole body as thats what I did as I knew I had the bottle there just incase. He is now putting on around 175grams per week so I am happy with that. Big hugs to you. And if it doesn't work out and you end up putting him on the bottle don't be hard on yourself you gave it a go

I'm trying to relax and be calm about it all :yes:. I'll still persevere with it 'coz surely we'll both get the hang of it :fingerscrossed:

It sounds incredibly frustrating, but you are doing really well to persevere. Keep hanging in there and it will get better. I am a big believer that babies need to 'learn' how to breastfeed just as much if not more than mums do. It takes them time to get it right and they eventually do, as their little mouths get bigger it gets easier for them to attach too. With the sleeping ....is he fully asleep or is he in a BFing coma. All 3 of my little ones have gone into a peaceful stage where they rhythmically feed (pausing for periods) but seem to be sound asleep. They are still locked on though and they do this vibrating thing with their tongue that makes the milk flow into them without too much effort.......we call it the Breastfeeding coma.

Just remember it will get easier eventually. The only way I stay sane is to expect that I will be feeding 23 out of every 24 hours in the early stages so I just put my feet up and relax/ resign myself into it (if it takes less time its a bonus). The more you feed the better your supply in the long run. This is my 3 baby and my 4th consecutive year of breastfeeding and I still have some really crappy days, sore nipples and blockages with this new little man but mostly its easy and cuddling up with a baby is kind of a nice way to spend the day.

keep up the good work and be kind to yourself:thumbsup:

Nope, he is asleep, where he slides off the breast and there's no sucking action whatsoever. So then when I go to attach him again he is happily snoozing away with his little mouth clamped shut. I have to really wake him up (reason for changing his bum) so that I can get his mouth open and start the whole process again.

justa a quick one for now (back later) to announce a news flash -

Odette slept 8 hours straight last night!!!!!!!!

from 10:30pm - 6:30am!!!!

as DF was on the first shift I only just got up out of bed...:laughing:
:smiliedance: Yay for you!!! You lucky thing. Did you do anything special to get that going? Or do you think it's just an age thing (ie. I'll have to wait another 4 weeks or so until I can expect that... hehe!?). If Caden could cut out his middle-of-the-night feed then I'd be such a better person to live with (ie. I wouldn't be such a tired grumble-bum... haha!).

Well, we went on our very first 'evening out' last night. We went to a friend's for a bbq, and I have to say Caden was such a great lil' fella. There was so much noise (everyone has lil' kiddly-winks and they were running around as lil' kids do), but he settled and slept right through it. We were very proud of him as no-one could believe how settled he was.

Hi to everyone. I hope you all have a great Sunday.

Sam...

Sammilee

13-01-2008, 12:05

My DH finally posted some pics of our lil' fella Caden being born. If you want to check out his blog >>>

http://leonshaffer.blogspot.com/

He's taken heaps and heaps of other photos too, but it's just a matter of finding the time to download them onto the computer (but I'm sure you'll all relate to that :D).

Widget

13-01-2008, 12:42

He's quite the photographer that hubby of yours Sammi!! Gorgeous photos and your contrax didn't start to bite until you were 6cms!! :eek:

Sammilee

13-01-2008, 14:04

He's quite the photographer that hubby of yours Sammi!! Gorgeous photos and your contrax didn't start to bite until you were 6cms!! :eek:

Yeah, DH is a bit of a part-time photographer (he does weddings and the like), so there will be no short of photos in our household. He took a lot more pics of the birth, but of course they are really for our viewing pleasure only, if you know what I mean :D.

I have to thank my lucky stars that my labour and delivery went really well, yes :yes: very blessed. And I must admit that I really didn't start to feel the contractions until well into the labour (it wasn't until after I was 6cm dilated). But then again, I'm one of those 'not-so-lucky' gals that endure very painful periods, so I think I've become immune to pain, if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, the last hour or so was really REALLY painful and I did say to the midwife that I was thinking of having an epi, but as I was so close to the end I stuck with it and managed to go without an epi (which I was very happy about!).

I must get DH to download the photos we have recently taken of Caden 'coz it's amazing how much he has changed in only three weeks. I bet you've seen that in Becca too.

sniper wolf

13-01-2008, 16:25

hey sam - outstanding photos! incredible... and re: the 8 hours - id idnt try to do anything on prupose but on reflection she had eaten a lot leading into it. we'd been out at a friend's BBQ and thus she was up and eating on the hour every hour, we came home, gave her a bath and she went down about 9, up again not too long after, had some more to eat and then back down by about half 10.

I put it down to a combo of her age, and that she'd eaten a lot. Previously she'd been doing 5-6 hour stints, so she'd worked up to it. She crossed over to the 5-6 hour stints at about 5 -6 week mark. her sleeping in the day is less spectacular but it does sometimes work well. That's ok though as her night routines are pretty good. My philosophy is to take it as it comes, she's only very small and seeing as she's got a rotuine for half the day - well that's a great achievement for 7 weeks.

everyone is sounding like they have it well under control - hi trish! Mummy to 5! good god! :D

hi to everyone!:D

brollysgirl

13-01-2008, 20:42

hiya all!! Gee LOOONNGGG timeno see huh?
cant believe how busy i seem to be now!!!
Kira is doing great, 4 weeks old yesterday!! Doesnt time fly. Still bf ing but she has formula too. I give her formula if we are out and just before bed at night.
Coping really well and she is getting sooo big.
Oh I have lost another 3 kilos too YAY, trying very hard though!!!!
talk again soon!!

Viva

14-01-2008, 15:41

Sam,

Hi I posted in the Dec thread about having Bfeeding issues too (I suggested to you to consider feeding no less than 3 hourly in the day time) and that I was considering seeing a lactation consultant becuase Cy was coming off up to 10 times or more in a feed VERY FRUSTRATING - well I saw a consultant - best 2 hours ever spent. She came to my home and watched me feed Cy explained everything that was happening and offered suggestions. For us the problem was that my milk letdown is so fast - it doesnt' jet out but drips out very fast and he just can't keep up and has become anxious after having choked a few times. Now when he comes to the breast he is anxious and wary - poor babe. Anyway since she came I have tried some of her suggestions and feeding is become much more settled and enjoyable - my nipples are recovering really quickly and I am so glad as I just coulnt have gone on with things like they were.
If you can I would really reccomend having a consultation - it has saved our bfeeding relationship.
love and peace V

Prudie

14-01-2008, 18:47

Hey Girls

Firstly, I'd just like to say how excited I am that I finally have a working computer at home - I haven't been online regularly for the past 8 weeks due to laptop issues, but now all is good.

OKAY THEN. Hugh is 5 weeks old (today) and up until the past week was a dream child. But I've just noticed in the past week that he is really starting to fight going to sleep and he also wants to stay up for ages during the morning. In fact, we're having a "fun" night tonight where he is really over tired and just won't go to sleep. It's the first real tricky night we've had with him...and it's not much fun!!! We tried him on formula for the first time tonight, so I wonder if that's got anything to do with it????

I am bfing but we are testing out formula for the nights that I am not home and DH has to feed him. I've also expressed about 200ml of breast milk and will keep that in the freezer as back up too.

I think it's my turn to rock him - will jump online again tomorrow and let you know how we went tonight!!

sniper wolf

14-01-2008, 19:10

i hear ya on that prudie - that's what happened with odette... today she only slept for 2 x 30 min slots...

but the good news is she sleeps well at nights!!!

in our case the day routine is harder to establish and maintain than the night routine.:yes: sometimes the night routine is later than usual though, but we tend to get there.

allgirls

15-01-2008, 06:27

Hi ALL!

I FINALLY FOUND YOU ALL! I had still been checking the old Dec Forum thread -silly me!

It has been great reading all your posts in this thread and knowing that there is nearly always someone experiencing the same things as you.

Breastfeeding seems to be popping up a lot. With all my 3 - bf has been different each time. Different milk flow each time, different attachment & time at breast. But the one contant with each is that it does get so much easier.

Xavier is a bit of a mixed bundle at the moment. He is very content and happy but he will stay awake for hrs & hrs at a time (not crying just too alert) and basically just catnaps for 20mins at a time (exactly like my 1st born). SO my days are a little tiring with trying to also entertain my girls. Nights are getting a little better he has finally stretched himself to about 3 hrs which isn't fantastic but so much better then the 1.5-2hr stretches he was giving us. My 1st born slept through from about 9 weeks so really hoping he does too. My 2nd born didn't sleep through until 18mths so I really hope Xavier doesn't take after this one.

I think the thing that makes you cope is the realisation that this stage won't last forever and when they start smiling at you it just melts your heart anyway and you can cope with anything.

Xavier is 5 weeks old today. I really can't believe our bubs are growing so quickly - soon we'll be talking about first smiles, first tooths, crawling and so on.

So exciting for us all!

Take care - once again so glad I finally found this thread and you all!

brodiebunch

15-01-2008, 06:50

I have still been looking in the Due in dec thread to:laughing:If I only had a brain!

Well on the BF issue I am off to the hospy again today to have my white spot lanced:crying:.I am told it could take several needles to clear up.Otherwise Layla is attaching fine now and feeding well 3hrly.We even get one 5 hour stretch between feeds at night:smiliedance:She smiles at her brother now and if you tickle her cheek.She has one big dimple like mine on the right side,no pics of the smile yet.

Her brother loves her so much and is really helpful for a 2yr old.He gets nappies etc and helps to bath her.He just wont let her have any toys.

Here are some pics of the Kids.I posted them originally in the Dec 05 thread as that is were I mostly hang out.

http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r16/brodie_bunch/Layla/?action=view&current=e9c38b41.pbw

http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r16/brodie_bunch/NYE%202007/?action=view&current=c6e28836.pbw

http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r16/brodie_bunch/jan%2008/?action=view&current=61a45f53.pbw

Prudie

15-01-2008, 06:53

We got Hughie to sleep at about 8pm - ended up putting him back on the boob and he settle straight away and fell asleep soon after....phew!!

He was back in his 3-4 houly routine overnight so lets hope it stays today. :fingerscrossed:

I must say it is super comforting knowing that we're all in the same boat - makes me feel like I'm not the only one going potty!!

I am off to the shops today - taking the baby bjorn with me as DS has decided that he won't fall asleep ib the pram but seems to LOVE the baby bjorn.

One last thing, has anyone shed a few tears yet? I have a few times - when DS just won't settle and I feel so frustrared and helpless. Please let me know that I'm not the only one :confused:

Widget

15-01-2008, 07:11

Prudie, you most certainly aren't alone!!!

Most of mine are shed when both the toddler and the baby won't stop screaming at me... Or they're both hungry at the same time!!

brodiebunch

15-01-2008, 07:52

I have filled a swimming pool!mostly for the same reason as Widget but alot for seemingly no reason at all.

Widget

15-01-2008, 08:23

On a brighter note though (she says as the toddler starts to get grumpy and the newborn is preparing for a feed) Becca has started rolling!! It's not fluke either, she's done it several times now but most recently was at 5:30 this AM... She had a feed and I put her on the pillow on my bed on the outside with another pillow propping it up so she couldn't roll off the bed, then I went to the loo, came back and she'd rolled off the pillow and was happily asleep in the middle of MY side of the bed!!

Before that, she's rolled almost off the swing 3 times, off the pillow while on the lounge about 7 times... I know her sister wasn't rolling this early - though her sister was a chubber and we were able to strap her in to the swing whereas Becca is too skin and bone and doesn't sit in the groove enough for me to strap her into the swing... We had her sleeping on a pillow in the swing (still haven't set up her cot with the S&M monitor yet) and it was going well until I woke up to her the night before last with her head on the ground and her knees still on the swing! :eek: There's a reason she's back in our bed!!

I set up the bouncer (that I CAN strap her into) so she could sleep there until I get my bum into gear but she did her first poo in 5 days yesterday adn the bouncer needs to be washed again before she can go back in it...

Better tend to the toddler, getting screamy... :rolleyes:

brodiebunch

15-01-2008, 09:21

Layla is rolling already to.She also pushes her feet into the ground at tummy time and moves around the mat:eek:Very scary!DS was a sleepy lump for many months so our strong alert bub is very different.It is nice but we always have to be aware what she is doing so we have no accidents.

allgirls

15-01-2008, 09:44

It's scary isn't it that a little being is already rolling over!!

Xavier can easily roll over from his belly to his back - haven't seen back to belly action yet. He also likes to push his feet around his playmat during tummy time so we almost always find him in a different position to where we left him.

Widget

15-01-2008, 10:01

Becca's doing back to tummy... We don't get much tummy time as I'm not overly confident having her on the floor with Annabelle there as well! I know they need to get used to each other, but Annabelle is a lot stronger and heavier than what she thinks she is...

katesmate

15-01-2008, 10:52

Hi girls, its incredible how fast time is going now! I think it all slowed down when i was waiting so impatiently to have Andi and now that she is here time is zooming by.

Prudie - I am with you on the crying. I had to take Andi to the dr yesterday as I was worried as her bellybutton is red and not clearing up that well and I could only get into this rubbish guy who barely lets you sit down and charges $62! He told me to just leave it and got me out the door. When I paid I stood there crying - people must have thought what a looney!!! Then I had to drive home crying the entire way, once i got started I seemed to go for ages!

Andi is now getting more unsettled going down to sleep at night and then is up 2hourly. I was very lucky the first couple of weeks because she would go to sleep easily at night and then up 3 hourly. But I am still grateful to be getting those 2 hour blocks of sleep.

I had better go, its feeding time

sniper wolf

15-01-2008, 10:53

wow - advanced babies there !

mine at close to 8 weeks hasnt rolled anywhere but has moved herself around slightly..:cool:

yesterday was bad for daytime sleeping, today is great, she has had amost 2 hours worth this morning.

thanks for the warnings though about rolling over.

god prudie you are DEFINITELY not the only one :crying:... while odette is pretty good, it can get a bit much from time to time.

hope everyone is well, anyone seen amy?:)

Prudie

15-01-2008, 16:48

Thanks for the reassurance girls :hugs:

After a not so fun night last night, DS has been an absolute dream today. Amazing how things can change in a 24 hour period!!!

Katesmate - Re: Belly button. DS had a weeping belly button for a few weeks and I put breast milk on it and it dried up straight away - give it a go.

Off to have some dinner before DS wakes up.

Sammilee

15-01-2008, 19:15

Hiya everyone!

Well, I can relate to how things can change within 24 hours. Things were going quite well with the sleeping, getting a good 3 to 4 hour blocks in the day, and then 4 to 5 hour blocks at night. But yesterday... OMG! :crying: Caden just would NOT settle during the day at all!!! I think we were lucky to get a solid half hour of sleep, if that. Thankfully come 9:30pm last night I managed to 'fill him up to the seams' and he slept right through til 3:30am. Had a good feed then, and managed to settle him so he slept through til 7:30am. I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't eventually settled.

We had a good day today. Decided to venture out and about. We had to go see the CHN at the clinic as she wanted to weigh Caden again after her concerns about him not putting on enough weight. But yay! :yelclap: Caden has put on 140g in the last week so he's now just over his birth weight and is 3.440kgs :D.

After our CHN visit we took a bus into the city (Perth) and visited the folks at my work. Of course everyone was ooohhhing and aaahhhing, and he was passed around from pillar to post. But he was very well behaved, so proud! :D

Can't believe that there are some babies rolling already... wow! My lil' man isn't just yet. He does move his legs around quite a bit during tummy time, and shifts his position, but no rolling as yet.

And the crying? I can relate to that too. I had a big meltdown the other day when I knocked over a bottle of milk that I had just expressed. Poor DH didn't know what to do as I weeped uncontrollably in the kitchen.

Thanks Viva for your advise about the lactation consultation. I'm still plodding along, slowly but surely, and it does seem to be getting a little better each day. I'll see how I go and if I find that I'm still struggling after a few more weeks then I might give them a go.

Soooooooooo glad that there are a few more peoples that have found this thread! We thought that we had lost some of you fine folks... phew that we didn't 'coz it is soooooooo great chatting with everyone.

I hope all is well with everyone, and yes, I wonder where Amy is... anyone heard from her?

Chat again soon... going to make dinner now as I am starving!

Bye :wave:

Sam...

sniper wolf

16-01-2008, 09:43

Widget

16-01-2008, 10:54

:( My "big" girl has to have her 18 month immunisations in the next few weeks...I normally do it on the 20th of each month (as that's the actual date LOL)...

Becca has a follow up with the paed from Special Care tomorrow... Not sure why but she does...

brodiebunch

16-01-2008, 11:50

Widget-Yuck vaccinations!Thankfully my oldest has a good break till his next ones at 4,we just have to survive Laylas.Well the LC popped my white spot again yesterday:crying:but I need to go to my DR next week as they think it may require surgical removal.Then this morning had to deal with centrelink:hair:.Now I am going to watch a movie while DS and DD are sleeping for some me time:thumbsup:

Prudie

16-01-2008, 14:00

Hello Girls

Seems that DS isn't a fan of settling after the evening feed - around 6-7pm. He just takes forever and gets all over tired and cranky. But then all of a sudden he just falls asleep and it's bliss!!! Has also meant that for the last 2 nights poor DH has come home to a cranky baby :thumbsdown:

DS is having another super duper day today (shhh, I'll jinx myself!!) which is really great. Means I've been able to have some good Mummy Time at home - which means lots of cups of teas and relaxing :flowerz:

Sammilee

16-01-2008, 23:41

Evening everyone,

Not much to say, just thought I'd pop on and say hello... so hello!

Well, I just managed to get Caden down after an 'interesting' afternoon, to say the least. Put it this way, he was really 'testing' his mama! :hair: Don't get me wrong, he was great up until about 4pm, slept like an angel :angel:. But from 4pm up until now (near 11pm Perth time) he's been awake and unsettled. I tried everything. Fed him, burped him, changed his bum, even gave him lots of cuddles to try and get him to sleep, but he just wouldn't settle. Even DH had a go but with no success. Don't you love it when our bubs really test us? Haha! :laughing: But finally, he managed to settle enough and fell asleep. :fingerscrossed: he stays that way for a few hours so I can get some well-earned shut-eye.

So on that note, I am off to bed. Nitey-nite all :wave:

Sam...

PS. Sorry for not getting around to personals but my bed is calling me. Will chat again tomorrow!

Widget

17-01-2008, 07:48

Well... Becca last ate at 12:30am... STILL waiting for her to get up... If she's not up soon I'm contemplating waking her - if she wants to sleep through, she can start before midnight thanks!! If she sleeps through starting at midnight my mornings will never be morning... 3 lots of let down and I'm soaked... For some reson (don't know if its normal or not) my boobs fill every 2 hours, then they have a let down... Regardless of Becca, every 2 hours!! So I've had 4 let downs since she last ate!!

Sam, hope you have a good day with Caden today!! Becca was like that until 12:30am, refused to burp, refused the Dummy, clean bum, recently fed... Don't know what it was, DF blames the internet (BubHub) for my lack of sleep - ahhh no, finally got DD1 off to sleep then DD2 decides it's time to be wide awake and demanding!!
Just remember they are precious little things and if you get too stressed, you can put him somewhere safe, walk away, have a coffee/smoke/snack where you can't/can barely hear him and have a breather... I know I got rather stressed out at Annabelle...

sniper wolf

18-01-2008, 12:22

hello people!

We had the 8 week imunisation today, pleased to report that she faired well. she only cried at the point of impacxt and has been fine ever since. gave her som baby panadol just in case.:flowerz::bee:

Sammilee

18-01-2008, 12:50

Hiya everyone!

Well, Caden seems to still want to 'test' his mama again these past couple of days. Does it sound right for the lil' bubbas to become unsettled around the 3-4 week mark? Or am I just lucky? NOT! Haha! :laughing:

Up until a couple of days ago he was really really good. But now... mmm... Yesterday was another 'fun' day. Caden just would not settle and go to sleep. He cried and cried and cried. I did the whole, is it hunger? Fed him. Does he have wind? Burped him. Is his bum dirty? Changed him. Does he want some interaction? So did more play time. etc etc. But still he remained unsettled. Finally he got to sleep around the 3pm mark, but fell asleep whilst on the couch with me! At least he had a good couple of hours, and then he had another feed around 6pm. Thankfully I managed to get him to settle pretty much straight away after that :thumbsup:. And thankfully the evening was good so both DH and I managed to get some sleep. I'd be a mess if I hadn't 'coz this morning it's been the same. Unsettled and cried. DH is in there with him now as I need a breather and needed to 'chat' with you guys!

So how is everyone else going?

Hiya Snake Eater. Glad to hear that Odette did well with her first lot of injections. WOW! 8 weeks already! Where is the time going?

Hi Widget. I take it that you are still BF? Yay for you!!! I still am, but about half and half (half BF and the other half expressing). Each day seems to be getting better, and I don't mind expressing 'coz I seem to be making heaps so doesn't take me long to fill a 125ml bottle. And it's good that I can express 'coz DH loves being able to feed (which also means I can sleep in as DH gets up at 6am and does the first morning feed :D).

Hi Prudie. Glad to hear that bubs is doing very well during the day and you're getting some serious 'mummy time'. I'm soooooooooo jealous! Hehehe!

Brodiebunch - Sorry to sound naive, but what's this with the white spot? Whatever it is, it sounds very painful with the talk of surgical removal... ouch! Big :hugs: to you and I hope it's not that bad.

And hi to everyone else :wave:

Well, on a positive note we got paid the baby bonus for Caden yesterday. We only put in the paperwork on Monday so both DH and I were very happy about that. Now I just have to get organised and open some bank accounts for DS. I got a note in the letterbox yesterday advising that I have something to collect from the post office so I'm assuming that it's Caden's birth certificate. Yay if it is 'coz then I can go open up his own account and put his money in there (if I leave it in my account for too much longer I may be tempted to spend it... hehe!).

Anyway, enough :ecomcity: from me. I think I'll go pop in the shower whilst DH is still in there with DS. Hopefully he settles soon and gets some shut-eye as we have to go out a bit later. Gotta go to the post office, then the bank, and then buy a 1st birthday pressy for our nephew, and then drive down to Mandurah (about an hour away) for birthday cake for our DN. Gonna be a busy arvo so Caden needs his rest now!

Have a great day everyone!

Sam...

Reidymac

18-01-2008, 13:29

Hi folks

It sounds like everyone is doing great. And it has been lovely to see all the photographs people have shared. Don't they grow up so fast!

Rowan will be 6 weeks tomorrow and he already seems huge compared to what he was born. I am amazed at all the strong, clever babies rolling already. I couldn't tell if Rowan is capable because he spends most of the day strapped onto me in a wrap or sling where he is safe. No tummy time on the floor when there are two toddler tornadoes running riot :rolleyes:

We arnt getting that much sleep yet. He seems to feed every 2 hours at night and can be a bit hard to resettle, but he sleeps for bigger blocks in the morning which means sometime I can get a bit of a sleep in ( I am not a morning person so thats great). His jaundice is persisting but he is doing well.... he just looks like he has holidayed in the Bahamas recently :laughing:

Does it sound right for the lil' bubbas to become unsettled around the 3-4 week mark? Or am I just lucky? NOT!

:yes: I have heard and experienced that they are very unsettled around the 3rd day, 3rd week, 3rd month.......and don't even get me started on what living with a 3 year old is like :laughing:

have a great weekend everyone :wave:

sniper wolf

18-01-2008, 13:50

Hiya everyone!

Well, Caden seems to still want to 'test' his mama again these past couple of days. Does it sound right for the lil' bubbas to become unsettled around the 3-4 week mark? Or am I just lucky? NOT! Haha! :laughing:

that's what happened here, more or less.

this week's day routine has been as follows:
monday - hardly any sleep, wriggly and squirmy
tuesday - great day - 2 x decent sleeps
wednesday - ok day, lots of sleep in arvo only
friday(today) - a bit of sleep (immunisation this morning), but looks very tired.

so at 8 weeks, you can see she is all over the shop for day routine - night routine though is good - at the moment we only get up once around 2-3am and then again not until sometime between 7 and 8am. (she goes to bed around 9-10pm). she has slept well in the night (that is a constant), with the sleeps getting longer over the last few weeks.:yes:

Hiya Snake Eater. Glad to hear that Odette did well with her first lot of injections. WOW! 8 weeks already! Where is the time going?

yeah, she is growing fast and is chewing through all the beautiful clothes she got given by family over the birth and xmas period.

I'm assuming that it's Caden's birth certificate.

did you get the option to get a 'decorative' birth certificate as well as the regular one?

have fun at the birthday party sam, thinking I might go and buy odette a book later for being so good at the doctor's this morning.:D

sniper wolf

18-01-2008, 13:56

thought you all might enjoy a pic I took of odette last friday:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/banana_in_the_clutch/didsandchicks10jan08.jpg

Widget

18-01-2008, 14:50

Does it sound right for the lil' bubbas to become unsettled around the 3-4 week mark? Or am I just lucky? NOT!

Hi Widget. I take it that you are still BF? Yay for you!!! I still am, but about half and half (half BF and the other half expressing). Each day seems to be getting better, and I don't mind expressing 'coz I seem to be making heaps so doesn't take me long to fill a 125ml bottle. And it's good that I can express 'coz DH loves being able to feed (which also means I can sleep in as DH gets up at 6am and does the first morning feed :D).

Oh :yes: Annabelle didn't sleep during the day between 3 weeks and 3 months!! It was hell! The only way I could get some reprieve was to have in the automatic swing - it saved my sanity - also going to a place where I could hardly hear to "chill" for 5 mins coz the little so and so just tested me SO much!!

Thankfully Becca isn't doing that to me (lets hope she doesn't either!)

Yep, still BF... 4 down, 2 to go til they say it wont hurt anymore...
I insist that ONE of my children will be exclusively breastfed for 6 weeks (ex SCN)!

did you get the option to get a 'decorative' birth certificate as well as the regular one?
I reckon she did coz they just send the normal plain one in a normal envelope to your house!The commemorative ones come in a cylinder...

Sammilee

19-01-2008, 12:56

I have heard and experienced that they are very unsettled around the 3rd day, 3rd week, 3rd month.......and don't even get me started on what living with a 3 year old is like

that's what happened here, more or less.

Well, surprisingly that makes me feel a bit better knowing that I'm not the only one to be experiencing this unsettled period... hehe! :laughing:

did you get the option to get a 'decorative' birth certificate as well as the regular one?

I reckon she did coz they just send the normal plain one in a normal envelope to your house!The commemorative ones come in a cylinder...

:yes: Yep, got a decorative one as well as the normal one. Don't know about other states, but in WA just to register the birth and get a normal certificate it costs $42, and then for just an extra $10 you can get a decorative one too. So we went for that option.

Yep, still BF... 4 down, 2 to go til they say it wont hurt anymore...
I insist that ONE of my children will be exclusively breastfed for 6 weeks (ex SCN)!

Yay for you Widget!!! :smiliedance: So glad that you are persevering, and I'm sure you'll get to the 6 week mark easy. Are you going to keep going after that?

thought you all might enjoy a pic I took of odette last friday:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/banana_in_the_clutch/didsandchicks10jan08.jpg

Ooohhh, she is just 'boodiful' Snake Eater. Those cheeks are gorgeous, I just want to squeeze them! Hehe!! I can't wait til my lil' Caden has cheeks like that!!!

My DH has posted a couple more pics of Caden on his blog if you are interested (you can skip reading all of DH's 'blah blah' and just look at the pics... hehe!) >>> http://leonshaffer.blogspot.com/

Well, it's near midday here and DS is asleep... yay! Though not in his bed... gggrrr!!! My sister gave me a rocker-seat-thingy that he's in and he's out in the lounge room with us, and that seems to be doing the trick today. :fingerscrossed: it continues that way! Tonight DH and I have a wedding reception to go to, so it will be the first time my mum babysits Caden. I hope he behaves himself! Mum is really looking forward to it. That's one good thing about expressing, I can leave him with Mum for a few hours no probs as she will have some 'mummy juice' there to give him :D.

Anyhow, I'm going to make a move. Whilst DS is asleep I'm going to go do some housework. I must admit I've been slack on that front for the last couple of weeks... :rolleyes:. So no more excuses, better go do it now.

I hope everyone has a great day! Chat again soon... (like I'm always on here... haha!).

Sam...

Widget

19-01-2008, 14:24

Don't know about other states, but in WA just to register the birth and get a normal certificate it costs $42, and then for just an extra $10 you can get a decorative one too. So we went for that option.
Yay for you Widget!!! :smiliedance: So glad that you are persevering, and I'm sure you'll get to the 6 week mark easy. Are you going to keep going after that?

It cost me $81 to get the normal and a commemorative BC for each of the girls... not cheap!

Continuing BFing all depends... I'm supposed to go back to work in March, which would mean either expressing and feeding when at home or formula - but we're looking at moving to Nambucca Heads and DF is meeting with a potential employer this arvo - so depending how that goes, I might end up resigning from work and can continue exclusively BFing...

Prudie

19-01-2008, 19:05

Sammilee - I know what you mean about bubs not sleeping in their cot...DS has spent all day either sleeping in my arms or out in the lounge on the ottoman (it's a big one). For some reason DS just didn't like his cot today. He is still asleep on the ottoman as I type - hoping to do a successful transfer to the cot shortly...fingers crossed. Weird though as he usually likes his cot - oh well, tomorrow is a different day so we'll see how he goes then.

Anyone else had days like this??

sniper wolf

19-01-2008, 19:20

YUP :yes:

she sleeps in bouncer a fair bit in the day, but bassinet always at night. right now she is asleep on me.:cool:

Prudie

19-01-2008, 19:41

I have learnt to do SO many things one handed ie eat breakfast, type emails, make the bed...the list goes on....

Ys_Woman

20-01-2008, 08:33

Widget

20-01-2008, 08:46

I did put a link in the other thread!!

Ys_Woman

20-01-2008, 08:49

Widget: I honestly didn't see it hon..but then I have been very vague lately. It was only today that I remembered once you asking why we posted in there still when we should be in the parenting area..so I went hunting.
Glad to have found you all.
Amy:)

Ys_Woman

20-01-2008, 08:50

A friend just sent me this little gem so I thought I would share it:

The "Middle Wife" by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second-grade classroom a few years back. When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.She holds up a snapshot of an infant.
"This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday." "First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord."

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement. "Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. "She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning."My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this." Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall. "And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!" This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!

"Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, so there must be a lot of toys inside there." Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another "Middle Wife" comes along. Now you have two choices...laugh and close this page or pass this along to someone else to spread the laughs. I know what I did!!!

sniper wolf

20-01-2008, 09:13

Mom's playcentre
:eek:

sniper wolf

20-01-2008, 09:16

good to see you amy! thougth we might have lost you to the internet ether. maybe i shoulda gone back to the old section to check - didnt think of that:doh:

sniper wolf

20-01-2008, 10:59

can't resist posting this pic - taken friday just gone:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/banana_in_the_clutch/?action=view&current=fairydids3jan18.jpg
looks alright for someone who, earlier in the day, had been jabbed by a coupla needles...

Sammilee

20-01-2008, 12:59

Geez, I feel like the kid who came home from school to find his family had moved..lol. I wondered where you had all gone when no-one was posting in the other thread.
Nice to see everyone *waves*.
Glad to see we are all still alive and that sleep deprivation hasn't claimed anyone yet
Will come back in and catch up on posts shortly.

Hugs,
Amy

BIG :wave: to ya Amy! And yeah, we thought that you had disappeared into the big black hole of motherhood. Glad to see you're back!!!

can't resist posting this pic - taken friday just gone:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/banana_in_the_clutch/?action=view&current=fairydids3jan18.jpg
looks alright for someone who, earlier in the day, had been jabbed by a coupla needles...

Again, oh so cute! She is just adorable, you have every right to be proud Jackie.

Continuing BFing all depends... I'm supposed to go back to work in March, which would mean either expressing and feeding when at home or formula - but we're looking at moving to Nambucca Heads and DF is meeting with a potential employer this arvo - so depending how that goes, I might end up resigning from work and can continue exclusively BFing...

:fingerscrossed: that the job works out for you and DF.

I have learnt to do SO many things one handed ie eat breakfast, type emails, make the bed...the list goes on....

I can soooooooooo totally relate to that... haha! :laughing:

Well, this morning I was officially 'christened' by my DS whilst changing his nappy... hehe! :laughing: Yes, the ol' water works were in full force when I was in the midst of bending down to grab a clean nappy from under the change table. He's pee'd before when the nappy was off, but it was more a little squirt. But now, wow! It's now a full-on fire engine type of squirt. Hee hee hee!!! I wouldn't be surprised if he tries writing his name next :D.

Last night DH and I went out and my Mum had Caden. We dropped him off just before 7pm, which worked out well 'coz he was due a feed. So silly me thought that Mum could give him a bottle and then he'd go down. Woops! We got back to my Mum's around 12:30am, he was asleep then, but poor Mum, she said for about 2 hours after we left (and after his bottle) he was unsettled. I felt so guilty! It's one thing for us to deal with him being unsettled, but not my poor ol' Mum...

This morning has been much the same as the past few days. He's grizzly and restless. Again we've popped him into the rocker and it seems to have settled him a bit, but he's not asleep yet... mmm... Am I making a rod for my own back allowing him to sit/ sleep in the rocker during the day? I just don't want him to get use to the idea of that's where he can sleep 'coz it's a no-go for night time. He has no option but to sleep in his own bed at night. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences about this? 'Coz if I am making things worse then I'm going to stop allowing him to sleep in his rocker and it's back in his bed...

And OMG! My bubba is 4 weeks tomorrow. Where has the time gone? Before I know it he'll be going to school! (OK, maybe a slight exaggeration there, but that's how it feels sometimes... hehe!)

Anyway, I seem to write the world's longest posts on here... haha! Sorry! Once I start I can't stop. You're more than welcome to skip my posts if they are too long :D.

I hope everyone has a great Sunday.

Sam...

Mummy2my5

20-01-2008, 13:06

Hi girls..... :wave:

Jacqie - Odette is georgous :flowerz: doesn't look like she was fazed with the needles at all :thumbsup:

Sam - We have had shocking days here with being unsettled and will only sleep in the rocker and not his cot,i was very frustrated the other day but things seem to be settling down now. Caden sounds like he is doing really well and is gaining weight nicely,Benjamin was really slow to start with and lost quite a bit but has now started to pack it on now.

Amy - That was just georgous (the middle wifel) it is amazing what kids take in :yes:

All going well here,surviving the school holidays (JUST)LOL another week and a half and they are back to school and I will have 2 days a week where it will be just Benjamin and I as my youngest DD will be at pre-school,she is such a big girl now and hasn't had any problems with going. :yelclap:

Hope you are all having a great weekend and Hi to all.

Mummy2my5

20-01-2008, 13:13

Sammilee

20-01-2008, 13:29

just missed your post sam...... :wave:

my youngest dd loved and benjamin loves the rocker during the day,i don't have a problem getting him in the cot at night time nor did i have a problem with dd. I would just go with what your doing if he is happy with it. :thumbsup:

Thanks for that Trish. He does seem happier in his rocker during the day out in the lounge room with us (maybe he likes watching the tennis on TV too? :laughing:). I was just worried that he'd get confused and want to sleep in the rocker at night instead of his bed.

Glad to hear that things are going well for you and Benjamin. I forget that school holidays are still here. Actually now that I'm not working I loose track of which day it is (which is scary as I was one to count down the days to Friday when I was working :D). I don't know how you people can do it all, a newborn and other kiddies, well done to you all :yelclap:. A newborn is definitely enough for me at the moment!

Mummy2my5

20-01-2008, 14:06

Thanks for that Trish. He does seem happier in his rocker during the day out in the lounge room with us (maybe he likes watching the tennis on TV too? :laughing:). I was just worried that he'd get confused and want to sleep in the rocker at night instead of his bed.

Glad to hear that things are going well for you and Benjamin. I forget that school holidays are still here. Actually now that I'm not working I loose track of which day it is (which is scary as I was one to count down the days to Friday when I was working :D). I don't know how you people can do it all, a newborn and other kiddies, well done to you all :yelclap:. A newborn is definitely enough for me at the moment!

I think they know even at this early age cause during the day there is more noise (in my house anyway) :laughing: and at night it's quiet. I don't mind if Benjamin sleeps in his rocker if he is getting a descent sleep... :thumbsup:

I must admit these school holidays can't end quick enough for me LOL I am sure the next lot of holidays won't be as bad cause I shouldn't be as tired.

Widget

20-01-2008, 14:24

Well, the guy never called to arrange the meeting... So, still have no idea what's going on... :( We only have his work office number and he was in Sydney so we couldn't call him...

Mummy2my5

20-01-2008, 14:47

Well, the guy never called to arrange the meeting... So, still have no idea what's going on... :( We only have his work office number and he was in Sydney so we couldn't call him...

So sorry to hear that Widget :hugs: must be so frustrating for you ........ :fingerscrossed: he calls this week.

sniper wolf

20-01-2008, 16:39

sam - from what i have been told (by paedeatricians etc) that at this stage it is too early for habits to form... moreover, mine will sleep (if i'm lucky) in the bouncer in the day but still always sleep sin bassinet at night. for the last 2 weeks we've started a night routine - as in having a bath, then feed then hopefully bed. sometimes she gets up after an hour but then goes back down - last night we had a 7 hour sleep from 11 to 6am! this pleased my Df because on the weekends he has the night shift.

so the short of it is - i wouldnt worry about it!

hi trish! Hope you get some me time soon! it'll be good to have some time with just benjamin as well.

widget - hope the guy gets in touch soon - how annoying!

mine hasn't really slept at all today and i'm a bit tired myself, oh well.:flowerz:

allgirls

20-01-2008, 17:04

OMG Jackie - can't believe that Odette is already 8 weeks! She already looks like a big girl!

Amy - glad you found us! I was a bit slow too finding this thread.:o

Still having some fun with Xavier with his day & night sleep refusal. Last night was another cracker - didn't get to sleep until almost 2am then back up at 4am and then every 2 hrs since. A real shocker. I know he can't keep this up for too much longer but he really is testing me. Amazing how each of my 3 kids are so different. 1st was hard to get to sleep but was a great sleeper by 9 weeks self settling and sleeping through the night. My 2nd was easy to get down (just wrap and she would dose off by herself) but would wake 2-3 times a night. Now little Xavier is so hard to get down and then only sleeps 2hrs (3 hrs if I'm really lucky) at a time.

BUt I just love him to bits - very content and happy - I just wish he would sleep so he would give mummy a break. Each night I think maybe tonight's the night he'll sleep 3-4 hrs - gosh I wouldn't know myself!

I hope everyone had a great weekend with their bubs!

Sammilee

20-01-2008, 17:44

Well, the guy never called to arrange the meeting... So, still have no idea what's going on... :( We only have his work office number and he was in Sydney so we couldn't call him...

BUMMER! :fingerscrossed: that he does call you soon and the job works out.

sam - from what i have been told (by paedeatricians etc) that at this stage it is too early for habits to form... moreover, mine will sleep (if i'm lucky) in the bouncer in the day but still always sleep sin bassinet at night. for the last 2 weeks we've started a night routine - as in having a bath, then feed then hopefully bed. sometimes she gets up after an hour but then goes back down - last night we had a 7 hour sleep from 11 to 6am! this pleased my Df because on the weekends he has the night shift.

so the short of it is - i wouldnt worry about it!

Thanks Jackie. Yeah, maybe I'm worrying unnecessarily, but I just stress that I'm doing things that I shouldn't, and I'll end making things worse for Caden, DH and myself :p.

Still having some fun with Xavier with his day & night sleep refusal. Last night was another cracker - didn't get to sleep until almost 2am then back up at 4am and then every 2 hrs since. A real shocker. I know he can't keep this up for too much longer but he really is testing me. Amazing how each of my 3 kids are so different. 1st was hard to get to sleep but was a great sleeper by 9 weeks self settling and sleeping through the night. My 2nd was easy to get down (just wrap and she would dose off by herself) but would wake 2-3 times a night. Now little Xavier is so hard to get down and then only sleeps 2hrs (3 hrs if I'm really lucky) at a time.

BUt I just love him to bits - very content and happy - I just wish he would sleep so he would give mummy a break. Each night I think maybe tonight's the night he'll sleep 3-4 hrs - gosh I wouldn't know myself!

Oh, big :hugs: to you Sharon. I hope Xavier settles soon and gives you more sleep.

brodiebunch

20-01-2008, 19:05

Hi ladies:wave:

Well it is my first night alone with Layla.DH and DS have gone to puppy sit at my sisters.She has been a bit restless so far tonight and has had a really unsettled day but I think I have finally got her down.We have our six week check this week and I am dying to have a bath:yes:.

I am happy to read that I am not the only one trying to start routines.Our DS had a rough start and none as I was really sick after c/s complications so I swore that this time I would start how I wanted to end.Still I thought I was a bit crazy trying already with DD.

sniper wolf

20-01-2008, 19:46

I just stress that I'm doing things that I shouldn't, and I'll end making things worse for Caden, DH and myself :p.

yeah i get that. it goes through my mind too, on a daily basis. i reckon there's got to be a half way point - so i try to put her down, i dont give up on it, but if it doesnt work i try not to stress.

brodiebunch - we dont even have a bath in this house.. not that i am a huge bath fan but the option would be nice.

allgirls - yeah i know, she's growing like a tiger, :fingerscrossed: that you get some sleep action out of him tonight.

& thanks people for the nice comments about odette! today she was wearing jeans and a brown cardy, took a coupla shots and she looked lke a boy - so yeah the pink girly clothes are not the norm here but usually on special occasions (just wanted to add). loving those prison stripey onesies from Big W as well, how comfy do they look.

am on the night shift for the next 5 nights... so its early to bed for me tonight.:sleeping:

Widget

20-01-2008, 20:29

I felt so guilty! It's one thing for us to deal with him being unsettled, but not my poor ol' Mum...

This morning has been much the same as the past few days. He's grizzly and restless. Again we've popped him into the rocker and it seems to have settled him a bit, but he's not asleep yet... mmm... Am I making a rod for my own back allowing him to sit/ sleep in the rocker during the day? I just don't want him to get use to the idea of that's where he can sleep 'coz it's a no-go for night time. He has no option but to sleep in his own bed at night. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences about this? 'Coz if I am making things worse then I'm going to stop allowing him to sleep in his rocker and it's back in his bed...

Firstly, I'm sure your Mum didn't mind - you were probably a LOT worse (my Mum keeps telling me this)...

I don't think you're going to have any problems with conversion once he's a bit older...

As I said before (probably skipped coz it was a long and boring post) Annabelle used to sleep in the electronic swing during the day until she was 3 months old - it was the ONLY way I could get her sleep during the day, but she was always in the cradle/cot at night... Once she started settling properly during the day she would sleep anywhere - which was great! In the pram, in the car seat, on a lounge, fold out couch thing (the kids ones) porta cot... You name it, she'd sleep on/in it, even under the playgym on the floor!
Now however, we'll get the occasional sleep in the pram or car while out (is a fight) and she will ONLY sleep in her/a cot... Porta cot isn't good enough anymore :(... Haven't actually tried her in someone else's cot but she was sleeping in Becca's cot before Becca arrived and transferred back perfectly fine...

Currently, Becca sleeps in either the electronic swing or the bouncer beside my bed as I have to re-arrange her room to get the S&M monitor to reach all the cords comfortably... With the heart quirk she stays next to me until the movement monitor is set up and working...

I was so relaxed and blazay about Annabelle having a monitor but we freaked out with Becca...

Sammilee

20-01-2008, 21:44

Oh :yes: Annabelle didn't sleep during the day between 3 weeks and 3 months!! It was hell! The only way I could get some reprieve was to have in the automatic swing - it saved my sanity - also going to a place where I could hardly hear to "chill" for 5 mins coz the little so and so just tested me SO much!!

I don't think you're going to have any problems with conversion once he's a bit older...

As I said before (probably skipped coz it was a long and boring post) Annabelle used to sleep in the electronic swing during the day until she was 3 months old - it was the ONLY way I could get her sleep during the day, but she was always in the cradle/cot at night...

So you had no probs with her at night going into her bed? Cool... seems to be the consensus that rockers/ swings during the day is OK so I'll keep going with it if that's what settles him :yes:.

Now having said that he's being a bugger tonight :mad:. He had a bath at 6pm, a feed at 6:30pm but now won't settle (it's just gone 8:30pm!). What's a mum to do? I just keep telling myself "deep breaths Sam, and all will be good"... hehe! I can handle the unsettled issues during the day (well, as much as the next person can), but come night time I find my patience wears a little thin... :(. Thank goodness DH is here! We are playing tag-teams going in each time he cries out of his room. If it was just me I would probably have gone mad by now... hehe!

Well, here's hoping and :fingerscrossed: that we all have good nights tonight and plenty of :sleeping:.

Sammilee

20-01-2008, 22:19

Finally!!! :smiliedance: :smiliedance: :smiliedance:

Caden is asleep... :fingerscrossed: he stays that way for a few hours.

Nitey-nite all :wave:

Widget

20-01-2008, 23:12

LOL Sam. Hope you get some :sleeping:.

I was going to go to bed at 11pm (now 12:15am) but Annabelle is unsettled... Becca is really settled and stuffed after the last feed...

Hmmm... The toddler... Mum said the terrible 2's will start early with her and that around now would be about the time that she'd start them... She has been going to bed at least 2 hours later than usual and is whingy most of the day (I think that's moreso attention seeking though).

I can't even go to sleep listening to her coz her room is next to ours and she doesn't have a soft cry/scream...

Ys_Woman

21-01-2008, 17:06

So much to catch up on....

Firstly, I don't get that birth certificates are different prices in different states. I chose the $52 one with the Canberra logo and they throw in the plain one for nothing (usually $35 alone). A friend of mine doesn't bother getting their certificates at birth, she just registers the birth for free and then worries about the certificate when they start preschool.

Dane is well. He is putting on weight at around 80-120g per week. I am still breastfeeding full-time and finally feel confident that whatever Dane needs he is getting from breastfeeding alone. The first few weeks were tenuous though and I did try to slip him some s26 a couple of times after giving him the breast and thinking it wasn't enough. I just had to learn that it was enough as he is happy, wet and poopy, and sleeping well.

Most times he sleeps in 4hr bursts overnight but it can vary from 3hrs to 5hrs depending on how well he fed during the day.
He now has wakeful periods during the day where he just wants to gurgle and grin at the family or look around the room, but I keep it business like and quiet at night time so he learns the difference. I also give him tummy time each day..which he absolutely hates..lol.

School goes back in a few weeks and hubby will be back to work then too. It will be busy in the mornings doing breakfasts and lunches in amongst Dane wanting to feed, but at least the days will be our own and I look forward to some one-on-one time with him. He is so like Lachlan in that he isn't a very demanding baby, unless pushed to his limit, then watch out..lol.

Anyway, I have raved on as usual. Best go an get dinner on.

Hugs, will catch up on personal posts shortly.

Amy:)

Viva

21-01-2008, 19:39

hi guys just a quick pop in to ask
when did your babies start smiling ??
Cy is 8 weeks on Wednesday and we still haven't had consistent smiles just one every couple of days or so for 2 weeks or more) not very convincing.
Everyone sayes he is such a serious looking baby - he is always frowning so maybe the lack of smiles related to that?? He was also born at 37.4 weeks old so could that also have something to do with it.
I am getting worried and can't help at every step to compare him to his older brother who hit all the milestones on cue.
Amy would love your imput. ...

allgirls

21-01-2008, 20:09

Hi Viva - waiting for those first smiles make all the hard work worthwhile don't they :cloud9:

But I wouldn't worry too much - Xavier for the last week has been giving inconsistent smiles (not counting the gorgeous ones you get when bub is almost asleep ie my avatar :-)). My 1st smiled at around 6 weeks and my 2nd not until 9 almost 10 weeks. I was worried with my 2nd as a community health nurse mentioned that if babies aren't smiling by 9 weeks there could be a problem. Not sure what she meant by problem but my guess was neurological.

Ys_Woman

21-01-2008, 20:33

hi guys just a quick pop in to ask
when did your babies start smiling ??

3 weeks on the knocker. He locked his eyes on mine, opened his mouth wide into a big grin, and gurgled 'ahhh'. It was so cute.
He also pulls a monkey face where he purses his mouth and makes an ooooo with his lips while his forehead is all wrinkled..lol..I love that one too.
I think this one is going to be a talker for sure!

It sounds like Cy knows how to smile already so I wouldn't worry. You really can't compare one sibling to another though as they all have their own personalities and abilities. You say your friends think he is a serious looking baby but what do you feel Cy's personality type is?

Actually..I will throw that open to the group. What is your baby's personality type and what do you think they will be like when they get older? Feisty? Calm? Diplomatic? Demand their own way?

Amy:)

Widget

21-01-2008, 20:57

when did your babies start smiling ??

We get wind smiles... I don't actually know how to tell the difference. Can't remember when DD1 first really smiled - she never stops now though!

She definitely knows my voice though! I never tested DD1 but the other night we were at mum's and she was holding Becca facing the door and I asked her if she knew my voice yet and she turned and faced me!! YAY :D

What is your baby's personality type and what do you think they will be like when they get older? Feisty? Calm? Diplomatic? Demand their own way?

You can tell already?? If you'd asked me with Annabelle at this age I would have said screamy little sh!t who wants her own way all the time, but she's not like that at all, she's fun-loving and boistrous... Becca I would guess is calm and cautious - but that could change too...

sniper wolf

22-01-2008, 08:10

mine had a non wind smile around 5-6 weeks and has been smiling ever since - not all day fo course but a few times a day fo' sho'

amy - sounds like you have bf under control and yeah the monkey face (good name for it) is cute

not a lot to report here - although i am getting frustrated at her not getting some decent sleep in the day and then going silly before bed at night. the no slee thing mainly happens on weekends when there's more of us in the house and then on mondays - seems to be a hangover from the weekend, or on days where we have to go out.... she doesnt really cry or anything, she just seems more squirmy and uncomfortable... on days where she gets some decent sleep her awake time is alert and a lot more settled.

hmm:detective:

hi to everyone:wave:

Viva

22-01-2008, 08:30

thanks for your support guys, arrgghhh got to go Cy just woke - screaming

Prudie

22-01-2008, 12:48

Hughie first smiled at 4.5 weeks, and now smiles all the time :D

Snake eater - Hugh went through the end of last week not getting any decent daytime sleep but has settled back into a routine this week (so far) - although he hardly ever sleeps in his cot during the day - always ends up in the rocker, in my arms or on the ottoman in the lounge room!!! But I'll take sleep where ever I can!!! Maybe your DD is going through a growth spurt that is throwing out her sleeping pattern during the day??

I'm going to the Bon Jovi concert tonight and leaving DS with his daddy for the night. I have a fridge full of expressed breast milk and formula as a back up - don't want my little man going hungry while his mummy is rocking out to Livin' On A Prayer!!! I'm very excited about having a night out - fingers crossed DS behaves for his Daddy :fingerscrossed:

katesmate

22-01-2008, 13:17

I thought I got a smile today but thought it was still too early so not sure if it was just wind or the real thing but it was so cute :yes:. DD1 smiled at about 5 weeks and I think DS was 6 weeks. I love it when they start laughing!

We have no real routine at all during the day. I find if we go out anywhere Andi is wide awake and then is overtired for the rest of the day, then we can have days like yesterday where she slept most of the day. She always seems to have a bit of a sleep every afternoon so I make sure I wake her about 4 or so with a bath so she has a good wake period so I can put her to bed at a reasonable time. She is really cranky at this time but earlier on I would just let her sleep then she would want to be wide awake when i want to go to bed. She then normally will only settle after 8 but then she sleeps in mostly 3 or 2-3 hour blocks till morning. I am finding early evenings hard at the moment with DD1 who is 18 months needing to be fed etc while Andi is really unsettled. So we are a very noisy house :o I cant keep them both happy at the same time, but we will get there :fingerscrossed:

Amy - so glad you found us over here!

Sammilee

22-01-2008, 16:11

Firstly... :wave: everyone! So glad that more of us have found this thread :yelclap:.

Firstly, I don't get that birth certificates are different prices in different states. I chose the $52 one with the Canberra logo and they throw in the plain one for nothing (usually $35 alone).

That sounds similar to WA, though to just get the plain one it is $42, but for $52 you get the plain one as well as a commemorative one (and with those we have about 8 different designs to choose from). NSW sounds expensive! I think Widget said $81, or something like that.

He also pulls a monkey face where he purses his mouth and makes an ooooo with his lips while his forehead is all wrinkled...

:D Yep, Caden does that too and I soooooooooo love it!

Actually..I will throw that open to the group. What is your baby's personality type and what do you think they will be like when they get older? Feisty? Calm? Diplomatic? Demand their own way?

My DH has already said that Caden is stubborn just like his Mum... mmm... :rolleyes:. I actually have no idea what his personality type is yet. He doesn't seem too fazed at all by a lot of noise or commotion, so maybe a calm baby? (unless of course his belly is rumbling then all his calmness is thrown out of the window... hehe!). I know with my niece she hated going out where there was a lot of noise or people (eg. shopping centres), even after my sister tried so hard for her to get use to it (she never sheltered her away from noise). So in comparison to that Caden is definitely a calm, easy-going type of baby. But hey, who knows, all that may change when he gets older!

although i am getting frustrated at her not getting some decent sleep in the day and then going silly before bed at night.

I can soooooooooo totally relate to that Jackie! Caden doesn't seem to be getting much sleep during the day, he just likes to sit in his rocker and look around for hours and hours. And for the past couple of nights he goes a bit silly just before bed too.

I'm going to the Bon Jovi concert tonight and leaving DS with his daddy for the night. I have a fridge full of expressed breast milk and formula as a back up - don't want my little man going hungry while his mummy is rocking out to Livin' On A Prayer!!! I'm very excited about having a night out - fingers crossed DS behaves for his Daddy

Enjoy Prudie! I have a couple of girlfriends going to see Bon Jovi on Friday night (I think that's when they are here in Perth). It should be good. Whenever I hear their songs it reminds me of high school.

I thought I got a smile today but thought it was still too early so not sure if it was just wind or the real thing but it was so cute.

I'm the same here. I've had a few little smiles from Caden, but have no idea if it's actual smiles or wind :confused:. I'll say that they are smiles as they're still so darn cute just the same!

Well, nothing much else exciting to say. I've been busy this morning designing Caden's 'announcement/ thank you' cards. Yes, I know, he's already 4 weeks and I'm just doing them now. Well actually, DH was in charge of them (he's really the photoshop guru in this house), but he seems to be too busy with other things to do them (or so he tells me!). So I bit the bullet and designed them myself. And if I do say so myself they aren't that bad. Might walk up to the photo lab this arvo and put them in for printing so I can send them out to our friends and rellies tomorrow. It will make me feel better if I know they are in the post before he is officially 1 month old... haha!

Anyhow, enough :ecomcity: from me. Have a good arvo everyone!

Sam...

DJWebb

22-01-2008, 23:24

hi girls! Hope everyone is doing well! I just wanted to update..went for a checkup at the doctors and he says I am all healed up! So yay!! things have been going smoothly...Mady is so precious! She sleeps so well! She sleeps from about 10pm-7am and just wakes for 1-2 bottles, but goes right back to sleep! She is getting so big...she dosnt fit her 4 0's anymore! And get this she is 4 weeks and 6 days today and My little princess smiled today!!! like I was playing with her, talking to her and she was staring at me, and she just smiled so big!!! And she has smiled about 15 times today since!! She smiles when I kiss her hands or if I talk to her in baby talk! I just love seeing her happy...and she has the sweetest dimples! I could go on and on haha..Its amazing how somthing so simple as her smiling could melt my heart! :bee: they grow up so fast! Hope you all have a wonderful day!

allgirls

23-01-2008, 10:05

Hi Everyone

Xavier is getting a little better with his sleeping :yelclap::smiliedance:Managed to give mummy 3 hrs last night then easy to go back down for another 3 hrs. I feel rejuvenated today!

Prudie - How was Bon Jovi ???? What a treat to go - you've got a great husband! Don't know if mine would have the confidence to look after bub on his own & this is #3!

Katesmate - I'm the same - no real routine. Just juggling the 3 kids to make sure they all eat! That's my main worry is making sure they eat & drink during the day.

Sam - You are so organised! We didn't do any birth announcements or thankyou cards. Caden sounds like Xavier - sitting in his rocker for hours and hours. Must say our vertical blinds are so fascinating to a 6 week old when then wind is blowing.

Amy - hmmmm Xavier is a lot like my 1st - very alert so I think he will be a handful just like his big sis - so I'm happy for the time being where I am in control for a change - well at least for a little while :)

4and1ontheway - I read your post early this morning and so I was playing with Xavier getting really close up - singing etc etc and I got the biggest grin and then a couple more just before I got him down to sleep. Magical :babydust2::wizard: Just updated my avatar with the smile I got this morning.

Have a great day ladies...

sniper wolf

24-01-2008, 05:26

last night we had a magical 8 hour sleep! 9pm to 5am! HOORAY!:D

that makes it 2 x 8 hours and 1 x 7 hour sleep in the last 2 weeks!

(the norm has been 5-6 hours followed by another 3, then another 2.)

:flowerz:

follow up on immunisations she had last friday - she dealt splendidly with them, not even any post-needle rash or anything and was fine on the day!:sunshine:

4and1 - yay for your smile! I think I heard a laugh in her sleep the other day.

sam - how's daytime sleep going?

hi everyone!:wave:

allgirls

24-01-2008, 19:43

WOW Jackie - I am sooooo envious. Hopefully Odette keeps this up for you.

I would love an 8hr sleep. From memory I think the last time I had an 8hr sleep was sometime during early 2004 BK (before kids) :laughing::laughing:

sniper wolf

24-01-2008, 20:13

:eek:

Bunny_79

25-01-2008, 09:10

Morning ladies Sammilee was kind enough to let me know where u r all now. I dont like my chances of catching up though.

Well my little girl Hayley is doing well she will be 6 weeks tomorrow (how time flys), she is sleeping good through the night usually put her down at bout 10pm then sleeps for two sometimes three lots 4-5 hours so only really getting up for one night feed. Hopefully this is a routine that will only get better and follow on into the day a bit more.

She loves to stay awake during the day time which i suppose is better then being awake at night, although the last two days she has fallen asleep in her rocker while i have been playing playstation :laughing:

Since about 4 weeks old she has been giving us some smiles and now they are more often. She is pulling faces (yep monkey face too) and oooo, ahhh.

Well better go and get something done while she is asleep. Hopefully i can be on here a bit more often if the little monster has naps during the day.

Glad to see everyone doing ok, have a great day :wave:

sniper wolf

25-01-2008, 09:24

She loves to stay awake during the day time which i suppose is better then being awake at night, although the last two days she has fallen asleep in her rocker while i have been playing playstation :laughing:

wow, like looking into a mirror!:cool:

(what game are you playing?)

Widget

25-01-2008, 12:20

We've been busy the last few days... Becca still sleeping like a champion but still attaching wrong... Very ouchy nipples, they're sore all day now - only 4 days to get to the 6 week mark...

Annabelle had her 18 month immunisation yesterday - chicken pox... Only have to keep them apart IF she gets a rash. She's been good with all of her immunisations so I don't think it will be a problem... She screamed though - glad DF was there... The worse reaction we've had with them... Last time she had 2 without a fuss, then the Dr mentioned it and she got a little whingey with the 3rd needle but she didn't see em coming either, she saw yesterdays needle coming didn't she - I told DF not to let her see it coming...

Had Becca's check up yesterday she gained 300 grams in a week so my supply is definitely good.

Speaking of sore boobs... My right boobs fills 4 times compared to once on the left... Becca ate at 5am on the left, 7am on the right, 10:30am on the left and by the time 4pm rolled around (yep didn't feed between) my right boob was STILL full from the 10am feed - very sore, decided I didn't care if she was asleep, my left had filled again and my boob wasn't going to take another fill up... I filled 4 breast pads on the right side in 6 hours and was still on the same breast pad on the left all day and it didn't need changing even at 3am...
I was worried that maybe I've lost my milk in the left, but it's coming out and I'm still having let down and all that jazz...

So now I giver 5-10mins on the left then make her go from the right for upto 30 mins coz I just can't handle the extra pressure - it really hurts!! It doesn't seem as full today so I'll keep doing the same and see how they feel tomorrow...

Oh, and we've been playing xbox a bit lately and cleaning the house and had a professional photo shoot here the other day as well... Don't have the photos yet and the shoot wasn't completed coz Annabelle wouldn't sit still... Kept seeignt he camera half way through a good shot of her playing and wanting to see that instead - very friendly, climbing up the photographer asking to see the phots that she just took LOL

Ys_Woman

25-01-2008, 14:40

Speaking of sore boobs... My right boobs fills 4 times compared to once on the left...

I was wondering what that was about as sometimes for me one breast is really full and the other barely has any. I am so clueless about breastfeeding. I rang the MACH nurse yesterday to ask a million questions, thinking the breastfeeding was in crisis, but only to find out that most of it is normal and she believes he is just going through a growth spurt.
I certainly don't make the volumes you do Widget but what I make seems to rush out at poor Dane so I have taken to feeding him in a sitting position. It seems to be working well for him. I also bought the Avent electric breast pump and express off when I can. I just never seem to make tons though..the most I get out of it is around 80ml and that is from both breasts! I will keep at it though as I am told that in the next few weeks the breasts will start making on demand and it should increase the supply without storing it and making the bbs sore anymore.
Wow..300g in one week! None of my kids ever put on amounts over 150g and three of them were bottle fed on demand. Most times they were lucky to put on 80-100g each week. Poor skinny chicken-leg Dane is following in his siblings footsteps..lol. Have the six week check next Tuesday and hoping he will have gained again.
I had best get back to cleaning. I start and then get tired really fast. Work asked hubby to return next week as they really need him :( It should be fun trying to juggle the kids, Dane, housework etc by myself, without the car..agghhhh!

Hugs to everyone on this upcoming long weekend.

Amy:)

Viva

25-01-2008, 16:37

Sammilee

25-01-2008, 19:14

Still no smiles here and I am feeling very :gloomy:
8+2 weeks now. Been the the CHN and she is worried to, checked eyes and response to patterns and faces - it seems to check out okay, they want to start seeing him weekly now. (I have only seen them 2 times since he was born).

:fingerscrossed: Cy is OK and all works out well. I could just imagine how worried you would be.

I had best get back to cleaning. I start and then get tired really fast.

I can so totally relate to that Amy :D.

I was wondering what that was about as sometimes for me one breast is really full and the other barely has any.

I also bought the Avent electric breast pump and express off when I can.

Speaking of sore boobs... My right boobs fills 4 times compared to once on the left...

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one with this issue :D (I was starting to think that I was a freak :p). My left boob makes way more than my right, and I mean waaaaaaaaay more.

And Amy, I brought the Avent electric pump too. A bit pricey (well for me it was), but well worth the $$$. I find it does the trick nicely. I'm now trying to express more on the right to try and prompt more supply so it catch up with the left.

Morning ladies Sammilee was kind enough to let me know where u r all now. I dont like my chances of catching up though.

So glad that you found us! And do pop on when you can, it's always great to hear how everyone is going.

I would love an 8hr sleep. From memory I think the last time I had an 8hr sleep was sometime during early 2004 BK (before kids)

Just like Jackie said... :eek:. No 8 hour sleeps since 2004? Feeling for you babe!!!

last night we had a magical 8 hour sleep! 9pm to 5am! HOORAY!

sam - how's daytime sleep going?

Yay for you Jackie! That's great to hear that Odette slept 8 hours... wow! And yeah, Caden is still more awake in the daytime, only has 20 minute 'power naps' in his rocker. I don't mind too much now that he seems to be settling in at night. He's going down around 10:30pm (last feed around 9:00 - 9:30pm), is then awake at 3am for a feed (which I do), and then up at 6:30 - 7:00am (which DH does with expressed milk so I can have a bit of a lay in). So that's not too bad. I'm just hoping that we can 'wean' him out of the 3am feed soon so he sleeps through like Odette.

Hi to everyone else that I didn't get to personals. And I hope everyone has a fantastic long Australia Day weekend.

Sam...

Widget

25-01-2008, 19:49

Oh, ok so it's normal... I have no idea about breastfeeding either!! Annabelle was bottle fed (EBM for 2 weeks, then formula).

Becca gets drenched when I am sitting... Haven't quite figured out how to lay and feed comfortably...

We don't see the community nurse, didn't with Annabelle and she did just fine - sometimes they just worry you un-necessarily...

Figured we were going to the Dr yesterday anyway for Annabelle's shot and the window period for the 6 week check is 5-7 weeks so 5 weeks 2 days would be okay... Got my script for Depo and have to make an appointment in 3 weeks for Becca's shots and my shot and seperately for the female Dr to check my *ahem*...

sniper wolf

25-01-2008, 21:04

sam- we're not out of the woods yet but there is hope in the future. she's only done that 3 x, but slowly but surely she is stretching out her sleeps. by no means are we at the sleeping through the night stage yet.

viva - i'm usre there would be some tests you can get done to allay your concerns... as someone said before all babies have different personalities...:hugs:to you for your worry.

hi bunny - good to see you in here.

really admire all you breastfeeders!!! you're doing a helluva job! well done.:goodvibes:

have a good long weekend people, i'm off to a friend's place tommorrow arvo - gunna drink me some beer!:thumbsup::D:cool::no:

Bunny_79

26-01-2008, 10:43

Morning everyone,

Hey snake eater, i was playing the need for speed Pro Street on PS3, it's awesome drag racing drifting etc. My hubby is jealous i am playing the playstation more than him these days :D. What game r u playing ?

Hayley had a great night sleep last night slept from 11pm till 5.45am then from 6.30am till 9.45am. About the 4th time she has done it.
Def would not be sleeping that much if i was still breastfeeding though.

Ok that didnt last long Hayley is stirring already, better go and tend to her and try and get some things done before hubby gets home from work.

Happy long weekend everyone :wave:

Sammilee

26-01-2008, 17:59

Hiya everyone! :wave:

Just thought I'd pop on and say hi... so hi! I hope we all are having a great Australia Day. Usually DH and I go down to the river foreshore here in Perth to watch the fireworks, but this year I think we'll be giving it a miss (for obvious reasons). It must the first year in ages that we won't go down (we're in walking distance so it's never a hassle for us, if we had to drive down then it might be a different story).

Well, last night was a 'trying' night for us. Caden had a feed at 10:30pm, so was asleep by 11:00pm'ish. Woke at 2:45am for a feed (which is usually the norm), but after that feed do you think he would settle and go to sleep? Nope! Gggrrr!!! :mad: I was then up and down like a yo-yo trying to get him to sleep. I did the whole pat him, and 'jig' the bassinet, and soothe him with my voice, but it just didn't work. I know this is really bad, but I ended up putting him into bed with DH and I around the 5:00am mark as I was soooooooooo tired. I know that's a bad habit to get into, but I was desperate!!! :fingerscrossed: last night was just a one-off... please!!!

So how is everyone else going? All bubs behaving? Hope so!

Well, I better get going. As it's been hot today I'm going to have a nice cool relaxing bath and I'm going to take Caden in with me. First time there so I'm hoping he likes it!

See ya!

Sam...

sniper wolf

27-01-2008, 20:03

hello people!:D

Odette managed another 8.5 hour stint last night!!!:yes:

the last 2 saturdays we've had those with one 7 hour stint middle of last week. this is exciting.

sam - how was caden last night? did he settle better in the middle of the night? around your mark - odette would wake up and sometimes not settle again for 2 and a bit hours - annoying isnt it? but she soon grew out of it. and it was only every so often. around that point she'd be up anywhere between 40 mins and 2.5 hours - usual was around 1 -1.5 hours. now she can be turned around a lot quicker and of course she sleeps for longer.

bunny - i'm playing call of duty 4... but I also must get back to tony hawk proving ground before turok comes out in a fortnight. what other games do you play?

hope everyone is doing well on this long weekend, personally I am LOVING the long weekend... it's great to have someone else around as well to share the baby. (plus it's a great opportunity to get some things done).

hoo-roo!:goodvibes:

Mary_T

27-01-2008, 21:30

Hello All.

I have been lurking reading the December 07 When are you due thread and now this December 07 thread and I thought I should say hello.

I don't get a lot of time to look at Bub Hub these days but I enjoy hearing how others are going.

My little girl is growing at a great rate and never stops feeding! I am not sure how much she weighs but we are going for our 6 weeks check up on Tuesday so we will find out soon.

I am still reading this thread but everyone sounds like they are doing really well.

Hopefully I will get my act together and post occasionally.

Sammilee

27-01-2008, 22:50

Firstly, welcome Mary_T :wave:. So glad that you have posted. If you ever get a chance, do pop in and let us know how things are going. I know that I love to come here and chat with other people that are experiencing similar things as it gives me some comfort and keeps my sanity in check :D.

And yay for you Jackie!!! :yelclap: But can't you see that I'm also green with envy? :) Hee hee!!! Well, seeing that Odette is a month older than Caden there might be some hope for me yet. So do you have a set routine that helps Odette go down for the night? If so, spill the beans and share us your secrets!!! I'll take any hints and tips!!! Caden had a better night last night, thank goodness! The night before last was the first time that he had done that (not settled after his middle-of-the-night feed). I'm hoping that it was a once-off as I felt like a train had hit me when I got up in the morning.

Well, call us stupid, but DH and I are heading away for a couple of nights with Caden. We leave on Tuesday and come back on Thursday so just 2 nights away. I do hope that our lil' man behaves himself. DH heads back to work next week on 4 Feb :( so we thought that we should get away while we had the chance. Just keeping those :fingerscrossed: that Caden is on his 'bestest' behaviour.

Hi to everyone else. I hope the loooooooooong weekend has been a good one so far for all. Enjoy tomorrow! We are bbq'ing here so hoping it's not too hot.

See ya's later and chat again soon.

Sam...

Ys_Woman

27-01-2008, 23:26

. Woke at 2:45am for a feed (which is usually the norm), but after that feed do you think he would settle and go to sleep? Nope! Gggrrr!!! :mad: I was then up and down like a yo-yo trying to get him to sleep. ..I ended up putting him into bed with DH and I around the 5:00am mark as I was soooooooooo tired. I know that's a bad habit to get into, but I was desperate!!! :fingerscrossed: last night was just a one-off... please!!!
I can so relate to all of this as it happened to me just last night..lol. Dane woke at 1am and wasn't ready to go back to sleep til 3am. He is fine to go to sleep in the basinette all other times but if he is going to arc up it will be after the middle-of-the-night feed.
The midwife said you can't spoil them at this age and you just have to do whatever keeps you sane. For me that means putting him on the bed with us when he is lonely like that as he sleeps longer that way.
I am also flexible with feeding. Most times he is fine on what the breast gives him and will patiently wait another half-hour before asking for more if he is really hungry, but sometimes he demands more instantly. I happily top him up once or twice a day with 40ml of s26 if he is insisting he is hungry straight after having both breasts. I am not going to muck about and let him get into a pattern of screaming when he is usually so placid and accepting.
Mind you, in saying that, he is vomiting and/or having diarrhoea after each s26 feed so I will have a chat with the Dr this coming week about what formula might be best to top him up with.

The thing is Sam, you have to do whatever works for you hon, not what other ppl might judge is right or wrong for you.
I hope tonight is a better one for us both and I hope you thoroughly enjoy your time away.
I am off to bed.

Hugs,
Amy:)

Ys_Woman

27-01-2008, 23:43

Odette managed another 8.5 hour stint last night!!!:yes:

hope everyone is doing well on this long weekend, personally I am LOVING the long weekend... it's great to have someone else around as well to share the baby. (plus it's a great opportunity to get some things done).

Your Odette is such a gorgeous girl hon. Congrats that she is sleeping through. It sure makes a difference to how you feel during the day.
The long weekend is great..though it is rather hot here..yuk..we are giving the recently acquired aircon and coolers a flogging..bet the electricity bills will skyrocket this summer!

Like you I am enjoying having the extra hands at the moment. I will sure miss it next week when hubby returns to work.
Are you back to doing your radio show?

OK..am really off to bed now..lol.

Hugs,
Amy:)
*Hugs also to Widget, Katesmate, Trina, Madjedjjlil, Viva, Bunny_79, and all the other lovely ppl on this thread*.

sniper wolf

28-01-2008, 06:24

OMG people - she's been down since 9pm last night and is still sleeping (yes i've checked, she is alive).

so at this point (and i'm sure she'll be up soon, i've heard stirring) we're at the 10 and a half hour mark!

samilee this is what we do:

(keep in mind it is all baby directed, we dont try and impose anything except the bath)

6-7ish - feed - she is a slow feeder so it can take a while
bath around 8ish
another feed around half 8-9pm
down at 9pm (we do have the 'sounds of silence' cd going, but it stopped in the night last night on its own, usually we have it on repeat so dunno what happened there). she probably wont need the cd soon.

(above times can vary a bit)

she also only seem to do this when it is DF's overnight watch (hang one she's done it for me once). she's had 7 hours plus now 4 x I think. however today she is going for a record.

I really put it down to - age. Samilee I wouldnt try and hope for this until he's around 8 weeks maybe... then again every baby is different, i just hope she keeps it up.:yes: have a nice coupla days, where are you going to? (well you dont have to be specific, but is it far away or a B and B? is it family friendly?

amy - back to radio show today week. do your other children go back to school soon? (are they all school age?) will you get some alone time with dane?

ok that's me, have a good days peoples!:wave:

Widget

28-01-2008, 06:38

Neither DF or I want to go back to work... DF decided a rock off would be a fair way of picking who goes back... I won, so he is to look for work!!!

sniper wolf

28-01-2008, 08:59

for something as important as that I would've insisted on a best of 5.:laughing:

Ys_Woman

28-01-2008, 10:32

for something as important as that I would've insisted on a best of 5.:laughing: lmao

Ys_Woman

28-01-2008, 10:42

Baking day! I just found a recipe for biscuits in the breastfeeding forum that apparently increase milk production. Ppl have been posting to say that it really works.:fingerscrossed:
I topped Dane up this morning with s26 and he dutifully brought up the entire bottle. Another shower later and he is fast asleep. He was so hungry at the time though that he cried his first real tears. Poor baby. I am so frustrated for him.
I have been expressing but am too tired to wake myself in the night to express during his 5-6hr sleep so I had best see if I can up the supply instead. Thankfully I am not too far behind the eight ball as I am supplying around 80% of his needs.
Wish me well.

Amy:)

allgirls

28-01-2008, 11:11

Hi everyone :wave:

Sounds like everyone is making the most of having their partners around tget things done this long weekend.

We had Xavier's baptism yesterday and so had the inlaws staying with us - everything went really well and xavier was a dream baby throughout the whole ceremony. We had a private ceremony and were the only ones being done so it was great.

Crikey Jackie what are you putting into your milk to make Odette sleep so well - a bit of rum maybe??:) But like Sam I am a little envious.

I have started to notice a change in Xavier's sleeping at night though - has even managed a couple of 4 hrs nights and then last night 5.5hrs :smiliedance:so hopefully we're over the worst and he will settle himself into a good sleeping pattern. He does go on a bit of a feeding frenzy late at night so thinking about introducing a little formula as a top-up maybe.... see how I go.

Sam - I think you'll have a great couple of days away with Caden. He'll just fit in with what you have planned. Just stay relaxed and go with the flow.

Widget - hmmm tough one there deciding who goes back to work. Hope you win! Wouldn't it be great to both be able to stay home - can't wait to win lotto for that to happen.

Back to housework - hope everyone enjoys what's left of the long weekend.

Sammilee

28-01-2008, 11:29

Hiya everyone :wave:

Well, thankfully last night was a fairly good night here :yelclap:. Caden had a feed at 7pm, though didn't settle til around 10:00pm (it would've been better if he had settled straight away, but as it was a decent hour I wasn't too grouchy :D). Usually he has another feed around 11pm, but as he fell asleep so late that feed went out of the window. Therefore I was a little apprehensive about what the night would entail. But yay, he slept through and didn't wake up until his norm 2:45-3:00am feed... and (drum roll please!) he went straight down after that... yay!!! I was a happy little munchkin :D.

Amy - I'm feeling for you if you experienced what I went through with Caden. Tough, huh?! And yeah, you're def right about sometimes doing what's right for us and bubs no matter what others may think. But call me silly, I just don't want to 'stuff' things up and create bad habits for Caden. Probably worrying unnecessarily, but you know, I'm a first-timer so this is all completely new to me :).

And what's this about the biscuits? I have to admit I've noticed my supply in the right boob dwindling even more... gggrrr!!! (left boob, no probs... right boob, gggrrr!!!). So maybe I should look at that recipe as well. Where will I find it?

Jackie - Thanks for the tips about your night-time routine. I have implemented a 'sort-of' routine here with Caden. As he feeds at 7pm and then again at 11pm I implement that 'nighty-nite' routine after the 11pm feed. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. Must be an age thing. I'll just keep plodding along and see how it goes. Don't get me wrong, I'm def not a 'nazi-type' mother, but it would be good to have him in a routine where he goes down straight away and I can then get some decent sleep!!!

DH and I (and of course Caden) are heading down to Margaret River. Not too sure if you are familiar with WA? About a 3 hour drive south of where we live. So nice, wine country with lots of yummy restaurants. Staying at the place where we went back in November just before the lil' man arrived (self-contained villas). We love it down there. If ever there was a lotto win we'd buy a place down there for sure!

Widget - Yay for your rock off win! Though agree with Jackie, would have said the best of 5 'coz with me I'm surely to loose after the first round... haha!

Well, better get going and have a shower while I can. Caden is asleep in his rocker, don't know how long it will last so I better make a move now. DH is busy on the computer editing some photos so it's my turn this morning to be 'sole-carer' of the wee lil' one (sadly DH is not working on pics of Caden - he shot a wedding on Thursday so he's busy getting them ready for the client).

So bye bye for now... oh, and I forgot to say hi to the rest of the people out there... so hi!

Sam... :flowerz:

Sammilee

28-01-2008, 11:39

Hiya Sharon!

Just missed your post. Can't believe that you have already organised and done Xavier's baptism... well done! I was thinking that if we get Caden done before his is 6 months then I'd be happy :D. I only sent out his 'announcement/ thank you' cards last week just before he was officially 1 month old. I'm usually a very organised person, but trying to keep house, look after bubs and do other things is very full-on (well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it :D).

Enjoy that housework... joys of it all, huh? Hee hee!!! :p

See ya!

Sam... :flowerz:

sniper wolf

28-01-2008, 12:49

amy - good luck with the baking and subsequent supply!!!:party: <--- & there's a weird smiley for ya!

sam & algirls- with regard to gettiong the baby down at night, well we just wait until she's ready rather than make her go down at a certain time, although the bath at about the same time each night then feed usually does it. A few times she's got back up again after an hour but has always had a bit to eat and gone back wot sleep within the hour. sounds like a nice getaway - and yes i know margaret river (never been there, never been to WA actually)- as i get my yoghurt (albeit via the local shop) from there...

before she did the longer sleeps, she was doing one 4-5 hour followed by a shorter one (and she may well slip back into this as well) - I think she started this around the 5 week mark, so it soudns like a few of you are headed in the right direction fo' sho'...

been very industrious here today - planted some lettuce and spring onions and did a lot of pruning outside...:sunshine: thrwe some bacon scraps to the chickens who played a funny game of tag.:laughing:

katesmate

28-01-2008, 15:18

:wave: everyone,

Snake eater - Wow! It sounds like you have a great routine with Odette working for you guys.

I have to echo what a lot of you guys are experiencing with the unsettled period. Its mostly early evening for us. I dont do it purposefully, more out of necessity, but I end up putting Andi into her cot while I rush around and get dinner ready and look after the other kids and she cries. I then go back into her and give her more feeds until she settles, this can take a while. We had a couple of nights where she slept in 4 hour blocks after settling which was bliss but last night we were back to up every 2 hours and then wide awake ready to start the day at 5am most mornings :hissy:

I am feeling like my milk supply is good but she acts really hungry even after most feeds, I was thinking its because she is overtired. I am seeing CHN tomorrow so will see what she says. I guess I could express to top her up to see if she then settles better.

Amy - I would love to see that recipe you have for those biccies. I hope all goes well for you next week with hubby going back to work.

Sammilee - that sounds great that the 3 of you are getting away. :fingerscrossed: Caden is a good little boy for you so you can relax and enjoy yourselves.

Hi to everyone else! I had better get on with the housework while toddler and baby are sleeping :sleeping:

Widget

28-01-2008, 16:24

I said best of 3 and he said nope, one round, winner stays home...

I was SO cr@pping myself doing it, I made him do it in front of my Mum so we had a witness and all!!

Now, he just has to find a job!

Gonna be away for a while, my monitor died last night and DD1 broke the plug hole for the laptop this morning... Sneaking on Dad's PC while he's not here...

Have to go though, Becca not happy and Annabelle's probably into something she shouldn't be...

Ys_Woman

29-01-2008, 14:45

Firstly, that is great news about Caden sleeping longer last night. Dane slept from 11pm to 4:45am. He is all strange since yesterday..sleeping most of the day but if he wakens he cries like crazy to be held. I pick him up and he goes straight back off to sleep..must be a growth spurt or something. Off to the six week checkup tomorrow.

To Sammilee and Katesmate: The biscuit recipe is in this Parenting forum entitled Feeding - Breastfeeding. Here is the link to the biscuit thread:
http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=29207
Due to the public holiday yesterday I couldn't get the brewers' yeast I needed, or the flaxseed either..so hubby is coming home early this arvo so I can run out and get them.
Will let you know if they work for me.
Strange having hubby back to work. Dane went down at 5:40am after his feed so I got up and made breaky and lunch for hubby and put out cereal and a jug of milk for the kids. It is great that they are older and getting more independent. They were up at 8am, fed themselves and were playing computer games til boybee ,(my nickname for Dane) and I awoke at almost 9am. I so needed the sleep.

Best finish the dishes. I get so much more done when hubby isn't home..lol.

Amy:)

Ys_Woman

29-01-2008, 20:20

Ok..biscuits made and some sampled *yikes, could get huge on these*. They taste great. Hopefully I will be watering the lawn with my overflowing bbs by tomorrow ;)

Amy

Widget

29-01-2008, 20:35

Not feeling overly stable emotionally so no personals - sorry...

Just letting you know that we had (probably a one off though) a 12 hour break last night!!

She was rotten from 6pm to 12:30am, nothing I did would settle her... Even whingey after the 9:30pm feed... I was about to feed her at 12:30 coz she was still going, but then she just fell asleep - and stayed that way until after 9am!!! Well, I jumped in the shower at 9am and she was still a good 10 mins after I got out before she woke...

kobie

29-01-2008, 20:36

Hi all! :)

I am finally beginning to emerge from the first six week bleary-eyed world of the new Mum! Hooray. I've had a quick couple of looks from time to time to try to keep up with everyone's news, but I have never had to time post.

Things with Sienna are going really well. She is a fantastic baby (I'm sure we all know our bub's are fantastic!). She will be seven weeks old on Thursday - where has the time gone?!!

After some serious issues with breastfeeding in the first couple of weeks (I firstly had the cracked & bleeding nipples - bleeding so much they were soaking into the breast pads - ouch...then thrush on my nipples - seriously seriously the ouchest thing I've ever experienced! :( and then a bout of mastitis). I'm please to report that we are now happily and confidently breastfeeding. Hooray! :yelclap:

Sienna has been smiling since she was three weeks old - giving us huge grins and now has occasional small attempts at laughter (just kinda weird 'snorking' breathing sounds)...she must think we are pretty funny parents...a big joke!

She's also been a pretty good night sleeper for the past couple of weeks (she really hasn't been too bad since week 3). In the last two weeks she has been having her last feed at about 10 or 11 at night then will usually sleep through 'til about 5 or 6am. She has been then having another sleep through until anywhere from 8 until 10ish. We are trying to move all of that forward a bit. We tried last night to have her in bed early, starting the big feed at 7:30 but she wanted to play and grin until after 9, then woke again at 2am then was up and awake for the day at about 6ish. Not too bad. She doesn't tend to sleep much during the day unless we have visitors or are in the MOVING car or in a MOVING pram. Otherwise she just enjoys short cat naps through the day. :)

I am really looking forward to keeping up with everyone and hope Sienna will give me more time to post in future!

allgirls

30-01-2008, 06:44

:wave: Kobie - well done for perservering with bf - :fingerscrossed: that you don't experience anything like it again. Both my sisters had trouble with bf - 1 with cracked bleeding nipples & thursh & the other with mastitis. But you poor thing to have everything that could go wrong with your bbs happen.

Sounds like Sienna is a good baby for you and a good little night sleeper too. Again I am envious. Still have a bit of a fighter on my hands for night sleep - Xavier too is a cat napper through the day so you would think he'd like a good sleep at night....

Widget - what else are you putting in your milk for becca to sleep like that!

:wave: to everyone.

katesmate

30-01-2008, 07:12

Kobie - :thumbsup: You are a real trooper keeping up and doing so well now with your breastfeeding after going through all that! That is great news that Sienna is a good night sleeper. It sounds like she is a very happy baby.

Amy - thanks heaps for posting the link for the recipe, I just have to go out now and get the ingredients and get baking :yes:

Widget - I hope you are feeling ok :hugs:

Allgirls - I am finding Andi is fighting sleep every night now and it takes me hours to get her settled.

I saw CHN yesterday who told me to get her settled and in bed by about 6 as any later is getting too late. She told me to not have any stimulation and quiet time leading up to bedtime. I had to explain that that time of day is crazy time in this house. So I am not sure what really to do. I tried to settle Andi from 6 last night and after trying everything she got to sleep at 9. Then up at 11, then 3, 4 and then 5, so dont know what happened there, she normally doesnt wake up hourly! Must be growing :confused:

Hi to everyone else :wave:

Widget

30-01-2008, 08:27

I was right - it was a one off... 6pm til 12:30am then wouldn't settle til after 3am - I fell asleep round about then and she was still going... Still unsettled now actually but I need to tend to her sister for breakfast etc right now...

I dunno what it is but at the moment I feel like I'm only here for DF's sexual gratification... I know I'm not, but it's how it feels, he spends all his time on the stupid xbox (yep even had a go at him about not putting the girls first) and then wants something when he goes to bed... Seems he can't sleep without touching me in some way that I don't want to be touched...

Got a few issues but meh nothing anyone but me can do about them...

Widget

30-01-2008, 08:33

I saw CHN yesterday who told me to get her settled and in bed by about 6 as any later is getting too late. She told me to not have any stimulation and quiet time leading up to bedtime. I had to explain that that time of day is crazy time in this house. So I am not sure what really to do. I tried to settle Andi from 6 last night and after trying everything she got to sleep at 9. Then up at 11, then 3, 4 and then 5, so dont know what happened there, she normally doesnt wake up hourly! Must be growing :confused:

I don't know... DD1 chose 6pm as her bedtime, had nothing to do with us... We didn't see the community nurses apart from the home visits... I think, unless they have night and day mixed up, everything will be as it should be, it will all come good... We had no special things going on with DD1 - won't this time either - and while now at 18 months she goes to bed at around 9pm instead of 6pm she's a really good child... Plays on her own, doesn't get into mischief, loves her little sister and is SO gentle with her!

Anyways, I gotta go, big sis has arrived at the computer!!

Widget

30-01-2008, 18:46

My right nipple is bleeding :( Found it today so going to buy some bottles for her tomorrow and then make the hardest decision of my life so far... Express or Formula?? My problem with that is that breastfeeding was the reason I didn't want to go back to work... If I'm not breastfeeding, why can't I go back???

Will see what happens tomorrow I suppose...

Widget

30-01-2008, 20:06

I think it's time to give up breastfeeding...

As much as I don't want to, she's just NOT settling at night, even straight after a good feed on both sides... I'm in TOO much pain, and bleeding...

Maybe this is why I've been feeling so down the last couple of days, the realisation that it's coming to an end... She didn't settle until after 3am this morning - that was from the 6pm feed and yeah, I fed her in between...

I got to 6 weeks to the day so I guess I can't really whinge about that... I just hope she settles soon, I'm not handling this very well, unsettled bub and giving up on something I want... I don't think expressing will help me emotionally as I'm still giving a bottle...

Sorry, I'm not in a good place right now...

Ys_Woman

30-01-2008, 20:10

My right nipple is bleeding .. going to buy some bottles for her tomorrow and then make the hardest decision of my life so far... If I'm not breastfeeding, why can't I go back???

Ouch to the bleeding bb hon. Are you going to see the gp about that?
As to bottle or breast, workforce or work-at-home (raising your kids)..they are such personal issues that you have to weigh them up for yourself. Good luck making those choices..I know it's tough.
As to your dh making demands of you. I can understand that too because I had the higher sex drive in our marriage (TMI) but just prior to Dane being born and up until now I am just so shattered tired that I am not fussed either way.
Things will settle back to normal soon enough. Hopefully your dh will understand if you choose to say something.

Hugs on this stinking hot night.
Amy:)

Ys_Woman

30-01-2008, 20:16

Must be growing :confused:

Hey gorgeous. It is so frustrating at times isn't it?
These babies should have come with personalized instructions..lol.
I don't get Dane. He is sleeping his life away these last few days and doesn't seem to want much milk in between *shrugs*. I worry that he is not getting enough but he isn't asking for any more.
He slept from 1am to 7am last night. I wish he would stick with that one for a while as it felt like I had a decent overnight sleep again.
I know we are all supposed to regiment these babies and get them into bed at a decent time but unfortunately they don't always see it that way.
I wonder why the nurse said 6pm bedtime? You could hardly go to bed yourself at that time. Surely it is the later sleep that is more important to you.
Did she say why she suggested the early time?

Amy:)

Ys_Woman

30-01-2008, 20:23

Six week checkup went fine. He has grown from 3135g at birth to 3660 today. I calculated that after the initial loss and then climbing back to birth weight he has averaged roughly 115g per week and I can live with that. Any gain is a gain.
That now puts him between the 3rd and 10th percentiles for weight but seeing as Lachlan didn't even make it onto the graph for many years and Brittany was on the 5th percentile for the first 5 years of life it seems par for the course frankly. I just hope he starts to gain more as he gets older.

I have eaten quite a few of the biscuits but have yet to feel anything different. Hopefully tomorrow. If not at least I have a yummy bickie recipe that is full of vitamin B..lol.

The big storm we were promised came and went within 5 mins and all it left us with was humidity..*phew*.

Hugs to everyone.
Amy:)

Widget

31-01-2008, 02:37

It's official... As of 12 mins ago Becca is no longer exclusively breastfed... :(

sniper wolf

31-01-2008, 06:57

hello peoples

widget :hugs: to you for making sucha tough decision, you know wat is right for you and your family.:yes:

amy - your dane makes my odette look like a giant. at 6 weeks she was 5.6 kilo. she rocketed to 6.2 at 8 week mark. I assume their growth ebbs and flows though...

at this stage odette goes to bed at around the half 8 mark. this has been adjusted from 9-9:30. i'm assuming we'll get it back to around 7:30 mark soon.

oh yeah and she's slept through the night 5 days in a row here, add another few and i'll mark it as a milestone! It wasnt a fluke - HOORAY!:yelclap:

hope everyone is doing ok! better get on with it I guess.:goodvibes:

Prudie

31-01-2008, 18:42

Hey All

Sounds like everyone is going great guns with their little bubs :D

I'm quite excited to report that Hughie has slept through the last 2 nights - have my fingers crossed that it will continue, but I'm not counting on it!!! It's been great getting the 8 hours of sleep though :smiliedance:

At 7 weeks he weighs 6.030 kgs - we went to the clinic today. So he's nice and heavy - and doesn't my back know it!!!

Wondering how everyone is going with putting their bubs to sleep?? I am still rocking DS to sleep as he isn't a fan of going to sleep by himself yet - have tried, but to no avail. He is also really giving me a good 10-15 minutes of crying (and I mean REALLY crying) before he finally drops off to sleep.
Anyone else getting this??

Off for the 6-8 week check up tomorrow at the paediatrician and then DS gets his shots on Monday - not looking forward to that :crying:

sniper wolf

01-02-2008, 08:15

well my good run of 5 sleep through nigths came to an end last night as she surfaced at half 3 (which is still a 6 hour stint, so I guess it's not too bad. who knows she may revert back to sleeping through the night again tonight.:fingerscrossed: x 5 million for that one.

got an appt with CHN this arvo - just for a weigh-in. Reckon after this one I'll schedule the next one for 6 weeks time, when she's 14 weeks and get it done at the same time as her 4 month immunisation shots.

prudie - mine coped really well with the 2 month shots :fingerscrossed: that Hugh does too. As for putting bub to sleep - well we give her a bath and then feed her and she seems to fall asleep at the same time each night (around 8:30-9pm). we try to feed her a lot between say 6 and 9pm, i think that may have been my downfall last night actually, as i did the entire routine as DF was out and about, I think maybe i should have fed her more. then again you can't force them to eat... but anyway she falls asleep on us in the loungeroom and we leave it 10 or so mins and then carry her into bed and that seems to work really well. there's no extended bouts of crying or rocking etc. and congrats to you and Hugh for the sleeping through, what a good little boy! gold star for him - hey why don't they have that emoticon?

widget- how are you going?

amy - how's dane feeding?

trish - where are you? busy as all get out i'm sure!!:cool:

sam- I bet your break was great - how did caden fair?

managing to cobble together a vague daytime routine these days, she's down to having 5-6 bottles and they are beginning to be roughly at the same times. sleeping is also starting to become more regular - although yesterday it was nearly all on meas i watched boogie nights - oh well if you can't beat em join em i say!

hi to everyone!!:wave: TFIF eh?

allgirls

01-02-2008, 10:41

Hi Everyone:wave:

Xavier had his immunisations shots this morning and no problems - having a good sleep at the moment. He is only 7.5 weeks but paed visit on wed said it was ok to have him done today.

He weighs 5.25kg and so far has been putting on 300+grams per week which I am happy with.

He has also been giving me 4-5hrs sleep at night and for the last couple of nights has been easy to go back down :fingerscrossed: he continues with his improved sleeping routine.

Prudie: My first born would also cry for 10-15mins before sleep and she cried whether we were holding/rocking her or not. I eventually just let her cry it out herself in her bed and she would go off to sleep herself.

Xavier is a tricky one. Sometimes he just wants to be put down and will happily go off to sleep by himself other times I just need to cuddle him for a few mins then he is happy to go down. Mind you this is after he has been awake for hrs - won't go to sleep until he is ready.

Hope everyone is having a good day....:flowerz:

Sammilee

01-02-2008, 13:32

Hello all!

Happy to say that our short getaway was fantastic! Caden was a real trooper in the car on the way down, slept his little heart out. Though I think the extra long sleep in the car did us in for the first night as he was wide awake until about 1am (usually he's down by 11pm). But after an extra big feed at 1am he finally went down and didn't emerge until near 8am... yay! 2nd night was much better... :yes: And he was great during the day. Happy to be dragged in and out of the car as we visited a couple of wineries, and then happily slept in his pram while DH and I indulged in a yummy lunch :p. So overall a very successful trip away. Oh, and while we were down there DH took heaps of pics so I'll have to post some as my lil' man is def getting bigger.

Sharon - Glad to hear that Xavier faired well with his shots. Can't believe that our bubs are getting bigger and approaching the 8 week mark. Time is def flying by!!! And that's excellent about his weight gain. Caden has his CHN visit next week so will be interesting to see how much he has gained. After a slow start I think he's more than made up for it. And he seems to have grown heaps in length too. Gotta get that from DH as I'm a shorty at 5' 2".

Jackie - Yay for Odette's efforts with sleeping right through (even though you had a small setback the other night, though a 6 hour stint is still great in my books!). Caden still wakes up for his middle-of-the-night feed around 3am. Soooooooooo wish I could wean him out of that one. Tried giving him a big BIG feed at 11pm hoping it would see him through to morning but made no difference :no:. Hoping it's just an age thing and he'll outgrow it soon.

Prudie - Yay for you too with Hugh sleeping through the past couple of nights. Seem to be a few good bubbas here! Wishing Caden was one of them :D.

Widget - I was only thinking about you yesterday and BF. One of my nipples has yet again become cracked... gggrrr! It even hurts when I express. Go figure?! You did really well to achieve the goal you set of exclusively BF'ing for 6 weeks... well done! But I wouldn't feel bad that you have resorted to using bottles too now. My way of thinking is that exclusively BF'ing doesn't make you a better or worse mum, 'coz there's other stuff that's just as important (or even more so) that contributes to raising a healthy happy bubba. And big :hugs: with the situation you have with DF. Such a tricky situation where one wants intimacy and the other doesn't. I'm no expert but being open about the reasons might help DF see where you are coming from.

Amy - Thanks for the link to the biccie recipe. It's grocery day tomorrow so I'll be getting me some of those ingredients (like who has brewers yeast sitting in the cupboard?! Hee hee!). Let us know if you notice an increase, and likewise here. Great to hear that "Boybee" (love that nickname by the way!) is doing well and putting on the weight. Funny how life goes; at this age we are so concerned that the wee lil' ones are putting on enough weight, but come adulthood it's usually the other way around and we are concerned about trying to loose weight... hahaha!

Katesmate - Sounds like you have a busy household around dinner time! How do you keep your sanity? Hehehe! And yeah, like some of the others have said, wonder why the CHN told you bedtime should be 6pm? She would shudder with our routine then. DH and I are night owls so we would much prefer for Caden to go to bed later and sleep through to a decent hour in the morning. I would imagine going to bed at 6pm would mean a very early morning wake up call!

Kobie - Hiya!!! So glad to hear from you. I'm totally impressed with your efforts to overcome all that pain and you're now successfully breastfeeding. Yay for you!!! Sienna sounds like a real star smiling and laughing already. And it sounds like you're having good nights with her too. Hooray!!!

PHEW! I think that's all the personals done... so much to catch up on after 3 days away... hehe!

I'm also proud to say that Caden officially had his real big smile on Tuesday. So very proud!!! And he's had few more since then. Funny how those little "cheek-raisers" make up for all the 3am feeds... haha!

Well, I've definitely rambled on more than enough. Why do I always seem to do that on here? Hehe! I hope everyone has a great Friday, and the weekend is also a happy one. I think there's going to be a depressed person in our house this weekend as DH goes back to work on Monday... woops! :p Can't believe how fast the past 6 weeks have flown by since our lil' man arrived and DH's been on hols.

Take care all, and chat again soon.

Sam...

Prudie

01-02-2008, 14:32

Hey Girls!

Hugh reverted back to his normal 6 hour sleep followed by a 4 hour sleep last night. So much for sleeping through...oh well, at least I know he can do it!! And the 6 hour sleep is pretty good anyway - can't complain.

I asked the nurse at mothers group yesterday about the 10-15 minutes of crying before falling asleep, and she said that 10 minutes is nothing and that it's very normal.

Although I am going to try and get him to put himself to sleep rather than me rocking him - he did it at 3am this morning which was great. After the feed I just put him back in his cot half asleep and he put himself to sleep within about 5 minutes. Why doesn't he do that during the day????? Will try again tonight though.

Re: injections. The paediatrician told me today to give DS some panadol before he gets his injections on Monday. Has anyone else tried this??

Bunny_79

01-02-2008, 14:54

:wave:Hey ladies

I know i am going to have to be quick with this one, Hayley just wants to be held all the time.

Well i went to book in for Hayleys 6-8 Week check with the comm nurse and i can't get in till she is 11 Weeks. Apparently thats fine with them:confused:. If i new they were so booked out i would have booked earlier. At least i know she is putting on weight so i suppose it should be ok.

She had a great sleep last night i went out to play soccer & left her with DH came back at 9pm and she had already been asleep for an hour, she ended up waking up at 3.30am. I think she was just so over tired.

Widget- I had the same problem a very bad cracked nipple. Come feed time i didn't want to feed her i dreaded it, i was upset, tired, crying and just not enjoying my baby. I wanted to BF so much but i made the hard decision to stop and it worked out well i now enjoy my baby so much and i am not upset by it. I just didnt listen to the people who were negative about my decision. It's the way you bring up your baby that matters :hugs:

Sammilee-Glad u had a great trip, something i wouldnt even think of doing just yet, but i can't wait to do. Can't wait for the pics.

snake eater-Your little one sleeps so well. I am also playing Tennis, when my lil one will let me play. It's either play playstation or get on the treadmill, i am chosing treadmill at the moment. Be great if i could combine the two.:D

Oh dam the crying has started must go. It's great to see eveyone doing well.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Widget

01-02-2008, 17:35

24 hours on formula and I tried expressing this morning... It was great to finally get rid of the pressure build up - got 150mls in 20 mins, but the next time I expressed I got 30 mls :confused: After the last express I inspected my nipples and I have blood spots ready to come through and bleed out, on both nipples, not sure what cracked nipples look like but they could be - at least they don't hurt at the moment.

A BFing mother friend of mine said to feed her today, not express or formula, but DF said not to stress myself out and the nipples will get sore again and my break would have been for nothing...

I'm a tad :( as my boobs haven't filled since yesterday...

Ok, darn scratch that... OUCH!!! Better quickly sterilise the pump bottles and do this - I don't want to lose my supply, I just want to let my nipples heal and then get her back on me - but properly attaching this time...

And now they don't hurt... What is going on?? Those BFing passed 6 weeks, how are your boobs feeling?? What's the norm??

Better express in case this is it and I can't tell coz the pain from filling went so quickly and I miss it - don't want to do that, it could ruin my supply!!

I didn't dare express yesterday - even though my boobs were killing me, my nipples were just too sore... I can express now but think if I tried her on me today I would up in tears of pain not long after - having my BFing friend come around tomorrow, hopefully she can help us out!!

PKKXP

01-02-2008, 20:42

Hi All!

I'm new here and just wanted to say hello! I've been looking around for a bit but haven't really said much up till now.

I'm 26 and from the Southern suburbs in Sydney with my DB and our DD who was born December 15 and am really looking forward to hearing from some other mums with babies the same age as mine.

Widget

01-02-2008, 21:23

Hi Khrys!!

My Mum's inlaws live over that way!! Couldn't tell you exactly where but there's an oval across the road for footy and netball... a shop on the corner too... No idea what street it is, never paid attention!!

Welcome to the group, hope to get to know you and your DD better!!

Reidymac

01-02-2008, 21:43

:wave: Hi Folks.

Widget : You poor bugger! it sounds like you are having a horrible time of it! You have done so amazingly well to reach your goal of feeding for 6 weeks and you should be really proud of how well you are doing now.:thumbsup:

I am no expert, thats for sure, but I hate to see someone suffering so I have a few suggestions you might want to try or tell me to go jump, whichever. I can understand you wanting to give your nipples a break from the little piranha ;) for a day or two.

To help heal the nipples try some pure lanolin (very soothing and very healing). Many people also suggest taking away any source of friction or dampness and letting the air at them (ie; spend as much time as possible topless - you might want to do mostly this at home;)).

For the soreness of engorgement - Pumps can be almost as painful as babies, If you just want to get rid of the engorgement warmth helps with the let down so have a nice warm shower and massage your breasts (leaving the sore nipples alone) and just let the milk pour out. If you don't want to waste the milk let it pour into a clean bowl and transfer to bottles later. Warm wash cloths will have the same sort of effect to help in releasing the milk.

and lastly, for just easing the achey engorged breasts, cabbage leaves work wonders! yep you read it right, put a cool cabbage leaf inside your bra cup. it cradles the breast, the fleshy leaf is soothing and stays cool and somehow the leaves are also quite healing for the nipple cracks. A midwife also told me once to try pouring some fresh water into a newborn nappy, refrigerating and then use in the same way as a cabbage leaf (the absorbent crystals holds the cool water and the shape of the nappy cups your breast (any milk that leaks is also absorbed by the nappy).

If you are worried about maintaining your milk supply while you are having a few days rest, there are lots of things that can help you get your supply back. There are supplements like fenugreek and blessed thistle which work great but also just eating oats (as porridge, cookies, on your cereal) helps heaps, as does brewers yeast (dink a beer each night, sprinkle brewers yeast on your cereal etc). those cookies in the BF threads are packed with oats and brewers yeast and are great for the milk.....not so grewat for the hips. Yummy though!

Anyway I have rambled enough, hope some of those ideas might help a bit. It is a really hard thing that you are doing and you have done so well to keep going. Do what you need to do for your sanity though. I know I have been really lucky to have been able to BF my 3 littleies but there have been lots of ups and downs and I have tried everything listed above. I have been feeding now for almost 4 years straight and (as my avatar suggests) I feel a bit like meals on heels some days.:rolleyes: if you have any specific questions I would be happy to try and take a stab at helping. Good luck to you widget and all of those struggling with BF'ing.

Sorry I didn't get to do personals but me thinks I have rambled quite enough. Goodnight :goodvibes:

Widget

02-02-2008, 10:55

Thanks for all the info Reidy!! The Lanisoh didn't seem to do anything... But I think my nipples are cracked, they are really dry at the bottom and a bit flaky too...

I think I've decided to formula feed from now on...

I tried Becca on the boob last night and she seemed to feed well, but was then hungry again in 1 1/2 hours, so I fed her again and she was pulling off and reattaching and still looking while eating so I think she got none, ended up having to give her formula. After feeding her, the nipples are tender again and expressing isn't getting enough out to give her EBM for a feed, 40mls just isn't enough for a feed... So while I needed the nipple break, it seems to be the worst thing I could have done if I want to keep feeding... Seeing that after one feed (2 but not really) my nipples are not good again I might just cut my losses, I exclusively breastfed for a mark that I had set for myself, and in time I will forget about how I feel right now. I know Annabelle was better off on formula, the change was for her, not me (expressing didn't kill my boobs like BFing does) but changing Becca is for my benefit... Just have to keep telling myself that happy mum makes happy bub... So the bottles and stuff we got yesterday didn't have to be those particular ones (coz I was still going to put her back on the breast so i got the closest I could to mimicing the breast) which irritates me a little as they aren't the easiest to wash and put together... Awkward shape and the teats come straight through the neck if you don't do it just right...:rolleyes: Oh well, I wanted the girls on different bottles and they are so less b!tching V and more enthusiasm... While formula is cardboard compared to sweet breastmilk, she is still getting nutrients and growing (well, it has only been 1 1/2 days) and you're not in agony anymore...

It's obviously the best thing for her because without resting your nipples you wouldn't be able to feed her, in the 24hour period that you rested your nipples, the supply seemed to have disappeared so quite obviously, you were supposed to stop at 6 weeks. You got to the mark you set for yourself, so what's the problem, you got what you wanted...

Vaginal Birth, breastfeeding for 6 weeks, thankful that you didn't get a baby that is opposite to the first - a screaming nightmare that spews all the time - very grateful both girls only sicked up and are content little ones...

Now, just have to work out how much she's eating...

Did I say before that after Annabelle's physio appointment we went and saw her Spina Bifida Dr to have a look over Becca... She said that the dimple is nothing to worry about and her bumhole is the right size... So I'm not so freaked about giving her formula now - I was so worried about constipation yesterday...

I've rambled enough for now - doesn't mean I won't be back though... :laughing:

Sammilee

02-02-2008, 12:39

Morning all!

I hope we all had great nights last night. All good here... yay! Caden went down very easily at 11pm, woke at 2:45am for some tucker and went back down without a hitch, was up again at 6:00am for some breaky, and I thought I might have been pushing my luck in trying to put him down again straight away (I was so tired and needed a few more hours of shut-eye myself), but he went down too and slept til 9:30am. So DH, myself and Caden all slept in this morning, gotta love it :D.

Well, as I speak I have the house to myself. DH needed to go into the city to pick some stuff up so he's taken Caden with him. Strange, so quiet here... haha! First time for DH to be by himself with the lil' fella, I hope he goes OK! I packed a bag for him along with a feed so he should be OK. Now I have a few hours to catch up on housework. I know, not that exciting (quite pitiful really :p) but I'm so sick of seeing dust on the floorboards, and the dirty wash basket is overflowing.

So on that note I am off. Might pop on again this arvo, hopefully to tell you that my house sparkles :babydust2: and that DH survived the time alone with Caden :).

See ya!

Sam...

PS.

:hugs: to you Widget, though I'm sure you have made the right decision about bottle feeding.

And :wave: Khrys! Welcome to our thread, and can't wait to get to know you and your bubs more in the future.

Bunny_79

02-02-2008, 13:50

Morning everyone

Thought i would quickly jump on while DH is on baby watch.

Managed to do all the house work this morning and shopping. God it helps to have an extra pair of hands. Gotta love the weekends.

Widget:hugs: I agree u have done the right thing, u gave it all u had.

Hi Khrys :wave: Welcome. Your DD was born the same day as my DD.

Does anyone else have a little one that just has to be held otherwise they get whingy ?

Is there anyway to get them out of the habbit of being held, i love holding her but u just can't get anything done.

Have a good day everyone.

sniper wolf

02-02-2008, 14:41

bunny- i'm with you about the weekends. it's great having someone else here to share the love. mine goes through clingy and not so clingy days. I reckon see how it goes, she may well get herself out of it. do you have a bouncer? I often take the bouncer with her in it around with me when i do stuff.

sam- yay for caden and his good sleeping pattern! I empathise with the housework bit though. When i have some spare time i end up doing a lot of stuff around the house - it's great to have the time to actually get a lot fo stuff done - i find i am a lot more efficient at doing that these days though. before i used to dither about a bit i think.

widegt- you sound like you have it well sorted, good for you!

hi and welcome khrys - look forward to hearing what you are up to.

I think I'm the only one in the dec group from spasmania? I know prudie used to live here once but i think that's it.:yes:

funny ol weather down here today... anyway i'm off to get some more stuff done.

:flowerz::goodvibes::sunshine:

Reidymac

02-02-2008, 15:51

Woohoo it's the weekend :smiliedance: it sounds like we are all pretty happy to have an extra pair of hands around the house sharing baby duty.

Sammy- I hope you have a lovely day home alone even if it is doing housework. Your DH sounds like a great dad taking baby in to town by himself.

Widget - sounds like you are making the right call.:thumbsup: its so important to look after yourself and you have given it such a massive effort and done it really tough. I hope your feeling better about it all today :hugs:.

hi Khrys- I look forward to hearing more about you and your little one.:wave:

Bunny - I have one of those little ones that wants to be held all the time too. As lovely as it is to snuggle them all the time it gets pretty tiring. Even when I do manage to get him off me there are 2 other little people in the house who want to kiss and hug him to within an inch of his life, so he is almost safer in my arms. This is a picture (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2057/2236273452_196a507f21_b.jpg) of how I manage to get anything done. :p With him strapped onto my front most of the time feel like I'm still pregnant but without all the vomiting :laughing:

DH is playing with the little man and getting tones of smiles so I think I'll go play too. Hope you all have a great weekend

Sammilee

02-02-2008, 21:02

Happy to say my house is sparkling :D.

And also happy to say that DH survived his first outing alone with Caden :yes:. It was so cute, DH came home with a huge grin on his face as he was so proud of himself. He also admitted (later mind you :p) how Caden was a 'chick magnet' as they had so many women come up to them. Mmm... not liking that... hehe! :laughing:

I hope everyone is having a great weekend and getting the best out of those extra pair of hands while the DH/DP/DFs are home :yes:. Well, I have been spoilt the past 6 weeks as DH has been home, but he goes back to work on Tuesday :eek:. Sooooooooo hoping that I go OK on my own.

Anyway, gotta go. DH cooked dinner on the bbq and it's ready now. Gonna go eat.

See ya!

Sam...

Sammilee

03-02-2008, 09:33

:D :D :D BIG smiles all around here... Caden slept from 10pm through to just before 5am... a whole 7 hours... never done that before... yay!!! :smiliedance:

Just thought I'd share my happiness :). Maybe there is hope that he can sleep through the whole night?! :yelclap:

sniper wolf

03-02-2008, 11:56

big hand for caden!!!:yelclap::yelclap::yelclap::yelclap:

this is exactly what odette did at about that time. yr heading in the right direction!

feels good doesnt it?

There are some babies that don't even do one sleep through until much much older.

p.s. your DH sounds very proud and capable- that's a big plus!!!

Ys_Woman

04-02-2008, 12:03

The kids start back to school tomorrow. Poor things have had a pretty pathetic summer break. They are looking forward to the structure and activity of school after being stuck around here for seven weeks with a newborn.
They had to get their own breakfast again this morning as Dane and I slept on 'til almost 10am. He went down at 11pm, woke for a 4am feed then wouldn't go back to sleep til 6.. I still had lunch and breakfast to make for hubby and to see him off to work, so I finally crawled back in at 7am. An hour later Dane stirred (agghhh) so I put him in bed with me and we went back off for another two hours. I feel like I am sleepwalking through life at present.
My brother came down from the NT for the weekend. He has never married and has no kids so he relished playing with mine. My SIL is coming down tomorrow from QLD and will stay for ten days. She loves kids but couldn't have any due to her Lupus:(..so very, very sad. She will happily take the kids out and play with them, so I might get a few catchup sleeps while she is here.
Sounds like most of your bubs are getting into a good overnight sleeping routine..woohooo!
My other three were all sleeping between 10-13hrs a night by twelve weeks but being that I am breastfeeding now I have no clue when Dane will start sleeping through. Anyone know if there is a difference for bottle versus breastfed babies?
I am still not making enough milk. I expressed 90ml yesterday (3 1/2 hrs after his last feed) but I figure Dane should be having around 120ml at his age. I top him up with formula once or twice a day. Sadly I don't think the biscuits have done anything to increase supply. At least he isn't suffering any confusion between bottle and breast..he latches on well and drains both sides before a 40ml top up. My mum had to give up bfeeding at the six week mark with both my brother and myself. Maybe it is genetic that I don't produce a flood of milk *shrugs*.
I had best away to get the kids some lunch.
Sorry for the ramble.
Nice and rainy and cold here today..perfect weather for sleeping *waaaah*..Dane is down but I have to stay up with the others.

Hugs,
Amy:)
P.S. will get to personals later..sorry.

Sammilee

04-02-2008, 13:02

Well, my happiness has been short-lived as Caden had a restless night last night... aaarrrggghhh!!! I was hoping the 7 hour stint was the start of longer sleeps during the night. Admittedly, last night was a bit out of the norm. We were at my parents house til about 11pm, so his 'nitey-nite' routine was thrown out a bit. He had a feed at 8pm at my parents, then went to sleep. He slept all the way home and then right through to 1:30am. Woke up for some tucker at 1:30am, but then took about half hour to go back down *sigh*. He then was restless from about 5am, so it was an early start here. Oh well, I'll just keep my :fingerscrossed: that he has more better nights.

Hiya Amy! Sounds like you have a pretty 'full' house at the moment, with the kiddies and visitors. But great if your visitors occupy the kiddies so you can get some rest. And the biccies didn't work? Bummer! I brought the ingredients but haven't yet made any... slack! Maybe you just need to wait a little longer for them to kick in? :confused: My sister had some problems with supply too, and if my memory serves me right she went to the doctor and they put her on maxalon to increase the supply. I'm pretty sure that's what she took 'coz I remember thinking that maxalon was for queasiness??? Anyway, might be worth looking into if your supply is really low and you still want to BF. Thankfully my supply is good, just my right boob is a little 'down' on the quantity compared to the left.

Hiya Jackie! I'm hoping that Caden follows in Odette's footsteps and is on the road to sleeping longer during the night. How's she going now? Still giving you longer sleeps during the night? And how's her days? Caden is definitely more awake during the day now, heaps more playtime in this household. Which is good, but also makes it harder to get things down around the house.

Hiya Reidymac! Love the pic!!! He definitely looks nice and snug in the sling.

Hiya to everyone else that I didn't get to personals!!!

Well, it's DH's birthday today. Another year been and gone. Amazing how much has happened in the past year. This time last year DH and I were in Singapore celebrating his big 4-0 birthday :eek:. Now we are parents to a 6 week old. My goodness! DH is currently in the lounge with the lil' fella watching the American Superbowl (I suppose that's what you get for marrying a 'yanky'... hehe!). Not that I'm complaining, as it's given me a couple of hours to surf the net, do some online banking, and of course come on here :D. Ooohhh, DH just shouting at the telly in glee so I think the NY Giants have won or are leading? Hehehe!!! :laughing:

I hope everyone has a great day. I better go 'spruce' myself up now as I'm sure the game will soon be over and we are heading out to lunch for his birthday. Oh, reminds me, I must update my ticker to say that DH is now 41... ol' f@rt that he is... haha!

See ya!

Sam... :flowerz:

sniper wolf

04-02-2008, 13:43

Hiya Jackie! I'm hoping that Caden follows in Odette's footsteps and is on the road to sleeping longer during the night. How's she going now? Still giving you longer sleeps during the night? And how's her days? Caden is definitely more awake during the day now, heaps more playtime in this household. Which is good, but also makes it harder to get things down around the house.

oh man, yr on the brink of it- this is exactly what odette did, hang in there - in 2-3 weeks or so you'll be laughing.:cool:

we had an 8pm to 7am last night night (11 hours!)

unfortunately when she stirs she sounds like she is about to wake, so i was up with a bottle waiting for her at 6am due to squeaks and cries in her sleep. twas good though coz i got nearly all of my jobs done before she even woke. and now i've even started the spring clean on the kitchen (done one long cupboard).

so in the last say 10 days, she's gone down between 8 and 9 and wakes up between 6 & 7am. we had a coupla 5:30s but hey I'm not complaining. there was only one hiccup with a 3am but that was a one-off. She is 10 weeks now and weighs 6.6 kgs! her length and weight are in perfect proportion. now I am about 170cms (5'6/7") and DF is 6'. not outrageously tall but praps she will follow suit.

her days are getting much better - she is alseep in the bouncer right now. Her room is almost ready (yes it's taken this long for the ruddy curtains- long story, very boring) and so we can't wait to use it for her to sleep in. at the mo she sleeps at night in DF's study which annoys him a bit coz his computer is in there. I vaguely find his frustration amusing.:devil: Like me to mine, he is glued to the damn thing. and yes will post a pic, it looks incredible i must say.:flowerz:

so yeah daytime is a little better, mainly coz i think I am reading her better.

she's having minimum of 2 sleeps - duration anywhere between 30mins- 2 hours. only in bouncer or on one of us still. coz she sleeps so well at night, that really doesnt bother me, although once her room is ready I wil try to put her in her cot fo sho.

hi amy - looks like you are going the hard yards with the BF - good on you. hope you get some decent sleep soon.

hey i realised the other day that we get mother's day first!!! HOORAY! think i'll suggest that these days are devoid of store bought gifts and that the appropriate gift is something made by the baby- will be a it hard this year but I am sure Df can think of something!:D:wizard::devil:

hi to lurkers and those too tired to post!

Widget

04-02-2008, 22:26

Sounds like most of your bubs are getting into a good overnight sleeping routine..woohooo!
My other three were all sleeping between 10-13hrs a night by twelve weeks but being that I am breastfeeding now I have no clue when Dane will start sleeping through. Anyone know if there is a difference for bottle versus breastfed babies?
Not sure Amy... Annabelle was always a good sleeper at night, I think she was sleeping 6pm til 4am from 8 weeks and through 6pm til 8am from about 9 weeks... Becca seemed to be doing better on the breast than what she is on formula... She was doing 6-11 hour stints (11 hours the night before I changed to formula) and now she's looking for food after 2-3 hours, barely sleeps and is more often than not whinging about not being in arms... Right now would probably be the biggest break I've had all day and she's been down for about an hour - but she had to fall asleep on my shoulder and be transferred onto her tummy... I got better breaks with her on the boob!!

hey i realised the other day that we get mother's day first!!! HOORAY! think i'll suggest that these days are devoid of store bought gifts and that the appropriate gift is something made by the baby- will be a it hard this year but I am sure Df can think of something!
If it's anything like Mother's Day last year, I'll pass!! DF totally made my first ever mother's day horrible - I'll try and make sure we're not in hospital for it this year!!

Becca isn't in her cot/room yet either... She currently sleeps in the bouncer next to me. I have to re-arrange her room as the sound and movement monitor doesn't quite reach how it is now... With a toddler under your feet all the time it makes it hard to shift furniture!!

sniper wolf

05-02-2008, 06:56

widget - she sleeps in a bassinet at night but in bouncer in day. god i'd be nothing without that bouncer! she's in it now loving the lights and sounds.:bee:

Prudie

05-02-2008, 10:06

Hi all :wave:

Hughie had his shots yesterday and was a very brave little boy. I think I was more stressed than he was!!!

Sammilee - yay for Caden sleeping through. Hugh slept through 2 nights in a row last week, but hasn't done it since...but is sleeping 6 hours which is still pretty good i guess. But now that i know he can do it, I am waiting patiently for him to do it again...I might be waiting a while!!!

Snake eater - hugh is sleeping in my arms as we speak!!!

My mum is coming up to visit in 2 weeks time and I can't wait - she hasn't seen hughie since Christmas. Will be great to have the extra help around the house too :thumbsup:

Sammilee

05-02-2008, 12:07

Morning all :wave:

Prudie - So glad to hear that Hugh did well with his shots :thumbsup:. Caden still has 2 weeks to go until his shots. Did you give Hugh any baby panadol beforehand? I've heard that doing this can help, so just wondering if anyone here has done that. And I can relate to 'patiently waiting for bub to sleep through the night again'. Caden had the one big sleep the other night, but that's it - he's gone back to sleeping in 4-5 hour blocks... *sigh*. But like you said, he's done it once before so I know he can do it, just gotta be patient. And yay for your Mum visiting soon!

Jackie & Widget - All I can say is thank goodness for our rocker here. Caden sleeps in his bassinet during the night, but doesn't want a bar of it during the day. He so much prefers to be in his rocker. It keeps him (relatively) quiet and he sleeps in it so that's good :yes:.

Hey Jackie, don't forget to post some pics of Odette's nursery when it's all done. So eager to see it!

Well, DH has gone back to work today, so I'm on my own :eek:. But having said that so far so good. We actually had an appointment with our family GP this morning. Just a basic check-up. Caden is now 3.9kgs so he's put on 510 grams since birth. He's 56.5cm long so has grown 6.5cm, and his head circum is 38cm - 5 cm bigger than his birth measurement. The GP seemed happy with it all so I'm assuming that all of Caden's measurements are in the norm range. Anyone know of a good site on the net that has the normal weight/ height ranges? Just curious. And I've heard of people talk of things like 'in the 50th percentile' (sp?) etc and I have no idea what that all means!

Caden is asleep in his rocker as I speak, so I think I'm going to head to the shower. Secretly I use to think how slack it was when some of my girlfriends use to say that they didn't have their showers before mid-day on most days when they first had their bubs. But now I can totally understand!!! After getting up, feeding the lil' fella, then expressing, doing the breakfast dishes, another feed for Caden, and another express it's now gone 11am... yeeks! I feel like I have wasted half the day away :p.

So on that note I'm definitely going. Hi to everyone and chat again soon.

Sam... :flowerz:

sniper wolf

05-02-2008, 13:02

Hey Jackie, don't forget to post some pics of Odette's nursery when it's all done. So eager to see it!

it would have been done 2 weeks ago but the curtain people stuffed up. but yeah will do.

Anyone know of a good site on the net that has the normal weight/ height ranges? Just curious. And I've heard of people talk of things like 'in the 50th percentile' (sp?) etc and I have no idea what that all means!

here you go:
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/childhealthrecord/growth_details/boys.htm
they're in our child health record book thingo - don't you guys have one of those? - apparently every child is given one where you fill out stuff liek imunisations as well as initial stats on length, weight etc and then add notes on further growth.

Caden is asleep in his rocker viva la rockers!!!:party:

Widget

05-02-2008, 13:05

Amy, I meant to say before, check the ABA website, it has a list of stuff to do to increase your supply...

Becca slept in her cot last night - every door between was open and I made DF sleep with the monitor under his ear... Have to rearrange her room soon!!

xlouxloux

05-02-2008, 15:06

This is my first time posting but I have been lurking on the forum for awhile and have decided to make an effort after reading all the helpful advice being given :thumbsup:

I ended up having my lil girl 6 weeks early after my waters ruptured, she spent 7 days on oxygen and 13 days being tube fed. We left the hospital after 15 days and a bad case of mastitus.

Since then things have been relitivley smooth, only a few BF issues, low supply and fighting the boob, and constipation after being topped up. Which we will no longer be doing...hopefully. (any tips on what to do when they havent had bowel movement for 4 days would be greatful)

Hope to get the chance to get to know you all and im sure ill be asking for more advice in the future cos you all seem so helpful :D

Reidymac

05-02-2008, 16:01

:wave: Hi Folks, Sounds like you are all doing well and those rockers are a godsend.

Prudie sounds like hugh did well with his shots and is growing well.

Widget How did becca do in her cot and more to the point did you sleep well having your room back?

Sammilee glad to hear things are going well for you and caden on your own today. I am sure your partner will be exhausted tonight, starting back at work after such a nice long break.

Hi louxloux its great that you have decided to join into the chatter! The more the merrier. Congratulations on the birth of your little girl. It sounds like you guys had a tuff start in hospital for 15 days, hope things are going well now. in regard to your question........If your little one is being fully BF with no top up bottles now, then it is perfectly normal for her to go for 10 - 14 days without a bowl movement (as long as you are still getting plenty of wet nappies all is fine). With BFing there is not much waste because the babies just take what they need. Having said that plenty of BF babies poo at every nappy change too :p For weeks my DD used to only poo on Fridays at 10am :laughing: you could have set a clock by her. If you are worried though.....try the good old bicycle legs (put baby on back and excercise her legs like she is riding a bike) that stimulates the bowl and can get things moving. Some people also suggest a teaspoon of sugar disolved in some cooled water but I'm sure shes fine.

Rowan and I started a mum and bubs excercise class this morning which is put on by the hospital. It was lots of fun and it was so nice to get out of the house and hang out with some other new mums. My other 2 littilies went to visit grandma for the morning so I feel like a lady of leisure :p Hopefully we will get to go along to that every Tuesday and on Wednesdays we are meeting up with some other hubbers from near where I live. I think I love this not working business, I could get good at this lifestyle :laughing:

Widget

05-02-2008, 19:54

Since then things have been relitivley smooth, only a few BF issues, low supply and fighting the boob, and constipation after being topped up. Which we will no longer be doing...hopefully. (any tips on what to do when they havent had bowel movement for 4 days would be greatful)
:wave: Hi (you stole my colour!! :eek:) Reidy is right about BF bubs and going days on end with now bowel movents, though my MCHN said upto 10 days... If the tummy isn't tight and doesn't feel blocked up don't worry about it... It's when it's tight and bubs seems to be in pain that it can be a problem (sometimes it's just bad wind, so don't stress too much). We had a lot of dramas with Annabelle being constipated due to her weird form of Spina Bifida that isn't Spina Bifida. Before we knew about all of that though and I was about to put her on formula at 2 weeks old I heard that going from BM to Formula can constipate them so I put coloxyl in a few of her bottles to help soften her poos... Turns out it was the best thing I could have done for her... Even on the coloxyl she still had problems (because of the SB) and we had to use suppositories on her as well... If bub is constipated and the movement exercises don't work, see your HCP before you give bub any "drugs"...

Widget How did becca do in her cot and more to the point did you sleep well having your room back?

I slept the same as usual... Went to bed around 2am actually set my alarm for 7am (haven't been up for the day that early in a long time!!)... Becca was fine. She was on her tummy all night though, Up at 3:30am instead of her usual 4am, but went back down without a fuss...

I think she has silent reflux as well.

Anyways, issues with the I'll be nice... other half - yelling match... gotta go...

brodiebunch

06-02-2008, 12:48

sorry I have been a bit slack and not kept up with you all,just dropped in to tell you that we found out today that Layla has got congenital hip dislocation

Bunny_79

06-02-2008, 14:38

Hey everyone :wave:

brodiebunch-Sorry to hear that :hugs:

Well i would say now that we r in a routine, Hayley is only getting up once in the night for a feed :D. The last two days she has had little naps during the day, yeasterday i got to run on the treadmill for 40 mins and today i mowed the lawns (DH will love that).

I can't believe how much she is smiling i just have to look at her and she just smiles away. Last night we got woken up to her laughing to herself just before feed time, so cute.

Here's a pic of her.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x26/bj2410/Hayleymix174.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x26/bj2410/Hayleymix175.jpg

Must go she has started to cry at least i got to type this much :thumbsup: I will try and come back later.

allgirls

06-02-2008, 15:29

:hugs:Brodiebunch - that's no good. So what happens now ??? In a cast for a few months?? then physio?? Did your other kids have problems with their hips too??

Bunnygirl - very cute photos! It's amazing that a little being is already smiling & showing off. When my first was born I was overwhelmed that she would sneeze & cough "just light a real little being". It's all sooooo cute.

Nothing much to report with Xavier - no real change in his milestones - just smiling more and more each day and sleeping alot better for me during the day and gradually improving at night.

Hope everyone is ok....:wave:

sniper wolf

06-02-2008, 16:45

buny - very sweet girl. you really do wrap her rigth up. from the start it seemed clear to me that odette liked her hands out- sure she has a scratch or 2 and a startle reflex like a tiger but she seems to sleep ok. last 2 nights she's had 11-12 hours.

she's been putting herself to bed (well showing us she is tired) earlier and as such her bedtime has been earlier at half 7 rather than 8:30-9pm.

funny how they get themselves in a routine. but yeah sleeping through until around 7am.

brodiebunch- the hip thing is treatable innit? :hugs: to you, hope you're doing ok elsewhere!

hi allgirls! how are you coping with all your kids? As I only have the one, the mind boggles at those on here with more!

widget- hoping you get some quiet time soon!

my girl is so sweet, she let me do so much stuff today, we went out and about and i've got a quiche on and all!

hi to everyone!!

long weeked\nd here! HOORAY!:smiliedance:

Ys_Woman

06-02-2008, 22:03

Widget: Thank you for the info hon..much appreciated. How are things with you today? You sounded frustrated in your last post.
I think Dane may have silent reflux as well. I was researching reflux and ticking all the boxes. Had a rotten day with it today but I think it is linked to the formula I am topping him up with. Are you using the s26 reflux formula for Becca? I was thinking of trying it tomorrow.

Jackie: Sounds like you are reclaiming your life now that Odette is giving you a good sleep. Have you finished the nursery yet? Frankly my kids have never had a nursery..would have liked to give them one but never had a spare room.
All mine have lived in their rockers during the day too..and the jolly jumper once they got old enough. I can't wait to put Dane in that thing. Lachlan used to go mad and end up clinging to the door frame halfway up the doorway..lol.

Sammilee: How did you survive your hubby's return to work? I laughed when you said how you used to think your friends were slackers before you had Caden. I remember watching my friends raise their kids and saying I would NEVER do this or that with my children. I ended up doing most of them in the end..lol.

xlouxloux: welcome! Frankly I am having much the same probs as you currently. My little fella went from seven poopy nappies a day down to one or none in the last few days *shrugs*. I gave him a little cooled, boiled water tonight in the hope that it encourages a poopy one. A friend suggested I rub his tummy in an anti- clockwise motion for a few mins as it has been known to help too.

Reidymac: Those mum/bubs classes sound like fun. It reminded me that I haven't even considered getting out of the house yet and being sociable. Now that the kids are back at school maybe I should look at something that will bring me into contact with other mums of bubs.

Bunny79: Gee Hayley is a cutie. Those smiles surely melt away any frustration don't they? I think whoever designed babies got it so right..those sweet bright eyes, the cute expressions and gurgles, and those big wonderful smiles..lol. Makes it worth all the effort.

Brodiebunch: Was the diagnosis a complete surprise or did they pick up something during her first checkup after her birth? I guess Layla will require to wear a brace or a cast or something?

Allgirls: *waves*..glad all is going well with Xavier.

Prudie: Glad Hugh took his shots well. Did you?
I didn't cry when my firstborn had her first needles, so I quite confidently agreed to take my goddaughter for hers, where I promptly burst into tears when she did..lololol.
Dane is up for his next week *eeek*.

How is everyone feeling about all the vaccinations the babies require? Has anyone chosen some and not others, or are you having them all?

I had best away. My SIL is out there doing the dishes whilst I am sitting here typing away. Makes me feel very guilty.

Hugs to everyone. Sorry if I missed anyone.

Amy:)

Widget

07-02-2008, 00:06

Hey Amy, I did 2 massive posts in the Jan thread with the symptoms of silent reflux and ways to try and help it... Couldn't be ar$ed to copy and paste it... Mainly coz my net connection has been throttled and it takes me long enough to open one page LOL Becca has 6 of the symptoms... Irratability and pain, Arching neck and back after feeds, Poor sleeping (not always though), frequent hiccups, always hungry and gagging/choking... So I've been keeping her more upright when feeding, keeping her upright for at least 1/2 hour after feeds (still yaks though not as much) and propping her for sleep... We're just using S26gold as it's what we have in the house (Dad bought it for xmas, I was actually going to try a different one this time but oh well) I was going to speak to the Dr next week about it before I get an AR formula, but it will most likely be S26 coz it's the only one I know with those particular measurements (1 scoop per 60mls, most others go by 50mls).
I'm feeling a bit better, DF has been rather nice to me today... Thinking he's buttering me up for sex or something LOL :rolleyes:

Cardio on Tuesday then immunisations on Wednedsday... :( Hoping Cardio does another ECG and then says everything is fine and we'll just monitor her as she grows to make sure she doesn't have any problems... I'll probably have a major breakdown if he says anything different... I went through a LOT with Annabelle's "Spina Bifida that isn't Spina Bifida", actually still dealing with it but I know she will walk now so my concerns aren't anywhere near as great, but to have a SB child and a heartkid will just devastate me...

Widget

07-02-2008, 07:17

Becca went from 10:30pm (12:30am she finally fell asleep) til 8am!!! :yes:

Ys_Woman

07-02-2008, 07:46

Widget: hey hon, glad things have settled in your house.
Did you do the reflux posts in the Dec07 site or somewhere else?
I just don't know what to think about Dane's health. My eldest daughter had stomach issues as a baby (still does actually). She would projectile vomit across the room after a feed,was tagged a 'failure to thrive' baby, had a depressed immune system and immature sphincter, and had severe asthma as she grew.
Dane doesn't projectile vomit. A few weeks ago he sat up after a top-up feed and brought up the entire bottle all down his front and over dh and the lounge. At the next feed he took the top up, had several burps, then went to bed and brought up the whole feed lying on his back looking like a bubbler (which eldest dd had also done as a baby).
I took him to the gp at that point and he wanted to diagnose it immediately as pyloric stenosis but I disagree with that as it is rare for Dane to bring up anything, and never breastmilk. What a shame I don't make enough of the stuff..could cure the whole situation.
Anyway, where I am confused is that there may be one issue or several overlapped as he has most of the reflux points but doesn't have an issue with sleeping, although in the past few days he wants to be held for his daytime sleeps and is very very windy from both ends. He has a funny cough that comes after feeds sometimes too. The confusion is that he also gets a really hot head sometimes, he sounds heady and nasely, puffy around the eyes, and rubs his face into my clothes, he also has some psoriasis across the eyebrows which is strange because I have never used anything but sorbolene on him, even to shower and wash his hair with.
I guess with that litany I really should take him back to the gp and see what is up *sigh*. Otherwise he is a happy, healthy bub..just need some answers.
I must have missed a post or two as I cannot recall what is up with Becca's heart. It is really worrying when they have heart issues. Thankfully dd#2 came up fine at her 2wk checkup after having an open valve at birth. Hope you get as good news as that.
Best dash, new lounge suite just arriving.

Hugs,
Amy:)

Ys_Woman

07-02-2008, 08:02

Becca went from 10:30pm (12:30am she finally fell asleep) til 8am!!! :yes:

Wow, that's great! Can you get Becca to tell Dane that is how babies should do it..lol.

Lounge suite is in and looks great..woohooo.

Am going to crash with Dane at his next sleep. So very tired.

Amy:)
*pokey-outey-tongue-boy-Dane is my avatar choice this morning..pic taken yesterday..makes me laugh*

Widget

07-02-2008, 08:36

Did you do the reflux posts in the Dec07 site or somewhere else?

I must have missed a post or two as I cannot recall what is up with Becca's heart. It is really worrying when they have heart issues. Thankfully dd#2 came up fine at her 2wk checkup after having an open valve at birth. Hope you get as good news as that.

No, I posted it in the Jan 08 section... I will try and copy paste it this morning (speeds die at noon)

We tried for early discharge but they found a murmur, then her oxygen saturations were low so she went to SCN... We saw the Cardio at the Children's Hospital on Xmas eve after she has finally got her sat levels up to what we breathe and had an ECG done. The head Cardio is who we have and he said that she has 2 holes and a funky valve that leaks into nowhere...

Wow, that's great! Can you get Becca to tell Dane that is how babies should do it..lol.

HAHAHA if you want to deal with the ****** for 5 1/2 hours beforehand sure! She fed at 7:30pm and would not settle the whole time... at 10pm I had to just let her go because she had no bottles and I needed to wash and sterilise them!!

I'll go get the posts now.

Widget

07-02-2008, 08:44

By the looks of it, Becca has silent reflux...

She has 6 of these symptoms...

Silent GER refers to GER or GERD without any outward or typical symptoms. This could mean that a child isn't vomiting or appearing uncomfortable but is having reflux episodes. Some children may swallow the refluxed material (refluxate) back down instead of throwing it up, in some kids it may not come up enough to actually come out the mouth. This can be much more difficult to diagnose, since the most common symptoms are not present.

It can also be more damaging as the refluxate burns the esophagus on the way up and again on the way down. Whether or not the silent reflux needs to be treated depends on the complications that are arising from it.
Some symptoms that can indicate silent reflux are:
irritability and pain
poor sleep habits typically with frequent waking*
arching their necks and back during or after eating*
frequent hiccups*
frequent ear infections
refusing food or accepting only a few bites despite being hungry* or the exact opposite requiring constant small meals or liquid
food/oral aversions
anemia
excessive drooling
running nose, sinus infections
sinus congestion
swallowing problems, gagging, choking
chronic hoarse voice
frequent red, sore throat without infection present
apnea
respiratory problems�pneumonia, bronchitis, wheezing, asthma, night-time cough, aspiration
gagging themselves with their fingers or fist (sign of esophagitis)
poor weight gain, weight loss, failure to thrive*
erosion of dental enamel
neck arching (Sandifer's Syndrome)
bad breathAs with regular reflux, the child does not need to exhibit all the symptoms listed to have silent reflux. If you believe your child has silent reflux, start with lifestyle modifications as suggested in the article on 14 Steps for Helping a Baby with Reflux (http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/help-infant-reflux.php). If this is not enough to help, you may need to bring baby to the doctor as the next step may be medications. The treatments (http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/treating-infant-reflux-and-gerd.php) page will give you a list of the medications used to treat reflux.
Usually the doctor will not order any diagnostic testing to confirm reflux is present unless it does not respond to initial treatment. If it continues despite medical therapy and begins to cause more serious complications, the doctor will likely begin further work ups.
* denotes most common symptoms of silent reflux

Widget

07-02-2008, 08:46

This is the 14 steps to reducing infant reflux...

It's important to realize that not all babies with reflux will require medication or have difficulties with their reflux. Many infants, usually called happy spitters, will benefit greatly from some simple steps that you can start trying right now. Many of the things listed below will help with your baby's discomfort and spitting up, eliminating the need for medication.
If, after trying all the below listed tips, your baby is still spitting up, or having difficulties with their reflux, read about whether or not medication may be needed (http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/needtomed.php) and what medications (http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/infant-reflux-treatments.php) will likely be used.

Positioning During and After Feeds
Keeping the child upright during and for at least thirty minutes after feeds can help to reduce reflux by allowing gravity to work at holding the food in their tummies. As well, after feeding, try to keep them as motionless as possible for at least thirty minutes after feeding. Formula fed babies may require longer periods since formula is digested slower than breastmilk.

A Word About Car Seats
Some car seats position baby in such a way that they hunched and slouched over, putting added pressure on their tummies which can increase reflux episodes. Look for a car seat that allows baby to be reclined enough that they aren't slouched yet, inclined enough that they are fairly upright.

Sleeping Position
As with positioning after feeding, keeping baby propped during sleep is essential when they have reflux. It can help reduce painful reflux episodes and reduce the risk of aspiration. For more info on propping baby, see the article on propping (http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/propping.php).

Prone vs. Supine (Front vs Back)
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all babies sleep in the supine position (on their backs) because it has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is fine for babies with reflux as long as the baby is safely propped up to at least 30%, we found the higher baby is propped the better. Having said that, many babies with reflux prefer sleeping in the prone position (stomach), also elevated of course, and may have less reflux episodes in this position. Discuss this with your doctor and he can help decide if it's okay, and how to safely manage allowing baby to sleep in the prone position. It's very important to discuss this with the doctor before trying it as babies with reflux are already at an increased risk of SIDS.

Carrying
Try carrying baby around as much as possible in a baby carrier through out the day. Carried babies tend to cry less and crying will make reflux worse, plus, it keeps baby upright.

Avoid Tight Clothing
Tight clothing, particularly clothing that's tight around baby's tummy, can make reflux worse by increasing pressure on the LES (lower esophageal sphincter). Make sure baby stays in loose fitting, elastic waists whenever possible.

Food
Breastfeeding is definitely best for a baby with reflux because it is more hypoallergenic than formula and is digested twice as fast as formula. If breastfeeding is not chosen or not possible by the mother, formula changes can help some babies. If the baby has a milk or lactose allergy or intolerance giving the baby formula that is milk based can make reflux worse. Read about the different types of formula available (http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/formula.php) and discuss this possibility with your pediatrician.

Thickening
Some babies with reflux will respond well to thickening their feeds with cereal. Thickening formula can help for a few reasons. The added weight of the cereal in the food helps to keep the food from splashing around in the baby's belly and can help keep it down. Babies who are having difficulty gaining weight may also benefit from the added calories. Generally, it's recommended that about one tablespoon of cereal should be added for every ounce of formula. If the formula isn't thick enough, it won't work. Also, some babies may react poorly to rice cereal which is generally the first tried, so adding oatmeal instead may work better for some babies. As always discuss this with your pediatrician before trying it.

Feeding Time
When and how much a baby is fed can also have an impact on their reflux. Smaller more frequent meals through out the day work much better than larger, less frequent meals. Also, avoid feeding baby right before bedtime, particularly if the baby is already a poor sleeper.

Breastfeeding
If you are breastfeeding, try eliminating the foods that can make reflux worse. Dairy products are a big offender, as is caffeine, fatty foods, spicy foods, citrus fruits. If eliminating these things seems to help, you can slowly (about one thing a week) start to introduce one thing at a time back into your diet and watch baby's reactions. This will help give you an idea of exactly what was making the reflux worse, so that you (hopefully) don't need to give up everything you love, just one or two things.

Burping
Stopping to burp baby frequently (at least after every ounce) during feedings can help.

Provide a Pacifier
Sucking on a pacifier or dummy, can increase saliva production. Saliva is alkaline which can help neutralize some of the acid that may come up.

Infant Massage
Try infant massage, it's been shown to improve digestion and will help relax baby.

Avoid Certain Foods and Liquids
More so for older children and babies, there are certain foods that are known to make reflux worse. If you breastfeeding, as mentioned above avoid these foods in your own diet. The complete list, as put forth by PAGER is below:
List Source and Copyright: Pediatric Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association - PAGER
www.reflux.org (http://www.reflux.org/)

Vegetables (due to high acid or belching)
Broccoli
Green Peppers
Cabbage
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower
Tomato
Tomato Juice
Corn
Cucumber
Onions
Garlic
Turnips
Rhubarb
KaleFruits (due to high acid or lots of fiber and seeds)
Apple (especially peels)
Bananas (can cause constipation)
Citrus fruits
Figs
CoconutBeverages
Milk (lactose intolerance can provoke reflux in some people)
Coffee (even decaffeinated)
Tea
Carbonated Beverages
Caffeinated BeveragesStarches
Beans (gas producing)
Oats (rolled oats OK)
Tofu (avoid large quantities)
Barley ( OK if perled barley is cooked 10-15 min)Miscellaneous
Fatty or Fried Foods (fats take longer to digest)
Meat with connective tissue/gristle (take longer to digest)
Chili Powder
Vinegars
Chocolate
Molasses
Peppermint/Spearmint (Wintergreen is unrelated)
Honey
Caffeine
Foods with "air" such as fluffy baked goods, Meringues.
Swallowing air by sucking on hard candies or drinking from straws
Rye Seeds
Meat Extracts
Black Pepper (White pepper is OK)
Creamy Foods/Gravies (High fat content)
Gooey Pastries (High fat content)
Simple Sugar Foods
Excessive Fiber (increase very gradually as tolerated)
Pectin
High Energy Foods (digest slowly)
MCT Oil (medium chain triglycerides, digest slowly)
Guargum (thickener, digests slowly)My thoughts on her spewing more on the formula aren't so weird afterall... Will be speaking to the Dr about it next week... She sleeps heaps better on her tummy and instead of screaming at me non-stop like the last few nights, she's propped and asleep... She did spew after the last feed, which I did with her propped against my chest in an upright position, but only one compared to the usual little ones for about an hour and a half after the feed...

Ys_Woman

07-02-2008, 21:23

Thank you so much for that information Widget. I was shocked to read about the sinus infections and congestion as being one of the symptoms. It just cements my belief that this is his issue, particularly as I could relate to 13 of those points.
I bought some Karicare food thickener as the chemist didn't sell s26 reflux. I put some in a bottle of s26 for lactose intolerant babies and he was so settled after his feed. No crying, no fighting me, no arching his back and grizzling. I do hope this is an answer.
As to the 14 points..frankly I have been doing most of them instinctively, the same way I did for all my kids. They all slept in raised bassinettes. Brittany was a tummy and side sleeper but of course by the time Lachlan came along things had changed. I sometimes put Dane on his side though. I agreed wholeheartedly with the car seat thing too. All of my kids have possetted while in the capsule as their tummies are squished up in there..but what can you do.
{{{HUGS}}} for being so kind as to post that info.

Amy:)

Ys_Woman

07-02-2008, 21:31

The head Cardio is who we have and he said that she has 2 holes and a funky valve that leaks into nowhere...

That must have been worrying to hear. Fantastic that her oxygenation has improved though. Is there a future plan for surgery?

Widget

07-02-2008, 21:36

All good Amy. I actually prefer not to sleep her on her back, hated doing with Annabelle too... Ok, so SIDS recommendation is that they sleep on their backs, but what if they :barf:?? They'd swallow it again and possibly choke, so I usually put her on her side, she prefers her tummy. She is sleeping ok raised on her back though...

I gotta go, Becca's due for a feed and I have to pack bag/s for tomorrow... Going to a funeral 3 hours away so I'm up at 5am! :sleeping:

Widget

07-02-2008, 21:37

That must have been worrying to hear. Fantastic that her oxygenation has improved though. Is there a future plan for surgery?
We'll find out on Tuesday what's possibly going to happen... I'm not stressing about it though, I stressed with SB for Annabelle and her surgery and neither of the girls need that!

Sammilee

08-02-2008, 00:55

Widget - :hugs: to you for Becca. I hope all goes OK with the cardio planned for Tuesday. And yay for her sleeping from 10:30pm through to 8am the other night! :yelclap: I hope she keeps that going for you.

Amy - :fingerscrossed: that things really do settle down for you with Dane and the reflux. Doesn't sound nice at all (that info Widget posted about it just blew me away, sounds terrible!!!). To change the subject, what's your new lounge like? I'd love to get a new one too... mmm... maybe one day!

Sharon - So glad to hear that things are going well for you and Xavier.

Bunny - Hayley is absolutely gorgeous!!! Her smile is so very very cute!!!

Brodie - :hugs: to you for Layla. So what do they do now for her hip?

Reidymac - Sounds like you had a great time at your mum and bubs exercise class. Not a bad idea to do something like that. I might have to suss out things here and see if they do something similar.

Louise - :wave: and welcome! Look forward to getting to know you and your DD Alyssa. I too reckon this site is just great to chat with other mums and get advise when you are unsure about something.

Jackie - Thanks for the link to those charts. I do have a folder here that I was given for Caden, and it has just the one chart about weight, but nothing to do with height or head cicum. I might sound stupid here, but what exactly does the percentages mean? (eg. 75th/ 97th etc).

Well, I had another fairly good night last night. Caden went down at 9:30pm and slept through to 4:30am, so again a 7 hour stint. I'm just hoping and praying that this is the start of sleeping right through! He went down again tonight at 9:30pm so I'll see how he goes. Wish me luck everyone!!!

I had my 6 week check-up today with my Obs. Joy of it all, had to have a pap-smear as I was due again middle of last year when I was pg (but for obvious reasons couldn't have one then). Silly as it sounds, even though my Obs has seen parts of me that I don't even want to think about :D I still felt uncomfortable having the pap done. Why can't someone invent a way that they can test us without us having to drop our knickers!!! Hehehe!!! He also checked things out 'down there' and seemed to be happy, but did mention something about a small 'skin bridge' at the opening due to the 2 stitches that I had (sorry if TMI!). He said that it shouldn't cause any probs, but if I find it does then there is a small op that can be done under local... what the???!!! Must admit this got me a bit worried. So as soon as I got home I searched on the net. From what I've read it's basically scar tissue that can form due to the stitches, and may cause probs/ pain when 'doing the deed' (again sorry if TMI!). Has anyone ever heard of this/ experienced this? Must admit it's got me a little worried and now anxious about being intimate with DH. Geez, another thing for me to deal with!!!

Anyway, sorry to ramble on but I just wanted to talk about it as I'm a little worried...

I hope everyone has a great night and all bubs are good for their mummies!!!

Chat again soon.

Sam...

Prudie

08-02-2008, 08:54

Sammilee - yep, I gave Hugh some baby panadol about 45 mins before his appointment. He wasn't a big fan of the panadol, and ended up dribbling most of it out again!! But he was good with his shots, so I guess the panadol must have helped.

Hugh's sleeping pattern has changed the last couple of nights. He is doing a long sleep after his late afternoon feed (ie 4.30pm - 12.30am) and then a couple of shorter sleeps (3-4 hours) during the night. Little annoying as I'd prefer the longer sleep overnight, but hopefully it'll change again soon.

Ys_Woman

08-02-2008, 10:18

I might sound stupid here, but what exactly does the percentages mean? (eg. 75th/ 97th etc).
Firstly you don't sound stupid..lol..none of us can know everything.
Secondly, the percentile chart is like surveying 100 babies and finding an average. The 50th percentile is the average..which means that 50 out of 100 babies will be at that weight or height or head circumference, the rest will either be above or below that. Using the graph you find your baby's age along the bottom line and then plot in their weight at that age (kind of like using a street map with letter and number references to help you find the street you want). Then you look at where they landed on the chart..there are usually five lines that start on the bottom left of the chart and curve upwards to the top right and they are marked 3, 10, 50, 90, 97.
If your baby's weight falls between two of the marked lines you can roughly estimate which percentile that would be. So for eg: if Caden weighed 4kg at the 6wk check he would be sitting on around the 10th percentile, which means that out of 100 babies, ten would be his weight and 90 would be above that weight.
Frankly there is a bit too much emphasis placed on these charts as it can't factor in things like genetics or health. It is just meant to be a guide to see if your baby is gaining weight steadily, however much that is.
Even if your baby ends up on the low side of the chart it doesn't mean they won't end up being 6foot 4inches and 300 pounds..lol.

Hope that helps.
Amy:)
I forgot to add: in most states when you have your baby you are given a soft vinyl folder called Personal Health Record. Inside is tons of printed material about different age/stages of your child's development, room to write appointments, forms for various medical professionals to record info about how your baby is growing, and at the back, charts to plot your child's head/weight/length. These folders/books are coloured differently depending on which state you live in. I had a yellow one for Lachlan in Melbourne, Selia and Dane's books are blue for ACT/NSW.
So what do they look like in WA?

sniper wolf

08-02-2008, 11:27

no panadol here before shots, odette was fine. bit of a cry (1 min or so) at point of impact but quickly pulled herself together. gave her panadol after though when we got home - that didnt seem to do anything either way anyway.

I think she has what they call sticky eye (ew). I've got some solution stuff here they gave us from the hospital so i'll keep an eye (scuse the pun) on it and maybe whip that out after.

prudie - hmmm that is an annoying time to have a long sleep- guess you've tried to keep him up a bit longer here and there and he just falls asleep? still at least he will have a coupla more long sleep sthrough the night!

amy - we have ble books down here too - dark blue. the name of the state isn't written on them.

samilee - sounds like caden's sleep is coming along very nicely - what good bubs we have!

we have a long weekend here peoples - yay for us!:flowerz::goodvibes::sunshine:

Sammilee

08-02-2008, 11:29

Firstly you don't sound stupid..lol..none of us can know everything.

Hehehe! I was feeling a bit silly 'coz I wasn't sure if I was using that chart right and what the percentages all meant :p.

Secondly, the percentile chart is like surveying 100 babies and finding an average...

Oh thanks for that Amy, makes total sense now! So I shouldn't worry about Caden being in the lower end of the chart? 'Coz I must admit when I looked at the chart in his folder and saw he was at the lower end I thought that (a) I may have been using that chart wrongly, or (b) wasn't too sure what the percentages meant and if they should be taken into account so 'religiously' (IYKWIM).

I forgot to add: in most states when you have your baby you are given a soft vinyl folder called Personal Health Record... These folders/books are coloured differently depending on which state you live in. I had a yellow one for Lachlan in Melbourne, Selia and Dane's books are blue for ACT/NSW. So what do they look like in WA?

Yep, got one of those, ours is a very bright purple :).

So happy to say that we got another 7 hour night last night with Caden :yelclap:. It was a repeat of the night before. Down at 9:30pm and then up at 4:30am for a feed. He went back down again until 8:15am. So progress is slowly being made here and there may be hope that the middle-of-the-night feed slowly evolves into his 'brekky' feed. If there is a god then that will happen 'coz the middle-of-the-night wake up call is killing me.

Hi to everyone! Well, I gotta do the groceries by myself today :eek: as DH is working. We would usually do it together on a Saturday but DH has a wedding to shoot tomorrow so either way I'd have to go it alone. I'm thinking it will be quieter on a Friday instead of a Saturday. I'll be using the baby carrier today and have not used it before. I hope I can work it out :D

Ooohhh, before I forget DH put some more photos up on his blog of our lil' man (and yeeks, some of me!!! I HATE my photo!!!). The pics are from our trip away last week. I can't believe how fast Caden is growing!!! >>> http://leonshaffer.blogspot.com/

Well, I better get up to the shops, see ya's later and chat again soon.

Sam... :flowerz:

allgirls

08-02-2008, 14:46

hi everyone :wave:

Widget - sounds like you've got your hands full with your girls and DF. There is a lot of conflicting information about on everything from BF to babies and sleeping. I have slept my kids in all sorts of positions to get them to sleep comfortably including back, tummy & on the side. When bub is sleeping on their side I roll up two bunny blankets to cushion their bodies so they don't roll too far on either side. Each bub has slept a little longer on their sides. And I agree with you about the car seats - their little bodies get scrunched up and each of the kids has had a little "posit" each time in the car.

Anythingmychild - hi to you Amy. Are you managing to get some day sleeps too when Cane is down??? I've got all 3 kids asleep at the moment but I can't sleep during the day - so I just try to rest by watching tv or computer.

Prudie - My sister used to have a bub that would sleep all day and party all night. It's difficult isn't it - it's good that you can get things done during the day when bub is having a big sleep but then you kind of pay the price at night - when you're overtired and exhausted... Good luck with changing Huge's sleeping pattern - like Jackie mentioned maybe try to stretch him out a little between sleeps....no doubt you're already trying this too.

Jackie - Enjoy your long weekend! Yep - we've had sticky eye before with both girls. Ended up needing prescription drops which cleared it up immediately - tried a little cooled boiled water and salt but wasn't strong enough to do the trick. Can you believe Odette is nearly 12 weeks old!! I remember thinking when DD1 hit 14 weeks how great everything was - I knew her routine and everything was going smoothly - that's when we started thinking about bub #2!!!

Sam - your hubby is quite the photographer! Those photos are great and Caden looks beautiful. I never like photos of myself either but you look lovely - it's nice to put a face to a name. In regards to stitches I can't help you on that one as I've had c-sections for all 3 - maybe one of the other threads in the bubhub you might find some answers. And also with percentiles for bub's growth etc I wouldn't worry about Caden being in the lower end of the range - what's considered normal is a huge range as you know and especially because you're BF weight gain is (generally) less then formula fed bubs. My paedetrician advised that as long as bub is gaining 100-150g per week then that is ok. Before you know it Caden will be starting solids and will put on more substantial weight. And at least by then you'll be able to visually see how much he is eating. BF is always a mystery in how much bub is really taking in.

Have a good weekend all......

Prudie

08-02-2008, 19:17

Sammilee - I had a pap smear at my check up on Monday too. Was the first time anything/anyone has been "down there" since the birth so i was a tad tense!! All went OK though - just a little uncomfortable and a little tender still.

Hugh's just gone down now (8.20pm) so am hoping that means he will now do a solid 6-7 hour sleep.

He is a good sleeper in general - is on 3-4 hourly feeds and always has a decent sleep in between feeds. Just that for some reason his long sleep has moved from overnight to late afternoon/evening. I guess no routine is set in concrete at this early stage!!!

Damn, just jinxed myself...he hasn't quite gone down and has started to grizzle. Off to settle the little angel!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Widget

08-02-2008, 21:53

thats it, I'm not mentioning long sleeps again!!! I got to bed at 2:30 (had to wait for washing machine to finish) the Becca woke at 4 and I busted my butt to be up by 5am, got up at 10 to 6 and we left 1 1/2 hours late for a funeral - just made the end of it... :(

:fingerscrossed: for a sleep through tonight, I'm so knackered!!

Sammilee

09-02-2008, 12:37

Morning all :wave: (well, it's still morning over here in the west :D).

*smiles and dances around the room* Happy to say that my lil' fella again had a 7 hour sleep last night, that's 3 nights in a row... woo hoo!!! :yelclap: I thought that we might have been in trouble initially as he had his tucker at 8pm instead of 9pm, so I thought his routine would then go 'skew-whiff'. It did take him a little while to settle (I think he was having some wind probs), so he didn't actually fall asleep til 9:30pm'ish (which is the time he's gone down the previous 2 nights). He slept right through til just shy of 4:30am... 7 hours!!! He had a feed and then went straight back down. Slept until 8:15am this morn... yay!!! I can feel an 'all-nighter' coming on :fingerscrossed:.

Can't believe another weekend is upon us. Anyone got any grands plans? Going to be a quiet one here. Jackie are you still there at home or have you gone away for your looooooooong weekend? (What's the long weekend for, by the way? Must be just a Tassie thing?).

Well, I hope everyone has a great day. Better go do some housework, I suppose (oh, to be rich and be able to afford a cleaner!).

See ya!

Sam... :flowerz:

sniper wolf

09-02-2008, 14:45

samilee- it's a regatta day holiday! we seem to have all our public holidays (bar xmas and show day) in the first half of the year. st00pid ain't it? well done to caden:party: he's on the right track fo sho!

sharon - mysteriously the stick eye is fine today - so maybe it wasnt sticky eye afterall... yeah time sure flies past - bit of a worry... and we're not going anywhere near #2 until a year has elapsed... and until we get another car - we have the world's smallest car at present. it's not easy with one, let alone 2 bambinos...

went and priced some lino for the kitchen and bathroom this morning, gunna get some before a certain someone starts crawling around eating off the floor.

no plans to get away, except i have booked her in with her grandma for monday, will give both of us a break here at home...

what are people's plans for valentine's day?:sunshine:

Ys_Woman

09-02-2008, 21:53

Anythingmychild - hi to you Amy. Are you managing to get some day sleeps too when Cane is down??? I've got all 3 kids asleep at the moment but I can't sleep during the day - so I just try to rest by watching tv or computer.

Hello hon. I haven't been able to take day naps due to family visiting from interstate at the moment. I am hanging til the end of next week when it will be just Dane and I home during the school week. I must say I am shattered tired most of the time and a bit snarly with it.
I do the same as you, I get online or watch telly while Dane sleeps. It won't be forever..but I do look forward to when he is sleeping through the night so I can return to eight uninterrupted hours of heavenly sleep.

Hugs,
Amy:)

Mummy2my5

09-02-2008, 21:55

Hi girls...... :wave:

I had so much to catch up on as live at the moment is hectic and when I do get a chance to sit down for a bit I just want to do nothing...LOL I have read all the posts and it sounds like mums and bubs are doing well :yelclap:

Benjamin is doing well and doing all the things that he should be :thumbsup: I on the other hand have not impressed my doctor...... we went for the 6 week check so I could get the mini pill and the doc checked my blood pressure 165/105 hmmmmmm a bit high and he then decides to tell me that it has been up at every visit with him for the past 12 months :eek: so he did some blood tests and an ecg which came back fine and I had to go back and get it checked again, still 164/97!!! so he has put me on heart medication (beta blockers) to try and get it down. I am going back weekly at the moment (first visit it was still up) and has upped the does sooooooooo just have to wait and see what this week brings!!!

Benjamin is now 10 weeks old wow has time flown!! he is smiling and now starting to laugh (so cute) and is just starting to grab his toys.

Well my pillow is calling my name.... :laughing:
Night all..... :wave:

Ys_Woman

09-02-2008, 22:05

Jackie: What do you think you will do with your free time when Odette is with her grandmother?
I love lino too. We have tiling in our home and nice as it is, it is hard underfoot and I used to worry when the kids starting walking and falling over and hitting their heads *ouch*.
As to Valentine's day. I have already bought a card and a packet of those heart shaped lollies with messages on it. We don't usually do much special except have dinner by ourselves once the kids go down..usually Laksa.
Have you anything special planned?

Sam: Congrats on getting a decent sleep. It is so precious these days.

Widget: Sleep well hon.

Prudie: I fully understand when you said: Was the first time anything/anyone has been "down there" since the birth so i was a tad tense!! . I always get a bit tense the first time hubby and I resume sex after having babies. It takes a bit to get over the memory of the pain I experienced there during the birth..but it passes pretty quickly :)
I wasn't offered a smear test after the birth but I am due on my bday in June. After my eldest dd had such a bad smear result once I don't put off having mine.

Well I rang the breastfeeding counsellor and had a good talk with her and she says I am making enough..so I ditched the top up feed and simply put him back on half an hour later if he asks. The only thing about that is..you are tied to feeding all the time. With a bottle you know you probably won't have to feed for another 3 or 4hrs..but with the bb you can be at it again within an hour or two. It gives very little time for other things. I will persevere though. I hope it is worth it for Dane.

Hugs to everyone. Hope you are all getting the rain and cooler weather that we are having here in Canberra. It has been such a wonderfully mild summer with only a few rotten hot days.

Hugs.
Amy:)

Ys_Woman

09-02-2008, 22:13

I on the other hand have not impressed my doctor...... we went for the 6 week check so I could get the mini pill and the doc checked my blood pressure 165/105 hmmmmmm a bit high and he then decides to tell me that it has been up at every visit with him for the past 12 months :eek:
Wow! That is super high. Bizarre that he wouldn't want to do something about it earlier but he might have thought it was pregnancy related or something.
Any ideas why it is happening..like..do you have a family history of high blood pressure?
Sleep well Trish. Good to hear about you and that Benjamin is doing well.

Amy:)

xlouxloux

09-02-2008, 22:33

Hi everyone...just a lil post to touch base. Alyssa has had tummy ache today, had a big dirty nappy but has still been grizzly and crying out ocasionaly. Shes sleeping on her nan at the moment so shes happy hehe.

I bought a Fisher Price rainforest rocker thing today and im pretty sure she likes it. She had a lil kip in it this afternoon while i cooked tea :thumbsup:

How did you (anyone) get their bub in a routine, at the moment im feeding on demand and just letting her sleep when she wants/be awake when she wants - which luckily is during the day and not at night. She isnt having a big sleep though, 4 hrs usually, sometimes 3...rarely 5. We had 2 nights where it was 7 but that was after relief from constipation so she was exhausted.
Any tips would be apprieciated :)

Hope everyones having a lovely weekend
(didnt really end up being a lil post...oops hehe)

Widget

10-02-2008, 01:08

Widget: Sleep well hon.
Sleep?? What's that??? LOL

How did you (anyone) get their bub in a routine, at the moment im feeding on demand and just letting her sleep when she wants/be awake when she wants - which luckily is during the day and not at night. She isnt having a big sleep though, 4 hrs usually, sometimes 3...rarely 5. We had 2 nights where it was 7 but that was after relief from constipation so she was exhausted.
Any tips would be apprieciated :)
Well, Annabelle was on the bottle from SCN and was on 4 hourly when we left so I kept it at that and she made her own routine... Becca doesn't really have one as yet as I am demand feeding, but won't let her feed before 3 hours is up... I can't really help you there as I haven't tried routine and am not sure if I will...

Mummy2my5

10-02-2008, 07:22

Wow! That is super high. Bizarre that he wouldn't want to do something about it earlier but he might have thought it was pregnancy related or something.
Any ideas why it is happening..like..do you have a family history of high blood pressure?
Sleep well Trish. Good to hear about you and that Benjamin is doing well.

Amy:)

Yeah I thought it was strange that he didn't say anything earlier but maybe he did think it was pregnancy related and it wasn't as high as that. No family history but mine has always been on the higher side of normal. Hopefully it goes down with these tablets. :yes:

Amy I was the same wondering whether Benjamin was getting enough he sounds so much like Dane in body shape,he is putting on 130-150 a week at the moment so he must be getting enough. And settles for a good 4-5 hours at night sometimes longer. Hope it all works out for you.

Welcome to the thread xlouxloux!! :wave: Those rockers really are a great thing,Benjamin is quite happy to stay and play in his for a little while and loves to sleep in it.

Hi Jackie :wave: sounds like Odette is doing really well.

Ok thats it from me for now gotta get some of this housework done...... :rolleyes:

Hi Sam,katesmate,widget,prudie,Allgirls and anyone else I didn't get around to posting too hope you all have a great sunday. :wave:

Widget

10-02-2008, 12:26

Forgot to say at 2am...

Becca gave me HUGE smiles last night and she started having a convo with me!!! :D I was so excited I made DF come over (of course she stopped then)!! She has the most gorgeous voice!!!

I regret not having this with Annabelle, it truly is an amazing time!!

Mummy2my5

10-02-2008, 19:09

Widget - Doesn't it just melt your heart when they do that. Benjamin loves a chat and he looks so confident with what he is saying....hehehe cute.

I forgot to say Sam your DH is amazing with the camera :yes: those photos are georgous and he sounds like one very proud daddy!!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend mine was full with the boys footy and housework :dizzy:

Hi to all :wave:

allgirls

10-02-2008, 19:49

Hi ladies :wave:

Xavier has also started to have a bit of a chat and it's great now that he doesn't always cry when he wakes up - content to lay there and have a chat - melts your heart.

He has also just discovered his hands in the last couple of days - so constantly sucking on his fists. As he is still in our room the constant sucking keeps us (me anyway) awake most of the night. Can't wait for him to move into his own room - probably do that around 4 months when he is sleeping better through the night.....

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

katesmate

10-02-2008, 22:07

:wave: everyone,

I have been trying to catch up with all the posts but just have been so slack posting.

Sam - those photos are gorgeous. I think Caden looks so much like you, and you are looking great! It also sounds like you guys are doing really well with Caden sleeping longer in the evenings.

Amy - How are you going with the kids being back at school. I found it so hard to keep DS entertained over the school holiday break because I couldnt do anything much with him so I think he was relieved to be back at school with his friends. I hope you get some good rest at the end of the week when your visitors go. I know what you mean about giving bubs a bottle and knowing exactly how much they have taken and being confident they wont feed for another 3 or so hours. I was feeling really confident about my breastfeeding but this week Andi has been acting desperately hungry in the evenings just after I have fed her so I am thinking of expressing to give her a bottle when she does this so I can see how much more she takes after I have breastfed her. Just need to get organised to express.

Trish - Its great to see you back again. I can imagine how tough it is for you to get time to post having 5 kids! Wow, I am thinking 3 is full on. I hope all works out well with your blood pressure. I cant believe they didnt tell you sooner!

Jackie - Odette sounds like such an angel, it sounds like you are so settled. Thats great that she sleeps so well at night! We dont do anything for valentines day, quite boring really. I will end up buying some choccies i think just cos its an excuse to buy a box of choccies for him which we will share :D.

Andi has just started to smile, its gorgeous, she started just after she was 4 weeks old but now that she is 6 weeks she is doing it more. She also has a little chat now and then which is really cute. She normally has only been sleeping 4 hours max at night in one go and last night she slept from 10 till 5. I could not believe it, 7 hours! I am hoping this will continue, so will keep you posted about how we go tonight. We go for our 6 week check tomorrow, the time has gone by so quick!

Hi to allgirls, lou, widget, prudie. Sorry if I have missed anyone. I am off to bed :sleeping:

sniper wolf

11-02-2008, 08:04

:laughing: katesmate

she woke up at 2:30am this morning! one assumes it's a minor hiccup to her otherwise spotless routine.

:laughing:;):no::eek::devil:?

to to deliver to grandma's back laters peoples.

Widget

11-02-2008, 08:32

Is it ok for Becca to only have 4 bottles a day at 2 months?? She didn't have full bottles either... She only had 4 yesterday... 5:30am, 9:30am, 7pm, 11:30pm... We started this morning at 7am... Should I be worried???

katesmate

11-02-2008, 09:06

I knew it was too good to be true when i said Andi slept for 7 hours saturday night. Last night she was up every 2 hours. Oh well!

Widget - I am sure I read once that babies should have 6 feeds a day at this age, maybe give child health a call to see what they say.

allgirls

11-02-2008, 10:41

hi widget

My trusty baby manual "Baby Love" by Robin Barker says that as a guide babies 8-12 weeks have 150ml per kilo body weight at 120-150ml volume 5-8 bottles every 24hrs.

So if baby weighs 6kgs = 6 x 150ml = 900mls over 24hrs. So 900mls / 5 bottles a day = 180mls per feed.

Hope this helps.

Widget

11-02-2008, 11:56

She's not that heavy LOL

She was 4.3kgs 3 weeks ago, find out again tomorrow or Wednesday how heavy she is.

I always offer 180mls, but at least 2 of her bottles yesterday were only 90mls that she took... She's had 2 full bottles so far today 7am, 11:30am...

She was 4.3kgs 3 weeks ago, so approx 5kgs now... Should be about 750mls a day... With 4 bottles, it works out at 187.5mls per bottle, so she missed a bottle by having 2 half bottles...

Ys_Woman

11-02-2008, 14:34

Widget - Doesn't it just melt your heart when they do that. Benjamin loves a chat and he looks so confident with what he is saying....hehehe cute.
I will only say this once and then sit tight til the men in white coats come for me..lol.
Hubby came rushing out of the bedroom a few nights ago all excited. He said that Dane had copied him when he had said "Hello" to him.
I thought the man was going loopy but I humoured him with a smile. All parents like to think their child is capable of so much more.
The next night he reckoned it happened again. I could accept that some coo-ing noises could be mistaken for that so I let it slide.
Two nights ago hubby brought Dane out to me and said "Hello" to him once or twice. I kid you not....Dane responded with a noise that was so like hello I nearly fell off the lounge.
I have asked hubby to find his little mp3 recorder to tape him saying it.
OK..that is the last time I ever share a story like that.. It is likely to be just a coincidence. If it isn't - then I will take him on tour and charge ppl to listen....just like a lady in the late 70's/early 80's whose black labrador could say: "Hello mum-mum-mum". :)

Best go..someone is asking for a feed (and no, not in words..lol)
Hugs,
Amy:)

allgirls

11-02-2008, 17:02

oh Amy that is soooooo adorable.

I did psych at uni and they touched on very young babies "mimmicking" numerous things such as poking their tongues out when you did it to them, coughing when you cough, and even babies that had a little ribbon tied to one foot would learn to kick the correct foot to make a hanging mobile move - actually saw vidoe footage of that one. They really are clever little beings. I've often thought Xavier too makes a "hello" kind of sound when I say it to him - so even at such a young age they are miracles and clever little imitators!

Please try to get hubby to try and film Dane - that would be sooo cute to watch.

Keep the amazing stories coming too - it's so interesting to hear what such little beings are doing....

sniper wolf

11-02-2008, 19:54

as eluded to above, our stellar run of sleeping through was broken last night... gotta be expected i guess, she's not a robot.

had a great day today and to answer yr question amy - while odette was at grandmas, I played video games, did 4 loads of washing, and made a quiche (took half out to mother to thank her for minding baby- just out of the oven too.)

it's great to have some free time, didnt mean my mind was elsewhere though.

oh and we went and did our radio show a coupla hours ago - amazing how much you can do in a day i guess.

allgirls - we do the tongue poking too- it's funny when you see her try and od it, you can tel there's som much going on in the developing brain.

amy - funny story!

as for bottles - odette is having about 5-6 bottles, anywhere from 140 to 240 mls a pop - but it's probably averages out to around 180-200 per feed.

nothing realy planned for this week. other than stay at home and be quiet i think. Next week I'm doing hair and dentist appts and getting my sister on babysitting patrol - she's completely desperate for it.

so yeah lots of home time - with bouncer, playgym, books, rattles and chicken handpuppet sessions throughout the day!

hi to everyone and hope all are well.:wave:

Sammilee

11-02-2008, 20:16

Hiya everyone :wave:

Happy to say all is good here. Caden has been sleeping 7 hours each night for the past 5 nights or so... yay! Last night we actually got 7 hours 45 minutes, so just hoping that this continues (Jackie I'm sure Odette's 2:30am wake-up call has just a very minor hiccup).

Caden had his 7 week CHN appt today. He's just on 4.1kgs and 56.5 cm long. Growing nicely! Though still on the 10th percentile, but the nurse wasn't too fazed by it as he is growing nicely.

Thanks everyone for the kind comments about Caden's pics. As you can imagine, being married to a photographer we have many many pics already (and he's only just 7 weeks... yeeks!). DH brought another external hard-drive for the computer the other day and told me its for Caden's pics. If that's not a hint on how many DH plans to take then I don't know what is. At least we'll have a fab record of his life :p.

Amy - I loooooooooove how Dane is already 'talking'! :D But I know exactly what you mean too. Last week (while we were away) I was talking to Caden. I have a habit of asking him "what?" in a long drawn out way when he is fidgeting (like "whaaaaaaaaat?"). Well, I was sitting on the couch holding him as he fidgeted away, and did the "what?" thing. Low and behold, he cooed a sound that was exactly like my "what?". Both DH and I looked at each other at the exact same time when we heard it and burst out laughing. So cute!!! Can I write that down in Caden's book as his first word? :D

Widget - I hope you have it all sorted about Becca's bottles. Can be a bit confusing, huh? Thanks Sharon for the tip! I mostly EBM feed Caden now and sometimes wonder if he's getting enough. Though I'm doing demand feeding and always offer more than he drinks (breaks my heart when I have to tip my boobie juice down the drain when he doesn't finish a bottle) so my belief is if he wants more then there's ample opportunity for him to take it. We're getting plenty of wet nappies so that's another good sign.

Katesmate - I'm keeping my :fingerscrossed: for you and hope that Andi continues with the 7 hour stints. She sounds like my lil' fella. We got (I think from memory) 2 x 7 hour nights, then he reverted back to his 3 to 4 hour stints for a couple of nights, but is now back on 7 hour stints (x the past 5 nights). I hope I haven't just jinxed myself saying that... :laughing:

Trish - I love it when they start to talk their oh so cute baby talk and have full-on chats. I bet Benjamin is just adorable when he does it!

Jackie - I'll fight you for the title of who has the smallest car! Haha! Sounds like you had a great day today. I know when DH took the lil' fella out for the day last weekend I got so much done (albeit just housework and the likes).

I know probably waaaaaaaaaay to early to be talking about this, but those who are first-timers, anyone thinking about having a second bub yet? I had such a vivid dream last night that DH and I had a second bub, and Caden was barely 18 months... what the?! I mentioned it to DH this morning thinking we'd have a good laugh about it, but he turned around and said that he thought it wasn't such a bad idea having two really close together. WTF???!!! Mmm... I think I'll have to have a serious think about that! We have discussed the idea of having two, but so close? Hhhmmm... Some days I struggle just with Caden, so having 2 under 2? I'm in continuous awe of those of you that have more than one (or like Trish 5!!!).

No plans here for Valentine's Day. I did buy DH a card and a box of choccies (can't remember who said it, but similar lines that I buy it and we'll both eat it... hehe!).

Anyway, it's dinner time and I best go think about making it. I hope everyone has a great evening and a fab Tuesday tomorrow!

See ya!

Sam...