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hi ladies, just wondered if anyone has an update on how they're getting on.
Henry and I are great - he's 3 weeks old on sunday and piling on the pounds. He BFs 2-4 hourly but usually goes 5 hours first stretch in night, followed by 4 hours which really helps me catch up on sleep. I feel so much less sore now and much more myself.
I have detailed the problems ive had with my OH alot on here, but have to say in his 2 weeks paternity leave he's been brilliant. Obviously ive had to do feeding but he's made my life easier fetching and carrying, doing housework, meals etc and im dreading him going back to work on monday. Find it a bit scary being solely responsible for henry all the time and having no help! Not been too good at getting out, still not driven since henry arrived (gone everywhere with OH as well as henry) and tbh only been to my mums - oh has been doing shopping, registering birth etc. OH and i managed a quick pub lunch on my birthday with henry at my mums 2 mins away, after he'd just been fed. I know i need to take him somewhere myself but find it scary - am breast feeding with a shield and its a palarva - scared to do it out but will go round the bend if i dont try.
Theres a first time mums thing at local church starting 20th sep, lasting 2.5 hours every tuesday morning where health visitors discuss certain topics and you get to socialise with other mums. I know i should go and it will be breast feeding friendly - but can't imagine doing it on a plastic seat with no pillows etc!!
Found out that john lewis have a baby feeding lounge with sofas, sterilisers, changing mats etc and they even get you a drink! Might make it easier to go shopping with my mum at some point! xx
Henry and I are great - he's 3 weeks old on sunday and piling on the pounds. He BFs 2-4 hourly but usually goes 5 hours first stretch in night, followed by 4 hours which really helps me catch up on sleep. I feel so much less sore now and much more myself.
I have detailed the problems ive had with my OH alot on here, but have to say in his 2 weeks paternity leave he's been brilliant. Obviously ive had to do feeding but he's made my life easier fetching and carrying, doing housework, meals etc and im dreading him going back to work on monday. Find it a bit scary being solely responsible for henry all the time and having no help! Not been too good at getting out, still not driven since henry arrived (gone everywhere with OH as well as henry) and tbh only been to my mums - oh has been doing shopping, registering birth etc. OH and i managed a quick pub lunch on my birthday with henry at my mums 2 mins away, after he'd just been fed. I know i need to take him somewhere myself but find it scary - am breast feeding with a shield and its a palarva - scared to do it out but will go round the bend if i dont try.
Theres a first time mums thing at local church starting 20th sep, lasting 2.5 hours every tuesday morning where health visitors discuss certain topics and you get to socialise with other mums. I know i should go and it will be breast feeding friendly - but can't imagine doing it on a plastic seat with no pillows etc!!
Found out that john lewis have a baby feeding lounge with sofas, sterilisers, changing mats etc and they even get you a drink! Might make it easier to go shopping with my mum at some point! xx
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Sounds like you & Henry are getting on great! Angus is 4 weeks old today & things are going well. My OH went back to work 2 weeks ago & I've made myself go out & about most days even if just to the local shops, but have also met friends for lunch, taken train & buses to town etc. I've been to our local breast feeding drop in & parenting group both of which I was really nervous about but am really glad I went. I've begun to get to know a couple of other mums if just to say hi to at present but it's a start!!
I'm demand BF which is anything from 1.5-4hrly including through the night so we don't get much unbroken sleep. It's all worth it though! Angus is a very sicky baby so often this prolongs feeding or means he needs extra
He's getting better at sleeping both day & night in his moses basket although would still prefer to sleep on one of us i'm sure!
I think it sounds like you're doing fab so keep up the good work!
Linds
wow!! You are pretty amazing at getting out, even going on public transport. I have so much respect for you. I don't even know how to strap the car seat in the car (although realising we have very little food today i figure i could start by being brave and going down to the village tesco metro, if we go post feed it only needs to take half an hour) first day without oh and henry still asleep bless him! So ive had breakfast and may even brave a shower, although he cant be long. Not sure how ill ever clean the house alongside it being just me and him. Not going to try today. I got rid of our cleaner when i went on mat leave (as they were rubbish at doing it anyway) but oh did say did i want one again while henry is tiny - yes!! but not the organisation i had, they were awful.
wish i had some friends i could meet but they all work. My mum and dad are 20mins away and have all the baby paraphanalia as well as me so its easy to go there, i will go a lot of days im sure. and will definately go to the mums group!
You sound like you're doing amazingly and you are in the swing of being a mummy! Most of the time i think im ok but have been hugely reliant on oh so far. Had a rough birth and ive taken my time to get strong again but getting a fair amount of sleep and feel physically ok now, so time to be brave and push myself!
Keep in touch xx
Third time round and I recovered much quicker apart from my SPD nad still needing crutches and finding it difficult to walk.
Emilie-May is now 6 weeks and fits in perfectly with family life. We went to Longleat when she was 2 weeks old and it was lovely sitting on the grass feeding her in the sunshine.
I am EBF her and she goes from 1.5 - 4 hours between feeds during the day and the same at night.
SHe hasn't been weighed for 4 weeks but I know she is growing because this week she made it out of tiny baby clothes and into first size and newborn clothes (still baggy though!!)
My oldest son started school for the first time last week and is doing hisw first whole day today. He is fid=nding it boring as he can already read/write/count etc but is struggling with socialising due to his aspergers.
My other son is finding all of the new changes difficult and has stopped eatng again and has become really clingy (making typing very difficult) but it is lovely having quality timw with him when Emiie-May is asleep during the day.
The weather has made walking to school interesting with little ones but the walk is helping me to get back to pre-pregnancy size.
I am finding the washing a nightmare - EMilie-may has reflux and so has to be changed many times a day along with her crib bdding at least twice a night. WIth all of her things plus school clothes and general boys clothes (not thinking about mine or hubbies!) i did 12 loads of wasing last weeks between tuesday and sunday! I hate ironing but seem to spend my life doing it.
I am already dreading having to go back to work at xmas and wish i could stay at home full time.
How is everyone else doing? It seems very quiet on here so everyone must be out enjoying their baby
Alfie - you are very kind to say I'm amazing but to be honest I just made myself head out with Angus from the start with hubby & then keep it up once he went back to work. At times I've been very nervous especially about groups. I sometimes feel other people have their groups of friends already & it can be hard to join in but it is paying off. I was fortunate to have recovered physically well from the birth (although having some post epidural pain) which has made it much easier. I think it's really individual but I've had days where I just want to be at home with my baby & others where I want to be active & get out so I just go with the flow. I think it sounds like you are doing amazingly looking after your little boy & you will go to groups etc if & when you're ready
Alf n osks mum - I am very impressed by how you manage such a busy life & again so impressively! It's reassuring to hear about someone else with a sicky baby. Angus hasn't been diagnosed with reflux but he projectile vomits alot & we too change him & bedding frequently. He is gaining weight really well so health visitor etc don't seem worried but we find it upsetting to see him be so sick then need to feed again shortly after as he's hungry again.
Keep in touch ladies
Linds
It sounds as though you are all doing well and enjoying the first few weeks of parenting!
Alfie I remember how I felt about going out with Arthur alone for the first time and it is very scary! I felt as though someone would tell me off for taking him out! Ha! As soon as you do it though it becomes natural and you do things easily. I never really got used to breastfeeding in public and felt very uncomfortable even when covered up! It's terrible that we do feel like it as it's the most natural thing in the world. Do u express?
William is 13 days old today and is absolutely amazing. He sleeps much better than Arthur ever did and so I'm actually getting some sleep! I've not had both boys alone yet and I must admit to being nervous about my time being torn between the two. Arthur us 20 months now and doesn't understand what's happening to his idilic little world. He adores will but is definitely finding it difficult sharing me. I've been feeling guilty on both boys for this reason.
My husband has been amazing and is off for another two weeks so I'm hoping by that point Arthur will be used to having his brother around.
Xx
Artysmam - Oskar is now 20months old and I know what you mean about their worlds changing. He loves Emilie-May but gets very jealous when I am BF and insists on sitting next to me. He tries to sit on my knee at the same time and has become clingy everywhere I go. He is also ahvingto get used to coping with his big bro to do things for him - was interesting at toddler group today as it is the first time we have been without my 4 year old. He ended up covered from head to toe in paint before running and playing for ages outside with the children who are igger than him - he looks like an imp in comparison despite lots of them being the same age or younger than him!
Reading back through our posts it struck me that we are all pretty amazing & doing a grand job being mummies
Alf n osks mum I know what you mean about housework not getting done! That and the ever growing pile of laundry
I actually took Angus to GP today because of being sick, he was so sick last night & was really fighting it & seemed in pain so I called them today. They have said it's reflux & given him gaviscon which i'm giving every other feed. That said he vomitted the first lot up with his feed so not a great start! Do you have any top tips for what works? I ended up syringing it into his mouth at the breast towards end of feed as he was spitting it out otherwise whereas when sucking he just took it down.
Take care all x
The times that are really bad for us with her in pain and being sick is whenever she is laid down especially after a feed. SHe is always sick when her nappy is changed and at the moment doesn't really have tummy time as she ends up face down in a pool of sick. Night time is difficult and I have the crib angled with her head higher. I have to wait a certain amount of time before she can go in the crib or she screams in pain. During the day if I am at home I usually wear her in my wrap/sling or she is sitting at an angle in a bouncer. She never sleeps in crib during day. Also I have found that if she is sleeping slightly on her left side it eases her pain but doesn't stop the sick. Sorry can't really think of any really good tips except one-
If the gaviscon doesn't work/causes constipation go to dr and keep going until they change it as they gave my 2nd son lactulose to stop constipation which didn't help and made the reflux worse as it is so sweet and sickly. It took me a long time to get a paed app where they couldn't believe how bad he had got and gave him omeprazole stragiht away.
Hopefully gaviscon works for you and ANgus is feeling better soon.
My laundry pile has multiplied since having no3. I now have 2 laundry baskets one for light and one for dark I feel like a washer woman!
I have also found out this week that making a packed lunch seems so much more hard work every morning than making lunch at lunch time for my 4 year old and I still have lunch to make for my 20month old!!
The joys of motherhood
I can only imagine your washing pile with 3 children
I decided today one cannot have too many muslin squares or bibs wth a sicky baby! We have loads and need more!!
Well sickness, washing, whatever it may be they are worth all of it
Take care
linds
I was told to go on here by a lady from YAYW (baby forum).
My 8 week old was diagnosed with reflux when he was a week old. Tried gaviscon... made no difference. Tried Ranitidine and now on that along with Omeprazole and it still isn't making a difference.
Gp thinks it's pylorus stenosis despite 2 blood tests and 3 observed feeds (I bf) which were negative. Being sent to a diff hospital for a scan soon to see if it is. Otherwise, I think it could be a food intolerance to something in my diet, so will force the gp to do an intolerance test if the scan comes up negative.
My son has projectile vomit 1-2 times a day and is constantly sick after every feed, as well as hours after a feed.
Emilie-May is now 7weeks old and has an app on Monday for her 6week check. They have said they are giving her Ranitidine then to prevent her from getting as bad as my ds2 was. At the moment she is sick during and straight after every feed and then again about an hour after feed. She is also sick whenever she is laid down falt - ie nappy change, going to sleep etc.
I agree with Linds that you can never have too many muslin squares. I have them everywhere - I woke up with one on my pillow next to me the other morning after a particulary tricky night!! You get used to the sick after a while. Especially when you start weaning and it gets worse!(for some it gets better)
Has anyone tried using a dummy post feeds to help with reflux? I read about it in a book & asked gp who hadn't really heard of it. Ive always wanted to avoid dummy use as a general rule but would consider it if it might help! Angus has now been prescribed double doses of gaviscon for 2 days & if no improvement gp will look at alternative medication.
Hope everyone getting on okay.
Linds
My 2nd son would never take a dummy no matter what we tried so I can't tell you if it would work. Emilie-May also will not take a dummy at all.
We went for her 6 week check yesterday and the dr agreed that her reflux is quite severe. She has gaviscon for a couple of days to say they tried it and I go back Friday for them to give her ranitidine or omeprazole. The fact that she has sick regularly coming out of her and running down side of face into neck onto body etc she has developed really bad baby eczema. I tried aveeno in the bath and aveeno cream which worked wonders - the dr has now put it on prescription for her! She is fine apart from that.
The dr tested my claim that she is sick whenever laid flat- her mistake as Emilie-May threw up all over the drs smart suit and immaculate nails!! the dr promptly went to wash her hands and wipe down her clothes before continuing!
Unfortunately she can not sleep laying down at all at the moment as she now has got a terrible cold making her cough when laid down and then is sick even more. I am wearing her in a sling most of the time so I can do things with my other children. She is suffering with a blocked nose and has to have saline drops before each feed so that she can feed a bit.
How is everyone else doing?
Alf n Osks mum i had to smile at the thought of the doctor being vomited on! There's the evidence!
We haven't succumbed to trying the dummy yet but have continued to consider it! Feel i need to research it some more. did you try dummy because of reflux or were you trying it generally as a soother?
We are taking Angus for cranial osteopathy tomorrow. Figured we are prepared to try anything. I just hate watching him fight back sick and gagging on it which he has started to do in addition to the projectile vomiting & general sickness. Will have to wait & see if it helps...
otherwise we are generally getting on okay. How about everyone else?
linds
sorry to hear you all have such sicky babies! it sounds so stressful! after boasting about my angel baby, at 4.5 weeks things not going too well. he's been diagnosed with torticollis, the muscle in the left side of his neck was damaged from his position inside me. It doesnt become apparant till 3-4 weeks when it starts to heal and forms a lump, and the baby holds his head on one side. We have been for physio and at every nappy change i have to make him stretch his neck the way he doesnt want to - its horrible and he screams. For the last 24 hours he's fed hourly and we've had very little sleep. Then my mum and dad came round this morning and my dad saw me through the window with one boob out putting henry down
Got to got for a neck ultrasound in a couple of weeks and back to the physio. Im hoping soon that his neck will get stronger and he will find the excercises less stressful. The physio said its like touching your toes, the pull you get behind your knees - discomfort, but not pain. He must wonder why his mummy is hurting him though
Alfie, so sorry to hear about henry's neck problems. It is so horrible to see your little one in pain
Angus had first cranial osteopath appt on thurs & friday was our worst day yet - he was sooooo sicky & clingy. I couldn't put him down for more than few m inutes before he would start to cry & that was even if he fell asleep on me! However last night we have 3 blocks of 2 hour sleep between which he woke, fed, did not throw up
How is everyone else getting on?
linds
I'm so sorry that so many of your lo are sufering from reflux. I know how bad it is as Arthur had silent reflux and the poor little thing was in agony. So far William seems to be avoiding it!
Like you alfandoscarsmum we have all had colds thus week. William has been really snotty and has a nasty cough. He is such a relaxed baby though and hardly seems bothered by it. I've been using a suction tool to clear his nose before feeds which helps.
We use a dummy. I was also against using them until I researched it when Arthur had reflux. It did help massively and I don't regret it at all. I'm also encouraging William to take a dummy after feeds as it seems to help him bring his wind up.
My husband goes back to work tomorrow after having a month off. It's going to be very strange but I must say I'm looking forward to establishing my own routine and getting back to normal. My older lo will miss him though as they've done so much together in the last month. I don't know how men go back to work so soon. It would kill me! I know it's upsetting my husband bless! He keeps saying how much he is going to miss us.
Hope you're all well xxx
Linds - how is the cranial osteopathy going?
Artsmam - wow a month of that must of been amazing for you both to get such quality time with baby. My husband didn't get anypaternity leave and got a weeks holiday in August so didn't get to spend much time with Emilie-May as a tiny baby.
We went to Great Yarmouth for a week last week and had a lovely time on the beach and in the sea - thanks to the amazing weather!! Emilie-May was put on Ranitidine just before we went. However while we were away she had what seemed to be bad side effects. She got grumpier and grumpier with disgusting nappies and was still beng sick. Then we woke up last thursday morning to find she had turned yellow!!! After asking at pharmacy we were told that one of the possible side affects is jaundice and was tld to stop the medicine straight away. She slowly returned to normal so when I took her to drs yesterday she only had a slight tinge. Emilie-May has now been referred to paediatrician (same one as my 2nd ds has) so that she can go on omeprazole but has to continue being sick for the moment until we get appointment. Unfortnately her not feeding properly over the last week has meant I have developed mastitis. Not bad for a holiday.
Emilie May is gaining weight though. Last time she was weighed the Tuesday before we went she had made it up to 10lbs.
How is everone else doing? Has everyone had their appointments through for their LO's 8 week jabs? EMilie-May is now 9 1/2 weeks and hasn't had an appointment thorugh yet.
linds76 henry does not have pain, except when doing excercises - probably discomfort more than anything else and baby's always object to you restraining them in any way. i do feel mean doing them but sometimes being a mummy is about knowing whats best even if its not nice in the short term
I think henry had a growth spurt which was coincidental with the start of his physio, he also had a cold at starting at the same time. It stopped after 24 hours and went back to normal. I guess we've been lucky its the only one we had! He's 6 weeks now and gained 5 pounds since birth so doing very well on that score
artysmam hows life without your oh? Are you enjoying getting into a routine?
alf n osks - sounds like you had a rubbish holiday
I've not heard about henry's jabs yet but he has another couple of weeks. We are heading down for our 6 week check this week and should be seeing the health visitor too. Doing ok on the sleeping front, henry goes 5 hours, then 3 then hourly - which i know is very lucky especially as he's breast fed. 13 pounds 4 today so thats a huge confidence boost xx