oct/nov babies

[sue e]

Hi all,



Just thought i would pop in since i have not posted for days, although i have been keeping up to date with everyones progress.

So glad you managed to find out what was up with Issy Tracii, that must of been an awful experience.

Its so good to see everyones babies progressing well. jessica has her first needles tomorrow and is hopefully getting weighed, last time she was 9lb 7oz. What weights were everyones babes at 6 weeks? just being nosey We have got a busy week with loads of appointments.

Is everyone sorted for christmas? We have bought Jess some christmas pyjamas and socks, so come christmas eve she can have a bath and be all sparkling for father christmas!!!! I have been watching that 'a child against all odds' programme it has been really good and reinforces so much how lucky we are to have her.

Happy holidays everyone,

love

sue e xxx

[Tracii]

Hi Sue! I am so happy you popped in! As of yesterday (4weeks3days) Issy was 4200grams (approx. 9.25pounds)....she is a healthy girl...which leads me to all the issues we were having...

So yesterday AM I gave Issy her bottle and she drank it all ..but afterwards she started cramping up again and was in real pain (repeat of Saturday)..so I continued with the burping and put her down to bed. About 15 minutes later I went to check on her - and she was soaking! Head to toe in spit up. So of course I got nervous and called the midwife..she suggested I get a doctors appointment and she would come to the house in 30 minutes. Well....turns out....I have been overfeeding poor Issy...she was literally full to the brim..reason for cramping and crying!

Now we are in good shape with new bottles, new formula, and these herbal suppositories which takes away the gas/air...and boy do they work

We also found a new doctor as well...I was not very comfortable with the one we saw on Thursday so a friend recommended a doctor to me and she is wonderful...such night and day difference. Her office is so warm and welcoming. And she is not only a normal pediatricial but also homeopathic/TCM.

I am back off to bed!

[saraid]

Hi all,

So sorry tohear about the troubles some of you have been having. It makes me feel humbled and very lucky that Arabella is so good to me! I am now in sunny Perth, Aus. and loving being with my family.

I was a little worried about the long flight from London with a possibly screaming baby but she slept the whole way, only waking for a feed every couple of hours. Bliss! I had so many people come up to us and comment on what a good baby, i was so proud

Have any of you taken the little ones to have their photo taken with Santa? I went in with my sister today and the pics are so cute! My mum still has my special baby clothes from when i was a little girl so Arabella wore a dress that my granny gave me when i was born. So cute on her, pink is her colour. If i ever work out how to post a picture on photobucket you can get a look.

For the aussies out there do any of you know where i can find nappy liners as i use cloth nappies but did not bring liners with me and am now having trouble finding some here. All ideas welcome. Also looking for a wooden mobile to hang above her cot but can only find the plastic or soft toys that attach to the cot side. I would like one that will stay out of harms way when she is older.

If i don't get logged on again i hope you all have a very special first christmas with your little ones.

Merry Christmas

Saraid
xx

[BelB]

HI guys,
Just popping in here to answer Saraids questions about Australian nappy lienrs. I used to use the Johnson and Johnson brand liners, I bought them from coles and they come in a box for about $7 from memory. They are blue, kind of like Chux cloths (not sure what you call them in the UK?) and I used to line the cloth nappy and it absorbed a bit which helped in the washing process. Well done for sticking at the cloth nappy thing, it's lots of work and I always found it easier to go onto disposables when I was travelling!
As for a wooden mobile..do you have an Early Learning Centre store close by?, we have a number in Queensland and I know we got a wooden mobile from there when Annie was little. Alternatively I've seen a few for sale at markets and the like.
Good luck!!
Belinda

[bella-s]

Hi everyone,

I can't believe how I don't find time to check this site anymore!!! I have to say, I have been struggling a bit. Lucy doesn't really like to sleep, and after 2 weeks of letting her fall asleep on my breast and then either me or DH rocking her until we were sure she was asleep before putting her down, only to have her wake up after 45mins to discover she is not in our arms anymore so start crying, and start all over again.....I started to try and teach her to self settle. I don't let her cry, but I basically make sure I put her down still awake and let her fall asleep herself. Some times it works better than others, other times she just wont really sleep at all in between feeds (normally early evening), but at least I can get things done (like eat!) in between going back in to put her dummy back in etc.

I laughed about the searching the bed for bub - I do that everynight. I had no idea it was so common!!! DH does it to!

BF is going well, but b/c she has trouble sleeping, I'm starting to get concerned about my supply. She is getting weighed tomorrow, so I guess I will find out then. DH gave her a bottle of expressed milk last night, and I have to say, it was a really nice break. The constant feeding, trying to settle can get very disheartening. I also have trouble sleeping in the day, so the sleep deprivation is catching up. I read all your posts on formula feeding which was handy, as I can't help but consider it. Even just for 1 feed a day. Does anyone do B/F & formula?

Anyway, shouls go and try & relax. I honestly had no idea it would be this hard, as I thought I would be so grateful all the time that nothing would bother me at all. Well, I am eternally grateful, but it doesn't stop me stressing and struggling at times.

Hope you all have a great Christmas!

Bella & Lucy.

[gregmbarry]

My goodness...hehe...I also laughed at those middle of the night searches for the baby. I feel DH roll over to be closer to me and I freak out...push him as far away as I can and feel the bed for the baby...only to realize that she's in her crib...her daddy is a deep sleeper so he usually doesnt' wake up too much when I do this...

Aw I'm sad to hear about all of the troubles lots of you are having - esp poor Isabella...thank goodness you've found what works though and lets hope for smooth sailing after this.

My baby girl has figured out how to sleep through the night! She's done it for a whole week now! I'm pretty excited. But if there was something different we're doing - I certainly don't know what it is...? I have always bathed her at 8:30 or around there and I give her a little to drink after that and put her down. She sometimes just goes to sleep on her own - sometimes I have to pick her up a couple of times and give her more to drink until she falls asleep - but after that she sleeps until around 5:30 or 6. Maybe it's just the routine she's getting used to? Consistency? Who knows...all I know is I wake up refreshed and so does she usually. Good luck for the rest of you with this - it happened for her when she was exactly 2 months old.

Take care everyone!

[Tracii]

Hi All...Little Issy is doing great..what a difference from last week. I am trying to get a night time schedule down...put her in pjs, baby massage, different lighting ect..so she starts working towards a nighttime/day time schedule. let's see if it pays off!

Bella - I actually let Isabella cry for 5 mintues in the crib..my mother said it was good for her...and I then asked my midwife because I felt horrible for letting her cry...she also reinstated it is healthy for the little ones to 'let down' and helps them learn to fall asleep by themselves. she did mention if they cry for more then 10 minutes definitely pick them up or go hold their hand...and if the crying gets louder and louder. Midwife mentioned that this would also help later in life (i.e. no instant gratification). It is definitely a fine line and I really struggle to have her cry.

[kristiA]

Bella, I wanted to comment on the BF + formula. Yes, I've been supplementing with formula. I BF, but since I have 2 babies I'm not making quite enough milk for both, so they each drink about an ounce of formula on top of BFing. Sometimes I pump my milk instead and DH & I both give them a bottle..one gets breastmilk and one gets formula. I've been doing BF + formula since they did it in the hospital.

Sounds like many of you are getting more sleep nowadays! My boys have started sleeping longer finally too. Instead of 3 feedings in the night we're down to 2. Progress!

My doctor recommended to put the babies down partially awake also so that they learn to fall asleep...and also so that when they wake up in the night they are used to falling asleep in that place and they will fall back to sleep instead of cry to get up.

We are heading out of town tomorrow through Jan 1 for the holidays. I hope everything has great holidays...especially as new mommy's!!

Kristi

PS...Hilarious that everyone does the middle of the night searches for the babies too!

[sue e]

Hi all,

Just a quick post to say HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!! lets hope it is a good one for all,

loads of love

Sue, Hedley & Jessica

[madiva]

Merry Christmas

[Cla4]

Hi all!

Hope you all had a good Christmas! We've been up and down to different parts of teh counrty - hence no time to post!!!!!

Despite not buying Charlie anything (mean parents we are!) he had LOADS!!! I begged people to buy Mothercare vouchers and whilst some did, we still need a forklift for the clothes and toys!! Fantastic though!

RE: putting down asleep - we used to wait until Charlie was soundo before putting him down but learnt the hard way. Having spent a few weeks trying to do it differently we were really struggling. BUT we percevered and suddenly we have no problems. It's taken an extra blanket pulled quite tightly (I think this is a reaction to his swaddled days) and a Pooh bear light sensor (which is fab cause it sets itself on by sound sensor so if he starts to cry it switches on and he drifts off!) but now as long as he goes in sleepy he goes off. Oh, and sometimes i have to hold his hand! So it's worth keep trying! My dp is better at letting Charlie cry - but never longer than 10 mins. After that I would get him out and start the whole process again!

Been to docs today and Charlie is now 9lb 11! He went for his check/jabs last week and I was mortified he'd lost weight. Started panicking! But after a lot of reassurance from doctor that it sounded like a tummy bug which we'd had (green poo/diohreahh/wind etc etc) I settled down and bam - he's put on 8oz this week! Phew!

Anyway - talking of food - little legs is awake and is starving!

Happy New Year!

Cla
xx

[jomae]

hey guys sorry been busy with xmas hope you all enjoyed your first xmas with your little ones I know we did .I know before jacob came we did the xmas thing for our neices and nephews but never really got to much excitement out of it but this year we had fun doing the shopping wrapping and putting things under the tree and taking alot of photos and of course Dh had to quality test all of Jays new toys as he opened them just to make sure there safe that was his excuse ha ha what a big kid. I was suprised though jay was more into it than i expected everytime he had a present placed on his lap he gave a great big smile and grabbed everywhere and the of course it went straight into his mouth.
As for the sleepI to was told to make sure they go down while still awake or just dozing off to help them to learn to settle on there own we also use a couple of trigger items to help him recognize that it's sleep time one being his dummy he only has it when it's bed time and his little rag he's attached to

sorry have to run he's awake
take care Jomae


Have a great new yearxxxx

[kristiA]

I hope everyone had a great Christmas as new parents too! Ours was nice and I loved being able to take a family picture in front of the tree with my children. I think I'll post that pic on photobucket.

Ok, good news...all of sudden the boys went from 3 feedings during the night (exhausting for nearly 3 months!) to just 1 feeding. For 6 nights straight now they have slept from 10pm until 8am only getting up once at 3am to eat, and then going right back to sleep. We didn't do anything different with them, it just happened. Ironically they are happier babies and more content during the day too.

In just a few days the boys will be 3 months old. Do you know how you feel when you hit a milestone b-day like 30 or 35 or 40, etc? You feel like life is going by too quick. Well, I feel that way about the boys being 3 months. That time went way too quick and I'm a bit sad about them growing up so fast. It makes me feel a little bad for wishing away those sleepless nights and difficult days. A reminder to cherish everyday with them!

We are off for 6 days to visit family out West. Yes, the twins first plane ride!!!!! Has anyone else taken your baby on a plane yet? Will catch up with everyone when I return!

[sue e]

Hi all,

Just a quick message to wish everyone a very happy new year, lets hope it is a good one for all !!!!!!

best wishes

love

sue e xx

[bella-s]

Hello all....hope you all had a super Christmas & New Year. How many people made it til midnight??? We actually went to bed at 11.15pm! Lulu gave a scream at 11.58pm, and then resettled....I think she was just wishing us a Happy New Year!

Well, after my last post, I went to the doc's and Lucy had lost over 200g and went back below her birth weight. Needless to say, I cried... So Doc suggested I offer breast, then offer top up feeds of either expressed breast milk or formula. We did that and after a week she had put on 260g, which was great. So we have to keep persisting with this, which is hard work (Kristi, it must be so hard with 2!). She will take anywhere from 30ml to 80ml in the top up, and we also give her a full formula feed at night so I can express some milk for the top ups the next day. What a chore! I am hoping that soon she will start to really suck better at the breast, and we wont have to do this for long!

I have some questions --
How long do your babies spend awake in between feeds (now, and when they were 1 month old)? Nurses say it should be between 1 - 1 1/2 hours, just curious to see how this differs with everyone???

How many times does your bub feed in 24hours?

Sorry for the questions, I just like to see if the 'textbooks' are true!

Gotta run...

Bella.