back to work

Its hard going back to work. I took a year off after having James last time and went back 3 days a week. Childcare is scandalous but we needed me back at work to get a better mortgage etc....
With Andrew on the scene, I had intended on taking between 6 and 9 months, but I am now not going back to work as we are moving overseas.

When I was working I always felt guilty leaving James at nursery, but now I see the benefits and his development - good and bad! and with another one on the scene, its a godsend on the days when I am completely wiped out!!!

So, don't feel too bad about it. I know you are going back to work early but you will both be fine and keep a piccie of a smiling Jacob close by and you will be fine.

xxx

on baby rice know

Crikey!
Andrew was 8lbs 12 1/2oz when born 8 weeks ago and is now 12lbs. we have just increased his bottles to 7 oz as he was demanding milk every 3 hours which was killing any kind of routine/life!
He is going on average 8hrs the odd night from 7pm till say 3am ish. However, sometimes its still very 3hours!
Hoping the hv suggests I change him onto the hungry milk or maybe start him on meat and 2 veg!! ha ha
Sharon
xx

Well on the road to recovery

Its all sounding much more positive for all of you.
Fingers xx she will be home soon and be on the fast track weight gain!

Periods?

I agree with the others, I doubt your body is ready to start having periods and also if you were expressing this may delay matters further.

I started my period just over 6 weeks after having Andrew. Same time as when I had James. I bled for 4-5 weeks solidly following birth with both boys and then had a week off before starting again!!
This period so far has lasted 9 days and is really heavy with cramping.
Was at docs this morning for 6 week check (bit delayed!) and got pill again to start asap. However, as doc kindly put it, due to my advancing years, the coil would be better for me, so getting fitted next month.

Sharon
xx

My 55 hour labour! Birth story. x

OMG - I am exhausted reading that. Goodness knows how tired you felt. But well done you, how bloody amazing were you going through all that and managing to walk up and down that hill!

Huge congrats to you and welcome little Mia
xxx

He just won't settle!

Thanks ladies

Not been around much but had to take Andrew to docs on Thursday as his diarohea is really bad. Every couple of hours his bottom explodes and its just yellow liquid! P{oor little man, he screams afterwards and only settles when he has been cleaned up.

Doc said to get a sample and as he was gaining weight and was not dehydrated he wasn't overly concerned. However, did get some infacol which is helping quite a bit.

Just the runs to deal with. Will discuss Carobel with doc as Andrew's reflux is still pretty bad. James was on Rinitin or somethinglike that from paeds consultant.

Didn't realise APtamil did a comfort version, with James we used Cow & Gate comfort which helped so maybe discuss with doc as really want to get his loose nappies sorted.

Had a nice weekend with weather being so good. Got James out in the garden and Andrew in his pram in the sun. However,my baby blues won't go away and my random bursts of tears have been totally unexpected at times. Did however get a good 6 hours sleep last night as hubby did night feed but off to bed soon as I'm back on duty!

Thanks for the advice ladies
xxx

He just won't settle!

My dear march ladies, I am at my wits end!

Andrew is an absolute pain in the bottom! I just knew with james being so good from early on that this run of luck wouldn't last to the 2nd child.

He keeps me awake so much in the night and has a real grizzle constantly in the mornings that by the afternoon he has collapsed asleep and I am too exxhausted to sleep and have to mentally get myself ready for james getting home from nursery.

Andrew is already showing signs of reflux like his brother and regularly brings up at least 1/3rd of his feed about an hour later. I'm okay with that as I half expected this. However, he has terrible wind, top and bottom, his poos are just liquid and have yet to have any form of firmness and the noises his little tummy makes are quite funny although I am sure he is in some discomfort.
He is on Aptamil and is on 4fl oz a feed. However, he tends to fall asleep during the feed and usually his daytime feeds tend to be half of this and are every 2 hours. By the evening he can take around 3oz and are usually better spaced at every 3 1/2hrs with 2 night feeds of similar amounts every 4 hours or so. However, it takes a good 45mins to wind him and even then I think he is still suffering.
We are using Dr brown's bottles and there is a slight improvement to the Tommee Tippee ones but not as much as the HV had said.
He is gaining weight really well and is already 9lb 9oz at less than 3 weeks old. he was born 8lb 12.5oz.

We started to swaddle him and he absolutely detests this, screaming the house down. He is such a noisy sleeper I'm also tempted to either wear ear plugs or put him in another room!!!
Went to docs today about the trapped nerve in back following labour and was prescribed some codeine and ibuprofen. I am so tired that after taking the codeine I was absolutely all over the place and think its probably not safe for me to take it at the moment. Its a gorgeous day but I am too tired to get out for a walk and also, my back won't let me walk more than a few minutes. Its becoming a bit much with James also as I can't spend time with him due to his brother crying so much during the day.

Right, the little sod is awake again and screaming the house down and James will be home in an hour so must get some caffeine down my neck! Sorry for the moan ladies, you would think 2nd time around I would have it sussed!!!

Sharon
xxx

Swaddling Blanket?

We swaddles James last time and it was a real blessing. He wriggled so much at night which was the complete opposite to him during the day. But, it worked a treat and we used it till he was around 10weeks old and managed to get out of it!

This time with Andrew, we are again using it. He isn't as keen but I am insisting he is swaddled as he does eventually settle and guarantees a few hours peace in the night as last week I was up all night cuddling him.

We have been using Mothercare's own, costs around ??15 i think. Just plain white, but does the trick. He's a chunky monkey and there is plenty of growth in it, however he isn't very long but I remember James being very long and he fitted it ok.

Good luck
xx

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day everyone

had a manic morning as usual and really thought I wouldn't get time to relax.... but by lunchtime, we were in the pub and I was demolishing a lovely sunday lunch with a glass of wine!
Unfortunately the wine that I have not drank since last year really did not agree with me but the chocolate fudge cake more than made up for it!!!
Absolutely wiped out now, Andrew zonked out, snoring his head off - aren't babies really noisy sleepers!

xxx

Bleeding? TMI

I'm with you Laura, trying to do too much since the birth of Andrew. Its only been 17 days and I think by day 3 I was trying to be supermum!

My bleeding last time lasted 4 weeks, I had a week off then started my period exactly 6 weeks after James was born. This time, my bleeding doesn't seem to have been as heavy, maybe as it was a straightforward birth then that maybe helps, but some days it gets heavy again and I feel totally wiped out.

I don't even have the energy to go to bed at the moment!

xx

He just won't settle!

Its all happening on here!!

Any signs of period starting and James update.

Another one to add to the club!!

ood news at last!

Back from the wilderness!!

Little catch up

What do our little one's weigh?

Can everyone just slow down a bit please!!

James is on a mission - to put me in an early grave!!

here we go again!

Catchup!