Weekly thread, June 27 - July 4 - Page 3

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by jsh7809

Update: apparently this baby will nap for a good long time if I lay down on my back with her diagonally across my stomach and torso, face down sucking on my boob. I mean SUCKING the whole.freaking.time. I kept thinking she would stop once she drifted off into a deep sleep, but no, she sucked for over an hour! What is that about?
It seems that she has to now suck to get into a deep deep sleep at night, and suck continuously to stay asleep during the day. You see why I'm hoping she'll figure out her thumb soon! What is the deal??
The good news: while I couldn't sleep with her sucking I did doze a little and feel much better

That's exactly how L sleeps on me at night. Except she finishes nursing and then turns her head to the side. She actually likes to have her butt and feet on the bed, and her head on my chest. So we can switch between the two and she can eat on both sides without me having to turn her around! it's nice! and she can find my nipple in my sleep. sometimes in her sleep, too

[LenaC]

Rhi s She'll definitely not forget you. She'll be so happy to see you, when you get home

Jess, your babe sounds just like when my little guy was little. I know some moms say their needy baby turned into a calm toddler, but mine is still a needy toddler! He is so hyperactive and, as when he was a baby, doesn't want to sleep much, especially not for long period of time during the day. He'll skip naps most of the time now and he started skipping them, when he was pretty young. He is just on the go a lot. Oh, and he practically lived on my boob first year and a half of his life, until he started being more active and interested in other things. They get a bit easier, when they can do things on their own.

Afm, my current baby is more easy going and does take lots of naps during the day. Sometimes they are not very long, but sometimes they can be like two hours at a time. He will also lay in the swing or on the changing pad (on the floor) by himself, while I walk around and get things done. He always falls asleep on the walks in his beco butterfly and somehow I manage to take both kids on a walk once in a while. Like I said before, have no clue how you moms of three or more are doing it!

[Knitting Mama]

Jess, Cecilia will easily stay latched for well over an hour suckling away when she's sleeping. I don't think it's that uncommon, it's just really comforting for them!

I read your earlier post saying the only time she takes a good long nap is on you-- can you do that once a day at least? I like to let Cecilia have a good 2 hours on me at least once a day so I know she's getting good sleep. The rest of the time I have had to revert back to swaddling her (we still swaddle at night but up until this past week we had stopped for naps) to get more than 30 minutes out of her, and even then, it's iffy.

[crazyeight]

jess you tried swaddling her hand to her face? whichever arm she likes have it bent enough so it's generally close to her mouth and swaddle her other arm and do it all real tight. she'll get out of it easier than a normal swaddle but she might calm and enjoy it.

[ivymae]

.

[jenfl]

Another one here whose LO usually only naps for 30 minutes. SOMETIMES we can catch him and resettle him (by shaking his butt), but nearly all crib naps are 30 minutes. In a carrier, he'll go longer.

ivy -- . Go to your GP. At least then you'll know you did something.

[smeisnotapirate]

Ivy, you ok?

Big to those having rough days.

Rhi, you made it through your first day! YAY! Hope you're enjoying baby snuggles. I find that I'm so much a better mom when I come back to my kids. Helps me not get so perturbed by the little stuff.

Originally Posted by loveneverfails

Back from my last post partum visit. And yep, I sure look fertile! Joy...

You and me. Another race. I think we're the only two fertile ones here (AMY???). Wanna take bets?

[snoopy5386]

RE: sleeping - we don't do belly sleeping because Kelsey still sleeps swaddled and I don't feel comfy putting her on her belly while she is swaddled, but when she outgrows the swaddling I'd do it in the crib. We have an angelcare monitor and while I know it is not a SIDS monitor, it gives me serious piece of mind. Kelsey sleeps so much that even though I am with her 24/7 I feel like I never see her....Like today, she woke at 9:30 which was right in the middle of getting ready to leave the house, she stayed awake through music class, took a 30 min catnap at the park and then was up again. We got home and I swaddled her and put her in the swing and she slept for like 3 hours. Up for two hours which was dinner prep/dinner eating/bedtime for DD1 and then she was back in bed by 8 pm. I feel like she's never awake at a time when I can just sit and focus on her for a while, it's always during some super busy time of day. I also wonder how she is possibly nursing enough but she seems to be doing ok - when she is up she wants to nurse at least every hour to make up for all the time she is sleeping I guess....She'll only sleep long stretches if she is swaddled, so we swaddle for naps when I can and at night. And the swaddle and the swing is like a sleeping pill to this kid. She'll also nap long stretches in the carrier as long as I am moving about and especially if it is hot out. Otherwise it is catnaps, especially nursing on my lap she never seems to sleep more than 10-30 mins on my lap.

Lena - I know what you mean, DD1 was a high needs baby (never slept) who is now a high needs preschooler. She is my over-reactor, she takes everything to the extreme, seems to have no control over her emotions. Frankly it makes her very hard to deal with sometimes. She is very high maintence and I wonder what she'll be like as she gets older. Don't get me wrong, she is great, super extroverted, very over the top cute personality - I can easily picture her on Broadway in 20 years, but phew, not fun when she is in a bad mood. DD2 seems so much more laidback, I hope she stays that way. Time will tell.
Rhi - how did it go? Good to be home and snuggling tonight?

Yesterday we took DD2 swimming for the 1st time. It was cute, got some pictures, but she wasn't too excited by it. Got my water carrier in the mail today so I'm excited to try that out at the pool. We're joining a swim club so I'm sure it will help me manage the two of them in the water.

So here is my 4th of July rant - we're going to visit friends back home for the 4th of July and there is literally only one town having a 4th of July fireworks display on the 4th of July. Either the towns are not having them do to budget cuts or they are having them on different days - July 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc. The only town that is having them is the sketchy city so we're not going to go anywhere. It is the 4th of July people!! The fireworks should be on the 4th!! I'll watch them on tv I guess....

We had quite a bit of sibling jealousy this morning at music class - DD1 kept asking me to put DD2 on the floor so she could sit in my lap. Mind you until DD2 was born she was Miss Independent in class and has been going for 4 years now so it is not like it is new to her. Any other moms of more than one experiencing jealousy issues now that we are a couple of months in?

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by snoopy5386

Any other moms of more than one experiencing jealousy issues now that we are a couple of months in?

Oh yeah.

My DS's most practiced phrases are (he's only become verbal since DD was born):

Ay dow?? ("lay down" with an eyebrow wiggle at my lap)
Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu? (in the highest cutest voice he has - it means "nurse")
No! Beeebee! Dow! ("put that baby down and pay attention to me!!!")

When all else fails, he whacks my boobs as hard as he can, grabs his sister's head and pulls her off my boob (owwwwwwww), or whines and throws himself around until he breaks something or hurts himself.

He's usually pretty good, but sometimes it gets really tiring really quickly.

[GreenTeaGinger61]

Gargh, I keep writing replies that never make it to the board.

Ivy: Hugs and I hope you're okay. I saw on FB that you're getting a break tomorrow. Hope it helps!

Rhi: Neither my son or daughter forget me while in daycare. Camille was about 3.5 months when I dropped her off at daycare and she always knew her mama!

I do not have a baby who naps for 2-3 hours. I have never had a baby who did such an amazing thing. Rowena sleeps a lot but in little bits throughout the day. Her longest stretches are at night and range from 4-6 hour. Like, Amiee, I let her sleep on me without trying to move her at least once a day.

Today wasn't a total fail. It was very hectic though, and I found myself really angry/pissy several times. Girls were annoying getting out the door, R started SCREAMING right before we left so I had to nurse her while kids nagged to leave. It was okay at the outing but over-whelming to R who wouldn't sleep even when I wore her around. Then we spent money we didn't have to go out to eat as it was late. Then shopping. I hate days like this. It was compounded with dh and I nitpicking and arguing. There are days where all he does is disagree with me. Sigh.

[silverspook]

Originally Posted by snoopy5386

We had quite a bit of sibling jealousy this morning at music class - DD1 kept asking me to put DD2 on the floor so she could sit in my lap. Mind you until DD2 was born she was Miss Independent in class and has been going for 4 years now so it is not like it is new to her. Any other moms of more than one experiencing jealousy issues now that we are a couple of months in?

Oh yeah. Big time jealousy here. He loves his brother, but he doesn't like that he takes up so much of my time.

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

Oh yeah.

My DS's most practiced phrases are (he's only become verbal since DD was born):

Ay dow?? ("lay down" with an eyebrow wiggle at my lap)
Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu? (in the highest cutest voice he has - it means "nurse")
No! Beeebee! Dow! ("put that baby down and pay attention to me!!!")

When all else fails, he whacks my boobs as hard as he can, grabs his sister's head and pulls her off my boob (owwwwwwww), or whines and throws himself around until he breaks something or hurts himself.

He's usually pretty good, but sometimes it gets really tiring really quickly.

How do you do it with a 2 yr old?!?! I would lose my mind!

Originally Posted by GreenTeaGinger61

Gargh, I keep writing replies that never make it to the board.

I do that too! I was determined to get this one posted!

[rhiOrion]

omg. dh just got an email from his boss saying they don't have enough work for them to work full time. this is the same guy who wanted them to work 45 hour weeks. so now he is to work 32 hours- m-thurs at a 20% pay cut. until sept.

he also said that if either of them want to take a couple of months off unpaid that they could.

if he had told them this a week ago, we could have not put L in daycare and dh could have stayed home with her for a couple of months!

I was doing so well today. now i'm a crying mess again. a 20% pay cut and my baby is still in day care.

i'm thinking maybe he could pick her up at lunch on fridays (use the mornings to get things done) and come eat with me, let me nurse her, and then have daddy baby time for the afternoon.

[jenfl]

Oh, rhi. Could dh take those months off and stay home with L?

But even just baby-daddy time on Friday would be awesome for them, I'm sure. My DH took care of Nugget 3 days a week while I worked when she was 3-6 months old, and he really treasures those memories. They still have daddy-daughter day every Thursday.

[rhiOrion]

I suppose he *could*.

But we'd lose the spot in that daycare. And I imagine they wouldn't be too happy with us withdrawing, so I bet they wouldn't want to put her back on the waiting list.

So who knows if we'd get another spot somewhere else. Plus then I'd have to start all over with putting her in a daycare with people I don't know and getting used to their policies and such.

Blah.

But really, maybe it's for the best. If DH took those two months off i think he'd lose his health insurance. Plus, while we could have MAYBE managed with me not working for a few more months (if my job would have been waiting for me when I got back)... DH makes about $500 more per month than me. So we'd be really struggling.

On the bright side, between losing about $1000 dollars of pay after the pay cut, plus me taking 12 weeks of FMLA... maybe we'll be in a lower tax bracket?

[triony]

everyone. Some rough days yesterday, I feel your pain. Luckily DH has been doing an awesome job of taking over for me *just* when I've reached my limit which is really helpful and refreshing.

We went to the pool for the second time yesterday. LO fell asleep in the ring sling again. I hope pool water won't hurt the linen. On the way home we got stuck in traffic cause by an accident and had to pull over to nurse. My friend's baby (9 mo) stood in her lap in the front seat and "drove" while I was nursing. Wish I'd had the forethought to get a picture of it.

After my complaining about not napping for very long, 3x now I've tried to lay down with LO and nap WITH him. Foiled every time. First time by LO himself who was not ready to nap, thank you very much. SEcond time by the dog who would NOT stop barking. And third time by the dog again, but this time it wasn't his fault as the mailman rang the doorbell to let us know we had a package. I wonder if I can leave a note asking them not to do that?

Today, though, the dog didn't wake up the baby and my getting up to run to the door didn't wake up the baby. LO is STILL sleeping an hour later (2 hours after we lay down) I really wish I could predict these times...!

We're toying with the idea of getting a pump and some bottles so I can occasionally leave LO with DH. And DH could get to feed him.. that'd be nice right? Not sure on this one. Also then I could have a glass of wine or two without worrying about it. Are there downsides to this idea that you experienced mommas know about? (He's 10w now)

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by silverspook

How do you do it with a 2 yr old?!?! I would lose my mind!

After DS's babyhood, I had no mind to lose. This is a cakewalk.

Originally Posted by triony

Also then I could have a glass of wine or two without worrying about it.

You can have a glass of wine or two even while breastfeeding. Pump and dump for those situations is based on old wives' tales, not science. Science has never shown a connection between moderate alcohol consumption and effects to baby. If you're planning on getting drunk, though, get a babysitter - you shouldn't be responsible for baby while drunk anyways! Otherwise, enjoy without guilt. That being said, if it makes you feel better to pump and dump, go ahead. Just know it's not necessary.

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by triony

We're toying with the idea of getting a pump and some bottles so I can occasionally leave LO with DH. And DH could get to feed him.. that'd be nice right? Not sure on this one. Also then I could have a glass of wine or two without worrying about it. Are there downsides to this idea that you experienced mommas know about? (He's 10w now)

Well, I'm only more experienced than you by about two weeks

But I'm not sure how pumping would allow me to drink a glass or two of wine (well, I do that anyhow... it doesn't worry me).

I can only BARELY and with much much work manage to pump enough to replace her feeds. So anything I pumped would go into a bottle. There is no concept of pump and dump for me.

Of course, you might be one of those people who can pump a ton extra and build a nice big freezer stash, in which case, I guess it would help.

I think having a pump and a bit of a freezer stash is a good idea, really. i know some don't see the point.

But, for instance, my friend's husband had to suddenly go to the ER last year, and I had to come pick up her son from them, as he wasn't allowed back there with them. Luckily they weren't there for long, so he didn't need to eat at the time. but if they'd been gone longer, and if i had lived too far away for her to stop by, it would have been nice to have been able to go to their house and get some frozen milk for him.

[Peace+Hope]

jess, i'm with dhinderliter, if you haven't tried swaddling your little one with her hands up maybe it would work. charlie has always been swaddled that way, and i wonder if it helped him find his hands faster.

oh rhi, BIG s to you. and GRR to the boss! it's really scary how tenuous things are financially for so many of us. my husband has his own business and everything has turned out fine for the last 4 yrs (how long he's been doing it), but we've had some thin times, and could again any time. i hope you guys see the best path soon. do you think the daycare would be sympathetic to your life situation? i would hope they'd be able to see it from your perspective... but i hear you about the health insurance too. those fridays could turn out to be awesome

sme, i got my first postpartum period the day charlie turned 12 weeks . i was ranting about it here, heh. NOT that i expect you to remember of course. has anybody gone earlier?

greentea, i hate it when my husband disagrees... why can't he simply be more agreeable?

ivymae, i hope you're ok too. omg, can't believe R rolled over!

afm, argh, i'm stressing over charlie not being able to nap in his hammock. he is a good napper, but somehow he wakes up in there after 15 -30 minutes max. i guess i have to keep trying, but i don't see any progress. it's so much easier to put him on his tummy, he'll go down while still awake and drift off sucking on his thumb, and then stay asleep for MUCH longer.

and i didn't get a crib, i planned to use the hammock (rated to 50 lbs) til transition to a toddler bed. so i have a lot invested in making this work, and it's just adding stress right now...

[Peace+Hope]

serial post

rhi, i forgot to say that olive oil on the flanges of the pump helped me a LOT. i kept a little container of it with the pump and would dip my finger in and coat the inside of the flanges with it each time. eventually my nips got used to pumping.

and i was surprised i needed the large flanges (have small boobs/nips to begin with), but pumping made my nipples huge. are they rubbing on the side of the flanges at all? even if they are, the olive oil will help in the meantime.

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by Peace+Hope

sme, i got my first postpartum period the day charlie turned 12 weeks . i was ranting about it here, heh. NOT that i expect you to remember of course. has anybody gone earlier?

Ah, I do remember that, now that you mention it! Yeah, I got my period at 6w pp (the day before I was cleared to DTD again - grr), and now have ovulated at just over 9w pp. I'll add you to the running.