In our 30s with our first babe - it's a new year!

[rock_dr]

Welcome to the January 2008 thread!

This thread is for anyone who waited until they were 30+ to have their first baby.

CURRENT MEMBERS
momofsage (Jen) 40 : Sage born May 10, 2005
angelcat (Beckie) : Rachel, born June 27, 2005
~PurityLake~ (Katreena) 33 mama of two babes borns in her 30s!
Her youngest : Sophia was born Aug 22, 2006
jaxensmommy (Jeri) 36 : Jaxen born September 29, 2006
MommyMichele (Michele) 35 mama to one babe born just shy of 30 and two other babes born in her 30s. Her youngest is : Ian born November 06, 2006
Mama2Bean 36 : born November 30, 2006
granolalight (Becky) mama to 2 babes born in her 30s!
Her youngest is : Eli born December 02, 2006
nylecoj (Jocelyn) 32 : born December 12, 2006
pacificbliss (Dawn) 33 : born December 30, 2006
elsa1975 (Isil) 32 : Defne born January 03, 2007
BeagleMommy (Susan) 34 : Ruth Evelyn born January 11, 2007
AnamCara (Kerensa) 34 : born March 01, 2007
Frannyo 39 : Maggie born March 09, 2007
didkisa (Colleen) 34 : Miranda Ann born March 27, 2007
serenitii (Melissa) 34 : Logan born March 29, 2007
Pumpkin Pie (Kim) 33 : born April 2007
mummytastic (Julie) 35 mama to 2 babes born whiles in her 30s!
Her youngest was born April 2007
merliss (Gena) 32 : Grayce born April 02, 2007
peacelovingmama (Kate) 37 mama to 3 babes born while in her 30s!
Her youngest is : Grahame Charlotte born April 09, 2007
jocelyndale (Jocelyn) 31 : Ronan born April 21, 2007
kdtmom2be (Kristen) 31 : Kayleigh born May 05, 2007
jessma (Jessma) 36 : Lennox Matthew born May 22, 2007
rock dr (CJ) : Gabriella born June 05, 2007
AnnD (Ann) 36 mama to 4 babes born in her 30s!
Her youngest is : Sean born June 13, 2007
acp (Amanda) 32 : Willa born June 15, 2007
preeniemamarach (Rachel) 35 : born July 07,2007
farmama : Natalina born July 17, 2007
Clarissa1973 (Clarissa) 34 : Elias Nathaniel born July 23, 2007
mom to B 31 : Bryson born July 25, 2007
edenluna (Eden) 36 : Ruby born August 02, 2007
nikkihoi 37 : Marshall born Aug. 4, 2007
eri_flores (Erianna) : 31 Ariel Efrain born Aug. 10, 2007
cornpicker 33 : Jonah Harrison Aug. 15, 2007
PiePie 36 : Lorelei Siobhan born Aug. 16, 2007
kelluna 32 : born Aug. 16, 2007
pokeymama 35 : John born August 22, 2007
greengrey (Alex) 30 : Layla born Aug. 25, 2007
dctexan (Emily) 34 : Benjamin born Sept. 1, 2007
veganone (Elizabeth) 34 : Isabella Lourdes Sofia born Sept. 3, 2007
plummum 36 : Sinead Summer born Sept. 3, 2007
beckyphry (Becky) 32 : Maya Rose born Sept. 7, 2007
stickywicket67 (Rachel) 39 : Tobias Jude born on September 13, 2007
hazieluna (Natalia) 36 : Aidan Sebastian born Sept. 15, 2007
ATD Mom 32 : Alasdair William born Sept. 16, 2007
Down to Earth (Laura) 30 : Elizabeth Grace born Sept. 18, 2007
~minnow~ (Lane) 31 : Adelaide Beatrix born Sept. 20, 2007
K9sarchik (Laura) 38 : Gavin Rutgar born Sept 20, 2007
Amberella : Nathaniel John born September 30, 2007
jpiper0430 (Jenn) 31 : Eleanor Diane born October 10, 2007
Maxzen 33 : born November 2007
MajorGroover (Dee) 32 : Mathilde born November 10, 2007
Grace24 (Julia) 36 : Oliver Roland born November 24, 2007
cmu204 (Cher) 34 : Baby Z born December 10, 2007
dionnakay(Dionna) : Kieran born December 11, 2007
SarahJen (Sarah) : Aveline Paige born January 3rd, 2008
Xenon : Ticho born January 8, 2008

Although many of us have followed each other from the TTC and pregnancy forums, newcomers are welcome and encouraged to join in any time! If you are new, please introduce yourself by stating as much info as you feel comfortable sharing such as your name & age as well as your baby's info (name, sex, DOB, etc.).

Here's the TTC#1 in our 30s January thread

And the Pregnant with #1 in our 30s January thread

[veganone]

Thanks CJ!!! So sorry you're sick! I'm glad it's not mastitis though... Mine is localized (but I have sort of constant, low grade breast pain and have since the beginning) and has red blotches when I have it...

New Year's - We went to a friend's house for a very low key get together. Isabella was awesome until about 10:30 so we headed home. We all got to bed around midnight and at least weren't woken up by the neighbor's firecrackers until around 12:30. Isabella was nursing in bed by then, so she nursed/napped through it. I'm so proud of her for being such a trooper!

Conception anneversary - our's was 12/27. It was a sweet day for me, too.

Rachel - Just wondering how Lucien's doing?

Happy New Year mommas!

[veganone]

Left DD alone with my parents today for a few hours as a sort of trial for going back to work (ACK!) on Thursday... She did better than I thought she would - she took a bottle of milk I pumped yesterday (yay - not scalded!!!). I'm thrilled about that because I can just put one day's pumping in the fridge for the next day and not have to scald every day... She slept for them in the swing. I'm SOOOO relieved that she did okay and even took a bit of a nap. That's huge, since she's been extra-needy lately with me. She's doing a ton of nap-nursing and wants to just hang out on the boob for 30-60 minutes at a time mostly asleep. If I try to pull her off she pops awake, even if I keep holding her in exactly the same position.

How am I going to do this?! I swear I get really anxious when I'm away from her.

Emily - Did you ever scald and re-refrigerate? I want to just do that and NOT freeze for short-term storage. Like from Friday-Monday?

[Grace24]

CJ thanks for starting the thread! Sorry you're sick, that sux. Hope it gets better soon.

It's 2:45 a.m. This baby won't sleep! Argh!

Went back to yoga, and man my body is so weird now! My belly for one thing, is still in the way of all those forward bends, and standing with my feet touching is still way uncomfortable. Also, proportionally, I think my calves gained the most weight! They have crazy stretch-marks and during the postures where I had to be on my knees, I swear they are so fat they HURT to sit on, there was all this flesh in my way! It was discouraging. So I've decided to continue my break from Bikram yoga and join the nearby gym to focus on fat loss. I simply can't afford to do both... but I'm excited about the gym. They have yoga there too, just not hot yoga. But they do have a steam room.

I have a headache. Can I go to Hawaii now? Why won't my baby sleep?

[Grace24]

Elizabeth... wow, Thursday! I get anxious away from Ollie too, but haven't had to leave him with a stranger yet. That starts tomorrow, ugh. We found someone who seems great but she forgot to leave her references with us! I hope it was an oversight? Anyhow she's coming in the morning, and I'm a little scared to leave him with her even though I'll be right upstairs... I'll be sleeping, ya know? Anyhow, I don't have to go back to work for a few weeks yet, but am anxious about it as well. Good luck Thursday! I'm sure it'll take some getting used to but in time all will be fine!

[Grace24]

Thx by the way for all the support about my mom... it is worrisome. I talked to DH and asked if he noticed her memory loss, and this time he said yes. I can only hope it doesn't progress too quickly. In her case, it's not cuz she doesn't take care of herself... she's smart, has always used her mind, and exercises a lot and eats right. Anyhow thanks for the support everyone.

It's 7:55 and I got exactly 3.5 hours of sleep. And I've had a splitting headache for days. I've been taking ibuprofen for 5 weeks straight... first cuz it was prescribed after my C-section, then I kept taking it for my back cuz of all the babywearing. Is it possible it's a rebound headache? It's miserable. Oh well at least this sitter is coming in a half hour to give me some relief, and a nap. Whew.

[dctexan]

Originally Posted by veganone

Emily - Did you ever scald and re-refrigerate? I want to just do that and NOT freeze for short-term storage. Like from Friday-Monday?

Yep, all the time. Basically I will do this if I know I will use the milk within 3-4 days. Back when I was doing my breastmilk experiments I found that if I pump and scald immediately, my milk stays fresh for 8 days. If I pump, refrigerate, and scald 8 hrs later it lasts 4 (5 if I push it) days. However, I have not had any luck freezing milk after it has been scalded and refrigerated (i.e. I can't scald, store in the fridge for 2 days, then freeze) so once I decide to refrigerate, I am committing myself to use (or toss) that milk.

So glad that DD did well with your parents! Yay!

[dctexan]

Originally Posted by Grace24

I've had a splitting headache for days. I've been taking ibuprofen for 5 weeks straight... first cuz it was prescribed after my C-section, then I kept taking it for my back cuz of all the babywearing. Is it possible it's a rebound headache? It's miserable. Oh well at least this sitter is coming in a half hour to give me some relief, and a nap. Whew.

Sorry about the headache Julia! It absolutely IS possible to become "addicted" to pain relievers like advil, tylenol, etc and get rebound headaches. INFO HERE

[dctexan]

CJ - Thanks for hosting the Jan thread There were a couple of newcomers who posted toward the end of the month but with my dog issues and the holidays, I did not add them to the first post. Hopefully they will not take offense and will post again!

Everyone - Thank you so much for sending me hugs and well wishes re: Maggie. I love you guys

So, the holidays are over and we survived. We went to Eugene, OR to visit the inlaws. The plane ride there went really well. Benjamin was an angel baby. Then we had to deal with the time change and the fact that there were a bizillion family members who wanted to meet him and hold him etc and he was in a new place and without his beloved cradle swing and WOW, he was sooooo fussy. I seriously thought I was going to die. His entire schedule is completely gone. Now that we are finally back home, he is NOT napping and will NOT go to sleep at night! I have started trying to put him down at 7:30/8 PM and he has yet to actually fall asleep (with tons of crying & screaming) until 11/midnight. We are on day 4 of this. Gah.

Benjamin is just so so SO high needs right now. Wants to do baby standy up time ALL the freaking time. Screams and sobs unless he is standing (or is kicking up a storm in the bath). Doesn't want to be held, doesn't want to be on the floor, hates sitting, just wants to stand. Of course he cannot stand unassisted yet so he has some very tired parents. The only other things that keep him calm are carrying him around the house in a forward facing position (in arms only since he has decided that the carriers are all evil) and kicking & bouncing his legs whiles he is on his back. He also is being weird about nursing. Basically he will only nurse for VERY short sessions (between 1-5 min) and pitches an absolute fit if I try to encourage him to drink more (screaming like he is being tortured, arches away from the boob) Please tell me this is a phase. I thought that most babies outgrow their super fussiness by 4 months. I am seriously dying. I see all these other moms with cuddly calm babes and I am so jealous.

[preemiemamarach]

Hi all!

Thanks for all the suggestions re: feedings. I'm not to the point where I'd take donor milk, especially since we're moving so soon, and I wouldn't feel comfortable having to screen someone in a hurry. Also, since we don't really know what the deal is with his illness (that it might be an immunodeficiency), I'd worry that something really benign in someone else's milk might make him sick.

However, we tried him on the Nutramigen last night, as he was HONGRY and I was out of milk. I had to pump, and I was a little that he wouldn't just take it from the tap, KWIM? I was full, he was hungry- so much easier if this kid would just nurse! Well, he would NOT drink the Nutramigen. Period. We tried some diluted apple juice (not great, I know, but he was wailing by then). Nothing. He finally settled in, pouting, and waited til I finished pumping, when he sucked twice on the bottle, then conked. Poor babe wanted to comfort nurse.

Anyway- the pediatrician Monday said his ears look 'fairly good'. One is still showing a lot of fluid, but otherwise, he's improving. So YAY! Next step is his immunology follow-up next week, and more bloodwork before we move. If he stays on this trajectory (feeling a little better, not declining), we'll just wait and see what happens. If he gets worse, we have to take him to the hopsital for admission and the full battery of tests. He lost a few ounces in the week between appointments, which concerns me a little. not sure what to do- has anybody ever used goat's milk to supplement?

So- I had a meeting with my boss today. I had my resignation letter in hand. There was an HR person in the room- they were going to put a disciplinary action in my file for all my absences in 2007. Let's see- I got put on bedrest 3 different times during pregnancy, then had a preemie who was in the NICU, and has been constantly sick since he went into daycare. The HR person actually said that if I don't request unpaid leave ahead of time, regardless of the reason, I'll get fired sooner than later. I kept trying to interrupt and tell them it was pointless to talk to me about 'next steps', but they wouldn't let me talk. Finally, she shut up and I put my letter on the table. The HR chick took the disciplinary thing (a form I was supposed to sign) and said, 'ok, we don't need this anymore'. I told them that I understood they needed to follow a formal process, etc etc, but I didn't have any way of avoiding all these absences anyway.

My boss was very cool about it. She seemed to understand my decision- she's a piece of work, but she has 3 kids of her own and hopefully realizes that it's the best thing for my family. I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders! Now I just have to tell my parents (in NC), who are going to be crushed. They won't drive all the way to colorado, and my dad won't fly (they're a bit weird).

Speaking of parents, I feel all you mamas having issues with the older parents! Everyone keeps suggesting we fly one of the grandmothers in to take care of Lucien, but my parents are basically useless. They're both in their mid 70's and not in great health, and the one time they visited, the most they did for me was hold the baby while I took a 1-hour nap. Ah well. My mom also is constantly questioning whether I'm feeding the baby enough, whether BM can possibly be good enough, and she firmly believed there was a scientific basis for CIO. My sisters are 9 and 14 years older than me, though, so they've been a little helpful in terms of bouncing ideas off of them.

Oh, and I have to give our daycare provider notice, too. Which is sad, because she *loves* Lucien, and he loves her right back. I hate goodbyes.

[veganone]

Julia - Yes, as in, tomorrow I go back... I'm soooo sad to think about leaving her. I'm back to not sleeping and just laying there staring at her in her sleep.

Emily - I'm so sorry Benjamin's schedule is so out of whack! I hear a lot of people say that babies get very fussy, especially with sleep, at around 4 months. Hoping it misses us, but we'll see! Isabella also LOVES to stand up - she can support her entire weight - we just provide balance. She loves it and will sometimes absolutely refuse to bend, especially for burping. She has a fun feeding habit now, too. Not screaming, but painful anyway. She will latch for maybe one second (one to two quick sucks to get latched), pull off (without releasing suction - ow), roll back and look up, and then immediately roll back to the boob and re-latch herself (ow). She will do this for LONG periods of time unless I make her stop.

Rachel - Goodbyes are hard!!! Especially moving so far, I'm sure. I'm glad Lucien is doing better - any improvement, right?! I am praying he won't have to be hospitalized, and I really hope the blood draws are going a little better... I'm glad you are getting away from your boss, too. I LOVE quitting bad jobs!!! One really horrible one in college I actually said "F*&# You" and walked out. It felt GREAT!!! Not something I would do now, but I still remember it fondly!

Here are a couple of recipes I found for homemade formula - I think we'd go with one of these if we need to ff at some point. I haven't done a ton of research on them, but it's worth considering. Especially since he won't take the Nutramigen. (That sucks - sorry.) http://www.westonaprice.org/children/recipes.html
http://www.naturodoc.com/library/children/formula.htm

[Grace24]

Rachel, yay that Lucien seems to be doing a little better! And what a relief resigning from that job. I can't believe what a hard time they were giving you. Wow. Isn't it interesting how our parents' generation seems to believe so much more in CIO? My mom, while she was here, just kept saying "It only took two nights before Chris slept through the night..." Yes, but he was 18 months and very demanding and my baby is only 5 weeks old and waking cuz he's hungry! She also thinks (her sister told her this) that my next step, now that baby is in his crib in his own room, is to turn OFF the baby monitor. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As IF! She said I'd hear him if he screamed loud enough. Funny thing is, when she was watching him, she didn't let him CIO... she held him the whole time and was very loving and sweet. But like someone else mentioned, it does make me sad that my own mom's philosophy is like that.

Emily, I'm glad to see you posting, I was actually about to post "Where is Emily?" I'm so sorry Benjamin is giving you such trouble right now! I'd also heard about a 4 month marker for increased fussiness. Maybe once he settles back in from the trip he'll get re-oriented and back on a schedule? Hang in there.

Well the sitter came, sat, and left... and I still have my baby. It was the most expensive nap I ever took! I'm so neurotic... every time I woke up (like to go to the bathroom) I'd check out the window to make sure her car was still in the driveway... on some level I thought she'd take off and try to sell Oliver on the black market or something! But anyhow, she was great with him, and seems to have some good availability for the next few weeks. I just need to make it to the end of February when the au pair comes... which is looking more and more like the right decision! DH and I are using the sitter Saturday so he and I can... get this... go on a DATE! ACK!

Then I took my baby with me to the chiropractor today... he loved my doc! Just smiled and cooed at him the whole time he held him (which is relatively new for him to do anyhow, the smiling at you thing). Then the receptionist watched Ollie while the dr. worked on me (ah, sweet relief from the tension headache! I had all kinds of muscle spasms in my neck and shoulders) When I took him back? He started crying. : Silly baby.

[nylecoj]

Originally Posted by Grace24

It's 7:55 and I got exactly 3.5 hours of sleep. And I've had a splitting headache for days. I've been taking ibuprofen for 5 weeks straight... first cuz it was prescribed after my C-section, then I kept taking it for my back cuz of all the babywearing. Is it possible it's a rebound headache? It's miserable. Oh well at least this sitter is coming in a half hour to give me some relief, and a nap. Whew.

You and I are very similar. I think I am getting rebound migraines from lack of sleep and regular exercise, and drugs, of course.

But hello, who can exercise when their crazybaby is up all night long SCREAMING ABOUT GOD KNOWS WHAT?! I think the longest stretch I got was 2 hours. Otherwise it was a marathon nursing session. My nipples hurt which usually means she's teething because she rubs them raw in the spot that hurts her, but she's totally inconsolable and dh has met his limit too.

I am >< that close to giving her to the SPCA and insisting she is a hairless pug or something.

I'm crabby and very irritable.

[nylecoj]

Originally Posted by preemiemamarach

Hi all!

Thanks for all the suggestions re: feedings. I'm not to the point where I'd take donor milk, especially since we're moving so soon, and I wouldn't feel comfortable having to screen someone in a hurry. Also, since we don't really know what the deal is with his illness (that it might be an immunodeficiency), I'd worry that something really benign in someone else's milk might make him sick.

If I could ship you my milk, I would. I have enough for a village even at this age.

I have a lot to say to everyone but today I am hating the world today.

[~minnow~]

Originally Posted by nylecoj

I am >< that close to giving her to the SPCA and insisting she is a hairless pug or something.

I'm crabby and very irritable.

Hugs! At least you're still funny.

[PiePie]

emily, dd is also obsessed with standing -- brazelton says to expct this at 5 mos, sear says 7, ours are precocious -- and she loves stdinf facing outward in the sling. try it, it might work.

[preemiemamarach]

Originally Posted by nylecoj

If I could ship you my milk, I would. I have enough for a village even at this age.

I have a lot to say to everyone but today I am hating the world today.

thanks, jocelyn! I've always wished boob size = milk production capacity, as I would be feeding a mid-sized state.

so sorry your babe did the all-night screaming. Friend here at work has a 3 yo that apparently still does it, and I almost recoiled physically when she said that- like it was contagious or something. I had a few nights right before Lucien's eardrum ruptured where I had to walk up and down the stairs with him ALL. NIGHT. LONG. to keep him from screaming. I said some nasty, nasty things to people on those particular days. hang in there!

[preemiemamarach]

Originally Posted by PiePie

emily, dd is also obsessed with standing -- brazelton says to expct this at 5 mos, sear says 7, ours are precocious -- and she loves stdinf facing outward in the sling. try it, it might work.

This is also Lucien's New Favorite Thing Ever. Now that he's mastered pulling himself up while holding my fingers, he tries to walk up my tummy.

[preemiemamarach]

just in case you need a laugh

I was doing some nakey time with Lucien last night, trying to encourage him to roll from back to front (he does the reverse quite well, but we don't play on the floor much because my back is wrecked, so I'm making a concerted effort lately). He nakey time, so he was squealing and kicking a lot. At one point, he drew both feet up to his waist (grabbing for 'em), which apparently pushed on his full bladder. He peed SO HARD. It went a good 18 inches in the air and landed on his face- in his mouth, his eyes, his hair. He looked all : at first- then decided it was the funniest thing ever.

I have pics at home- I'll try to post them tonight. (just of nakey happy babe- sadly, I missed the geiser!)

[veganone]

Originally Posted by nylecoj

If I could ship you my milk, I would. I have enough for a village even at this age.

.

Maybe I should try yours and see if that makes dd better since mine's just causing more problems! I hate that I know I have plenty of milk, but pumping I never get more than 2-3 oz....