Seven weeks (and 3 days) gone already! My tiny baby is now regular baby sized - newborn size now - not least due to a (presumed) growth spurt that meant consumption of endless milk. Tiring. Over for now, I think, but we need some semblance of routine now.
E is just gorgeous, she's sweet and bright and adorable. She's now got chubby cheeks and chubby thighs and her smile is starting to be recognisably in response to people and things.
Her brothers are still gorgeous and wonderful, but boy, they are difficult. Back to school tomorrow and it's a big relief. They are presumably reacting to the adjustment of a baby but they are being very naughty. A lot of their toys have been confiscated for now. They do seem to adore their baby sister - as a baby sister myself I know this will undoubtably change but for now they are very sweet. R is a bit apprehensive about her altogether, he is rather shy. O on the other hand is very keen to look after her and rushes to comfort her or amuse her. I do have to explain that she gets overstimulated easily, but they are only 5. When she is a little older and responds to the boys more I think all three will delight each other.
Feeding is difficult, no routine at all and I find she has times when she wants a tiny feed and other times when she wants lots. Generally she is best in the morning and through the night, and afternoons are often spent with tearful cuddles between frequent feeds. Gina Ford is being revisited tomorrow. Hopefully.
I am to go into work for a couple of "keep in touch" days, mum is to watch E for me. This will be interesting to see, I don't feel just now like I want to return to work until E is at school, but maybe it would be better. I only work 15 hours a week after all. For now I am doing two 2 hour days on consecutive Tuesdays, I'm sure I'll survive.
I sold a number of things on eBay, maternity things. I only made about £15 all in, but postage was covered and I'm rid of them. Very easy, I have my beady eye pealed for anything else I can sell.
And that's how it goes for now.
Monday 24 October 2011
Monday 17 October 2011
Hunger
Hungry, hungry hungry. Baby and me.
E can't get enough to eat. She was sleeping well and coping with eating too much, for a while. But for the last few days: oh dear.
The problems are thus:
1) E is starving, so drinks milk too fast. Even slow teats don't slow her down.
I have bought to date 6 Avent, 5 Tommee Tippee, 2 NUK bottles, 8 Avent teats and 6 NUK teats, as well as 2 replacement sterilisers (gifted steriliser smelt odd)
Avent starter kit: £12
Avent replacement teats: £12
Tommee Tippee starter kit: £12
Avent Microwave steriliser: £10
NUK bottles: £10
NUK teats: £12
Tommee Tippee bottles: £9
Asda steriliser: £12
Avent teats: £4
Avent bottles: £7
Total cost: £100
At first the slow flow Avent or Tommee Tippee were too slow for E's tiny mouth, so we tried fast flow (should've tried in between but daddy was shopping). Fast flow too fast, tried NUK bottles. Brilliant, for a while, so we got NUK teats for Avent bottles. 2 weeks of greatness. E grew, the NUK were too gushy for a stronger sucker. We retried Tommee Tippee and hurrah! Slow flow perfect, more bottles bought, and a steriliser they fitted in as they are non standard size. Good for another 2 weeks, then the sucking defeated them. 10 minute feeds: too fast. Buildup of wind, sore tummy, more food demanded for sore tummy, sickness or crying follows.
I am now a bit demented. Avent slow flow are the current attempt to slow down/avoid wind. The Tommee Tippee make it impossible to feed sitting up, which is a suggested way to avoid wind. Avent work better. We started with them and much expense later are back with them.
And then there's the milk. We had an unsuccessful foray into Hipp Organic milk, which made E sick. £6.97 wasted on formula. We remain back with Aptamil, I need to seek advice on hungry baby or comfort milk.
I think the hunger is false and a mistaken attempt by E to alleviate stomach pain.
Sleep a problem, progressing from happily sleeping in cot rather than bouncy chair to not going to sleep anywhere that isn't a parent. I am exhausted. Gina Ford did not work, her advice on formula is very limited.
I need to stop eating and lose the post baby weight I'm gaining.
Boo to hunger, whatever the cause.
E can't get enough to eat. She was sleeping well and coping with eating too much, for a while. But for the last few days: oh dear.
The problems are thus:
1) E is starving, so drinks milk too fast. Even slow teats don't slow her down.
I have bought to date 6 Avent, 5 Tommee Tippee, 2 NUK bottles, 8 Avent teats and 6 NUK teats, as well as 2 replacement sterilisers (gifted steriliser smelt odd)
Avent starter kit: £12
Avent replacement teats: £12
Tommee Tippee starter kit: £12
Avent Microwave steriliser: £10
NUK bottles: £10
NUK teats: £12
Tommee Tippee bottles: £9
Asda steriliser: £12
Avent teats: £4
Avent bottles: £7
Total cost: £100
At first the slow flow Avent or Tommee Tippee were too slow for E's tiny mouth, so we tried fast flow (should've tried in between but daddy was shopping). Fast flow too fast, tried NUK bottles. Brilliant, for a while, so we got NUK teats for Avent bottles. 2 weeks of greatness. E grew, the NUK were too gushy for a stronger sucker. We retried Tommee Tippee and hurrah! Slow flow perfect, more bottles bought, and a steriliser they fitted in as they are non standard size. Good for another 2 weeks, then the sucking defeated them. 10 minute feeds: too fast. Buildup of wind, sore tummy, more food demanded for sore tummy, sickness or crying follows.
I am now a bit demented. Avent slow flow are the current attempt to slow down/avoid wind. The Tommee Tippee make it impossible to feed sitting up, which is a suggested way to avoid wind. Avent work better. We started with them and much expense later are back with them.
And then there's the milk. We had an unsuccessful foray into Hipp Organic milk, which made E sick. £6.97 wasted on formula. We remain back with Aptamil, I need to seek advice on hungry baby or comfort milk.
I think the hunger is false and a mistaken attempt by E to alleviate stomach pain.
Sleep a problem, progressing from happily sleeping in cot rather than bouncy chair to not going to sleep anywhere that isn't a parent. I am exhausted. Gina Ford did not work, her advice on formula is very limited.
I need to stop eating and lose the post baby weight I'm gaining.
Boo to hunger, whatever the cause.
Thursday 13 October 2011
Sunday 9 October 2011
Greedy girls
All is going well, mostly. We had a few sleepless nights where missy wouldn't settle to sleep on her back, culminating in two nights of her in her bouncy chair all night and then one successful night in her cot after she went to sleep in her bouncer first.
Tonight we did the latter to much success until she awakened to an explosive poo (most of them arrive with an audible pop) and got all confused by the ongoing "there is action in my tummy, I must be hungry" which heightens the "am awake, must eat" thought process.
According to my scales, E is now 7.5lb. As they are correct to half a pound, this isn't that accurate, but she must be over 7lb and so is gaining weight well.
She is rather greedy however, my logic is that her sucking needs/ability, awareness and sleep requirements are that of her age - 5 weeks - but her tummy and digestive systems are that of her adjusted age of one week. So she wants to eat more than she can cope with. Two or three nights of vomiting a feed after bedtime means I have had to consult the health visitor and also get Gina Ford's new edition of her tome. Interestingly, E has almost moved herself towards Ms Ford's ideal routine, but I am a bit unsure as to amounts so I shall start properly following her routine tomorrow.
That won't work as soon as I can't get up at 7am.
I do sympathise with E's hunger, I am suffering from the same thing. I cannot satisfy my hunger and I am rapidly gaining weight. I stand at 1 stone above my prepregnancy weight (and I was but a few pounds above it shortly after E was born), and nearly 2 stones above my ideal size. Most depressingly I am only a little more than a stone less than my heaviest ever. So weightwatchers for me, which I have ostensibly being doing for a month but haven't actually and have gained half a stone in that month. Oops. I intend to eat a lot of soup and less cake. And just be hungry I guess. Drink water. Eat bananas.
Food today. Next time: clothing.
Tonight we did the latter to much success until she awakened to an explosive poo (most of them arrive with an audible pop) and got all confused by the ongoing "there is action in my tummy, I must be hungry" which heightens the "am awake, must eat" thought process.
According to my scales, E is now 7.5lb. As they are correct to half a pound, this isn't that accurate, but she must be over 7lb and so is gaining weight well.
She is rather greedy however, my logic is that her sucking needs/ability, awareness and sleep requirements are that of her age - 5 weeks - but her tummy and digestive systems are that of her adjusted age of one week. So she wants to eat more than she can cope with. Two or three nights of vomiting a feed after bedtime means I have had to consult the health visitor and also get Gina Ford's new edition of her tome. Interestingly, E has almost moved herself towards Ms Ford's ideal routine, but I am a bit unsure as to amounts so I shall start properly following her routine tomorrow.
That won't work as soon as I can't get up at 7am.
I do sympathise with E's hunger, I am suffering from the same thing. I cannot satisfy my hunger and I am rapidly gaining weight. I stand at 1 stone above my prepregnancy weight (and I was but a few pounds above it shortly after E was born), and nearly 2 stones above my ideal size. Most depressingly I am only a little more than a stone less than my heaviest ever. So weightwatchers for me, which I have ostensibly being doing for a month but haven't actually and have gained half a stone in that month. Oops. I intend to eat a lot of soup and less cake. And just be hungry I guess. Drink water. Eat bananas.
Food today. Next time: clothing.
Sunday 2 October 2011
Sicky sicky milk woes
Well, last night was a load of fun! Mega sickness which could be attributed to the cold, but could also be attributed to the change of formula. HiPP organic meant a little spit up at every feed and a couple of bouts of significant sickness. It didn't seem to satisfy her and so you took too much. Aptimel today again and we are back to smaller more frequent (several each day) poos, but not a drop of sick. Which is better.
She has on occasion asked for food after a large feed. The first two times, I indulged with an additional feed, and she threw up. Tonight I offered a few sips of cooled boiled water and that my baby is settled and asleep after just a few sips.
Now. I am told by Dr Google that water is bad for a small baby. I disregard this on the following basis:
Sips? A few sips? Can cause damage... how? I can understand how excess water can cause potential problems, but a few sips?
Formula is made from cooled boiled water + formula. Thus, how can water sans formula be awful? It must be assumed that the occasional sleep deprived parent adds a scoop extra of a scoop less in order for the boys to be collected.
Christ. Tired.
Baby girl perfect at 4 weeks. Mummy getting there.
Just edited this to delete a couple of completely nonsensical sentences:
Tom: phew
Mr muddle if we need it.
They make no sense, and I have no idea what I meant. I vaguely remember typing mr muddle so it's not malicious, like anyone would bother anyway.
No blogging when properly sleep deprived.
She has on occasion asked for food after a large feed. The first two times, I indulged with an additional feed, and she threw up. Tonight I offered a few sips of cooled boiled water and that my baby is settled and asleep after just a few sips.
Now. I am told by Dr Google that water is bad for a small baby. I disregard this on the following basis:
Sips? A few sips? Can cause damage... how? I can understand how excess water can cause potential problems, but a few sips?
Formula is made from cooled boiled water + formula. Thus, how can water sans formula be awful? It must be assumed that the occasional sleep deprived parent adds a scoop extra of a scoop less in order for the boys to be collected.
Christ. Tired.
Baby girl perfect at 4 weeks. Mummy getting there.
Just edited this to delete a couple of completely nonsensical sentences:
Tom: phew
Mr muddle if we need it.
They make no sense, and I have no idea what I meant. I vaguely remember typing mr muddle so it's not malicious, like anyone would bother anyway.
No blogging when properly sleep deprived.
Saturday 1 October 2011
More sniffles, less sleep and being overly worried about safety
Sleep: what I should be doing as Miss E is currently asleep, but as her and I had an epic nap this afternoon, I'm not tired. Well, I'm kinda tired in that I basically have narcolepsy at the moment, but I'm not overly sleepy.
I don't really have narcolepsy, I just can fall asleep uncommonly easily anytime, anywhere. I do fear for E's safety sometimes because of this. As such, she is well accustomed to her cot, that being a "safe" place I can't drop or squash her in, and she will settle and sleep there. Result!!
Decision to return to Aptimil after toying with HiPP Organic. The HO seems grand, E takes more, but is sicky with it and that's not good. Aptimil stays down, even if she likes it less. She does seem unimpressed with milk per se, I think she'd wean tomorrow if she could.
Observation of her digestive functions lead me to the conclusion that she has now the digestive maturity of a brand new baby (I would be 40 weeks today, the official due date) so she will cope with weaning at 5 months at the earliest, 17 weeks from today. Ah well.
Neurosis made me purchase a Buggy Tug, a strap that goes round your wrist and the buggy so if you let go for any reason, the buggy doesn't escape. I heard they existed, I observed that the downwards sloping arcade we walk down each day to school has no barrier at the bottom and exists onto the High Street, I got paranoid, I bought one (£3 or similar). One of the school mums told me her buggy had escaped with her second son and only the quick reaction of another person saved him from going onto the road. Neurosis reassured.
I feel the narcolepsy striking...
I don't really have narcolepsy, I just can fall asleep uncommonly easily anytime, anywhere. I do fear for E's safety sometimes because of this. As such, she is well accustomed to her cot, that being a "safe" place I can't drop or squash her in, and she will settle and sleep there. Result!!
Decision to return to Aptimil after toying with HiPP Organic. The HO seems grand, E takes more, but is sicky with it and that's not good. Aptimil stays down, even if she likes it less. She does seem unimpressed with milk per se, I think she'd wean tomorrow if she could.
Observation of her digestive functions lead me to the conclusion that she has now the digestive maturity of a brand new baby (I would be 40 weeks today, the official due date) so she will cope with weaning at 5 months at the earliest, 17 weeks from today. Ah well.
Neurosis made me purchase a Buggy Tug, a strap that goes round your wrist and the buggy so if you let go for any reason, the buggy doesn't escape. I heard they existed, I observed that the downwards sloping arcade we walk down each day to school has no barrier at the bottom and exists onto the High Street, I got paranoid, I bought one (£3 or similar). One of the school mums told me her buggy had escaped with her second son and only the quick reaction of another person saved him from going onto the road. Neurosis reassured.
I feel the narcolepsy striking...
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