New thread time ladies.

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/ind...howtopic=723082

GOLD!!

OMG! I have never been the first to post in a new thread, very sad that im getting excited about this but hey, things are pretty slow here

Still trying Ruby with the food and have come to the conclusion that she just doesn't like Farax so i have puree some pears and apples and im going to give it go for breakfast from now on, im desperate for her to start food it's worrying me. What's the latest you know of kids started to accept food???

Got approved for her Daycare in April too, don't know how to feel about that glad she got into the one i wanted but i just dont wanna go back to work deal with that a bit closer.

sorry no PM's type more a bit later.

Kate. xx

SILVER

Sorry I'm half dominating these forums but I really don't like housework.

Elke didn't like the farax either Mumtoruby. She's only just starting to eat apple puree. She's having around a teaspoon to a tablespoon once a day. Still not really into the idea of eating solids yet. On the recommendation from mums from my mothers group, I'm trying a different brand rice cereal called Rafferty's Garden. I haven't given it to Elke yet, but it supposedly has a much nicer smell and taste. I tried the farax and it really doesn't taste good. I might try the new stuff today. I've heard some babies don't want solids up to 7 even 8months. I think just keep offering and they'll get the idea.

Not long now until I go back to work. Friday week. Eeek. I really hope it cools down by then. Elke has a stuffy nose and therefore hasn't slept very well at all the last 2 nights. I thought she was unsettled due to heat, so had her in my bed with the a/c, but that didn't help and probably dried her up. I'm going to buy an evaporative cooler for her room today. She's got a ceiling fan in her room, but I think that dries her out as well. Might try getting her head over some steam in the sink, but with the hot weather it may not be such a good idea.

Thank you Abbygirl for our lovely banna

Ella13(Emma) Grace & Genevieve 14th March
donsimkin (Donna) Brayden Kenneth John 16th April
ashayden (Yevette) Marshall Blake 24th April
Lexington Daniel 4th May
livvysma (TC - Tamara ) Olivia 4th May
ecb Delilah Joy & Sophie Ollie-Emma 4th May
Leash2562 (Leash) Amelia Lirie 6th May
EmmyLou86 (Emma) Hannah Ruby 6th May
Shannon77 (Shannon) Madeline Lois 6th May
nikamama Annika 6th May
Duesoon (Ange) Mikayla May 6th
mrs-spanky Joshua Mark 7th May
pavzy (Parveen) Diezel 7th May
sunflower07 Siobhan Marianne 8th May
mumtoruby (Kate) Ruby 9th May
Blue Lavander (Liddell) Genevieve 10th May
Peachy-keen (Sarah) William Thomas 10th May
emmysmum (Rachel) Sophie 11th May
Lime Ori Chayim 12th May
MummyCharmzy (Charmaine) Natasha Aquita 13th May
Haddles (Mel) Mia 13th May
plus1more (Natalie) Travis Mitchell 14th May
mums2cherubs (Alison) Jye 14th May
beebs09 (BB) Elke Skye 14th May
joka (Kat) Patterson Robert Alan 15th May
Tam76 (Tammy) Toby 17th May
Happymumto1 (Karlee) Sofia May 17th May
ccaw Cam 18th May
meikos (Michelle) Kade 18th May
makell (Kelly) Elliot Wayne 21st May
Obesa cantavit S 21st May
Emma600(Emma) Rose 22nd May
ethereal... (Louise) Ned Charles 23rd May
larameans2000 (Nic) Liam 23rd May
Angie1977 Ehren Edward 24th May
BelnBen (Bel) Grace Eleanor 25th May
netta101 (Netta) Cameron 28th May
clairenz Archie 29th May
Jennifer* Connor Ryan 31st May
JBM2B (Trish) Caelin David 1st June
sometimesoon Matilda Adelaide 3rd June
Please let me know if anything needs to be fixed up.
Any new members welcome to join us please PM me if you want to be added to the list.


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Hi

It's been ages since I wrote, but I do pop in and see how everyone else is doing. I find it so hard to sit down and type - DS never sleeps for more than 40 mins at a time, but today he has finally done a slightly longer sleep. That's probably because he was awake for nearly 4 hours. I think he's starting to stretch out his awake times. His night-time sleeps are still punctuated by two wakes, and I usually feed him back to sleep. I'm hoping he stops this though, because when I go back to work when he's about 10 months old, I'd like to get a good full night's sleep!

As for food, he's been on solids since he was 4 months old. I'm hopeless, everything I give him is commercial food, I'm not very good at making my own stuff. Although he's past the pureed phase now, and can have mashed stuff. If I was a really good mum I'd steam some vegies for him. I have started giving him pieces of toast with butter and he makes a lovely big mess with that, but it definately keeps him occupied for half an hour. I find one of the challenges with him now is keeping him interested and not whinging - which happens frequently during the day when I put him on the floor to play with his toys and walk away. He always wants me with him. He also loves sucking on an apple, very cute.

He sits up fine now, has been for about 3-4 weeks, and is now trying to crawl. I think it will only be another fortnight before he is. Right now he constantly gets on all fours but doesn't realise he needs to move his hands. So then he whinges more....

Where has that last 6months gone?

Hi all,

I know - 6 months old tomorrow - my last baby. He's growing up way too fast.

Bb, Louise, Blue Lavender - I was lucky my husband took 6 weeks off work and my MIL helped as well. The only I could really do was breastfeed, (I had to give up the pain killers though) so I was determined to keep going.

Cam is rolling, sort of wriggling across the room, smiling, it sure sounds like he is saying Mumma, Dadda, milk, yes and no - but that could just be wishful thinking. Still no teeth, this teething has gone on for ever compared to my older two children. He interacts withe everyone - he's a shocking flirt! He's always got a smile unless something is wrong.

We started solids last week and he taken to them like a trooper. Banana, rice cereal and sweet potato is what he's tried. He's also gripping and slurping away on rusks (bellamy organics) .

He's started to become distracted at breastfeed time, and has taken to biting me - ouch!

He also doesn't want to sit in his high chair or bath. We've been saying 'Cam, now we'll count to three and if you don't sit you're in the cot' - we get to 2 and he plonks on his bottom and laughs. Cheeky boy!

He loves his big brother & sister and they love him.

Well all is good here, we have a boy who loves his food, even eats 6+ month food already and eats 2 meals per day and has 4-5 breast feeds still. He sleeps most of the night and does not often wake any more and need help getting back to sleep. Has his last feed around 8pm then sleeps to 7am the next day. He has his first tooth now broke through 2 days ago and has managed it quite well.

Loves talking to people and loves going along to baby music class
Has learnt how to shake his head from side to side and does this mostly at bed time lol
He is wanting to sit up and can do it with support.

I'm home all by myself today. I've just dropped Elke off for her first full day at child care. She had orientation on Monday for a few hours and she loved it. I'm not nervous for her as I'm sure she'll really enjoy it. I just hope there is enough milk left over to ensure she has enough for tomorrow as well. That's the tricky part in guessing how much to express and how much she'll feed with a bottle. I'm nervous about work tomorrow though. I hope I have a nice easy list of clients to see. I hope I don't run late. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. Will let you know how it goes.

Trish ~ Glad that Caelin is sleeping better. Music class sounds like fun.

Bb ~ Good luck with your first day back at work tomorrow. If you don't mind me asking What do you do? (Sorry if you have already told us)

Patterson is waking for 2 feeds over night of late hasn't done that since he was 6 weeks that sure was a reminder Other wise all good

Joka, Does Patterson have solids? How many a day is he having?
Even though Cae sleeps well at night, I don't seem to, I am always waking every hour and then cannot get back to sleep

Beebs - good luck with the return to work. Hope the day does not drag on too long for you.

Trish ~ Yeah Patterson is having solids. He usually has a yogurt/ custard mid morning and 2 big cubes of vegies (puree) for tea.
I have been told by the MHN not to worry to much about puree as he is a bit too independent and wants to feed himself so he is also having soft fruit and steamed vegies as finger food arrow root bicutes, rusks and toast.
It has been really hot here for the last few weeks and I think this may have something to do with it. Not too worried he will sort himself out

Hi everyone.

Well my first day back at work went really well. I'm a community nurse. I drive around to clients homes to provide them nursing care. It all fell back into place very easily. Felt funny working without a baby bump. I kinda felt like pre baby stage because working is all so familiar.

And being away from Elke was made easier because the child care staff said she is just such a happy baby. She looks like she really has a lot of fun there.

I've now decided to go with baby led weaning for solids as well. Elke just simply isn't interested in me feeding her puree food from a spoon. I've tried rice cereal, apple, banana, pumpkin and now potato. She wont open her mouth for it, and will spit it out if I manage to get some in. But when I was out for dinner on friday night she wanted to eat my bread roll. I let her suck on it a little but then I took it away because I wasn't sure about it.

She is now really getting those knees under her belly and rocking. She also gets in the push up position on her toes and hands. So I think crawling wont be too far away for us. She's rolling well and getting around the room.

And that's all that's happening in our camp. Hope you are all doing well.

BB

Beebs09,

I'm glad that the return to work went well and Elke enjoyed daycare.

I wouldn't do the bread roll, and I usually one food at a time for 3 days so that if there is any reaction I know what caused it. Then at about 8 -9 months I combine foods - like potato and pumpkin.

I don't cook anything special though, it's a mashed something of what we're having - then the older two can't complain Cam's getting something special. So the solids are going well, as is the wriggling across the floor.

Well, we have a tooth. After many distrupted nights, lots of sucking and drooling, Cam's first tooth came through wihtout much fanfare at all yesterday afternoon.

He seems quite pleased with himself. We goit the family portrait done on Saturday so we got the gummy shot done just in time.



On Friday, I had someone tell me that Cam was far too pretty to be a boy. I just said 'thank you - we think he's beautiful, but I can assure he's a boy'.

Any tips on preventing constipation in babies? I've cut back on his food and increased his breast feeds, and offer him water as well. But he still does wee pellets and seems to strain a lot to get them out. They are starting to soften up but I think this is why he is unsettled much of the day.

Depending on what solids he can eat, prunes and pears are good to loosen the poos. Otherwise coloxyl drops are an option from the chemist.

Meanwhile Elke is still not wanting to eat solids. Will keep persisting of course. I think this is contributing to her waking up a few times overnight the past week, which is unusual for her.

BB

Trish ~ Kiwi fruit is another good one. Hope the little guy feels better soon.

Bb ~ Patterson is not a solids (mush) fan either and he is waking up to 3 times a night. My MHN said to try him with steamed vegies whole not mushed and other stuff he can eat himself. Last night we had a roast so i gave him a bit of everything sorta cut the meat into long bits, he loved it i don't think he has ever eaten so much he LOVED the peas and corn.
Has Elke tried yogurt?

ccwa ~ Congrats Cam on the tooth. Glad it wasn't to much hassle

Hmm is way to quiet in here these days...

AFU ~ Not a lot happening here, we are going on our first family holiday next month so I am doing a lot of planning (in my head) about what to take.
We are going to a wedding this weekend and Mum and Dad are babysitting. I have only ever spent one night away from DS1 and never from Patty, I think we will leave early and come home. I am worried coz Patty will not take to the bottle, so I am going to go look for a different type today. I have always used pigeon but he has other ideas.

On a brighter note as Mum and Dad are looking after the boys and I have expressed heaps of milk I plan to get rediculously drunk

Sorry one handed typing and I can't spell

Hi All!!!

Sorry I have not written in a while, Ruby been really sick we were in hospital with Bronchiolitis last Friday through the weekend, and this week has been so trying and testing, it's been awful. We have turned a bit of a corner today she is drinking again and slowly wanted her solids in small amounts so im slightly hopeful we may be over the worst of it. Got a Dr appointment today just to check her progress.

JB, Ruby has been constipated as well lately so i have just been giving her 1 dose of coloxyl in her bottle per day and introducing easier digestive foods like paw paw and brocoli, laying off starches and banana's for a bit.

Question: I have moved Ruby onto the Step 2 formula for 6 months + ( NAN HA Gold) but its been the culperate for constipation and she is not a fan of the taste at all! what is the harm in keeping them on step 1 from birth through, does anyone really know the benefits other than increased fat and protein content? cause I was thinking if she is eating solids I can give her those vitamins through food and keep her on the formula she likes????????? any suggestions or common issues.

Beebs, so glad returning to work was smooth sailing for you, its fantastic Elke loves care and gives me some hope for when I have to go back in April

Trish, great to hear Caelin is sleeping better you must be so releived the worst is over, so very happy for you now onto the next obstacle hey! its never ending

Sorry for those ive missed, gotta go and tend to little miss.

HOpe your all well.

Kate

P.S Got Ruby's Santa photo done, anyone else? would love to see them up

Kate ~ Sorry to hear that Ruby has been unwell. that she is now on the mend. That is one cute little girl you have there
Sorry I cannot help on the formula thing. Although I think the different stages have something to do with iron levels. DS1 I weaned himself form the boob when I was 8 weeks preg with DS2 and HATED formula I gave up after 6 weeks and he had cows milk (he was 10 months) but I had to give him pentivite aswell for vitimins etc. Maybe ask your MHN or the Dr?
Not 100% but I think that I have read that the GOLD formula can cause constipation is littlies too, maybe just try tha HA?

Well we had success I got a tommee tippee closer to nature bottle for Patterson and DH fed him 140ml of EBM last night I feel so much more relieved I was really worried about leaving him.

So what are we all doing fro Christmas?
We are heading to the Gold Coast, my parents are comming with us and my brothers are meeting us there. I am really looking forward to it

Hi Everyone!

I have been away for a while as I went to the Percy Islands with my parents and my 3 little ones for a while. It was amazing, though leading up to it and packing I was sooo worried about having 3 kidlets on a small boat for ages a very long way from home and civilisation. I did bit of spearfishing and introduced Lily and Will to snorkelling. They have no fear, I had enough for all of us given that I know we were in tiger shark territory. Ned coped really well too though my neck is so sore after sharing a small bunk wth him. It was good to have a grandma on hand to do the babyholding sometimes. Breastfeeding was so convenient too, I have now fed in a wetsuit, in a hammock and in a dingy. Ned may not be great with routines but he sure is adaptable. He has learned to pull himself up on things now.

I will try some personals when I have 2 hands!

Louise

Any reason why my child screams blue murder every night at bed time?
He is tired, maybe over tired, but just will not go to sleep.
We try giving him water, stripping layers, darker curtains.
We try increasing the times between visits, we try soothing him with tapping or rubbing his belly but he just continues to scream once we leave the room.
It takes over an hour to get him to sleep, no matter what time he goes down and will still wake 6.40 or earlier even if he is asleep by 9pm. I have tried a night feed when I go to bed, still wakes at the same time.

Seems the only way to comfort him is to feed him to sleep then he wakes 40min later, cos Im not there, and cries, normally settles well, but this is eating my evening away - and then starting the day at 6am is ruining my sleep and this means I am getting a maximum of 6 hours sleep every night - and most nights i just cannot sleep

DP is in there now, rubbing his belly till he is asleep which i dont want him to rely on - but DP ears are painted on - and when he is not here at night it means I have to fall into this trap and spend even more time getting him to sleep :\ anyone else want a bite of my evening?

JBM2B,

Does he have wind, is he teething?

OK we have had an 'interesting' day.

Today I was bitten, pooped on, puked on and not allowed to put Cam down too much at all.

MIL babysat for me for an hour (All 3 children) Cam went to sleep for her, but woke up in hysterics because Mummy wasn't here.

Just a little frustrated I guess.

Cheers everyone.

Seems he is not getting enough from me and his solids. I gave him a bottle of formula at 4.30am today and he took almost all of it (was 110ml to start with, not sure what the powder made it up to) and then slept until 9am.
Not sure how to get my milk a bit more "filling" or "rich" for him. He has 2 solids a day as well, 11am and 4pm.

Should i increase his solids intake? Should I feed him at different times?

I'm just worried that the formula will block him or give him tummy pains like most of the other ones have.
He is on SMA - not sure if they have that in AU. It's from birth and does not have all the added gold stuff, I am still breast feeding the rest of the day though, and expressing off as well.

Hmm,

What solids are you feeding Caelin? Do you introduce them and then give him the same for 3 days? If you're mixing them up, it can be too much for his tummy too soon.

So what we do, introduced rice cereal - nothing else for 3 days. Then banana, no other introductions for 3 days. But the banana can be mixed with rice cereal and breastmilk/formula/cooled boiled water. I don't tend to mix foods together like mashed pumpkin and mashed potato until I know if any one food is causing problems, and I don't tend to mix until about 7 -8 months (it was differnet from from DS1 to my DD as she had a few food issues). I don't introduce meat until 9 months - as thta really clogs up their systems.

I do solids after a breast feed and I feed solids at 12.30pm and 5.30pm to 6.00pm, so around our meal times.

I mostly Bfeed - but that may stop if the biting doesn't stop, he drew blood last night! - but top up with Bellamy's Organic formula at night (usually before dinner at 5.30-6.00pm). I find he goes off to sleep better with a bfeed. Are you in NZ? Is Bellamy's available there? It doesn't seem to give Cam problems with constipation.


He might just be going through a growth spurt, so don't drop off your feeds. It might be the timing of the solids.

Does any of that help? I hope I haven't gone off tangent.

Trish, If you are expressing as well as BFing you can end up making too much milk and bub gets more watery foremilk and less creamy rich hindmilk that he would be getting if he is draining the breast in an evenly balanced supply/demand situation. I made the mistake of expressing with my second bub and blame this on stopping BFing by 6 or 7 months. Just a thought.

AFU, Neddy stands up in his cot . My DS 1 came out to me today and said Ned is standing in his cot... and he was. I really thought the top rail was too high for that but no, he pulls himself up the bars and then holds onto it. This will make sleep time fun with him popping up like a jack-in-the-box when I put him down.

Louise

Hi Everyone!

Iv not been on her for so long and most of you probably dont even recognise my name!! But i have a gorgeous DD who was born May 17th 2009. We recently relocated to Brisbane from Sydney so things have been hectic to say the least!
Started DD on solids regularly about 3 weeks ago and after a few hiccups i have changed her routine a litte and she seems to be eating more! I worry about how much milk and if she is having enought though.
I have been a member of EB for a year now, joined when i first found out i was pregnant and have met a few friends through it and loved the support i have got when asking my many questions!! ha ha
Anyway, i will be a bit more regular on this parent group from now on and i hope to get to know a few of you. They may sound quite sad but im pretty much starting again in Brissy with all my friends in Sydney or the UK (where im from originally) so great to talk to other mums with bubs at the same stage.

mumtoruby - that is a great sig picture - lol
Joka - think we spoke bfore, you helped me with a question or two

Hope to talk soon. Karlee

He had 2 good nights, settling by 7.30pm and sleeping all night to 7am or just after. Tonight is back to the scream when we leave the room rubbish again. I have offered him breast milk since 5pm as he pleased, and then gave in and offered him a 120ml bottle, which he took 75 ml from.

I offer him 2 solids meals a day, one around 11am and the other around 4pm.
I had been mixing them with rice, but stopped then used bran but now stopped that, just pear and on occasion finger foods like carrot stick and broccoli soft boiled of course.

We do the same routine every night, and once asleep he does 10+ hours. Just not sure why he is needing formula and why he is screaming and fighting.

He is wrapped, if we unwrap him, he just attacks his face till he claws himself and he bleeds. Then he looks manky for the rest of the week.

I only express off when I go to bed so I can get a supply for a rainy day so to speak. I get around 60ml, used to get 70-80ml. Never managed any more. I get letdown when I express but I don't seem to get it at the last feed he takes around 6pm.

Dp then ends up going in and rubbing his belly till he is alseep then he wakes 1 hour later because no one is there and we have to soothe him again. He used to settle on his own really well, but now even refuses in the day and that does not matter if he is wrapped or not and he always seems to want a feed before he goes to sleep, some times this is only 1 hour from the last feed. Its like having a newborn all over again., no its not, he was an awesome newborn until he hit 9 weeks. The hell started then. I had no idea what i was doing and still dont.

Should he be on 3 solids a day?
How much per meal?
What helps them poo?
Why is he getting constipated when he is having so much milk?
How can i improve my milk quality? I've tried letting him suckle, i've tried tigers milk, porridge, ginger beer, I don't drink normal beer so that is not an option.
How do I get him to settle without screaming?
Is it time to let the wrap go, and how do i do it, i've tried one arm out, placing him in there but not wrapping etc.

JBM2B - you should be making sure that at least one of three meals a day - either lunchtime or dinner - has iron in it. So, try a chicken based meal. Babies have had an iron store for 6 months since birth that is pretty much depleted by now, and so you need to now ensure they get iron by food. Without iron, they won't sleep properly.

Just mixing the food with pear is probably not very filling either, so he might be hungrier now you've stopped mixing with rice cereal. They also need protein to sleep well.

They should be having at least 110 grams each meal. My baby polishes off about 170 grams each time though, and has 4 breastfeeds, plus about 50ml of formula at the end of the day. I don't think you're feeding your baby enough.

Pear will help them poo.

The wrapping is ok.

As for the screaming, it could be a number of things including the above, or pain, or separation anxiety. Either way, he wants to be soothed by you, so do that, make sure you don't break his trust. He's only little!

Hi Girls!

Very slow in here, where are you all??? busy mummy's coming up to christmas im guessing.

JBM2B: I hope your issues are resolving themselves and your getting some more sleep, things are always a bit clearer when you have had some sleep. Regarding the feeding, im giving Ruby 3 meals a day now and still 4 bottles in 24 hours, she seems to be coping well with that and putting on weight ( still slowly) its so hard to figure out what they need especially since every baby is so different, I think I find that one of the hardest parts of being a parent, to try and figure out your own baby and ignore all the reading and comments you receive that you don't like or beleive relate to your child, you will get there eventually, im still trying to figure my daughter out!!! I dont think the guessing game ever ends though

I took away Ruby's wrap a few weeks ago, and put her in a growbag, she seemed to handle the transition suprisingly well, have to admit thought i was in for a weeks worth of restless sleep but was'nt to bad , if Caelin is still happy to be wrapped and your happy for him to be wrap dont worry about, the only reason I took it away was cause she was getting out of it all the time and waking herself up anyway.

Im not a breastfeeder so I cant help you in that department but there are a lot of mum's on here that are, maybe its worth PM them and get some advice, or as you can see the EB Police come out in force if you ask for opinions

I hope things get better again soon.

Maevy1 welcome back!! I too joined when I was pregnant and found it nice company to be on here, looking forward to reading your posts and knowing your DD milestones

A friend of mine's DS has just come down with Roseola Infantum and im just waiting for Ruby to get it, she is grizzly today and it apparently starts with a fever so im closely keeping an eye on her, I hate it when they are sick or not knowing if they are going to get sick it sucks!!! Im reluctant to go anywhere or see anyone in case so feeling a bit low about it, we were only just in hospital a month ago with Bronchiolitis and I only feel like we have just gotten over that!!! keep your fingers crossed we dont ge it.


ANyway hope your all well!

Kate.

Caelin is really good now. Sleeps well over night, day time is still random but that works for me with being busy just means I have to pack the bag a bit better for all those "just in case" events.

He is sitting on his own now and has 2 teeth (bottom).
He can even push himself to standing from sitting in his bath.
Loves the beach, happy to play in the water for a while. Lucky for us the beach is not too far and we can walk if needed.

One question for you out there who have had more than 1 child, a friend of mine recently had her baby and went into labour 3 days early, had a lovely natural water birth - I had the complete opposite, late, drawn out labour after being induced and c-section - is it normal to feel a bit down about other people getting the birth you wanted? I am really happy for her and her new baby, but I just feel so down about such a crappy birth - I am taking steps to ensure this wont happen next time ( better midwife, no induction, water in labour and at birth if possible etc) but I just cannot shake the feeling - I know my son and I were both safe and he was born at the end of a very long tiring day, but why do i feel so sad???

Trish ~ When I had Harry it was very similar to you. I was induced 10 days over, I was in labour for 24.5 hours and had not dialated at all. I was taken for an Emerg C/S I was stapled up and couldn't move for days. Harry then got severe jaundice and had to go back to hospital (3 days after he was born DH's Grandad passed away) So it was all very hard.
I had spent most my adult life studing agriculture and working on a farm, where is a cow has trouble birthing you get rid of it. So it was really hard for me I was quite depressed and felt like a failure, which I later learnt isn't all that un common.
My SIL had a bub 6 weeks later perfect birth 9 days early only an hour labour, in fact it was that easy that her bub was born in the shower at home before they could even get to the hospital. I got pretty depressed learning that she had 4 kids and I had spent more time in labour all up than she ever did.

Any way down the track this was the biggest reason I was so for a VBAC and as the chances of VBAC slipped away (Patterson was breech for a bit and BIG) I was very upset until the doc explained that if I had been giving birth in the 1800's my bub would not have lived and their was a good chance that I wouldn't have either. This put things into a different perspective.
Patterson was an Eletive C/S (I still hate that as it wasn't really elective more forced LOL) but all up his birth was amazing, so much calmer and easier.

How you feel is pretty normal to my understanding. But if you feel that it is too hard to deal with get yourself some help

Hmm I have almost written a book lol Trish

Kate ~ Hope Ruby is ok, the virus sounds nasty. We are getting all excited about Christmas. We are heading to the Gold Coast on the 19th I can't wait we havn't really had a holiday since out honeymoon.

I agree Joka. I think natural deliveries are too pushy and having a c-section people label you as too posh to push, even though I didn't want to have one, was purely against having one and tried for the best part of a whole day to get him out naturally.

I emailed a midwife today to ask if there was any one to talk to even though we are not planning a number 2 yet for some time now and she has agreed to speak with me as early as next week, and they even have a student counsellor in 2010 who I can also talk to. So I will take up her offer and hopefully next time we can go for a natural, water birth (as I initially wanted), even if I can only use the water for labouring in.

I think talking to her will reduce my fear for next time and help me manage the labour better and help me pick a more sufficient midwife for next time.

Bug is still sleeping 11 or so hours a night, 2 day sleeps of 40 min, we are trying to get another one in there as he needs one around 5pm. He loves playing with all objects but toys, loves paper and tries to nab a coin from my coin pile whenever he can.

Anyone know how to cook rice and pasta so it does not just become a sticky mess?
Can he eat noodle pasta - give me some cooked food ideas please!!

Sorry I only skimmed through.

I hate the hospital classes for making me cry as I was booked for a csection. Now in hindsight i think it was the BEST THING EVER. He had to come out somehow so what if I didn't have any labour? So what if I didn't have to push? Did those ladies with epi what you call that plus tears get medals? No? Same thing, I am holding a cute lovely healthy baby. Whatever to that. I will serve that midwife a new one for brainwashing me about formula = evil. I held out giving him formula for a month. ONE MONTH! I felt so sad every week when I dropped into the centre for a weighin, nothing.. no progress. No weight gain.. How is feeding him evil? I hate that midwife who conducted the classes now.

Hi Kate

Just saw your post and wanted to say have you tried Rafferty's Garden Rice Cereal.. you can get it in Coles and Woolworths. My little girl hated Farex but LOVES Rafferty's garden! I give her 2 tbspns in formula (just finished up breastfeeding) and then she has 2 tbspn of either apple or pear puree as a 2nd course. I've been following the Tizzy Hall Save Our Sleep plan and mine has taken to food really well. Except she won't eat jars... which is a worry as we're supposed to be flying back to the UK for a family christmas.

All the best
J

Feeding mine Raffety's Garden too.
Never bought farex though so I cannot compare.

Rafertys Garden is an NZ company - yet the product is not sold here
Seems silly to be in one country but not sell it there but sell to another. We have such limited choice when it comes to baby food here. There are more flavours in the 4-6 month range, than in the 6+ month stage

Hi everyone.

Trish I can appreciate the jealous feelings you have about your friend having a good labor. I think it's a natural feeling for all mums to want the best for themselves and their babies and families. I hope you get something out of your chats this week with your midwife.

Well talking about food, Elke finally had some rice cereal (raffertys garden) yesterday. Yay!!! After trying for about 2 months a whole variety of things, went back to basics this past week and had a result. She had about 2 tablespoons of it, so I'm quite happy with that. And come to think of it this was the first time I mixed it with water instead of breastmilk. I wonder if that also made the difference. And Kate, I was just talking to my neighbour today who said she knew an 11month old still just breastfed because he refused food. She thought he looked ill but the baby's mum took him to health professionals and they said not to worry and he'll eat when he is ready.

This week Elke is doing what I can the caterpillar. As she gets up to all fours she flops back down on her belly and has moved forward a bit. Then gets up again and gradually is getting about that way. She is doing well getting on her knees and toes and maybe 2 crawling movements at times. So wont be long for that. In the meantime though the caterpillar motion is getting her around.

We've given her a spare computer keyboard as she loves playing with it.

She woken up so better go. Will hopefully do another post before I head over to Victoria for 2 weeks for christmas this weekend.

Hope you're all doing well.

BB

Yes we have tried that too, but she just doesn't like it!! making a little more progress than before, she doesn't like chunks so we are just doing smooth puree's again for a while too its what she likes to eat so be it!! ill address the chunks in a couple more weeks. I think she is trying to drop a bottle herself cause her 11am bottle she will only drink around 70-80mls of it and then screams so, im thinking, i may drop it all together so we will be at 3 bottles a day, my info says that's about right for 8 months, what are you all up to with bottles and how many/much??

Im sorry some of you are having some trouble dealing with your birth experiences and to be honest mine was ok so I dont share that grief but I do have friends that have had traumatic experience and simply experiences' that were not to plan and they too have been seeking counselling, it has helped them and this friend is even considering having another, so even though I dont understand i definately sympathise and want you all to know that you will feel better soon and i'm thinking of you all and hope you find peace soon P.S the worst thing anyone can say to you is " well at least you have a healthy baby" because if anyone says that to you permission to knock out granted, its those that really don't understand and have definately not had anything close to a bad birthing experience.

Lexington: Completely agree with the demon midwife thing! I had terrible trouble breastfeeding and expressed milk for 8 weeks!!! I have to say knowing what I know now, and that is your baby is fine either way, happy and content either way and I would not have persisted that long, the breast pump still gives me nightmares!!!! Ruby has had no issues with formula and once i was happy with the decision to change it was the best thing id done since having her! so hats of to you to for realising and doing the best thing for your bubs.

If any of you are going away for Christmas be safe, have a lovely first christmas with your bubba's and here's to another year of questions,answers, chats and laughs on EB

Love Kate & Ruby

Just a quick reply on the food thing..

Foods Gen has had:
Whole foods - not mushedGrapes
Mangoes
Strawberries
Bluberries
Blackberries
Apple
Nectarine
Pinapple
Plum
Watermelon
Rockmelon
Banana
Tomatoes (cherry and sliced)
Potatoe (in many forms)
Olives
Mushroom
Zuchinni
Cauil
Brocilli
Carrot
Pumpkin
Sweet Potatoe
Beans
Corn
Cucumber
Chicken
Lamb
Beef
Fish
Duck
Cheese
Bread
Porridge
Toast - with various things on it

And a few other things I have forgotten


as for what to cook, I give her what we are eating - so tonight we had Chicken Kiev with steamed veg, last night we had a BBQ at a friends so she had a beef kebab, potatoe bake, Chicken ect I try to always give her some fruit as well. She is fully breastfed

** this is not a brag - just statement of fact for encouragement**

We are lucky she loves her food, although a lot goes to the dog - who is VERY happy Not everything on the list makes it down, but we keep offering and she will decide if she wants it or not.

Two bottom teeth have made eating certain things easier but the Poos - OMG the smell is less then pleasant - give me a breastmilk poo anyday!!!!!

are you letting her eat the food herself ie not off the spoon? could be a way to get her to try chunky foods..

Anyhoo hugs to all for a merry Christmas!!

Hi all, sorry I've been a stranger - been busy, plus see below!

A few things - I've only read back on this thread....

I had a feeling kiwi fruit was one of the things you shouldn't give bub till after 12 mths - could be wrong but saw someone talking about it.

Trish - If you still have any troubles with sleeping, I'd recommend "The no cry sleep solution for babies" by Elizabeth Pantley. we got the Toddler edition and it was the only thing that helped us. she includes things you wouldn't think of or that no-one else discusses. Sounds like it could be over-tiredness perhaps.
Sounds perfectly normal about your birth experience feelings - could be a bit of PND. I had some PND which didn't really surface till about 9 mths, so it can come on later. And from a natural deliveries birther, I can tell you that I sympathise with those who end up with emerg CS's and certianly don't hold the too posh to push view.

Kate - How is Ruby?. I hear you on the hospital thing!

I also express as well as BF (not express everyday though - well lately more often as I need it for her cereal), and I don't find any issues for us with quality or quantity, so probably not the same for all.

I'm a Bellamy's girl - even though we haven't had formula for Grace yet, so can't help on the farex or the formula issues.

G is also having hard poo issues, but she gets through it, little trooper. Oh, well the poos have changed this week - see below!

A bit of news from me.
We were in Royal North Shore Hospital from Tuesday night to late Friday last week with Grace. She has pneumonia!!!!

She woke Sat morning before last with a bit of a cough and was eating a little less solid food. Then Sunday night I was up for nearly 3 hours with her - not hot, but sweaty and generally cranky. At one point we thought she just didn't want to be asleep, but the TV with me on the couch trying to sleep didn't work either!
Monday she slept in, then after 2 hours went back for 4 hours in the rocker! I went to feed her wether she wanted it or not as she needed it and when I picked her up she was boiling!!! 39.69 C!! I took her straight off to docs - just a cold, no secondary bacterial infection. Panadol brought it down and then we just kept the panadol up every 6 or so hours when it spiked again.
Tuesday morning at Gymbaroo with B, she looked terrible and I thought we shouldn't be there. Mum came in the afternoon and when she woke about 4pm, she was reallly hot again and very upset. The panadol didn't seem to work on the fever much and not at all on her demeanour and she was virtually translucent in colour!!! and at times stiff necked (that worried me), then completely limp! She also wouldn't feed. Mum said to go to the hospital or at least the doc. I asked about waiting a bit more for the panadol to kick in but Mum said not to. But as we can't fit mum in the back between the carseats and she wouldn't have been confident enough to drive inpeak hour and I hate havign sickkids in the back when I'm driving and can't watch them - freaks me out - we called the ambulance!
About 7 mins later they arrived and were great. Said I'd done the right thing and they didn't like the look of her so I had a ride in an ambulance siren and all! Poor B really wanted to come to!! Not sure if it was just to be in the ambo or to be with me.
Poor little thing had all these docs etc round her and ended up with 2 canulas, blood tests, oxygen at one point, urine sample, chest x-ray and later a lumbar puncture!! She was almost babbling on the table and it was a mamamam sound!!!
I was suprisingly calm, but later that night it all hit me that she may be really ill and what was going to happen!!!!??? Doc actually said yesterday that she had been 'very ill' when she came!!! I started to panic about what would happen if she didn't respond to the AB's. And then Mum said on the phone " She's not going to die is she?" So I was abit freaked out obviously!!

X-ray showed the pneumonia, but they still can't actually hear it - not uncommon in small children/babies. And white blood cell count abnormally high - fighting the infection. LP was clear, so no meningitis thank god!Anyway, thankfully she responded to the AB's (it's a bacterial form of Pneumonia) and the temp came down and has stayed down, along with her breathing slowing back to normal. She has been feeding well and sleeping reasonably too, so we have been given the all clear today. But of course, being this time of the year, I missed heaps last week and Saturday had to keep her home while B and Dh went to his work's kids xmas party (which we missed last year) and that's the only 'work' xmas party I get to go to!
We have to keep her home and away from others (particularly kids) for 5-7 days and have a follow up chest xray and appt in 6 wks, but the GP wants a progress check X-ray this Friday. I think I will still take her to PG party on wednesday as that will be 5 days and it's outside, so I can keep her isolated, but I have no-one here that day to look after her for B to go.
And I am taking over Day leader role next year, so I'd like to be there.
B has a snotty nose and DH has had a bad cold/cough and been kept awake with it running down his throat again (3rd time in 5 mths!) And I was out all day Sunday last week with a stomach bug!!!
SO WE ARE OVER ILLNESS FOR SOME TIME!!!!!

A bit down tonight as my MG has asked us not to come this week as they have some strange notion that they will catch something from Grace!!! The concern is that she will catch something from them as immunity is obviously down!!! I was just going to keep her to the side in the pram anyway! Thanks guys! There goes another Christmas thing for me! And just realised that the PN exercise group lunch I organised looks iffy for me too! It's Thursday and if it's not sunny or I can't convince them to eat outside, I can't go to that either as I cant afford to have Grace in a crowded Hospital cafeteria!
Bum!!!

Grace still just has the 2 teeth, but lots of pains. She sits with support, but not really interested in it by herself - wont use her arms. Still rolls and wriggles around sideways etc, but certainly not nearly as physical as B was and now we've had this setback, so taking if slowly.

On a lighter note, I saw "Wicked" again 3 weeks ago. I won tickets on the radio and they had a cocktail party beforehand where you had to come in your 'greenest' outfit. So I made a dress out of Woolies green bags!!! Headpeice with the emerald city on it and 'emerald' slippers! I won the main prize of a year's worth of theatre tickets!!!!
Dh couldn't come with me though as he was sick and I so wanted him to .

Anyway, that's about it from me. Will try to post a pic of the dress.
Hope you are all well.



Cheers, Bel

OMG Bel Hope that Grace continues to improve, poor little chooken. Hope that you are doing ok too can't be easy seeing her so sick.

BL ~ that sure is an impressive list. I am going to have to try Patterson with more BLW as he HATES being spoon fed and has started to loose weight .
He had chicken last night and LOVED it.

Wow Bel, glad she is ok now.

For us,

Food wise - he is eating most things i offer. I have offered him kiwifruit and strawberries and he has handled them well. His cousin was not offered many foods and he has so many allergies, she also refused to eat a heap of foods while pregnant - so i think this is part of her problem.
I was leant a cook book from a mum at our group that has lots of ideas in it so we will offer him some of those over the coming weeks.
Today he ate a waffle and at the whole piece (1/4).
I also have a book from the recommended author on here.

Sleep wise - he has been waking at night (1 or 4am) for a feed lately. i have began him on meat now and seeing if that helps. If he wakes tonight (night 3) then I will offer him lunch as well, so on to 3 meals a day.
He still only does 2-3 40 min day naps but manages most of the night, tonight down at 7.30 straight to sleep and no waking as yet (9pm).

Well we had our first height fall today he was having his bath and he uses a tummy tub, he can push himself to his feet, well he did this and leant over the edge and he fell, out, onto the floor (this was about 3 hours ago) and some water and him ended up in a heap on the ground, so there was a thud, then a cry.
I grabbed him and cuddled him right away, and then put the towel over him. He appeared to have 2 pink marks on his bottom, no other marks and only cried for about 2 seconds. We kept an eye on him and kept him up for an hour or a bit more afterwards, i fed him again and he was very happy laughing about. Checked on him during his sleep he appears to be well. I was so scared and felt so bad for him
I think we will bath him on the floor from now on.
Hope no one judges me on this, we are always in the room with him and it just happened so quickly I felt so bad but in a way it is good that he managed to land so well, without donking his head or breaking anything. We do not believe in bubble wrapping.
I will check him over for any marks or bruises tomorrow and if any unusual behaviour or anything will take him to the doctor right away.

Other than all that Bug has been really happy and bubbly lately he is such an awesome baby I <3 him to bits x 1 million.


He weighs 7.7kgs now (6.5 months) fully clothed with cloth nappy on (it was wet at the time) not sure on his length, will try to measure him some day soon.

Cannot get into the facebook group, so if someone can let me know it?

We are off on our Christmas holiday in a few hours (I should be sleeping LOL) but wanted to drop in and wish everyone a very happy and safe Christmas. May Santa be kind and fill our sacks with all that our hearts desire

Wishing all our babies a Very Merry first Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Let me indulge a little with baby D.



Clucky anyone?? I want to eat his little arms.

Too Cute Lex - he is a chubba now lol

Hi Everyone, Just checking in after a while away form EB

Bel, OMG I am so glad that Grace is OK, how very scary for you all. I hope she just keeps getting better and no more scary illness, or any illness for a while.

BL - Love those christmas photos! Sooo cute.

Lexinton, I am clucking 'cluck cluck' What beautiful hair!

Warning - I am about to brag. Ned is standing up by himself! No hands and all. Mum walked in and he just put both hands up like 'pick me up grandma!' He thinks he is soo clever too. He only does it where there is a soft landing for his bum. Clever little man. Ok, Brag over!

We are trying to sell a ute and buy a boat and it is doing my head in I tell you. I will post more details of my boring life when my brain is less fried.

Louise

Hope every one had a lovely Christmas. We had a wonderful time in QLD just home today we all came home with a nasty gastro bug no fun
We were pretty spoilt got an ipod from my bro just got to work out how to use it LOL. But the best pressy of all was a (Please no mention on FB just yet ) Very excited shoud be due in August.

Louise ~ I can't believe that Ned is standing what a clever little man. Patterson is trying to pull himself up on things and is pretty close to crawling.
Good luck selling the ute and buying a boat.

Lex ~ Little D is just yummy that is for sure

Stops to eat D's arms and legs.

Bluelavendar - yeah he porked up, rubber band wrists and yummy cellulite thighs.

OMG BFP.... congrats Joka. Was it you who said you wanted to try straight away?? I cannot remember. Sorry

Ethereal - another baby in my mummy group does that. Not interested in crawling but wants to walk. She grabs the couch and walks along that .. pausing to lick and suck on the couch. HAHAHAHAHAH

Congrats Joka!! I could not imagine being pregnant now and expecting another baby so soon - happy to wait. I loved being pregnant but just want to enjoy my little boy a bit more for now
August sounds like a great time to bake a baby though. Maybe we will aim for August 2011 or 2012

Bubs is back to being settled now, happier in the day and sleeping better at night just me not liking his new found 6.30am wake up. Though he is asleep within 15 min each sleep now!! Has between 2-3 day sleeps and has a confirmed 3 solids per day. No interest in crawling also wants to be standing is now trying to grab things to stand with - not something i want him to do.

He LOVES his paddling pool too!!

Joka - OMG, Congrats on your BFP! That is fantastic news. I am a bit jealous, still dealing with the 'I will never get to be there again' after DH's snip. You will be busy, but, wow, fantastic! I hope it all goes smoothly for you. My DD is an August babe. It is a lovely time, cool and good for cuddling up but not too cold at night, also, the heavy last minths are more bearable in winter plus you don't feel the cold as much.

AFU - We have bought a boat, now just have to sell a ute.... Anyone looking for an 1963 EJ Holden, metallic kermit green?

Lou