British Bun in the Oven

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Hi, ladies

I've been slacking too. I do check this thread from time to time but have been too lazy to post anything.

Lovely pics, Rachel! Are you getting any sleep? Have you returned to work? I remember you saying a while back that you were expecting a short leave.

Dizzy, do you have a baby yet?!

Tracy, Em is looking so grown up! Soon you'll have a two-year-old! Madeleine has already started throwing tantrums. I hope this means she'll have them out of her system before traditional tantrum age. Of course, it might mean an extra-lengthy tantrum period. Eeks!

Here's a fairly recent pic of the little critter herself:

She had what turned out to be a pretty mild case of hand foot & mouth disease a couple of weeks ago. She had the trademark sores but never ran a fever and continued eating more or less normally. Fortunately, I never caught it, but Jon did. He's had a sore throat for 10 days and is finally starting to feel better. Apparently it's unusual for adults to catch it because most people have been exposed to it at some point. But overall, she's doing great. After all my hand-wringing about her eating issues (not once did she ever eat even a half jar of baby food), she's turned into a good eater. She's a little on the picky side, but fortunately she does like plenty of healthy stuff, and milk. And she's also stopped throwing up whenever she gets sick. Yippee! She's also started saying lots of words. Some of them are even understandable!

[DiZZyLoX 114]

Hi guys!!

Well...HE'S HERE! He was born Tuesday afternoon after an 18 hour labor that finally ended in a c-section. ugggh. I wouldn't dilate past 4cm. The Epi Bartender was a couple of hours late and I was deep into pitocin contractions wishing life would just end. omg that pain was unbelievable. pitocin is NOT my friend. That Epi was, though. Took docs a few times to get it in but when they did...beauty!

He was pulled out in all of his 5lb 14oz glory and is absolutely freakin beautiful. I'm so in love with him!!!

Yall's kids are beautiful!! I'm so happy to be joining the club but I'm not going to lie - he's on his 6th day now and I can tell you I cried every single day because I am so worried something is going to happen to this little man I am so unexplainably in love with! lol.

C-section healing is kinda the pits. ya can't poo, ya can't laugh, ya can't bend over. and you don't wanna sleep...but i have so much to be thankful for...like, you know, escaping without one single stretch mark, no vag pain and oh yeah, this beautiful little guy!

[TracyTN 237]

OMG Dizzy he is freaking adorable!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations to you both! Sorry about the c-section but there are advantages to it as you mentioned. Main point is he is here and healthy and gorgeous. You will get over the crying every day - hello post partum hormones!!!!!! How is your hubby doing with him and all?

Rachel - I was wondering the same about you with work. What's the 411?

Empress - thanks I can tell you that Emily's tantrums started at about 18 months. A friend of ours told us her 3 year old was worse at 3 than at 2 so - I hope Emily gets over hers and doesn't drag it into three. We'll have to see. I hope M's time with them is short too. NOT fun. There are days I find it challenging to enjoy motherhood.

SO sorry to hear about her having hand foot & mouth disease - yucko! (And Jon too) But at least it sounds like they're both on the mend now. I'm cracking up at you about her words. I find it funny when Chas or I have to 'translate' for others. Oh and he thinks her 'mommy' attempt is more 'ba ba' than 'bobby'. I dunno - I think it changes depending on her mood. Ha!

Loving the pictures of our new BBITO babies. :D

[DiZZyLoX 114]

OMG Dizzy he is freaking adorable!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations to you both! Sorry about the c-section but there are advantages to it as you mentioned. Main point is he is here and healthy and gorgeous. You will get over the crying every day - hello post partum hormones!!!!!! How is your hubby doing with him and all?

My hubby is absolutely smitten. He cries just as much as I do when he's crippled by cuteness overload! He was absolutely AMAZING during labor and after he was delivered, as they were wheeling me on the stretcher back to my room, I passed the nursery where my husband was just in tears talking to our son in the little nursery, scrubs on and all. A memory i will have FOREVER!!

Bless him...he's reallllllly slow with every single thing he does with the baby because he treats him like fragile glass. lol He loves him so much. I keep trying to tell him he won't hurt him, but he can't help it. He is ever so gentle. It's precious, really.

My husband is the reason I went into labor...we were watching the Euro2012 England / France match. Hubby yelling at TV got baby to kickin' next thing i knew my water broke and I was on my way to the hospital! ha ha ha.

Life is too funny.

His name is Loxley, by the way. Hubby wanted to give him a name that reminded him of where he was born.

Edited June 19, 2012 by DiZZyLoX

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Congratulations, Dizzy! He's adorable! I hope you heal up quick (I had an unplanned C-section too and was very sore but felt a whole lot better after two weeks).

One thing that helped me through the terrifying first few weeks: My sister, who speaks Japanese, told me that the Japanese word for newborn means something like "little red ones." Madeleine was a dark shade of pink during the first few weeks, which freaked me out, but apparently it's a normal newborn color. Recently we were watching a short video of Madeleine at a few weeks old, and I'd forgotten about all the weird noises newborns make, and it sounds like they're having trouble breathing...little squeaks, kind of. All normal! The sleep deprivation really amplifies the anxiety. I hope you're able to get some sleep and enjoy your little guy! But the fear is totally normal. I think we were all anxious. I certainly was. Jon was actually better than I was. Of course, I was also on painkillers.

Also, might I recommend...stool softener.

[TracyTN 237]

The one thing that really helped my husband was when the nurse at the hospital told him - you won't break her! All you really have to be careful of at this stage is that floppy neck.

Also the one thing they told us which I wish they HADN'T told us was to wait 3-4 hours to feed her. That lead to a LOT of uncontrollable crying that had us at our wits end. Finally we read in a book that some babies are feed on demand - it was like someone had thrown us life jackets! From then on, we fed her when she was hungry. Of course, this may be different if your BFing - I dunno (we formula fed) - but wow. What a lifesaver that lesson was!

Empress is right about the sleep deprivation causing all kinds of wackiness too. My husband has always had an odd schedule so I had the day shift and he had the night shift. That meant one of us was almost always rested. He was probably the one who had less sleep because hormonal post partum me just needed him sometimes, bless him. (I honestly do not know how single mothers do it - I really don't!! I bow at their feet I tell ya!!)

Ok because I'm a braggy mom, I have to put this picture on here which is a repeat for Empress but hey. This was our child in the parking lot of our favorite restaurant last night waiting for us all to stop talking and put her in the car. LOL

[DiZZyLoX 114]

Congratulations, Dizzy! He's adorable! I hope you heal up quick (I had an unplanned C-section too and was very sore but felt a whole lot better after two weeks).

One thing that helped me through the terrifying first few weeks: My sister, who speaks Japanese, told me that the Japanese word for newborn means something like "little red ones." Madeleine was a dark shade of pink during the first few weeks, which freaked me out, but apparently it's a normal newborn color. Recently we were watching a short video of Madeleine at a few weeks old, and I'd forgotten about all the weird noises newborns make, and it sounds like they're having trouble breathing...little squeaks, kind of. All normal! The sleep deprivation really amplifies the anxiety. I hope you're able to get some sleep and enjoy your little guy! But the fear is totally normal. I think we were all anxious. I certainly was. Jon was actually better than I was. Of course, I was also on painkillers.

Also, might I recommend...stool softener.

omg the squeaks! I took him to the ER and to the pediatrician because I was convinced he couldn't breathe. The lady finally showed me that it was normal by introducing me to another little newborn and teaching us how to suction his little nose. omg i freaked out. comforting to know that it's normal. i'm learning slowly to sleep when he sleeps. that was hard to get a grip on because i was so scared something was going to happen if i didn't watch him.

and YES! STOOL SOFTENER. I had my mom go out and get me some. It's outrageous the epic adventure going to the restroom is these days! aye-ee!!

[DiZZyLoX 114]

The one thing that really helped my husband was when the nurse at the hospital told him - you won't break her! All you really have to be careful of at this stage is that floppy neck.

Also the one thing they told us which I wish they HADN'T told us was to wait 3-4 hours to feed her. That lead to a LOT of uncontrollable crying that had us at our wits end. Finally we read in a book that some babies are feed on demand - it was like someone had thrown us life jackets! From then on, we fed her when she was hungry. Of course, this may be different if your BFing - I dunno (we formula fed) - but wow. What a lifesaver that lesson was!

Empress is right about the sleep deprivation causing all kinds of wackiness too. My husband has always had an odd schedule so I had the day shift and he had the night shift. That meant one of us was almost always rested. He was probably the one who had less sleep because hormonal post partum me just needed him sometimes, bless him. (I honestly do not know how single mothers do it - I really don't!! I bow at their feet I tell ya!!)

Ok because I'm a braggy mom, I have to put this picture on here which is a repeat for Empress but hey. This was our child in the parking lot of our favorite restaurant last night waiting for us all to stop talking and put her in the car. LOL

Holy.Cow. your little girl is Beaaaaaaaaaaaaaaautiful!! so Sassy!! Does she have a little personality all her own? She looks like it! Love it.

Loxley is BF'd and eats whenever he's hungry. I try not to let him go more than 3 hours because my boobs start to hurt and I need these things to toughen up already so when he latches it doesn't make me want to scream bloody murder. But so far I'm doing good there. I did have to supplement for a few days while he was going through some jaundice treatment but now we're back on the #######. He's a good little baby. eat, sleep, poop. not much crying unless he's hungry or getting his diaper changed. i feared a colicky baby but escaped it. thank goodness!

[TracyTN 237]

Aww thanks Dizzy! She sure does have quite the personality - but I think all babies do once they start getting more mobile and talking a bit. I bet Loxley will be just as personable when he gets close to two.

It sounds like he's doing really well with eating - as you are with BFing!! I hear it isn't easy (I had a breast reduction years ago so physically couldn't) and a lot of women don't stick with it. I bet you can!

Is he sleeping for hours at a time (so that you can) or how is that going? My child started sleeping through the night around 6 weeks old - well, from midnight to about 6 or 7 a.m. which was plenty for me!! I felt very lucky that way but have heard a lot of moms say that's the same age theirs started doing that too. Maybe he'll do the same!

[Empress of Groovy 373]

omg the squeaks! I took him to the ER and to the pediatrician because I was convinced he couldn't breathe. The lady finally showed me that it was normal by introducing me to another little newborn and teaching us how to suction his little nose. omg i freaked out. comforting to know that it's normal. i'm learning slowly to sleep when he sleeps. that was hard to get a grip on because i was so scared something was going to happen if i didn't watch him.

and YES! STOOL SOFTENER. I had my mom go out and get me some. It's outrageous the epic adventure going to the restroom is these days! aye-ee!!

Awww! That all sounds very familiar. It sounds like you're doing great! Might I recommend the Nose Frida as an excellent alternative to the bulb syringe for nasal passage clearing.

I never got the hang of sleeping when Madeleine slept. I'm just not a napper. Fingers crossed that you'll have an Em-type sleeper rather than a Mad-Ag-type sleeper! Actually, Madeleine wasn't the worst--probably even typical. One thing I can say about the after-effects of the sleep deprivation torture chamber I occupied for about six months: I can now get by on only a few hours of sleep if I have to. I used to feel physically ill if I got less than 7 hours of sleep. I still have a little of that, but last summer, I went to Boston for a few days for my 20-year high school reunion. I took a red-eye from Phoenix and barely slept on the flight. When I did the red-eye in the past, I usually lost the entire arrival day to fitful napping and exhaustion. This time, I was tired but fully functional. Got the rental car, drove to my stepmother's house on the South Shore, chatted with her for a couple of hours, crashed for four hours, and woke up at noon ready to go! It was like my sleep need clock had been reset. Madeleine now sleeps about 11 hours straight at night, but I still function OK on inadequate sleep (as evidenced by a few adventures this past year too--but the Boston trip stuck in my mind).

I guess the point of this ramble: There's an advantage to the sleep deprivation hell! (Which, of course, you might not have to contend with for long. )

[Alex & Rachel 78]

YAAAAY DIZZY! Loxley is beautiful! I love his lips! And I love his name, too. It's very British.

Yesh, pitocin really is the pits. 18 hours, phew! I really was very, very fortunate in my labour. Here's to a swift recovery for you.

Also - great that you have stool softeners. Once you feel like you no longer *need* them, still continue to take them for 4-5 days... that's my advice!

Madeleine and Emily are gorgeous! Love their poses! Emily's so blonde - I'll wonder if she'll go very much darker? And I'm glad to hear Madeleine and your husband are feeling better, Empress!

And thanks everyone for the kind words. julez - I worked really hard on learning to wrap; it's a steep learning curve for sure, but so worth it! I really wouldn't accomplish half as much as I do otherwise. And it's helping me get exercise - I haven't used the stroller once yet! The other day I walked 5 miles in the afternoon heat... yeesh, that was a bit silly of me. But I managed it!

I'm not doing *too* badly for sleep. Anya's not been sleeping quite as well at night as she has been - a typical night this week has been 9 pm - 1 or 2 am (I should sleep then but haven't yet learned my lesson...), then 4 am and 6 am. I've perfected the art of breastfeeding in the side-lying position, which has its benefits and drawbacks. Benefit: I can pull Anya into bed beside me and breast-feed without even really waking up. Drawback: I'm so conscious of her being in bed beside me that even though I'm asleep, I don't really move much and so wake up all stiff and sore!

As for work... well, California does fortunately pay for 12 weeks of maternity (6 weeks count as disability and 6 as FML), so I've had more time off than I originally thought. But I have to go in ten days early to cover my coworker's and boss's vacation. I'll earn more vacation for England at Christmas, but still...

I wouldn't be *so* worried about going back to work (my MIL is fantastic with Anya and Anya loves her) if I wasn't having such an awful time pumping. I really, REALLY wanted to be able to give Anya breastmilk - not that I'm against formula, but because breastmilk is cheaper and I have a really nice pump my MIL bought me, so I *should* be able to do it - but I cannot seem to get milk from my breasts to the bottle! I've tried every tip and trick, and still the absolute maximum I get in a session is 2 oz. I have so much oatmeal and nurse-me tea that it'll soon be coming out of my ears. *sigh* It's even more frustrating when I hear women complain 'I only get 3 or 4 oz in a session!' Yesterday I managed to get a whole *half* oz!

[TracyTN 237]

I'm glad to hear all the updates on you and Anya. It sounds like you're doing quite well - so yay for that!! I'm sorry about the pumping though, and I have no advice I can give unfortunately. Maybe it will get a little bit better once you get closer to going back to work? And boo about having to go back 10 days early! Although as you pointed out, maybe that will help you out at Christmas time.

I sure wish we could go back for my husband's sake. Problem is his mom's house is just a pit and there's no way either Emily or I could stay there (she and his step dad smoke like freight trains for one thing). So then we'd have to get a hotel room which honestly makes it out of our reach financially. His only other relative is his sister who lives above the pub she runs in a 3 room flat so there isn't even room for us to physically stay. His best friend has a house but he also has 2 tenants to help him make the mortgage so no room there either. I told him he could go back on his own next year (after the 'new job' newness has worn off and I have the correct amount of days off) - but he doesn't really want to stay in that pit of a house either, plus his mom would feel slighted if she couldn't see Emily so - total catch .22.

[TracyTN 237]

I guess I am the thread killer!

I will post a picture from Emily's second birthday party which is Tuesday. I hope all of you have a wonderful 4th of July!

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Hi, ladies

Happy almost birthday to Em! Can't wait to see pics of your grown up baby, Tracy!

I'm glad it sounds like most things are going well, Rachel. I wish I could offer help re: pumping, but I only did it for a few weeks. I hated it. It was very uncomfortable. Like you, I tried all kinds of things...breast shields of various sizes and shapes...to no avail. I remember that fenugreek capsules seemed to help with volume, although I smelled like maple syrup. I hope things improve in that area! If you end up combo-feeding, Costco has inexpensive formula.

I too am impressed with the wrapping! I bought a Sleepy Wrap and spent a lot of time trying to figure it out. I watched lots of instructional videos and practiced with a Cabbage Patch Kid. After all that, Madeleine didn't like it! She'd tolerate it for a little while and then get squirmy and want out. She also didn't like being carried in an Ergo carrier for more than a few minutes at a time. She didn't like being swaddled either. I ended up selling the wrap and the Ergo carrier on eBay for decent $$. I'd see people around town with their wrapped-up babies and think, "Come on, man!" Dr. Sears would consider me the ultimate failure. I guess Madeleine has always been kinda physical. Jon is now calling her Ginger Godzilla.

Dizzy, how are things going with you?

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Before I forget: I've started a muthuhblog! http://onegroovymother.com I'm not sure what direction it's going to take. Check it out! Maybe if I get enough traffic, I'll get free wipes or somethin'!