[ThisPuzzlesDeadInside]

I had my baby boy. His name is Landon Michael. He is sooooooooooooo cute!!!! He was born on March 29 at 6:31 pm. The longest 11 hrs of my life! My water broke at 7:30 in the morning. Ugh. But he is beautiful and totally a mommys boy already lol. I thought being pregnant was painful, man was i wrong lol. Im so excited though. Right now im exhasted though he has his days and nights mixed up, ugh. But i still love every minute of it!!!!

[MyBestKids2]

(((ThisPuzzlesDeadInside and Landon Michael)))))))))

Congratulations, how wonderful for you! Glad all are healthy, even if not sleeping regularly right now. The days and nights get mixed up a couple times, but it won't take long to be on a schedule for all!

Happy days to you...



Dee

[splitimage]

Congratulations. How wonderfull. Hopefully he'll settle down into a more normal schedule soon.

--splitimage

[Cyran0]

Congrats!

[SeptemberMorn]

CONGRATS!!!!

<font color="purple">Maybe you and Rainbowz should start a club </font>

Congrats and best wishes!!!

Is he named after Michael Landon...the actor?????

[Christina86]

(((((((((((((Amy))))))))))))))

(((((((((((Landon Michael))))))))))))))

YAY!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!

[AAAAA]

Congrats!

[radio_flyer]

congrats

[Jazz91]

good luck to you both and don't worry you will soon work out a sleeping pattern

CONGRADULATIONS

[Fuzzybear]

Congratulations!

[katheryn]

Congratulations!

[Timgt5]

congradulations!! Best of fortunes to you both!

[SerenitysWave]

CONGRATS!! Love the name!

[youOme]

Congrats to you!!!

[cheetah]

Wonderful news! Congratulations. Is Landon your first child?

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
ThisPuzzlesDeadInside said:
I had my baby boy. His name is Landon Michael. He is sooooooooooooo cute!!!! He was born on March 29 at 6:31 pm. The longest 11 hrs of my life! My water broke at 7:30 in the morning. Ugh. But he is beautiful and totally a mommys boy already lol. I thought being pregnant was painful, man was i wrong lol. Im so excited though. Right now im exhasted though he has his days and nights mixed up, ugh. But i still love every minute of it!!!!

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

11 hours? Thats so not bad :P Although I know what you mean about the longest hours of your life. Mine was about 17 hours altogether. I'll find the link to my birth story and send it to you, if you like

If its any consolation my little one is sleeping through most of the night now and hes only five weeks, so it DOES get better.

[ThisPuzzlesDeadInside]

Thanks everyone!!!Im so excited!!! Yes this is my first child, i am too young to have anymore (19). Yea it will be awesome when he sleeps through the night, me and my mom will be very happy. She helps alot with him, considering im new at this. She told me im doing a really good job for not knowing anything really before i had him. Im learning as the days go by though.

lol no he is not named after michael landon, i had no idea who he was until a week before landon was born, my grandma told me. I fell in love with the name landon, and michael is his grandpas middle name and the masculine name for my middle name,Michelle.

Yes rainbowzz that might help, so feel free to send it and any other advice or things i should know

Once again thank you everyone!!! And if anyone else has any advise or things i need to know feel free to tell me

[DocClyde]

Way to go!!! Congratulations!

Welcome to this world, Landon Michael! May God bless you and keep you happy and healthy your whole life.

Bless your mother too!!!

http://forums.psychcentral.com/showf...=&fpart=1&vc=1

Here it is, this is everything that happened during my labour, in case you want to compare it to yours

The best advice I can give is as follows :

1) If you can do it, breastfeed. Breastfeeding has SO many benefits over formula.. it is the absolute best thing you can do for your child. But, if for some reason you cannot breastfeed, don't feel guilty.

2) Alot of what comes with being a mommy came pretty naturally to me. Trust your gut instinct and ask questions if you need to. babycenter has a good forum on parenting and you can always come here.

3)Be aware that babies can get fussy sometimes for different reasons, no reasons, or a whole bunch of reasons. Heres ideas for fussy babies: (I am just starting to have to deal with this one now every evening - apparently it is common around six - eight weeks)


Comfort measures for fussy babies (many fit into several different categories)
Basic needs

* Nurse
* Burp baby
* Change his diaper
* Undress baby completely to make sure no clothing is "sticking" him

Comforting Touch

* Hold baby
* Carry baby in a sling
* Give baby a back rub
* Carry baby in the "colic hold" (lying across your forearm, tummy down, with your hand supporting his chest)
* Lay baby across your lap & gently rub his back while slowly lifting & lowering your heels
* Lay baby tummy-down on the bed or floor and gently pat his back
* Massage your baby

Reduce stimulation

* Swaddle baby
* Dim lights and reduce noise

Comforting Sounds

* Play some music (try different styles and types of voices to see which baby prefers)
* Sing to baby
* Turn on some "white noise" (fan, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher)

Rhythmic motion / change of pace

* Nurse baby in motion (while walking around or rocking)
* Give baby a bath
* Rock baby
* Hold baby and gently bounce, sway back and forth or dance
* Put baby in a sling or baby carrier and walk around inside or outside
* Put baby in a baby swing (if he's old enough)
* Take baby outside to look at the trees
* Take baby for a walk in the stroller
* Go for a car ride
* Set baby in a baby carrier (or car seat) on the dryer with the dryer turned on (stand by him, as the vibration can bounce the seat right off the dryer onto the floor)

One of the most interesting things I've seen in the research regarding infant fussiness is that almost anything a parent tries to reduce fussiness will work, but only for a short time (a few days), and then other strategies need to be used.

If you nurse and it doesn't seem to help, then try other comfort measures. If you pick him up or nurse him, and baby is content, then that was what he needed. If it works, use it!

How to Calm Your Crying Baby

By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Gentle Baby Care

When we’re pregnant or awaiting adoption, we dream about our baby-to-be, we always envision those beautiful Hallmark card scenes: charming baby smiling up at peaceful mother’s face. We read books in advance of the big day about how care for a newborn — how to bathe, feed and dress her — and then we feel somewhat prepared. However, a crying baby was never part of that idyllic vision, so this takes us by surprise. But the fact is, all babies cry at one time or another. Some babies cry more than others, but they all do cry. Understanding why babies cry can help you get through this phase and respond effectively to your crying baby — so can the list of ideas that follows.

Why does my baby cry?

Simply put, babies cry because they cannot talk. Babies are human beings, and they have needs and desires, just as we do, but they can’t express them. Even if they could talk, very often they wouldn’t understand why they feel the way they do, they wouldn’t understand themselves well enough to articulate their needs, so babies need someone to help them figure it all out. Their cries are the only way they can say, “Help me! Something isn’t right here!”

Different kinds of cries

As you get to know your baby, you’ll become the expert in understanding his cries in a way that no one else can. In their research, child development professionals have determined that certain types of cries mean certain things. In other words, babies don’t cry the same exact way every time. (Other child development experts, also known as mothers, have known that for millennia.)

Over time, you’ll recognize particular cries as if they were spoken words. In addition to these cry signals, you often can determine why your baby is crying by the situation surrounding the cry. Following are common reasons for Baby’s cry, and the clues that may tell you what’s up:

Hunger: If three or four hours have passed since his last feeding, if he has just woken up, or if he has just had a very full diaper and he begins to cry, he’s probably hungry. A feeding will most likely stop the crying.

Tiredness: Look for these signs: decreased activity, losing interest in people and toys, rubbing eyes, looking glazed, and the most obvious — yawning If you notice any of these in your crying baby, he may just need to sleep. Time for bed!

Discomfort: If a baby is uncomfortable — too wet, hot, cold, squished — he’ll typically squirm or arch his back when he cries, as if trying to get away from the source of his discomfort. Try to figure out the source of his distress and solve his problem.

Pain: A cry of pain is sudden and shrill, just like when an adult or older child cries out when they get hurt. It may include long cries followed by a pause during which your baby appears to stop breathing. He then catches his breath and lets out another long cry. Time to check your baby’s temperature and undress him for a full-body examination.

Overstimulation: If the room is noisy, people are trying to get your baby’s attention, rattles are rattling, music boxes are playing, and your baby suddenly closes her eyes and cries (or turns her head away), she may be trying to shut out all that’s going on around her and find some peace. It’s time for a quiet, dark room and some peaceful cuddles.

Illness: When your baby is sick, he may cry in a weak, moaning way. This is his way of saying, “I feel awful.” If your baby seems ill, look for any signs of sickness, take her temperature and call your healthcare provider.

Frustration: Your baby is just learning how to control her hands, arms, and feet. She may be trying to get her fingers into her mouth or to reach a particularly interesting toy, but her body isn’t cooperating. She cries out of frustration, because she can’t accomplish what she wants to do. All she needs is a little help.

Loneliness: If your baby falls asleep feeding and you place her in her crib, but she wakes soon afterward with a cry, she may be saying that she misses the warmth of your embrace and doesn’t like to be alone. A simple situation to resolve…

Worry or fear: Your baby suddenly finds himself in the arms of Great Aunt Matilda and can’t see you; his previously happy gurgles turn suddenly to crying. He’s trying to tell you that he’s scared: He doesn’t know this new person, and he wants Mommy or Daddy. Explain to Auntie that he needs a little time to warm up to someone new, and try letting the two of them get to know each other while Baby stays in your arms.

Boredom: Your baby has been sitting in his infant seat for 20 minutes while you talk and eat lunch with a friend. He’s not tired, hungry or uncomfortable, but he starts a whiny, fussy cry. He may be saying that he’s bored and needs something new to look at or touch. A new position for his seat or a toy to hold may help.

Colic: If your baby cries inconsolably for long periods every day, particularly at the same time each day, he may have colic. Researchers are still unsure of colic’s exact cause. Some experts believe that colic is related to the immaturity of a baby’s digestive system. Whatever the cause, and it may be a combination of all the theories; colic is among the most exasperating conditions that parents of new babies face. Colic occurs only to newborn babies, up to about four to five months of age. Look for patterns to your baby’s crying; these can provide clues as to which suggestions are most likely to help. Then experiment with some of the ideas in this list and in the rest of this article.

* If breastfeeding, feed on demand (cue feeding), for nutrition as well as comfort, as often as your baby needs a calming influence.
* If breastfeeding, try avoiding foods that may cause gas in your baby, such as dairy products, caffeine, cabbage, broccoli and other gassy vegetables.
* If bottlefeeding, offer more frequent but smaller meals; experiment with different formulas with your doctor’s approval.
* If bottlefeeding, try different types of bottles and nipples that prevent air from entering your baby as he drinks, such as those with curved bottles or collapsible liners.
* Hold your baby in a more upright position for feeding and directly afterwards.
* Experiment with how often and when you burp your baby.
* Offer meals in a quiet setting.
* If baby likes a pacifier, offer him one.
* Invest in a baby sling or carrier and use it during colicky periods.
* If the weather’s too unpleasant for an outside stroll, bring your stroller in the house and walk your baby around.
* Give your baby a warm bath.
* Hold your baby with her legs curled up toward her belly.
* Massage your baby’s tummy, or give him a full massage.
* Swaddle your baby in a warm blanket.
* Lay your baby tummy down across your lap and massage or pat her back.
* Hold your baby in a rocking chair, or put him in a swing.
* Walk with Baby in a quiet, dark room while you hum or sing.
* Try keeping your baby away from highly stimulating situations during the day when possible to prevent sensory overload.
* Lie on your back and lay your baby on top of your tummy down while massaging his back. (Transfer your baby to his bed if he falls asleep.)
* Take Baby for a ride in the car.
* Play soothing music or turn on white noise such as a vacuum cleaner or running water.
* As a last resort, ask your doctor about medications available for colic and gas.

What about fussy crying?

There are plenty of times when you can’t tell if your baby’s crying is directly related to a fixable situation: hunger, a soiled diaper, or a longing to be held. That’s when parents get frustrated and nervous. That’s when you should take a deep breath and try some of the following cry-stoppers:

Hold your baby. No matter the reason for your baby’s cry, being held by a warm and comforting person offers a feeling of security and may calm his crying. Babies love to be held in arms, slings, front-pack carriers, and (when they get a little older) backpacks; physical contact is what they seek and what usually soothes them best.

Breastfeed your baby. Nursing your baby is as much for comfort as food. All four of my babies calmed easily when brought to the breast — so much so that my husband has always called it “The Secret Weapon.” And my babies are very typical. Breastfeeding is an important and powerful tool for baby soothing.

Provide motion. Babies enjoy repetitive, rhythmic motion such as rocking, swinging, swaying, jiggling, dancing or a drive in the car. Many parents instinctually begin to sway with a fussy baby, and for a good reason: It works.

Turn on some white noise. The womb was a very noisy place. Remember the sounds you heard on the Doppler stethoscope? Not so long ago, your baby heard those 24 hours a day. Therefore, your baby sometimes can be calmed by “white noise” — that is, noise that is continuous and uniform, such as that of a heartbeat, the rain, static between radio stations, and your vacuum cleaner. Some alarm clocks even have a white noise function.

Let music soothe your baby. Soft, peaceful music is a wonderful baby calmer. That’s why lullabies have been passed down through the ages. You don’t have to be a professional singer to provide your baby with a song; your baby loves to hear your voice. In addition to your own songs, babies usually love to hear any kind of music. Experiment with different types of tunes, since babies have their own favorites that can range from jazz to country to classical, and even rock and rap.

Swaddle your baby. During the first three or four months of life, many babies feel comforted if you can re-create the tightly contained sensation they enjoyed in the womb.

Massage your baby. Babies love to be touched and stroked, so a massage is a wonderful way to calm a fussy baby. A variation of massage is the baby pat; many babies love a gentle, rhythmic pat on their backs or bottoms.

Let your baby have something to suck on. The most natural pacifier is mother’s breast, but when that isn’t an option, a bottle, pacifier, Baby’s own fingers, a teething toy, or Daddy’s pinkie can work wonders as a means of comfort.

Distract your baby. Sometimes a new activity or change of scenery — maybe a walk outside, or a dance with a song, or a splashy bath — can be very helpful in turning a fussy baby into a happy one.

Reading your baby’s body language

Many times, you can avoid the crying altogether by responding right away to your baby’s earliest signals of need, such as fussing, stiffening her body, or rooting for the breast. As you get to know your baby and learn her signals, determining what she needs will become easier for you — even before she cries.

Dr Sears's page on babies - alot of this is geared towards breastfeeding, but if you are formula feeding then just substitute formula where it references breastfeeding.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T030500.asp

Another good article on the first few weeks with baby:
http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/...orn_baby.shtml

Heres info on Babywearing - this is the practise of putting your baby into a sling or carrier and carrying him with you whatever you do. This is said to keep them quieter, provide comfort, and make them feel more secure in general. Plus it lets you do other things while still bonding with baby:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babywearing

Here is info on Co-sleeping, which I do, and honestly it is FANTASTIC. There is alot of flack out there about it being unsafe, but it IS possible to do it safely.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-sleeping

On Attachment Parenting, which is what I am mostly doing:

http://www.attachmentparenting.org/

Hmmm... lemme see what else I can think up...

Actually Ive done so much research its probably easier to ask YOU what you are curious about and I will tell you what I know about it lol.

Anyways, these are just things I find effective, take what you need and discard the rest. Let me know if you decided to breastfeed or formula feed and I'll get you resources on weight gain and feeding and such.

Also, one more tip, the pacifier IS your friend. My baby is a sucker, and he would suck all day and night if I let him and then I would never get any sleep haha. So We got him a paci when we left the hospital. The only thing you have to watch for is make sure hes not actually hungry when you give it to him.

Signs of infants being hungry are:

How can I tell when my baby is hungry?

It's generally recommended that you feed your baby whenever he or she seems hungry, which is called demand feeding (or feeding on demand). But despite what some new parents might think, crying is a late sign of hunger. You should try to feed before your baby gets so hungry that he or she gets really upset and becomes difficult to calm down.

It's also important, however, to realize that every time your baby cries it is not necessarily because of hunger. Sometimes babies just need to be cuddled or changed. Or they could be overstimulated, bored, or too hot or too cold.

One way to tell if your baby is, indeed, ready to eat is to check the clock. If your baby is crying only an hour after a good feeding, there may be something else causing the distress.

Signs that babies are hungry include:

* moving their heads from side to side
* opening their mouths
* sticking out their tongues
* placing their hands, fingers, and fists to their mouths
* making quiet, cooing sounds
* puckering their lips as if to suck
* nuzzling again their mothers' breasts
* showing the rooting reflex (when a baby moves its mouth in the direction of something that's stroking or touching its cheek)

Watch your little one's cues so that you're feeding when your baby is showing signs of hunger, which is usually every 2 to 3 hours during the newborn period. As your baby gets a little bigger and can take bigger feedings, this stretches out to every 3 to 4 hours.
How often should I make my baby's bottles?

Some parents opt to make a bottle just before each feeding, but many others choose to pre-make and refrigerate enough to use for the day. If you know your baby eats every 3 or 4 hours, for instance, you can make six to eight bottles to last you all day.

Mix your baby's formula in 2- or 3-ounce (60- or 90-milliliter) servings for the first few weeks and gradually increase the amount as you become familiar with your baby's eating patterns and appetite.

If your baby is staying with a caregiver for a long period of time, you may want to prepare just one or two bottles and leave instructions and supplies (bottles, nipples, formula, and water, if necessary) so the caregiver can prepare bottles as needed and not waste any formula. After all, you'll need to throw away any mixed formula that's been refrigerated after 24 hours.
Is my baby eating enough?

Babies grow at different rates, and at times you may wonder whether your baby is getting enough nutrients to develop properly. Here's a general look at how much your baby may be eating at different stages:

* On average, a newborn consumes about 1.5 to 3 ounces (45 to 90 milliliters) every 2 to 3 hours. This amount increases as your baby grows and is able to take more at each feeding.
* At about 2 months, your baby may be taking 4 to 5 ounces (120 to 150 milliliters) at each feeding and the feedings may be every 3 to 4 hours.
* At 4 months, your baby may be taking 4 to 6 ounces (120 to 180 milliliters), depending on the frequency of feedings and his or her size.
* By 6 months, your baby's formula intake can be between 24 to 32 ounces (720 to 950 milliliters). This also depends on whether you've introduced any baby food.

Your newborn's diapers are another good indicator of when your baby is getting plenty to eat. You'll probably be changing at least six wet and four dirty (soiled or "poopy") diapers each day at first. Newborns' stools (or poop) are thick and tarry in the beginning and then become more yellow and seedy as they get older. Wet diapers should have clear or very pale urine. If you see orange crystals in a wet diaper, contact your baby's doctor - these can be a sign of inadequate fluid intake or dehydration.

Other possible signs of underfeeding include:

* skin that remains wrinkled well into the first month of life
* face that doesn't seem to fill out (this may signal inadequate weight gain)
* seeming unsatisfied, even after a complete feeding

To help determine whether your baby is eating enough, follow the schedule of regular well-child checkups so that your little one can be weighed and measured. If you're concerned or notice any signs that your baby isn't getting enough nutrients, call your child's doctor.
My baby suddenly seems to be much hungrier than usual. Is this normal?

As babies gain weight, they should begin to eat more at each feeding and go longer between feedings. Still, there may be times when your little one seems hungrier than usual.

Your baby may be going through a period of rapid growth (called a growth spurt). These can happen at any time, but in the early months growth spurts typically occur at around:

* 7 to 10 days old
* between 3 and 6 weeks
* 4 months
* 6 months

During these times and whenever your baby seems especially hungry, follow his or her hunger cues and continue to feed on demand, increasing the amount of formula you give as needed.

Keep in touch and let me know how things are.

[Soidhonia]

Congratulations to you and the baby (((Puzzle and Baby))). Take care. Soidhonia