The Health Visitor visits...

Elizabeth slept the most she has ever slept in one go - She went to sleep at 7.15pm, woke up at 1.55am, then slept until 5.50am, so in total I had seven hours sleep. Felt so much better for it, but bizzarely instead of being full of life and raring to go, I opted to stay in bed this morning, and 10 o'clock (the time of the Health Visitor's visit) loomed rapidly. Needless to say Elizabeth woke up at 9.30 in 'no-man's land' - too long before the health visitor came to wait for a feed, not enough time to complete the feed cycle. 10am came and went and I consulted my blue book and realised that the Health Visitor wasn't actually coming until 11am!

She duly arrived and weighed Elizabeth - 11lb 6oz. This made me feel good, this together with the Health Vistitor's (somewhat patronising yet very much appreciated) congratulations. However, on being weighed she spotted what she said was a granuloma on her tummy button, and she said the Dr would have to 'cauterise' it - not sure what that means... I had noticed that a gunky discharge was appearing at the top of Elizabeth's nappies, but thought it was just the normal healing process. You learn something new every day.

The Health Visitor was generally encouraging - although I feel very fed up that my symphysis pubis still hurts like mad, and the site of my episiotomy stitches is very uncomfortable. She said I was making good progress, and should just discuss my physical health next week with the Doctor. Elizabeth's appointment for her six week check had arrived through the post, and I assumed that I would be checked then too, but apparently not. Health Visitor told me to make a separate appointment. Just as she was about to leave she asked if I had any other questions. I had noticed this morning that her big toe nails seemed to be embedded under the skin of her toes, so asked about this. I was told to make sure that her sleep suits were big enough, as pressure from ill-fitting clothing causes this to happen. Felt devastated that I hadn't realised. Elizabeth is a 'long' baby, and her sleep suits were very neat-fitting, but to be honest I was loathes to start her in the next size up so soon, and had no idea that this could cause problems for her feet. As soon as the Health Visitor left I went up to Elizabeth's room and dug out the bigger sleep suits, decided I didn't have enough and planned an afternoon shopping trip to stock up.

Made a Dr's appointment for myself for next Wednesday, fed Elizabeth, then we set off in the car. I had several items of clothes bought hastily in the pre-Christmas rush that I needed to take back, then bought a pack of sleepsuits in 0-3 size from Primark for £5 (went for yellow rather thank pink as her wardrobe is very pink at the moment!). Also bought a pack of tights because realised that some of her dresses might well fit her now. While I was walking around the shops with Elizabeth in her car seat on the pram wheels I was struck by how different I feel now to when I last came shopping with her on my own. I feel less stressed and panicky, as I 'know' her better now. I don't fear her waking up in quite the same way. As I strolled on she opened her big beautiful eyes and looked around, taking in the sights and sounds of the shopping centre, then dropped off to sleep again.

When I arrived home with all my bags, the hood and cosy toes for the car seat, the blankets, Elizabeth's jacket, the changing bag etc she started a 'feeding frenzy' which lasted from 4pm until she finally went down to sleep at 10.51pm. The health visitor did say that the longer she slept at night the more she would need to sleep in the day, and I know that every few days Elizabeth has a tendency to go 'crackers' as I put it, and feed constantly, but it always hits me hard when it happens. The first thing to note about one of these feeding frenzies is you don't know it is happening to begin with. I put her down after her feed and ran a bath for myself, assuming that she'd sleep as she had done before our shopping trip. I envisaged a bath before putting my tea on, then settling down for EastEnders waiting for my husband to return. However, as I sank into the bath the monitor lit up, and the familiar green lights flickered and eventually reached the red 'danger zone' and I was forced to grab a towel and go to her. I decided to try taking her into the bath with me which wasn't perhaps the most sensible thing to do with no one else in the house, but went for it anyway. She seemed happy enough, and was enjoying splashing around. The phone rang (luckily I'd brought my mobile and the landline phone up the bathroom) so felt a bit strange talking to my father-in-law while naked in the bath holding my baby!

The frenzy continued and by the time my husband arrived home I was exhausted and very short-tempered. He held Elizabeth for a bit then announced that it seemed like she needed feeding. I fed her again, he held her again, then suggested a nappy change. Part way through this procedure I realised that when someone comes in part way through a frenzy they don't quite see it as I do. To my husband it seemed obvious that she needed feeding then needed changing, but to me the feeding is following by the nappy change which wakes her up, then you hold her, she cries, and she needs feeding again, and so the cycle continues, and it becomes very frustrating when someone suddenly decides to tell you 'I think she needs feeding'.

Bed at 11pm.