Feb 2011 - growing bigger, loosing our figure

[angels1]

Just a new thread as I noticed we are near the limit (again)!

Gina ford may be controversial but that shouldn't stop you reading her so you can see where you stand on her. And clearly there is something to be said for routines... Although maybe not quite in the way she puts it. Were planning on buying one book in particular- the mumsnet baby book! Seriously, I can't think of anything better than a book of the best of Mumsnet advice.

I made it into work today but am still in pain. Well see how this week goes.

Gina ford may be controversial but that shouldn't stop you reading her so you can see where you stand on her. And clearly there is something to be said for routines... Although maybe not quite in the way she puts it. Were planning on buying one book in particular- the mumsnet baby book! Seriously, I can't think of anything better than a book of the best of Mumsnet advice.

I made it into work today but am still in pain. Well see how this week goes.

Yes agree with everything PDR and Zero said. I know GF is strict but after 6 weeks of non stop crying (me and ds1) who was the unthinkable; a breastfed baby with COLIC, GF book saved my sanity and a lot of what she says makes sense.

About due date, everything pdr said ! She speaks the truth!!

Oh and much like the advice in books, everyone will throw in their two pennies worth, even the random old bird on the high at, but everyone means well and you are well within rights to ignore it all! Mum knows best, yer har

well, this link might be useful to those who haven't read my post in pregnancy about richard and judy

I saw this years ago and was so amazed I never forgot it. I have brought his book today online and hope it's good and not american twaddle. Thought you might be interested anyway - it seems from the pg thread that other people saw it and were equally amazed that they haven't forgotten it.

(Random) Anyone bought a double buggy...?

I have a Graco one that I need to get rid of as it's broken but I'm not getting a new one as DD walks now. She'll be almost 4 when DD2 arrives so she'll be going to school most of the time.

The Phil and Teds one is supposed to be a good one. They're expensive though.

Angels, I've never really read a baby book, just magazines and things on the Internet so can't really recommend. A lot of them do give good advice and are very helpful but the best thing I can say is take everything with a pinch of salt. It gives you a guide to work with but don't beat yourself up if the advice doesn't do what it says on the tin as all babies are different and respond to different things. Some babies thrive on routines but don't worry too much about having one straight away as feeding can be irratic at first so establishing one can be hard in the first few weeks.

People will be giving "advice" left, right and centre. Some will be total bollocks and some will be useful. Listen to it all and choose what is right for you and ignore the crap!

I hated GF - bought it out of curiosity, laughed incredulously at most of it, used it to prop the cot up then sold it on ebay! But that was just me...and I'm an opinionated lentil weaver at the best of times!

I think another thing to remember is that a lot of these so called "childcare gurus" don't actually have children.

at "opinionated lentil weaver!"

How about the Mumsnet on Babies book?

I probably wouldn't bother with GF for a newborn unless you are a very routine-oriented person yourself. There is useful stuff later on I occasionally referred to her when I was wondering roughly how often DS "should" be feeding or sleeping but if I were you I'd borrow from the library rather than buy it.

The Baby Whisperer is much better IMO although her breastfeeding advice is not great and I don't think the shhhh... pat technique really survives the introduction of "back to sleep" policies.

Happiest Baby On The Block I thought was fab with DS who was a... ahem... spirited baby.

The No-Cry Sleep Solution was good IIRC.

40 weeks I bought a poncho too, Tescos are doing a great one for £10, although I have a swing coat from a couple of years ago that should still do me!!

PDR I bought a double buggy for dd1 and dd2, have to say it was the bane of my life, I hated it. I bought a cheap one, big mistake, it was really heavy, awkward. Mine was one with the seats behind each other, couldn't have fitted a side by side one in our house!!!. It was invaluable because I didn't drive then and dd1 was in creche a couple of days a week. My best friend bought a side by side, more expensive one and it seems much better.

I didn't bother with any books with dd1, just sort of worked it out, although she was an absolute dream, self settled, slept through really early, dd2 on the other hand think I'll just go with guyfawkesismy loveslave description of a "spirited baby"!!

Yes I bought a mother care double buggy last time round. It was good value for money but would not recommend it especially. Baby lies flat in rear seat which rendered the basket underneath inaccessible! I think the 3wheel double ones are good, Phil & Teds are ok but John Lewis didn't use to sell them as they wrent convinced of design safety in that newborn at rear was suseptible to banging head on curbs if not manoeuvred carefully but that might have changed and also not sure how likely it would be to smack their head?! They Might have been being overcautious!

Actually, if you do end up with a "spirited baby" I highly recommend The Fussy Baby Book -- it doesn't have a huge amount of practical stuff to do but does reassure you that This Too Shall Pass and I used to read it just for the reassurance that it wasn't just me who had a baby like this even though all my friends had happy gurgling compliant sleeping babies...

But probably not worth buying otherwise.

PDR-plenty of spd here.you are not alone.I saw osteopath yesterday and had acupuncture which i was bit sceptical about but i have to say this morning i feel the pain has subsided loads.I keep bracing myself to stand up or get in the car and it doesnt happen.Do you find it hard to walk far?cos thats my biggest bugbear.My lower back kills me too but that is my big bump and my posture.
Not partial to Hein Ford but i love the baby whisperer,she makes good sense.Cant imagine being that strict with a newborn altho i did put dd to her/our room around 7-8pm in the dark and quiet and dream fed her thereafter untill the morning and she did sleep all night at 5 wks so will be doing that again for sure,and i dont nurse to sleep i put them down when they are sleepy.
Went to look at prams today.All the ones i like you have to take off the seat unit to old them. Any ideas all you recent pram users.
I want a carrycot or at least a conversion,i had decided on the oyster but you have to take off the seat to fold it too.

ledkr I find it very hard to walk/stand for more than a few minutes :( I have got some crutches now to help. How are you managing at work?

I am looking at the Out N About Double Nipper at the moment... Have been given a 2nd hand Jane Powertwin but doesn't look very comfortable for DS1 and not much space for his legs. Have also looked at Mountain Buggy Duo but prefer shape of the Nipper.

Don't mind spending out as will sell it on after I am finished so any advice welcome.

PDR i have been signed off but mostly with breathlessness and anaemia.Feel guilty and feeble but after the Lily Allen news have decided to accept it.I hope the osteopath works for you. I def feel alot better for it.
Did you have it before?I hate the fact that people forget as you dont show it.I want so much to enjoy this pg but it does spoil it.

Had mole shaved off this morning and the dermatologist is pretty sure it's benign. She's sending it off to the lab to make certain though. Just the baby's heartbeat monitoring to go now on Thursday. And I'm off to a Billy Bragg gig this evening - can't believe he's playing this part of America! I don't think the locals will be all that receptive to his politics.

Bonfire...jennyps great news about the mole (strange sentence to type but I trust you'll know what I mean) Everything crossed for Thursday.

Having a slight giggle about Billy Bragg in your neck of the woods!! Enjoy yourself

ledkr I am speaking to my GP again tomorrow and think I'm going to ask to be signed off. At least until physio get in touch and osteopath hopefully does some good... I know my colleagues will think I'm being "precious" but they don't know how much pain I'm in esp when I get home after work in the evening! I didn't have it to such an extent during my 1st pregnancy and only towards the very end - maybe 36 weeks + and it was not diagnosed as I had already finished work by then and with no DC "resting" was not a problem
This pregnancy has been awful to be honest but then maybe I was lucky with my 1st... Really put me off having any more.
Seriously considoring starting mat leave at 28 weeks - DH is working late tonight so not here to discuss but I'm sure he will agree anyway.

Sorry that was a really long post

I read Gina Ford when I had DS and mostly thought it wasn't for me. Later on I noticed that, yes, he did settle more easily at night if he'd had a bath, and if his longest nap of the day was after lunch. So this time around I plan to follow more of her advice earlier on. The baby whisperer also had some helpful ideas. I liked her section on different cries and what they can mean. And it was so true that DS settled best when I put him down before he was too tired (i.e. already falling asleep).

I've also bought the happiest kid on the block and the no cry sleep solution, which both have interesting suggestions. We'll see how useful they are...

Geekygiraffe, I just bought the new active birth and the food of love off amazon too!

Forgot to mention "The tao of poop" It was quite a reassuring read after I had DS. I felt under a lot of pressure, mostly applied by myself, to do everything right as a mum. This book acknowledges the hard parts of being a mum and lets you off the hook a bit.

Mmm, but ask on (say) MN and the majority of people will tell you that an evening bath helps them settle and that the longest nap is generally after lunch.

What you're paying GF for by buying the book is the "07.45-08.00: eat one slice of lightly-buttered toast while expressing precisely 50ml from left breast" stuff (OK, OK, I exaggerate, but only slightly). And you may find that helpful if you are naturally a very organised person who likes to have things just so, but if you are naturally a more fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-and-make-it-up-as-you-go-along person it's more likely to make you feel inadequate in the early days (especially as nowhere do I see "15.00: prepare to leave house. 15.01: baby vomits spectacularly over self and you. 15.02-15.14: change self and baby. 15.15: prepare to leave house. 15.16: baby does spectacular explosive poo up back of babygro. 15.17-15.27: change baby's nappy and clothing. 15.28: realise poo is also all down the side of your trousers. 15.29-15.35: change own clothes again" which is generally how it seems to work out ).

Can anyone guess from that whether I am naturally a very organised person...? .

Interesting/strange programme about attached parenting which seems to involve no life breast feeding until they start work and carrying them around in slings-oh yes and big beards.On living at the mo.
Pdr Hot bath helps me,also keep legs together ie. bum first into car and squeeze bum muscles when you stand up or walk.I have alittle thread running at the mo in pregnancy all helps.Osteopath WILL help but also rest which is why you should take the time off.I havent had sick time for yrs and it is hard and i did want everyone to think"isnt she fab working till the end" cos im a sad martyr. But who really gives a shit and i am now thinking of my baby and my sanity.I was crying about 5 times a day with the pain and i havent done that today.Even getting dd to school is easier cos i dont have to get myself ready,pack bags and lunch and stuff.Doesnt mater if i cant sleep cos got no work it does help.