We will have a serene, pain free, uneventful pregnancy and birth and will BROOK NO ARGUMENT on that.

[scarletfingernail]

New thread.

I bought a book because I am a reasearcher by training and find it impossible to not first do reading called Baby Led Weaning by Gill Rapely but I don't think there is any big secret to it. Bits don't have to be bite size, strips and larger chunks are good too as they hold them in their fist and bite/chomp them (DD didn't get any teeth until after her 1st birthday so she mostly gnawed gummily).

There is blog and a forum here by another mumsnetter all about it, with lots of recipes.

And, I see, a recall for some Antilop highchairs. So perhaps ignore my recommendation until it's sorted out.

Ah you've explained it much better Fishcake.

Agree too about better sites to some babies than others. For DS it wasn't a perfect match to do BLW as he, even at 6 mths wasn't particularly interested in solids - he was still a bit take it or leave it. I suspect with BLW he might have just left it, but being exclusively bf, you do need to start getting some iron etc in them from about 6 mths, so purées etc worked for us.

I think I'll see what the HVs say when the time comes, but also will see what the baby is like etc.

Oh suited, not sites!!!

I'm sure my phone is having some sort of protest today!

Biscuits the baby needing iron because they are breastfed and 6 months is not true, unless they weigh less than 6.5lbs at birth or were premature,or born to a diabetic mother in either case a blood test is recommended to check iron levels.
If you want to exclusively bf until your baby is one you can. The iron in breatmilk is much more bioavailable so is absorbed easily and introducing solids lead to drop in iron levels. The best articles I have found when I had to research this a couple of weeks ago are here; If you read 'The level of iron in breastmilk is small, but is very "bioavailable".." is the most relevant part. And then there is Kelly mom A great resource if your breastfeeding longer in depth article it is more important to wait for the baby to ready to start solids than worry about a 6month deadline as such. However, HVs definitely and thoroughly believe in the iron drop!
If you have delayed cord clamping this also increases baby's iron reserves, something which I hope to do as then it really is definitely a minimum of 9 months before there is any drop.
Sorry if that seems directed at you Biscuits it isn't meant that way

No that's fine Purple

I was just going on what the HVs said - and we all know their degree of 'rightness' varies from person to person and topic to topic

Sorry everyone, just a quick thread hijack re car seats for toddlers feel free to ignore unless you're Biscuits ...

So, Biscuits can I ask about the car seat you've ordered for your DS?

DS is currently using a Group 1, supposedly up to age 4. (Maxi Cosi Tobi). He's really squished in it now and I really don't think we can keep him in it much longer even though he's only just 3. Have you had the same issue with your DS? I know the age guide is to do with their bone density and the fact that the next group up of car seats it's the actual car seat belt is used, which is why I'm worried about buying the next size up. So, I feel he needs it as he's outgrown his current one, but I'm concerned for his safety obviously because of the bone/seatbelt situation.

We went to that shop a year ago, but they only had Britax carseats on display (makes sense given that they're Britax specialists) but we really like Maxi Cosi. I've been looking at the Rodi and think that's the one we might go for. Is that similar to the one you're getting for your DS and is your one also in the 4-11 years category?

Maxi Cosi Rodi

Scarlet that sounds a lot like our reasoning. DS is 3.4 now and is just getting to big for it. We had Britax seats in the Group 1 (ie what he's growing out of). One of those actually converts into a group 2-3 by taking out the harness and was a bit bigger than the other one we had. The smaller one he looks very squished in.

We have also been to that shop and they suggested that over the winter it might be worth putting DS in without his coat on, to save the space of lots of layers, and then if it's cold tucking his coat over him like a blanket. But even with that he's getting big for it now.

We have gone with a Recaro Monza Seatfix, from that shop.

You're right, they only had Britax and Recaro when we went but we quite liked the Recaro one, and it seems to get good reviews. We wanted one that used the isofix points so that it is fixed into the car whether or not DS is in it. The Britax one looked funny round the headrest when DS was sat in it.

To be honest, we never actually looked at the Maxi Cosi ones (I am now thinking I should have , but we just really went with that shop because they've always done a nice job for us and DH didn't have much time to do lots of shopping around ).

I am a bit anxious about having DS on the 'big' seatbelt. We've talked to him about it being a big boy seat and how he has to sit like a big boy etc. it genuinely never occurred to me until he got in it that of course they can lean forward with adult belt, because of course it moves . And obv he could unclip it - eeek! But this was why we wanted to get him swapped over before the baby comes so he's used to it and we've done his 'training' .

He fell fast asleep in it on the way home so so far so good

Sorry for mammoth post x

That Rodi looks comfy though I think.

Thanks Biscuits, excellent that your DS seems to be getting on well with yours already. I hadn't considered an isofix one. My car doesn't have isofix points and he is in my car more often that DH's. But when he is in DH's it tends to be long journeys, so it might make sense to have a look at the isofix ones. Eeek, I hadn't even considered him unclipping the belt himself . Something else to now worry about .

I'll let you know if it's an issue Scarlet.....

The isofix one we have can be used without the isofix too by just sliding the bars back in and then strapping small person and seat in together as normal. The isofix is just a 'bonus' extra fitting and means you don't need to seatbelt it in when it's empty. We've had my car isofix-ified though for the isofix base for the maxi cosi cabriofix

I hope your move does go smoothly fishcake, where are you moving to area wise? Paying for packing for us was fabulous when we moved. You didn't have to empty wardrobes or drawers- the removal men literally lift the drawers out full, transport, and slide them back in in the new house, rails for all your wardrobe stuff etc. Made it loads easier if you can't afford full pack/ unpack service.

Speaking of bossy dd's, today my dad visited and she insisted on walking, zero degrees, meant to be going to the library. Her majesty decided she'd walk to the playground instead. So my poor dad ended up going with her to the playground in bitter cold while I got to go to the nice warm library to swap dd's books :-) . And while we're on the subject, go the heck to sleep child!!! 9pm and counting...

purple, if dd would lie quietly in bed with me and go to sleep co-sleeping might be tempting. She won't though, she sings, pokes me, insists on lying on me when I'm already struggling with reflux and rib pain, stands up and tries to walk around (in her sleeping bag) so falls over, then cries, etc etc... From 2:45 to 4:30 when i lost the will the night before last she showed no sign of going to sleep in bed with me .

Anyway, biscuits, I just ate my 5th creme egg since you mentioned them, therefore its your fault

And car seats are a nightmare. I have shown a friend our britax today at dd's music group- she has pointed out its missing any newborn padding and agrees its totally unsuitable for a newborn-eeek! Glad i tried it and realised now though. I text my friend who lent it to us but no reply yet, but if she still had the padding surely she'd have brought it with the seat?! I would go for teaching your ds not to open the seatbelt. is there no gadget you can buy to fit over the belt buckle to stop them undoing it til they're big enough to properly understand?

I got the easybase for my car biscuits, same principle, just that the base is fixed in place by the seatbelt rather than the car seat itself. I'd never have managed putting the car seat in and out every time, whoever came up with the base idea is a genius.

dream I hope DD goes to sleep for you soon.

dream on the unplugging the car seat thing I think DS is old enough to understand. About 6 mths ago he wriggled his arms out of the harness in his group 1 seat and as I glanced in the mirror at him he was just leaning round to unplug the seat belt (it wasn't an isofix seat) .

We had a 'chat' (!) at that point about how that was dangerous, and in fact since then he's never even taken his arms out of the harness again (he used to do that every now and again). So I think he will get it. You just need the novelty of the seat to wear off a bit.

(nb, obv I would stop and rectify the arms out of harness thing as soon as we spotted it, and tell him off for it too)

Hello all!

Bean and I have been having adventures. MW came out yesterday and I discovered some brown spotting while she was here, at about 6pm. There were leucocytes in my urine and I was panicking a lot bit because of the spotting, so she sent me in to the hospital for a trace, mainly for reassurance. When we got to the hospital they put me on the trace, which was lovely - I calmed right down and just sat there listening to Bean's heartbeat for over an hour. However, it turned out I was having regular tightenings which I hadn't noticed (I thought it was Bean squirming ), every 3-4 minutes, so they started wondering if I might be going into labour. I was saying 'but it doesn't feel at all like labour! I've been having these feelings most evenings for weeks and just thought it was the baby moving!'. After about an hour they got less regular and started to tail off, and the doctor did a speculum exam and said my cervix was closed. They couldn't find any reason for the spotting but thought I might have a UTI, so sent me off with antibiotics and instructions to go back if there was any more spotting, harder/painful tightenings or anything like signs of labour. Bean seems quite happy this morning and it was so nice to listen to her yesterday! I want one of those trace machines in my bedroom.

at a dog being the perfect BLW accessory! I have one of those - BLW it is, then! I think some children will start showing interest in food even before the 6 month mark - my little brother used to sit at the table in his highchair watching every mouthful that went into anyone's mouth and when he was finally allowed to try eating something himself he was thrilled.

Oh gosh too!!!! How worrying for you. So glad that the trace was ok. But that must have been worrying about the tightenings

Could you feel them at all? Do you think they were Braxton Hicks type or actual contractions? What did the hospital say about keeping an eye on it or anything?

Hope you're taking it easy my dear. Do you think this will make them get you a consultant appt sooner to replace the one from yesterday?

Too Blimey what an eventful day you had! Thanks goodness everything's ok. Have you got a follow up appointment booked to check the tightenings again?

I don't know what's wrong with me today, I feel like an emotional wreck and it's only 10.30. I was on the brink of tears when dropping DS off at nursery this morning when one of the staff members said something about how he's got a lot of change to get used to over the next few months. Then I was in floods of tears reading a story in the newspaper about a baby boy who died while having a liver transplant. I can't shake myself out of it, I just feel like getting back in bed and having a good cry to just get it out even though I don't know why I'm feeling like it.

But I won't, I'll just get on with the ironing (again). I'm out again tonight though for another meal with a friend so I need to pull myself together.

I'm ironing too - or at least I will be when I get off my arse and get the ironing board up! Race ya

I think they were BH. My contractions with DD1 started off like period pain in my back and tummy - these were painless and felt like Bean was pushing against my tummy and moving slowly upwards, hence why I thought it was her moving and not BH to begin with. They made me a little breathless, but nothing really very noticeable - if I hadn't had the trace on showing neat little peaks every few minutes then I wouldn't have realised. And I have had them before, now that I know what they are. Am currently in bed MNing - phoned in sick this morning and the nurse told me not to do anything more strenuous than make a cup of tea, so I am following her advice. I did laugh when she told me not to do any housework! I hope I get a consultant appt more quickly now. The community MW said yesterday that she would phone and try to get me an earlier appt, so FX she'll be able to. She's coming back today at some point because she left her bag here in the rush last night, so she'll presumably listen to Bean again while she's here.

Sorry, cross-posts. Scarlet, I hope you're feeling a bit better now. I hate those random emotional moments! Luckily they do tend to vanish as quickly as they started, for me, anyway. Maybe a good cry is exactly what you need to clear the air.

What a dramatic evening Too if you have a UTI then it can cause this, I was having periody pain braxton hicks for a bit when I had my stomach upset and was very dehydrated, but thankfully they passed. I reckon you will breeze through labour with no problems! And it is lovely hearing the trace :)

Dream my friend has been prescribed medicine to help her son sleep, now that is quite extreme but it could be worth talking to your GP although I guess your DH would know about this sort of thing?

I have a bloody cold now I seem to be getting every disease going?! Still 35 weeks today, WOOHOO! So soon I won't have pregnancy lowered immune system!

I have also ordered my new nappy/hospital bag and should have it by 1pm tomorrow, so I literally need to got a shop and buy some cheap bits and bobs and some of those sugar tablets for energy and I am good to go!
I spent ages watching vids/reviews of bags on youtube last night it was really good, I would recommend looking on there for reviews.

Oh except I need to order Dds new carseat, I might get a maxi tobi again as I know it fits in most cars, although I would like a rear facer ideally. My dd is dinky so I won't have the problem of her growing out of it for a long time!

Sorry a bit me me me! How are we all?

Anyone planning to drink raspberry leaf tea, or take the capsules?

Biscuits I am asking about this this afternoon, if I can remember and perineal massage!

scarlet - I reckon it's totally normal with all the hormones going on. Have a good cry and a nap - let it all out!

Too - How dramatic! Glad to hear everything is okay though. I thought braxton hicks were baby pushing with both hands and both feet if that's any consolation

Biscuits - I started RLT last weekend, just one a day this week, two a day next week and then not sure when to go to three (which is maximum I think?).

DD is ill with viral thing - red ears and throat. She loved being examined by the doctor and was very proud of getting the 'ARgh' open mouth thing right as she normally just bites on the wooden stick. TV and stickers this pm snuggling on the sofa. She is a bit grotty and whingy though poor thing.

I on the other hand cannot STOP eating cakes/chocolate/biscuits. It's a bit scary how much I want to eat . I thought appetite was supposed to reduce at this point?!

pomme hope your dd feels better soon. Enjoy your snuggles.

Are you doing RLT tablets? Or the tea? And how many weeks are you again?

I also have a massive appetite today and am absolutely craving fruit juice