Flying mattress graduates - dock here!

[festiemum]

Hey chaps! Here's the space for us to witter on incessantly about our pregnancies!

20 week scan today and it was soooo fantastic! I'll post some pics on my profile later. The sonographer wasn't 100% sure, but thought that it was probably a girl, due to lack of visible meat and two veg!

Hope everyone's doing well! xxx

Congratulations!!! so pleased Festie. I love the name Esme - it's on our short list too. Wow, very quick and glad it all went well after all the messing around.
(I've been told to take some warm water in a jug to pour over myself while weeing to dilute the wee and ease the sting!)

Do you know when you're going home?

Love and hugs to you and Esme xx

WOW!!!! Congrats to Rusulka and Festie just sooooo pleased for you both!! Amazing news and gorgeous names for you beautiful bundles of joy!!!!

Yay Festie! What a beautiful name. Came over all emotional and DH had to take the laptop off me and give me a hug. Congratulations.

Thanks Lil and Moo.

Only got the community nurse coming to change my bum dressing today, so hopefully will have a peaceful day, apart from the tortuous breastfeeding bits (not got the hang of it yet).

Think we'll spend it sleeping and eating the brownies my sister made.

Oh my goodness, two babies! How lovely! Esme and Phoebe, what gorgeous names!

Congratulations Rus and Festie, it's brought a tear to my eye. Hope you are both starting to feel a bit more normal.

Rus, I do hope you feel better than yesterday, a first time mother and a great hole in your back can't be happy bedfellows. And then having to cope with the pain of breast feeding for the first time! (my mum assures me it kills at first but then it gets better)

Festie, hope you've managed to have a wee, ouch! But phew for a nice speedy straightforward induction.

Hope you are both cuddled up with your babes as I write!

Well, I got up, had coffee and toast and spent two and a half hours gardening this morning. I haven't done coffee or gardening for 8 weeks so maybe I really am in the second trimester after all. Thinking that has just set me off, I'm so lucky to be at this stage.

How are Lil and Moo?

Anyway, keep us updated when you can new mothers!

Oh how very exciting Rusulka & Festie - with beautiful baby girls!
Love your name choices! So glad you can get everything sorted Rusulka!
And Festie get a jug or a bottle with Luke warm water and when you go toilet pour it to avoid stinging!
All is well and I'm coming into 15 weeks feeling movements and so it's a good feeling!!!

Count hope the movements are reassuring you and you're doing well. It was lovely when I finally accepted the feeling was actually baby moving and not me digesting!

Disco glad you are feeling better and able to get out gardening and Yay for reaching the second trimester, you'll be feeling movements soon.

Rus and Festie hope you are both having a lovely time with your new babies. Keep thinking of you all snuggled up with that new baby smell. (However my dreaming does not include crying, smelly nappies, sleep deprivation and cracked nipples which I'm guessing your reality does!) Hope everything is going well and that the breast feeding gets easier soon.

How is the sickness Moo? Hope it is easing for you and you can get to enjoy your pregnancy

I'm tired but generally can't complain too much. Moving around is getting harder and I must look so stupid trying to get off the sofa or bending down. I feel like one of the fat people on floating chairs in Wall-e! Need to stop over doing it at school; I don't think taking full on dance lessons with me leading/demonstrating most of the time has helped but find it hard as it's what I'm used to doing.

Hope Festie&Esme and Rus&Phoebe are all doing well.

How exciting that your baby is moving so much Count! Are your family excited about the new arrival?

Lil, I suppose with all the dancing you'll be fit and strong for labour at least! It is hard not to do things you've always done. I was shifting desks the other day and then thought "Hmm, perhaps I shouldn't be doing this!". Anyway, I bet you look lovely and graceful when arising from the sofa

I went to Brighton today and tried on another wedding dress but it was rubbish! Oh well, at least it's crossed off the list. I also bought my first item of maternity clothing, landmark moment! I was wondering if I was ready but as my mum said "Crikey!" when I showed her my bump, perhaps I am.

Anyway, advice needed. When I lie still and concentrate I can sometimes feel tiny little spasm feelings in my abdomen - does this sound like it could be the baby? I'm only 14+5 so I'm not sure if I'm imagining it!

So lovely to hear all the pregnancy updates! disco - you could very well be feeling movements! To start with they are weird insubstantial feelings which is why it takes so long to suss out that's what you're feeling!

Hope you and Phoebe are doing well rus. Can. I ask.. Have you had midwife visits since you've been at home? I always have in the past, but we're being told that I am going to have to go in all this week for my bP checks as they don't have the staff to come to me. I've had a bit of a rant about it in childbirth, just trying to establish whether that is common practice now. Honestly, I thought I was done fighting the nhs now she's out!

Hope the boobing is getting easier too - it does, honest! I'm still at the painful latching on stage which your troll body does a good job of making you forget until the next time! Also, afterpains! Noone told me that they get worse with every subsequent birth!

Lots of love to all you lovely pg ladies too. I have to go and get washed and dressed to present myself at clinic. Not something I was expecting to have to do today!

xxx

Hi Ladies. So lovely to hear so many nice things happening. Bobba movements, newborns, etc etc. Great!!!

Festie sorry the hospital are still messing you around. It does seem a little unfair making you go all that way after you have just given birth!! Stupid hospital!!!

Disco well done on all that gardening. You must be shattered. bet the garden looks amazing!!

Well I am completely and utterly fed up with being sick now. 12 weeks on Friday and every time I think that it's easing........BANG i feel like crap again. Was sick yesterday, have been sick again this morning and at the moment I am trying to do everything not to be sick again. On top of all of this, I think I may be coming down with flu and I have an external assessment in November that i really wish i had withdrawn from last week when i needed to make a decision. It's too late now, and there is so much work to do and I have so little energy to do it (plus the feeling crap all the time).

Right best make preparations for my next meeting Sigh

Oh Moo really feel for you with the sickness. I've caught a grotty cold (not sure which germy child I should blame) and am feeling crap too :( Good luck with the assessment though and hope it goes well despite everything.

I've had a letter offering me a flu jab - always get one as I have an inhaler that I only use during hayfever season so never bother going for the jab but should I this year or should I definately not?

Festie how is Esme? (have you def decided to call her that?) I think that here you get a mw visit the day after you get home and then unless there are any problems you are expected to go to them for weighing/ checks etc. Obviously not experienced it but that was the impression I got from a-n class.
However you would think it would be better for your BP if they came to you after everything that has happened.

Rus hope the bf is getting easier - that is what I am worrying about atm more than the actual giving birth! Hope you, Phoebe and DH are having a lovely time together in your baby bubble.

Disco that was how my movements felt when they started and I spent ages wondering if it was just me digesting or if it was baby! You're ready whenever for mat clothes - I kept wearing my normal clothes but just ended up uncomfortable and it was such a relief to buy some clothes that fit.

Off to another a-n class today so only have to get through the afternoon with the children, I should be able to manage that!

Hey ladies!
Getting back a little more energy now, but Phoebe's occasional decisions to cry what feels like all night for no apparent reason mean lack of sleep is the main problem now.

Festie my midwife came to visit the day after I got home. I then had another of the midwives visit the day after that, and then a 2 day gap before Phoebe's 5-7 day check. I used to go to a local nursery or whatever to see my midwife during pregnancy so they're very much a community team, maybe there isn't anything like that where you are? Even so, it's appalling that you're having to go anywhere, you should be home resting. I think you should refuse to go in!

At the moment a midwife of some sort is coming every day- not for me, unfortunately for Phoebe... for the benefit of Lil and others new to this, at the 5-7 day check they weigh them and don't want them to have lost more than 10% of their birth weight. She'd lost 12% so they're monitoring her every damn day for weight gain, I'm spending my days expressing by hand so we can top up her feeds, and we're just hoping she puts weight on. After a day where I expressed 40ml and topped up 2 feeds, yesterday she'd put on 40g- the paediatrician said they'd be happy with anything over 20g, so we're hopeful it will continue, but it's a bit of a nightmare. I managed to express 60ml somehow yesterday and topped up 3 feeds, so hopefully she'll gain a little more.

In my heart I don't feel there's a problem.
I'd like to think my instincts serve me well, and they tell me the weight loss most probably happened in the first few days after birth, when I couldn't sit, couldn't feed her, couldn't get her to latch on, had the surgery... realistically any health professional hearing the circumstances would agree I think.
It's just taking her a while to catch up.
Either way I can't express more than 60ml/day at the moment, and that's trying all day, not getting in any naps.
If I can't keep her topped up they're talking about supplementing with formula, but I absolutely detest the idea and am fighting it tooth and nail. It worries me that midwives who normally champion breastfeeding are suggesting formula as a solution, but I guess her health has to come first...

Disco well done on the gardening! Mine's looking a bit neglected. Hearing bad-sounding news about my kiwi fruit from DH who's been out and watered a few times for me, and it looks like my apples are microscopic from lack of water. Ah well.
That sounds like movements to me! Mine felt like little streams of bubbles sometimes. The way I described the movements to my dad was that it felt like when you get a fart in your intestines, and it kind of swells up, but then implodes in on itself. Do you know what I mean? That's what mine felt like at first, wind! And then they get more definite and recognisable.

Lil I can't believe how everywhere the new baby smell has gotten- the blanket that goes over her in her bouncer smells of her, and DH said after scratching his intimate areas the other night, they smelled like her too...!
And on the flu jab front, I had it. You're at high risk being exposed to snotty kids all the damn time, and if you get flu it will affect the baby- my mum got flu with my sister and she stopped growing for a month and was significantly shorter than me at birth. I don't know if this was earlier in pregnancy than where you are, but I think it's worth taking the precaution.

Moo sorry to hear you're still feeling epically shit. Hopefully it will ease off at some point. Break up the work into bite size chunks if you can, it's easier to om nom your way through it.

Right, I'd better go milk myself. MOO!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone.

Moo, the back looks two thirds great but the front is still weedy and awful! I really hope your sickness eases off soon. It does for most women, hopefully you'll be in that majority! Mine has 95% gone now but I still don't fancy coffee, fish or chicken so it could well be a vegetarian pregnancy! As for your assessment, it's still a good few weeks away and you may be feeling better by then.

Festie, if I were you I would insist they lend you a BP monitor and you can ring in your results. It is verging on cruel to make you trek in with a half week old baby. If there is a high reading fine, then you go in, but on days when it is fine there is no need to come in. The stress of travelling would probably make it rocket anyway!

Lil, I would definitely get the flu jab done. I researched it as my DP wasn't going to bother but when I pointed out that a recent study showed that women who caught swine flu were five times more likely to have a stillbirth, he changed his mind. I don't want to catch it from him!

There is a good article about it here: www.nhs.uk/news/2011/10October/Pages/swine-flu-H1N1-risk-pregnancy-still-birth.aspx

Rus, sounds like you are doing a good job with all the expressing. A 40g weight gain is great! How did the weigh in today go? I think you are right to resist FF, sounds like she is making good progress and you know the reason why she lost the weight in the first place. If she continues to put on weight then FF isn't necessary, surely?

Not much going on with me today. I sat on a chair that wasn't there yesterday and fell right on my arse. I was fine but a bit scared all last night in case I'd dislodged the placenta or something daft! Luckily it all seems fine. Still getting these little feelings but only on my left hand side, I have a left leaning baby it seems. DP has been reading my bounty book and keeps coming out with phrases like "You'll be developing the linea nigra soon." and "Well, the baby is the size of half a banana now!". It was a bit disconcerting at first! He won't shut up about the bloody linea nigra now cos he knows it annoys me!

Hope the milking is going well Rus! My friend who recently had a baby had to do the same - she was expressing and topping up for a bit and baby is happy and healthy no problems and no formula in sight. I would stick to your guns as it sounds like she is gaining well. Glad you are getting more energy back, just grab a nap when you can. How is the bum healing? Is the bf getting easier?

How did it go Festie? Hope you kicked up a stick about the diifficulty of dragging a few days old baby into the hospital. Is weeing ok now?

Disco they always seem to compare the baby with food! At least your Dh is involved and excited, much better than him just letting you get on with it and the more he understands what your body is doing the more he should understand your mood swings/tiredness/cravings etc etc Glad you are ok after your fall.

Thanks for the advice on the flu jab, don't really want to go near another needle but sounds like it would be a good idea. Will have a chat with the mw today as I have an appointment.

How are our new babies and mums getting on? Hope all is ok with you both.

Pg ladies how is the sickness etc? I really hope it has eased off for you. Any scan / movement news?

Had a dream that I gave birth last night - it wasn't too bad so hoping that is what it will be like. I went to a ball afterwards and my main concern was not bleeding on my dress!

Hello chaps,

I have been lurking the past few days, hope all is well and those nasty hcps haven't blackmailed you into mixed feeding rus. Sounds like you're doing everything right and if your instincts are telling you it's not a problem then it probably isn't!

How's school lil? My poor old brain is trying to work out how many weeks you are. I came up with 32ish, but I don't trust my brain at he moment.

Really hope the sickness eases off for you soon moo - you're in the zone now, but I know how miserable it is.

Your dh sounds funny disco, mine was also slightly obsessed with the linea nigra too! He was a bit disappointed cos I don't really get one!

Hi count, hope you're enjoying lots of movement!

Well, Esme's first week continues apace. I managed to cut four clinic visits down to two and have told them that I'm not available to go in to have my bP checked until Monday now. Got myself into a tizz the other night cos she wasn't waking for nighttime feeds. Found myself sitting up half the night all anxious... Then got her weighed yesterday for her 5 day check, and she's only lost 80 proxy grams! Resolved not to worry, so of course, she woke every hour for feeds last night! Troll baby! :o

Away this weekend for my brother's wedding. Gonna have to try and pace myself. It's a whole weekend of social engagements and if it was anyone but my brother, I probably would have left it. It's weird to think that I was expecting to be there 39 weeks pregnant! Need to ring the hotel today to let them know we're bringing an extra guest!! :o

Body seems to be healing well. Weeing is fine! Pooing still a bit iffy - have quite spectacular piles. I pushed her out in 2 mins and with such force she whizzed up the bed like a cork coming out of a bottle. My arse obviously took the strain! Boobs massive but getting less engorged and latching on is less painful than it was, so all going in the right direction!

And Esme herself is tiny and absolutely beautiful! The fierce, overwhelming love doesn't get any less intense each time!

Do hope you are all really well. Knackered, sore but ecstatic Festie signing off! xxx

Hey ladies!

Festie glad to hear Esme hasn't lost too much weight, and that Phoebe isn't the only baby who thinks it's hilarious to wake through the night for hourly feeds...
I have piles too, apparently. Thought it was just amusing stitching on the obstetrician's part. I can't really poo either. Been taking senna to help them just fall out, but it's been really irritating when you do one and a half poos and can't get the rest out- I never feel clean and daren't sit down!

Disco in the second trimester I tripped over the steps coming out of the kitchen and fell on my stomach- was shitting bricks but everything was fine. They said not to worry as she was well-cushioned in there- I assume they mean by the fluid, etc. but it still came across slightly fattist...

Lil I had a few birth dreams and they were easy. Just keep leaning forward and hopefully it'll become a reality- but I wouldn't count on being able to go to the ball and not leak everywhere!

Well, it hasn't been good on the feeding front, I'm afraid.
Midwives in every day to weigh her, then one sensible one saying bollocks to it, that day's weight loss of 20g was probably a scales discrepancy, and said rather than expressing and topping off, I'd just be better off feeding her more.
So then I started using both boobs for a feed.
Then the original midwife who told me to express and top up came back to weigh her and she'd lost 80g.
Another call to the pediatrician, and thankfully we didn't have to go into hospital to get her checked, but I had to get formula, as they want me to top up every feed with 60mls. I can't provide that.
I was gutted at the time but feel a little better about it now- as much as I fought against the formula, I have to be reasonable about the battles I fight, and sticking to my guns on this one means Phoebe's health suffers.
General consensus is that because of my various bum issues, operations, difficult birth, and assumed large blood loss, my body is trying to heal itself and therefore the quality and amount of my breast milk hasn't been great. But things are getting better.

The first day of feeding her it, she took the first top up but refused the second one- we rang the emergency number on the front of the post-natal notes, and they said we basically had to force her, and it took an hour and a half to get the whole thing down her. For the third one she barely took any breast milk- I think because she knew she had to fit the formula in.
Feeling pretty angry because the whole thing seems counter-productive if it means she's not taking the milk with the most benefits for her...
Yesterday managed to express 90mls, so half the top ups were mixed with breast milk, and she was a lot happier with these- my strategy over the next however long before we don't have to do it any more is to express 90mls and use it to mix with the night-time feed top ups, so she's done quicker and we get more sleep.

She's getting weighed again today and I'm hoping against hope she's put weight on. Some more dirty nappies would be great... apparently b/f babies use everything they can, so if they don't poo, it's because they needed everything and didn't leave any waste- Phoebe is going up to 4/5 days between poos, and even then only went because she's started on formula so obviously isn't getting what she needs from me.
Had my normal midwife here yesterday and she said it's only for now. We just need to get her weight climbing and we won't have to f/f any more. I just hope I can provide what she needs.
Feel a little bit of a failure, but it can't be helped.

On the plus side, my bum's healing nicely, apparently, so might be able to change to having DH dress the wound, rather than daily community nurses, and my stitches are a bit better every day. The pains in my left leg have gone, my split lip has healed, my biceps don't cane any more and I can cough without yelping.
Have had my parents here since Wednesday, will be here til Monday- so far the garden's been apparently weeded and my fridge has been cleaned, and I haven't cooked! Awesome. Nice to see them get so much time with Phoebe too, even if it does make their dog jealous and grumpy, lol.
The sight of my dad jiggling her to the tune of Captain Pugwash will remain with me for a while...
It's hard having them live so far away.

Take good care of yourselves ladies, must go hang the washing out.

You are welcome Lil, sorry about more needles but hopefully you won't have to have any more until you have your next baby . I'm coming home from school and having a 2 hr nap most days, I know what you mean about tiredness!

Festie, glad my bloke isn't the only one obsessed with the linea nigra! Things sound good for you (piles aside) and Esme, hope the wedding goes well. How are your other children and step children taking to Esme?

Rus, my friend had a three month premature baby. About a month after getting him home she was advised to stop breastfeeding altogether in favour of ff as he just wasn't putting on weight. He's a bonny toddler now tho, so although breast is best, sometimes I think ff is necessary. You've been through a heck of a lot and once your body heals I'm sure you'll be producing more milk than you know what to do with! Did she put any weight on at today's weighing?

My baby is still squirming around in there, really wasn't expecting to be able to feel movements this early but its nice! I asked DP for nickname suggestions for what we should call baby whilst in utero. He came up with:

• Mr Thompson (it's dignified apparently, and no, it's not either of ours surname! Quite like it in a weird way!)
• Reggae Reggae, later amended to Johnny Reggae (like the bad novelty song)
• Madame Ovary ('Well, it came from an ovary...')

What do you all think?

Also tried on some more wedding dresses, only one that was ok was nearly as expensive as the lovely one I tried on in August..may have to bite the bullet and just accept that it is going to be expensive!

Also, Berries if you are lurking I miss you and hope you are ok x x x

Hi all - hi mums - these midwifes really get on my nerves they assume all babies are the same and you get consumed with worries instead of enjoying and being grateful for a beautiful healthy baby!
My midwife was always banging on about my child's weight to the point of my stopping going to the weight in clinic! He still is small but is doing so much it's not a worry that he is small! Just over 2 and he still fits into his 6-9 body grows! Although I'm buying his age in clothes well some depending on shop! I love the adjust waist clothes from next etc they are brill!
The stresses don't stop so I would pick your battles and handle I'm your way!
Lil - dreams at this point are the norm body and hormones!
Disco - glad your enjoying loads of movement it's nice isn't it!
My bump has come from nowhere and my line is lovely and dark but as my skin is a nice chocolate complexion the line is easy to see! And little stretch marks just on my sides!

Disco we are boring and just refer to him/her as 'baby' (or occasionlly Zeus!) Enjoy all the squirming and hope you find the perfect dress (and link any possibilities for us to see :))

Have to ask what is the linea nigra?! I feel I should know this vital piece of information and Dh has failed to become excited about this!

Festie how did the wedding go? Hope you managed to relax and have fun. How the rest of the brood were taking to Esme? Glad everything is ok and improving on the bf front etc.

Rus don't beat yourself up about the feeding, do what you need to do and Pheobe will be fine. You're body has been through a lot so hopefully as it heals it will be able to put more energy into milk production and you can just bf again. Glad you're having lots of support and shouldn't DH be hanging out the washing?!

Count I have stretch marks on one hip - only a few and only on the one hip? Have I grown lopsided?! How is your pg going?

Had a very lazy weekend, not achieved anything much but was nice to have DH sat down for a bit and not rushing around trying to sort things out and making me feel bad! Was in bed by 8.30 on sat night (Dh was at the pub) - what has happened to me?!

Wow I've missed a lot! Congrats to Rus and Festie!! so amazing to think those longed for babes are finally here! Lovely names too.

How are you Lil?

Hi to Moo, Count and Disco :) congrats all round x

Things have been so hectic for me, we're moving in October so have been sorting that out, plus I've been sorting out my maternity cover, since I run my own business I have to hire and train him.

I'm in third tri today so 27 weeks! Can't wait to move and get all the last big bits like buggy/cot etc!

What buggies are you all getting/have you got? I'm clueless! There's so many! X

To add, I think I will start my maternity early at 32 weeks as working in the cafe has been so tiring and my belly hurts after shifts now.

I would like to go back to baking for the shop after, which is a hobby of mine. When did you all start your maternity leave?

Hi Chips glad to see you are still around and doing well.

I'm starting my mat leave at 37 weeks (technically 38 weeks but it's half term so don't have to be in school ) Am very lucky though as my head has lightened my load considerably by taking me out of class and giving me cover and intervention groups, don't think I could go as long if I had class responsibility and all the extras that go with it - I'm shattered as it is!

wrt buggies we have a uppababy vista - not the cheapest but it does everything we want and I've heard and read nothing but good reports. The carrycot bit is suitable for nightime sleeping so don't have to buy a moses basket too. It has a which best buy award. BUT we live in the middle of nowhere and so drive everywhere and go for walks on tracks/fields etc, not sure it would be the best for trains/buses as it is quite bulky - the baby jogger looks fab for that kind of thing though as you can fold it with one hand. Basically depends on what you are using it for and where you live. Sorry no help!

Hope you get cover sorted soon so you can rest abit x

Hey ladies,

Disco I like Mr Thompson and Johnny Reggae, lol! Have been wondering what to refer to our next one as- I quite like little pickle. Going to get some nice boxes and decoupage pics of peanuts all over one and that'll have all Phoebe's stuff in- I've saved her cord stump with the clip on, and I've got my diary from this pregnancy, hospital bracelets/tags... would like to do a box for each baby.

Thanks for the reassurance Count I think she's going to be like DH- he didn't put weight on as a child either, and was really tiny! At least she's taking after him and not me! My instincts tell me she's ok, but I still worry about her not putting weight on. Will just have to work on making my breast milk awesome!

Lil the linea nigra is a line running from the top of your bump down to your bellybutton, in the centre- mine was quite pale, and only appeared in the last 2 months or so- it's more visible now than it was during pregnancy! Also, I think the uterus leans to one side during pregnancy, so you might find it's over on the side where your stretchmarks are. I had more on the right hand side at the end, as that's where she was always bloody elbowing me!
Oh, and my mum didn't let me hang out the washing. She also weeded my borders, so I assume she's pulled out yet more wildflowers thinking they're weeds. Sigh.

Hi Chips, thanks for the congrats... we got the mothercare xtreme travel system- only £200 for pushchair and car seat, 3 wheeler, easy to steer and fold...and the car seat attaches with the seat belt, which was better for us since we don't have our own car and rely on others for lifts. The cot we got is the mothercare takeley one, but I got it second-hand on eBay. Why pay full price? Oh, and for god's sake, don't just buy babygrows from shops- I managed to get loads from charity shops later for a fraction of the price, so I can recommend that if you've got plenty nearby.

Festie hope the wedding went well. I bet Esme got loads of attention!

Well, on the weight front you'll be glad to hear that Phoebe put on 175g. ...and yet, because it was nothing to do with me...

So sensible midwife has said we can go down to feeding her every 4 hours, but we still have to top up every feed. And rather than adding a bit extra, like DH has been doing, she recommended that we add an extra 30ml, so there was 90ml in the bottle- that way if Phoebe did want more, it was a measurable amount.

I'd love it if we could stop the formula, but I can't see me producing enough milk for her ever at the moment... I guess the best I can hope for is that we can go down to maybe 5-hourly feeds, and not have to top up every single damn feed.

They'll be back to weigh her on Wednesday, same day as the health visitor is coming. Have heard scare-stories from my mum about miserable spinsters who check your house for dust (oh god, I'm done for!) but I think ours is quite jolly and easy going from what our favourite midwife said.

Feeding is getting easier, and for the last 2 nights she has fed at 11-12 at night, then gone through til 3-4am, and then we all sleep til about 8-9. Although last night she did seem to want to feed an hour after the last feed, which is annoying considering we have to top up every feed, and involved frantic kettle boiling and formula shaking and bottle cooling while she yelled for her (fake) milk.

Some of my stitches are starting to dissolve, so it's comfier to sit on the toilet now, and with the help of some senna I'm just about managing to go to the toilet. The hole in my bum is healing up nicely, and the community nurses have arranged it so that DH can pack and re-dress the wound daily, making things easier for us- like not having to be up early and ready for them. And my antibiotics are finished! I can eat whenever I want, so life is getting easier.

Phoebe has had a play on her play gym mat thingy, and seemed to enjoy the mirror, and when on her front was moving her little legs to try and get into a comfier position. She's also quite good at holding her head up, and said 'aah' to her panda toy last night, which she's been following with her eyes and boffing with her hand, but probably by accident.
She laughed at my dad in her sleep earlier- I heard it, but didn't see her face- can't wait til that sort of thing is genuine!
And she had her first bath today too- it was a bit fiddly, what with having one of those bucket baths, but I think it'll get easier as she gets bigger- and I hear they're great for getting the farts out!

I have to go shower my bum and soak my stitches in lavender and milk. I feel like a sort of half-arsed Cleopatra...

Lil - I was looking at the uppababy recently online and the travel system seems reasonably priced compared to others for what you get. Have you got it yet? I would like to see it in real life first but they don't seem to stock it anywhere in London?

Rus - glad you're well, def noted your advice. I haven't bought any baby grows yet! I've been given bag loads of baby clothes from customers! All lovely and hardly worn/new too! Also been given a bottle warmer and medala breast pump, bottles, dummies and breast milk storage bags all new too from unwanted gifts :) glad Ive got good customer service !

Re names, me and DP never agree. His first name will be James after my father, but will use his middle name. I suggested Sidney, DP said no reminds him of Sid James. Also Sidney is the guy off the tetley tea ad - wtf?!