Christmas Puddings 2012 - one bun has left the oven, who's next?

[PurplePidjInAPointyHat]

New thread!

Morning all. Another broken night's sleep - no matter how many pillows I pile around myself, I keep finding myself waking up with discomfort because I've kicked them all off the bed and am lying on my back. I need more self-discipline!

Hope all the poorly people start feeling better ASAP. I am thankful that the only thing I have contended with is a bog-standard cold.

Spoke to my mum yesterday - she lives in Aus and due to time differences and both of us being very busy it had been ages since we spoke. Lots of advice came my way! She wants me to be prepared for every eventuality (fair enough) but I just really don't want to go out now, 5 weeks before baby is due, and buy a dummy to have it in the house 'just in case'. I've seen my sister really struggle weaning her 3 off the dummy and I really hope I don't need to use it - but if I do, surely I can buy it when I need it? Is there a secret plan to shut down all the supermarkets in the London area after 15 December? And if there is, why has someone told my mum and not me?

Of course she means well and has no lack of experience - but I did heave a little sigh of relief that while my husband and I miss all our family dreadfully, at least we're not being offered much unwanted advice at every turn!

Supremely unmotivated for work today.

I wish dd still had a dummy (I took hers away at 6 weeks as I was fed up of putting it back in!) as I can't imagine her ever stopping sucking her thumb! It is constantly sore/dry/cracked and even bleeds but I can't throw it in the bin

Is it ok to gatecrash the party? I was on the list right at the beginning but kind of got busy and have been lurking for a while! Am 33w5 at the moment - due 23rd Dec. I've been living in Asia so was going to have baby out there but DH's job suddenly got moved last month so I decided to come back to the UK to have the baby - flew in on Tuesday and would not recommend jetlag while being this pregnant!! Had a better night last night - only been up since 4am! (and DS1 slept through until 6 so I'm calling that a successful night!.... Cbeebies channel starts at 6!)
DH is still out in Asia for two more weeks so I'm trying to keep my feet up until then and not do anything that will cause this baby to come early! Then I'll be on the raspberry leaf tea like a demon - I don't want this baby to arrive two days late!! Also am not getting booked in with all the medics until next week so legs, ankles and fingers crossed nothing starts before then! (I had threatened early labour with DS1 but he ended up being born at 40 weeks!)
It's really nice to read about everyone else being around the same stage as me - and can't believe one baby is here already!!

has everyone done their xmas shopping already? I'm suddenly realising I haven't even started yet and now I'm unexpectedly with family for xmas so I can't even be late and pretend they got delayed in the post!!

spotty I'm with you on that you can chuck a dummy away but not their thumb/fingers. I sucked my thumb until I was 13 so I'd prefer my kids to have a dummy anyday!

Predators see how tired I am?!

I would take dioralyte but we have none and the shops very far, I feel like shit and the car is at work with DH. I'll survive I'm sipping water and do far my plain toast has stayed down!

I loved DS dummy, and so did he!

They are wonderful if used properly.
DS only had his as a young baby directly after his feed yo help his collic, when he went to sleep, or when he was upset,
He never had it if he was calm or happy,

By the age of 1 he would place his own dummy on the bed each morning,
And by about 20months I took it away completely,
No weaning I just stopped buying them so we didn't have any spares in the house, then one night I placed a new toy car where he usually put his dummy, took his dummy away and cut the teat off.

He cried for about the 1st 30 minutes but as there was literally nothing I could do he got over it,

The main reason i used a dummy with him is that I was a thumb sucker - till I was 17!!!!!! ffs!
i would be sitting on the sofa of an evening and find myself with my thumb in my mouth, was so embarrassed in case I did this infront of friends,
i have never (apart from in the early take that days) seen a 16/17 yr old sucking on a dummy!

Welcome back, soapnuts

Stacey, heavily diluted orange juice with (i think) 8tsp sugar and 1/2tsp salt works the same as the expensive chemical shit packet stuff

37 weeks today

Thanks PurplePidjin - could do with a cuppa actually - am torn between getting off the sofa myself and waiting for the grandparents to come downstairs!

DS1 had a dummy - if he hadn't I'd have had to feed him 24/7 - he just always wanted to suck. I listened to all the advice about getting rid of it before 12 months so it doesn't "become a habit" - he gave it up relatively easily but about 3 weeks later we had a longhaul flight and I dug out the emergency one because he was having a really hard time - gave it to him and he didn't have a clue what to do with it (short memory at that age!) and continued to cry. It also started more than 6 months of sleep problems - every kid is different of course but I have to admit I'll be letting this one have it a bit longer before I take it away (if only for my benefit on long flights!!)

Hope you feel better Stacey - I don't know how I'd cope with being sick on top of all the other late preggy rubbish!!

Thanks pidj I'll give that a try, my breakfast did not stay down :( sugar levels are staying low though! Lol

Morning all. mamapo your mum reminds me of mine - she keeps saying things like "you really need to get a bigger radiator in the baby's bedroom" (which he won't be using for 6 months) and "you really should replace your front door" (which is a bit sticky it is true but it's far from urgent".

I am really lucky to be sleeping well - have to drag myself up! Although I am SURE last night the cat was either standing on his hind legs next to my side of the bed with his paws ON the bump, or he was standing like that sniffing it, and he then decided to walk straight over me/bump to nestle in his usual place in the crook of my knees.

Welcome back soapnuts, we've got the same edd!
Ive had no heating or hot water since yesterday evening. I love my new home but if its not been one thing its another «off to the sobbing sofa to eat bakewell tart with cream»

Ooh, perfect timing for the dummy discussion - we're just contemplating it for Dash as he hates having his nappy changed (but hates being wet/dirty more) and the only way we've found to calm him is one of us sticking a finger in his mouth while the other changes him so we are trying to decide whether to use a dummy. (DH is at work today so i am without the spare hand to plug his mouth). General concensus is that it's ok?? Would much rather a dummy than his thumb- i never did but my sister lived with her thumb in her mouth and at 35 quite often still does when she thinks no one is watching If we buy one do we sterilise before first use and then is it ok (as long as not dropped) for a day (or two?) or does it need re-sterilising every time he spits it out?

We've done ok since getting home. Slept for 2 hours, then up for an hour, then slept for 3 and a bit last night, so think we're doing ok... As i said, DH at work today so looking after munchkin on my own for the first time. Am i allowed to leave him on his own if he's asleep in his moses baket and i need the loo or something...?

Welcome back soapnuts. Hope you feel better soonStacey

Welcome back soapnuts

Honey in that situation I would try a dummy. Bear in mind there are different shapes and you might need to try a few. Yes to sterilising when you get it then whenever you remember every few days. I really wouldn't worry about it being spat out, unless of course it falls on the ground as he is still tiny! Definitely fine to leave him if you need the loo or even five minutes to have a cup of tea sounds like you're all getting on really well!

Thanks Spotty :)

2blessed at your Bakewell tart! Bit rubbish having no hot water hope it gets fixed soon.

Pidj how exciting! Are you feeling ok?

Have put a picture of Dash up on my profile if anyone wants to see him. He's very grateful for all of your support! Not gonna leave the pic up but thought i'd put it up for a bit so you could see him.

Pidj How exciting :)

He's gorgeous Honey

He's gorgeous honey well done!

Re the dummy, I didn't give DD one until she was 4 weeks old, and wasn't going to, but I eventually caved when we were out shopping one day and she cried inconsolably the whole trip. It has been the BEST thing ever, and next child will def be getting one. DD was only given one when crying or unsettled, and now only uses at night now (she is 2.5) to go to sleep but I will wean her off eventually. When DD was little I always had a couple of sterilised dummies on hand. She tended to drop them quite often and I sterilised prob once a day (just with boiling water).

Nope, I would not want to use any predators stacey I hope you feel better soon. Was told by my GP that applicator is fine, first pharmacist told me to use it "half way only" and second one said don't use at all.

Honey he's gorgeous, love the blanket too!!

So really terrible back ache and then I had a bath and haven't really felt much since.... This reminds me of symptom spotting before my bfp, can't believe I'm now symptom spotting for actual real birth. Tbh I freaked a tiny bit last night and hoped it wasn't going to happen which may be why everything stopped.

I'm definitely using a dummy, dh was dead against it last time until 3am on the morning we got her home so I think he is with me on it this time. I'm 99% ff now so it won't cause a problem re bf but if I change my mind then can re-evaluate.

It was SCBU that gave dd a dummy as they wanted her to associate a full tummy with sucking, they popped it in everytime she had a tube feed.

Thanks everyone! I think he's gorgeous but I'm biased!

He'd already had bottles while he was on scbu and the staff their all said that the whole nipple confusion 'myth' is propagated by bf fascists (their words not mine) and most babies will have dummies/bottles if they're on scbu and can go on to bf if that's what mum wants to do. So I figure a dummy is fine. Anyway, after your comments we've just done a nappy change with dummy and it made life much easier!

Honey, Dash is adorable!!!

Re the Dummy and sterilising,
I had 3 on the go when DS was newborn,
You can get mini sterilising pots that you put the dummy into with a tea spoon of water, then pop them in the microwave for 1 min.

We bottle fed and will be this time too, so I just did the dummies with the bottles each day then piped them into the mini steri pot till needed.

Just come for a midwife appointment and looks like shes running 45 mins late....it's so frustrating. Couldn't go into work this morning cause is only have got there and would need to leave. it's my last day and going out for lunch with my team.....if I ever make it. Why is it so impossible to keep any ante natal appointments running on schedule.i t's infuriating

Gil's, my appointments always run late, it does my head in.
If I turned up 45 mins late I wouldn't get seen, but its ok if it's the other way round, my MW never even apologies for running so late. Grrrrr

Enjoy your lunch and last day!!

honey he is so so gorgeous. You must be so proud. Sounds like you're getting on great and if in doubt vote dummy! It was a survival for dd. although I gently started taking it away after about 4/5 mnths when colic died down etc and wasn't at all fussed (my mum HATES them and I felt pressured I shouldn't be using one!) but this time round I have a huge supply as it really is a saviour when out and won't stop screaming. Dd was always hungry too and it otherwise would have fed every hour!

Hope people are feeling better today, all my symptoms have disappeared I have found myself being like that too strawberry, my baths seem to clear up the back pain really well actually, will deff new using a bath/pool in early labour.it feels like I constantly need a poo! (Sorry TMI!)

Am working for MiL today and have so far taken one call, eaten half a pack of biscuits and drunk several cups of tea and coffee!

I've just woken up and I'm feeling a little better (although I have yet to actually get up) so I'm drinking water. Will try some lunch soon as I have to do my blood sugars.

honey dash is adorable!