Due in June........bring on the pineapples, evening primrose oil and raspberry leaf tea

[DaisysGotABigBump]

Sorry its a bit boring, but I was lacking inspriation and running out of cyberspace...........it's all that talking to myself

derlor - your poor kids have been in the wars recently. Hope he's better soon and you get a chance to rest today, zx

I think the whole bf thing has been made into far too much of an emotive issue, which is actually counter-productive. We all know by now that breast is best, but lots of people have problems, they should get all the support they need to sort it out but not be made to feel guilty if if doesn't work for them.

Don't know what people are told at AN classes but the rosy, fluffy "magic" view isn't going to be helpful if you come up against problems, and would be more likely to make you feel like a freak. It seems silly not to give any info on ff, given the reality.

I count myself lucky that once past the first 2 or 3 weeks of cracked nipples and having to shout "fuck" from the pain of the baby latching on (which no one had told me about), I never had any problems. I used to feed DD lying down and it was a great excuse to disappear for a rest and a good book tbh. I think the norm here is about til age 1, when DD got to 1 I started feeding her on my terms rather than hers, ie at sleeping times or first thing in the morning. Personally I wouldn't have been happy with the shirt-lifting toddler scenario, mostly because I think at that age it's time to start learning they're not the centre of the universe, but each to their own. MIL and even my own mum used to make negative comments though and in the end I just avoided the topic, the only person who said "oh that's great" was a doctor friend of ours. Anyway, I continued til she was about 2, and I'm really glad I did.

So basically I think it's a personal choice, people get hassle if they don't do it, if they don't do it long enough, if they do it too long. At the end of the day they are my norks, I'll do what I want with them, thanks.

Sorry for the essay there

r.e. BFing / FFing debate - not one that's worth having on here. Everyone is sensible, and intelligent enough to make their own choices, and we take it for granted that others are too. BUT I can also understand the govt emphasis on it, as the figures are not encouraging: 1% of mothers BF after 6 weeks, and (to our surprise, no doubt) many people don't even consider it an option. So I guess they've gone for the hectoring approach to try and inform them, not convert those who've already thought through the options...

Oh your poor DS Derlor, it's awful seeing them suffer, hope things improve soon.

I agree with thebf comments. As it is my first i have no idea what to expect and am actually EXPECTING to find bf quite traumatic.
If i find it impossible from the word go, is it a good idea to have some formula at home ready far when i get back from hospital?
Also - do they have time to teach you how to bf at the hospital??
You can watch all the videos at AN classes and look at diagrams in books, but without that practical help, i fear I'll be struggling

I think maybe there's also a British cultural thing, the page 3 mentality kind of thing which doesn't help, and makes some people feel strange about bf. In Italy there's more of the big, bountiful mamma attitude. I don't know for sure but I think figures for bf are higher here.

as far as BF/FF is concerned i say (even at my work - ) do what works for you!
i am palnning to BF as personaly i found it a piece of cake with my other 2 but i'm one of the lucky ones - i could feed a small country!!! However i do plan to use my Lansinhol (?sp) cream from feed one - i will be slapping that magic stuff on BEFORE baby even gets near me - cracked nipples - no thanks prevention is better than cure

NO No NO You MUST ALL BREASTFEED. YOU ARE SIMPLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND DON'T DESERVE YOUR BABIES IF YOU DONT.

EVIL BAD WITCHES

couldn't be arsed to do a name change there.

anyway, where to begin.

I bf cos I can't be arsed to sterilise and am not organised enough to remember to take the baby with me AND food. Be lucky to remember to take a spare nappy out.

Hi TA, PMSL at the "glitter magic" WTF??? Absolutely classic, you are very welcome with us sweary chicks on here.

Loving the name change Fatty (can I call you that???!). How exciting to have a show!!

I've been to the gym. So now I am off to eat a light green salad and parent my children to an exceptionally high standard to make everyone else feel very inadequate.

Hi Foxy
Are you in a good mood today? Things going well? - DID YOU GET YOUR CHOCOLATES???????

Kittykit....the hospital should help you as much as possible and if you don't feel comfortable coming home, stay until feeding is established. Saying that though, IME having them latch on etc in hospital when it's just colustrum is very different to when your milk comes in. You may need to express a bit first as it can be hard for the LO to get latched on when your boobs are like housebricks [ouch emoticon]. Your HV should also give you support and there will be community help available. We have a couple of BF cafe's here in Leeds where you can drop in fro help and advice. And the NCT/LaLeche league can help too. Don't suffer in silence though...if you need help, ask!
I found the transition from hospital to home quite hard as getting discharged etc and all the checks done on DS meant that there wasn't time to sit and relax and feed him...as a result by the time we got home, he was starved, my milk was just coming in and my boobs were very painfully engorged and he wouldn't latch on at all. I hadn't set the pump up or anything and couldn't express by hand, so it was a frustrating day all round and we ended up giving him formula from a syringe. Add to that the c-section pain, it was a pretty miserable time really. This time, i'll make sure I have the time to deal with bub's needs before getting organised for home and the pump will be good to go. (whispers...I've got in some formula cartons though...just in case)

AAAArrrgggh - On to moan again. Spoke to hosp m/w yesterday re my blood results. Told all clear but to get piriton from GP for horrible itchy, burning skin. Just called Gp surgery - hosp have sent them letter requesting iron tablets for me as iron @ 9.8. Evil Gatekeeper I spoke to on phone refused to request piriton cos not in letter, FFS is only an anti-hist, not class A drug! She, with her extensive medical knowledge, thinks the iron will help with my skin so why don't I just try that. Called hosp but no one answering. Why is nothing ever easy?

Anyway, know there are people here with much bigger worries so will try to restarin myself.

Derlor - hope wee one feeling better soon.
T/A nice to meet you. I suspect you will fit right in.

foxybrown- i am assumming you left out some ironic or wee hmmm there on your BF post. surely nonone is that militant or unreasonable about BF

tell me you were kidding

imo every mother does what she can do best for her wee one, and BF does not always work for all mums.

so not nice to berate someone for individual choice

Hi everyone!

Sorry to hear of all the poorly children at the mo

Are we really talking about BF??? We will get hijacked soon by the BF police!!

I too am going to give it my best shot....But I am totally disgusted by the 'ram it down your throat' attitude of MW etc.

The evidence behind BF - dare I say it - is very limited in terms of validity, statistical significance etc - due to the very weak study designs used etc. Due to that there are very few things that people can say are 'proven' about BF, there are many things that have been strongly suggested but need further tighter research.

Should have seen my MW face when she told me that BF has been proven to reduce the incidence of Schizophrenia and I asked her if those clinical trials were randomised, double blinded, placebo controlled, and what were the P values etc etc. She shit herself!! It makes me mad though cos I think of all those women who are unable to BF - thinking that their child will get schizophrenia and it will all be their fault!

I am a sales person - and I don't like a concept being sold to me based on opinions not facts. Also surely these people must know that you can't 'sell' anything by forcing people into it - you have to at least make them think it's their idea?!.

Anyhow......rant over.......

Derlor...hope DS is OK....it's awful when they are so unwell...you just wish you could take away their pain.

My little charmer is now fighting fit...and is jumping around the front room being a power ranger.....back to school tomorrow for him! Mind you it could just be the effect of the bright yellow colouring in the medicine (why oh why do they do that with kids meds?) think we'll go to the park for an hour and get some freah air.....but then that would involve me getting out of my PJs maybe not!!

Hi Scottishmummy - i can assure you Foxy is joking
DKMAFME - PMSL at you asking MW about the trial how funny, i've done my BF training but to be honest (whispers) most of it was a lot of shite even during the HV/MW training we couldn't mention formula - GET REAL!!!!!!!!!!!

ScottishMummy.....You'd have to read about a million and one posts on this thread to 'get' the gist of that thread from Foxy...rest assured she was being a tad ironic. The last thing we want is to start something...we're not emotionally equipped at this stage in our PGs to deal with another June ante-natal thread argument...

Foxy - funny
I was reading a thread last night where one woman seriously compared FF to taking your kid out for a fast drive without a seatbelt. That sort of attitude really annoys me.

Pro-choice all the way, your baby, your boobs, most people nowadays seem pretty educated on the pros/cons of both, live and let live!

T, why would they refuse it when you can buy it over the counter? Idiots. Sorry to hear about that, last thing you need!

Didn't order the chocs in the end (can you see my halo shine from way up there Derlor?). Why? Did you get some today?

With regard to BF in hospital, I'm afraid I'd disagree with Daisy (sorry) and say get the fark out of there. I don't know anyone who was helped to bf by post-labour MWs, they just don't have the time or patience IME. It is much easier at home when you can relax and they come to you. I had a fabulous Community MW once I go out (1st time) who told me to express as much as I could (which was a TINY amount) and give by spoon. you just dribble it in. He got enough. But I think everyone panics and gets frightened wherever you are.

Its a hideous farking nightmare when your milk comes in. Your tits are SO gigantic they can't get their mouths round them, they are hard and painful, and look like comedy breasts. Or a really, really bad boob job. And you'll spend the day crying. If anyone touches them you are absolutely in your right to punch them (that is the law, BTW).

Farking Hell! Getting the bugger out is the EASY bit

Am feeling quite sweary and jolly today. Must be all that sleep I had.

Daisy just keep your jammies on and put a pair of trainers and a jacket on - no one will notice! typical child bouncing back to life huh!
DS now flaked out on the couch - best thing for him - GP just been here and examined him and he never even woke up!

Derlor...I grilled my HV about it the other week, and after putting a lot of pressure on her she finally admitted that if and only if the baby wasn't thriving would they discuss alternatives.....what worries me is how long it would need to go on before they considered the baby not to be thriving...a few days?, a week?, a few weeks?....and then what state would your child be in? how much weight are they allowed to lose before suggesting FF becomes an option?

Oh YES foxy my chocolates have arrived

Thanks for that ScottishMummy. I was being ironic.

Just a quick fly in as really need to go sleep while dd is napping. Finally got a physio referal in for 8th June (at just about 39wks pg) - due date is 24th so it's a bit of a joke really seens as I'm sore and can barely walk now let alone another 3 weeks. Anyone else who's having this prob do you think I could get things moving if I rang the mw and got her to see if there's anyway they can bump me up?

Better go sleep but will try and read back, catch up and chat this evening.....

Derlor, how much white chocolate did you get? That's what put me off! Did you get what was in the picture? I need to know! Cos if there wasn't much white choc, I might get some.

Oh and FFS BTW!