Due Jan 2008 - watch those pumpkin bumps grow!

[Amani]

hello!!!

[MrsBiscuit]

What a nasty title on the article ! I think she looks lovely, and still so sexy.

[mixedmama]

Awen - so glad DS is feeling better.

I missed BUB as i could not keep my eyes open. Does anyone know if it will be repeating?

[Naetha]

Welcome Madmouse

In all honesty, I don't think the programme should be stopped - as a soon-to-be first time mum I find it very interesting, but they do need to insert appropriate disclaimers on government and WHO advice re: stuff like co-sleeping and breastfeeding.

Personally I think I'll aim to try a combination of the Spock method and the continuum method. I know I won't be able to co-sleep with the baby in the bed with us (I panic enough as it is with a fully grown cat in the bed with us) but definitely want LO in the same room as us (and the cats out!) for the first few months. I'd love to use a sling for at least part of the day though, it looked very comfy for both mother and baby, and I liked the way the LO could look out on the world

Other than that, I'm a great believer in common sense, so its the Spock method that appeals to me

[mixedmama]

susie - i dont think you have to adopt any one method, just select what works wfor you and you will end up with your own way.

As for BF, personally unless I could be very discreeet I would be apprehensive about the supermarket. I do think people should be discreet but if they werent I wouldnt make a song and dance I would just not look.

[mixedmama]

I agree i dont think the programme needs to be banned as I think most of us are intelligent enough to see that it is extreme for anyone to follow one method wholly and completely. Having said that I think some peoples issue is that they are using babies as an experiment, not sure where I stand on that point other than that the parents agreed.

[gingeme]

Awen wow good for your ds. Weetabix is a good start. Filling and quite soft and will give him a bit of energy.
I used a sling with ds4 and Dh used it too and found it quite liberating. I also co slept with him and it was so easy to stick my boob in his mouth then jsut drop back off to sleep and you realy don't squash them youd be suprised about the built in instincts you have when you become a Mummy
I was saying to Dh about the hitler woman on BUB thats how my Mum must have been brought up. I remember her saying to both my sister and I'make sure you feed them every four hours as soon as possible'. Though she didnt say anything about no eye contact or not cuddling them or leaving them outside for hours on end.
No way.

[Cazzybaby]

I'm definatly up for giving the sling a go also.....

Looked like a very practical way to carry baby, and thelittle boy looked so snug in his!

[Neuro]

Susie I am fully expecting to be slimmer than i was before pregnancy due to bf'ing (hopefully) and having a daily walk - i get cabin fever if i don't get out at least once a day.

On the Bringing up Baby subject - the really calm continuum parents were very relaxed anyway, which i wonder is the main contributing factor to a calm baby?

The babies that cried the most seemed to be the least cuddled ones - were they picking up on the mother's distress? I could be wrong as my i did spend quite a lot of time shouting at the telly!!!

[mixedmama]

I do want to use the sling idea but not all day every day I think i would find that frustrating.

[mixedmama]

Neuro - i think certainly the fact that the parents were stressed will have impacted on the baby.

[gingeme]

Lol neuro. Yes babys pick up very easily on their Mummys feelings. In fact children do at whatever age. I remember when I was due on it was a trigger for my ds2 to always play up and he pushed me to the limit many a time. But the weird thing was a soon as my period had finnished he was fine again. I always said he should have been a girl

[Cazzybaby]

Mixedmama - i dont think I would use it all day everyday like they did, maybe just if baby couldnt settle but i wanted to be up and about doing things? I liked the way you could still hold the baby and have both hands free.

[fruitful]

that sling over there -->>>

looks good!

[mixedmama]

definitely. i only have a baaby bjorn at the minute but dont think that is too good for the house so will gettin a ring sling or something.

[Cazzybaby]

I saw a lady in a magazine with a really lovely colourful flowery sling, it looked almost like a bag, but I cant remember where it said it was from

[gingeme]

Thats what a lady thought I had when shopping with ds4 a bag. She was very suprised when she saw I had a baby in it
Try Ebay for slings. I just got one off there for £14.Brand new though they are so easy to stick in the washing machine. They do sling patterns too if you fancy having a go at making your own.

[Amani]

Me too defo interested in sling - has anyone researched any good and not too expensive ones??

I can totally relate to that woman who was in pain breastfeeding and carried on - was just like me! I thought that if I stopped I was a huge failure and would sometimes dread picking up DD when I had to BF her. I was so much more happier when I expressed and formula fed.

Hello all newbies!!

[mixedmama]

I was the same in thew end Amani... dreaded DS waking up. Trying to keep a much more positive outlook this time rounda nd look at it as great bonding time.

[susiemj]

On slings. I'm a bit scared of the 'just tie them on' ones. Any experiences? I agree that the one on the programme looked good. Someone's offered to lend us a Babj Bjorn . I guess that wouldn't work?

[madmouse]

About babies picking up on Mum's distress, my little boy is doing it already and he has not even been born yet. I have a stressful job which combined with pregnancy emotions does not work very well (boss and colleagues are fab and take it all in their stride and take work off me). In the last week I got really distressed twice and both times baby went really quiet inside and only started bouncing again when I relaxed on the train home. Made me feel sooo guilty. Has anyone else had that?

[Amani]

madmouse - yes I get that too, go through quiet and active periods with bean. If I'm at work sitting at my desk can usually feel LO moving around, where as if I am rushing around etc don't feel movements at all. Bit weird, but LO is usually most active when I'm watching 'In the Night Garden' with DD (boy does that programme irrate me)

[Cazzybaby]

My LO goes absolutely loopy whenever I am watching the football - maybe she is going to be a tomboy??

[mixedmama]

Amani - second your opinion of in the Night Garden, dont really understand what DS is learning from it other than to kiss people at every opportunity.

[juicylovehandles]

I think using a sling is good for the first 6 weeks or so (so I'm told). I would be worried about LO getting too used to it though.

Has anyone read that book by Gina Ford? A few of my friends swear by it as they say it gets LO into a routine from day one.

Changing the subject slightly, what are peoples' thoughts on natural childbirth? I am thinking of having a natural homebirth but as it is my first I'm a bit apprehensive. My DH is worried but said he will support me. I want to try Hypnobirthing because I've heard good things about it and you have less likelihood of tearing. Am I just being naive??

[mixedmama]

No juicy as long as you do your research I think that is perfectly acceptable and you can always transfer to hospital on the day if you change your mind which you cannot do really in the reverse situation.