Due June 08 - Creme egg season is over, summer is now here, so time to tidy the ladygarden before the big day

[bitofadramaqueen]

I wonder how quickly we'll get through this thread?!?!?!?!

splodge -

with ds1 I bfed him exclusively until about 4/5 months when I introduced formula once a day. I went back to work when he was 6 months old, I did morning feed, CM did mid morning formula and I only worked mornings so rest of time was bmilk.

With ds2 I bfed him exclusively throughout as he wouldn't take anything else.I returned to work when he was 5 months old and poor CM fed him off a spoon mid morning, and I rushed there at lunchtime.

I fed both until 13 months or so and loved it (despite the mastitis)

Glass bottles are quite strong but they are much heavier than plastic bottles. Medela bottles aren't affected, Tommee Tippee closer to nature bttles are affected and I'm pretty sure I heard that avent bottles are too. Studies about BPA seem to opo up evey so often as I remeber there was a scare when dd1 was a few months old and she is nearly 7.

I think this time I'm going to only give the baby expressed milk in the bottle. With dd1 I gave her a bottle of formula at night and by 11 weeks she was really frustrated with bf but I think that was partly due to a really bad latch as even after I stopped bf it took weeks for me to heal. DD2 was only breastfed and as I didn't to give up early like I had with dd1, she never had a bottle of milk which made things quite hard. This time I need to find the right balance!!

Avent bottles are, however on BBC news this morning tip was don't fill with boiling water and don't scrub excessivley and will be OK, we have Avent and I am not going trawling around trying to find others, will probably boil water and keep in a jug for use, don't bother with sterilisers either, dishwasher does the job more effectively. An if out and about we took a bottle and some ready made cartons, much less hassle.

Hi all, haven't posted for a few days, and have just been catching up.

This bottle thing is a pain isn't it, just when I thought I was sorted with some Tommee Tippee bottles. I'm going to try bf, but hopefully will be able to express to get a break/let DP get involved, and I picked the TT ones because they're supposed to mimic bf more. Argh! Well, I suppose 1 or 2 bottles isn't going to hurt, but I might have a rethink if I can't bf.

Anyway, it's lovely having sunshine, can't believe, still had my winter coat on last week when it was freezing! Hope everyone else is enjoying it, and not too uncomfortable.

12 days left at work now! Can't believe how quickly it's all come around.

Splodge I can only imagine what the breastfeeding counsellors on those threads would say about your parentcraft class. Were they talking about expressing milk to give by bottle or were the advocating introducing formula at 6 weeks?

I'm also hoping to bf exclusively (although wont give myself a hard time if I dont/cant). I know a few people who have struggled with BF and their HV have been really quick to push them to FF so I'm going to make sure I have numbers for lots of different BF counsellors handy just in case.

whinegums I have some tommee tippee stuff too, which is second hand so double the trouble . Will research more on the bottles once exam is out of the way.

DQ, just one more thing to worry about in this new world of motherhood! Arrrrrghhhhhh!

Good luck with exam by the way.

argh!!! im going round the twist DH is still away he cant get home due to fog,if he phones again tomorrow saying they still have fog i think it will be the final straw!!!!

Aw here we go with another scare monger!!!who feeds there baby with cracked bottles anyway its common sense when the platic starts to split it will harbour germs nevermind anything else. Your also not meant to make the formula with boiling water for bacteria increase risk. Going out I like sophie either take cartons or readymade in a bottle cool bag.

I mixed fed DD from a few days old due to damage and I couldnt stomach the blood pooring from my nipple. I was told by one nice MW that babies learn to to go between bottle and breast from early on its when they get older they can get confused. Its like with a dummy as well some babies are comfort suckers and needs to have something other that a boob or bottle to have a go at.

Im going to bf again but if I struggle or have problems then Im not going to be hard on myself and give myself PND over it again. I have 2 beautiful healthy kids and thats the most important thing to me.

Sorry got a bit soap boxish

that's ok josey you're allowed .

I read another thread about this in the feeding section and tbh part of me just thinks that there may well be a risk but also, I'm more likely to get run over by a bus. Or maybe, that there's a greater risk that the exam tomorrow is easy peasy!

Josey - and others - finding the breast & bottle discussion really useful! I want to combine - maybe with expressed if that works, from quite early on. (This is my first baby so who knows what will happen!!) I'm convinced though that the whole thing about confusion is, well, odd, because they have to learn all sorts of things. What do I know, though!
I did look for some help on this on the breastfeeding board. But I'm not going there again because some really scary women hang out there [scared face]. Here seems safer and friendlier!

Also opted for Tommee Tippee - and annoyed about the scare!

well how many of us were bottle fed with god knows what and had lead paint on our cots lol maybe thats whats wrong with me after all.

DQ totally agree with the bus thing....good luck for tomorrow fingers crossed it its easy peasy xx

Essie kwym about the bf board I was like that with the potty training one...every thread I read there was a couple of name popping up insisting babies have bladder control from the day the were born.
Anything you want to ask go ahead I was usless at bf I was given bad advise in hospital with DD and ended up with bad damage on one side I think it was more mental that milk supply on the one side eventually slowed so ended up with some formula and bf from the other side or blood stained expressed milk. With DS I was taken away to surgery and his 1st 3 feeds were bottle he got lasy I was too sore and I gave up the fight.

I would always say BF is best and give it a go but I always back it up with it doesnt work for everyone so do what is best for you and baby sod everyone else....Im hoping for a better shot this time round but the tommy tippee are staying firmly in the cupboard just incase!!

Will shut up and leave you alone lol!!!

Thanks josey. I also find the breastfeeding boards a bit scarey Essie. We are indeed a friendly, non-judgey bunch on this thread.

The key things for me that I've learned about feeding are not over-plan how I think feeding should be (because if it doesn't work out it could be very upsetting/difficult to deal with); have contact details of local BF counsellors handy in case I need advice/support or feeling pushed into something by my mad as a brush midwife; and that expressing milk can be very very faffy and I shouldn't do it just so my DH can get involved (he can get involved with the nappies ). Oh, and that having the odd glass of wine as a BF mother does not mean that Social Services should get called in.

josey dont forget the asbestos ridden schools we went to (unless you a bit younger than me)the non-organic veg purees we were weaned on and the talcum powder we were covered in after every bath . Sorry everyone, I'm feeling very cheeky after days of being cooped up with the books.

( people just seem to be ignoring my post sorry i joined the group so late but i didnt know about this web page.......

Work manic and mat leave cover has managed to double my workload by being so useless! So I haven't been able to have a full catch up. Roll on next Friday....

Upsidedowncake - My HR specialty is appraisals (if my mat cover doesn't ruin the whole system before I go back!!!). If you have in writing that the exceptional circumstances relate to your three points, that is discriminatory, no question at all. But your attitude is the best one to have right now! If you want to pursue it later, you can, but no point worrying now.

Good luck tomorrow DramaQueen!!

Sorry not to catch up properly, off to bed now, hope everyone sleeps well....zzzzzzzzz

Evening All!

I went to a "BF workshop" run by local BF counsellor before DD1 and found it v useful. The baby has to learn how to do it too and it can be confusing, so be patient with yourselves. Also some babies are v "sucky" and would stay there all day long given the chance and others don't seem to take to it that easily. Good to know when the BF drop-in clinics are too- I went a couple of times with DD just to be reassured that I wasn't screwing it all up. And you get time with experienced mothers who give you a cup of tea and a biscuit with the advice.

One community MW even suggested at one point that a tot of brandy half an hour before evening BF was no bad thing... naughty!

Good luck tomorrow Dramaqueen!

Thanks PP. Bloody people resourcing exam - it covers way too much. How am I supposed to remember a dozen CIPD reports, numerous academic studies and a squillion case examples with pregnancy brain?

Gemmalou sorry you were feeling ignored. Hope you dont mind a general tip about MN - people often find hard to read posts that are typed in 'text' speak or in really long sentences/paragraphs. Maybe we're just a bunch of old farts .

I know other chat rooms are a bit more 'text speak' but you'll probably find it easier to chat with people on MN if you stick to regular typing. We are quite friendly really .

Anyway, best get an early night so not too knackered tomorrow!

gem sorry didnt ignore on purpose....the boobs will only get worse you should try having a third nipple-extra leakageget the bra and pads out cause in a few weeks your bed will be wet!

I have the pubic bone pain it will likely be your babies head bumping off it.

Sods law I have been exhausted all day now I cant sleep argh!!!

DQ most of my schooling was in protacabins lol did they have asbestos?!!

dramaqueen, yes I think they were advocating some ff to mix with the bf - v confused!

tomme tippee bottles definitely looked the best and I think alot of you are right about the whole thing being a ridiculous scare - the advice will have changed again next week!

gemmalou, we weren't ignoring you! the thread moves very fast and some posts got "lost" in the middle of a discussion

I am also an old fart who can't cope with long sentences and text speak - sorry it's an age thing!

Btw, just came back from a water birthing info evening at my hospital and am now a total convert. Anyone want to share their experiences, good or bad, I'd be v interested.

Also, anyone planning to get tested for strep B? This got raised on the pg thread a while back and kicked off quite a discussion, but I still can't make up my mind!

ok ill be carefull then when i type in future sorry about that it is just a habit i have got into!

I went for a scan today im 34 weeks now and they said my baby weighs between 6-7lb already!

i am diabetic and my blood sugars have been playing up so they are on about inducing me earlier in the next 2-4 weeks i am excited very nervous but cant wait to meet my baby.

They said it is a girl for sure because they had a look again between her legs and saw nothing dangling! haha!

Sooo ill soon be a mommy now and im rushing getting everything sorted like last minute things! x

josey the leaking has happend two nights in a row now!!

They showed me on the scan her head on my bladder and by my pubic bone so this is what the pain is, its not unbareable but just uncomfy isnt it.

I am having the sleeping problem too im up now its half four here and i woke up at two i have been sorting baby things out even though im exhausted i cant relax and my little madam is moving about!

Morning - are you still awake Gemma? I was up at 4.45 for a wee, tried to go back to sleep but just lay there thinking about millions of things so I'm up now - it's 5.45. I've had a glass of milk, but I think I'll have to start on breakfast - I'm starving.

Please don't take offence if your posts go unanswered, we chat so much on here that they do get lost sometimes.Good news about your scan, so, have you bought pink? Or are you waiting to make sure? Do you have a name chosen? Sounds like your little girl will be a good weight!

Dramaqueen - GOOD LUCK for today

hi yes im awake i woke up for a wee too! im getting hungry now as well.

I brought pink and white im naming my baby Paige Elizabeth i think she will deffinatly be a good weight haha!

When are you due then? do you know if your baby is a boy or a girl?

Morning Gemma

Paige Elizabeth is a lovely name, we're expecting a boy - the third boy!!!! At the moment we're deciding between Aidan or Ethan. He's due on 7th June and today I have my last appointment with the Gynaecologist, who then refers me to the hospital where I'll have him for the rest of my appointments.

Hoping that the dr will say I'm fine and then we can get away for a few days next week, not far, within an hour of the hospital - just in case. I just fancy going away and giving the boys some attention before baby arrives, and I want to be looked after and not have to do the cooking!!

Thank You i like that name too. Three Boys! I dont think i will ever have any more! haha I like the name Aidan but ethan is a cute name too!

Good luck with the appointment today. I feel like getting away for a bit after this i think ill need a holiday! haha

It is understandable you want to give your boys attention before the baby comes and you dont want to do the cooking you should be relaxing and taking it easy..

Saying that its easier said then done because when i go to relax i get the urge to get up and sort something out!

Have you had food? when ever i wake up early i always eat early if i dont then i sit there starving! I have forgot what a full nights sleep is like!