Dec Mums - Christmas is coming...the Dec ladies have got all fat...time to have our babies...the novelty's worn flat

[Beans33]

Here's a new link for us all - think it needed doing asap as running out of space!!

La Leche League - no reply

Will go to the clinic tomorrow. Thanks for the numbers though. Just need to get through tonight >grits teeth<

(btw I posted a link to kellymom yday - ironically enough )

ooh turnip thanks - will look at email

Verso have you already called the NCT helpline-they were great when I rang them with my DD. Hope they can help at the breastfeeding clinic. The one near me is great.

Arti glad you are feeling a bit better

Effie thanks for adding me to the email list-the photos are lovely of all the new babies

Congrats Mibbes

Trace those women sound horrible. And Jolly cannot believe no one helped you up.

Am shattered after spending the morning at a playgroup with DS. They had loads of paint out for the kids to make Xmas cards and DS painted EVERYTHING-including my dress. Then had to walk back up a huge hill and he kept running off. He even ran into the playground at DD's school as he could see parents picking the half day reception kids up. Had to walk right into the school playground and drag him out of the playhouse-he thought it was hysterical he had made it into the school when we weren't even getting DD. grrr.

oh the poor cat we've put antiseptic on his paw (which he now seems to like the taste of, tried to lick it off the towel). he seems to be in quite a bit of pain. Does anyone know if you can give cats paracetamol.

Verso, with my DS I had mastitus, bleeding, sore nipples etc and it was horrible. However, as soon as I got help and sorted out the positioning, it was almost an instant improvement and we didn't look back. Really hope you get it sorted soon.

Hi just read through - so much to catch up on after only a day but will have to leave it till tomorrow. Just had to answer Verso even though I don't know if it will be of much use - I feel your pain!

But first of all congrats mibbes on the birth of Evan - lovely name btw. Sorry it wasn't the ideal birth for you but I bet he's a little smasher.

The person who finally took me seriously and diagnosed the tongue tie Verso was a midwife at a breastfeeding drop-in at one of the local Children's Centres in the end, so quite random. I also subsequently got some good advice from the breastfeeding counsellor at the hospital, but it was very difficult to get an appointment with her (I didn't get one until after the tongue tie had been corrected, but it was still useful). And at the hospital where the tongue tie was snipped (Kings in Camberwell) there was a wonderful breastfeeding nut of a midwife who gave great advice and encouragement as well. I don't know if this is the case nationally but I found the NCT website advertised breastfeeding drop-ins that had been defunct for a couple of years.

So not particularly useful to you I'm afraid but I would definitely give the hospital a call and see if they have a breastfeeding specialist and can you see her as a matter of urgency.

Thanks for posting all those numbers as well arti - really useful to have. Although I would say that in my case at least someone needed to be physically there watching you breastfeed to a) diagnose the problem and b) give advice on how to improve your technique which is tailored to you. Also second the kellymom recommendation.

Lovely to see you today Cat, Effie & the charming MasterPerine.

Still loads more to catch up know, I on but will have to wait till tomorrow I think - I'm totally knackered.

I hope you do get some good help Verso I wish I could give you some practical advice but I can't I'm afraid.
I'm starting to get a bit worried about BF with D-Day ever looming.

My back is still aching despite pleading with it to give me an evening off. I can't find my hot water bottle anywhere to give me a bit of a break.

Oh and before I go I'm going to have to lower the tone on the mince pie debate - loving the Asda extra special super-duper ones (or whatever the equivalent of Tesco Finest is at Asda). Really nice satisfying booze hit, which let's face it is exactly what we pregnant ladies need round about now.

Verso - poor you. Really hope you get through the night and that you get some good helpful support tomorrow....but (whispers next sentence for fear of being ex-communicated) if it doesn't work out you have not failed, you have given some extremely valuable milk already and you have to do what is best for you and your baby and you own physical and mental health.

ok so I can't do the italics or underline thing, but you know what I meant!

Am off to bed now - sore head

sleep well everyone (I know, I know, but we can always hope!)...catch you tomorrow xxx

Congratulations young Mibbes! What a cool name.

I loved reading Lal and JJ's birth stories. It's so good to get an insight into everyone's experiences, especially when they are so different to mine.

Verso, sorry you are having a hard time b-feeding. I'm bottle feeding and I do feel rather guilty about it. And now my boobs are all engorged. I didn't know what was happening to me last night. That's what you get for boycotting antenatal classes. Thanks for sorting me out Turnip, you were such a starbar.

My scar is swollen, like a frankfurter. So I went to London today to see my consultant. She said it wasn't infected thank heavens but inflamed, so I have got a course of antibiotics. Anyway, I feel a bit flat again today as a result but I know it will pass. I think my hormones are just gushing about. Arti, how are you? That virus sounded REALLY grotty.

Oooh, thank you so much to my Secret Stork. The beeyootiful starry suit and hat arrived for little O today and they are just gorgeous, so it was a lovely thing to come back to when we got back from London.

Normal service will be resumed tomorrow. Night night all xxx

LadyT i'm glad your consultant gave you the AB's, you want every chance of having that suture heal nicely. OH and it will also help with the scar. Because you have such a good OBS it should be pretty small but any infection can make it unsightly.

Message withdrawn

Morning - can't sleep (again).

Been thinking about you Verso and remembered a couple of things that you might want to think about. At 10 days I reached the point where the damage was so bad that I had to do something or stop altogether, so against the advice of the midwives I got some nipple shields. They are not ideal as they can be quite fiddly, they won't do your supply any favours and it can be a bit tricky to get the baby back on the breast once they've got used to them (the teats on the nipple shields were absolutely huge compared to mine). Of course they won't solve whatever the problem is but they might just get you through a few feeds until you hopefully rectify the problem and/or heal a bit. I used them for about 3 weeks, and it took me a day or 2 to persuade DS back on to the breast.

I also took painkillers before feeds (alternating ibuprofen and paracetamol as I was getting towards the daily limit if I just took one). I'd usually take them about 30 minutes before and it just about took the edge off the pain. Again, not ideal - I generally don't do painkillers, and I was really not happy about the amount I was taking, but I was finding it so difficult to face feeding without them - as a temporary measure they were a lifesaver. Both paracetamol and ibuprofen are generally considered safe for breastfeeding.

Morning all, I woke up early this morning as well with a bad cough. Plus am having period type pains so am sat here feeling a bit sorry for myself! But will try & cheer up!

kayz fingers crossed for the hb. If you've had a straightforward pg then there shouldn't be any problems. And like wg said, its easier to transfer from a hb if you want/need to than the other way round.

verso hope you can get some help with bf today

arti glad you're feeling a bit better

Had mw appt yesterday, junior is starting to engage so I reckon I've got about another week to go!

Thanks, guys. The local breastfeeding counsellor phoned me back at 10pm last night (I was in bed!) and will call today after the school run. She says the person at today's clinic is very good - so fingers crossed.

Last night wasn't too bad until 3am. I did a couple of brilliant feeds - very little pain and loads of milk - and DD2 settled really well after. All that changed at 3am though - she must be growth spurting as she fed and fed and fed and fed and has only just now dropped off. I have some letters to write - so only popped on to the PC quickly - but then will be going to bed!

LadyT my midwife is coming tomorrow and I'm going to ask her about my scar too as it's suddenly got a bit sore (although dwarfed in the pain stakes by my boob issues!). I hope yours heals up quickly.

well the snow, thick and beautiful though it is, has cut off my TV reception, so there go my plans for a low-effort-after-barely-any-sleep day with dd1...10.5 hours till her bed time (and quite possibly mine!).
Good luck with the BF lady Verso. Thinking of you xxx

Morning,

I am ill, I think I have Vertigo but I don't know. I am feeling a bit dizzy and finding it hard to walk in a straight line. It has eased off a little bit so I am going to brave the walk to see the MW. If it is Vertigo it is exactly 2 years to the day that I last had Vertigo and I was expecting DS at the time.

We have loads and loads of snow and it is still snowing. It looks lovely, I wish I could go and play in it but not with the way I am feeling.

Hope everyone is feeling well this morning.

Message withdrawn

I had to have medication. Its not as bad as last time as I couldn't move my head without being sick.
I'm going to see if the MW can give me the tablets or if I need to see a Dr. Trouble is that it is practically impossible to get to see a Gp.

Morning all,

Firstly, Mibbes what wonderful news re baby Evan - I'm so thrilled for you, hope the birth was okay despite emergency c/s and that you are recovering well. .

Kayz you poor thing, hope the doctor can help you out.

Verso you poor thing. Just picking up on what you said about some feeds being fine and then being painful again - do you think its a question of whether your boobs are full or not? I just wondered because with my girls my milk supply went up and down and when it was low towards the end of the day it was really really painful to feed and in the middle of the night when I'd eaten earlier and had some quality hours of sleep the pain was non-existent. Might be a load of old rubbish but thought I'd mention it anyway!

Jolly and Trace grrrrr at rude mums and unhelpful people - how can anyone not try to help someone whos fallen over - even if you're not pregnant? and why do some mums have to be so rude? Trace I am very sympathethic about the lack of tv signal, ours tends to pack up on ceebeebies only when its wet or snowy.

Abbey not keen on this baby boom in December in North Yorks!

LadyT I also got inflammation around my scar which the anti-b's cleared up really quickly. Hope you're okay.

zj laughing out loud at the arrival of you on a tractor at hospital, that would be a great story!

We have thick snow here, DH is training in Scarborough today so stayed over there last night. What's the snow situation like there ladies? Do you think he'll be able to get back tonight to near York?

Was terrified in the night with him away and thick snow as baby hatty suddenly starting leaping around like a jack in the box, I've never had such violent, sort of pulsing movements before - was thinking please no, not now!

Our neighbours would have helped out but with me being a VBAC and our lane full of snow the midwife said last week they'd probably have had to get an air helicopter into one of the fields nearby to take me to hospital! Great birth story but not one I'd have chosen!

Pre-school cancelled today and we all have streaming colds so tucked up in the sitting room watching the snow and tv at the same time.

ps does anyone else reckon they are odds on to have a christmas day baby?

maybe we should have a sweepstake!

i'm due on the 22nd so can just see it being christmas eve/christmas day/boxing day..

morning ladies.

Gosh I am so fed up!

Is anyone else throwing up? Not like a sickness bug but like morning sickness? Mine has started up again.

I know Im only 37 weeks but I so so so so want this baby out, all I do is moan.

I feel sorry for my poor DH!

I wish there was a labour button you could push after 37 weeks!!

hi ladies .. i managed to get very confused yesterday and post on a diff antenatal thread instead .. presumed it was our new one - the waters on the wagon go whoosh!

Anyway i have not caught up from the weekend yet as i am spending every free moment clean, wrappping and organising with a bit of car shopping thrown in so apologies!

Just want to say congrats to all who have already given birth, hope all are well and enjoying their new arrivals.

Take care and i will dedicate this evening to reading up the end of the last thread and all of this one!!

Hi everyone, the snow here is a bit miserable and wet ? I wish it would either rain and wash it away or snow properly so it?s fun. We had a powercut earlier for half an hour or so, which was really annoying as everything I wanted to do required electricity ? luckily its all working again now and I?ve got my MN fix, fingers crossed it stays that way.

Hatty - I?m not sure what Scarborough or the A64 is like today, but I?ve heard some of the other roads to York over the Wolds are pretty treacherous. Can your DH time his return trip so that it?s late enough that lots of other cars have gone first and cleared the road, but before it starts to get dark and possibly freeze over? My DH is travelling home from Scotland today and I want him to hurry home, but also to drive as slowly and carefully as possible!

Ooh, and I like the idea of Christmas Day sweepstake. Ages ago I read something about Christmas Day babies being randomly selected this year for some sort of project ? a bit like Prof Winstons millennium babies project ? I can?t remember any of the details or what the ?chosen ones? would get (but it was good!), wouldn?t it be fab if some of our babes were chosen?

Verso ? I hope the clinic have helped you out today and feeding gets easier for you and DD2 . The more people I talk to, the more I realise how incredibly difficult breast feeding is and I don?t think I know anyone who would say they?ve done it successfully without any support ? so I?ve been madly jotting down those phone numbers and websites as I?m sure I?ll be needing them in a few weeks.

Have a good day everyone x