Its Fab, Its Feb, Its 2009: Come on babies, its SHOW TIME!

[dinkystinky]

Here's hoping more of those babies take the hint this time round!!

THOM - not sure about your finger? I'm suffering a bit of carpal tunnel syndrome (did with DD too) but that seems to fade mid morning. MAybe get it checked out....

Thanks for finger advice. Guess I should ask doc or mw really. Googling only comes up wth carpel tunnel and that doesn't quite fit. Have no swelling. Just numbness

Good to hear from you Catstar!

Oh well done McDreamy!!!! I was wondering if you made it in the snow for your pre-op assessment, but obviously it all went ahead anyway. Look forward to hearing more soon. x

Thanks PT I love you!

THOM - I have some labour massage oil and some lovely labour bath essence (both waitrose £4.47 ladies!) and both have clary sage oil in so presume you could use it for both. And I had a numb little finger and half (very odd!) ring finger last pg. It was diagnosed as carpal tunnel related and I had no swelling either so hopefully nothing to worry about.

Congratulations! McDreamy. Wow, so many people seem to be going into labour pre-CS. Lovely name again, if I wasn't so set on Mercedes Chardonnay.... DH wanted Abigail

I now have pretty much constant period pains and lower back ache, baths dont shift it and Tens only eases the back ache not the front. When I walk or bend down the period pains turn into shooty pains up my bump - or if I sit too long

I dreamt I had the baby last night, it happened in the hallway of our last house and there was no pain - just total suprise. I then wanted to meet a friend in town so took the baby who was about an hour old but it wasn't in the car seat when I went to get it out. I panicked but no-one cared. Then it turned out I had been a surrogate for someone but hadn't known and they had taken it already

So between that and the pain....good night had by spotty

congratulations on all the new births..... What lovely names as well!!!

Well i am really fed up with being pg now... I feel so bad for feeling this way but can not help it......

Ah well only 2 weeks left to go (I hope)......

Oh Spotty - sorry you're having pesky pains and horrible dreams! If is any consolation, I discovered last night (between 2 and 5) that I have caught the snotmonster's cold so between that and pregnancy insomnia, I didnt manage any meaningful sleep either .... still gave me a chance to discover that, despite his protestations to the contrary, DH does in fact snore

MoS - best of luck for today!

Any more bouncing babes bounce out last night?

spotty you are such a wierdo!

lardy don't feel bad about being fed up. Nearly there though

Ladies,......
Can I sterilise bottles, assemble them and store them empty until I need them or do I really have to do it 1 by 1?
They're not sterile once removed from steriliser..... and if I add formula to fresh boiled (or no longer than half hour) water, the feed is sterile and the bottles clean, so safe, right?

Sorry LBB have no idea; perhaps someone on the bottlefeeding boards would be able to confirm?

I have put a message in breast and bottle and in chat........
Thanx anyway dinks

Littleboyblue, I think they are fine for 24 hours if they are covered/sealed. I have always done sterilising once a day using a steam steriliser, and then assembled the bottles and put the lids on ready for later use.

Also frankly they don't have to be 100% sterile unless you're in an intensive care unit IMO. Just very clean with particularly clean teats, so you could even whack them n the dishwasher and use them from there (which is what they do in the US).

Thanx Boffin. I can only do 3 at a time so no chance of them being left too long!! I use a microwave steriliser and it just seems silly to sterilise 1 bottle in a steriliser designed for 6 and use the microwave that often. Carbon footprint and all that

I am the dishwasher

LBB - I'll tell you how I do it, but bear in mind that current guidelines are 1 by 1. On the side of the tin as well.

I sterilise 3 bottles, assemble fully whilst still hot and leave.

The 3 I sterilised earlier (I have 6 in total), I pour freshly boiled water into, make up milk within 30 minutes. Plunge into very cold water in a bowl to cool as quickly as possible and leave for around 20 minutes and put deep inside fridge (not door). Warm as necessary when needed. Throw away any leftovers straight away.

If I get "caught short", I always have 3 sterile bottles (empty) and cartons of ready made formula.

Hope that helps. The feeding forums would flame me for doing it like this but works for me, and DD survived!

McDreamy congratulations. hope all is well.

For those with painful BH / contractions...I really feel for you, having had 3 days of contractions before DS this time and 26 hours of labour last time to find I was only 1cm dilated.....I was VERY pissed off at the time...mw wrote in my notes "Norty was slightly disappointed"....understatment!!!

Quite. A couple of my HVs have told me that normal domestic hygiene standards are OK for normal babies so I think people can feel confident about the 24 hour principle, as that is a sightly higher standard. Obviously if you live in a squat and your housekeeping is a bit rough and ready, you would want to go to more trouble to ensure clean bottles. I think you have to have a proportionate response depending on your situation.

Sorry, not really a member of your group but battle scarred mum of three with another due at the beginning of April. Noticed HouseofMirth's question and might be able to help with that too. Try 6 drops or so of Clary Sage oil in a warm bath (works even better if mixed with a few drops carrier oil like almond or grapeseed) , or if you want to use it as a massage oil, try 6 drops in about 60cc of carrier oil. Don't use it neat or you might get an irritation. Be careful when you get out the bath as it might be slippy! If around due date, try mixing it with a few drops of jasmine, rose oil or rose geranium to get a better smell - these are also good for birth and hormone related use.

Bet you get lots of "useful advice" on that thread LBB ....off to have a look. I totally agree with Boffinmum....many people don't bother, just use dishwasher.

LMN That's close to what I did last time, cooled water in bottles in fridge, powder added as and when then warmed in microwave. Have been doing this this time too, but we are going out and a feed will be due not long after so I was gonna boil fresh, add powder to hot water and put bottle in thermo bag, and if I can do it like that to go out, I can do it at home iyswim. I am routine feeding so shouldn't be an issue at mo, he is only having 3 oz 3 hourly so won't take long to cool.....

I microwave mine as well....when mw was here the other day, he was screaming for food, and she was here while I got a bottle out of the fridge, microwaved it and gave it to him ....luckily (for her!!) she didn't say anything

Norty is right about chilling milk as quickly as possible and putting it deep in the fridge, btw. It is important to be incredibly fussy about the freshness of the milk, and never reuse milk that has already been reheated. In fact I taught mine to take it cold to ensure maximum freshness.

Teats must also be spotless as well, (and your hands!). The rest has a little more flexibility IMO, although I do know advice has changed recently and people would hop up and down on the bottlefeeding boards at the merest hint of once-a-day sterilising. However I defy them to find a baby in a normal clean home that has picked up a gastro bug as a result of this sterilising method alone.

TinkerBellesMumandFifi2 - DD Sîan Anne Denise, 4lbs 8.5oz, 02.01.09 (due 01.02.09)
Dinkymum - DS Isaac Christopher, 5lbs 8oz, 19.01.09
Ooogs - DS Luke Daniel, 8lbs 6oz, 20.01.09
Herbgarden - DD Amy Hannah, 5lbs 14oz 23.01.09
idontbelieveit - DD Freya Rose, 6lbs 8oz, 26.01.09
laidbackinengland - DD Mabel Lucy, 8lbs 14oz, 29.01.09
tinasan - DS Enrico Marco, 6lbs 10oz, 29.01.09
onwardandupward - DC2, [I'll put name on fb], 8lb exactly, 30.01.09
stacysmom - DD Tabitha Rose, 6lbs 15oz, 31.01.09
MsLucy - DS Stanley William born, 8lb 7 oz, 02.02.09
LittleMissNorty, DS Ewan Scott, 6lbs 13ozs, 02.02.09
swampster - DS Jacob 7lb, 02.02.09
Jelliebaby - DD Olivia 7lb 3oz, 02.02.09
MarkStretch - DS Frankie 7lb 15oz, 03.02.09
Nkweto - DD Alexandra, 8llbs 11oz, 04.02.09
MamaGoose - DD Indigo Norah Rose, 4.15kg/9lb 1oz, 04.02.09
LittleBoyBlue - DS 7 lb 13 oz, 04.02.09
McDreamy - DD Abigail Louise, 7lb 1/2oz, 06.02.09

WHO'S NEXT.....

Questionkid - DC1, due: 03.02.09 (age 33, Wallington, Surrey)
PinkTulips - DC3, due: 04.02.09 (age 24, Roscommon, Ireland)
fgpl- DC2 (a girl), cs 5.02.09. Age 38 North Yorks
Rosieposey - DC4 (a boy), CS: 06.02.09 (age 37,Swindon,Wiltshire)
mumoverseas - DC4 (a boy), due: CS 08.02.09 (age 41 Arabia/Crawley West Sussex)
KT1983 - DC1, due: 09.02.09 (age 25, London)
KazzaL - DC2 (suprise flavour), due: 10.02.09 (age 35, Cirencester, Gloucs)
littleboyblue - DC2, (another boy) due: 10.02.09 (age 27, Middlesex)
Astarte - DC4 & absolutely the last! (a girl), due: 10.02.09, HWB planned.
McDreamy - DC3, CS booked 10.02.2009 (age 37 Bucks)
jenniferturkington- DC2 (a girl), due: 11.02.09
Munteria - DC2, due: 11.02.09 (age 37, Putney)
TheHouseofMirth - DC2 (a boy), due: 11.02.09 (age 39, Wimbledon)
Pluto - DC2 CS booked: 13.02.09 (aged 38, Kent)
Ranirani - DC1, due: 13.02.09 (age 35, Herts)
Justme84 - due 14.02.09
Pempe - DC1 (a boy), due: 14.02.09 (age 29, Greece)
Littlesez ? DC1 (a girl), due: 15.02.09 (age 28, Manchester)
Bunsen - DC2 (girl) due 21.02.09 CS booked for 16.02.09 (age 32, Leeds)
America - DC2 (a boy), due: 16.02.09 (age 32, London)
Scubagroover - DC1 (a boy), due: 17.02.09 (age 31, London/ Kent)
Rachrox - DC4 (a boy), due: 18.02.09 (age 28, Cheltenham)
Catstar - DC2 (a boy), due: 18.02.09 (age 36, Chessington)
Mentalpup - DC2, due: 18.02.09 (age 31, Cheltenham)
fruitstick - (a suprise), due: 18.02.09
Dinkystinky - DC2 (a boy), due: 19.02.09 (age 32, London)
DizzyBrummie - DC2, due: 20.02.09 (age 36, Berkshire)
Cocodrillo - DC3, unknown flavour, cs booked for 20.02.09 (age 35, London)
Calico1 - DC2 due: 21.02.09 (age 40, West Herts)
mrsy - DC1 (a girl), due: 22.02.09 (age 24, Maidstone, Kent
Neeerly3 - DC3 (surprise) due 23.02.09 (age 32, Mansfield, Notts)
Winemakesmummyclever - DC2 (a boy), due: 23.02.09. (age 35, Manchester) expecting cs @ 39 weeks
Spottyshoes - DC2, due: 24.02.09 (age 28)
Lardybump - DC2, due: 24.02.09 (age 34)
eejaykay - DC1 (a boy), due: 24.02.09 (age 34, London)
katieblirdsnest - DC2 due 24.02.09 (age 39, London)
Chilledmama - DC2 (a girl), due: 25.02.09 (age 32, Southsea)
Pinkbabybump - DC2 (a girl), due: 25.02.09 (age 36, Cornwall) CS booked for 20.02.09
ihavenewsockson - DS2, due: 26.02.09 (age 25, Surrey)

Morning,

How is everyone today? Im glad the sun is shining today, hopefully get some of this ice & snow melted.
McDreamy - I must have missed your announcement - Congratulations on the arrival - I really like the name, very pretty.

I went swimming this monring & now Lo is have a wriggle fit - Quite uncomfortable.
Last night I was having weird sharp pains...Started in lower back & then down my right leg - At first I thought contractions....but after a hour or so, decided she must have been sat on a nerve or something, as they went off.
Im due tomorrow - but i Know that i will be sat here this time next week with the prospect of a sweep...unless I can persuade my midwife to get me booked in for one earlier

Any news on MrsY?

Hope you all have a nice Sunday xx

Microwaving is fine IME as long as you shake the bottle up and leave it to stand for a while before shaking it again to avoid hot spots. However I have tended to use a bottle warmer because I had one to defrost breast milk anyway.

Keeping milk warm in a thermo thing is really not a good idea, as the bacteria will be multiplying fast, so your best bet is to keep the water warm in the thermo and add the powder just before you need it (you can buy little plastic tubs with sections for pre-measured amounts of formula). Formula is not sterile, but it's clean enough to do this from time to time if you are out and about. Again, this is not official advice but has worked for millions of mums and babies over decades.

Sorry X post MrsY! Hope your ok?

KT Hope it all starts soon, get on that washing machine!!
Glad everyone is of the same mind as me re bottles/milk. Ds1 is fine and I warmed up not down with milk. Fuck it, maybe stick to water in fridge (lets face it, easy) and just do fresh when going out. Will keep sterilised bottles in cupboard and fill when can be arsed!