Where's the April thread gone??

[Rtuff]

Can someone put a link to it for some reason i cannot find it!!

Hoops - For me it came very naturally, I didnt find it difficult at all. I did invest in Lasinoh though (one tube in each room i breatsfed in) and although i was against using dummies, i bought some because DS had a really strong sucking reflex and always wanted to suck on something and my nipples did suffer quite badly: they bled when he was sucking (so i didnt know i was bleeding) and baby was swallowing my blood - We realised this was happening when he vomited a bit of blood with his milk (we went straight to A&E where they did a few tests and said it was my blood and apparently it is not an uncommun problem). So we went and bought dummies and it was better for everybody (including my nipples!!). That happened in his first week. Don't want to scare you but just to warn you about what could go wrong (and not freak out like i did). It is not because it is working well that everything is fine!So yes, it is probably a good idea to read a book about it!

I have also come accross a few women for who breastfeeding was very difficult and they felt so guilty about it, they didnt enjoyed their first few months! So please don't be like that if you find it difficult. There is no harm in combining bottle & breasts or only using formula. It is like labour - what is important is to have a healthy baby and a healthy mum, it doesnt matter if you had a ceasarian or a natural birth, it doesnt matter if you are bottle feeding or breastfeeding - what matters is your baby's weight and your sanity!

Hi Hoops I breastfed DS1 for about 6 weeks and HATED it and it just made me miserable, then when I had DS2 I breastfed him for 6 months and really enjoyed it although it was painful to start with and I got Mastitis but it is a skill you have to learn and it does take time. Just don't beat yourself up about it whatever you decide is best for you and the baby. I can't stand the breastfeediing mafia who make you feel like a failure if you don't do it!

I think also that some babies are better at breastfeeding than others. DS seemed to know exactly what to do the very first time I put him to the breast, and he had a suction like a vacuum cleaner. I think it helped that I had read a book, so that I felt confident and knew he was doing it correctly. As a result of his super sucking and good latch, he was a really fast feeder (10 mins and he'd drained a whole boob) and I never got mastitis as he was very efficient at emptying each boob!

I was very apprehensive about BFing to start with (due to my sister's experience and various friends), but in the found it fairly easy.

I did feel pressure from family to stop though. From about 3mths on my mum and sister (and DH occasionally!) would keep asking how much longer I would BF for. In the end I stopped when DS was about 6 or 7 mths old and was on solids and started to take a bottle. It was only when I stopped that I realised how much I had enjoyed it and that I should have maybe carried on for longer and ignored everyone else. Although it was nice to have my boobies back !!

On a different subject, does anyone know if we are allowed to eat "white" stilton? I know the blue-veined variety is off-limits, but not sure about the white one, as it has no obvious veins/mould?

I've been craving brie/camembert/goat's cheese/stilton etc - basically all the cheese we're supposed to avoid! Especially now all the yummy looking Christmas cheese selections are in the supermarkets

I did manage to find some non-alcoholic mulled wine in M&S. Have yet to try it, but am glad I won't have to miss out on that too over Christmas

zeeky i have to say i eat all kind of cheeses that look clean and fresh (ie not if it has been sitting in a corner of my fridge for too long). but then again i am french, so i can't help it! I figure the risk of listeria is so so small, I am more likely to have a baby with Downs syndroms (even though my odds are good) or even to be run over by a car than get listeria.
Obviously it is a personal choice I made and you have to see for yourself.

I thought camembert was fine when it is made from pasteurised milk? Id say white stilton is ok re- mould, but i thought it was made with raw milk (in which case, best to avoid)?
I find this all very confusing anyway... and guidelines in France or here in England are different.

Ther's one thing i feel guilty about eating is sweets bc they contains so much E numbers and colorings/flavorings.... I bought a bag of jelly beans at lunch, ate half of it and binned the other half out of guilt... sweets and diet coke... and i also worry about eating mussels too often (once every two weeks) do you think they contain a lot of pollutants? like swordfish?

Just went to GP for swine flu vaccine and backed out at last minute. How many of you guys have had it? Seeking reassurance!

Bungo I had the vaccine 3 weeks ago after much humming ahd hawing! No side effects - except sore arm - and surprisingly I have been ery relaxed about it. Didi you read the webchat with prof salisbury on mnet? I found it really useful look here www.mumsnet.com/onlinechats/david-salisbury

Bungo101, I had vaccine 3 weeks ago - sore arm and a bit of a headache, but nothing else. Feel a lot happier having had it as it is one less thing to worry about.

Hoops, I bf DD exclusively for 5 1/2 months, and continued until almost 1 year, cutting down as solids increased. Difficult initially as midwives were horrid, and my milk did not come in until day 5 (side effect of traumatic birth apparently). Once established, I started expressing so I had a good supply in freezer for when I returned to work, plus DH would give a bottle feed each evening (expressed) to give me a rest, and help him bond.

Make sure you buy Lanolin, and nice bras for those passionate moments - it is not nice when in the 'throes' and you start squirting everywhere! Best to keep the old gals encased in lace

Hey Bungo I had it last week, I really didn't want to but I have chronic Asthma and have been hospitalised as the result of a cold before let alone Swine Flu!!! I had a VERY sore arm for a few days and felt a bit under the weather but i am now pleased I have had it. Do some research yourself and do what you think is right for you.

Dwayne - yes, DS did suffer a lot from wind and posseting rather than full-on reflux. Also had colic for first couple of months, but not sure if that was related to fast BF as so many babies seem to get it.

Stinkypinky ROFL at nice bras comment. That happened a few times with us, hence the reason why DH started to get anxious about how long I was going to BF for !!
I'll never forget getting out of the shower a few days after giving birth, and wondering what the warm liquid dripping onto my feet was, even after I'd dried myself - then I realised it was milk . (I suppose I should be thankful it wasn't wee as my pelvic floor muscles were not in the best of states!!!)

Hoops I BF DD for 6 months (Gave up reluctantly to go back to work as I'm a teacher and couldn't face the prospect of leaking boobs and teenage boys!) and despite one bout of mastitis it was a very pleasant experience. My mum was a bit apprehensive at first due to her own feelings about her boobs but once I explained how important it was to me she was 100% behind me. My DH was also really supportive and stuck wholeheartedly to the advice given by the MW about not giving up in the middle of the night as everything seems worse then. It probably took 3 weeks to establish BF for me and as I'm allergic to lanolin, chilled savoy cabbage leaves and cooled tea bags saved my nipples.
I know loads of women who have successfully combined BF with formula though because they've not been able to give the baby enough. Only time and your baby will let you know what's right for you.

Hi to everyone else.

thanks guys, I have spoken to my mother and sister and explained to them how important is to me to at least give bf a good go, am quite a determined person so will give it 100%, also DP will be away so I will be 100% responsible for feeding so at least I will have plenty of time for baby and me to learn and master what we are trying to do!!

tosaky that must have been a bit scary, blood aahhhh, at least will keep it in mind, also my mother has told me to start putting mosturiser on my nipples to get them used to bf, will this help or pointless?

How is everyone else doing, mini-hoops is really starting to thrash around now, which is fab, as I know it's not wind now!!

Soon we will be starting our 3rd trimester !!

Hi ladies,
just checking in, lots of news since I was last on!
hoops I really struggled with bfing DD, I think we got off to a tricky start what with the long labour, pethidine and epidural and it really was a bit of a nightmare to start with but the maternity care assistant was lovely and what with her, my mum and some nipple shields for the first couple of days we got there in the end. I ended up bf for 16 months which I never thought I'd manage in those early days, but it was so worth it. I'm hoping it'll be a bit easier this time round.
Right, I'm off to get some ironing done, woo hoo exciting things to do on my day off work .

Hi everyone

Have just been reading about everyones bf experiences. For me it wasn't too bad. After a couple of days I did start with a really stinging pain when they latched on but it did go quickly. I breastfed until they were about 10 - 11 months.

For both previous times I never really gave formula a thought and thankfully I didn't need to. Sometimes it did seem hard because you were the sole person able to feed your dc but when you look back it is for a comparatively short time. My ds is 9 and my dd is 6.

I'm kinda presuming that I'll be fine for bf this dc too. As it is my third I think I will be a lot more relaxed (maybe!) and not worry if other things don't get done exactly when you think they should be done, eg dinner.

On another note I have a MW appt this afternoon so looking forward to hearing baby's heartbeat - hopefully.

Hi all,

I just got my quadruple test results back, 1 in 3,300 which is great considering that based only on my age the odds are 1 in 260.

Bf experiences - I bf both ds and dd for about 10 months. They both decided when they wanted to stop! I had no problems with it at all, except for sore nipples in the beginning. What I did notice with dd is that the afterpains you get when breastfeeding (in the first few days after birth) are a lot stronger second time around. Sometimes they really felt like contractions! I expect it will be the same, or even worse with baby number three, but I'm detirmined to get through that part, and onto to the painless and enjoyable bit.

hey everyone just checking in as not been on here for a while because of the move! It went smoothly just settling in now and catchin up on lots of sleep as im shattered.

Well havent read all the post but will go and read and catch up on how everyone is.

Got my 4d scan on monday hopefully they will be able to see the sex me and dp are really looking forward to it just hope dd behaves this time as at the 20week scan she wasnt very settled. Has anyoneelse booked in for a 4d scan? I just cant believe how quick it is going!

Hi, I know Hoops from another thread - can I join in here too?

I'm 17 weeks this week and am waiting for my 20 week scan at the moment.

This is my 5th pregnancy but should hopefully be my 3rd child - I already have 2 girls, one 7 and one 4

Though reading back I may be a bit too late for this thread - baby due early May though am likely to have a section towards the end of April.

Had my scan today. Not all perfect unfortunately, both the baby's kidneys are enlarged - did anyone else have this? Have another scan in 6 weeks to see if it's better / worse. All other measurements were good though. I'm having another girl. Looks like we might be getting a bit more even now between blue and pink?

Neeko 33 23rd March 2010 #2
Rtuff 25 25th March @9.30 #2 - BOY (brother for DS)
princesstweetz 26 28th March 2010 #2
dani87 22 31st march 2010 #2
Puma, 41, 31 March, #1.
walkingbookworm 30 31st march 2010, #1 - BOY
tostaky, 33, 1st April 2010, #2 - BOY (brother for DS)
Renerusso, 38, 1st April 2010 #3 GIRL (sister for my 2 DDs)
hoops997 31 02nd April 2010 #1 BOY
spaghettina 34 3rd April 2010 #1 GIRL
thighsofcheddar 35 04 April 2010 #2
thehuntress 36 4th April 2010 #2
DwayneDibbley 30's 4th April 2010 #2 BOY.
mcchesers 34 06 April 2010 #2
weetiger 33 06 April 2010 #2 - BOY (brother for DS)
Bettymum 37 07 April 2010 #2 BOY (brother for DD)
Wellieboot 33 08 April 2010 #2
katgod 37 08 April 2010 #3
BelfastBloke, 39 (DW,+me), 9th April 2010 #2
Chegirl 42, 10 April 2010 #5
Bungo101 35, 10 April 2010 #2 GIRL (sister for DS)
nicnacinoonoo 23 09th April 2010 #2 GIRL (sister for DS)
thedollshouse 37 11th April 2010 #2 BOY (brother for DS)
Snowtiger 35 11th April 2010 #2 BOY (brother for DS)
lineky 36 12th April 2010 #1
Bexybear 39 14th April #2
Toady 37 17th April 2010 # 4
Rumpleteaser, 24, 18th April 2010 #1
ThePhantomPlopper 29 18th April 2010 #3
Zeeky, 33 20th April 2010 #2
Mistymoo, 32, 20th April 2010 #3
pillia78 31 21st April #3
shelinka, 36, 21st April 2010 #3 GIRL (dsis for ds and dd)
JPL81 28, 21st April #1
Miceju, 27, 21st April #1
stinkypinky 40 23rd April 2010 #2
flybynight 38 24th April 2010 #4
Trying4Baby1 30 25th April 2010 #1
slightlycrumpled 36 25th April 2010 #3
ilovesprout 30th April 2010
Babymonster 29 2nd may 2010 #2

Hi Jacanne, and don't worry about your dates you're welcome to join.

Hi all, I'm having a good day sproglet is moving about a lot and my SIL has just had a baby girl! Just makes me wish it was April already as I am a wee bit

tostaky Mussels are fine as long as they are well cooked as the risk from them is food poisoning due to them being filter feeders. I had them the other day and they were delicious. I sure being a French culinary goddess, you wouldn't accept a questionable mussel.

The swordfish/thing is different - being so big, they accumulate all the major toxins like heavy metals and dioxins that aren't excreted but stored in fat (I think this is right.)

I'm dreading bf-ing again. I'm a birthing natural (touch wood). Last one in 20 minutes from one cm dilated. But I have flat, partially inverted nipples that split and bleed for the first two weeks. The pain is awful. After the first few weeks I could run a cheese grater down them without noticing, right enough.

Good test results shelinka, you must be pleased.

Renerusso Is it the whole kidney or just part of it? MY baby has renal pelvic dilation in the left kidney which they hope will clear. Fingers crossed that both our babies will be ok.