Back in the Zoo for new adventures with old friends

[CaptainNemo]

Come on over animals, I think we'll be very comfy here

marbles thank you! :) great puking!! You'd be a mess in my house right now as its a constant launderette-Puke fest!

murray def best not to wish time away, but easier said than done so well done.

I'm starting to feel well now, pain is minimal and the constant up down feeding during the night is more bearable now as a result. My fave thing right now is watching I stare at little W and hearing her say; "I love you little man" totally melts my heart!!! :)
I'm debating whether to dummy or not to dummy?? Did with I but then she cried a lot!! Should I hold off a bit longer and see how he goes or try to get him used to it now knowing it will make teething etc easier???? Also will be doing one bottle formula a night when bf is more established, as a way of getting DH more involved. I was 6 months before I left her! Not sure that's practical this time. Anyone got any advice on combined feeding?

Marbles oooohhh how exciting ! this sounds more promising this time doesn't it ? Are you stuffing pineapple down your throat as you type ?... I am drinking a juice with 1/2 pineapple, apple, 5 carrots, brocolli, asparagus, ginger, mint, orange in it - 'tis lush . I have everything crossed for you mrs xx

Kat pics of W and I together are just lovely . As far as mixed feeding goes, I had to do it from the word go as E didn't latch on until 10 days old (I was a master-expresser !) I didn't find that there was ever any nipple confusion, I am sure that is a myth peddled by MWs to enforce exclusive BF - which is bl00dy unhelpful. Just try him and see how he goes - you may need to try various teats - I tried Tommy Tippee and E just destroyed them (he had a very strong suction !) so we stuck with Avent and some other brand that escapes me - I liked the coloured bits on the bottle !!! Get DH to feed it to him in case he is confused by the smell of your milk (I hated the idea that I had a milk 'smell' !!). Anyway, good luck, I have no idea if that helps at all but it sounds like you are settling into life with a new baby well so good for you

Update from here is I have had spotting on and off - just a really small amount. Temp still consistent and pretty high. I had a moment earlier where I thought the faint pain of pre-AF cramps were beginning (and I wanted to cry as only 8dpo) but actually they disappeared so nothing to worry about. NO other symptoms whatsoever - dreading the weekend as I know I will be on tenterhooks waiting for AF to ruin my day. Anyway, off to scoop the remainder of my super-healthy delicious juice - yum

Oh and Nemo texted me baby's name - hopefully she won't mind me posting it as it is on FB so not a secret anymore - he is Max (Maximilian)

What a wash out, aye? I feel like I've slept through summer.
How are the new adorable additions getting on? And how are the mummies?
Nemo Are you lurking? Hope you're recovering well.
Marbles I've got everything crossed for you. How are you feeling? When will appointment be?
Kat I mixed fed L. The only advice I'd give is to ensure night feeds are bf. That's when you stimulate the most prolactin and ensure a regular supply.
Murray How are the temps? Any further symptoms to report?
Buddha How was your birthday?

No real news here. Took kids away for the weekend which was wet but fun. Currently on the train to London as a friend is getting married tomorrow. Back to work on Monday....

Thank you ladies, that is good advice :)
murray Are temps still high?

W had a newborn shoot today and was a monkey! Wouldn't sleep! In fact didn't sleep properly from 7am to 1pm! That's strange right!? Just awake awake odd

Evening Ladies !

Kat that is a long time for a newborn to stay awake ! E slept LOADS ! People at the classes we went to used to joke that they'd never seen him awake, but then he took a LONG time to go through the night. How is W sleeping at night ? How organised having a newborn shoot ! Our first baby shoot was at 5 months old !!

Moomin hope you are having a lovely weekend away at the wedding. Hope the weather is better than here at the moment - peeing down !

News from here is that am on 11dpo and still no sign of AF, so if nothing else (assuming no AF by bedtime) then my LP has increased which will be progress. Temps are still high and actually took another wee leap yesterday and stayed super-high today. Am trying hard not to get hopes up or read too much into things - temp was still high on the morning AF came my last 2 cycles so it could mean nothing. Acupuncturist was delighted that temps so consistent and so high - was grinning like a madman - even I was thinking "calm down mister am still not officially due AF yet !" No other symptoms, spotting has pretty much stopped, had a few more crampy feelings Thu and Fri but none today. Anyway, if temp still mega high tomorrow I'm going to take a test - popped into Boots today so am armed with one of the 'early test' ones .... Is 12dpo too early, should I wait ?...

Kat Joe was a wide awake newborn. He'd lie staring for hours and hours. He was always chilled out until nighttime arrived.
Murray Don't leave us hanging. What's the score? Quietly excited for you.

Wedding was fun. Got a bit tipsy but felt fine leaving. Have woken up feeling dizzy. Can't decide if this is due to spending yesterday on a boat!

Kat Ewan was the same as Joe, awake lots in the day but quite chilled
Moomin Glad you had fun at the wedding
Marbles you're quiet. Everything ok? Still bfp?
Murray it's sounding good with the temps

Had a fantastic birthday, dh arranged a surprise BBQ for when I got home from work, decorated the house and organised a cake etc I was well impressed I should work my birthday more often! Got totally spoilt at work and home and as I got af early I enjoyed my champagne too
Rumours around work have started about the 4 people who are pg and if one more persons asks its me there maybe murder in the workplace!
Nemo how's it all going?

Evening ladies. Sorry for keeping you hanging on but I'm not sure if I have news... there was a line but it was very very faint. I know that a line is a line but I'd prefer not to be shouting "BFP!!!" when I had to squint (hard) in the strong daylight to see the super-faint line ! I told DP so as far as we are concerned as long as no AF tomorrow and temps still high and tomorrow's line is a bit more convincing then... maybe just maybe

Anyway, Buddha your birthday surprise sounds fabulous - I loved your 40th post on FB reminiscing about your 30s - what a fab decade for you ! How abolutely and you must be to have work colleagues guessing that you are one of the host of preggos at work - arrgghhhh poor you - big hugs from me. I hope this thread does not feel much the same now that Marbles and maybe I have BFPs. It is mega early days for me - I am not even due AF until tomorrow according to my 'normal' LP - probably should have been more patient about testing

Thank God you've finally posted Murray.
Don't focus on the BFP being faint. Maybe tomorrow (or Tues) go and get a CB digi. You're being super healthy and doing all you can. We're here xx
Bhudda That's bloody annoying for you. You've celebrated your 40th now and you'll soon be flashing your bump on their faces.

Lovely wedding. Stayed dry. And no hangover. Result!

Everything crossed for a darker line tomorrow Murray
Moomin Nice thought about the bump but have to say after 10 months of ttc not feeling very positive about it we shall just have to be grateful for what we have

Buddha big virutal hug to you missus, I know how you feel, it is such a crappy and long journey. So difficult to pick yourself up after each failed cycle - and I have not had that many so it must be sooo difficult for you.
When you are feeling better I am more than happy to share my top food tips which are mainly relevant for ov, imp and LP. Have you considered acupuncture ? It can help heaps to increase LP and improve quality of eggs to increase chance of success.
The book I am currently reading is "The Fertility Plan" - this gives loads of info on the right foods to eat at each stage in your cycle - not a strict diet, just tells you the sorts of vits to get plenty of at each stage and lists best foods for each vit. It seems to be rooted in Chinese philosophy and it mentions acupuncture and its benefits quite a bit. Hope you start to feel better over the next few days - I know it is hard when all around you, esp at work seem to be PG but Dr. Huang keeps banging an about the negative effect of stress/anxiety and depression on hormone levels.

Today's update is that the line was marginally clearer but still had to squint to see it - it may be my imagination/hopefulness actually and perhaps it wasn't actually any draker atall... Also temp took a dip which is not great - I ended up taking it 5 times and it was between 36.74-36.90. My previous 3 day's triphasic temps had been consistently 36.95. Arrgghhhh still not able to confidently declare "BFP". Am hoping that as long as no Af appears then am still in with a chance. According to my 'normal' LP AF due today. With both previous PGs I didn't get a clear BFP until 15dpo which will be Weds. Not giving up hope, but am less hopeful than yesterday.
Cross your fingers for me please xx

Murray Thanks for hug and info will definately start plugging you for advice once I've got all birthday celebrations out the way! (yes they are going on for weeks ) how's the temp this morning?

Temp was through the roof this morning and line a lot more obvious - if still a bit faint for my liking so I am now prepared to whisper .. hopefully tomorrow I can shout it if the line is 'proper'

Moomin am not brave enough to try a CBD... just in case ! I had been using Boots tests (the ones that are supposed to early predictors) but they were rubbish - today's CB far better . In fact I also tried the poundshop 2 for 1 pound cheapies and they gave me a better line in the afternoon yesterday and Sunday than the Boots ones !

marbles where are you mrs ? Hope all still going well for you xx

Does that mean I can whisper woo hoo yet? brilliant result with temp. Will be checking tomorrow for the official "shout"

Hello ladies How lovely to (finally) make it back here amidst such good news! Murray & Marbles am keeping everything crossed for you. Haven't even managed lurking til now I'm afraid, and this is only going to be a short one as I need to get to bed, but I wanted to thank you all for your kind wishes via fb, and on here now I've seen them! I'm sorry for being crap and not being here sooner, but this is life with us in a nutshell:
Birth was great! So so different from T, epidural was MAREVLLOUS!!! 2 stressful parts, I had a bleed at about 5cm which was v scary though no medics seemed worried, and then they wanted to monitor me continuously so that was epidural time, and LO's hb kept dropping during contractions, but again I was the only one who seemed worried. Labour was incredibly slow compared to T but much much more controlled - and only 1stitch! They broke my waters at 6cm as things weren't progressing then in the next hour I not only went from 6 to 10 but DS came practically all the way down all by himself, he was practically out before anyone realised, and was born in about 4 pushes. I was quite able to move etc which helped with position (had him laying on my side) and with pushing. The photos of DH holding him on fb are when he was only a few mins old, he came out perfect, not even squashed.

The challenges haven really started since I got home. DD adores her little brother, but is NOT behaving well and is pushing every single boundary which is absolutely exhausting. DH has basically taken no paternity leave whatsoever, other than a few hours here and there (we went for lunch today to celebrate my due date!) which has been v tough and I've been pretty bloomin unimpressed with him for much of the time. To add insult to injury, although bf is gong ok I've had mastitis already, started ab's last fri which hopefully are doing the trick. DS is feeding really well though, although we've got ourselves into a bit of a pickle with the night feeds and with expressing, so I need to try to get that sorted.

Hopefully that all gives you a picture of why I haven't made it on here before now, it's not that I haven't been thinking of you all.

Right. Better go, but am sending love to all and, as I said, keeping everything crossed for Marbles and Murray.

PS have already given in on the dummy front, he had one for the first time briefly yesterday eve but am going to take one to bed with me tonight in the hope it'll help him settle more easily.

Did any of the breast feeders on here co-sleep? Ive always been dead against it, but it seems to be the only way I get any rest..... Thoughts?

Better go, squawking starting!

xx

Nemo how lovely to see you !!!! Your absence is excused . I cannot believe after all of your stressing that you describe the birth as "great" !! I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone use that word to describe childbirth ! Maybe the fact that you had convinced yourself it was going to be the quickest birth of the biggest baby in history meant that you were overjoyed by a reasonably straightforward birth of a small baby ! Sounds like you are coping well - albeit as a single parent for the mostpart - well done you ! Not so good on the b00bs front - that is quite tricky. I had a lot of pain and didn't really find an answer so I am no good. Also, I didn't co-sleep so I can't help there either. I remember regularly waking up and panicking that he was in my bed as I'd fallen asleep BFing him and that I'd squashed him - then I'd look over and he was in his moses basket - phew !

News from here is that I am finally going to shout "BFP" !!! Temp high again today and got a "proper" line on a CB. Going to invest in a fancy CBD for the weekend if all still ok - quite fancy the one that tells you approximately how may weeks you are - even though I know already ! Every time I have the mildest tummy twinge I freeze in panic ! Must calm down and just enjoy it - which to be fair I am the majority of the time

Marbles where are you ? It is unlike you to be absent for so long, esp when you have news.... please pop by and let us know you are ok xx

Hi ladies

murray congrats on the FABULOUS BFP!!!

Hi everyone else

News from me... BFP turned into BFN late last week and CP again we are officially off TTC and planning some condom purchasing to ensure I get to give my body a break... It's 5 years in October since we started this effort... I am no further forward

Marbles as you already know im very about your news. Five years is such a long time on the ttc rollercoaster I'm finding it so hard after just 10 months so I've no idea how you have kept on with so many knock backs

Murray Official congratulations brilliant news

Nemo Not sure how I managed to not reply to you I've no idea why you couldn't fit us in sooner especially as it sounds as if you're not up to much Wow much less painful and traumatic birth story for you and you although you may not think it I'm sure your coping amazingly on your own. But if you want send us girls round we'll sort out dh Hopefully T's behaviour will get better as well as the (.)(.)s (ouch). The pictures are so cute but I need more

Murray yay!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Nemo glad to see you back, what a different birth to what you expected, he is beautiful :) I must admit I'm pretty of the natural delivery and surprise small baby grrr :)
marbles so so sorry :( I cant begin to imagine how hard it must have been these last 5 years, I hope the break does you good.

Had a bit of a toughy recently, W had his follow up scan re his enlarged kidney (s) and it was bad news! He has one seriously enlarged kidney and one slightly so. We have been referred to paediatrics but waiting on an appointment from what we know little W will spend a lot of time in and out of hospitals being tested and will continue his AB for up to a year with the possibility of surgery etc looming in his future :( I am trying not to think about it really as it makes me feel so sad I'm welling up just typing this. I convinced myself he'd be fine. At least he's here with us I suppose, and they caught it early. I just hate thinking of the tests etc his little body will go through, even the minor day surgery they talk of as a minor inconvenience is more than you'd wish for your tiny baby :( sorry to be so negative

Kat I am so sorry to hear that W's kidneys may be more of an issue than you'd been hoping . I can only imagine how sad you much feel - tiny babies should not have to endure any surgery minor or otherwise, it just doesn't seem right - although I guess it is for the best. The poor wee man, there is nothing I can say to make it better, just know that we are all here for you whenever you need an ear/shoulder - big hugs xx

Update from here -found a pg test in a drawer last night so decided this morning to check that line is 'properly' dark as now 19dpo - there was no line and after a few mins a very, very faint line. Not feeling hopeful at all any more. I will go out and get some more tests and check but pretty sure this is all going wrong. Been on MN searching "a line is a line" type threads to try and clutch on to a glimmer of hope, but deep down I know it is not good news

Kat Sorry to hear may have to have surgery. It's like Murray said no matter how minor the surgery it's still such a worry I know how I felt when E had his grommets op
Murray Out of date test? When was af due? Any cramps etc? I'm still hopeful for you. What did the other threads say? Fx

Day 15 for me and no sign of ov last few months ov was at 14 so maybe not going to happen this month

Murray any news? Did you do more tests?

Well dh has just announced he doesn't want any more children wtf am I supposed to do now?? it was whilst having words about how we are dealing with E's behaviour. He wants to smack and I won't let him, i think it was said on the heat if the moment but still hurt he'd just drop that on me