Fantastic 40+ Mums

[Hpbp]

Mum of 2, DS1 nearly 4yo and DD2 almost 11 weeks. I hope to find here advices from experienced mums so that I can avoid mistakes... I made some with DS1 and my life sometimes is hell, it is hard to unlearn wrong behaviour, so hard.
At the time being, DD2 is a very sweet baby, she is easy to decipher, cries are always related to some kind of discomfort and I managed to learn what they mean, or almost. Only one issue with her ATM is that she rejects bottle feeding even with expressed milk. I'd like to be able to escape a bit from the house to get a haircut or a facial. And I am sure DH would like to feed her sometimes too.
I struggle a bit more with DS1, who is usually a good boy, energetic, happy and loving. But after school, getting him to take his bath is a battle and falling and staying asleep all night are big issues. The problems did exist before but now with the recent arrival of his sister, the intensity has increased. Or maybe they are the same but to me they seem bigger and need to be addressed quickly so that I can look after both without raising my voice.
All advice are welcome. I need help here.

Also I'd like to invite all the graduates from the Fantastic 40+ Mums to be thread to join. You have been truly fantastic and so supportive during my pg. I hope to be able to keep on sharing with you this wonderful parenting adventure.

... but i could do with some tummy time, a nice lie down on a rug mmm

seaside I am a bad mummy at night and often just swap wet for dry... The only way possibly not to wake him up completely! I think maybe to get through the night (hahaha like that is gong to happen any time soon...) he will need a bigger nappy that can hold more.
bbd your asking about which way BG is pointing, so to speak, reminded me of when they were doing the discharge checks in NNU. A med student who was trailing the consultant asked to do it and was doing fine until he got to checking under the nappy. He was just undoing it when the consultant stopped him and said, "what do you need to think about right now?" The med student hemmed and hawed and couldn't think, so went on undoing the nappy, at which point the doctor said as quickly as possible, "it's a male baby! Think!" But too late! The fountain went everywhere... I think BG taught the student an unforgettable lesson that day!
Re meeting, what about Friday 18th (BG's half-birthday!)?
Sorry I will miss you this time badmissm ...

bbd is active fit pampers?

Goat, I bet this student will remember that the day he has a male baby himself ! Hahaha ! Yes Active fit is Pampers, you can try one size up with baby dry if you are happy with it. Friday 18th is ok for me. Do you want to try to get to St Pancras ? 10.30 ?
Seaside, the internet is very poor over there, I will take a pic and email it over to you.

BBD It's Euston, but would have to get back to you with the times.... !

That would be good for me, bbd ! And now I am off to do an appeasing dance to the goddess of the underground.
Sorry, my brain is not working. Do you recommend I try a size 3 baby dry nappy ( that would be one size larger than now)?

Goat, how much does baby Goat weighs ?

Just over 6kg but is long with skinny legs.

Goat, I would definitively try size 3 (4 to 7kg) with baby dry, size 2 might be too small and thus leaks, I think. Hope you dn't havetoo many size 2 left !

Evening all! Hi Scuba and BadmissM. Don't think we've met before. Hope your pregnancies(?) go well. The stats are scary, but ignore them and keep focussing on the fact that you are x weeks preggers.

Goat yes, cleaner threw away dirty crockery as she couldn't be bothered to wash it!! She's an artist, you know!! Hey, Granny boots are back in, so you could replace them!! I can't believe my nieces wear my late-teens/early twenties garb of hotpants and short floral playsuits, opaque tights and DMS. V funny!!

BFF hasn't had many leaky nappies overnight, but the only thing I can think of is to put them in the biggest possible size overnight. I wish there was an invention to stop the poo squidging up and over the top of nappies at the back.

Hope baby midge and seaside are recovering ok from jabs. Seaside re the ugly swing - sometimes we just have to put good taste to one side for a bit of piece of mind. I am amazed by my level of tolerance for plastic, noisy tat these days - but if BFF is happy then so am I!! And as for 8 poos a day.... Wow. Impressive!! I wouldn't worry about tummy time. BFF didn't have much tummy time on floor as he hated it until recently, but did you know that holding them so they are upright and looking over your shoulder counts as TT? It strengthens the same muscle group. Oh, see goat says the same. BFF a bit keener on TT now, but can get whingey still, though I think now it's because he's heard about crawling, but can't quite put together all the moves. We thought he'd manage it by Christmas Day, but seems to be taking longer. Don't mind. Gives me more time to put 'interesting' things out of reach!!

BBD thanks for asking after my brother. Apparently he is ok and back at work. He is not speaking to me as Mum came to visit me when I and BFF were ill.... I find it depressing behaviour amongst a family just when I have brought a new life into this world. I will do anything to avoid the same in my family.

BFF and I feeling better today. Bad Mummy didn't put him to bed until gone 9pm. Tried earlier but he was sooooooo fidgety! I put that down to a 3 hour nap this afternoon! Debating whether to meet up with mates tomorrow. I think I will probably have to give it a miss as still have hacking cough even though I feel better, and I don't want to be accused of spreading germs. Think I need to get out more. Am excited about receiving pocket high-chair tomorrow, and a great little rain-maker toy for DS turns up next week.

Hugs to all. FF xx

Hello everyone - 39w tomorrow so hopefully not long until Baby Eagleray is here. Had a sweep yesterday which turned out to be only partly achieveable as cervix still closed. Baby very low but swear I could feel her scurrying back up again when she saw the midwife's hand coming!

Am still enjoying my quiet time at home, probably because xmas/new year was quite hectic so no time to get bored yet. Not desperately uncomfortable although turning at night is painful and the heartburn is putting me off my food.

If you meet on the 18th, I will feel obliged to provide you with some sort of live birth commentary as that is my due date! Of course it won't happen like that though Got another sweep on Sat first thing, then another one next week, until she is persuaded to come out. Might all be a bit pointless, but hoping still to avoid induction.

Very interesting reading your discussions about baby equipment and also the leaking shit! I have just bought a Cheeky Wipes washable wipe set off the web as it sounded like a good idea - people seem to be saying you can get a better 'purchase' on a pooey bum with the washable wipes than with the disposable ones (which can be irritable too). Of course, I could be entirely wrong but wondered if anyone else had them?

Seaside - laughing at your tummy time needs! But only because I am trying to imagine how I would get up off a rug given my ungainly stature (nearly needed to hire a crane earlier to get out of the bath).

Hope those of you meeting up next week have a lovely time (maybe I can get to the one after that) and wishing you all a restful night with no leaky nappies!

eagleray how exciting! Counting days now!
bbd I shall try the larger size. Still in smaller size during day because till recently could wrap it round him twice and size 3 leaked at leg holes! But BG has recently put on some podge and even has dimply knees...
This is out first time awake tonight. A miracle...

And no leaks!!!

goat seaside and fireflies thanks for the welcomes and reassurance :-) at 10+5 now and showing a little, so more confident but until scans next tues I don't think I'll really relax (if I ever actually relax for the next 18 years )
Eagleray good luck!!

scuba after good first scan the stats a very good. fingers crossed for you

eagleray good luck with all those sweeps!

goat aah dimply knees ... we aren't there yet, but legs are no longer to skinny for teeny tights :)

baby s reacting to jabs again so no sleep and lots of pitiful crying. blasted jabs

Hourah Baby Goat ! No waking up until 1.30am ! No leak ! Getting there ! Hope the underground goddess enjoyed your Mum's dance and allow her to join the meeting. I was thinking that you could use a bamboo thing inside the nappy for the night as well, bamboo absorbs a lot, you then need to wash the bamboo stuff and let it dry, it takes forever though to dry but it can be reused and would solve your pb if size 3 is too big for baby Goat's legs...
Seaside Midget hope the side effects of vaccine will leave your babies alone very soon.
Eagleray, cervix being ripe and soft, you are nearly there ! Sure thing, you will be with us for the next meeting. You made me laugh with the crane to get out of your roll top bath !
Nothing to report on my side. Getting very nervous about weaning. Don't know why...

bbd we will be joining you very soon on the weaning, maybe next weekend. BG is now very helpful when feeding him from bottle milk goes everywhere as we tussle over who is going to guide it where. I think he is going to be a independent little soul. Have downloaded the Bliss guide to weaning prems.
Last night was brilliant. One quick feed at 1:40 then asleep until 6! I got 8 hours sleep for the first time since the start of pregnancy. I could get used to this. Maybe shouldn't yet...

Evening all. Hope you are well. DS was v gripey this morning so I took him on a four hour walk this morning so we could both get some rest!! He got to sleep, and I got a break from the griping!! I stopped for lunch and part of my outing included a bit of a shop for dinner. When DS woke he was very happy and really eager to look around. He really paid attention to the trains for the first time and clearly thought they were really exciting. Was beautiful and sunny while we were out. I would have happily stayed out all day but thought it unfair on him, and anyway, was sure he would be less gripey when I got back so I could do some housework. WRONG!!! He was pretty unhappy when I sat him on the floor, so I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to keep him chirpy until bedtime, but there were quite a few tears. I think it's more teething that's making him like that.

Oh well, on the whole a lovely day despite being sandwiched by griping and tears. He's asleep at the moment, and has been for a while, which is good for him. Think I will head to bed soon though before he wakes.

Have you settled on a date to meet up next week? Can anyone come along? Hint hint??

Oh, now, I know you lot should get this when I tell you. I was feeling pretty good the other day, hair looking nice in the sunshine, feeling less fat, and bouncing happily along... and yes, I've still got it ladies!! I was eyed up by none other than Peter Bowles (of To the Manor Born fame). I swear he gave me an approving look. Ladies, when you think you look as bad as I think I do at the moment, being eyed up by a 76 year old is very flattering, not to mention a little bit exciting as you remember them from your favourite programme when you were younger!!

Well, glad it's Saturday tomorrow as hope to get some emotional, if not practical support from DH. I'm sure there was something else that I was going to mention, but brain shot to pieces these days.

Long, deep sleeps and sweet dreams all. FF xx

See, I knew there was something else. Aled Jones was in Pizza Express when I passed, and looked really annoyed as I did a double-take at him. God, I live such an exciting, star-studded, glamorous life!!

FF, what a life ! You should definitively join the meeting, you attract famous people, so please come along. Friday 18th, St Pancras, 10.30, the booking Office. Atm, Goat and myself, hope more will join. :)

10000Fireflies Am just trying to concentrate on the pg and hope it goes well....crossing fingers toes and any available extremity....

Shows you how exciting my life is...got all excited when where I live was on '16 Kids and Counting' earlier....and the nearest I've been to a famous person recently was seeing the Jewish mother from 'Strictly Kosher' in Cafe Rouge in Manchester a few months ago.

When I lived in Paris saw Kristin Scott-Thomas, Michel Galabru and even the Depardieus pere et fils.... how times change!

ff where on earth do you live that you rub shoulders with such glamorous people!
And badmissm how far along are you?
Went for broke tonight and BG in cot. Brilliant until 11:30 and feed. Now excited by new surroundings and VERY AWAAAAAAKE!! DH taking a turn.

hello! baby s has been alternating grizzling and feeding all day again, with the occasional 5 minute nap. am exhausted with sore empty boobs. exactly the same as after the last jabs, which went on for 3 weeks!!! give me strength ... trying to get her to nap for half an hour so i can make some more milk. this is the kind of time when women give up bf i think ... sorry im a bit low. i love her more than life but this is so hard!

Seaside, wish I could help you, Anastasia was like that in August, I could not put her down but now she is happy playing in her cot when she wakes up. It will get easier. Can you get someone else to give her a bottle today, take her for a walk, long walk, so that you can sleep ?
Anastasia just had her feed, my 2 men are away, I will catch up as much as I can on sleep !

Morning all!

BFF having an uncharacteristically early nap - from 0945-1130 so far. Managed to get loads of housework done! Yay!! RocknRoll. Though with idiot neighbour banging around in garden not sure how long sleep will last.

BBD thanks for the invite. I will see how I feel nearer the time, if that is ok. Amongst other things, my Mum is threatening to come up and 'help' this week. Usually such visits get rather fraught as we have different ideas of what is healthy eating, and she is also not able to do as much as she used to (to be expected at 77), but it makes her remarkably tired and when she gets like this also becomes a bit weird and bitchy!

I will keep everything crossed for you too Madmiss and Scuba. Someone else has said the same already, but I will repeat that even by the four week mark you are already past a lot of the worst risks. This is because the stats include pregancies which fail before many women know they are pregnant. I know it doesn't make sense when I put it down in writing, but I trust the friend who told me this as she works in a related field.

Madmiss you must have had a very glamorous time in Paris by the sounds of it. I have barely heard of 'Strictly Kosher' though.

Oh, another famous sighting which made me giggle - Nigel Havers jogging past. I am sure he was just out for some attention. And there is a comedian too who's a bit crap and whose name escapes me every time. Goat I'm in West London which is why I associate with such glitterati.

Goat well done on getting the kid into cot!! DH and I figure that every minute BFF is in cot is better than being in our bed.

I have been reading sleep threads which is useful. I am trying to work out what it the best sleep pattern to work towards to DS.

Big hugs for seaside. Sounds really tough. Am I right, was she prem? Do they adjust the dates for jabs in those cases? Have you any more to go or is this the last one?

How's LRM? You've been quiet the past few days. And Fjord. What about everyone else.? Well, better get on and make the most of this mega-nap or I'll be cross with myself. Catch up later. FF xx Damn. He's awake. Oh well. V cute little gurglings coming from cot.