Nov 05 Babies - They're ALL here!

[Rodeo]

Here we go, was going to write something lovely and meaningful, but I'm not very good at it so I'll leave that to someone else.....

[Londoner]

Hi Guys,

Diege - well done with the driving lessons know what you mean about gear changes, was just the same when I attempted lessons, I bet you will get the hang of it though and then it'll just become something you do without having to think about it........ don't give up Diege! Thanks for the encouragement on the Mirena and lol at 'natural' methods, ahem, yes I know all about those! Fingers are crossed for your job application.
BEKs... am so sorry you didn't get to eat all your pizza! You jumped straight in and offered to cut mine up for me when I was feeding Elizabeth, I feel so guilty. Were you thinking about it all the way home? I know I would have been! Chilli sounds a great idea and I hope you manage to enjoy it in peace.. Thomas was gorgeous BTW and so smiley and chatty in between the endearing tears, was very touched at how he responded to my coos, he's obviously really taking that 2nd set of jabs in his stride.
Tex, Rosie has the longest legs this side of Elle (The Body)McPherson! An what an amazing pair of boys your Tobes and BEKs' Ben are, so so sweet, playing hide and seek and giggling behind chairs together.
BoB - I had no idea you were going through such a tough time. Please give me a call/ come over for a cup of tea/ walk in the park whenever, I'm usually around and would love to hear from you, especially as Elizabeth asked me who that handsome Oskar was on the bus journey home.
btw thanks for the photo.... actually, we were at a rave weren't we girls....
Golden, thanks for the coil post, was very encouraged.
Brownie - John Lewis' feeding rooms are the bees knees I agree! Glad T's rash is clearing up
Can't believe I managed to miss the bf programme [rolls eyes]! Ah well, was doing my own bf instead....
Rodeo, glad your meet with L&SMum went well and your evening out too, wow! Where did you go last night?

[novadandypowder]

well, did my first paranoid new mum thing today and rang NHS direct about Natalie's cold. Was wondering if I should be worried that all the snot was going into her chest rather than out of her nose, but they said she should be fine. She also seems to have lost her voice - she can't cry properly?! Hopefully it'll start getting better soon, but we're off to see the HV tomorrow so should get some more reassurrance.

BEKS - I'm on my second AF too, boo! It's a lot more painful now, my lady bits seem to feel quite bruised and heavy during the bleeding, and I can feel the hormones rushing around me in waves.

Just thinking - it's nearly a year since I conceived DD...

[novadandypowder]

talking of the bf programme last night..

are you bf-ing ladies ever in the situation where you would need to bf in the middle of a supermarket/at the checkout (as per example in the show)? I only ask because I would never dream of bottle feeding DD in the supermarket, and it made me wonder if some of the women were bf-ing just to make a point rather than genuine need?

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, am not going to dare go near any of the general threads on this.

[BEKsmum]

Londoner lol at you & the pizza guilt, i won't tease you and say i was put out!!! I ate plenty and I'm along way from starving Was she the most unfriendly waitress you've ever come across or was it just me. Would it have taken a lot out of her to raise a smile, or to coo over the babies.

Meant to say if you are anxious about the 2nd set of jabs I'd be happy to come along with you and hold her if it helps.

Needless to say the offer of a cuppa & a chat is open to all of you who live near enough, and to those of you who live further a field if you can be a*sed!!!

Diege we're showing our age now - raves in 90's hangers Well done with the driving by the way, the lazy gear changes sounds like a professional driver to me - you'll pass in no time.

Managed to eat my chilli in peace and have just survived Ben re-applying my makeup, now I'm off to tackle the ironing mountain, speak to you all tomorrow Beks

[Rodeo]

Glad you had a lovely time all of you! Seen the pic, LOL at BoB's 'industrial/grime nightclub' comment, she's hilarious

BoB I do agree with Beks, don't rush into anything, I'm sure you will work it out, he can't understand how hard it is to look after a 3 month old (I suppose on the outside it does look easy, but we all know how demanding it actually is) Maybe leaving him alone with Oskar to cope for a weekend might open his eyes a bit? And remember a new baby is a massive adjustment for any couple, even if they've got 2 already!!

And you're not silly for keeping it from us, can't you remember my psuedonym 'itstings'??!! LOL!! Totally different problem but it was awful. You have every right to post under a different name, just remember to change them back again

And next time you're up in Sheffield let us know!!

[BEKsmum]

Nova, don't worry too much about the phlegm going onto Natalies chest, she will bring most of it back up with any reflux, also because the flap of skin between the nose and the back of the throat isn't fully grown yet, most of it goes down their throats rather than out of their noses.

You will find that any bogeys (horrible word) can be pulled out or sucked out with a pipette type thing (you can get them from the chemist)to help her breathe easier.
I have also put Calrub on Thomas's vest as it can't be used till after 6 months but I've found it helped him quite a bit

Just so you don't go into complete meltdown, the first few times she is sick you'll probably find it comes out of her nose too - it scared the pants off me when it happened to Ben!

As for Af's my mum always promised me that they would be less painful when I'd had kids - I'm still waiting. I get pain under my butt cheeks and down my inner thighs now - wtf that's no where near my ovaries and with a butt as big as mine that's a lot of pain

With the bfing I was caught out a couple of times with Ben purely down to bad planning and had to go back to the car after finishing shopping and feed him in the car. I was better organised with Thomas, but no I wouldn't be flopping them out in the middle of the queue I'd either have left the shopping or made the boys wait.

Personally I wouldn't have fed the boys much past 3 months or so as I just don't like seeing older children latched on - this is purely a personal view and it doesn't offend me in anyway if someone else does it I just didn't want to do it myself. Bizarre i know but there you go.

Right just found out my cousin is in a programme on 5 so off to watch him. Beks

[Rodeo]

Nova, re breast-feeding at check-out or in the middle of supermarket, I would never do that! Are they just showing off that they can do it anytime, anywhere?! I'm sure some of it is exhibitionism, I mean surely they and the baby could wait for a suitable bench? (please don't let Harpsichordcarrier read this, she'd have my guts for garters ) That is my point of view anyway, not meaning to cause any offence!

Poor little Nat it is really worrying when they get so bunged up and chesty, fingers crossed it will pass soon.

Ooh, and after chastising you about 'netmums', I had a peek and emailed a mum inviting her to our toddler group! I'll let you know the outcome

[novadandypowder]

Beks - phlegm is a much better word!! It's been strange as she's her usual bright chirpy self, she's just really bunged up and sneezing a lot. I got one of those suction bulbs but nothing came out and she screamed when I tried it.

Rodeo - I think the same, but it's such a difficult area to offer an opinion in!

I found Netmums is more geared up to meeting people in a particular area - I got fed up with no-one being in Kensington on here. The woman I met said that she had 4 replies from the post she put up, which still doesn't seem to be that many to me? She also had her baby at the Portland, and we seem to have a lot in common so far. Really looking forward to meeting BoB though - out of all the posters on here I've always wanted to meet her, and Rodeo and Diege. You all need to move to Notting Hill!!!! When I win the Euro millions I'll buy you all a house here and then we can spend all day being ladies that lunch .

[tex111]

Beks, Bob and Londoner, so nice to meet you today. It was just what I needed and Tobes has talked non-stop about 'my friend Ben'. I think he had a great time too.

Bob, I saw your other thread and I agree that there was some good advice but also agree with Beks that having a baby is a big adjustment. I suggest you and DH just try to talk a lot. My DH is great with the children, house, etc but he definitely did not come out of the box that way! That's after years and years of training. I was 21 and he was 22 when we got married and we thought we had to fall into some stereotypical roles that were just all wrong for us. It took a while to find what worked and it might just be the same for you guys. If you want to meet up anytime just ring. We're so close, almost just around the corner. I'll CAT you my number.

In fact, I'm planning to be at Costa Coffee in Blackheath at around 10.00 tomorrow if anyone wants to join me. It's my little treat on Fridays when Tobes is at school.

Diege, I'm very impressed with the driving. It took me a year of lessons and three tries before I finally got my UK licence. And that was on an automatic and after driving in the US for 15 years.

Nova, it's awful when they're all stuffed up. I always think about a scene in Angela's Ashes where the father sucks the mucous out of the baby's nose. I have considered it more than once but thankfully have yet to get that desperate. I did see a new gadget that's a tube/straw thing that you use to remove mucous from the baby's nose by sucking on one end of it. It's long so nothing actually gets into your mouth. Sounds disgusting but I know the next time Rosie has a bad cold I'll be wishing I bought one.

OK, off to spend some time with the hubby. Have a good night!

[Diege]

Evening everyone!.Thanks for all the positive support about my driving lessons - was really touched! . I will get there with your help, and then there will be no stopping me at the London meets! . BEKSMUM, yes, the raves in hangers do seem ages ago...not that I actually went to any , though I did frequent the Hacienda of a Saturday night in my black lycra hotpants and skinny t-shirt dancing to the ' Inspiral Carpets'!! (err, about 15 years ago - seems a lifetime! .)
BOB: I feel for you, though don't really feel qualified to offer any specific advice...know a little of how tough it can all get after a baby, as I'd only been going out with my DH for 3 months when I fell pregnantwith dd1 . We had to get to know each other very quickly, and there were certainly some ups and downs along the way. Hold on in there, you're doing great . LOL BTW about the baby clothes shopping; I too am terrible, and found it really difficult to get excited anymore about my own clothes (being the 'wrong' size at present!), though bags and shoes pose no such problem ; baby clothes are so much easier! We will have to go shopping if you come up North!
NOVA: I remember anxiously ringing NHS Direct for the first time (you will become very familiar with their number over the years!); 9 times out of 10 they have been great, and so reassuring. Do I detect a hint of wistfulness when you recalled getting pregnant last year? ; will hold you to the house in Kensington - we would be quite happy with our magazines .
Talking of which, I can't remember who was asking about light boxes (sorry!), but when persuing my copy of OK! magazine this evening saw an article on SAD, with a ref to the Outside In company which do a full range of them, website www.outsidein.co.uk.Might be worth a look?
Hoping for a better night tonight (I think we did jinx it LONDONER, as after the good night's sleep, she's gone back to waking at 3ish ; almost better not to have had the full nights sleep (almost...
Right, I'll stop rambling before you all start yawning,
Night night,
Diege and Liberty .

[Busyalexsmummy]

Diege-well done on the driving, was my 4th hr today of driving and so far have mastered gear changing 1/2/3 but need to be prompted for 4th! and hillstarts. got told off today for coasting! oops! is it just me-or are people really silly, the amount of drivers that pull out of junctions(just before i reach them) etc when they can clearly see me coming is shocking- also people crossing- i was pulling out a junction on a bend were traffic really do wizz along pretty fast and 2 old biddies decided to cross in front of me! can you not see the L plate?? have you got a death wish??!

[Rodeo]

Just finished wathing 'that' bfing programme! Thought I'd revise my 'are they trying to prove a point' statement of earlier. Because they were trying to prove a point They were doing something for a local paper over a woman being asked to stop bfing in a park by the police So it was for a good cause after all, that'll teach me to get the full story before I comment!

Aw Nova, I'd love to meet you too, went all soppy when I read your post. May hold you to the house in Notting Hill though

Night all x x x

[Busyalexsmummy]

lol, had to add my 2 penneth ealier too...

Well, it was better than i expected!
The twins-I felt so sorry for them when they went cold turkey, sobbing their little hearts out-what a thing for a two yr old to understand-that theyve had something for that long, then are being denied it, prob would have been much kinder to cut down gradually-saying that i understand why she did it quickly as her health and relationship were starting to suffer for it.
As for her doing it to reduce the risk of cancer-why not? as her mother died so young from it, why not? if you were in that situation, would you not do everything in your means to reduce the risk?

the forgein lady(deloras?)-didnt look as odd as i thought it would b/f a 4 yr old, she was quite eccentric and i agree that giving the little girl breastmilk would benefit the poor little mite, but think that expressing would prob be the kinder option as she was clearly not wanting to breastfeed. Although saying that, it wasnt "forced" upon her, she was offering it to her, but not forcing the issue when the little girl wasnt up for it.

the little angels- how fab, wish there were more groups like this around, what a great idea!
As for poeple reactions in the street-so what.......would they object to seeing someone bottlefeed their baby?? i think not
and the burberry chav-hahahahahahahaha what a p*k! how narror minded can you get??? and did you hear it when the little angels were having a "mass breastfeed" in the shopping centre and he called over "this ones bottlefed, stong as an ox she is, nothing wrong with her" LOL

Hmm, and as for the cumbrian women, well, it was very odd. I agree with much of what she was saying and her reasons behind it, but the way the girls were talking(especially at the end of the prog) was slightly bizzare, breastfeeding themselves? eh?

Oh and as for breastfeeding men-deliberatly b/fing, hmmm, weird. but I think many men do enjoy lactating women(not in a b/fing sense, in a erotic sense, beleive it or not there is a difference) my dp is one for sure and hes probably had more than his fair share of b/m during foreplay/lovemaking. just thought id say that as i dont mind admitting it and i know there are more out there who do/like it, but wont admit it!

prob a little tmi but just trying to put my point accross on the C4 b/f thread....

[Diege]

Wow, you've certainly woken me up this morning BAM,; I think you're right that many DP do 'get into' the whole lactating thing; remember with dd1 when I did BF that there was certainly a 'curiosity' about it . Hey, there's even a porno mag called 'Squirters'!! so a backpacking friend informed me...I'll leave that to your imagination. Wish I'd seen the programme now!
I too struggle to shift up to 4th gear (rapidly changing the subject), and also get exasperated at how learners are treated as if invisible. Always get people/cars pulling out, and feel I'm taking my life in my hands at roundabouts ; we will get there in the end!
Well, friend coming over with her 10 month old today, and we're going to brave a posh restaurant for lunch .
Speak later,
Diege.

[Londoner]

Morning ,

nova - hope you had a good night with Natalie and her cold is improving, HV could have some helpful tips, hope it goes well. To answer your question, would bf baby anywhere if necessary, it's not an issue but I always make sure they are fed and dry before shopping or going out anywhere like most other mums ... if the need for a feed arises, I'm caught short etc will always seek the most private/quiet place possible to feed - in the car for instance. Certainly never used bf as a personal rights excercise!
BEKs - thanks for offering to hold my hand for the next jabs, you're so giving - I'll be fine, your moral support is great though thank you.. Thanks for the coffee invite, cannot get to Bromley unless I take 3 buses! BTW.... ironing? ...mind you, you did look immaculate whereas I had my dh crumpled jumper on, maybe I should take a leaf out of your book. Calrub on the vest is a great tip, never thought of that, thanks!
Tex, would meet you in Costa only am going to cinema today instead to see new Johnny Cash life story 'Walk the Line', yay, can't wait! Hope you enjoy your coffee in (relative) peace with Rosie. Agree with you about learning together with OH. Talking is good.
Busy, glad you survived your lesson, good on you!
Diege, hope you have a great lunch today, sounds lovely!
BoB - hope you had a good night and possibly a lie in today?

[Rodeo]

I've just started a brand new thread for us all

New thread here