December 2011 - April drools!

[OiMissus]

A new thread! squee-eeeze. :)

Or next saturday?

Back from the hospital ... the op has gone well and BabyYBR is herself again. It was a lot of work to keep her content while fasting, and really had to get her to settle and sleep, but she did allow herself to be coaxed.

They had said that it was very likely we'd have our own cubicle, whereas in fact we had the most exposed bed on the ward: directly opposite the reception/nursing station and where the tea/coffee supply was. I got them to move us at bed time (just across the bay which put a corner in the way) so I think I got some sleep between 3-5am, but not uninterrupted. [tired]

Plan for the weekend: sleep, sleep, ZZZzzzzz.....

Well done YBR, what a relief it went well and glad you're home. Have a good weekend...

Feeling a bit wobbly despite brilliant sunshine: had a phone call from mortgage woman (for research purposes so we can do some maths) and she was very negative about my job, made a big thing about me being on mat leave, and said that as I might have to change jobs if we moved my income wouldn't count and if I went self employed that would be totallly ignored from a mortgage point of view. Grrr, it's left me unsettled as my cunning plan for a three month sabbatical to get the family settled into new home would be unachievable if it meant we couldn't get enough mortgage to move. < breathe, and move on...>

Glad all went well ybr, hurrah! Hope LO is soon fully recovered, and that you soon recover your lost sleep.

Sorry about rubbish mortgage advice aethel. My bank didn't like mat leave either. I had to get a letter from work stating that I'd be back working, fulltime within the month, otherwise the underwriter wouldn't have even looked at the application. (They would have viewed my salary as being the statutory ML pay, and would have lent to me accordingly - which would be a grand total of something like £4.50 i guess!)
Good luck, I hope you find a way to get around the bureaucracy.

We're going to visit a nursery this afternoon. Mopsy well done to you for being far more organised than I have been. I'm back at work in 3 weeks (yikes) and still need cover for at least one day a week. This is my first nursery visit. I'll set up some more for next week...

I had to be really as she started so young Oi. Settling in day no. 2 successfully achieved. She was fine again, and I managed not to cry this time. Only stayed twenty minutes and left her for nearly three hours. My husband came along and was happy with the nursery too. It's hard though.

Feeding minimopsy, then off to the airport. First flight w her and only taking hand baggage and sling. Hope it all works out ok ...

aethel grrrr re mortgage application. Booooo!

air hope you're ok!

Please don't hate me but the five nights of sleep have made me feel awful. Headache and more tired if that is at all possible. Perhaps I just need more nights.

Also feeling very down about my weight. Still just over a stone heavier than pre pg and even then was a little heavier than I'd ideally be. I can only fit into one pair of non mat jeans and they look hideous. Nothing looks nice and so I feel down and comfort myself with another chocolate biscuit.... Argh I guess I just need some willpower - any idea where I can get some?

Aw Hawthers, sorry to hear you're feeling a bit low. I have sympathy a currently 2 stone heavier than pre-pregnancy: I did this with all my dCs and only lost the weight once I'd finished breastfeeding. Did lose everyvlast pound before falling pregnant again, but hey. Guess my body just needs reserves and adjusts my appetite accordingly...

In terms of practical weight maintainence and morale boosting I suggest finding some nice treats that are smaller than usual. Then let yourself hav some but with a natural stop point for each day. So eg buy some lindt chocolate balls, but have two at a time each day as your "treat" with a cuppa. Aldi do 20g bars of Moser Roth chocolate in all cocoa strengths from milk to 85%, five for £1.09, and because you unwrap and eat one, you're stopped from eating more by the fact you'd be unwrapping a new bar. Or you could be indulgent and get something in small portions from Hotel Chocolat or similar... The important thing (that I repeat frequently) is that this is a temporary phase and when baby's grown some more I intend to shrink! Just not yet.... (if you want to join me in 3-4 months on an exercise and lost babyweight thread?)

Possibly a silly question, Hawthers but can you afford/have time for weight watchers classes? They're doing wonders for my sister. I use myfitnesspal app on my iPod - well I will do when I start to get my act together (probably when i stop b/feeding!). Other than that, the thread ladies could helpfully encourage you to do a workout at home 2 or 3 times a week. That might help with the feeling down and tired?

Aethel, sorry for the negative mortgage app. Why women get ostracised for taking time to care for their newborns is beyond me!

Good luck nursery hunting, Oi!

And good luck with the flight, Mopsy!

So glad babyYBR got through her op ok, hope you catch up with the zzzs this weekend

We're off on a steam train tomorrow, it's a Thomas the Tank special event so dd should love it :)

good tips thanks. i find the its the odd chocolate biscuit as i pass the tin and the nibbling on an extra fishfinger with DS1's tea plus my portion control is totally absent. i could really easily tell someone else how to lose it but seemingly am unable to take my own advice... right new day tomorrow and will try not to snack on crap and really think about portions. that is only two things so sure;ly i should be able to stick with those and see what happens. must be strong! if it doesn't work will def see you pn the weight loss thread aethelfleda

Thanks for the sympathy re mortgages everyone! At the end of the conversation she did actually offer us a good lump but I suspect that was by her "counting" my job in, and that will mean us not looking til I'm back to work, but could delay me giving notice as I don't know if the mortgage people will want a letter that I'm not on notice (I have a long notice period so we will have to start looking for houses during that as otherwise it would delay completion). Anyway, it's daft really cos the field I'm in always has "supply" work available somewhere (like doing someone's maternity cover!!), but obviously the mortgage lenders lump all self-employed/contract work together in a big pot marked "high risk"....

Lovely sunshine still, and DDs home from school... for everyone!

Argh my back has gone out, i can either have straight legs bent back or vice versa. I cant pick up lo and was due to be out for a few vinos tomorrow afternoon with friends. Damn it!!!

Lo was amazing today while meeting in laws friends smiling, chatting and even fell asleep when tired without lots of fussing. Hes even gone 3 hrs between feeds for the last 3 days am truly impressed with him.

Hope you all have nice weekend plans?

hawthers I am also really down about my weight and more specifically my massive, flabby tummy . I haven't posted for ages as trying to rest my wrists to get rid of the tendonitis but your post tempted me! I just keep comfort eating and have developed a sweet tooth since being pregnant.

I'd be well up for a weekly weigh in to encourage action, I also use myfitnesspal app on my iPhone where you can add friends or through Facebook?

Oh and figgy my sympathies with your bad back, I've suffered for years and was only better when I was pregnant randomly. Hope it gets better for you soon.

Bloody sciatica (which i somehow survived pregnancy without a touch of but have now had twice in 3 months). Lying down on the floor trying to straighten up as lo off to bed.

Im not being too hysterical about weight am sure someone said before it takes 9 months to go on and the same to go away. I need to lose it before back to work in June so 6lbs to go and then another 4 for good measure

Aargh, sorry I need to rant. Shit day at GOSH, left at 8am and back home at 8pm. The physio woman was extremely rough with DS, he was upset and practically hysterical shouting for her to stop. I came very close to losing it and saying something, i would never be that rough with him so why is it ok for someone else to be? DH noticed that she wrote uncooperative in her notes . I felt like I was told off at one point for helping him take off his shoes, she said "no Alexis I asked if you could take your shoes off". His afternoon appointment was running nearly an hour late too. The positive though is that I was told I should be claiming carers allowance so I'll look into that tonight.

Hope everyone has had a better day than me!

Went upstairs to check on the DDs because noises were coming from upstairs. DS asleep in moses basket. dD1 bouncing up and down because she's so excited it's holidays that she can't sleep. DD2 has fallen asleep clutching an elaborate sculpture she's made out of plastic coathangers.

Just another evening chez aethelfleda. I'm off to pump and sit with a brew in front of Gypsy Wedding til DH makes it home...

msbuggy hope your DD1 feels better tomorrow.

hawthers I'm still the size of a house a stone above my pre-pregnancy weight and also have no will power.

aethel thats really crap of your mortgage company just for taking maternity leave. When we first got our mortgage I was on just above minimum wage working for a supermarket. Because I was only earning just over 10k a year they said my earnings were too low to take into account!

And very sorry you both had a bad day seven. i know physios are meant to push the boundaries with physio but there's a fine line between encouragement and too much sometimes. Do say somehthing if it happens again otherwise they won't know how you feel.

Hope the back gets better soon figgy.

Thanks aethel. She was actually pinning him down at one point though :( I'm angry with myself for not saying something, I know they have to push boundaries but his local physio is brilliant, this one just didn't seem good with children, important for a children's physio. I know GOSH is meant to be one of the worlds best hospitals but I'm always let down by it. There's now a neuromuscular clinic at Addenbrookes though which is an hour closer so we'll try there next time, GOSH is a 230 mile round trip.

seven speaking as a physio I'm appalled by what happened. It is a misconception that physios need to be rough. A children's physio in Particular should be aware of boundaries and perceptions. Did she explain why she was doing what she was doing or ask your son how he was? I'd expect more from GOSH.

hawthers I always scrape any uneaten DS's tea into the dog bowl to stop me eating it. I know of mums who cover it in fairy liquid to do the same.

figgy once this episode of sciatica has settled I can't recommend core stability enough. Your body has gone through huge changes being pregnant and you need to retrain all the muscles that have been stretched.

aethel it's moments like that that make me love being a mum. I love listening to DS1 chatter and sing as he goes to sleep.

As for me, I've survived 2 weeks on my own. Playing hockey tomorrow then packing the boys and dog into the car and driving to my parents in b'ham for 2 weeks. I can't wait to have an extra pair of hands!

figgy hope you're back is better soon (un-mumsnet hug)

hawthers I feel the same, I can get into two pairs of pre-maternity jeans, they're my "fat" jeans and I have to leave the button undone! Sick to death of leggings! I think it's easier to lose weight over the summer, when you think about it we've had our babies at the worst time of year with all that Xmas food!

I have no clue what I currently weigh as I binned the scales when we moved house! All I know is that I was 9 stone exactly in March last year and 9 and a half stone when I was 6 weeks pregnant at my booking appointment with the midwife. I tend to think its how you feel not what you weigh. I'd probably guess I'm 10 and a half stone at the moment?! If it's more then I don't want to know

< cheerful wave >

Place marked!

Hi northern!

I am not getting paid for this, Honest, but ladies on a budget who might be somewhat -ahem- enlarged in the bottom/tum/leg department, get yourself to a New Look, they do budget jeans in easy-fit and bootcut up to size 20 and they are £12 a pair and really good. (currently living in their size 18s....)

Morning! Coffee and croissants for breakfast here.

Although I am at pre-preg weight, I still have a stone hanging around from DD2. Probably won't shed it until I (one day, many years in the future!) finish bfing.

Aaaaand two hours later I manage to finish this post! I have been being useful though

Morning all, scooby thanks for the tip about what to do with leftovers. I like the fairy idea. I can't resist food that's lying around, waiting to be eaten. I'm dreadful at buffets. I have no willpower. I'll remember fairy.
Well done on getting thru those 1st 2 weeks. Enjoy brum.
Sympathies for the bad back figgy. and seven sympathies for the GOSH experience.
Another night of constant waking wanting food. He is unsettled the whole time and constantly kicks his legs - which wakes him up. I'm guessing the thrashing legs is due to the discomfort of teething. There are no teeth imminent, so what do I do? Will teething gels or powders help yet? Any advice would be really appreciated. Our evenings are hard work as he gets really upset, and we're woken every hour at night. Poor thing.