Morning all.
I'm very impressed with the number and firmness of bedtime routines going on. Until very recently we've had no routine at all. DD could fall asleep anywhere at anytime, so we just let her do it. On the couch, in her sling, on my chest, etc. However, the last couple of weeks she's been finding it more difficult to go off - probably because she's more aware of and interested in things around her. Consequently, I've found her falling into a routine of her own, but perhaps with a little nudge to get her past the really-tired-squealy-squirmy stage. She wakes at 7-ish when my husband gets up, has a nap mid-morning and one about 3pm. She's then in bed between 7 and 8-ish with a feed when we go to bed at about 10.30. My husband mentioned something about putting her in her own room soon - but she's still waking once or twice in the night for a feed - and there's no way in hell she's moving until she's sleeping through. At the moment I can shunt a breast into her mouth without properly waking - I'm certainly not going into the next room to do it.
Speaking of which, I nearly automatically shoved a breast in her mouth last night when I heard her fussing... but just as I manoeuvring into the vicinity of her mouth, I realised that she was still asleep and presumably dreaming.
Had really unpleasant breast problem just recently actually. Blocked duct, a whole weekend spent trying to free it, worried it would turn into mastitis. It didn't - but then bizarrely the opening of the duct healed over (how can skin form that quickly??? over something that's meant to be open??) and the nipple was hugely painful on feeding. I shan't give you the details of how I managed to sort this out, since I'll put you off your breakfasts. I thought it was getting better, but on Saturday I was feeding DD and noticed that the milk dribbling from her mouth was pink. Really freaked me out. Wasn't particularly painful but still... Mummyhill: Did I read somewhere that you had blood in your milk once, or did I imagine that?
I use cloth nappies. Motherease one size. Really happy with them. I think cloth nappies have come a long way since my mother was using them. I've used disposables over Christmas and whilst on holiday and I thought they were rubbish (have tried a few brands). Lots of leakages. You never get that with Motherease . It does have to be said that we're not on solids yet, so I don't know what washing them will be like then, but there's been no problems with the explosive yellow liquid.
Re: the threads on here turning horrid. I remember someone commenting on this on an ante-natal thread, just after I'd been beaten up for having an opinion on a Childbirth thread. Sometimes these ante/post-natal threads really are a cosier place to be... I have to say though that I used to lurk on an American message board (before I discovered Mumsnet) and everyone there was so group-huggy and supportive that they were afraid to express an opinion. One woman posted with what sounded to me like the secondary symptoms of syphilis - and not one person told her to get her a*se to the doctor. If you come on asking for an opinion on something, you surely have to expect you're going to hear things you don't like.
With some of the threads which have happened recently (and not just the bath one), I think a lot of people have difficulty understanding that someone displaying mental ill-health cannot be judged by the same standard of conduct as someone in full possession of their faculties. My mother used to get very frustrated and annoyed with a woman she worked with once because she felt that this woman would go to everyone to talk about her problems, take heed of no advice - and then go on to the next person. She didn't have any particular problems (debt, physical illness, unemployment etc), although she was divorced and not in a relationship at that time and therefore possibly lonely. I think my mother felt that she should just pull herself together. Anyway, she went one night with her then teenage daughter to stay with a work colleague and his wife, both of whom were psychiatric nurses. She took an overdose of something, put a plastic bag over her head and suffocated herself. She presumably expected the two nurses to find her - but obviously it wasn't, it was her daughter who found her - and I can't imagine how that girl would get that image out of her head for the rest of her life. Of course, then everyone, including my mother, felt guilty that they hadn't realised how unwell she was and how they thought she was just attention seeking.
The problem with an internet forum is that it's a very two dimensional medium and people can only judge you on your postings.
What worries me sometimes - more than the bullying - is the way some people (one person in particular) posts her opinion as fact. There was one thread regarding induction, epidurals etc during labour and she made a statement as if of fact. Well, yes - there may be research to suggest that, but then you could also find research to suggest the contrary - and many consultants will hold conflicting opinions too. I understand that and would investigate the matter for myself, reading the research and making a decision based on my own propensity for risk... but the way some people reacted it looked like they had assimilated this as a statement of truth. Is she even medically qualified? Absolutely not.
I'll stop ranting now.
SimplyRed: I had a relationship break up the year Alanis Morrisette's album came out. A friend bought it for me because she'd decided that no relationship should end without it. Very good for relieving bitterness, I found - but I don't think I've listened to it once in the intervening years.