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Post Grad Brookers - we're in here....

999 replies

Biscuitsandtea · 17/06/2012 10:12

New thread - t'other one got full up....

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
pommedechocolat · 19/06/2012 19:55

I mindlessly ate a whole packet of Percy pigs in the car today Blush I did give dd1 3 'little faces' though Wink

My dm really surprised me today by telling me that she thought I shouldn't give formula and that early weaning would be better than giving up bf! Quite astonishing. I'm the first person in our immediate family on both sides to bf and it does seem to be having an effect.

pommedechocolat · 19/06/2012 19:56

The warnings about depression are valid I think dream...

Biscuitsandtea · 19/06/2012 20:40

Ahhhhh, Wine Smile

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DreamingOfPeace · 19/06/2012 21:14

FFS. Noone is asleep in the dream household. My problem is I'm really starting to feel like I'm failing. I'm still rarely alone with all 3 and when I am its chaos- like getting the four of us up, fed, dressed in the morning before my parent/ nanny arrive. And that's only ever three hours max (my dad comes later). DD playing up. I shouted at her today (helpful with a pre verbal toddler, no?!) . DD is fighting naps and bedtime and is totally obsessed with buckles and straps and combined with her lack of speech is making me worry about her ( plus her still no crawling/ climbing. I'm doing daily stairs practice etc with her now as i can now I'm not vastly pg and she's not getting there yet herself). She can do about 50 BSL (British Sign Language) signs and can communicate she wants apple juice/ a snack/ baby's crying, she wants a cuddle etc like that but still... The dts aren't sleeping or showing signs of any kind of daytime routine. Although that must be my fault (lack of routine) I think its lack of sleep contributing to me being anxious about it all?! I'm already worrying the dts won't crawl and be the same with their lack of climbing etc which is a bad thing as is proving with a much less independent physically than her peers DD.
scream, I'm in for healthy eating once birthday chocolate gone . Will start with my tummy exs as my bloody rectocele/cystocele will stop any bouncing type ex til i sort my pelvic floor out. Gah, I wish I'd had a CS first time, wouldn't have this issue then. Better than incontinence I suppose...

I'm in a bad mood Brookers, sorry.

jaggy, the Paul stuff sounds really sensible, think i should do that,I'm such a glutton!

4lb off too, well done you!!!

I'm 8st9 on the scales, which is less than half a stone off pre pg weight but still looking distinctly pg. Depressing as shows a lot is my split muscles, plus all the weight is on my tummy as I'm back in normal clothes and that's where they're tight.

pomme, my friends baby is in the EAT study. Huge, thousands in it, done by the food standards agency I think, looking at early weaning vs weaning at 6 months. I understand there US no evidence its best to wait. Her son was weaned at 3 months (they do have a barrage of allergy tests first for purposes of the study) but its looking at the early weaners (given dairy/ wheat/ peanuts very early) vs 6 months to look at allergies/ benefits. To get anything like this through an Ethics panel (as legally required) there is no conclusive evidence either way as if putting a baby into a group (either early or later weaning) where you could show there had been 'risk' would never be passed. So I'd say if she doesn't take a bottle, which of course she will, wean away.

Tmi question, but what are people doing for contraception post babies and bf? Finally managed to dtd the other day though I'd rather have slept with the bf as contraception option Hmm . Not going to be relying on that but hormonal contraception makes me crazy. Pre children, and between dc we used natural family planning as i had a regular cycle so I've no idea what to do as none of the options really appeal I don't think... Never worried too much before as if I'd got pg 'accidentally' it wouldn't have mattered but i can't have any more yet!!!!

pommedechocolat · 19/06/2012 21:24

dream - lack of sleep, and actually the worry about not getting any sleep, makes me very anxious. This is heightened when dh is away for work as he is now until Thursday ( hence panic attack last time). I can only imagine the anxiety i'd be feeling in your shoes.

I've got my second period whilst ebf at 16 weeks now Angry it hurts!!

I can't take hormonal contraception at all dream due to my blood condition and the warfarin I take. This leaves us with condoms, the old fashioned copper coil (which allows eggs to be fertilised but they can't implant - the thought grosses me out totally). So far we have gone with rhythm, withdrawal and other amusements. I say that like its been more than once a month Grin

Biscuitsandtea · 19/06/2012 21:50

Dream - I really wouldn't stress about 'training' your dd up to do things - she's still so young. By 2 DS had some words but not much in the way of putting them together. I would say he prob had no words at 20 (?) months. We never did baby signing etc and he got by just fine so if your DD can already communicate what she wants using the signs then she's doing just fine. Comparing him to the rest of our NCT group there were those that spoke earlier and some around the same time (he was at the later end of the group). By the time they were 3 you really couldn't tell any difference. Same with walking / potty training and all the other major things. And stair climbing - she'll get it eventually. Ultimately it doesn't matter if she can 'climb' the stairs in the long run. When she's bigger and has longer legs she'll be able to walk up and down them properly. All the short term methods kids use to get up and down stairs are really just temporary. Now obviously she still needs to get up and down the stairs but if I were you I really wouldn't be doing outright practice with her. Just encouragement to try bits herself. You put a lot of pressure on yourself to be perfect at everything. I literally don't know anyone else who could deal with what you do. Please give yourself a break. You're doing an amazing job.

And it takes me 3 hours to get the three of us up and dressed often - don't set your standards too high. And ds1 can dress himself (in theory) whereas you have 3 littlies to get dressed.

I don't know how to put this - but: You have three children under 2. That is HUGE. People don't breeze through that - they survive it and look back on what they've done in awe (when they finally get some sleep). And to top it all none of the three of them sleep well at the mo. And your DH has an enormously high pressure job with long hours so you're doing most of this on your own.

We aren't kidding when we say you're super woman.

And this is all meant with the greatest of love and support for you Dream.

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jaggythistle · 19/06/2012 21:53

I've been pondering the contraception too. so far just not dtd at all Blush. I'm just so tired I'm not interested. I'm doing my own head in though as the longer i wait the more of a big deal it feels. we just used condoms before ttc no 2. i do have the 'taking control of your fertility book' but i cba with temp taking at the moment and also not sure it'd work with bf and no af. i hated being on the pill too so am nervous of other hormonal stuff.

dream the Paul thing really is sensible. no planning or thinking what you're allowed to eat, just a short and simple book to read, with the cd when you get time . it was a good use of about £5 on Amazon. the title 'i can make you thin' is a bit cringey though! even when i didn't concentrate that well i was able to not put weight on even when i wasn't losing it.

Biscuitsandtea · 19/06/2012 21:54

Oh, and Dream on a vaguely related note....

I met a lady the other day who has 6yo twins and a 6mo baby. She said both her twins were chilled out etc and she still found it hard (and does now). And she was saying that she'd seen someone out with twins and a toddler at about 7pm and thought to herself 'I bet they've only just got out of the house for the morning' Grin

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DreamingOfPeace · 19/06/2012 22:31

Really quick as all children asleep here, for now and I've been doing laundry etc...

Anxious about having lost the sleep time already. Sorry you're the same pomme but it is reassuring to know its not just me who's anxiety ramps up with lack of sleep and we are in fact normal. I hope you have a good night and nothing vaguely worrying/ many wake ups to trigger another panic attack. Sounds awful, they can be so scary. :(

biscuits, you've cheered me up, thanks Thanks

I put a pic of my buggy and my pygmy tribe up today for you scream (& anyone who's interested)

Brooking for a good night for all!!

P.s wonderful jaggy, only a fiver to get thin ;-)

DreamingOfPeace · 19/06/2012 22:32

*whose

musicalmrs · 20/06/2012 00:18

Dream, lovely picture if the DTs. That buggy is utterly massive..

Agreeing with everything Biscuits said. You are doing an amazing job- I am constantly in awe of you. As much as you crave routine I think you have to accept that life is going to continue to be mad for a bit longer, and find ways to make it through each day.

Contraception wise, I'm going to be back on the pill, though a different one. Dtd for the first time at the weekend and used condoms, which neither of us enjoyed much. 6wk checkup next week so will get it all sorted then, alongside my hayfever and painful ribs....

Just finished patting DD to sleep so really should try myself. Will catch up with everyone else later.

Biscuitsandtea · 20/06/2012 03:12

Oooh Musical - would be interested to see what they do for your hay fever. They've given me beconase (and I could have had eye drops but I wear contact lenses).

What book is this shush pat thing from? Is it the baby whisperer?

Ds2 was just making a bit of a fuss but literally stopped as soon as I put the light on. I've now been to the loo and checked my emails and MN and he is awake but not complaining - to feed or not to feed.......

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pommedechocolat · 20/06/2012 03:20

A has now been screaming since two... She's fed a bit in between but has mostly wailed. She fed at midnight too so not like I had a good stretch up to this!

Have been googling reflux starting late and cranial osteopathy. Anyone know anything about either?

Hmm biscuits, I'd try and not feed!

pommedechocolat · 20/06/2012 03:22

Might be her jabs though? Just did calpol. God I am fed up of this now.

jaggythistle · 20/06/2012 06:07

we had an ok first night after R's jabs, but the next night was the screamy one. couldn't settle him from about 12.30 till well after 4.

fairly normal service since then though...hope it's just a blip for you pomme!

ScreamIfYouWantToGoFaster · 20/06/2012 07:39

Wow Dream, just wow. That buggy is even more immense than my wildest imaginings. Have you ever walked down the street with that buggy fully loaded with gorgeous DC, and been stopped by a passing mother for an autograph? Grin That's a lovely pic of the boys, they look like absolutely no trouble at all Wink

I also agree with everything Biscuits wrote. You. Are. An. AMAZING. Mum. End of. I am in complete awe of how much you achieve every day (and especially every night.) I desperately wish I could give you some earth-shattering secret that would instantly make your life easier. Or just pop round one evening and give you an entire night off. I wish. I can't do any of that unfortunately, but I am No Brooking like a crazy thing that the colic will pass, the sleeping will click into place for all 3, and you'll be able to enjoy your wonderful family. Not long now until the colicky phase will be over...

As for contraception, we've gone for an old traditional method called arguing-non-stop, it's very effective! Grin If we ever decide to give up this method (which is looking unlikely in the short term) I think I'll go back on the patch. For now though, until my first period arrives, I think we'll just use condoms. Personally I've never really been a fan of just using hormonal methods, it's all a bit messy/icky afterwards when you haven't used a condom. Apologies for TMI!

Today is Autumn's first jabs Sad I'm so nervous, which is of course ridiculous. DH is insisting on coming to the appt, and I can't decide whether to let him hold her during the jabs so that she'll blame him! or if this is the kind of experience where she'll want to be in her mummy's arms even if mummy is sobbing like a baby. Ugh, this is a million times worse than the guilt I felt taking my cats in to be neutered!

Got to focus on the positives though - today we have our first baby massage class, so hopefully I can soothe her after a difficult morning.

Also today is Day 1!!!! In 30 days' time we'll all be super skinny! Seeing as we're not all Shredding, some people are dieting, we need a name for our 30 day weight loss kick. A name befitting the force of No Brooking about to be directed at our excess flab! Hmmm... I'll have to ponder this in the doc's waiting room rather than bawling my eyes out

Biscuitsandtea · 20/06/2012 09:15

Yy WOW to Dream's mega buggy!!! And the twins look totally adorable Smile xx

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hawthers · 20/06/2012 10:27

Hmm have a feeling my latte and croissant are not going to help with weight loss....

ScreamIfYouWantToGoFaster · 20/06/2012 10:40

Oooooohhh the look on her face when they jabbed her! SadSadSad I felt like the most evil person in the world. She has never cried like that before! SadSadSad I ended up bfing her right there in the GP's office afterwards, because it seemed heartless to give her a cold bottle whilst she was so upset. She was fine as soon as she fed of course, it's just me that still feels like crying... [pathetic first time mum emoticon]

pommedechocolat · 20/06/2012 10:43

Hmm day 1 and I had two small ish muffins for breakfast and a jaffa cake Blush

saw me through playgroup though...

Jabs are rubbish scream - you may however get some random good sleep in the next few days because of them!

TooImmatureTurtleDoves · 20/06/2012 11:18

Grin at using the arguing-non-stop method of contraception, Scream! I got the mini-pill from the doc but have so far not managed to take it for 14 consecutive days, thus ensuring that I'm safe to bonk. It's because you have to take it within the same 3 hour window every day - I suck at that. I think I'm currently on 6 days. DH has taken to bringing me a glass of water at bedtime and going 'have you taken your pill yet?'. Grin

Yay for Day 1! sort of wibble We will be Shredding and Shedding those pounds! God, Dream, in my wildest dreams I don't imagine being 8 stone 9 Envy. And I'm 5'2" so I could be, in theory. I was 8 stone aged 20, living in France with cooking facilities consisting of a hob and a kettle, and no money so I had to walk everywhere and not buy much food. Since then it's all gone a bit apple-shaped. My ultimate, ultimate goal is 9 stone, but my first goal is 10 stone so only 15lb to go. I was 10 stone pre-DD1. I went on a big diet and exercise kick in 2009 and got down to 9 stone 6, but that's the best I've been for a long time. Anyway, it is far too depressing to think about how far I've got to go, so I shan't. I shall Shred when DH comes home to distract M and dog. Last time I Shredded I had to shut the dog out because he thought I was playing and kept jumping up at me or bringing me a tennis ball or sniffing my face when I was trying to do sit-ups. Anyway, at least at first I want to be undisturbed by baby and dog. DH won't be home until 6.30 and will probably be starving...hmm.

Dream, I don't get dressed until I have to walk the dog. Right now, I'm still in my nightie sitting on the sofa feeding M. I only shower in the mornings if I'm going into town or visitors are coming or something - I have a bath at night when DH is home instead. Like Scream I often try to work out scenarios where I could help you by walking twins for you in the middle of the night, but they aren't very practical.

Scream, hope Autumn's jabs go okay today! Sad And M was zonked after hers after screaming for a while and causing us to resort to Calpol so you might find that A gives you a bit more sleep.

Grr, I hate it when the phone rings, forcing you to hop up disturbing the sleeping/feeding baby on your lap and then it turns out to be a recorded message offering to reclaim your PPI or to give you unlimited free calls! Angry

Pomme, don't know anything about reflux starting late/cranial osteopathy, but hopefully last night was just a blip and you won't need to know either!

Something occurred to me the other day that I thought might help with the nanny/night nanny guilt. Up until very recently women did not bring up their children alone. I think it's only been since WW2, and even then larger families often employed someone to help. Before then if you were middle/upper class you employed a nanny, a cook and a housemaid minimum - look at Noel Streatfeild's Ballet Shoes, in which the family is struggling for cash but still employs all of the above. It was called three servant poverty. If you were working class you had your 'village', either literally or figuratively, and you often lived very close to your parents, your in-laws and the rest of your family. All of these people helped with your children. More recently, in the 60s, my granny had an au pair to help her with what at one point was 4 kids under 4 and then became 5 kids under 7. There's 2.5 years between my oldest uncle and my dad and his twin, and then my aunt came along only 15 months after the twins. My youngest uncle is 3 years younger again. My point being, she had live-in help. Don't beat yourselves up for feeling lost and scared on your own, and take all the help you can get, be it family, friends or paid assistance. You're following an age-old tradition.

It's taken me a v long time to write this essay - apologies in advance for any cross-posting!

Biscuitsandtea · 20/06/2012 11:47

Ah there you are Hawthers - wondered where you were!

I'm not shredding but DH and I are both trying to cut down the ridiculous number of snacks we eat. So far so good today. 1 bowl of bran flakes with mixed fruit, a glass of apple juice, a coffee at the hospital while waiting for ds's appt - no chocolate though. Keep me on the straight and narrow ladies.....

They could take 8 stone off my scales for all the use it'll get. I'm 5'6"-5'7" ish though. Apparently 8 stone 9 would be in my ok range according to those height / weight charts but I don't think I would look healthy at that weight my boobs must weigh 2 stone. I've got a dense build I think Hmm. When I got back from travelling I was 10 stone and that was my perfect lowest weight I think. 11 stone would be maintainable if I was really dedicated. 12st 7 is my immediate goal though (from 14 stone 2 Blush). I honestly look like a whale in the photos at the moment BlushSad.

Still day 1 - I will NEVER be this heavy again, right?

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Biscuitsandtea · 20/06/2012 11:49

And hugs all round for jabs Scarlet. It's awful isn't it. I was just as sad putting ds1 through it too and he's 3 and a half (but cried like a baby Confused).

Tell you what though - they had a poster up with photos of kids with measles etc - all the illnesses we're vaccinating against. That focused my mind as to why I was doing it. Still awful though - sending lots of hugs to you and A today xx

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Biscuitsandtea · 20/06/2012 11:51

Sorry - meant jab hugs for Scream. Scarlet - you can bank those until next week Smile.

Anyone else have sky plus? Has your tv guide / planner etc all changed appearance today?

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ScreamIfYouWantToGoFaster · 20/06/2012 12:24

Little A has been fast asleep since we got home. The doctor suggested calpol (without me even asking about it) so I'll give her that when she wakes. Biscuits thanks for reminding me of the point of the jabs, they're clearly far less painful than the alternative. I just felt extra guilty because A was in such a happy smiley mood this morning. She was grinning up at the doctor throughout her postnatal check. I took a photo of her this morning (as a virtual birthday card for my friend) I've put it up on my profile temporarily if anyone's interested.

Yay for Shredding! I'll be doing the DVD for the first time later on, when DH is around for A to sleep on I'll be trying to keep us all honest over the next 30 days! I would also LOVE to be Dream's current weight, but 9st is more realistic for me. I was 9st up until a couple of years after uni. Since then my weight has crept up and up, until pre-pg I was about 11st Blush That's wildly overweight for my height of 5ft3. Rats, I meant to weigh myself this morning pre-food to give me a start point for the 30 days. Ah well, weighing myself after food will just make my final weightloss total look even better Grin

So how did everyone do sleepwise last night?