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

[Biscuitsandtea]

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

Can I also second Too's point about annoying phone calls selling you stuff! After dragging yourself over to pick up the phone at a really inconvenient moment it's soooooooooooo frustrating to get salespeople on the line!

Yo Brookers.

Aw Scream I hope A is ok now?

Lovely pic Dream. Biscuits is right, don't be so hard on yourself. FWIW I get exactly how you're feeling with your concerns about DD. I've had exactly the same thing with DS. He was late with all of his milestones, his speech has really only become clear this year (he's 3.6 now) and there's a few concerns with his physical development. I've obsessed over it and diagnosed him with all sorts, but everyone else who spends time with him seems to think he's ok, just a late developer. He's only just learnt to jump! I've had him checked by a paediatrician, a speech therapist and our GP but I still convince myself that they've missed something. What I'm saying is, that your DD is still so young it's almost impossible to identify if there were any developmental delays at her age as they're all so different and do things at different ages. I know you know all this already. But she will get there in her own time. She will be doing everything she should be by the time she starts school.

DD had her 6-8 week check this morning with the HV. I spent the whole time quizzing her about stuff that DS does/doesn't .

Musical how's the plumbing going? Did you get it all sorted out?

I'm using the same contraception as Scream

Pomme not sure about cranial osteopathy, but I have a friend who took her DS as a baby for sleep issues and she swears by it. I was a bit sceptical that he just grew out of the sleep issue anyway of his own accord, but anything's worth a try when you're desperate.

So DD is still gaining weight only very slowly. Now 8lb 13oz (8lb 3oz at birth 7 weeks ago) So I'm going to continue with the formula feed at night and top up in the day if necessary. I say this but she actually had no formila whatsoever for the last 2 days and we had the best 2 nights ever with her! Night before last she slept 8.30pm til 3.30am! Fed for an hour then slept through til 8am. Last night she managed from midnight til 6am this morning

Yay for Scarlet's DD sleeping so well! ( moi? Never... )

I forgot to say, the GP told me I can't go back on the patch or any other estrogen-based contraception until I stop bfing. So I'll just be sticking to arguing non stop condoms for now.

Biscuits, I wear contacts some of the time (when I can be bothered!), so eye drops would be no good for me either. In fact, this year it hasn't affected my eyes so much, which is odd for me. DD is not in the least impressed by me sneezing when she's feeding

The shush pat is from the Baby Whisperer I think. I don't shush though, just pat . I initially read about it in there, though I'm not sure I do it as she does - in fact definitely not, as I know I feed DD to sleep at least some of the time..

Whenever she wakes, I feed her straight away. I keep the room as dark and quiet as possible - just a night light, and I don't talk to her. I just spend the entire time on MN on my phone . I also tend to sit and feed her right beside the basket rather than move her into bed, to ensure there's less distance to transfer - I reckon all the moving was waking her up before. As soon as she's finished, I put her down, either on her side or semi on her side, and start a quite fast patting on her back. It then slows down and gets lighter, until eventually stopping. If she fusses, I sometimes have to pick her up and pat too until she calms down - or at that point I tend to check her nappy and/or feed her again.

I think I'm on night three or four of doing this. The first night, DH put her down by patting and it worked really well. Last night she only woke up three times, which is progress!

I'm also not shredding, but vowing to eat healthily! Not sure of my current weight, but will weigh once I've not got I strapped to me. Not too bad today - crumpets for breakfast, halloumi and salad wraps for lunch, with carrot sticks. However, Scream saying it's a 30 day thing has made me think.. in two and a half weeks our kitchen is being redone. This will mean I'll have to have meals from a microwoven (cross between microwave and oven!) for however long! Eating healthily will be fun..

Scream, aww for poor A and her jabs :( Hope you get rewarded with some better sleep though - and hope baby massage is good!

Too, that's the pill I'll be going on. I used to have no problem taking pills within about a 2 hour window.. but with baby brain I'm not sure how successful I'll be!

Scarlet, what fabulous sleep from DD, hurrah! Plumbing almost sorted thanks. Plumber came round yesterday and confirmed she could use the newly found drain and some cunning pipes to get the waste pipe sorted, so she's coming on Fri to sort that! Hurrah :)

A quick Q about the six week check- is it useful to bring someone with you to look after the baby when you're being checked, or is that unnecessary?

Oh yes Dream - as Scarlet says it is only with the benefit of hindsight that I can be so chilled about ds's 'relaxed' approach to developing . At each stage I am sure I've fretted. And I know it's easy to say 'oh it'll be fine' when it's your child and you're thinking 'yes, but what if....'

And like Scarlet too there's always something new to fret about. Currently it's speech (is it really clear enough or can I just understand him because I'm used to it?), or writing (surely all the other kids are writing better?) etc etc

We've had a run of better sleep over here finally. 8 to 3 or 4 for a week and I feel so much better. The bickering has much decreased with more sleep although when it comes to a choice of dtd or sleep, sleep always wins! I think that improved daytime naps have been key to getting better sleep at night.

Potty training seems to be pretty much done. ignoring the fact that DS1 hasn't done a poo in two days

dream give yourself a break lady! I've found it so incredibly hard with having a toddler who can communicate and only one baby who doesn't have colic. You are doing so well - this is going to get better but in the meantime anything that gets you more sleep makes everything else easier to cope with. I was weeping at feeling overwhelmed when I wasn't getting much sleep. The challenges are the same now but with more sleep I'm not snapping at DS1 or bickering with DH and I've got more patience for everything. GET THAT NIGHT NANNY NOW!

musical I didn't take anyone else with me for our checks, but I did carry DD in her carseat so she could sit in that while the doc checked me over.

Yay for your DS and the potty training Hawthers that's really good going, it's only been a few weeks hasn't it?

DS and I are now sitting watching The Muppets dvd and eating ice lollies. DD is happily upstairs in her cot cooing at her mobile. I'm hoping she's going to get herself to sleep. And pigs might fly

Musical I also didn't take anyone with me for our six week checks. Well actually I took DS1, which is really the opposite of taking someone helpful . DS2 had his six week check at the same appointment and was asleep in the pram when we arrived, so the doctor checked me first then we woke him up for his checks.

And yay for good sleeping Scarlet and Hawthers and good potty training Hawthers. Sounds like you've made amazing progress

Musical, I didn't need any help with M at the 6 week check because she was angelic and slept for most of the hour (!) we spent in the waiting room. She woke up as I was finally called in but seemed occupied staring around the room. She started to grump a bit near the end but I rocked the car seat and we escaped without any major howls.

Yay for better sleep, Hawthers!

Have tried shush pat and M just gets really excited and starts wriggling and grinning at me madly . Maybe I'm doing it wrong.

Scream and Dream, you both have such cute DDs! I'm sure the BBBBs were in the pram too but I can't see them in the pic.

On the development front, I am already mentalling because the MN 3 month email said babies should be starting to hold things and M has only started to hold things (apart from my hair) in the last couple of days, at nearly 15 weeks. So far she's held a giraffe toy and a bunny toy each for only a few minutes. Must try to stop it - that way madness lies!

Biscuits - quite right, this is the heaviest you will ever be as we are all about to Shed! Go Brookers!

Gosh, M has been producing a nappy for what seems like ages. I expect I'd better go change her now she seems finished.

So has anyone's sky box tv guide changed appearance?

Too - read the bottom but of the MN email - it says they're all different (which you already know really!) .

Also don't forget dd was 3 weeks early. If she'd been born at 40 weeks she'd only be approaching 12 weeks now which isn't 3 months old iyswim? It won't matter in the future but 3 weeks is a big proportion at this age.

Bottom BIT of the email

Thanks for the 6wk check up info! My issue is that I'd have DD in her sling, so nowhere for her to go while I'm checked over? Hmm... my mother's around, so she could always disappear out with DD.. or I could break out the buggy for the first time!

Too, I'm already doing the development mentalling. It's awful! Even though I know that every child's different, will develop at a different pace blah blah blah..

Also, I think different sleep techniques work for different people! Lots of people swear that their baby will watch their mobile and go to sleep - I loves hers and wriggles, squeals and smiles - so that one definitely won't work for us!

Biscuits, Virgin here I'm afraid so I'm no help, sorry!

Scream, A is still gorgeous :)

I just wrote a whole post and lost it!!!!!
I've got mn rage now...

Ages ago you asked what the dts weighed pet Boys weighed today. S 12lb 11, B 11lb 8 . Ben still just over the 9th centile and Seb between the 25th and 50th. Wow. From 2nd and 9th at birth I'm chuffed. plenty enough chub to sleep more at night boys!!!

Can't be bothered to retype my post now, back later brookers

So if the baby whisperer does the shush-pat thing does anyone know who is responsible for the 'pick up put down' one or the 'no cry sleep solution'?

Hmmm can't think of anything obvious for the baby-in-sling thing Musical. Maybe pushchair would be good then if she's asleep in it you won't have to disturb her.

Unless your docs have one of these 'no prams' policies.....

too, DD was 40 weeks and only really showed any interest in toys/grasping at 15 weeks too. And her fine motor skills have always been ahead its gross motor skills and speech she's not so hot on now don't worry, she's a tiny baby yet!

we've been doing potty training for 4 weeks now and we've been accident free this week so far! Bless little DS1 he's doing so well.

Ooh a chinook just landed in the park behind my house - mucho excitement!

musical, I wasn't checked myself, just asked verbally if I was ok, but I'd have just put babies on the doctors couch or floor on a muslin on the fold away change mat from changing bag briefly- think that's what I did with DD at our 6 week check which was much more thorough.

Sorry Biscuits, no Sky here either (BT Vision instead). Hope you can fix yours!

at MN rage, Dream. Wow at the boys' weights - excellent work!

I do know that really, Biscuits, I just get a bit PSB and start freaking out. Thank you for the metaphorical kick up the arse! Dream, I'm sure the stair thing can't be that important. Toddlers living in flats or bungalows must be slow at learning stairs just because they don't come across them often.

Dream, did the doc not even check your CS wound? Mine looked at the scar and felt my tummy to check where my uterus was and to see if my muscles had split.

Yay for Hawthers' DS1! Is a chinook a helicopter? [clueless]

Too you have every right to be PSB . It is our prerogative as mothers . And to be fair I think I would be too (if I was taking notice of what ds2 can and can't do ). I am ashamed to say I couldn't even tell you if he holds things yet . He'll hold on to me easy enough but not really tried him with a toy as yet. I am so rubbish at this mothering thing .

Oh and I meant to say earlier Dream I think we ways concentrate on what our DCs can't do. I always assume that anything DS can do is the same for everyone, and zero in on what their DC can do that my DS can't iyswim! But then in conversation it'll come out that some of the things I'm assuming they can all do aren't done by everyone? Eg, ds1 knows all the letters of the alphabet and the phonics sounds for them. A friend's DS knows all the months of the year and days of the week. DS1 doesn't. But then it turns out that her DS doesn't know all of he alphabet letters yet, or the phonics for them. So it's all swings and roundabouts.

This is probably bad too but as DS has some child care at preschool etc I assume they'd tell me if he was way off the mark on anything. They do tell me where he's lagging a bit.

too its a ruddy great big army helicopter with two propellers (?). V large hosp just over the park and we get air ambulances landing there.

D & V has left the building thankfully so trying to catch up now. Had DD weighed today, 8lb 13 so averaging 1oz per day but still 2oz less than I weighed at birth I typed ox by mistake, that would be quite an achievement! :o

Dream in years to come your DC will be amazed at how brilliant their Mum is to be dealing with all this. You are doing a fantastic job BUT if you don't watch out then you are at risk of burning out. Go for the extra help, you deserve it!

Biscuits no Sky here, we have Freesat

Hawthers Yay for the potty training

Musical glad you are getting progress

Scream well done for getting through A's jabs

I'm sure I've missed out plenty but DD is starting to stir so better get the boob out again

I've got sky plus and it all looks normal to me.

In other news DS2 has piled on 12oz (345g) in a week! We are now nudging the 25th centile which is where he was born. It's taken us 6 months but we made it.