Still brooking no argument whatsoever that these babies are happy, healthy and awesome for 2013 too.

[jaggythistle]

eh. attempt at new thread. yo.

Pomme, your MIL sounds certifiable! You are indeed a saint. God, that would annoy me so much. I'm getting cross just thinking about it! How much longer are they staying?

Musical, I'm leaving M in a sleeping bag for just now because at least if she starts crawling round the cot she's still warm. She does sit/stand in it and clunk her head, though. She doesn't do that as often at night, though, usually just for naps when she doesn't want to go down, and I don't put her in the sleeping bag for naps. She clunks her head without it too!

Sorry, really quick, but loopy are you around??! S prescribed ranitidine today, but she said its hard to give to a vomiter. Hard?! Impossible more like. Vomit tastic, don't think I got it in at all, tried at lunch and tea, so he vomited up both those. Help?! How do you/ did you manage with your ds1?

Also b has different antibiotic eye drops so hoping for results, finally. All better from d&v though.

pet, tell your friend loads of squat to stand activities, toys on floor to pick up and put in basket, shape sorter etc, have their DD sit on their lap in front of sofa or somewhere, get her to pull up, then sit back to lap etc- the kind of thing where they're learning to break in the middle and get up and down iykwim? And squatting is A great leg strengthener/ balance thing too. My DD could squat to stand til the cows came home, but was/is A little dyspraxic and couldn't work out how to apply this to falling... Sofa work helped a bit, lots of me patterning her down and her getting up and repeat. All better within 5 weeks of walking.

Dream, just a quickie as ds2 due to wake up any second! Ds1 never had ranitidine so not sure what that is like. How heavy is s? I think they have that medicine until a certain weight, I think 11kg but don't quote me on that, and then they get prescribed omeprazole which is what ds1 has. I guess because we tried to cope without medication until he was 1 in the hope the doctor was right and he would grow out of it (which he hasn't - threw up his entire chicken curry tea on sat night, bib was a mouthful away from overflowing :( ) it meant that he went straight onto the omeprazole because of his weight by then. It reduces acid production and he def still needs it. It's a pink tablet and we break it between 2 spoons and mix it in with fruit purée and he has it at breakfast. Instructions say to not crush, but can break and mix in with apple sauce....but it is a v hard tablet so breaking it doesn't make it any easier for him to swallow and figure fruit purée is the same as apple sauce but healthier! (Stipulates not to mix it in with yoghurt or anything else dairy based). He also has domperidone which speeds up the food going through his stomach, which he has via a syringe and he seems to like it, never objected unless having a general terrible two tantrum. Not sure if any of that helps? Maybe feed him some v high calorie meals if he isn't far off the weight to switch to omeprazole?

(I know someone else whose son was on ranitidine so can ask her for any tips if he needs to be on that for a while re weight though, but not till later)

Musical, I agree with the others re sticking with the sleeping bag. They don't have the sense to out the duvet back over themselves til they're much older. Eventually they learn to stand safely and even walk in sleeping bags. In fact, DD worked out how to take her bag off.

Too, I love the sound of those shoes. There's something very cute about baby's first shoes!

Scarlet, I hope your DD is better and back to normal sleeping soon.

Pomme, here's a for putting up with your ILs. Sounds very trying. Hope the birthday celebrations were good though.

Dream, glad the D and V has gone and brooking that everything else clears up soon and especially that you can dose up your boy soon.

Hi Loopy and everyone else.

All good here with DS. He slept through twice! Amazing. Last night he was back to normal with one wake for a feed. I know I'm very lucky. Bad news here though in that FIL is terminally ill. Only got diagnosis yesterday and he only has 2-3 months. It is a terrible shock and DH is devastated. We have to work out how to prepare DD for what's coming and will also have to decide whether she will go to the funeral when the time comes. She is only 3 and a half. Anyone got any experience or suggestions?

Gen, wow your ds sounds like a great sleeper! Really sorry to hear about your fil. We lost my uncle to cancer four days after ds was born, less than a month after his diagnosis. It is so shocking when it happens so quickly, but I'm afraid I have no advice about preparing your dd. There might be some good age appropriate books to help her though?

Pomme, I can't imagine coping with a mil like that, well done you!

I had a call from a midwife this morning to say she's got to come and do J's heel prick test again as the first got lost on the way to Great Ormond St! He didn't flinch having the first done, but he's bound to scream now he's having it again

Sorry to hear about FIL Gen, how sad for all of you. No idea how to prepare a small child. I'd probably be careful using the words poorly and ill because I wouldn't want her to be scared next time she's poorly. Tough one. It can also depend on your beliefs as well, if you have a faith that would make it easier to explain, but if you don't then you obviously want to stick to facts. Do you definitely want to prepare her for what's coming? Or are you considering not mentioning anything until you have to? Might be worth looking on bereavement boards on here for advice or getting a book?

Oh no re the heel prick test Little. Similar thing happened with my DS, bloody horrendous both times. It was a lovely surprise when DD slept though hers. I really think it makes a massive difference depending on the MW who does it.

Hiya ladies, it is very nice over here isn't it, can't wait to join you :)

For now I think we have a brooker in need on the grads thread, could someone pop over and help her with her nt result??

So sorry to hear about your FIL, must be horrible for your DH. It's both a blessing and a curse to have an estimate of the time you have left. As for your DD, I can't really help except to say when we lost my nan I was very little. I don't remember her well, or being sad. However I remember clearly that we kids weren't "allowed" to go to the funeral. It might make more of a life 'event' for her if she's not allowed to go - however, I might have found the funeral more memorable if I'd gone. Not very helpful, sorry.

I read everything before starting this post, but then stopped for dinner half way through. T maybe has a cold, is maybe teething, or is just dribbly and grumpy. I've had him weighed the last 3 weeks, and he's dropping down percentiles on weight. It's a steady drop toward no weight gain after a steady tracking on the 75th. I'm worried, but trying not to be. He's still happy and active. I really, really, really don't want to go to formula top ups but am worried the health visitor will push it. I respect people choosing formula for their babies, I just don't want to. I feed him when he's hungry, and sometime when I think he's not, there's always milk when he's feeding even though my breasts don't often feel hard or full. Sorry, I'm rambling. I'll go back and read again. I know there was more I was going to comment on.

Sorry to hear about your gran rubber. Hope as others have said that any deterioration is slow.
Pomme your MIL sounds crazy! Hope you and your DH can sort something out to get her under control.
Dream I hope you've managed to keep some meds into S and seeing improvements?
Little I hope the heel prick test isn't too bad. T didn't notice his, but he didn't give up much blood and there was the threat of having to do over. I'm guessing as we didn't hear anything we're in the clear now.
T just won't sleep without a nipple in his mouth or close by, keeps waking crying or just waking.

Little, thanks for your thoughts and v sorry to hear about your uncle. Hope the heel prick test goes well.

Scarlet, thanks for the advice re being cautious about associating illness and death. I don't want her worrying every time someone is ill.

Stacks, that is a good point te the funeral, I will give it some thought. Please don't worry about the centiles, apparently it's not uncommon for babies tomove centiles. I would think they are unlikely to suggest formula top ups when you're doing so well with the BFIng.

hi for those who don't know me I am a fellow brooker and an currently 12wks pregnant. ive come to talk about the nuchal test if I can. scarlet said too may be able to help.
I had my scan yesterday, we had originally decided against the nuchal. at the end of the scan she told us she had seen excess fluid the measurement was 3.8mm. we then felt pushed into having the bloods done to. I'm now very shocked especially as we had not wanted this done and we werent really given any information. we are both 27 and there is no history of downs in either family. any advice or stories welcome. I know I shouldn't panic yet as I do not have my combined results.

musical, DS 2.7yo is still in a sleeping bag. It's never been a problem.

stacks, if your DS is otherwise doing fine, I wouldn't weigh every week. I think the guidance is to weigh baby no more than one a month between 1-6 months of age as I think they go through phases of not putting on weight for a few weeks and then piling it on for a few weeks. The BFing helplines or tiktok on the BF/FF board here might be able to reassure you.

DD is settling at night a bit better now after feeds now that we've left Radio 4 on very quietly in our room. She is feeding about every 2-3 hours but goes down easily enough in between feeds. DH is doing any nappy changes needed so that helps.

Not ignoring cartoon - I've replied to you on the AN thread. Brooking for you.

Thanks for the sleeping bag tips all! I'll keep her in it. DH and I have established that one of the problems is probably her length and the fact that one of her bags is now too short on her (she's quite tall/long) - so have retired that one, and will get a longer one this weekend.

Scarlet, no playpen unfortunately! I'd consider one, but I think Iz is turning into a climber, so I suspect she'd find a way of escaping - would have been a good thing had I gotten one earlier. I took her outside in the sun on Tuesday and let her crawl around the patio, which she really enjoyed - ruined the knees of a pair of trousers, but it was an old pair now consigned for outside use :) Shame it has been miserable since...

Generic, so sorry to hear about your FIL - I hope you and your family (and your DH especially) are coping as best you can.

Cartoon, brooking lots for you. Will hop over to the AN thread...

DD was thankfully only up every 3 hours overnight as I was up vomiting. Thankfully feeling a lot better now but still in bed.

Thanks for the reassurance re T dropping percentiles. I think I just panicked when the HV said she wanted to keep an eye on him. However we had his 6 week check (4weeks late) yesterday, and the doctor was happy with him. Obviously very content as he was smiling and chatting away to her :)
My DH is obsessed with T growing. He wanted him weighed at every opportunity, and keeps measuring him at home too. He's very, very proud of every oz and cm he puts on. We had a chat though, and he's happy to get him weighed less from now on.
Only 6 days till my dads surgery. Trying to keep busy and not worry, but it just makes me not realise how worried I am, so I get short tempered, anxious over little things, and sleep poorly. :(

Bartlet, I hoe you're feeling better soon. Being up and ill while feeding must be awful.

Cartoon, no advice I'm afraid, except try not to worry. Even if (and it won't happen) you get a high risk result, high risk is still unlikely. Brooking for you.

Gen, hope you are well. Thinking if you at this difficult time.

Hello! Can I join you ladies? I guess I am officially in the post-natal club now seeing as my 10 day old is sleeping peacefully beside me! Don't know where the last 10 days have gone Have been waiting in all day for my final visit/discharge from the midwife - I'm starting to think I've been forgotten and am a little annoyed at having been cooped up in the house all day! At least it's murky and miserable outside so I've not missed out on any sunshine

Have read back over the last couple of pages, just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear your news about FIL Gen I really have no idea about how best to approach it with DD, it's so hard to children to understand death. I think I'd probably look for a book to start broaching the subject with her.

got my nuchal result, 1 in 40. so elevated risk. but I think the really worry is she's put skin oedema around fetus. I'm not sure what that is.

Hi everyone!

I'm a bit behind, but here goes:

Dream thanks for the advice re plank-falling. How is B? And have you managed to get S to take his medicine? If so, any improvements?

Too I love the sound of the shoes! I'm looking forward to getting ones with flashing lights for DS - they invented them when I was too old for a pair but I still secretly want some!

Pomme hope DH has stopped snoring is better now and your PIL have gone home. Your MIL sounds dreadful. Seriously. I propose not just a medal, but also a sainthood for you for putting up with her. In fact, ta-da!

Gen yay for DS's sleeping! I'm so sorry to hear about your FIL though. I have no helpful advice about telling DD, I'm afraid. :(

Little what a pain about the heel-prick test. Hope DS barely notices it.

Stacks maybe T is unsettled cos of a growth spurt and will put on more weight this week? FWIW my DS started to drop down the centiles and we did end up giving him a bottle of formula at bedtime. He then put on weight well, and I've continued to bf happily the rest of the time. But I sometimes wonder whether it would have mattered if we hadn't done the top-ups. I think he probably would have caught up eventually, but you just can't tell at the time. I hope you're getting some sleep and aren't worrying too much, anyway.

This is getting very long! I'll post it now and then carry on. Hang on...

Right, where was I?

Bartlet thank goodness you're not vomiting any more! Hope you're feeling much better now. Glad DD is sleeping well.

Musical glad you and Iz had a nice time in the garden this week. DS is getting filthy now he's crawling around. We're thinking of getting a steam cleaner for the floors, cos his clothes are so black by the evening.

Welcome Green. Nice to meet you! Congratulations on your DD.

Cartoon I'm so sorry to hear about your scan concerns. I'm afraid I don't have any helpful knowledge, but I'm brooking no argument that everything will be fine.

Done my second week at work. Went ok. Some good days, some bad days (mainly bad because of difficult classes). I'm now trying to work out how to teach 'Macbeth' to an autistic boy with moderate learning difficulties who won't write the word 'kill' and doesn't understand a word of the play! His target is a D at GCSE. . In other news, DS has been much happier with the childminder this week, which is a great relief. :)

brief pitstop from me on my way to make hot cross buns for breakfast.
cartoon sorry to hear you are so worried. not sure I can give any advice except maybe write a list of questions and call your midwife. be like a dog with a bone till things are explained. good luck x
pomme you deserve a medal and a bottle of something strong
pet glad work is ok, the Macbeth thing sounds difficult.
lovely to see the grads over here from the ante natal Fred.
I shall have to wave and blow kisses at everyone else as although I've read, I'm on my phone and can't scroll back.
life is a bit brighter this week although no luck catching the pesky house mouse. might have to resort to non humane methods.
the outlaws are on their way for the weekend, ds is very excited! will try to be back next week if I can. by the way, anyone heard from scream ? hope she's doing ok.

cartoon, while I agree with Ninja, I doubt that your midwife will be able to answer much at the moment. I imagine you are seeing a Fetal Medicine consultant on Monday who will do a much more detailed scan (something far closer to the 20 week anomaly scan - amazing how much they are able to see even at this early stage) and be able to answer all your questions. It might be that some of those answers are "we don't know", but do write down questions you have over the weekend.

We were treated so, so well by everyone. There really is no hurry to make decisions and we never, at any point, even when things were clearly going to end sadly, felt under pressure to make decisions. I told the consultant at that first appointment that a termination was not an option for us and he never mentioned it again. I was so impressed by and so thankful for how much the consultant and the Fetal Medicine midwives listened to what we wanted and how we wanted to proceed and answered all of my questions. I hope your experience is the same in terms of that and also much happier in terms of outcome.

bartlet yes that is who we ate seeing on Monday luckily first thing so I don't have to wait around all day.
thank you for telling me your story. we are also determined that a termination is not an option. I would much rather leave it up to fate. I had planned on telling a few people after our scan I now don't know what to do or when to tell people. I had just started to relax and believe that this was our take home baby.

Cartoon I do hope it will all turn out ok for you. Thinking of you.