November 2012 - the best post-natal quiche on MN

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1655656-November-2012-sleeping-through-yet

The answer to the sleeping though question was a chorus of "no"s but there were a few resounding yesses and a lot more keeping quiet because the rest of us would be well jel.

Stupid mortgage. Stupid gas/electric/food bills. Wish I could find a way to reduce the above. Am yet to find one!!! Am on the cheapest tarrifs for everything! Mortgage isn't excessively high in the grand scheme of things. So why the frig am I haemorrhaging money every month?!!

Arrived in East Midlands having survived the journey on my own with 2 small people only by driving like an actual maniac and not stopping at all. Then followed the worst night we had in a long time as DS has lulled me into an expection of good nights now, and I had DD in bed with me. Still, on tap babysitters and child entertainers.

Hadn't realised about deep sleeping babies and SIDS. DS sleeps extremely deeply at night, he doesn't move at all and stays that way for hours (not going to say how many for fear of being booted off the quiche).

Also looking forward to taking DS swimming. DD loved it as a baby (still does) and DS enjoys his bath. Although last night during bathtime I did have to ask DD not to pull DS's willy and remind her that his tummy is not a bongo drum.

No I think that is normal candy I remember Ds1 slept around 16 hours a day (12 at night) til he was well past the age of 1. I should have written down. I forget! But I think it might have been that way til 18 months! Certainly more than 12 hours anyway!

Oscar is 7 weeks and sleeps 12-13 at night (minus 1.5 hrs for
3 feeds in that time) and 4-6 during the day. It varies. He sleeps more if we go out and it doesn't affect his night time sleep.

I woke him at 9.40 to get DP from the garage. He was tired and ready for a nap by 10.30! He is now asleep!!

detective hugs. Don't know what to suggest - assume you have done the writing it down thing to see where it goes and whether you can make any savings? If you can't go back as expected, can you talk to your dad again? I do sympathise, the only reason I can afford more than 6 weeks mat leave is because my grandparents gave me the money to cover everything. Great feeling isn't it, as an adult and parent you still cannot afford your life.

A hour of wake time is about his limit

candy at 18 degrees, I have DS in vest, babygro and 2.5 tog sleeping bag and he is fine. If anything, he is cold, as his little hands are like ice blocks in the morning.

Oh yes madam! It is crazy. I was only slightly worse off when I was 17 and had ds1! Ex worked ft min wage, I did not. We got tax credits and housing benefit. We had a council house.

I learned to drive (with a small amount of financial help from my mum) and went to uni. I moved in to private rent (which was more expensive than my mortgage!) as I decided to work as well as uni to afford a nicer home for DS. I then got a job after uni and bought my house. Yet I do not feel finically any richer! The only thing that is different is that my surroundings are nicer. Small mercies!

Should be grateful for what I have. I try to be every day. But the price of everything rises and my wage seems to bloody shrink!!

I'm very financially aware. Everything is budgeted for. I get the best value I can for everything. I do everything I should do, and still... It just gets eaten! Usually by car/house repairs .

DS is the exact opposite - he doesn't sleep enough. He is 9 weeks and often wakes at 8 or 9am and stays awake until late afternoon or early evening.

Wishes I could like the food in Aldi to make shopping bills smaller!

An hour of wake time is the limit here too detective, Bronwen sleeps 7.20pm-7am, minus an hour for two feeds. In the day she has a 1.5-2hr nap in every 3hr cycle. She's probably asleep for around 18 hours a day. Dd1 was the same too. Hope your appointment goes well

detective Rather than shopping at Aldi I find buying supermarket own brand stuff is a good compromise. I shop at Sainsburys mostly but buy a lot of their basics range. 90% of it is fine and I save quite a lot of money this way.

Just left my sisters in hull after a massive poosplosion! Glad he went but he covered everything including the cat in wee! First bit of poo was very firm and seemed quite difficult for him and at the very end was some globs Of clear jelly - anyone know if this is cause for concern?

E is being awake alot more now but still sleeps alot! He gets put down after his bath usually 8pm at latest, he gets up at 7 at the latest usually and has had an hour out of that time for a feed (yes, he takes ages!) at 10-11 ish.

I've yet to take him swimming, he was 10 weeks on Tuesday and we did try to take him on the Monday but our leisure centre is apparently closed due to fire damage so we'll take him as soon as we can. I didn't even know you could take them for swimming lessons so young!?! Is it something most people do then? I was just going to take him myself once a week, I don't even know if there are any classes at our leisure centre, I'll ask.

Can I ask what you all put them in for swimming? I guess a swim nappy but anything else? What about floaty type things? Or do you just hold them at this age?

Thanks Kyz I'm eating my lunch lol! No input here sorry.

I have no idea how to cut down on spending. I'm rubbish at it. I have cut down on food by doing the shopping online though and the dreaded meal planning. Having a kindle has cut down my ridiculous book habit. I read free samples from books and free books. Some are shite but have had some pleasant surprises. Before buying any more dvds have sworn to rewatch all the ones we already have, and making use of catch up TV, though can't switch it to English on catch up for some reason. Hate watching english language films in French.

For baby stuff we drive to Germany where nappies etc are far cheaper - though that's not an option for you. We're taking DD1 out of nursery in two months to save money and as I doubt we'll get subsidised places in France I won't be able to go back to work.

So hoping to freelance translate and write. Is there any way you could put your skills to use writing articles for parenting mags and websites? As you're a midwife there is so much you could ooffer. Oh, and last year I bought a load of crappy magazines like Take a Break and sent in reader contributions. I got 60 quid for an email and photo which took me less than 5 minutes to write and send! And 200 quid for a true story which involved a phone interview and a few pictures. Wasn't anything embarassing either.

kyz ew not sure about the jelly? Could it be mucus from a cold that he has swallowed? I'd possibly get it checked out though.

A ha mm I have checked and that is east of Belfast on the coast and we are about an hour directly south of Belfast on the coast.

I heard today that they fruits and veg in Aldi is pretty good I am going to give it go.

R goes down between 9 and 10 then wakes between 2:30 and 4, feeds for an hour then sleeps for two, half hour feed then maybe another sleep. He sometimes sleeps 11-2 but only in the sling, the rest of the time he's either feeding or wants to play with me (sometimes dp) He gets colicky about 3 then settles about 6:30 to feed/play.

Today he was awake for the day at 6:30, and slept for 30 minutes in the sling 10:40-11:10. He woke up just after i sat down for a rest and to finish a crochet commission. He screamed for 10 minutes on his playmat while i sorted some washing and the dishwasher.

Dp had the dr and has gone back to bed wigh exhaustion. I'm mning and crying. R is dozing at the boob but will wake if i move him even as far as my chest. I've cried more than he has today.

PP you have been so brave, it is bound to come out sooner or later honey is it anything specific, or a build up of all the crap you have had to endure?

J had his usual crap night, but the feeds are getting shorter and he is settling easier. Jags today so hope that does not screw things up further.

I had a lovely morning browsing charity shops. Got loads of stuff for the girls and J. All next or designer. Got a delicious Ted Baker dress for DD2 for £1.50. DD1 has a Scottish day at school tomorrow, and got her a kilt, new with tags for £1.99.

Kyz pls call Dr as soon as u can.

Hello purple and fix. Welcome to our quiche (glad the new thread title hasn't discouraged new bees) hope u manage to keep up better then me.

Currently sat in mothercare feeding LO. So boring. But pleasantly surprised by facilities.
Here to pay for cotbed. Any recommendations for cheap bedding?

Right burp burp back to shopping.

Normal to cry Purple you've been through an incredibly stressful time the last few months. Cry as much as you need to and there's someone on this thread pretty much any time of day or night to listen. This group was brilliant with me a couple of weeks ago when we went through a tough period. x

I think a norn irn meet up is in order some time when I'm over then! We dh goes through periods of wanting to move back there. Usually only lasting until we spend more than 24hrs with his mum and I really put my foot down

Yoga was a success. M enjoyed it much more this week. Some dosey bint parked half in my space in the carpark though (I'd deliberately parked far over but still in the box to get the carseat in and out). She might now have a dent in her door...

Just everything. Loads of people have offered help, but it never seems to materialise. Just taking R round the park for an hour would be great, not like I'm demanding my house be cleaned, I'm happy to do the skanky stuff myself! I'll even let them use the pushchair just give me a minute to dust the cobwebs off and I'm sure there's a disposable nappy round here somewhere if cloth horrifies them... I can conform, honest

Last 3 weeks, PR, just motherhood i was coping with fine

A Scottish meet-up is in order soon too. Once the snow is passed. How about Ikea Edinburgh? Nice comfy seats for feeding, reasonably priced food pass

Yes yes Scotland meet up too! I'm trying to convince dh that an ikea trip for meatballs today is essential