The 5th Gemini luxury bus - the one with babies!

[FrustratedSycamoresRocks]

As we have all our gorgeous babies now, welcome aboad the 5th Gemini bus.

Drinks and previously banned foods supplied in bulk, Car seats installed, slings and prams at the ready, as we head into parenthood, and all the excitement, and sleepless nights our little ones will bring along the way.

Glad you lot are 'Feed to sleep'ers as well. My mum got me worried about the co sleeping and feeding on demand that she'll never settle herself or sleep on her own, and I need her to do that one day.

It's hot here too Lor but N seems to respond by sleeping through it so I worry about her not getting enough liquids.

My thrush is back, only finished the 10 day course yesterday but I felt the familiar stabbing in my nipples this morning. Our local NHS Walkin centre has closed so ended up at A&E to get a repeat prescription. Hope it kicks in soon. I can't believe I have to boil my bras in vinegar again! I'm going to minimise the sugar intake, so as not to feed the little blighters.

I completely missed the Next Sale! Not that she needs anything really but it would have been nice to look for something pretty for her!

Babies are in a spot of life right now where their needs and their wants are exactly the same so it's virtually impossible to spoil them by feeding on demand and being close to them. It's such an old-fashioned and victorian way of thinking to assume that you can spoil such a helpless person by giving them the things that they need.

lib that's not good! I'm starting to worry that I've got it now too.

You were best avoiding, I went at 7 and it was so quiet I ended up spending £200 in my defense I bought for my sis kids aswell as she can never be bothered to go but even so, some really lovely things though I came back so happy lol I get great pleasure from shoping

I went shopping earlier... Avoided Next like the plague & ended up feeling like banging my head against the wall by the time I got home! I hate shopping!

On a related note, has anyone else been on the better bra campaign threads that have been on Style & Beauty recently? I popped in to be nosy a couple of days ago & according to their measurement method I'm not a 36D, I'm a 30FF! I knew I hadn't been wearing the right size but that was a revelation! It took me ages to find a bra in the right size but I think once I get used to wires again it'll be really comfy! I'm going to order some nursing bras on eBay. Hopefully this'll solve my recent engorgement/blocked ducts problem!

lib is dd being treated for thrush too?

Aww Kitty I'm envious of your shopping spree! Did you buy lots of dresses and pink items?

JoJo I need a new bra too I must force myself to book a M&S fitting...ahh I hated going there. Hmmm maybe I should try JoJo mama next time. I may call to see if they do fittings.

Noooo! Don't go to M&S! They're notoriously bad! Do you have a John Lewis or Bravissimo near you? I hear they're the best but it's really easy to do yourself. Measure around under the bust, pulling the tape in firmly - that's your chest size. Then lean right forward & measure around the widest part of the bust. Take the smaller size away from the larger & count up through the sizes - 1 cup size for every inch difference, starting from 1"= A. This will give you your starting size & you should try a few different sizes around that size to get the best fit.

For example, my measurements are 30" under & 37" across which puts me at a 30F (A, B, C, D, DD, E, F) but I tried the F & it wasn't quite right but the FF was much better!

DH isn't half as excited about my new size as I am - it just means I'm going to have to buy all new bras!

I went for a great fitting last year and discovered I wasn't a 34c/36b but actually a 32e! That said I'm a 34g/ff now. No bras are comfortable at the moment and I'd love to be able to not wear a bra for a while - especially in bed.

I'm sure my bras are probably the wrong size but as they are maternity and I have enough I'm not going to but anymore, hate wasting money on things you can't see lol
Is anyone not wearing one at night? I am and did the whole time I bf last time too
No pear not much pink, but lots of butterfly's! Got some gorgeous charcoal and white things too with giraffes and elephants on, so cute! To be honest I buy more for dd1 as she has so much dd2 inherited a mammoth wardrobe anyway but did get a few matching things
Oh I need to loose weight now, have realised I'm fat I think I have actually gained weight since birth?! Dam the peanut butter lion bars

I can't not wear one. I even had to stop while trying on bras & stand around topless in the changing room clutching my breast pads against myself waiting for the dripping to stop! I should really get some night bras that fit. The ones I bought last time are too tight now so I'm having to wear my blah mothercare ones 24-7! Can't wait to get comfy ones that actually fit!

kitty I've put on weight post birth too.

I've given up wearing a bra to bed. It's too hot and restrictive. I hate tight things at night And 32months of breast feeding means that when I lie on my side they fall out anyway. they just want to be freeeeee
I sleep on a folded bath sheet size towel. And have pads hanging about in easy reach for when I feed.

Oooo a Lion peanut butter bar sounds nice :-) Your clothes sound lovely kitty! I am also not wearing a bra to bed. I don't have enough milk to leak though

Thanks JoJo for your bra fitting tips. I have a John Lewis about 45mins away so I could go there. I'll give them a call to check their selection first before trekking all that way.

Baby pear has just slept 2.5 hours in his own bed but on his front I know it's not the end of the world but tummy sleeping really puts me on edge. A massive Yay to finally having sleep though!! I actually feel like I've had some quality sleep for a change!

Pear, they are amazing, they are like Reece's nutrageous but nicer and you can only get them in home and bargins and they are only 29p!!! I've eaten a fair few
Just weighed myself and not put any on but not lost any and considering I've fed a whole other person for 2 months I think you can tell I've been greedy, Ive got a stone to loose to get to my pre birth weight and a stone and a half for my really happy weight
Yeay pear for sleep, just wait till he gives you 5hrs, you'll be totally rejuvenated lol

Kitty ~ I want one! Wish we had a home and bargains near us! Baby pear did another 2.5hrs!! Please may this continue!

I want one too. also don't have a home bargains

I don't know how long j sleeps. I never look at the time in the night.

I know exactly how long DS2 goes between feeds... My app tells me! I have been heard to say, "Hang on, I can't feed him yet. My app is still loading!" I even get frustrated that it only times to the nearest minute. It should be in seconds to be more accurate!

Yeah I time feeds too on my app. I've become a bit obsessed with all this timing but it helps me feel like I'm still in control. Even if I'm not

Why do you time feeds?

I was timing all feeds (duration and time between feeds) when the midwives had us on a bit of a strict feeding plan when DS initially lost too much weight. Don't bother anymore though. He's feeding plenty and I'm doing it on demand so he's definitely getting enough. Nothing resembling patterns at present but he's still only 4 weeks old.

It started because I wanted to know how long he was feeding for and it reminds me which side I last fed on.

Oh and I'm trying to get him in a 3hr feeding pattern so it will help me monitor that

I've never timed frus although I make sure u feed her every 3/4hrs in the day, I know what you mean about remembering which side though, I always forget then just cup them and give them a jiggle to see if one feels fuller lol
I always check what time it is when she wakes up so I can gage if she will give me a lie in (6:30 onwards lol) the longest she has gone for is 7:30-3:30 so 8hrs

I briefly glance at the clock at night, more to try to convince myself that I got a great stretch of sleep rather than timing feeds for her benefit. She doesn't go more than 2 hrs during the day between feeds and she is getting to be a chunker!

I forgot to tell you guys that I've been donating milk to a mama and baby who are related to a midwife in my community. The mama had a horrific birth, the baby ended getting an infection and was in the special nursery for a week, and the mama hasn't been able to express any milk at all for some reason.... so it's been pretty cool to be able to use this ridiculous knack for making way too much milk for another tiny person who needs it.

I am also a cup-and-feeler to determine which side to feed from even in public.

Yeah..... I think I've def got the smallest boobies in the group....

Bring I do it in public too lol
I bet your not mine arnt massive at all 34c although that was debatable after bf dd1 maybe smaller but I didn't get measured, I'm only in 34d and 34dd bras now, I bet your bigger then me!
Little chunk he he you must be providing some tasty milk I still wake dd up atleast once aday for food but she does wake more often then not exactly when I usually feed her
How great your able to help another little one, there's no way I'd be able to produce enough to do that

Noranoo has been a little grumpy guzzler today. Some way to celebrate her 4 weeks birthday! She will only sleep in the sling or in bed with me. She sobbed when I tried to transfer her earlier, despite sleeping through me preparing a batch of midnight Breastfeeding flapjacks!

I'm in the sleep bra-less camp. In fact I'm permanently bra-less until this Thrush gets sorted (see, I told you I was turning into a hippy!) as I can't face boiling my lovely new nursing bras in vinegar, so I'm not wearing them unit I know we're clear! We are both being treated but its a dreary process. I hate my nipples and I'm not that keen on Breastfeeding.