Graduated Elderberries

[HazleNutt]

It's time to move to Post-Natal clubs.

They need their own bag they're so big! I'm crap at anything resembling a towel after being a tampon user since day dot. Just looking at those pads makes me

I would say that's plenty. There's no two ways about it, maternity pads really are awful. But needs must and all that. But they really suit the enormous belly-warming granny pants you no doubt have as well. I got AF back after 7 weeks (despite EBFing which is supposed to keep the witch away) and went straight back to tampons even after episiotomy so you won't be stuck with the horrid towels for long.

I was the same about the mattress towels Merkin, but weirdly post birth I found them strangely comforting! Helps to have something squishy to sit on too.

Alex how was your dinner at MILs? My MiL will openly comment on DP's child-rearing techniques (eg hovering over him when he is changing a nappy and telling him he should be using cream when there's no need). She is lovely and means well but is quite anxious and a bit of a control freak so I don't think she can help herself. She tries to restrain herself when it comes to telling me how to do things, but this results in her doing silly put-on baby voices and speaking for W instead, going 'ooh, mummy, I'm hungry! ooh I've got tummy ache!' which unsurprisingly drives me mental doesn't go down well with me.

Yes I found them weirdly comforting! Liked the ones without wings as I found the ones with wings didn't work well and were just a pain.

That is annoying quod (about MIL pretending she can speak for W). When I got to MILs for the meal, she seemed annoyed we were late even though she knows what time DH finishes work so we couldn't get there any earlier. Anyway she told me to leave S be in the hallway and come and sit down, but I snuck out a few times during the starter and with a dummy, she went to sleep and slept for ages, yay! So that saved me from meal time awkwardness and meant I could relax. I was then criticised for planning to bf for 6 months and for planning to keep S in our room for "far too long" so a constantly topped up glass of wine came in very handy It was really noisy so S woke at 11 and MIL wanted to give her the expressed bottle, she wouldn't wait for it to warm up at all even though I told her to but I managed to stay calm again, thank you wine

Great night last night - 8pm to 6.30am with two really short feeds in the early hours.

I don't even see how breastfeeding and where S sleeps should affect your MIL.

Not such a great night here, up and midnight and 1, and at 4 refused to sleep in his cot, so had to bring him to bed with us. Hope it was just because he went to bed too late yesterday and not his 9-month regression.

Berries with older babies - are your boobs shrinking as well? Pretty much the first time in my life I suddenly have bras that are fine in the back, but cups getting too large.

Better night here, slept 11.30-7.30 with one wake up at 1.30, and a resettle at 4.30. He is poorly this morning though, nasty cough has become manky snotty nasty cold, he doesnt want milk either, what I did get down him he threw up during the next coughing fit. Managed to get some mashed banana into him which has stayed down so far and he is now asleep. Glad to have a docs appointment today as it's unlike him to be off his food!

Alex I'm sure you know this already, but it seems to me that your MIL's aversion to continued BFing and sleeping in your room is because it means she can't hog her help out as much, hence her keenness to give the bottle of expressed. I bet as soon as you even hint at winding down the BFing or moving her to her own room your MIL will start to suggest S goes to stay at hers, which she obviously can't do while she's still so reliant on you. If that is the case then she is being quite selfish putting her own desires ahead of S's needs as at her age EBFing and sleeping in her parents room is undoubtedly the best thing for her continued wellbeing. Good news on the sleeping. I hope she keeps it up for you.

Hazle I hadn't really thought about it until you mentioned it, but yes my boobs are definitely smaller than they were and rarely get engorged now even when E is due a feed. I was thinking I would have to buy a couple of new bras for holiday but I might try a few pre-pg ones on to see if they fit.

Last night was a bit better than the previous night but still shite. E went to bed at 8.15 and woke at 10.15, 11, 2.00, 3.30 5-6.30 and then got up at 8. Who'd have thought I would ever be describing that as a better night!

my poor little guy has a chest infection, hate seeing him so poorly. Still has lots of smiles for me but sounds like he is coughing up a furball.

Aw what a shame for the little man Mother. At least it has been diagnosed so he'll be on the mend now.

Is anyone's baby crawling yet? How long does it take to master it? E keeps pulling herself forward from sitting until she is on all fours but then is completely stuck and doesn't seem to know what to do except get frustrated or face plant or both. I know she'll get there eventually but I wonder if her frustration is what is causing the current shitty sleeping so I am quite keen to encourage her but not sure how?

I went through a couple of packs in hospital but nearly a whole pack was used up before birth due to the waters breaking.

I also found them really comfy - will you be adppting the 2-3 at a time approach? One horizontal then two end to end front to back was useful for first few hours, then just the 2 end to end til I escaped (36 hours later) then one at a time was enough.

Cavort H has mastered conmando crawling and occasionally tries with his knees. Sometimes he goes on all fours, rocks back and forth then goes up onto his feet (ie like a press up) and does the same.

I love love love watching him trying to work it out. I may or may not have been encouraging him by moving his favourite toys out of reach

Oh Mother poor H :( out of interest, what made you go to the doctors? H has had a rattly cough for just over a week but it's only a couple of times a day, not all the time iyswim?

Keep wondering if I should get him checked but by the time I get an appt, it'd probably be better...

Hope he's feeling better soon anyway. Least he's still smiling!

Thanks ladies, brave his cough was a bit rattley yesterday but he was happy, awake and smiley. It gradually got worse during the evening, he was also sleeping a lot which is out of character. His cough this morning was something else, it honestly sounds like he is coughing up a hairball, it sounds really painful, it's a bit wheezy too. He also wasn't hungry which again is out of character.

I did try to get him an appointment yesterday but their wern't any, the doctor said as soon as she heard him cough today that I was right to come. It's hard, as take them too often an you're over-protective, don't take them enough an you're a bad mum.

Hate seeing him so poorly, he's getting heaps of snuggles, just wish I could do more to help.

V is not crawling yet, doing the same leaning forward thing. I think you can help by holding your hand against their feet, so she has something to push against. But I'm in no hurry, he'll crawl eventually and then you can't take your eyes off even for a second

Alex you have the patience of a saint

Brave I'd heard about using 2 end to end but not one horizontally... Do I just wrap the ends underneath??

Merkin think I've lost the plot - there was definitely a third one but can't remember how it went

Maybe it covered the join on top of the other two? With some special oil to ease the stitches (midwives gave me it - will have a look later, it's still in the bathroom cabinet! ).

M starts to crawl... Collapses on front... Drags himself along... Gets back up on all fours and crawls a bit...

I've been positively discouraging it as suspect he will be a right pain in the arse harder to keep an eye on once he's mastered it. But he seems to be bored with it and instead is using anything he can to pull himself up to standing. Once vertical he laughs and screams a lot, and looks thoroughly smug delighted. He's even started cruising, much to my disappointment

So cute about the babies trying to crawl! Although I totally understand you being in no hurry to chase them around the place!

S slept well again last night, she's sleeping really well these days We're 13 weeks now. When did everyone else's nights go to shit?

And is there anyone here who didn't suffer with regressions by the way? Can I lie to myself that we'll be unbelievably lucky and keep having decent nights?! According to all my in laws, they didn't suffer with regressions and say the answer is getting them into their own room early but as you know I don't want to do that and also can't help wondering if they're either in denial or CIO softened the blow for them!

Alex E was around S's age when our nights started to go Pete Tong Everyone else's babies were later though. That's why I'm wondering if our current shitty sleeping is the 9 month regression come early. I bloody hope so!

I think all our babies' sleeping changed at around 4 months but some fared worse than others and it lasted longer for some than others so it's a bit of a lottery. I think regression lasting anywhere from 2-6 weeks is average.

The only baby I know of who didn't have a regression is my friend's DS, who started sleeping 13 hour nights around that age and has continued to do so since. I am sooo jealous!

alex I was quite happy smug till around then, H had had some blips before but around then it really went tits up....sorry. Hope S is the exception but enjoy the good nights while you can sure you'd agree cav!!

Regression started around the 4 month mark for us as well.

V has discovered that spoons are for babies, it's way more fun just to grab the pouch and suck. This counts as BLW, right?

Hello it's Purple, the doodah has hit the proverbial over here which is why I haven't been posting (have still lurked though)

I'm very jealous of all your non crawling babies, the monster has been crawling since Christmas and is making pretty concerted efforts to walk now. I'm waiting for a call from social services as she permanently seems to have at Least one bruise on her face at all times. Enjoy the peace whilst you can still leave the room without your babies instantly disappearing the minute you turn your back. L's favourite game at the moment is playing in the dog water bowls

Tooth number 4 is proving troublesome so a half decent nights sleep is a distant memory but I thought I'd just come and let you know we're ok. Thanks to those who wondered where I was!

Ooo hello Purple, er... Lilly. good to hear from you. Sorry to hear things haven't been going too well at your end and I hope the worst of it is over now.

Hazle absolutely, and if it saves on washing up then it's a winner in my book!

Lilly! Purple! Hello!
How are you? Sorry to hear things have been shit. Hope you're ok now?

Alex for us it hit at 13 weeks and lasted what seemed like forever for about 5-6 weeks, although there was a fortnight in the middle that was the absolute worst.

Crap night here last night by recent standards. He cut tooth number four today though so hoping it was that, and not an early 9 month regression He woke at 1.30am and took two hours to get him back to sleep. I'm clearly out of practice though as I fell asleep and 4pm (went for a quick lie down) and was woken by DP at 7pm I was totally confused and thought it was the middle of the night so started asking how long M has been up and if he'd been given a dream feed! Drinking wine now which feels odd as I feel like I should be having breakfast - but I'm soldiering through it.

Hey Lilly good to see you! Hope you're both ok.
Had a lovely day out in London and L loved the aquarium and tried to grab the fishes through the glass which was very cute. She then would not go to sleep until 11pm so I'm hoping she will now sleep through the night
No crawling and no teeth over here. And not much sleep either!!!