June 2013; Toddling into our second year!

[BeanCalledPickle]

New thread ladies:-) I think we filled about ten threads when pregnant and this is only our fourth post natally!

You are Big Brave. I'm not sure I could do it again. Morning sickness at the end seems unnecessarily cruel of Mother Nature. Bitch.

Kitchen is good, mostly as J just runs rings around the table. The extra room is the best part. I could do with a proper backyard though!

Shall be thinking of you Friday week. If you get really bored post-bebe let me know and J and I can drive over and bring you some booze and cheese.

Will you hold the baby while Joe and Polly play in the garden while I get drunk and eat an entire wheel of Camembert?

Perfect idea

I will. I'll be driving so you'll need to do most of the drinking. Please consider this a genuine offer.

I wander off fir a couple of days and miss the offer of new baby cuddles, wine and cheese. I'm possibly jealous of people who live in London briefly

Thanks for the meal ideas. Ratbag used to eat a lot of these things but has since declared it poison. Todays example - we decided cheese on toast was eeeeeevil but Mummy's pizza would hit the spot.

I did read the NHS toddler book yesterday which suggested I've got nothing to worry about - as long as she's thriving there's nothing to worry about. She also eats a tonne of fruit.

Might try the filled pasta though - that could be the winner.

What are yours sleeping in at the moment? We have a 9 tog duvet, vest, long sleeved and long legs pj's. This is essentially the same as in the dead of winter. Am I cooking her?

What temperature's her room? The window is always open in DD's room so it's usually 18 degrees. She's still in a sleepsuit and a 2 tog sleeping bag.

We went on a trip to the zoo. It's free for children age 2 and under. They queried DD's age! And then studied her some more once we told them. I don't think she looks too much older than her age and I really don't want to have to start carrying her birth certificate around! I spent years having to prove my age and now I'm finally at an age where I look older I'll have the same (but opposite) problem with DD!

How you manage to get her in a sleep suit and sleeping bag is beyond me! Those poppers wouldn't last five mins in this house. She'd spend the whole night taking them off:-) we switched to a duvet when I had to put the sleeping bag back on a dozen times in one night.

Don't really know about temp as I found that I just ended up getting obsessed with it. Window not open. Probably 18-20?

We have stopped with the vests under the pjs - the onesie pjs we have are Bonds from Australia and have a 2-way zipper which so far remain unmolested. Got some normal 2-piece jammies as well, long sleeved.

He's got a doona but buggered if I have the first clue what tog it might be! I just plan to go back to the cellular blanket over summer, unless it's very warm in which case he probably won't need anything.

Anyone else's little (bloody) darlings getting extra naughty about now? At the moment with J counting ONE TWO works but I've got no backup plan if one day he bluffs me and I'm forced to get to three. I tried a version of timeout step on Thursday but he loved it and took himself off there for a giggle several times after so that's now off the radar as an option.

Good news is he's stoked with his little step-up dunny seat for our downstairs loo and so we visit that for a nice sit down several times a day. More fun for him than me but he's running that show so will see how we go. I am categorically not looking forward to having to wrangle loo roll to wipe his shitty bum first time he's successful on that front. Oh god.

We tried the naughty step. But it was apparently the BEST THING EVER and she took herself off there merrily to sit and play. So that's not really effective.

I had totally phased the high chair out. She has a table and chairs. She eats there, exactly the same as nursery. All good five days before a section. Obviously don't want to go back to high chair and lifting at this stage.

Went to mums yesterday. Overjoyed to be in high chair. Refuses to eat at table. Food all over floor. High chair now forced back into circulation.

JOY

DS is still in a sleepsuit and long sleeved vest at night. No issues with putting them on yet He has a duvet which he insists on sleeping on top of Temp in his room is prob c18/19.

Someone recommended the book Toddler Calm to me the other day. The little bit that I read looks quite promising. I might try and get hold of a copy!

She's very laid back.

We only notice the temperature because she still has a monitor and it's clearly displayed on that. She rarely wears a vest under her sleepsuit, even in winter. Her room seems to stay at a constant temperature. She only wears one if we go to stay with my family, as their house can be freezing at night.

It's probably different with a duvet, because I bet they don't stay on all night. But with a sleeping bag, 18-20 would be too warm for a vest. I go by the Grobag guidelines. If she seems comfortable then she's probably alright.

When DH is away and I have to bath DD I have to use a bath thermometer as I have no sense of temperature! What feels too cool to me is hot to DH (and the thermometer!).

Oh dear, bean. DD is still happy to go in her high chair but with my PGP and now sciatica I've really had to try and limit lifting her (luckily I'm ok because I am being quite careful/ lazy). We seem to be naturally phasing it out because she has breakfast in bed with me most days now and for the past few weeks lunch and dinner have been outside in the garden, on the table and chairs out there. She has a little table and chair inside too.

Will be thinking of you on Friday, hope it all goes well. I have my 36 week scan then too and I finally get my section date. Though I'm convinced I'll go into labour before then.

I suppose that's the good thing about a duvet. They can kick it off!

There is a temp displayed on our monitor as well but it's completely inconsistent. And unreliable. Like our thermometer which will vary between 34 and 44 bloody degrees. And that's a fifty quid so called professional one?!?

Smiling at the thought of breakfast in bed. Pop pop would be everywhere! Have you got steps everywhere yet? Someone suggested it as good solution for post section and she's been happy to embrace it.

Friday I'm trying not to think about. Because the process was fine last time I'm worrying about everything else. The ward gives me nightmares when I think about it!

Bean. Amenity room. It's worth every penny. Really. Do they have them at your hospital?

Yes. Cannot be booked in advance. And I've read suggestions that first night post section they won't let you for clinical reasons. So hopefully I can but I think best to proceed on basis that will have to suck it up.

I always have breakfast in bed first thing. DD used to have hers later on downstairs but I'm trying to limit going up and downstairs now due to the PGP, so she has hers with me now (DH makes it before he leaves for work) and we go downstairs later on. She's not keen on messiness when it comes to food. But that doesn't mean she doesn't make any! "Clean it" and "wipe it" are common phrases!

No, we have one step for the toilet and that's it. But she can climb up onto the chairs and sofas and our bed herself. Am I missing anything else?!

I'm having the same nightmares about the ward. It was hell last time. No option to have a private room if you're consultant-led here.

I had Joe at C&W, born via section 1110am and I walked from recovery to the ward (an idiot but was keen to show I could've allowed home) and had my chance at the amenity room at around 11pm that night. Not sure what clinical reasons would preclude it, what an odd thing for them to say to you.....you're still in the ward, you just don't have to suffer the same levels of noise, and even better you get your own bathroom...I swear I was more concerned bout getting that room than the section itself! I say demand it!

I probably should stop going on about it on the ante natal thread. It's probably best not to put the fear of God in them! And to be fair the experience depends entirely on who else is around. Imagine it is worse second time because you've got the other child to worry about.

I think the thing about clinical need is that they want to keep an eye on you and don't have staffing levels that allow trips into side rooms. I actually think the reason they are so slack with enforcing visits etc as they rely on partners to do the lifting and assisting etc. I don't think there is actual clinical need like you say.

I would be happy to demand it if I knew one was there and available. But then you don't want to be a trouble maker. I am always the trouble maker.

I would be inclined to do the walking thing ASAP as well to demonstrate how entirely resilient I am in my bid to be discharged after 24 hours. I almost wish that wasn't on the table as I will be gutted if I have to stay; whilst also choosing to overlook that I'm not staying for fun, there would presumably be a reason for it. The bugger at Barnet is that it's a good long walk from ward to car park so there is being ready to go and being ready to deal with that.

But grand scheme of things it is such a small thing. Can't imagine dealing with all of this after three days of labour ending in an emergency section or something. That's way way worse!

Steps yes- we need them for the sofa and the bed etc but sounds like you are covered.

Today is my last day on my own with Polly pre baby! Weird but kind of good as I have struggled to keep her properly entertained recently. Afterwards I have DH for two weeks and then he will take Monday's for the rest of the month. Hopefully by June I can cope with two on my own. Picking her up from nursery is my big challenge; pram is collapsed and always in the back of the bloody pram shed. I will need to climb in and get it with the baby in its carrier. That will be fun. And painful.

What clothes do toddlers wear in bed? Ha bloody ha ha. Small child keeps ripping all her clothes off. 4 times this week shes taken her pj's and nappy off. whats amazing is if you spot it I can get a nappy back on her and she won't wake up.

Lil's got a step that she drags around with her called her 'up high'. she's even learned from me to chuck it downstairs rather than carry it.

Good luck on friday Bean - I'm massively broody right now. Savings account looking a lot healthier now so maybe we'll be following in your footsteps soon.

My boss had a dream I was pregnant last week

Bean that seems a bit unhelpful of nursery, surely they could let you park up front of the buggy store, for a few weeks at least....

Alas no it opens on to the main path to the garden. I did ask and they said I just need to come and ask for help. And frankly I will need it to coerce the small girl into her buggy for the ride home.

Feel a bit achey today. DH worried as I'm allowed to call Dido if she's born todau

DD wears pyjamas and a short sleeved vest in bed at the moment. It's 18-19 in there and she often escapes the duvet! She wouldn't tolerate poppers either. Or a sleeping bag.

She doesn't do high chairs either and has a booster seat thing which she climbs into and can also get out of if necessary.

She also doesn't do buggies. Headstrong madam!

Bean, I was told I could leave 20 hours' post-section with DS. Took til 26 hours to actually be able to escape, but it wasn't too bad. Think they took pity on me after having already been in a week.

Section patients can't have private rooms at Ormskirk due to clinical need too. Most annoying with DD and 3 nights of hell. My 1 night with DS was fine though.

Good luck for Friday. Can't wait to see photos. :-)

Thanks, I'm glad I haven't missed anything (that steps might be needed for).

it did cross my mind that we might be worrying the first timers! But at least we're preparing them for the worst and they might be pleasantly surprised. I can't remember hearing anything negative about the wards before having DD. I have also heard that they like to keep you on a ward after a section so it is easier to keep an eye on you. I think that's why there's no option here. I'm still bitter about missing out on the lovely rooms in the mlw.

Luckily DH's parents will be available to have DD and bring her up to the hospital, however they have booked a break abroad for when I am 37-38 weeks! And with my paranoia about going into labour early we are going to have to have a back-up plan. I never did go back to tots group lady and get her number in case, so we will have to weigh up the options. There's no way I can have a c-section without DH there. A neighbour also came around offering help if required but as lovely as she is I don't really know her and I don't think DD would be impressed.

I hope I find it as easy this time around; I was up really quickly and had no problems and they threw me out after a day and a half because I seemed ok (and they needed the bed!). Never mind that I was still struggling with feeding (sleepy DD).

Have you decided on the name, bean (if she isn't born today!)?

Oh, I was lifting DD the day after my section with DS without any problems.

I had SRC Recovery Shorts which really helped (you'll have to Google them as I'm on my phone and time is short on my lunch).

I'm selling mine but I think I must have got bigger than you so they may not fit you (if you were interested, that is).

DD has to do pushchairs. And reins if I'm alone. But she's laid back about those too (in fact she begs to wear the reins because they're attached to a puppy!), luckily for me. As I don't drive there's no way I'd manage her and a baby without her being in a pushchair or on reins. Plus as I don't have a car she needs the pushchair for somewhere to sit and rest as we can be out for long lengths of time.