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!

[cuphat]

Don't worry, we just weren't actively trying if that makes sense. With DD we looked at the calendar and did various things to aid conception. This time, we did none of that (we just didn't prevent) - we were going to start that after Christmas. Massive relief for both of us that it didn't come to that actually.

[Sunbeam18]

Phew, thanks for that Cup! Was worried that there was some kind of crazy fertility phase 14 months after giving birth that broke through contraception !! Glad for you that it all happened so easily for number two

[RueDeWakening]

cup that's what happened to us, too - DD took 18 months of planning, calendar checking, temperature taking, shagging. DS1 (triplets) and DS2 were both more of an "oops, well, we were talking about having another one..." :o

[cuphat]

rue.

Thanks sunbeam. I'll be 35 when I have DC2 and I'd read too many threads on secondary infertility, so was a bit worried we'd struggle second time around.

I'm still bf DD, only first thing in the morning and last thing at night but I think it might be time to stop soon. I need a bit of a break!

[BeanCalledPickle]

I was manipulated. I didn't really want another. I was plied with alcohol and seduced. He will be going for a vasectomy after this. I think you are just more fertile after a baby; your body knows what to do. I will be very glad when this phase of my life is over. I like the idea of small verbal children. Babies not so much! The idea of starting over is extremely unappealing!

[cuphat]

DH will be having a vasectomy too as we've only ever wanted two. DH had only just decided he was about ready for DC2 so he wasn't expecting it quite so soon! I'm the same bean; I've never been a baby person but knew I wanted children.

[HungryHorace]

I'm not big on babies either...bit dull really!

I'm back on the injection (still haven't DTD yet though...difficult to find time, and the injection isn't effective yet!).

[SunnyL]

I quite liked my baby until I realised how much fun toddlers are. A colleague has just adopted an 18 month old girl and as a result has got 9 months maternity (or whatever it's called for gay men) leave. It sounds ace - they're spending their days going swimming and going to the park. Maybe maternity leave should be saved for when they're more interesting.

On the sick child front it turns out she's got hand foot and mouth. She's not allowed back to nursery til the spots have gone which will be next week they reckon.

[HungryHorace]

It's just adoption leave. :-)

That does sound like loads more fun than a small baby!

Did she catch it at nursery? Poor thing. Hope she's better soon.

[Mrs81]

How is L doing Sunny? Hope you and Mr Sunny manage to avoid catching it too.

DS is poorly. Again. Since his MMR in August I can probably count on one hand the number of properly well days that he's had Last week it was puketastic, the week before was rash tastic. And so on and so on. Today he is desperate to sleep and not eat. And offer up scary nappies. So that's what we're doing.

Sorry. That was moany. The sun is shining and the air has that glorious crisp feel to it Hope everyone is doing ok!

[cuphat]

Poor babies. Hope they get better soon.

[SunnyL]

thankfully it's not something we can catch. actually it's been one of those weeks where work has been really intense for me. DH has been holding the fort and has been looking after Lil on his own since Tuesday. I've only had one evening in since Saturday. Because Lil is infectious she can't mix with other babies or pregnant women so I think DH has been going a bit stir crazy cos other than take the dog for a walk there wasn't much he could do.

He's been a star

[BeanCalledPickle]

Those of you who have two with two years between them can I ask; if you had a section how long did you need help with the big one? Also do I 'need' a double buggy or will I likely be able to make do? I can stand to get a double Maclaren from eBay but buggered if I'm spending more!

Also what do I do about sleeping arrangements? Polly has a cot bed. I don't want to buy a new cot. Will polly be able to sleep in a bed at two? How does it work?!?

[cuphat]

I'm interested in exactly the same questions, bean, as there will be two years exactly between DD and baby!

My husband took a month off to help me after my last section (no family in area). Dd you have a section last time?

I'm hoping to make do with DD in the pushchair and baby in a sling but in reality I don't know if that will work. I only used a sling and carrier occasionally with DD as she'd want another feed as soon as I put her in!

We're going to get another cotbed as I don't think DD will be quite ready for a bed (but I'm not sure).

[Mrs81]

The logistics of two under two makes my head spin! Good luck puzzling it out!

What's the wisdom please re toddlers and probable viral illness? DS is still super-sleepy/lethargic (day 3) and not eating or drinking much. I ended up syringing liquid into his mouth yesterday Not fevery this now but 39 yesterday that didn't shift with calpol (so stripped him down to vest).

I find it hard to gauge the difference between paranoid first time parenting and being sensible at times like this

[SunnyL]

Mrs we don't tend to be major worry warts but with Lily itit's different. I've found our doctors surgery are more than happy to see us that day if we're concerned. They haven't made us feel bad or suggested we're overly concerning ourselves. I haven't had the same experience with NHS Direct though - can't remember what it's called down south. A big temp and 3 days of unhappyness to me would be a trip to a doctor.

Good luck. x

[Mrs81]

Thanks Sunny. We're northerners too so same nhs direct. Have used them twice- once for his conjunctivitis ("let it be for 3 days, it will probably clear up" Did it, my foot) and once for his mystery full body rash (a bit better, but getting to actually see someone was like getting blood from a stone)

I think we'll ride it out today for as long as fever doesn't get silly again. Hard though, this parenting lark!!!

[HungryHorace]

We've just bought a second hand Maclaren Twin Techno XT from eBay, Bean.

I think you'll find that even though they're walking, sometimes at 2 they'll be knackered and want a ride somewhere.

I've found the sling way too hot to use this summer.

We also have an Oyster Max, which is a travel system, but bloody bulky for the car and we don't rate the carrycot part.

[BeanCalledPickle]

I never used one of those wrap things as there was way too much material going on. Did enjoy using the manduka though. That was the pram I thought I might get. Consider though that I will rarely have to move two at the same time. Polly will be in nursery three days and DH doesn't work Wednesdays. So it's only Monday I'm on my own. I don't want to go overboard on kit! We have a bugaboo and Maclaren already so could each push one when there are two pairs of hands around!

[HungryHorace]

I got a total bargain and only paid £50. Keep your eyes peeled for one that started low but has no / not many bids.

I've not used it yet, but once I have I'll give you a review, if you like?

You'll be prammed up to the eyeballs soon!

[cuphat]

I've seen some bargains on gumtree. It appears that it's for people who can't be bothered with the hassle of ebay so stuff is going very cheaply.

I love our icandy, I'd love to carry on using it/ use the carrycot part for baby (DD was in the carrycot for ages as it's long and she was happy in it).

[Sunbeam18]

Mrs, we have never got much sense out of NHS 24 so have made a pact to just go straight to Sick Kids hospital (Edinburgh) with him if anything is seriously worrying us and it's out of GP hours.

[Mrs81]

Sunbeam - Sick Kids is great, should you ever need to take your lo there. We know quite a lot of people who have been and it's always been a positive experience (in as much as these things are!) We were sent once when ds was tiny, the care was astonishingly good.

DS went back up to 39.2 but calpol made a difference today so we are muddling along for now as I know in my heart of hearts that nhs 24 would just tell us to do what we're already doing. Tomorrow is a new day 'n' all that

[cuphat]

Hope he's better soon, Mrs.

DD was really ill last year and we took her to the GP as she was so young and couldn't feed etc. They said it was viral and that there was nothing they could do. Then she had a rash for weeks that wouldn't clear up. They were no help with that; didn't know what it was and prescribed a steroid cream which I wasn't happy about using for no reason. In the end, I did a search on mn and tried Aveeno cream after reading recs for it and it cleared up almost straight away (amazing stuff, always use it now).

So we haven't taken her since. If she gets a rash we do the glass test and if that's fine then we don't worry too much.

Not sure about NHS Direct. She got bitten by one of our cats out of hours (surprised it hasn't happened more than the once tbh!) and the NHS website stated that you should see a doctor asap and get antibiotics as it can get nasty quickly, develop into meningitis etc. but NHS Direct said not to worry and just to clean it and keep an eye on it. I'd had an (accidental - cat got freaked by a sudden noise) incident with our other cat a few years ago and had to go to a&e to be stitched and they gave me antibiotics as they said it wasn't worth the risk as cats have horrid bacteria.

[cuphat]

Oh and this is the first night I've put DD to bed without a bf. It didn't go well. Decided to cut the bedtime one before the morning one as she seems very eager in the morning but may have made the wrong decision.