Jan '07 part 6: PCF's hoping for a different sort of Easter egg than the rest of us!

[2HappyEaster]

Like a lovely, plump, fertilised one

somrgee invited you to convo

Urrr has no-one seen the latest picture of freddie in the bath. Undoubtedly the cutest baby in the whole wide world!

Right, just to add my 2 penny worth .... tbh I dont think I feel more superior or disadvantaged than any other woman in terms of delivery or feeding methods, Its not something I ever think about. In my mind motherhood is not a competition, we do not get certificates for achievement, but we do all get the same prize... a child of our own making and that is the thing thats impressive. As our babies turn into children and then young adults we will have different challenges to contend with, I just dont think we'll have the time to worry about such trivia about natural deliveries and such.

Smacking is an emotive issue. I think children need to know what is right in accordance with their family norms and to respect the boundaries. I have smacked my eldest, but never smacked my second. This isnt because of the guilt thing ( I dont do guilt) but because they are totally different characters who react differently. We'll have to wit and see what number 3 turns out like.

As for BF in public, I just dont get it ... is there such a big problem and do mums really get hassled ? I've just calculated that to date I have spent 2 years of my life BF my 3, and not once have I been confronted or given any hassle and neither has anybody I know. Have I just been lucky or is there real problem out there ?

Weaning, I'm leaving it as late as possible. I dont understand the excitement about starting early, its sooooo much less hassle, they will be eating steak and chips within a few years. I just want to postpone it for as long as possible.

Right, off to bed now before it all kicks off again

Kat - i never thought there would be a problem with bf-ing in public either, until i got shouted at by a horrible man whilst discreetly bf-ing in the park. what upset me wasn't his reaction (he was a moron) but my own. i felt very threatened and scared and was almost in tears. those of you who "know" me (have chatted on MSN a lot - yes Wilkie i'm talking to you, and btw that piccie of you and J in the garden is soooooooo cute but now i know we can never meet as you are far too pretty and would make me feel like a frump! - will know that i am not a timid person by any means. i think because i was in such a vulnerable position it affected how i thought about the situation. anyway, it would be fab if you could come to the sit-in...even better if you can think of somewhere for us to do it!!! (still unsure)

with the smacking thing - and this is the last word i will say on the subject - i can remember my dad taking my pants down and smacking my bare bum in public. i can't recall how old i was (not very - 3 or 4 perhaps) but i do remember feeling very bitter and angry towards him, and not apologectic or contrite and the only reason i didn't lash out back at him was because he was bigger than me. i can remember exactly what i did to deserve a smacking, and that was that i kicked my mum. so the cycle went something like this:

1. i kick my mum
2. my dad hits me
3. i want to hit my dad back
4. resentment breed, festers, and i become a goth

so - in my case, smacking didn't work. BUT every child is an individual, and an occasional tap may work.

on the guilt thing - i felt hugely guilty that i didn't manage to give birth without intervention, especially since i had planned the home birth, i felt very very let down by my body, and actually like i'd failed before i'd even began! i've since realised that the birth isn't the important thing. can't remember who said, but given that our babies have the rest of their lives in front of them, worrying about birth, breastfeeding/not breastfeeding will seem so trivial in the years to come.

oh, and whoever was wondering, packets of baby rice say "From 4 months" on them because baby rice manufacturers exist to make money and 4 months is the earliest they can get away with saying. no doubt they'd say "From birth" if they thought they could get away with it.

ok i will stop ranting now. Zac's new nappies arrived today! he looks like a little weeble in them! god knows how he'll ever walk in them...they make his bum look huge!

Ud, I always thought you were very brave to go for a homebirth with your first. Ds2+3 were born at home and although it was lovely I actually think DS4s hospital birth was better, even though I was utterly terrified.

I hope you dont mind me saying or take it the wrong way but I wasn't surprised Z was born in hospital in the end. I'm not sure why I thought that though....

You're 100% right though, the birth isn't really a big deal where ever you do it....the end result is the best thing.

Morning ladies

Took my dd to docs yesterday about her rash and she has german measles , she is fine though no tempreture or anything she just has to fight it herself.

Just wanted to thank everyone on msn last night for a right old laugh, yes you know who you are .

laughalot - poor little thing hope she isn't feeling too bad with it. I had german measles as a child.

Morning all, nice sunny day again here today. Dd currently about to go in the garden and my parents are visiting. Poor ds1 was sick this morning Not sure why though, think it might be due to him coughing so much. He's been off colour still since he had the flu and still isn't putting weight back on

My ds was sick all over me last night he has had a cough and cold so think it was that.

Laughalot and Jodie - poorly little ones. German measles - you rarely hear about it now (resurrect the MMR debate.....)

Morning, so sorry about the poorly ones, hope they get well soon.

I don't know what dh is on, sometimes. He was going into Homebase nd I asked him to pick up a dustbuster while he was there (decided it will help clear up after ds1, esp as he is so emotionally attached to the hoover that he strops whenever we try to put it away ). Oh no, says he, I'm going to get a dyson dustbuster....

So I thought I'd be helpful and go buy one today from Argos. Guess how much it cost?? A hundred flipping quid !! No way am I spending that on a bloody dustbuster, got a 15 quid one instead and he'll ahve to lump it. Bloody men and bloody gadgets - what is it with them?

I was thinking of you, UD, while I was there - ds2 decided he was hungry so fed him in the car in the car park outside and a couple of pre-teens were pointing at me and telling their mum about the freak with her tits out in the Argos car park, she hussled them away like I was contagious....

I'm feeling like a Bridget Jones style mother today.
Number of pooey nappies: 2
Number of puked on baby outfits: 3
Number of puked on adult outfits: 2
Number of triple chocolate muffins consumed to help me get over puke fest: 1 very large one
Number of creme eggs looking at me: 6 and counting!
How much puke can one baby do?! I didnt realise my boobs held that much liquid!

UD - I can't believe anyone would say anything to a mother who was BF in public. I am gobsmacked at the very idea of it. I know I live in hippy dippy ville Brighton, but I just can't imagine it. It must have been really nasty for you to have some moron comment on you in the park. He was probably the type of bloke to piss in a cubicle coz he is ashamed at the size of his tiny dick.

Was going to say 'Morning all', but i see its actually nearly 3 o'clock already
Where does he time go to? (God I sound like my mum!)

Lizz LOL at the moron in the park with the tiny dick. And sympathies to you UD... i'm sure it wasn't funny at the time.

laughalot get well soon LO.

Third night in a row last night freddie's slept through! well...ish. He woke up at 6:15 this morning, which is realy not quite morning in my book. Last few nights he's made it through til 7 though

Hi everyone
Have just bought some hungry baby aptamil, hope it works, although it was all they had in Boots anyway.
Had a rough night last night - my sister had an emergency c-section last Wednesday and last night got taken into hospital - couldn't speak, recognise us. I think it was a severe migraine, turns out she is hardly eating anything and trying to BF, so its a mix of exhaustion, lack of food and stress. She had a general anasthetic - is lack of appetite a hangover from this?

She is very figure conscious (unlike me and moaned her whole pregnancy about much weight she gained (it is nearly all baby) and I am worried she is not eating to drop the weight quickly. Any thoughts girls?

So I looked after her baby while her partner and my dad were in hospital until 1.30 am so I am pooped today, which must be why I have just scumpfed a creme egg for an energy boost.

Enjoyed the smacking/weaning etc debate. Nobody wants to smack, and I have done it to DS1 a handful of times but you always feel awful afterwards becuase it is usually done in temper.

I don't smack now, just threaten to put toys out for the binmen or use naughty step. Used it this morning with DS2 for calling me a poohead and found him 3 mins later reading a book on the step with his brother.

blimey wilkie perhaps i should get msn after all...

Wilkie - am still chuckling after last night Please drink every night!

Annie - hope your sister is ok. I had emergency c-section / general and it took me a good week or so to regain my appetite. I had dreadful wind (parp!) and felt so bloated. Although the lack of appetite could have something to do with having a screaming newborn and no idea of what the hell to do! Lucky her to have such as supportive sister.

Shimmer - time flies when you're having fun!

Lizz - pmsl at tiny dick. And Bridget. How did you know the creme eggs were looking at you, and did not in fact have their backs turned to you?

2Happy - look forward to hearing DH's comments on non-Dyson dustbuster! Hope you spent the remaining 85 quid on summat nice for you and DS's.

UD - hope you post a photo of the weeble

Ok, this is ridiculous. I feel like someone with ADD or something. I am on my 3rd change of clothes today! My near empty washing basket is now full again.
What is everyone else doing with their 0-3 month old baby clothes? I can no longer shut any of Dylans drawers, they are bulging with clothes, I have removed most of the 0-3 ones, and still have a bag of brand new 3-6 months ones to wash. He has more clothes than mothercare!

BTW - did anyone see that woman Edwina Curry slag off mothercare on GMTV this morning? I have only ever had exemplary service from their staff, and felt moved to email GMTV to let them know that.
If I had to serve Edwina Curry, I think I'd be very tempted to be rude too!

Meant to say that for the first time, my HV did not patronise me today, instead, gave me a free bag of Surestart 'bookstart' books. We're all entitled to these. Check out this

Lizz - Just filed away freshly washed 0-3 months clothes in a plastic box, all ready for child number 2 And I've not had a pleasant experience in Mothercare since having lo. I worked for Mothercare and at their head office (years ago) and there was a massive focus on customer service and training. Certainly isn't at our local branch.

Woo hoo! Get you! child number 2 indeed!
Any plans as to when they may come along?
I really like the 3.5 year age difference between my sister and I, and worked out the other day that it would mean getting pregnant in August or September 2008 to give birth in June 2009. I informed my boyfriend of this fact. So he has scheduled it in. That is the next time we will be having sex!

Lizz - have to second that re Mothercare. Our local branch is abysmal, full of student part timers who just don't give a sh*t. Having said that though, I probably would've rubbed a dirty nappy in Edwina Curries face - can't bear the woman

And all of J's clothes that are too small are freshly washed and boxed up in the attic ready for next time (although hoping I won't need the blue stuff IYSWIM )

Well, maybe its just the Croydon branch of mothercare then. I can highly recommend them...if you can be bothered making the trip across country to them!
why is no one on msn??? I need an excuse not to get my hoover out!

picture of weeble on my profile!

our mothercare is pretty poor too, actually. the "feeding and changing room" is actually pretty much a cupboard, and it constantly smells of poo. also, i object to the name Mothercare, as it kind of implies that fathers can't care. i know my friend had a load of trouble as they wouldn't let him take his lo into the changing room as there might be a mother feeding in there! absurd!

i'm on msn Lizzz.....but then, you haven't added me, have you?

hmph