April 2007 - We are, quite simply, amazing!

[JoMa]

We took Danny to meet dp's mum today in Cambridge, got there without too much hassle via bus and train. I find a very frail 76 year old who's not good on her feet more challenging than Danny to deal with, and Cambridge station closing the ladies' toilets for cleaning very frequently doesn't help (soon after we arrived and just before we left). But she was thrilled to meet her grandson and have him smile at her, and Danny was as well behaved and adorable as always when he's out and about! We'll probably have to all go and see her more often somehow, as I think baby and dp's mum is too difficult a combination for one person, and he has also said after today that he would find it too hard on his own.

Now hoping GNER stops cancelling trains on Thursday - Ilkley where my mum lives isn't too bad but the flooding is hitting in the Doncaster area which our train has to get through on the way to Leeds.

Evening all.

Pesha, you sound so low hun. Just do whatever feels right and sod the rest of them.

Elkie, you get about a bit don't you!? All credit to you. Ikwym about frail people being a challenge. We are off to see my gran (B & K's great-gran) on Saturday, and she is 92! I am looking forward to seeing her, but know it is going to be hard work.

Hi leaky, glad you had a good trip out to the shops.

Big waves to everyone else as have forgotten everything else.

Probably going to bed soon as am knackered. Managed to get K to take most of her bottle tonight, so hoping that will keep her going until 7.00.

Hope everyone is ok, esp those who haven't posted for some time.

See you lovelies in the morning. xx

Thanks elkie - if any one knows about being strong/stubborn and sticking with bf its you! And glad you found the link useful - i think there are a couple other companies do ethical ctf but this was the ne i found easiest to find the details of, and like i said i think theres very little to choose betwen them really!

Leaky - have just finished massaging D! I dont bathe him often as he has dry skin as did ds1 and bathing just dries it out too much. I think his skin is much better left to its own devices with just top and tailing and a bath every now and then when we feel like it followed by oily massage to rehydrate. Gonna find out about local massage class, couldnt do it waith ds1 cos would have had to have dd with me. Not sure I can afford it though but would love to do something with him. There is very little to do round here.

PILs are very good re bfing, fil implied the other day that mil actually bf for a very long time, but I just think she had a very different experience of it to me. She has said how much weight she lost and how much she coiuld eat whereas I put on weight so am having to fight this. And on sunday she said a few times to D oh you cant need feeding again. Said very nicely, no nastiness at all, i think she just must have had an abundance of milk which i plainly dont. And im worried a week of my continually feeding him will bring more well meant comments and suggestions but not particularly helpful and will bring me down. And comments from dp and bil's gf may not be so easy to take. Sorry am waffling now

However after dylan's mass feedathon yesterday (8.5 hours out of 13 spent feeding ) he has been really settled today. Fed lots this morning but this afternoon and evening has been amazingly content, little bit of feeding and loads of lying on his mat or sat in his chair just looking around and smiling! Its lovely, not really expecting it to last but if he does it even once or twice next week that would be fab! It makes such a difference to have abit of time to myself without a baby attached!

Off to bed at same time as dh for first time in weeks.

Have just sent an email with some scary/funny pics (esp for dummy users out there).

Goodnight

good evening all! been lurking and tryign to get time to post / keep up. a pants wet day here today and i dropped car keys in a puddle. central locking will not open now - great!!
c had her jags yesterday - seems like no aftermath. phew.... but we both have thrush again. she projectiled twie this mornig when i gave her mouth drops. end of that treatment and back to the doc for something else!
octo - not sure if you saw an earlierpost but asda are doing a redkite cheapo version fo the triptrap at £35. a few of us up in the esat end of glasgow have now bought them!

bumble - hope you are ok about the folks going... hope you and dh have alovely time out on saturday
elkie - i agree with what you said about bf being emotive and dp's struggling to understand. to be honest - i would have too before this all. when pg - i thought it wouldnt bother me - but it has. i think you have really gone for it and good on you for it all. danny is a lucky wee boy.
pesha - my heart went out to you as well. it must be hard to keep going when it is so hard and others dont necessarily understand. stubborn ?? maybe - bloody determined more like!
CTF - have you all got your money / vouchers?? nothing has arrived for us as yet. actually - am i meant to do something?

GMM - you have a good time with the mam. now doubt she was dotin on him!

off to attempt tidying. this flat is a pig sty - havent cleaned in yonks and have visitors all week / weekend.

Sorry pesha X post.

My ils are lovely but like yours have different experience. Think MIL would love to be able to help more but can't because of bf. When he's hungry only I can comfort him. G is her first grandchild so she's a bit obsessed with him at present.

I love massaging G and he seems to really like it too. We've been lucky that the class I go to is a free drop-in at a local health centre.

I hope the week away goes well, maybe he's having a growth spurt and will have settled down by then.

Goodnight.

weeonion, have you made a child benefit claim? The CTF voucher follows on from that - once your claim has been processed a voucher is automatically sent out in the post - my claim was submitted straight after the May bank holiday and the CTF letter is dated 17 June - the voucher looks a bit like a cheque and says it's £250 to open a CTF account for (baby's full name and dob). And if you're entitled to them, have you claimed tax credits?

pesha, have you asked your health visitor what's available through NHS or council funded services? There is baby massage here apparently through the NHS but the sessions are full up and you have to get on the "waiting list".

pesha - have you seen the thread about oats increasing milk supply??

elkie - we have been getting our child benefit ok - from the middle of may but no ctf has came through. i have been trying to get the claim pack for tax credit but there is a backlog apparently so no joy with that one! do they backdate it??

Yes, they backdate tax credit but for 3 months. When I first called in early June I was told the system was down, but got the claim pack when I tried again 3 days later. I received Child Benefit later than you, baby probably born later, but have received voucher.

There is a helpline on 0845 302 1470 or website www.childtrustfund.gov.uk

Leaky - very of free massage group! Have fingers crossed it is a growth spurt!

WO - i have seen that but not big on oats except in flapjacks! I have actually started taking motilium which is meant to be good for supply. I may not need it and i think i prob have enough milk but only just. Would be great to have abit more so it isnt such a struggle.

Elkie - not much round here at all, havent actually talked to hv as by the time ive had my lecture i just wanna get outta there but have had leaflets and searched internet but nothing really. Is only a shitty little town!!

WO - i would think if you're claim is delayed more than 3 months they would back date it more if it is due to their delays iyswim. I sent claimn form for ctc around 20th may and got my money on day of the meet up (whatever day that was!) and claimed child ben on 23rd may (same day i registered d's birth which why i remember!) and have had my ctf money for a couple weeks. I would give them a ring and chase it up.

Where is everyone else tonight???

LeakyR Ugh re the dummies - Danny likes his but I wouldn't dream of getting him one with fake fangs!

Know what you mean about different experiences - my bro & I were ff - mum being determined to get on with sailing asap (well, she was International standard) so whilst I'm getting support they're not quite getting bf and supply...

Another telepathic baby moment here Octo as T was up at 2, 4, 6 and 7 for the last couple of nights, means that I've actually been quite glad DS is at PIL's for the week although missing him terribly. It's also meant that I've had time to spend time appreciating my little girl 1-to-1.

Right bedtime - must catch up from broken nights sleep to try & beat baby!

Off to bed here too. Just managed to express all of 1oz! I normally manage 2oz but last night and tonight he's not stopped feeding and gone to slep till half 10ish so not enough time for milk to build up without me staying up all night!

Night all

luce - nice to have you back.... shame on the weather for teh girls early days of hols!!
sympathies on teh thrush - it is sooooo sore. we have it again too. poor c projectiled earlier today with the drops. off to see bf specialist again inthe morning about it. what meds r u on??

Morning everyone.

Have a very snottery ds on my knee, poor thing (and poor me - another crap night with coughing sneezing baby...).

I've a bottle of acidophilus capsules if any of the thrush sufferers want it, supposed to help prevent recurrent attacks.

Did someone want my cake recipe?

Marmalade & beer cake recipe - this makes enough for 2 loaf tins

180g unsalted butter
300g golden syrup
480g self raising flour
6 tsp ground ginger
4 tsp ground cinnamon or mixed spice
2 large eggs, beaten
1 jar chunky marmalade
1 bottle beer (275ml is perfect)

Melt butter with golden syrup.
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl (or food processor), bake in greased loaf tins at 180 degrees for about an hour.

Struggling to keep up as DH is hogging the computer for revision, hope everyone is ok.

Morning all

Not a bad night up at 1.15(from 9pm), 3.30 and 6.30 (thanks to DH alarm which wakes me and G but not him). G is still asleep. I've got HV coming this morning so have just whizzed round to give her the impression that my house is tidyish

You ladies that are coping with thrush are marvellous, it sounds horrid.

Those of you looking to increase supply have you tried any of [http://www.breastfeedingheaven.co.uk/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=5&gclid=CKKYu4anjY0CFQGwEAodwQ3Ljg these?]
I read a thread where someone recommended milkmaid tea. But there are probably other threads saying it's rubbish too.

these? Sorry

weeonion - call the helpline no and have your NI no ready. I filled in the online form then had an email saying thanks for the enquiry, call the helpline!
They said in my case that they hadn't had my details through from the child ben people and that they'd get onto it straight away as there'd been such a delay.
Hi everyone else, sorry no time to post as T grouching. Back to lurking ...

quick hi this morning, lucewheel and weeonion, sorry to hear about your problems with thrush.