December 2007: It's all worth it for the smiles.

[claraquitetirednow]

I've never started a new thread before - has this worked?

Becklespeckle, it's this tea:

www.healthstore.uk.com/p410720/TRADITIONAL-MEDICINALS-Organic-Mothers-Helper-Tea.html#

afternoon everyone.
interesting to read what people's lo's are doing sleep-wise. dd has been in a fairly fixed pattern (routine implies it's been done on purpose, which is FAR from the case- way too haphazard for that!) of going to bed at 7 and starting the day at between 5 and 6 am, with a dreamfeed at about 10 pm, and a bottle of ebm from dh at anywhere between 2am and 4am. dd is still only a titch at 10lb11 (11 wks tomorrow and still tracking about 10th-15th centile) so i'm not expecting her to do very much more than this until she's a bit heftier.
during the day things a way more random, and this week she's been really tricksy, not feeding too well (guzzle-scream-scream-guzzle-stare into space-scream-guzzle) and only taking about 60-70ml of ebm at night. somebody said she might be wanting to space her feeds out a bit more now that she's over 10lb, but I'm struggling to pick up hunger cues from her and i think i keep mistiming it. v frustrating, and it's hard not to get stressed when she is still such a midget...

Dundee - my lo is exactly like yours, especially the whole guzzle scream bit!
He is feeding again every 2-3 hours on the night, think he is due a growth spurt as he just over 11 weeks!
Maybe things will improve again after this has passed!

re meet ups- i am blagging a trip to london for the london book fair and would love to meet up with anybody who can make it. i'll be around and looking for stuff to do 13th, 14th and 15th of april. anyone up for coffee/lunch on any of those days? I was wondering about just saying 'meet on 14th outside british museum front entrance at 12:30' or something easy like that. good idea?

bouncing - do you just keep shoving the boob in, or what? why do they do this? don't they realise how frustrating it is?

No I don't think they do! I've ended up in tears at times
But yes I keep shoving boob in, or offer him is dodie - that normally calms him down enough, then I take it out and offer boob again. I sometimes try different positions, thinking that maybe he is uncomfortable.

dundee i would be up for meeting on the tuesday 15th. anyone else?

Bouncing/Dundee - I often get that from DS usually when I think he wants a feed but he doesnt really. I was the same with DD and it drove me nuts. I used to think all babies except mine cooed and smiled or sat there contently and then when they were hungry they would cry/eat their hands, lick their lips etc but in reality when I talk to other mums with babies who feed every 3 or 4 hours is that inbetween feeds often the baby needs a lot of pacifying. DS feeds much more contently and for longer when he goes 3 hours or more between feeds so I'm trying to relax and not offer him all the time.

Amani, DD was up at 6.30 this morning (instead of 7/7.30) I hope she doesn't do it every day now. I think the lighter days are contributing to it so I need to make sure i put the blackout blind down everynight. I've also noticed the birds returning and sometimes DD calls me in and asks what the noise is so I wonder if they have woken her as well?

Hey all, here things are OK but had a horrid day yesterday, a neighbour of ours decided to call Social Services and tell them that she trhought Matty was underweight and floppy and that we were leaving her on the bar at a party we all went to.
None of which is true, but really horrible and upsetting to have to justify myself. Fortunately our HV is great and she came too, and I guess the woman believed her, as there will be a report written but no other action.
Matty is small, but has stuck well to the 2nd centile since birth, she is in proportion to her height, and as my HV says, it is more of a concern for them to be going up or down the chart than to stay on a centile.
Just so [angry and

that is a nightmare thingamajig! how dare she?

well, millie was awake at 2.30, 4.30 and 6 last night. not needing to feed, but upset and whatever i did didn't help. This happens quite regularly, like every second night. could this be her teething?

Morning!

Thingmajig - am and on your behalf! What a horrible thing to do! Glad your HV was able to help (makes a change with HV usually interfering!). My DS is a lightweight too, tracking the 9th centile, and again my HV is not at all concerned.

Ds and I went to be at 6.30! I had a migraine, which is why I went early. He woke up at 10.30 (feed & nappy), 1am (dodie) 3.40am (feed and nappy) then 6am (feed and nappy followed by more feed and leaky pooey nappy!).
So feeds spreading out again!

Dundee, bless your titchy DD! Sounds like she does great, my DD will only go a max of 6 hours between feeds at night just like yours! Often (when she has her dream feed late due to me falling asleep on the sofa) it is less. She also has those funny screaming fits and I've no idea why. I'm certain she's hungry as she will root for the breast but as soon as her mouth touches it she will scream! I usually let her suck my finger until she is half dozing and then stealthily replace it with boob! Last night she had a major scream and as we had BIL and his GF round I took her upstairs to feed her and dozed off. When I woke up DH was fast asleep on the sofa and they had gone! How embarrasing!

Thingmajig, what an awful thing for you to have to go through! Thank heavens for your HV and the SS woman believing you. Is your neighbour usually malicious? Or could she have thought she was doing the right thing? If she was genuinely concerned then she should have spoken to you first. I also agree that the actual size/weight of your baby is not important as long as growth is steady.

DD is currently snoozing in her cot, I put her down in it nearly 2 hours ago while I went to find something for DH and when I went back in she had popped her thumb in and gone to sleep! She was a messy thing this morning though, I was trying to have a bath while she played in her chair and she filled her nappy. Explosively. It went everywhere. So I cleaned her off and popped her in the bath with me! She loved it and was kicking her little legs, normally I bath her in the sink so it was a real experience for her!

Thingmajig you poor thing! I can't believe your neighbour did that! If she was really worried she should at least have spoken to you first-just seems like a really malicious thing to do

Had a funny conversation with DH yesterday, we were talking about how most people we know with kids now have more than one
DH - Yeah but most people have at least 3 years between them not a stupidly small gap like we do
Me - More like 2 years
DH - Who has 2 years or less?
Me - Clara, Skid, Amani... Insy's boys are the same difference as dd and ds
DH - WHO?!?!
Me - erm people on mumsnet...
DH - So not actually people we know then?
Me - Um no, I suppose not

Clairey, I often bring MN people up in convos wth DH! Might sound daft but you guys feel as much like friends as those I see in RL, afterall most of us we went thru pg and birth with each other!

(and now I sound like some kind of odd net-nerd...)

I know what you mean, Clairey!
I bring it up with friends, once I was extolling MN to a group of mums I know, one of them was asking about Bfing advice and I said "Oh yes, go on Mumsnet - TikTok and HunkerMunker" will be able to advise you. They all looked at me as if I was a loon
You guys are just as real to me as my friends in RL - and I value your advice and experience as much as theirs, even if I've never met you all face to face

Hello all! Blardy hell, that took a long time to read through all your msgs...

Claireybee, I'm the same with dp and I've stopped mentioning mn now, I'll say 'this woman i know' but I'm sure he's sussed the code! Not that he minds at all but is not an internet slave like me

Speaking of dp he's taken ds out in his pram into town on his own, I know its stupid but I keep thinking 'how will he put the raincover on?' 'Will he manage the shops with the buggy?' 'What if ds cries?!" (Pathetic aren't i?)

So I've bought these www.dribblebuster.co.uk/ They're amazing and oh so fabulous looking, makes ds look like an ickle cowboy! Much nicer than normal bibs and keeps his little neck from getting all dribbly and cold (He's dribbling so much I change the bib 4 times a day)

Thingamajig-that's horrible, and I can't believe people do things like that when completely unfounded. I would be tempted to arrange a meeting with this woman not so much to justify yourself but to clear the air, she has got it so wrong and needs to be told. SS have to make a note of things, not because they don't believe you but to cover their own bums..try not to be disheartened by it. I'm so sorry you've had to go through that

I'm going to start ds on solids soon, he's a big boy and was overdue, and I started dd on baby rice at 3months before they changed all the rules (I'm aware of the reasons not to but I think if done sensibly and avoiding certain trigger foods (like gluten) he'll be fine. No history of allergy in our families either.. I'm seeing the hv this week so will see what she says but I personally think he's ready..

For all those with LONG babies, I can't wait for footless sleep suits in the summer can you?! I find babygap are good for longer lo's also ds has a gorgeous two piece pyjama set but with feet in, its brill but alas came from Italy.Damn, will have to wait til we go back in July

hello all - haven't been here in what feels like ages so apologies now for not wading through your messages!

although for you thingamajig that your neighbour would do that, it must have been horrible, I guess she did it with the best intentions (trying to see the best in people) I'm glad SS and HV visist was fine though

clairey, I'm the same as you and everyone I see you guys as an extended set of my rl mums and just as valid!

anyone doing anything over easter weekend? we're off to in-laws, will be hard work as they're not much help but at least its a tick in box and job done!

also I know I keep bringing up contraception but has anyone done anything about it? I've tried cap but it doesn't fit (don't ask ) and went for coil fitting this week and I have a retroverted uterus so she couldn't fit it and I'll have to go to clinic to have it put in, thinking I'm not meant to have it! got silly emotional about people looking at my bits and poking me for absolutely no benefit.... I don't want to take hormones and dh and i aren't disciplined enough to use condoms (used one last night that was out of date which makes me think why bother) am I destined to get pg sooner than I wish.....

Hi all, Im with you on the "a friend said" code for mumsnet when talking to people; it seems so nerdy to say "on a website I read". I knew I talked to much about what goes on here when I said "Oh thats nice, Misdee's having a baby" and dh knew that was the lady whose husband had a heart transplant.

Im home alone with the baby tonight as dh has gone to a friends 40th birthday; dd and I would have gone but we daren't be seen out. I hate not being able to trust the neighbours but I dont want to be seen with a drink in one hand and a baby in the other, as I dont know what people would say. We live in a very small village where everybody knows everybody and everyone has a feud with someone. Everyone I have told about what happened has been indignant on my behalf, nosy interfewreing old bitch has been the usual comment about my neighbour. She is in her sixties, a nurse and church treasurer, so I didnt think she would be the sort to be malicious, but...
What really upsets me is that she didnt say anything to us; dh and dd went over to tea with her a couple of days before she reported us. Even if she didnt want to upset us she could easily have had a word with MIL who she also knows, and who is a GP herself.
All in all I have been left feeling very betrayed and indignant, but more scared than I would like to admit.

Oh you poor thing! I'm also at home alone with baba, who is tucked up in his Moses basket, DH has also gone to friend's birthday do (not 40th though!).
So free to MN to my heart's content!!

Thinkamajig - How awful, poor you! [Wizzska looks out of the window and wonders what her neighbours think of her having been in the pub all afternoon with DS and DH].

I would be scared too Thingmajig, how awful that you now feel you can't go out this evening!

Hi Lizzer! How is DS doing? I seem to remember him beating DD to the buggest baby crown by an ounce! Am guessing he is another long one! I too will not be sticking to the 'official' guidelines for weaning but will do it when I feel DD is ready for it. DS1 was weaned at 3 months (which was the recommendation then) and he is fine. Avoided any dairy, gluten or meat before 6 months though. I heard this week on The Wright Stuff that since the guidelines for weaning have changed, more people are finding that their babies are refusing savoury foods because breastmilk is quite sweet!

Insy, I have tackled the contraception issue and am taking the mini-pill. I was not too happy about taking hormones while still BFing but I do not want any more DCs and I hate condoms. Sooo, are you planning another DC?! No plans for Easter weekend, just going to enjoy DH being at home for 4 days (although he'll probably be working on his lorry as its due an MOT...)

Think that DD may be a bit off colour, she has a bit of a temperature tonight but she has slept an awful lot today and hasn't seemed that hungry. Don't know if it is a knock-on effect of her jabs on Monday? She hasn't asked for food today, have just been offering it when she has gone 4 hours between them. Her next is due between 10-11 so she is going to be a feed down today if she doesn't wake in the night for one, hope it doesn't affect my supply too much. Hate it when she's off colour

My roof is still leaking!

Lizzer - have bought some of those drible busters. They look cool. Hope your dh was alright with the baby.

thingamajig - poos you. It is horrid having a nasty neighbour. I uswed to have sleep less nights because of ours. But, and I know you won't be able to see this, ut at least if there was naything untoward she was proactive. Think of all those children who are being abused and whose neighbours stand by and do nothing. Likle that girl who got kidnapped - thank god someone reported something odd there. God I woud be mortified and pissed off if my neighbour reported me but maybe when I had calmed down I would think she was trying to do the right think. Hope I haven't offended you?

Bloody hell laptop dies and NO way I can catch up tooo many threads....DD2 doing ok now 2 weeks aftre our terrible scare though I am still very anxious...she is sleeping brilliantly and we have cracked this dream feed thing which works amazingly well....she goes down about 7ish (though can take longer), dreamsleep when I go to bed between 11-12....then sleep through till 6ish great
Clairey I would be up for meetup I am in Cardiff so we could do midway Cardiff/Bristol ???

lol about mn trickling into RL. There was an article in the times yesterday about it- when DH gets up i will ask him where it was and have a good read.
much better night here- we had our old night nanny to babysit in the day as we went to a wedding in town. (will i ever be able to stand up in heels for more than 2 hours again?- had to make an early exit- was pretty dull- dh's work)
She told me it was ok to give millie calpol as she was obviously in pain with her teeth, and also that i should limit her dummy use in the day so she can have a good rub. So i gave her some and she slept all night. hurray.