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

[claraquitetirednow]

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

Just searched her name not posted since 11 Feb hope she is ok anyone know or I will CAT her later ??

Hi all
Glad things are looking up for you Pecka!
Visit to HV clinic yesterday so now know that DD is 75th percentile height (62cm) and 6.2kg (think that's about 13lb 10oz) at 12.5 weeks. Compared that to DD1 and she's a bit heavier and about the same length. Do you realise they grow about 1cm per week at this age ?

Have updated my profile with a couple of recent pics - smiley and serious. Can't believe how cute she is!

BT thanks for tips,i started a thread in the feeding area but only one response at the moment, i'll try and get a GP apt later.

Macdodle i haven't seen mememummy around the forum either and was thinking of her as well

loucee - i had this last week, thought it was mastitus but then the other symptoms didnt really surface. it was sooo painful n one large hard lump, massaged the lump hile feeding n it eased so thought i was sorted, but was still making feeding v painful after a few days so wentto docs - she thinks it is fungal - meaning its prob thrush, so ive got some tablets, i would def go see the doc

baby clothes - flynn is just looking like 0-3 are getting a bit small. we have been so lucky with beautiful presents, we would love to go out buying but he really has so much n barely wears things once. my mam is manager at a local baby shop that gets m&s, asda n next clthes v cheap. i love debenhams n pumpkin patch tho too.

also bought flynn's christening outfit from monsoon the other day, its so cute, linen trousers n waistcoat with a linen grandad shirt

just catching up - hence all the posts! do you find you have the use of your arms much more now? flynn was such a clingy baby but is now loving his ring, bouncer, bumbo and we tried him in baby einstein activity station last week n he loved it, thought he might be a bit little,

i'm also looking forward to weaning, my hv said 20 weeksis good to start with ateaspoon of baby rice, then by 6 months you would have increased this and introduced some fruit n veg, flynn's 15 wks on sunday, so i think il go with that

Loucee, I had a lump too. I put a warm flannel on it in the bath and massaged it gently and it went away. An excuse for wallowing in long warm baths while DH looked after DD! Sounds though like yours may be bigger? and so Kelbel's advice sounds sensible to go to the GP in case it gets worse, IYSWIM

Lizzer John Kewis do blackout blinds, but I am also just getting some blackout material put on the back of existing curtains. Not sure if that will work sufficiently well but it should help hopefully.

Weaning wow, don't they grow up fast? I feel like I am still establishing bf.

lizzer - don't know if you have a dunelm mill near you but their blackout blinds are fab

woohoo mathilday slept from 7pm - 615am then back down til 9am

And that is after a few days of much more EBM there was me wondering if she would wake more as I phased the formula out!

pecka - snap - 8pm to 6am - I got up at 4am to express though and couldn't get back to sleep so am even more knackered than usual...

clairey - yes we used sized nappies too and I agree it is the wrap that makes it so bulky. We're still using disposables at night but now that he seems to be sleeping through (makes me nervous even writing that in case I jinx it!) I think I might try him on a reusable as he won't wee so much if he doesn't feed

Loucee - poor you - hope the gp sorts it out and it doesn't develop into mastitis - sounds like you have got it early anyway which is good

Lizzer - wow sounds like your DS (gorgeous photos - he is sooo cute!) has very sophisticated tastes - baby spinach!! My dd won't eat that and she's 2.5!! Hope your DD has a lovely week away. i remember when my DD went to my mum's for a week it was great and awful at the same time - mssed her like mad but loved having of time to myself

Wahhhhh!! Why doesn't my baby sleep through for more than 4 fecking hours!!!!
Pecka - that's great news about Mathilda.. at least it tells me that if I were to switch to ff, ds wouldn't necessarily sleep better

Ds is now again waking up every 2-3 hours to feed. Got him weighed today, he is 11lb 5oz, he's dropped off the 9th centile so wondering if is feeding himself up for bigger weight gain. I know I shouldn't read into the charts too much...
We away off to my mum's this weekend so I may not post much. Plan is to bath him and feed him as if he was going to bed put put him in snowsuit and into his car seat and set off down south. 4-5 hour journey depending on stops and traffic, so hoping he'll sleep the entire journey.

oh sorry bouncing I feel like I'm gloating and things could all change very quickly for both of us. If it makes you feel any better Milo has been feeding for 45-60 minutes recently and is very grumpy with the beginning of teething so it's all swings and roundabouts!

have a great weekend

Oh don't feel guilty - it's great that your baby is a good sleeper - I am pleased for you Keep telling myself it will happen eventually!! And as you say at least ds isn't teeting yet but won't be long as he is already chewing his fists!

Actually what I am a bit down about is I think I'm getting hypersensitive about comments on how tiny ds is. He is 3 months old and people always seem surprised to hear that. I think it is because he was late as well, I feel as though I did something wrong when I was pg and haven't grown him enough I keep telling myself that he is a healthy, happy little chap, the Assistants at Tiny Treasures were very impressed with his head control when I put him in the Bumbo (I've borrowed one from a friend by the way and he still likes it!). But I still feel a bit rubbish especially when I see the babies from my AN classes and their lovely big bouncy boys!

Loucee I've had a couple of blocked ducts, what I did was feed ds from that side then have a hot shower/put hot flannel on it then express/ That shifted the lump although my boob was a bit tender for a couple of days afterwards.

Lizzer/Buzzy love the new pics, must get round to putting some more up.

Macdoodle I was also wondering about Meme, hope she didn't get scared off...

Was also thinking about everyone else from the AN thread...am amazed how many have disappeared! Hope they are all ok...I know I couldn't have survived DS' screaming in the early weeks without my virtual support network!

Skid, Pecka etc I am VERY VERY

I actually haven't slept AT ALL for 2 nights now and barely for over a week before. Am feeling quite spaced out today as a result. DS was fine at first after his jabs but since then has been velcro baby again and the past two nights has cried and cried everytime he is put down, have had to sleep with him on my chest again as even next to me isnt enough. Think maybe I should have delayed them as he wasn't over his virus properly but the nurse said it was ok as he no longer had a temp...

Anyone fancy being a wet nurse for a night or two so I can catch up on some zzzzzz?!

Does everyone elses baby poo lots after jabs then? DS seemed to get a bit constipated and then do one huge thick one after both sets!

DD has just had a mammoth sleep (she hasn't slept in the day for over a week) and DS has been either asleep in the sling or talking to me so I've just sat and watched celebrity masterchef, that restaurant thingy on bbc2 and come dine with me-I love my cookery programmes! Should be doing some housework now but what the hell, as my mum keeps telling me if I run myself down I'm no use to anyone!

BT I was always paranoid about dd being tiny too, is one of the reasons I gave her formula early on. She has always been healthy though and the HV I had before was really encouraging and used to pint out all the positives (she rolled/sat/crawled/walked early etc) to me rather than focussing on her size. She is even more of a dink now, only about 22 lbs at 22 months and much skinnier than others her age, they all seem to still have baby rolls of fat but she is a skinny little girl iykwim

I don't think it is really casue for concern though, we are all different sizes as adults so why not as babies/toddlers and as long as they meet their milestones its all good. Easier said than done though...It's our lot as mothers to find something to worry about!

Hi,

Just coming on to say I hope everyone is ok and same for the LOs. Not been on for a while as I have not been too good and having a lot of stuff going on.

Buzzy and Lizzer - your babes are beautiful. Buzzy how funny you should have an isobel as well (althogh I have an Isabelle). Is it your horse?

Our blimking roof is still leaking .
I had mastsitis with dd2 twice - it was awful So painful but I kept feeding through it and came out the other side.

Amani hope you are ok . Is it your pnd? Don't forget you can alway have a moan to us xx

Amani - I've been thinking of you lately wondering how you're getting on as I haven't seen a post from you for a while. I hope everything is ok, please feel free to vent on here to us if it helps at all?

I didn't go to the Drs in the end as managed to clear the lumps a bit from massaging very hard but they've come back and the larger lump further in my boob is still there so might have to go to out of hours Drs over the weekend. Thanks for all the tips, I'll try a very long hot soak tonight (do you think a nice large glass of red will help too?!!!).

Skidaddle, well done to Milo! Fantastic sleeping.

Kelbel how's your recovery now after the section? We were talking about exercise around a month ago - hows it going? I've starting jogging and netball and feel fine in myself afterwards, albeit very heavy and very unfit!

Sat down and discuss with DH about me returning to work and I've/we've decided I'm not going back to my old job. I really don't think they would entertain me doing 2 days (used to be 3) and I just feel that for the small amount of cash that's left after paying for 2 x childcare it's not worth the hassle of it all. I will be desperate for adult conversation etc but planning to start night college course asap which should help. Anyone else not going back? I need to check when I should resign, feel very vulnerable though as that's my one and only job since moving up here 4 yrs ago and felt it gave me great stability and removed the isolation feeling.

Bouncing, don't worry about the size of your gorgeous DS! It sounds like he is doing great with his development but is just a tiny chap! Evie is so big for her age that she doesn't seem a little baby anymore, she was never tiny. Despite currently being on the 91st centile she seems to be at a similar stage developmentally as Daniel so I would not worry about him. (although as a Mother, I know it is our job...)

Clairey, DD also pooed lots after her jabs although she hasn't had the 2nd lot yet. I felt guilty when she had them as she had a snotty nose but the nurse said as she had no temperature it was safe. I would have cancelled but the next appointment was not until early April which would have meant she was 13 weeks when she had her 1st jabs.

Amani, are you okay? Please don't feel like you can't talk to us, its what we are here for.

Cazzy for your roof. My conservatory has sprung 2 leaks too so we have strategically placed pots in there to catch the rain

I have been wondering about Mememummy too, wonder if we scared her off? Hope not!

What a big decision to have to make Loucee. IKWYM about a job giving you stability and adult conversation, especially in a new area! I only do 2 evenings at a supermarket but there have been days (particularly in the school hols) where I have been glad to go to work for some sanity! Not wanting to go back at all at the moment though, can't imagine leaving DD with DH! Night college should help you though, what are you thinking of studying? I would like to go back to studying at some point as I need to find a new job can do from home when Evie starts school (long way off I know). I have no-one to look after the DCs in school holidays and jobs that fit in with that are hard to find so working from home seems my only option. I cannot see myself as a checkout chick forever, it is a very dull job!

Loucee - I've had loads of lumps. One big one lasted for weeks. Make sure that if you have the hint of mastitis go to the docs, don't put up with it, it is really miserable. The only way to clear the lumps is to feed, feed, feed. Sometimes varying the hold helps and as Wobbegong says, massage can help and hot baths.

Bouncing - Although DS is about 25th centile now, he's still waking every 2-3 hours. I think we're making overtired mistakes at night in desperation. Last night during the 3.30 wake up, DH decided to change a very heavy nappy. Of course this woke DS up so much that DH had to stay up with him for 2 hours. I couldn't sleep either. We'll just leave him in future to sleep in his pee if he will that is.

I don't know if DS wakes up out of habit now, expecting a feed or if he's really hungry. He certainly is grumpy if I don't feed him straight away. I got used to feeding him on demand when he was younger and not putting on enought weight. The trouble is the sound problems with the downstairs neighbour makes me really loath to let DS cry. I am so tired.

Hi all!

Amani hope you are ok, remember we're all here for a chat, although i know it's easier said that done to find the time to get on.

I was thinking of mememummy too, hope we didn't chase her off, think we were all posting in genuine concern for her LO.

Bouncingturtle do not fear, I am the queen of tiny baby angst! We have only once crept above the 0.4th, been referred to paeds, the works. She was tiny when she was born (at term) and I always feel so guilty that working right up to my due date might have caused it. (but if i hadn't i'd be back to work next month and leaving her earlier so it's swings and roundabouts...).
Anyway I am feeling slightly better about it now, but I know how you feel about people looking surprised etc. DD is older than your DS and smaller, if that makes you feel any better!

very of these full nights sleep! Please, in all seriousness, can you give us a dummy's guide to what you do, when you feed through the day etc to see if there's anything we can pick up? i suspect dd bein tiny has a lot to do with it, maybe her tum just can't store enough for more than 3/4hrs? we occasionally get a 5hr stretch but that is rare. last night she went down at 8.30, up for a feed at 11.30, back down at 12.30, up again at 4.30, down at 5, up again 6.30 - that's quite typical now. i'm missing my evenings, i'm too scared not to sleep when she does in case i miss the big stretch of sleep.

oh clairey just read your post and now feel bad for moaning...hope tonight is better...

clothes - teensy here still in 0-3 although some getting too short, but 3-6 would be way too big! we are mostly tesco, next, m&s but to be honest i have hardly bought aything as we got a really overwhelming amount of stuff! loucee we got some zig zag stuff as pressies and i love it, where is it from? Oh i like h&m too, they do a 2-4mth size which is perfect for us at the mo.

Just read your most recent post loucee, hope the glass of red worked! . Big decision re work, but you are right re childcare costs etc. I don't know if anyone is truly 100% happy with the decisions they make in that area - I need to go back FT and am dreading it - but I know others who would love to be FT...everyone's different, and so are their jobs I suppose. My dread is mainly down to the amount of work I have to do when I get home from work IYSWIM, marking, prep etc. Esp if she is not sleeping, aaaaaaaaaagh!! Also I don't have benefits like having a coffee in peace, adult conversation etc as it's all blardy kids...!!

Anyway moan moan. There might be new things open to you, groups, volunteer things etc that you couldn't do while working, and that will give you some good links locally? Either that or just pop down on the train and visit us!

Oh - PS how on earth do I get DD to be TIRED for a 7pm bedtime?! Did bath at 6.45, half an hour feed afterwards -little madam was smiling, jumping around etc. I had all the lights low etc, trying not to interact, but felt so bad! I THINK she has gone to sleep now, just about to go back and check...

I really mean it can the parents of good sleepers please share their secrets?!

Whisska I started a thread about night time nappy changes on the bf-ing forum as I am getting it all wrong too I think!

She is awake...wide awake...has only napped twice today for about 30 mins each time...does she not need sleep?!

ok...
sleep first ...I do think this depends a lot on the child ....my DD1 was and is a poor sleeper ie she doesn't need that much sleep and never has...DD2 is a pretty good sleeper and was from the start...what do I do??...well I feed as much as I can in the day every 2-3 hours and cluster feed in the eve...she has always gone pretty good stretches at night and now seems to have settled to just one feed though we have had 2 nights from 9pm to 5-6am fingers crossed...but TBH I think it is down to her rather than me and DD1 still wakes at night and is up very early and she is 6

next work - well I am back in 10 weeks and really not looking forward to it Though I do love my job a lot and have worked long and hard to be where I am now - I will only be going back 2-3 days and earning a decent salary so can't complain just am enjoying my time at home with DD2 It was hard when I went back after DD1 though much longer hours including nights and weekends...

Feeding - DD2 is 13 weeks today and I have managed to feed her completely BF and enjoyed it (was hard with DD1) so now I need to introduce some bottles (have nice stock of EBM)....as desperate to get back to gym and lose some weight before I go back to work...but am dreading it any advice from those mixed feeding??

And weight - really struggling Last year I lost a lot of weight (3 and half stone) and was about a stone off my goal when I got pregnant but now am starting to creep back up (despite ex BF)..and am 2 stone over my pre preg weight I desperately need to lose some weight before I go back to work or I will have noooooo clothes to wear for work...so tomorrow am starting healthy eating and back to gym

Amani please talk to us if you need to I had PND last time and it was awful the hardest part was actaully telling people how bad I felt ....am desperate to avoid it this time and am hoping the exercise will help