FEB 08- Sore nips and no naps continued!!!!

[sarahmikeharryandrosie]

Hi Ladies thought i wouls open the thread but i have no imagination- hence the title!!!!

Forgot to say thanks so much to all of those who have welcomed me back. Thank you!

leesmum - glad the bf counsellor could give some good advice and you've made a decision. I know what you mean about missing the one to one time as I do but I make sure that I get some proper cuddle time with him instead. The dolly partons isn't great (!!) but lots of showers and warm flannels seemed to do the trick. I'm now down to my original size about a week and a half later - actually quite miss them!! One thing I would say is that it's taken a bit of time to get the bottles sorted out as where ds1 was obviously taking more milk at the bottle than I realised, it took a couple of days to adjust so whereas he was having about 7 oz in 3 bottles and then 2 bf before, he's now having 5 6oz feeds. I originally tried giving him 5 7oz bottles and it all went a bit wrong!!!! Hope the next couple of weeks you see some change in feeding time.

MissNat - glad the counselling went well and you're feeling positive about it as hopefully this will set you on a happier path. Sorry lo is not well and he feels better soon x

How crap was the rain yesterday? Drove ds1 to pre-school thinking we'd keep dry and then got left in the rain for 10mins and got soaked!!! I can't believe the school think its ok to keep all the kids (primary and pre-school) out in the playground whilst its chucking it down!!!

DS2 is lovely at the mo, not the case with ds1!!! He's going through a bit of a regression at the mo and is being majorly clingy and badly behaved. We've had two enforce zero tolerance - one strike and then its the naughty corner. He's just been so rude, he doesn't listen and I'm about to lose the plot!!! He's been better the last couple of days though so hopefully its working. Honestly, how I'm going to survive the teenager years god only knows!!! Its hard cause he wants me involved in everything he does at the mo which altho is sweet and thats what my job is, is a bit of a nightmare when I'm trying to sort ds1 too!! If I hear mummy one more time......!!!!

Still the weekend is nearly upon us and I am escaping to a friends with a load of other girls for a good old fashioned drunken singstar session!!!!

Hope everyone's ok and anyone not feeling great is getting better!!

And very jealous of your weight loss egg

Evening ladies,

Henley has finally gone to sleep with a full(ish) tum of 5oz . The antibiotics seem to be doing the trick. He should be taking 7oz for his weight but im not too concerned, just happy that hes eating.

The HV is coming tomorrow so ill ask her to give him the once over. Probably wont be able to do the baby massage this week as hes still too poorly. I have to say that i found baby massage fantastic for sorting and getting rid of colic. Henleys colic went after 2 sessions and (touch wood) hasnt come back.

Whats everyone getting their DP for fathers day? I received an email from Bounty and there doing mugs that can be personalised with pics of your LO. There only about £9.

hiya all.

really nice to hear from some of those MIA'ers!

lovemymum - v nice to hear from you and sounds like you and yours are having a truly international time of it! am v impressed at the france trips alone. we are spending the weekend with friends and am v nervous about such a small thing as its our first night away with lo. v sweet tho' - said friends have five year old twins. we have had a text request in advance from the boy twin that dh will play football with him without his twin or our new baby!!

hi too to samsman. 3 x 12hr work seems like a v good system. even tho' shifts are long, you wont have the workaday slog and presumably that means that you can hand over a lot of the childcare to DH/P??

and a big hello to pobletsmum. sorry to hear you've been having a bit of a rough patch. hopefully all's turning a corner.

missnatalie - v pleased all went well with counsellor. a good person will make all the difference. sorry to hear henley not well.

princess i did smile at the top gun analoguy (spelling messed up there, but hey, it's gone midnight and i am crack-a-lacking away at a bottle of scotch...) slightly better reason for a good ol' battle with dh than ours last week which were a) fixing our bathroom in the imiginary plumbing crisis if we rent flat. and b) rinsing out feed bottles. he doesnt do it. that bugs me quite a bit but bugs me a lot more when am being really quite mental and convinced its a sign of latent chauvenism (spelling, i know!!). ho hum.

sarah - sounds like that's more time outs than a basketball game. sod what other people think!

lucy - F* All Estate Agents.. I am appalled at just how unproffessional they are. I am doing very well not to list all the ways in which they are f**ing me about on a daily basis. the people we are selling our flat thru had to make redundant half their senior negotiators in the last three months due to market conditions. it does make you wonder just how SHIT the others ones must have been ... ah, maybe they'll all be a bit better once the worst of puberty is over.....

hi all. oh no! fathers day! what shall i get dh? for mothers day he got me some lovely girly things, but he is into cricket and golf and cars and does not really like chocolate

maybe a nice framed photo of him and ds to put on his desk at work? they look so alike, it is really cute and dh is completely besotted with him of course.

missnat - sounds like the counsellor had very wise words. hope HV is helpful tomorrow. I thought baby massage was great too.

Gill - am put to shame by your productiveness. I find it hard to get ANY chores done while looking after DS. Goodness knows how I would manage if I ever have another dc. tee hee re nappy bucket. I remember before we had ds we got really stressed cos john lewis had sold out of nappy buckets and "I was going to do cloth nappies from the start"

lovemymum - dont blame you not wanting to do transatlantic flight with baby. can you imagine trying to get a lo to sleep when there is turbulence etc... nightmare. not to mention faffing atound feeding in (IMO) insanitary conditions. France now - sucg a child friendly country, you can take them to posh restaurants and everything.

samsmam - LOL at steak and kidney pie - I can think of a few ways in which feeding stage 2 milk is not like feeding steak and kidney pie!! no mushy peas/gravy for a start! sorry to be flippant but I do think HVs say some barmy things sometimes. I am sure you were just doing what you felt was best for your LO.

Lucy - good luck on house... maybe you could go into estate agents with crying baby and refuse to leave until they give you something concrete?

Arhian - sounds like your work are taking the P. are you a member of a union? they'd have a field day!

leesmum - so glad to hear you have made a decision (and your own decision), remember loads of women don't bf for half as long as you did. I read somewhere that sage tea can help to stop you making milk and can be useful when switching to ff. get dp to stop by the shops and get you some! I expect it tastes foul but anything to stop those leaky breasts!

count - hope your ds1 gets the message not to mess you around! I guess boundaries must be good for small children when thier lives are turned upside down by the arrival of a new LO. I am dreading the terrible 2/3/4's, I am not v good at staying calm!

tyaca - am at your scotch. mind you dh and I did polish off a bottle of champagne the other week for no better reason than "it was on special offer"... wow it was gorgeous. now I am really fancying a pint of beer. mmmm a nice dark bitter...... or even guinness.... its good for you, don't you know

Hi everyone thanks for all your comments regarding my feeding worries, Lo woke in the night at about 3.30am and because he had to wait for a bottle we had full blown screaming for 5 mins! anyway he had all 6oz and is still asleep now unlike DS1 who got up again at 5.30

Tyaca i am also v. jealous of your scotch, even though i could have a drink now i'm not too bothered yet, but there's time

Sally i don't think you can go wrong with a nice picture for fathers day, i haven't got Dp anything yet but i have done a card for him online with Bonusprint. It has a picture on the front with both boys and you can put your own message on it, not bad for 2.90 inc postage.

Missnatali i hope Henley improves now he's on anti-biotics, there is always something to worry about isn't there?

Count thanks for the tip about flannels, i did that this morning, my boobs don't look too bad yet has your DS2 been ok on formula and is he still rooting for the boob?

Princess how is your ferdie doing on his special milk? Can you get it on prescription or do you have to pay for it?

Poblet it's great to have you back, how are things in your house? Yes the BF lady was lovely, the reason she didn't encourage mixed feeding was because she thought that was the root of our problems, she also said that in a month or so DS2 will be starting on solids andthat could make everything worse if we were to carry on as we were. xx

Its another beautiful day here so we are going to playgroup in a bit, thats if DS1 doesn't fall asleep first!

Take care everyone xxx

Morning all.

DD has been for the past few days dribbling like crazy, nappies have gone all yucky, and at the moment she's trying to put both her hands in her mouth. Is this the dredded teething?? She's only 13 wks though. She was a complete nightmare last night, she wouldn't take her evening feed properly, kept crying and refusing to latch on. I thought I was in for a hell of a night, but she slept through, I had to wake her in the end, cos my boobs were in agony.

Have no idea what to get DH for fathers day, what's everyone else getting??

Just a quick goodbye as the computer is being packed and I don't know when I'll be back online.
To everyone going away - have a lovely time!
To everyone else - take care and dont work too hard!
Wish me luck, the house still isn't confirmed!

I have to share this is im quite concerned. My HV has just told me off for leting my mum put Henley in a baby walker. Apparently its bad for babys hips and can also cause them to need physio later i life as being in a walker encourages them to walk on there tip toes and shortens the ligament at the back of the ankle. She said all of this whilst Henley was happily bouncing in his Jumperoo, which he is able to put his feet flat to the floor whilst in it. Has anyone else been told this?

Also ive changed Henley onto the Tommee Tippee No 3 teats.Has anyone else moved up a stage yet or have i done it too soon. The packet did say from 6months + but he seemend to be struggling with his feeds and sucking that hard that it tired him out and he fell asleep.

Lucy GOOD LUCK!!!

Missnat. I have heard that baby walkers are dangerous and frowned upon. My MIL got DS1 one and we exchanged it for the type of walker that they push along (ie truck with bricks type thing). I thought it was more because they apparently are the cause of a lot of accidents in the home where the baby (when older than Henley) zooms around and crashes into things, or can tip down steps etc. Saying that, I don't think that occasional use can be that bad, but he shouldn't spend too long in there.

Don't quote me on any of this tho!!!

Good Luck Lucy! take care xxx

Missnat here is a link talking about dangers of baby walkers.

And another one.

My sister had one that she used for short periods of time for at least two of her three children and they are all fine (age 5, 7 and 9), just need to be very careful!

Leesmum - I'm glad the bf counsellor was helpful in letting you see what the 2 realistic options were to let you make the right decision for you. The night time bottle must be a bit of a nightmare - ds3 hardly has the patience for me to get my boob out - god knows what state he'd be in if I was making a bottle up!! Looks like he's inherited his brothers lack of patience.

Its reassuring to hear that I'm not the only one having 'issues' with their 3 year olds!! He's generally not too bad but we have had a few tantrums lately and he seems to be in his own little world when I'm trying to get him out of the house in the morning. I must say I find the thigh slapping, foot stomping tantrums hilarious - he's not too impressed when I laugh at him though but does make him realise it won't work!

On the baby walkers we got one for ds2 because dh had an accident just before I went back to work. He looks after the kids whilst I'm at work and as he had a non-weight bearing cast on his foot and was on crutches he couldn't carry ds2 around so he used it to move him from room to room. We didn't use it much though and won't be using it this time. Like egg I thought the main risk was them bumping into things can they can build up quite a speed in them.

Anyway, better go. We're off tomorrow but I'm pretty much organised now. Hopefully the weather will stay like it is today!!

Hope you enjoy your week Egg, good luck with the house Lucy, have a nice holiday omy (although I'm not sure when you're actually going) and take care everyone else

Hi Omy - are you taking your baby on the flight? Wow - 24 hours in a plane. Hope LO is ok.

Flying with Katie isn't too bad cos i fly with one of my parents who help me. Not too bad when we are away, cos i leave things behind in the flat.

The first three months were awful - Katie and I are much better now! I feel sorry for pg 1st time mothers - they have no idea of what lies ahead!

LOL at the at the end of your post Rozzy .

Hope you have a great weekend away too. I am about to log off [scared of being without MN for a week emoticon].

DTs been angels today, DS1 at nursery. DTs had third set of jabs yesterday so they are extra sleepy. Thankfully it's the only side effect they seem to get. Got to go and get DS1 now though so have to get them both up from their cots. They will not be happy.

Leesmum, forgot to say, mine also go mad waiting for their bottle (well DD does, DS2 is quite laid back as he usually wakes up and does some stretching and cooing and as I am in their room by that point having slept there since feeding DD earlier in the night, I hear him before he gets revved up). So anyway, I get the water ready in the bottle the night before and have the powder sitting there so I just have to stick it in and shake it about a bit!

Really am going now.

Hello LOVEMYMUM - I forgot to say hello and glad things are better for you now. Strangely I found the first 3 months ok this time, but then it got harder (could be because that's when my doula finished ). Last time though with DS1 I also found it hardest from about 3 months to 6 months! I think I was always expecting the first three months to be hell, so it somehow wasn't so bad, but then when the next three months were still hell, and DS1 never slept, I felt rather gutted!

Missnat ? My HV gave me exactly the same info about walkers and door bouncers, i.e the effect on their hips and walking on tip toes. We had great fun her demonstrating with Marcus what exercises could be done instead. Perhaps your HV could do the same with both of you.
Regarding teats, I am using level 3 (Born Free) as the new feed is so thick. Marcus is 4 months old and I would be using level 2 if still on previous feed.

Must go and see to the new highchair. Horror of horror the Fresco Loft comes in pieces which you are expected to put it together - could cry at the very thought of it.

Lovemymum - glad you and katie are over the hard bit now. . I am really enjoying my LO but I am starting to flag a bit now as LO is waking up twice each night for a boob. I really could do with one full nights sleep. Still - as I am not working yet I catch up in the day sometimes.
YES I am going on a 24 hour flight with LO on my own. I must be mad! It is my only chance to see my family for 6 years so I have to brave it. DH is going to miss us so much - though he gets to SLEEP all night for 3 weeks!!

Egg - don't you hate it when you have to interrupt their sleep! Have a great holiday - we will miss you!

Arhian - LO has been dribbling like mad and chewing her fists for 3 weeks - and the odd green nappy - and very SORE bottom - no sign of teeth yet but they are obviously on the way!!

Natalie - baby walker advice must have changed since my last DD - she loved the bouncy door frame thingy. I imagine that it is the length of time they are in it that is the issue - I reckon 10 mins or so is probably OK. I am going to go and read all the scare stories now myself as someone has given us a babywalker!

Leesmum - sage drops from the health food shop - called 'menosan' by Bioforce. They reduce milk supply. Hope you are feeling OK.

Count - my DDs school used to let them into the hall on rainy mornings - it is crap to let them all get soaked!!
Sometimes the teenage years are fine if you have had all the fights early on. My DD2 has been exhibiting teenage behaviour since she was 8 so I am hoping she has got it all out of her system!

Father's day??? hmmmm.... I think I will give him 3 weeks of unbroken sleep!!

Ty - DH was also crap at washing out bottles - I liked to get it done straight away so there is less time for nasty bacteria to grow and he used to leave is till the next day and not even sterilise them properly!!! (just pour boiling water into them!!) I had one of my worst freakouts that day and the experience contributed to my decision to give up expressing till I go back to work and her tummy is stronger!

Not a good time to be an estate agent I think!!! Lol at the puberty quip!

jst a quick catch up - baby walkers - had one for dds and they loved it, you just have to keep an eye on them. Will probably get one for ds later on. First swimming lesson tomorrow, off to find immac (couldn't face waxing)

Both DH and my mum start new jobs on monday- i cannot tell you how relived i am!!!!!

Such a huge weight of worry lifted!!!!!

I had an awful migraine yesterday bought on by stress and worry i think-spent a few hours in bed then went to work feeling rotten!!!! oh well- all good now in our little world!!!

Agree with comment on babywalkers as long as its for ten mis or so at a time it cant do too much harm- Ds went in his and he is fine!!!! will be using it for DD!!! she loves her door bouncer so should be happy in there too!!!

Hope everyone has a fab holiday-

Hi all! - where IS everyone!?
great news about jobs Sarah

LO is goiing through a screamy phase. does not look ill to me and only screamy in the evening. could it be overstimulation do you think? its a nuisance b/c he refuses the breast which would normally be a good way of calming him down. Arrrrrrrrrrgh its so annoying, it went on for 2 whole hours tonight!

sarah congrats on jobs. took my dh 9 months to find one last time he lost his job (there arent that many jobs round here) so I think that is pretty amazing of your dh and your mum!

Good news Sarah.

Rozzy - I too am reassured by all of us having problems with our 3 year olds. I was starting to think that I was the worst mummy in the world. It is like my little angel had gone forever and been replaced by someone else , but today he has been delightful all day, so I'm hopeful that it's just a phase we've been going through. Phew!

Leesmum - how is it going?

Lovemymum - well done for turning the corner.

Well things aren't really getting any better for me. I think I'm starting on a slippery slope towards depression. My GP is being useless, and is on holiday, and my HV (who I don't like) was supposed to ring me weeks ago (part of the 'safety net' I had set up after having a few tricky weeks when I had DS - she agreed to ring me regularly just in case, cos I find it hard to ring for help when I need it). I think one of the biggest problems (and there are a few!) is that I still have pain from the birth (tears etc) which has been getting better but kind of plateaued (spelling???) and the reality of how things are 'down below' is setting in. I'm still having treatment for the scars and as of today have re-started regular painkillers, which I really didn't want to do. I haven't really talked to anyone in rl, due to useless GP & HV, and really need to. Oh well... Selfish moan over. Thanks for being there to let me vent.

Sally - could lo be overtired? Sorry he's giving you a tough time. Isn't it awful when they scream and you feel like there's nothing you can do to help?