June 2008 - The Olympics are here and Mums deserve gold medals

[ThePenguinProject]

Thought I'd start a new thread before we ran out of space! Couldn't remember the exact name suggestion so have paraphrased, the sentiment is still the same though...

Wow, long post! Got Isla weighed today, 12lb! Seems huge for 7 weeks, 75th centile. Hows everyone else doing with their babies weight?

Can't remember who said it but Screamy MacScreamerson made me PMSL!!

Allnew me neither - and baby will be 10 weeks on Sunday and we didn't do it all through my pregnancy can you believe. My DP and I sleep in seperate rooms due to his terrible snoring so that does not help I guess. To be honest I'm not in any way bothered! DP is though!

Paro xxxx Hope everything is OK - must be very upsetting even if no-one you know was affected.

Thanks all for your reassurances - glad to know I'm not alone! amber I'm in no way missing it either, but DP is!

makecakes don't blame you not wanting to do a keeping in touch day. I really hope I'm not asked

fungle wow re. the 2 hour walks every day! I try to get out for a bit each day, but with the weather so crap haven't managed it much this week. I do need to do more though, as my weight loss has stalled (I put on 4 stone when pg and have another 2 to lose now )

fungle that's great about Isla's weight! I wanted to get A weighed this week but he was sleeping at the time of the clinic and couldn't bear the thought of stripping him naked to lie on the cold scales screaming his head off! He is outgrowing his 0-3 month stuff though so I guess he must be doing ok - costing me a fortune in clothes!

Makecakes well, if you're interested, I'm selling !

Or anyone - my e-mail is sara dot e dot roberts at bangor.ac.uk if you want to discuss. I'll be putting them on e-bay in the next week or so.

Evening all

first of all, sponge and sophie sorry if I've ever ignored your posts. It's hard sometimes to read everything properly and remember who has responded to you or needs a response, but I've never ignored anyone on purpose!

enjoying a glass of champagne here to celebrate the fact that storm slept through 10-5 last night! doubt we'll get two nights in a row, but it's a start.

debs/ernest thanks for the nice comments re storm's pix - i love looking at everyone's pix on here, and agree that ethan is the spit of your DS1 debs!

ernest re the leaking breasts - could you pump a bit instead? i've done this a few times with s rather than wake her up.

sophie i think your response to your guest was quite measured!

met a lovely couple at the charity shop today (off loading storm's 0-3 stuff - she is HUGE now) who have a month old baby after trying for FOUR YEARS. so sweet.

josey i love how olivia keeps sticking it to the 'experts'. what a trooper!

bdq re the projector, i have the same one as allnew = the fisher price smiley star. it does project onto the ceiling, and comes with three slides. i got it for the same reason as you, but actually it's the nature sounds button which has been the big hit - brilliant for getting storm to sleep.

thanks for all the advice re routines storm seems to be slowly settling into one, but likes to cluster feed in the evenings, which is a pain.

sponge i have reusables and normally line dry or rack dry rather than tumble drying as i'm too mean - takes two days. i use disposables as well, but the reusables keep the cost/guilt down...

paro i never watch the news these days, so have just googled GC and am shocked and horrified. what a tragedy. thinking of all those poor children

Thank you all for the dishwasher feedback.

Makecakes ugh!!! and yes she is very snuggable.

Whinegums, thank you thats really nice of you.

You know I must make a good right up about myself lol as really im not that good im a huge disorganised shambles.

Fungle how often does your lo feed? Im not going by Oli but my other 2 they used to feed 2-3hourly during the day for the 1st 8-10weeks and dropped the middle of the night round about the same time, then when the volume increased we moved to the 4hours.

Reading of you all talking about the Glasgow meet up Im staying in Glasgow on the 5th visit rellies (in whisper Paisley)then go to Perth for the big jump on the 7th

Ive had a couple of smiles tonight....bless her she cant smile properly and her line of vision is slightly off but me being her Mum can work out she is giving me a cheeky wee smirk. She has also started pursing her lips when you kiss her very funny.

Keep meaning to ask and talking of stitches etc reminded me...who watched the Perfect Vigina programme?

Just skimming the posts as I've been really busy this week as DH has taken a week off. Apologies if I don't respond to everyone individually.
SBBP please don't feel ignored. I'm a constant lurker and only post when I feel I can contribute something worthwhile or if I feel like a rant. Quite often I have posted and do not get a response, so I just persevere. Please don't tkae it personally.
5gomad can't believe your 'guest'. Good on you girl for telling him where to go. And having been to your place, I can certainly vouch that the road isn't busy. And I left your house at 5.15ish on a Friday evening! Maybe thewy should have thought about camping on Brownsea!
Right off to bed as we've got a long day tomorrow, going to Paultons Park with the nextdoor neighbours and their relatives and children who are visiting on hols. It's going to be a scream!

part two of marathon catch up post

ernest hope you get progress with DS3 - sounds like a brave little soldier

allnew DH and I have managed about five time - by go 3 it was good, and go 5 was EXCELLENT. the first time it did hurt, but it was good to get it over with - I second picking an avo nap time if you can

needahand/fungle really looking forward to meet up - think we should take our cue from NAH once she's settled in, but i can suggest venues as have lived in bristol for 11 years if you are ok with that. re bath, i work for future on their cycling mags. DH will be looking after storm short term as he works PT from home, but that may change. i'll be back by xmas, so we can have bath meet ups in my lunch break if you like! are you going back to work?
storm is 1 stone exactly - 91st centile for weight and height! she was 9th for her weight at birth and 75th for height, so she's been on a huge growth spurts for 9 weeks out of the 12 since she was born..

advice needed storm is 12 weeks now and we're planning to leave her for three hours tomorrow with DH's mum (well 4, but she should be asleep for the first hour) to go to the cinema. have any of you done something like this yet, or in the past with DC this young? what was your experience? storm is normally a happy soul but i fear she's going to get v upset. we'll have our phones on and only be 10 mins away, but am still worried. she's been held by DH's mum a few times quite happily, but you can understand the nervousness...

GF I have and I also left Oli last sat with my step dad as I just had to get away from it all. Its a killer, I will honestly say though you and DH will be the only ones that suffer, but when you get home and have a killer smile waiting for you, it makes the stress worthwhile enjoy youselves xx

Essie, thanks for the offer on the nappies. I'm still not sure I'd use them tbh, and A would grow out of those very quickly anyway.

whinegums, the being able to eat what you want and not put on weight was one of the reasons I wanted to bf! Out of the 7 NCT girls in my group the four who are bf-ing have all dropped the baby weight so fast .

Makecakes, it was me asking about reuseables. Thanks for the tips.

fungle, thank you for your kind words. I need to lose the baby weight first and then I want a few months of enjoying being slim again, so probably April/May time next year. I'm going to be 37 in June so want to get cracking. I'm sorry it took you so long to conceive your 2nd - it's so hard isn't it?

TGF, are you not keeping baby clothes in case No 2 comes along?!

Advice/reassurance needed.

After 3 weeks of Alex being very awake and alert during the day, he has done pretty much nothing but sleep since 9pm last night. He slept 9pm til 6am, then 6.30am til 10am (unheard of!), 10.30am til 12 pm. He was then awake from 12 til 5pm, but then went back to sleep after a feed at 6pm and we had to wake him to feed him at 9pm and he went straight back to sleep.

Is this sudden change in habits perfectly normal or should I be worried? He doesn't have any apparent signs of illness?

Thanks.

Sponge, is it bad that my main reason for bf is because I'm a lazy arse and I can't be bothered with bottles and sterilising etc, and the eating so much I'm like a Dyson on legs thing is a close second??!! Bad mum or what?

Glasgow girls - if we can't do the 1st or 3rd, how about the 5th - and if Josey is around and can join us that's a bonus? Although I admit I can't remember which days of the week you all wanted to avoid now!

Fungle - Barnaby (aka Screamy MacScreamerson, Amber!) is also 75th centile, but is a week younger than Isla. I ran out of babygros for him last week - had newborn ones that didn't fit, and have been given lots of 3-6 month clothes, but I only had a few 0-3 month ones. Emergency dash to the shops needed!

TGF - have a lovely time tomorrow, and I bet Storm will be fine. Let us know how you get on.

sponge maybe not what you want to hear given your IVF woes, but storm wasn't planned - in fact i was on the pill! we're over the moon to have her, but are happy to stick with just having one. if we do change our minds we'll adopt from india, as this was our original plan for if/ when we had a family (for various reasons i won't bore you with)

re LO's sleeping, he may be on a growth spurt - they often sleep more during this time. or it may be he's too hot?!

whinegums thanks for the reassurance re tomorrow

ok, s stirring, gotta go!

josey thanks for the reassurance also. nervous, but after three months we really need a date just the two of us! don't think i've ever been so excited about popcorn!

I am going top regret being up this late, but I can't sleep, think it has to do with excess diet coke consumption so here goes

reusables Have been using since day 3 - got some free from council (sandies), some bamboozles and mothercares smart nappy. Have to wash every other day and am going to get some more bamboozles @ weekend (payday). Line dry them in all weathers as sunshine bleaches the stains, If not dry hang in front of patio doors. I have to admit I always give them 20 mins in tumble drier for softening rather than anything else (PFB??). Using them mainly to p&^s off MIL and FIL

weight loss In the past I have used GI as I found it easiest to cook for DH and me as he hates the idea of dieting.

sex Amber so pleased it is not just me. Can count on one hand the number of times we have done it since Jan, and not since baby born. Slightly scared off any pain. DH is desperate, but hasn't initiated anything yet. Also feels a bit awkward with Isaac around.

checks I had a 6 week check, and was asked whether I had seen my CPN, what form of contraception I was using, whether I was still bleeding, any BF problems. But no exam or blood test (maybe should have asked for that due to Iron tablets ). Isaac had an 8 week check where he was measured, eyes were checked, boy bits checked, hips checked and jabs done. He wasn't weighed but was the week before so not too worried about that.

BF HV @ the bf cafe took one look at my nipple/had a prod and proclaimed 'blocked duct' and 'white spot' so I have spent the afternoon/evening alternating damp flannels and olive oil soaked cotton wool with bf from that boob to try and draw it out and it does feel a lot better. But on the plus side my latch is 'excellent' and I have a noisy feeder

Dishwashers and sterillising I use the dishwasher for everything but if I am not using it within a couple of hours will sterilize it later as well.

Right really should go and get some sleep now as we are taking Isaac to his first Gig tomorrow - Levellers, Seth Lakeman and 3 Daft Monkeys at Arundel Castle - and our first gig since March, Longest we have been in our 10 years together without seeing a band

Take care anyone I have missed

Paro - Thinking of you and the island today, it is truly tragic, I saw one Father on the news who had lost 3 of his children and 2 Grandchildren - I can't imagine how you begin to cope.

Ernest - fingers crossed for ds3, my ds2 has also been v small for his age and only now at 6.5 is he beginning to grow , what makes it worse is that ds1 is big for his age!

Allnew - it does get better each time, but unfortunately I have no sex drive whatsoever - anyone else suffering ?

Makecakes - lol at your keeping in touch day!

Fungle - 98th centile here!!!!

Josey - we've downloaded the perfect vagina programme - but not watched it yet - was it good? So pleased to hear about O's smiles

Sponge - Ethan did this the other day - growing I think.

PP My GP did an examination, but I had my check with her rather than the nurse who normally does the check specifically for this purpose. Apart from that, the visit basically consisted of me telling her stuff that's in my maternity notes anyway. HV did PND questionnaire.

josey my only concern would be how long they remain sterile after being washed in dishwasher? But no idea as I dont have a dishwasher (or the space for one!). I'm a big fan of cold water sterilising. We just wash the bottles as we use them then chuck them in the steriliser. The water needs to be changed every 24 hours but it only takes a minute.

allnew dont give yourself a hard time - it'll happen when you're ready.

Fungle sorry you're having trouble stretching your feeds. How do you get on with 7am feed? How much does your LO take and do they finish it? Could maybe try stretching the time by say 15 mins/half and hour each day until you build up to the four hours? Have to say though no matter what time S has his first feed he will always want a feed at 10am. Obviously takes after me

Glasgow gals, as the 1st is out, and every other day not handy for at least one of us, shall we look at the following week to see if we can get a day when we're all free? At the moment I can do Mon 8th, Wed 10th or Fri 12th? Oh, have just read whinegums last post - I think 5th was no good for Laura? Makecakes at you already having a keeping in touch day.

TGF ta for feedback on light thing - am going to get it at the weekend. We're leaving S on Sunday to go to a wedding and he'll be 7 weeks. My mum will have long list of instructions about his likes/dislikes/routine etc

Sponge S has had days like this. But always worth a call to HV for reassurance?

Morning
Thanks for well wishes, didnt get on yesterday to chat as watching tv quite a bit. 19 survivors left now, itt really is awful, we dont know anybody directly but know of people who do.

All new - Fleur is nearly 3 months and only manage it 2 times, but agree LO afternoon nap a good time

Sponge - Fleur has days when she seems more sleepy, maybe check temp etc and if continues tomorrow go to Hv for check up?

Fungle - lotss of books i have say feed everyy 4 hrs now she is 3mths(nearly) no way of acheiving that ere during the day she mostly feeds on demand which is every 2 1/2 hrs

I have reusuables and have put them on Fleur but taken them off again as she looks soooo uncomfortable Is it normal for them to be so big and hefty. Fleur looks like she cant move or sit in her bouncy chair

Morning all- my awesome daughter slept till after 7 this morning so feeling a little smug. All the sleep at night means her day routine is up the spout and I have all the NCT ladies over today for lunch....sigh.

GF- I left Cecily yesterday with very nice girl next door (NNEB qualified). I missed her terribly, as did my boobs, but kept in touch by text and concentrated on what I was doing so I could get home as fastas poss. YOu can do it. And you shoukd...DP still important too!!

Fungle at you 12 pounder- my delicate angel is only just knocking on 11lbs door at 3 months....she's on 21st centile!!

Josey I used to wash bottles in the dishwasher but I did sterilise them afterwards though not everybody does.

Paro I hope no one you know has been affected.

spongebrainbigpants Ds had a couple of really unsetted days, think it was a growth spurt as he fed masses!

Debs DD1 models too. I just sent her picture to a few agencies and then out of the ones who acceoted her chose the one I liked. DS joined because they needed new babies for M&S, I don't think I would have started him so early but after seeing the picture it's worth it!

makecakes Mia is also just over 11lbs (11lb 2oz) yesterday and I think they are about the same age (24th May) and Mia was 7.11 when she was born so a bit bigger than Cecily from memory.

BDQ any day suits me, I can move most things around.

Sorry have to go LO calling.

fungle hope your buggy is ok now.

Whinegums lol at your comment about having to go to bed fully clothed to be on time. No that is a cunning plan. I am with you on WW, the only diet that works for me so far. I got my first silver seven yesterday hooray still another 3 to go.

josey re dishwasher, I did start to put DD's bottle in it about the time I stopped sterilising at about 6 months I think. You can even buy some special trays that closes so that you can clean the teats that way too. Very very useful. Glad to see Olivia carries on making progress.

fungle yes I have a DD, she is three next week so I have had to organise her party as well as she placed her order (I want a pink bouncy castle and some sweeties). When I suggested she might want some cake she confirmed that yes please, could I make her a winnie the pooh cake ...hmmm no I don't think so. If she is like that at three, I wonder what she will be like when she is a teenager (mummy I want make up and a DJ and a sparkly dress). Re meet up I'll e-mail my mobile number to GF and I will leave organising the meet up to you guys and I will turn up to wherever GF tells me to turn up if that is ok with you. Can't wait to meet you both and the LOs

Ernest I have been meaning to tell you welcome back, it is nice to hear from you.

Debs yes I guess yorkshire will be a bit far for meet ups!

GF since we tried the routine on SJ with the control crying, we put him in bed at 7.30 or 8.00 and sometimes he cries a bit, sometimes not, but this has been the end of the evening cluster feeding. Perhaps it is worth a try with Storm. It is soo nice to have your evenings back! Glad she slept well last night, you never know she might do it again! Re going out, I never leave my LO this early but it is only because I have no family around and I wouldn't have wanted to leave them with a stranger. If I had you DH's mum like you do I would jump at the chance though as you know and trust her. She should be fine really, but even if she screamed the place down for 3 hours which she probably won't she would still live and forget about it, whereas a night out with your DH can do you both the world of good. I would definitely go for it.

SPB don't have any advice re the sleeping thing but SJ did that too one day this week and now he is back to normal. Perhaps he was just tired/growing?

allnew I haven't eiether> I have only felt barely human and up for it for about two weeks...unfortunately I have had thrush for the past two weeks. Can't wait for it to clear though as I wouldn't mind now! Feeling a bit jiggy

SJ is fine but wants to be carried in his baby carrier all the time, he wanrs to see the world. Not interested in staying seated or lying down.

Re8 weeks check, mine was a waste of time, they never checked anything and to date I haven't even had the PND questionnaire.

Sorry for mammoth post but I had a tiny bit of time today

Re reusable, I don't use them because I couldn't cope with the mountain of washing, I have enough as it is, so I use the nature boys and girl ones

Oh and Fleur is 12 pounds at nearly 3 months and in top end of 50 to 75 percentile

And Where has Neenz disappeared to?