September 08 Remember what we were doing this time last year?[wink]

[Debs75goldrings]

So what were we all doing this time last year?

I seem to be busy too with School Plays, parties, Father Christmas visits etc.

Poor M had her jabs today and is very grouchy, I'm just hoping it makes her all sleepy tonight

ikwym about bf.

Last time with DD1 I just knew I was going to do it, no thoughts of like or not. When I think back now I initially think that I loved it. Then I remember the 3 months of Thrush and the scars I have from the cuts at that time. I remember the times that she wouldn't feed in public and the times that she'd only feed lying down!! So there were hard times.

However, as some pople have said the lovely sleepy morning feeds that gave a gentle start to the day. The times I was able to confort her with feeding and the PRIDE that every oz of my 6 month old baby came from ME were amazing .

I breastfed until DD1 was 21 months and cried when I stopped.

Arrgggh, I am SO regretting having DD weighed today, she's a lower weight now than she was when last weighed - 4 weeks ago!

I am trying not to worry because I am sure she's feeding well and also that she's put on weight (her XS Sandy's nappies stopped fitting 2 weeks ago around the leg and her swimming costume was a much snugger fit this week compared to just last week!) and also because she was always following the 50th centile line and last time she jumped up to the 75th, but now she's right back on the 50th. So the HV said not to worry because it's probably just that last months measurement was incorrect.

So as I say, trying not to worry but I have to admit that it's not particularly working I have to say

I'm peeved because I purposefully don't go every week because I don't think that week-on-week is a very good indicator, and also because I knew I'd worry. I can't even go next week because it'll be Xmas Eve but if she's dropping weight I'd like to know about it sooner rather than later.

How long are you hoping to continue for this time ninja? I do know what you mean exactly, looking at your LO thinking "I made you!" (with a little bit of help! With DS1 I stopped at 6 months as I had to go back to work, I didn't really want to, but he had been an 1 FF for about 2 months by then too - Well done you for reaching 21 months - stupid question time - what happens when they get teeth??

Bottom teeth are absolutely fine as the tongue covers them. Top teeth can take a bit more getting used to. DD1 getting teeth coincided with me having thrush as so feeding wasn't great for either of us and it was the teeth taht made the cuts and the scars. BUT once the thrush went I didn't feel the teeth any more. Try sucking your thunb and you'll see that you don't feel the teeth.

I'd like to continue for as long - however, I think after a yearish maybe cut down to just 2 feeds a day. DD1 LOVED her boob and at times could be a bit TOO demanding. She was SUCH a mummy's girl.

lollipop - don't worry, DD dropped back from the 50th a couple of weeks back and HV said not to worry, as 1) charts are for FF babies, and 2)she's alert and generally fine, fillign her nappies etc... haven't taken her since as last week it was DS's xmas play and as the norovirus is back in the area I didn't want to take her to the surgery just in case yesterday... Also, the HV had measured her head circumference wrongly first time so at her 2 month check up she had a smaller head than when she was 10 days old!! I just weigh her at home (well, I weigh myself with and without her so not perfect but I see she's growing!)

DD had extra feed again today, slept for 40 mins this morning, 1hour15mins and she was awake from 3pm til nearly 8pm... feeding houirly from 1.30! (she was in the sling feeding while I was making - and eating- DS's pancakes and nutella)

tried to order a couple of those t-shirts too, but the site kept on crashing the other night and gave up... might try again later...

Imsantasmum - happy hangover!!!

I think I've finally managed to get DD settled in the evenings! The last 2 days I've not put her in the lay flat buggy, but she's been forward facing in the sling and it's been keeping her awake when we go out. She's slept from 8:30 in the evening so I've had some peace..

Quick note to say that I am online in AD. Not having time (yet) to read posts but thought I'd say 'hi'.

Hi foxy! How is it going in AD?

foxy - so good to hear you are sort of on line out there. If I have a desperate question I will put out a may day call to you!

Well I think my 50 mile round trip to chase down this semi-mythical BF supporter was a waste of time. She seemed to know very little about thrush and the treatments for it. She did not know what flucanazole or clotrimazole were, let alone being able to advise on any other treatment like grapefruit seed extract etc which I thought she would be able to do.

Her advice? To breast feed lying down. I explained that I would lke to but I had had severe SPD during pregnancy and was only now able to start lying on my side for short periods of time. She said, what's SPD? !! And apparently this woman was a midwife for 15 years before she did her lactation exams. Even when I explained what it was she looked blank.

Then she told me to stop eating any root vegetables like potatoes and garlic - what ?? I said I was cutting out dairy and sources of sugar, and she said oh that doesn't matter.

Anyway, she criticised my latch and gave me some weird advice about that, e.g.: "Let the breast hang down naturally so the nipple is at the bottom and bring the baby up to the nipple underneath." She made a 'U' shape with her hand and showed the nipple at the bottom. I thought, well I think we can all see that my nipples are on the front of my breast, even when they are "hanging down naturally" !

So here's what I'm going to do:

• keep up with the flucanazole etc
• follow the advice I have received from you lovely women on MN - who are SOOO much more knowledgable than anyone I can meet in real life
• I found the link again to the protocol re grapefruit seed extract washing and will follow these instructions once my mail order bottle arrives
• I will quietly ignore most of what the BF supporter said!
• I will however, work on improving my latch, as I do believe she was right when she said the pain from that wouldn't be helping. But I'll use the material and advice I have from other sources to focus on correct latching.

Jenbot - the link I refer to is this in case it helps you too.

By the way, I'm not a martyr for the BF cause. My motivations are partly selfish too, as it is simply bloody convenient not to have to sterilise and prepare FF if I can avoid it!

donkeymum I've never met any health professional in RL (apart from one lovely local mw) who had the time or patience to really listen to my concerns and give helpful advice, so I just get on with it myself.

As to not knowing what SPD is - WTF! Can this woman even read a book??!

Meglet and Imsantasmum well done us for having sleeping babies in the evening! I fed T again at about 8:30pm, then popped him in the pram (where he slept again) and then fed him again at 11, after which he slept until 5:30 this morning!

Lollipop how frustrating to get that just before christmas! I'm sure she's doing fine, and the 75th line measurement was a mistake, try not to worry about it over christmas.

Donkeymum for you and the lack of real life support - we're all so lucky to have MN to turn to! I really hope you manage to get the thrush sorted, and can solve the latch etc.

donkeymum are you sure you saw the right person and not some weirdo off the street?
Really odd how she didn't seem to know anything. I agree follow mn's advice there are loads of us on here with problems so whilst you might get some conflicting answers if the 1st suggestion doesn't work you can go onto the next one.

Babywearers I got my sleepy wrap today. and tried it out. It is stretchy so took a few tries to get it right but feeling very secure with it.
With it being winter what should I put Robyn in? At the mo she has a shiny snowsuit but will she get too hot?
Daft Q and i should know better as i carried dd1 and ds but that was 10 years ago and brain a bit fuzzy.

Does something happen to babies digestive systems when they get to 4 months? A is 16 weeks this Sunday so not quite there yet, but has been waking hourly (or more) over the last two nights, feeding really agitated and eventually doing massive burps and farts.DH has been instructed to bring home infacol (manaaged to avoid it so far). I feel so sorry for him, his usual chatter today has been quite upset, he keeps talking to me on the verge of tears.

I'm guess the 4 month disruptive phase has started a bit early.

donkey sounds like you've got a good plan there, hope it does the trick. Like you I find BF so convenient especially at night. It's a guaranteed comforter too.

Meant to say lollipop don't worry about weight - just cos your LO doesn't follow a chart, don't worry. You know her best and as long as she's filling nappies and is happy, don't worry. Charts were devised in 70s/80s when most babies were ff. bf babies do fluctuate.

Am feeling pleased but anxious as have booked C onto water babies course starting January - she has to wear a wetsuit and she'll learn to swim under water. Pleased for her but anxious as they may evacuate pool due to passing hippo wandering it.......I may regret this

DD woke up at midnight, 1am, 2am and 5am last night . She had settled down nicely at 8:30pm but she kept wriggling onto her tummy and getting stuck and upset so I had to re-settle and feed her each time.

I am being a slob today as I have no energy for anything, we didn't have to go out anyway. I need a cuppa now.....

Know how you feel Meglet. DS usually only wakes for one feed between 4-5, however last night he woke at 2 and 5, then needed resettling after the 5am feed (he usually goes straight back to sleep on his own with no fuss.)

DH tried to settle him at 2am but M tried to latch onto him so I went in and fed him. He was hungry at 5am as well.

He's also not his usual self today. His cheeks are red, he's feeding a lot and he's already on his 2nd nap of the day. He's either coming down with something, got some teeth moving around, or just having an off day. Who knows?!

I put the marzipan on the Christmas Cake today and made a right hash of it (it was ready rolled as well ). I am keeping my fingers crossed that the icing goes on a bit better. Nigella I aint

aaaarrrggghhh am more tired now than when he was newborn

Alfie is 10 and a half wks, was sleeping 11.30-6.30, got bronchiolitis, started waking again at 2.30 and 6 ish. but whereas i used to guarantee a couple hrs nap at lunchtime he wont sleep- just wants to feed feed feed. please tell me its a growth spurt and will be over very soon. oh and i'll pass on a 16wk growth spurt thanks

plusone - it is a growth spurt and will be over very soon!!!

Seriously, whatever is going on it won't last forever. Keep on trying to put him down for his naps, he may resist at first, but he will probably go back to napping again sometime soon. It is v frustrating though isn't it?!

thanks hoho it is vvvvv frustrating! especially when i can see how tired he is. have fed him and put him down again. he is crying. again. gonna leave him a bit

had a night out last night with my dept from work. Was good to get out and see people, just a shame I was driving and couldn't drink! Ds2 had a bottle of formula at bedtime and still woke during the night (half hr later than usual though which meant he wasn't hungry at 7.45 when I woke him but thats ok with me) and although I was tired I was weirdly glad that he did. If he had slept through I would have wondered if it was because of the formula and is my milk not enough for him at bedtime (even though I know it is really) and should I always give him a bottle then etc. Not that I have anything against giving him formula but I guess thats a selfish reason to do it at that feed.

Actually its probably good that I only had 1 glass of wine last night as ds1 has been a devil child today. He has started screaming if he doesn't get his own way and was just horrible all morning. We went to see a nativity play at the church we go to toddler group at and he just sulked all the way through it and didn't even see most of it. For some reason that really upset me and when someone asked if I was ok at the end I burst into tears. Then dh came home for lunch and I cried again. Don't know why I'm so emotional today, I'd better get over it before sitting on a train for lots of hours on Saturday.

Glad some of you have used the starchild website and hope it works for you Christmasflower. I'll have to tell the woman that runs it that I've got her some orders- she comes to the church I go to sometimes.

it wasn't starchild, they're different (also very good, cute little soft leather shoes), it was simply colors.

ILTHHH I have just bought the marzipan to put on the cake this afternoon as well! It's not even ready rolled, so I am fully expecting a less than perfect result... We may end up going for a snow drift scene when the cake is iced!

Also bought little canvases and paint and me and my sis are going to attempt to do T's footprints on there for presents. Will probably also be a bit of a mess!

Hi.
I have put some christmas photos of my little ones on my profile. Every year I have to make them for my family anf friends back home. This year I am pleased with the result, althought coul not get them to smile at the same time.
By the way, I am selling the crib on ebay, so far for £16.00. I am sopleased!!!!I am also selling the moses basket, Lorea still sleeps in the slings. (I can't wait to get rid of all that unused things). I am not having more children.
Withthe money I get from the crib, I am buying lots of things I could not eat last year for Christmas for being pregnant: duck patee, blue cheese etc...

potxola your LOs are adorable!

Lorea esta para comersela!

Did you ever brave the Spanish consulate?

plusone it will be a growth spurt. C (3 months now) woke for 4 nights on the trot at 5.30am, when she'd been sleeping till 7.30am. She's back to normal now and has reduced her milk intake too. They say the 16 week one is far worse though......