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

[Debs75goldrings]

So what were we all doing this time last year?

Crikey I didn't think having a recipe book stand made me a grown up! If its any consolation, it only ever has the recipe for my foolproof chocolate cake on it Its one of the ones with a plastic sheild incase I get a bit over exuberant with the electric whisk.

I'm starting to feel ready for the next baby and my dd isn't 2 for another 3 months yet...never mind the fact that ds is only 15 weeks! Having two is just brilliant. We started ttc when dd was 5 months, and succeeded at 8 months. I would love another baby, but not another pregnancy, so that's what's holding me back for a while! Dh wants to get pregnant right at the end of this year, so that we can say we've been pregnant every year for 5 years. Yeeeeees.....

We've decided to start potty training dd in the next few weeks - while ds is no longer a newborn, and before project wean. She's mad for it and can't stop talking about the toilet (she has older friends who lead by example!). Most excitingly it means I can made 'stickers' by printing out mr tumble and postman pat pictures from tinterweb and laminating them . So apologies in advance that some of my posts might not be about little babies!

Hope you're all having a nice weekend

OMG i'm tearing my hair out! I know that D is going through a growth spurt, but this is driving me nuts! For the past week, D has been increasing the lenght of his feeds. Yesterday and today, all his feeds have been an hour or close to it, feeding from both breasts.

Today I took him upstairs at about seven to feed him before putting him in his cot. He started fidgeting, pounding my breasts and whingeing. I thought it might be because the letdown was not fast enough, so I changed him to the other breast. He continued to pound, whimper, chew and release the nipple (most painful), and I ended up feeding him while walking around and rocking him, because the whimpering was building up into a cry. What is the matter wiht him? Is it that I don't have enough milk, as it's the end of the day and he just did a feedathon at 5pm? Is it that he is overtired because he did not have a proper nap this afternoon? Is his eczema itching? (incidentally, this has been incomparably better since I gave up diary)... I know it's not wind because I winded him.

My DP is as we speak rocking him to sleep. I have no problem coping with a whingey overtired baby, but the thought that he's hungry absolutely horrifies me.

pacita I hope D falls asleep soon. Drink a pint of water and have a sit down while someone else is in charge, and you'll have a great supply of milk for him when he wakes up!

Going out: Nature has fast foods. Bananas and avocados come in sterile containers. You bash/bruise them whilst in the skin and then peel them and heyho - a banana/avacado puree.
Starlight thatis what we used to do with dd1 and she loved it. I froze icecube trays of potato apple pear carrot and sweet potato and would defrost a few a day, adding breast milk to make them runnier. used to giv them berry fruit cereal from a box, it was yummy.

Pacita, C has been a little like that this afternoon, feeding lots, then this evening it took ages to settle her and she did that horible gripping onto nipple thing. But I always blame wind with her, because she'll feed, sometimes whinge when I want to sit her up to burp her, and want to feed more, or she'll drop off to sleep for a while, burp, wake, want to feed more. Usually she settles to sleep at 7ish when dd1 goes to bed, but tonight I seemed to be feeding her pretty much 6 til after 9. I don't think hunger's likely - I'm sure you're body will provide what's needed.

Carrie - dd1 has been using the potty indoors for ages but hasn't wanted to give up nappies - finally she decided to over Christmas, and it's like she's waited till she's ready so it's been easy in 1 way. BUT, wearing dd2 on my front makes it very tricky lifting dd1 onto the toiletr when we're out, and as for alfresco weeing in the park! Me kneeling on the ground, sub zero temperatures, holding dd1 in position with dd2 in sling....not easy! Anyway, good luck!

Went to a sling meet today - someone recommended a Maya padded ring sling (don't know if that's how you spell it) - anyone know/recommend that? I still love my calin bleu but I do find C sinks a bit in it now she's getting heavier. It's cosy to ear though especially in this weather

Pacita I found the mini-electric pants. TBH, if you really want to express when you go back to work, you are better off with a double electric like the Ameda Lactaline. they go for about £50 on ebay if you don't have the budget to buy new. they are v. v. good. you could also put out a 'wanted' on the MN selling board.

Yes you have enough milk. What you need to do is to have shorter gaps between feeds during hte day. Can you afford to go to bed with A in the middle of the day and snooze and feed for a couple hrs? I did that yesterday with Alice because she was a bit cranky. She fed and lept a lot herself. It meant that even though i didn't sleep properly, i wasn't tired myself round 8 pm. Try to offer more feeds during the day, even if they are short ones. round this age, whenever dd1 went 'meh' i offered a feed and let her refuse. i remember offering both sides to her having the same reaction as you're finding and feeding her while sushing and paving and joggling her, telling myself it is just a phase.

remember: the shorter the gaps between feeds, the more milk your body makes. there is nothing wrong with you or your body if feeds are less than 2.3 - 3 hrs apart. it is normal.

pacing not paving.

splish i am sure you can still get more use out of the CB. aim to have C's head at neck height and pull the rails really tight. i hold one under A's bum then pull the other out at a 45 degree angle from my shoulder before bringing it back to her bum and tightening the other. a little hop while pulling the rails tight and while crossing them under the bum and around the back also helps to get them real tight. YOu cannot over tighten the things.

this one is quite good. i still cross the rails under dd's bum but not between her legs. will need to start doing that soon.

Hi Pacita - M does that in the evenings sometimes, I think it's partly the age. I have to hold her upper hand and try and keep her in quite steady and she does settle to feeding in the end. I hope it's better today.

Thanks Starlight for asking. My Dad seems pleased with how the Funeral went, that it was a real celebration of lives and that relations came and seemed to 'enjoy' it. He's been busy since with a photographic exhibition which may be no bad thing. He's not one to talk about his emotions though.

Well M fed last night everyone 1 to 2 hours and tbh while that is worse than avrage it's not unusual atm (and atm is the last 5 weeks!!). Any ideas what I can do? She definitely feeds more at night. I've tried offering the breast more in the day, she snacks but it doesn't seem to help. My supply is fine as I can express often after a feed there's milk left.

Pacita i found that when ds did the frantic off on thing that he was actually tired, i put him in his cot and he was asleep within a couple of minutes.

Anyone know why ds doesnt seem to like one side? no probs with left but cries and pulls off right. doesnt seem to be coming out too fast for him, any ideas?

Hello ladies, a new day begins (began a while ago), and Diego is having is morning nap and giving my chewed up nipples a bit of a rest.

Thanks for the posts ladies - it's always reassuring to know that you're not alone in having fidgety babies playing punching ball with your boobies.

Foxy, I'll feed him more often during the day. The funny thing is that it was counter-intuitive to me to feed often; I was actually doing the opposite, trying to extend the feeds to make sure that he was really hungry and fed properly when he was at the breast. Plusone he was definitely tired; when DP finally got him to sleep by the power of the rocking, he slept for 5 hours, then had another feedathon after midnight.

Re: pumps, I'll seriously consider investing in a good pump like the Ameda Lactaline, as given D's history wiht eczema already, formula scares the pants out of me.

And can somebody explain this to me? It is understandable that the more you feed, the more milk you produce. You feed often, you make more milk. But then, how does the baby shift to feeding less times, specially at night, without your supply reducing again? Why does it not spiral into a constant feeding frenzy as the baby gets bigger?

And finally, an existential question: has any of your LOs ever done a bright orange poo?

pacita your supply is so establised you don't have to worry about it reducing. if you fed more at night, it will just build up for lots of night time feeding too.

otoh, lets say you stopped feeding for a week or 2. your supply would reduce but, with patience you can go back to exclusive feeding.

you could even have a 2yo on 3 meals a day and down to 2 feeds a day. if he got sick and refused all solids but happy to breastfeed, as does happen in rl, your body will go back to exclusive feeding.

the mum in this clip is greenmonkies and that happened to her dd with chicken. she discusses it in this clip

chickenpox

hello . I'm still here out in RL! (D)P has popped over with the laptop so I can MN for 5 mins. He is just filling out a form to get counselling, which he desperately needs.

thank you for all your messages of Support.I'm shattered looking after both the DC's on my own but its a lot calmer here than it was.

starlight you story about the HV's arguing at baby clinic made me chuckle .

better go, I'm going to get my own laptop sometime so I can get on-line again. I am suffering severe MN & FB withdrawal, mind you my house is very tidy these days .

it is the interview with Dr Hilary knob Jones on GMTV last year. It was about breastfeeding toddlers in general. She really put him in his place. If you were to watch the same link on the ITV site, it is edited and it looks like he got the last word and told her off like he was the authority.

this is the whole interview and she whooped ass and made him look like a complete thwunk ignoramus where bfing is concerned.

v. good interview.

here is the thread that the programme spawned. Greenmonkies wasn't a mumsnetter at the time but was on a yahoo group I use. Word got to her that she was the new hero on mn and she joined up.

That interview is really interesting foxy - isn't the body amazing that it can respond to our DCs needs like that?

I mentioned that I would like to continue BFing A for a year (at the same NCT lunch) and didn't really get any words of encouragement although non of discouragement either. They must think I'm some sort of BF-nutter and are also biting their tongues to not offer their true opinion on BFing and weaning.

But I think I'd like to see how long A would like to continue.

pacita you're doing brilliantly with D's growth spurt, nearly nearly there and then once he's through it you'll have an over abundance of supply and be expressing 80ml no probs!

meglet So glad to hear your (D)P is going for counselling. Whatever you decide to do with regards to your relationship at least he's seeking help for the sake of your DC.

plusone A is the same favouring one side. Just like when he was learning to BF he preferred the bigger boob because the milk was more free-flowing. As such the smaller boob has remained so as it doesn't get as much stimulation as the other.

Hi, have just got back after a week away in Scotland.

So much has happened, but I just have to let you all know one little announcement: I don't have thrush anymore !

I am so happy, and so pleased I perservered. Onwards with EBF for the forseeable future! (Well, at least until this weaning lark becomes unavoidable I suppose. )

Splishsplosh, I tried the maya sling with dd1 but didn't really like it. Because of the way it's made it's really only comfy to wear on one shoulder. I much preferred a simple non padded ring sling.

So tell me this - WHY when M is waking up every hour or 2 for a feed, can she sleep for nearly 4 hours when I'm out this morning?? Maybe I just need better ear plugs.

Sorry you're going through the frequent waking too Starlight Ponymum so glad to haer you got rid of Thrush - any particular treatment?

Plusone I prefer feeding M on the left, but I thought I'd been offering equally. I've noticed recently that the left is bigger and more milk comes from it when I express.

Right, caught up now.
meglet, so sorry for your situation and hope you know you have lots of support here. Good idea to get your own laptop - the sense of independence will help make you feel much stronger! If you want a good supplier of reconditioned laptops let me know and I'll send you a link (have bought 3 from this guy for various members of the family).

hopefully et al re losing weight. Boo hoo I am enormous and simply HAVE to do something about it now. Also the bulk is all on my bum/tummy/thighs. I am not just pear-shaped, I am like a pear that has been left in the sun and has melted into an even more pear-shaped pear!

debithescot, we were about 45 mins north of Aviemore last week and I cannot believe how cold and snowy it was! Definitely in the -10s! The cottage was up a long remote track which was very dodgy and a bit scary - thick blocks of ice across the track which showed no intention of thawing. Ever. (We had to just point the car and hope we were still on the road once over the ice. )

Holiday highlights:

• After one night in the bed my back seized up so bad I couldn't sit up or walk.
• Ended up sleeping on one of the single beds which was slightly more supportive. DH was so sad at lack of cuddles he dragged a mattress into the room and slept on the floor next to us. So we spent the week of our 'luxury cottage rental' like three kids having a sleepover in a tiny attic room. I guess we will laugh about it sometime.
• DH's cold turned into a chest infection so he had to spend the week gazing sadly out the windows at all the snowy peaks around us that he wasn't allowed to climb.
• DD then got a cold. We got quite concerned at how distressed she was one night, so spoke to the local GP on the phone and he insisted we bring her in for observation! Had a scary dark drive through ice and snow to the hospital, but luckily he said she was totally fine.
• Obviously, spent the rest of the week with all three of us camped in front of the roaring fire and with heating turned up high. Read lots of books but all our walking gear sat by the back door untouched.
• Suspect this is my fault for saying 'I hope there's snow' back when we booked the holiday!

But I don't really have a complaint because somehow in all this, I shook the thrush that has been making BF excruciating since October. So all is well!