January 09 - 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4......and we're off

[fourlittlestockingedfeet]

Here's a brand new thread for the early party poppers!

thanks lenni

goooo FYM... good luck xx

chef re itching, I think it was a possible thrush alert. you can try and treat it with a bit of natural yoghurt, vinegar wash, or canesten. For some reason savalon has been helping my itching, but I'm still not sure whether some stiches are still in or whether its something else. I must say its difficult that you are meant to keep it clean and dry AND wear pads, which are acually holding some moisture there permanently! I also found out that the maternity pads are best... always ones have a funny plastic lining that really does make you itch, so maybe its that?

lovely topic... hope no-one is eating their branflakes!

hi chefswife,
just read your post. when did you DD start sleeping from midnight to 6am? must be amazing!

my little one is only 3 weeks old, so prob awhile yet!

hi all, still waiting for HV to come visit me and baby DS2 is already 3 weeks old. i rang them up and they said they are just too busy at the moment

i am not sure how long i am going to breastfeed for - seems like i have been doing it forever. but it is convenient, no feeds to make up.

MissH - Meant to say earlier (got caught up in fym labour excitement!) Good on you for giving the bf a go even with all the problems - think you are right about just having to go for it. Can 100% promise you that it does get easier, I'm already feeling so much more confident that I can manage it til 6months+ (barring disaster) and 2 weeks ago I would have put DS on formula if I had any in the house I was feeling so low about it all. Yesterday I even fed him in a restaurant, and I am super shy about things like that. I've now fed him in a shopping centre, supermarket, plenty of car parks, a restaurant, M&S cafe, at a football match (in the hospitality bit - not outdoors ) ... and feel like my life can actually go on as normal. Plus as you've said before we're all having the same issues so you know where to come if you need some support

Oh, and at two toddler groups too

hi lennied, i am still not game to breastfeed in public, although i would like to. DS2 is 3 weeks old and i keep saying i will do it next time. do you wear those tops that open up discreetly?

The discreet tops can be good if they are baggy enough - if they are at all tight they pinch the nipple and the baby gets frustrated and you get a wet top. Best thing is feed vests (especially in this weather). You wear them underneath your normal tops, lift your normal top up and the vest down. That way none of your tummy gets exposed and you aren't limited to three H&M stripey tops that scream to the world you are a breastfeeding mum!!!

hi all

DS2 was born at home in the pool at 14:45 (so

wow!!! congratulations, that's fantastic... and another good weight! Look forward to all the details.... well done

I wear a regular strappy vest top underneath my normal top and pull my vest down and my top up. If I unhook my bra and pull the vest down first so nipple is exposed but still covered by my normal top then I can get DS in position and his head covers everything, then wip up my top and shove him on quick. If I keep my coat on or wear a cardigan I can do the whole thing without anyone seeing any skin at all as the coat covers the side view up and keeps me covered if he comes off and I have to get him back on.

Have a couple of feeding tops and tbh I think they cover me less well than my vest/top combo as have really big holes in them. Once I've got baby attached I can adjust my clothes to cover everything without affecting him. Also they are really very expensive for what they are - even in H&M you are paying an extra fiver just for the convenience of feeding clips. I'm seriously considering snipping through the straps on some of my vests and buying some feeding clips off ebay and making my own feeding vests. Also if you are shopping for nursing tops beware of ones that are maternity ones as they are designed for wearing in pregnancy and look hideous now - there are only a few places that do regular fitting nursing tops that I've found. Jojomamanbebe do a few and Mamaway do some plus H&M but a lot of places like mothercare only do maternity fitting ones.

x-posted there (took me ages to type)

Many many congratulations fym sounds lovely and you sound elated. Fab weight too (exactly what DS weighs now!)

Now get some rest!

Dog- That's a genius idea...I have been getting fed up with exposing my midriff to all and sundry as well as completely freezing my tits off! (literally)..Unfortunately I just gave all my maternity stuff to a pregnant friend...will have to customise some old vest tops.

Fym- Congratulations! DS was born at home in the pool and it was amazing- glad you got there in the end!10lb 5...wow! Well done!

Spink- I hope Rosie is ok, sending lots of get well vibes to her, it must be awful.

Elkie- Congratulations on the birth of Conor!

Lennie- Good idea with the vest tops..breast feeding is not fun in this weather, way too much flesh exposure for my liking!

Pat- How old's your DD? She sounds sweet. Mine keeps on being a little over zealous with the nappy changes...there are newborn nappies everywhere in the house which she keeps giving me for the baby. I gave DD a baby born and she drags it round by the feet and bumps it's head upstairs...not very promising! She's only 21 months though and seems to be taking to big sisterhood pretty well. Although she is insisting on being carried a lot rather than walking, which is a pita.

Ray at your DD's sleeping! You lucky thing...DS seems to think night is day and day is night. have fun shopping!

MissJ- at you living in the Brecon beacons, what a beautiful place to live...snow must look amazing. London looks like a snowman graveyard at the moment, with everything melting!

This is turning into a mammoth posting...trying to catch up as have been busy last few days...but can't as I can now hear DD bouncing up and down on her bed...oh, she's stoppped..
Seems like life here has resumed as normal. Can't believe DS is two weeks today. Its all been a blur!

I Have a stupid question...If you have thrush down below will it be passed on through breastfeeding to DC automatically? How do you tell if DC has thrush...he has a white tongue but I am pretty sure this is milk...

Will try to catch up more later...DD is bouncing again..

Dog- Truck loads of clary sage and raspberry leaf coming your way! Now come out baby!!

Congratulations FYM!

DD is sleeping a lot better, feeding at 10, 12, 3.30 and 7.00, so seems to have gone through her growth spurt. Unfortunately DH is snoring like a drain so I can't sleep between feeds anyway!

More snow on the way apparently, have to check the council website at 6.30 am tomorrow to see if school will be open.

DS1 seems a happier today, turns out he was upset about a falling out with some boys in the other y2 class but says it was all ok today. Blimey, the little monkey had me thinking there was something seriously wrong!

Have been being naughty and buying tonnes of little girl clothes off ebay - all been bargains and those that have been delivered are all lovely so far, but will have to wait and see what happens when DH checks the bank balance!

Hi! just posting so I'm on here- back from hospital, shattered and sore, but happy- will catch up later. Congratulations fym!

Big congratulations to EPPM and FYM; dog it's all down to you now!

Spink hope Rosie is getting better.

Wanted to catch up properly but LO is making his mini-teradactyl noises....

2 hours later... LO (STILL no name!) is asleep on the sofa so have FINALLY managed to catch up... some thoughts...

MissH I've decided BF is a bit like skiing - there's a pain barrier halfway thru the week where everything is sore, but if you just keep skiing eventually something seems to 'click' - today is the first day (day 6) that I've actually felt that initial latching-on toe-curling pain might be going away! I guess it's a learning process for both LO and us but I'm sure it can only get easier.

qumps poor you, hope you got a break and a good sleep -- and to anyone with kids already, I simply can't imagine how you cope with a baby too!

THRUSH My sister had a mini-battle with this a couple of years ago - her advice is to skip all the creams/ yoghurt tips, and go straight for a canestan pessary - but if you are still bleeding, you can also buy a tablet - but not sure how this might affect BF. Keeping area DRY is vital, use a hairdryer after every bath - seriously!

stripey admiration to you for cool head during 2 hour crying session - I can't even manage 2 minutes of LO crying.

Rray I am swaddling at night too, I think it helps. I love making a little baby parcel! Hope you got lovely present, let's face it, we all deserve being spoiled!

LenniEd amazing growth, nice to know all that work is paying off!

Chefswife your 'routine' or lack of, sounds lovely, very mellow, can't believe you are exercising already - but I guess you are 7 weeks ahead of me!

Sorry for super-long post. Today is the first day I have managed to feel slightly human again and like just maybe I can start to get the hang of this Mummy thing! It's a bit lonely being somewhere where I don't know anyone (I only moved here mid-Dec from London) but maybe in a couple of weeks I can get to some mum-and-baby events and find myself a social life!

xxx
ps a horrible teenage-style SPOT has erupted on my chin - is post-pregnancy acne next on the list of things to look forward to?!

congrats fym another whopper