June 2008: Nine months in, nine months out

[Essie3]

Here's to the next nine months!

BDQ - was your dh comforted??

Sending get well soon vibes to all those poorly babies

Luke seems a lot better tonight. They gave him 2 5oz bottles of milk which he kept down and I gave him 6oz at bedtime. I have decided to keep the milk at this level as since i've cut down the milk because of his sickness he has eaten every scrap of his solid foods. I'm going to do milk when he wakes up and goes to sleep and then 2 small bottles in the day. From tonight I am going to cut the dream feed. Any advice? What happens when he wakes up should I give water?

Can they catch things over the internet? We seem to be getting everyone else's bugs! Caitlin has just thrown up all over me and our bed ... She didn't seem ill though, very happy and over-excited if anything. She had just fed a lot and was then bouncing all over the place, then coughed and gagged - I hope it was just too much jiggling on a tummy full of milk and snot - I had to take Tuesday off this week already with her sticky eye, could do without losing Friday too!

Hi all - have been having a mn break for the past couple of weeks

Sorry for all of those of you with sickly babies, hope they all get better soon

sponge for your scan!

bdq I don't blame you for feeling that way re. nursery. I guess it is all normal and just takes some getting used to. I have all this to look forward to, so will be looking to you and others for support and advice when the time comes!

DH is having a great time looking after A full-time. He looks after A really well and they've become very close. I have Fridays off, so I'm looking forward to tomorrow

Not much else to report - am watching the Comic Relief Kilamonjaro thing atm

Evening! Had a bit of a busy day, no time to read let alone post until now. Allnew Kilimanjaro - I do wonder whether Cheryl Cole actually did it. What does altitude etc do to mascara?

Sorry to all those with sick babies. Iestyn's cold is much better and he's been really perky all day. He was also perky at 4.15 am... I'm all alone this week, and tried to settle him, wasn't happening, so after an eternity of...5 minutes...I fed him. Boy, are my nipples suffering today! I can't quite work that one out - Iestyn does bite and nibble more, but surely that one extra bf couldn't make the difference? It's nothing major, they're just a bit achy when I feed him.

Now I'm hoping that one bf in the night doesn't make him revert to wanting it tonight too. Although if he does, frankly, Tim can sort him out over the weekend because I just cannot be arsed to do any real work on the settling issue when I can feed and doze simultaneously...

Seeing as I've given a paragraph to my nipples, can I just have a quick moan about my boobs? I am so annoyed that I'm still leaking all over the place despite his feeding settling down and everything. I still have to use breast pads! Most people I know with babies around the same age don't need breastpads any more. Someone tell me I'm not the only one?

Amber I went through the exact same thing as you when I went back to work with DS1. That's why I'm still off on unpaid leave right now - it was a horrible few months. Sending hugs and promising that it does get easier.

poppy yes, antibiotics can do horrible things to babies bums!

5 I would highly recommend demanding to see the peadiatric nutritionists (not the general ones, they don't have enough experience with babies normally). I had to make a fuss to see one for DS1 but she finally sorted us out to makes sure he was getting a balanced diet with his milk intolerance.

And hugs to everyone with sick LOs. Fraser is finally better and I'm on the mend (I hope). It's been a hellish week but my DH is home now so I'm going to get lie-ins all weekend! (Until at least half seven - which is miraculous for me).

I think he was slightly disturbed deb!

Essie I still have to use breast pads too, it's settled down a bit but I will leak for as long as I'm feeding I think. I am a bit surprised that I'm starting to feel ready to ease off on the feeding now - but it might just be because I'm shattered, Caitlin isn't sleeping well with her eyes and her cold, both are improving but she's still suffering, bless her.

Kids had to wear red at nursery today for Comic Relief, so I sent them both in in full Liverpool kit (gifts from dp's family) - can't work out whether this means I'm trying too hard or not hard enough, but it entertained me!

5, thank you for the advice - we were going to whisk him to the GP this morning, but he has woken up a different baby! His temp is right down, he has colour and he has eaten his breakfast - and then did some crawling! Dh came in this morning and said it was so lovely to have his happy active little boy back .

BDQ, your story of comforting your hubby did make me laugh!!

SA, hope Caitlin hasn't caught Alex's bug!

Allnew, good to see you back.

Amber, good to hear Luke is also on the mend.

Essie, leaky boobs sound v glamorous!

Hi to everyone else!

Love sending the kids in to nursery in Liverpool strips - although of course Arsenal would have been much better!

Btw, if anyone needs cheering up, read this:

Crap Tips

Some of them had me literally howling with laughter!

Hello

Just a quick note as I am meant to be packing for our holiday . I have always hated packing and now I pack for a baby it is even worse. We are off tomorrow, skiing in France with two other families. The good news is that my salopettes fit.

Essie - you are not alone. I am still wearing breast pads. I probably don't leak that often now, but I wouldn't be confident without them as at the end of the day they have definitely collected something.

Sorry to hear about all the D&V babies. We have had alot of snot to deal with this week, but nothing worse than that. Hope they all make a recovery quickly.

Hello Allnew.

sponge so glad a is better .ahglad things are on the mend your end and enjoy your lie in (dh is due back but given he is liekly to have jet lag I'm not sure about my lie ins-and I Agree 7.30 seems a lie in these days).

Edie is a lot better but still not perfect (very unsettled in the night and still bit sleepy/grumpy) - so decided unilaterally (dh on flight home) to cancel plans to go north for a wedding (didnt think 3 hour trip each way, 2 nights in a hotel and lots of people pawing at her would add to eitehr edies welfare or mine). Glad I did as the diagnosis of ear infection is right - is now leaking gunk from one of her ears so off to docs again (will defo have pfb sticker now ) to see if needs drops -given we're about to go on long haul flight I want to be sure and also get proper advice on when/if she can swim (am assuming not).

spongethat thread is magic.. am crying with laughter

Sounds like her eardrum may have perforated in the night poppy - we are veterans of ear infections, building up to extreme distress then sudden calm followed by nasty gunk. If it is that, you are right you need to keep it dry while it heals; in fact ds had ear infections so often we gave up swimming or hairwashing at all with him. The good news is that if it has perforated it should have eased the pain considerably and you may get a much better night out of her tonight - fingers crossed!

Feeling really and for one of my friends today. She really wants a third child and found out on Wednesday that she was pg, but told me today that she has booked in for a termination on tues as her partner refused point blank to agree to another child and is insisting they terminate. She thinks he will divorce her if she refuses. I feel reaaly sorry for her.

ali if you see this happy holiday

AH thank you for giving me a kick. HV for older children has been really helpful and is expecting a call from local hospital regrading Paediatric dietician, she thinks that we may have to see a peadiatrician first but the ball is rolling and she is also pretty sure that she can do the referral, if not she will get one of the GP's to do so.

oh sybil that's so sad. had they discussed trying for a 3rd before hand? Was her partner not aware of her feelings? what an awful situation. She should definitely not rush into a termination so soon after what was presumably an angry confrontation? He might change his mind after a couple of days to think what he is asking her to do.

poppy urggh. ear gunk

He knew she wanted another. She has thought she might be pg several times in the last 12 months so they obviously weren't being careful. She thinks that she would be being totally unfair to subject him to a child he didn't want and so has agreed a termination is best for the family. And maybe she's right, it just makes me sad that its not best for her and she has to go through it.

She's a better wife than me. I would never terminate even if dh wanted it.

I think she should terminate her DH the marriage Sybil! He sounds like a right piece of work. Iam at that story. esp if they have not been being careful.

I have not been on for three days so only skimmed but hope Edie is on the mend now Poppy and thanks all for your advice on nannies. I had thought it might be a bit too much hard work to find a nanny share but now I might look into it further. Will a nanny do your washing and cleaning?

We are doing CC again (2 nights) and it has been a success . First night Esther cried/wailed for two hours from 11.15pm. Then she went to sleep and T woke up . He cried for 30mins before I gave him Medised . Then E slept till 5.30 and whimpered for about 20mins and then went back to sleep. Last night was better, T slept through (it doesn't take him long to get the message) and E cried (not wailing just crying/being noisy) for one hour. Hoping we get two sleeping through tonight! No more feeding in the night now!! have said that before but now I mean it

Hi guys, sybil, that is absolutely terrible - was he just using the crossing his fingers method of contraception then? How cruel .

Well, I have had a nightmare day with work - after agreeing with my line manager that I would go back for three days, and booking and paying for my childminder, I have now had a phone call today from my line manager saying that her line manager has vetoed my request and said I can only come back for two days or two and a half .

I cannot tell you how furious I am about this. I have fired off an email to her and my union rep. On top of my lack of maternity pay I am seriously considering telling them to stick their job .

They have seriously screwed up .

Gosh Sponge, hope the union can help you. Is it just the fact that you thought you had it all sorted or do you particularly want to work three days? Don't quit now, you know that would not be the right decision when you have another mat leave to take! I still haven't heard from my work . I rang him today but he did not get back to me. I really need to know what is happening. when are you going back sponge?

5 fingers crossed for you - I saw so many people who had no idea what I was talking about till we finally saw a dietician who knew exactly what DS1 needed (he's still on prescription milk for older kids - called Neocate Active - and it really seems to work well for us).

sponge how horrible, I hope your union rep can sort this for you. As much as I hate the fact that I'm unionized (as a professional I'd rather negotiate my own salary - my union does a crap job) the union has been handy in the past.

I guess I'm having more luck with my work than most people - my line manager called HR and got my part time request confirmed. I'm very relieved. I know I'm very lucky to work for my line manager though as I was working for someone else before and it was a nightmare.

poppy you're definitely not being neurotic for bringing her back if there's gunk coming out of her ear! Poor sweetie!

Busy here, sil and bil coming tomorrow for a week which is great - we get on really well and they love the boys, and do lots with them, plus they're bringing me supplies of sausages, bacon and creme eggs!
It's sil's birthday and I want to make a chocolate cake - , something like a chocolate fudge cake, anyone got any recipes, Puree are you lurking? I know you used to "Makecakes"

Sybil - your poor friend, how terrible to be put in that situation.

Sponge - how the work situation gets sorted.

Poppy - Tristan suffered with ear infections, so sympathies, how is Edie?

Ali - have a great holiday

Allnew - nice to see you back.

hi to everyone else, sorry for not replying to anyone else personally.

Hello

Quick post been lurking as really busy but hugs to those with ill babies.

Fleurs just recovering from a chest infection again and ear infection which hopefully fingers crossed will go without need for antibiotics.

I now need to re train her again to sleeping through the night without feeding!! Hence why no posting ive been going to bed at 8pm just to make it through day at work!!

Will be back later just wanted to say Hi!!!

Hi Deb. This www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=recipes&threadid=418189-does-anyone-have-the-recipe-for-mary-berry-s-ch ocolate#8485242 is my regular bday cake.

DD1 threw up all over my bed last night, then walked downstairs dripping sick. I got about 4 hours sleep, fully dressed on the sofa, before Thea woke up for the day at 5am. I can't get her to settle and could really do with some time to finish clearing up. And DH can't understand why I am in afoul mood with him or sleeping in until 9.30 . I've upset the children, and probably the neighbours, by rampaging through the house shouting "chocolate teapot"