August 2008 - 8 months and still not sleeping though the night....

[TwilightSurfer]

you'd think after 33 threads we'd have all the answers by now.

cc Tell him my friend's husband had a lump checked, had testicular cancer which spread to his lymph nodes, had to have chemo but recovered and is still ok 10 years later....

steaky Thanks for tops advice may try a couple but think I need jersey tops really and need more stretch.

I also need to go to the GP as have just wept at two friends at toddler group.

Just to give an alternative point of view on the GPs advice to you though - I don't see a problem with his suggestion to take a supplement for your own health. I find if I do stay on the pronatal tablets I do feel better - after all the baby gets all your vitamins/minerals before you do so if there is nothing left you get nothing! And the advice on cutting back on bf is because I guess at some point it becomes about weaning off bf rather than just 'introducing' solids. Your interpretation of the charts is right though - no need to worry - my dh would be proud of you! They just get stressed if the baby crosses two centiles as it supposedly shows something is wrong. at the advice on depression though and I would go and see someone else about it if I were you.

Thanks PF I see your point and I agree, saying ooh make sure that you are eating well/taking supplements so you don't get run down is all good and that's how I will think of it.

It is hard, I can follow most of a conversation but even with DH translating I loose the nuance of what is said and also have to filter out any of DH's spin that he adds.

Would it be rude to print off the WHO bf weight charts to show him?

Defo print them off Steaky- no harm in that all all I don't think. I have to say that I feel a million times better after taking a folic acid and iron supplement for 2 weeks. I hadn't realised how tired I'd got.

PF - three small ones and an overworked DH is bloody exhausting. I often think tears are the logical respoinse rather than a sign of not coping if you see what I mean ... You do a fantastic job.

. Got be at school to pick up DS in 5 minutes. Eek.

No1 And did your mum then offer to babysit in order to give you both a romantic night out?

Longway Hope the blockage has gone. If not, I found feeding while lying down helped as it's easier to massage the duct nice and hard at the same time.

PF I still have a deformed bum too, not painful luckily but haven't been treating it so it's definitely not for display LOL. I am currently wearing a little flary summer skirt over jeans to hide my muffin top - keep getting compliments on it. Have you tried searching on Ebay for tops for taller ladies? PS I don't recommend wrap tops for fat tummies unless they are long and dropwaisted.

Steaky What an arse, esp about BFing being not good for mums after 9m! Can you google a list of local counsellors and phone to ask them if they speak English? Or get CC to scan and email you the instructions for her ADs to show him? Maybe he could order them in? Also yes definitely give him the WHO printout on BFing (in French).

CC We lasted 4 days which was a record for us but will try again once DH starts his new nearer job and is less knackered.

Well it's April and I'm sunburnt and befreckled already.

PF Another thing that works for my non-pg bump is the plain black stretchy boob tube I bought when pg as a belly band. It makes a fine mini skirt over black leggings or tights and again covers the tummy gap, shrinks your bottom half and lets you wear a normal old top. To summer it up I now have cropped leggings and pixie boots a la Desperately Seeking Susan.

Thanks pf, I have been quite blunt with him but I think the more direct route is needed. Perhaps I am a little insensitive being a nurse, but I don't see the issue with showing your bits to the gp. I guess he must be a little embarrassed about having the doctor feel his knackers

Right, off to pick up ds1 from school then get some sunshine for an hour

Thank you SO much VG. That's so useful and reassuring as I'd factored in the cold, balanced out by the romantic gas light and nice farmers.

Sorry to hear it's a rough day pf. Not much I can offer unfortunately, but sounds like I suffer similarly re: stomach. White Stuff do do a lot of tops that work for tummy skimming, although some are really short and therefore utterly useless. My problem is flabby tum plus zero norkage. And that's while I'm bf...

Sorry to hear the Dr was less than sympathetic steaky. Just in case it helps your DH and his view of bf (after the Dr's encouraging words), mine is in awe of how much easier it makes life, logistically, than bottles (DD1 was mostly ff). The fact that you can soothe your LO anywhere and go out without exact plans for the day because you know you can feed on the run really works for us all. Might be worth pointing out how restrictive bottles can be (even at this age) and that if you're not bf, he could do just as much of the nightime feeding as you .

Oh and on the growth thing, you're obviously a very slim build so there's a good chance that your DD will be too? DD1 spent most of her first year in the top half of the charts and is now settled in the bottom half. There's nothing wrong, it's just her settling into herself.

Eek at the furniture in the garden dizzy. It was the briefest shower here. Hope it was there too.

Good luck with getting your DH to the Dr CC. My DH has been once since I've known him (12 years) .

No1 I have been looking at Disney Cruises. They have a 14-night transatlantic one as well as several that tour northern Europe and the Mediterranian. VERY INTERESTING!!

Who was feeling low about their figure? Shopping ideas here:
Easy Care Tunic from TravelSmith

Twist Front Dress from TravelSmith

Shapely Surplice Dress from Soft Surroundings

Redherring Dress from Debenhams

Steaky dear I'm not sure what to say that the girls haven't already said. I too can see the point of supplements if you continue BFing and that might actually help pull you out of PND. Vitamin B! Vitamin B! Vitamin B!

more later once Reese dozes off.........

Back from town, sweaty but sunned-up Also pleased because I managed to get a bra that fits properly, at last, as well as a skirt I've had my eye on for ages, both reduced by quite a lot.

Looks like another day of no naps here but on the upside DS is rolling around next to me in just his vest, laughing at my intermittent babble

Steak I wonder how your DH would cope if you guys were living in England? If you were on your home turf instead of his, where you instinctively understood how everything works and he had to constantly feel his way around, I suspect he would be a lot less sure of himself. Do you plan to stay in France long term?

CC - why not say to DH that he has little to fear from the GP when his bits have already been discussed at length with a bunch of women hairy truckers on the internet?

Glad the sun is shining for you Cyteen.

Cyteen lol, if we were in England he would have to be a SAHD. We did talk about it and would have moved to UK had we been able to sell up while I was PG - but once we realised no possibility to sell the business and it got past June then the fact we could move in with PILs, he could get his old job back etc etc etc swung it for France.

I would be very happy moving to the UK and have even found work that DH could do - the British Council run a language assistant scheme, part time hours and very good pay. But he refuses, says he doesn't have the patience to look after Izzy.

So I've pretty much given up thinking about that as an option. [sigh]

steak won't repeat what others have/can say better than me but hugs anyway.

pf sorry you are feeling low. I struggle when the sun comes out as I am so bluepale skinned I am too to get my legs out. I also hate hate hate my arms/shoulders so feel very uncomfortable in anything that shows these, getting a bit braver but still gets me down.
cyteen yay for bargains, not much on nap front from either here today too.
cc think all men are a bit like that re doc and their bits. Hope you can get him to go though.
lovebuckets No she didnt offer, she has never had either of them.
sibh how are you, are you feeling ok?
when is your appointment??
ts could you possibly link to one of the disney cruises pleeeeease.
If someone could explain how to do link as I am thick and dont get mn explanation.
vg that holiday sounds great btw, lol at scarf and socks. It was cold in the caravan I just been in and I slept in my clothes one night.

By the power of breastmilk! I have fed Joe into submission at last - bit of a stupid time for a nap but I'll take whatever I can get atm. He's on my lap with a pillow behind his head and one leg propped up on a soft block

Steak glad to see he's open to compromise

Steaknife Well most men don't 'get' much out of babies, even their own. He's obviously not very confident yet and yes BFing can get in the way a bit for dads, esp when trying to deal with such a big shift in relationship dynamics. Maybe when she's a toddler and he's got to know her better he'll have different views on SAHDness? Toddlers can be PITAs but they are great company too. I'm rambling now but what I mean is that this is the low point, as Izzy changes, you and DH will change your outlooks too. And there's always the Channel Islands, Quebec and various Caribbean isles .

cyteen i am with that school of thought. ds had 2 naps yesterday of 10 min each

aww bet he looks all sweet, would he wake if you moved??

note to self do not mn while baby is on lap.
ds just moved forward and banged head on table. lovely red mark to go with the row of bruises from dd

dd just kissed it better. bless
wonder how sambo is doing

no1 definitely yes what a shame. I'll just have to sit here and MN.

Give M a kiss from me, poor thing. Joe did a proper faceplant at baby group this morning - I'm afraid I laughed a bit before administering a mummy cuddle

sazzles very annoying about doc giving the wrong cream long term, hope the new ones are better and good you get them on prescription this time too.
It is a shame you didnt have the appointment when she was at her worst with it, so she could see. very frustrating.
Thanks for link will give it a try on something random see if I can do it
cyteen was he ok after his fall then??
dd has constantly got bruises up and down her legs, but she fell today and got her proper first graze on knee with blood and everything, she just kept saying 'oh dear' 'oh know' repeatedly. I did chuckle to myself but cuddled obviously.felt very sorry for her.

Yeah he was fine, just a little knock on the noggin

Still slumbering away here Think I had better wake him up or else bedtime will be a nightmare! Or perhaps DP would like to spend some quality time with his son...

barogue dress

yeah yeah yeah

Ok I know how sad I am but thankyou sazzles
I have achieved something great today.

You now realize I am going to be a complete nightmare with this.