June 2008: the One Show (almost)

[Essie3]

I think everyone feels like that at some point during pregnancy Sponge. Just remember it is very very VERY likely that everything is OK. My sympathies are with you though, I remember being that terrified A LOT during my PG. Agree that 19 weeks is still early to be feeling lots of movement.

Hi all. Have had a shit day here today. Ended up in A&E with Luke this evening.
Went to cricket this afternoon and during the break was in the clubhouse talking to some of the lads. DS1 decided he was going to take Luke for a push in his buggy. I told him not to and carried on talking with the guys. The next thing DS1 came in screaming and crying that he'd hurt 'little man' .
Ran outside and the buggy was turned over with Luke still in it. Got it upright and there was blood pouring out of his mouth.
My initial reaction was to shout at DS1 for disobeying me, and the poor little lad was totally distraught anyway. I think I was more angry at myself though for taking my eyes off of them.
Anyhow DH & I rushed him to A&E. He was really groggy on the way down and after a 4 hour wait we got seen . He's fine, no loose teeth, just a few cuts inside his mouth and a graze down his chin.
I am so relieved, but can't stop beating myself up about it and I'm in tears as to what could've happened.
I have apologised to DS1 for shouting at him, but the amount of times I've told him not to do something and then he goes and does it anyway is really getting to me.
I have tried to explain that we tell him NOT to do things for a reason and have tried today to reiterate the reason I told him not to take Luke outside was for the very same reasons as the accident that did indeed happen. I know he's only 5, but he is very intelligent and know right from wrong BUT he is so wilful at times it depresses me

Sponge I agree with everyone else that you do get days when you hardly feel them and I am sure Bill is fine. If you still feel really anxious by monday though, call your midwife, tell her you haven't felt movements and go get a scan. Its what they are there for. Hugs to you.

As libra I am glad nothing to wrong but it must have been terrifying for you. No real words of wisdom as can see it's tough- have friends with ds of same age as ds1 and it does seem a very wilful difficult age. Maybe though this may shock him into being more careful with his little brother?

Gah- Libra, you poor thing. How scary.

Sponge- can only sympathise but am sure that all part of irrational pregnancy hormones (((hugs))) hoping the week until the scan goes quickly.

Yet again exhausted- totally with Poppy on the loony baby thing.....toddlypearls has been so clingy and crying and miserable all day. Is there a storm brewing or something?

Hapy Birthday Fraser!

Ahh, Sponge - poor you. The waiting is horrible. Please try not to worry (easily said, very hard in reality).

Essie - how was Iestyn tonight? What you described last night sounds quite like how we put Peter to bed if he is upset. Sometimes I think that me being there keeps him awake and is more distressing than if he is left to it. Removing the stimulation of Mummy or Daddy being there helps him to relax. That is the theory anyway.

DH is back from Brighton. He had to pull out of the squash tournament because of bad blisters . I am happy though as I was missing him today.

We are having hideous nappy changes here. Almost impossible. He wont stay still. My tactic of trying pinning him under my legs on the floor failed completely. We ended up with a nude baby cruising round his bedroom spattered in poo, and me chasing him with a nappy, whilst he giggled. I have resolved only to change nappies when they are dirty (rather than simply wet).

Oh Libra -what a day you've had, so glad that your ds2 was Ok - 4 hours wait is terrible though. So, with your ds1, I also had a terribly wilful 5 year old with ds1, what do you do if he does disobey you? What sanctions do you use? At 5 I think I used to do the big black binbag and taking favourite toys away. Sometimes worked!I never actually had to throw any away but it was always a threat. I just used to confiscate until the next day.

Sponge - how are you feeling now?

Ali - sorry to hear about the blisters , Ethan is also a nightmare with nappy changes, but strangely enough better when I use the changing table.I just have to be very quick before he sits up and tries to climb off!

Happy Birthday for tomorrow Fraser

Poppy, Puree, Ethan has had another clingy day too, he's very whingey when he wakes after a sleep and has developed a very loud scream, I am so not looking forward to flying back to the UK with him next Sunday!!

Thanks for the sympathies guys.

Sorry it was a me me me post, I just needed to offload. Feel a bit guilty as I don't post too often any more as frankly I don't often have the time. I do however tried to keep abreast of what's going on with you guys.

Debs Have done the black bin liner thing before but very rarely works. He's got a stack of toys in the attic that have been up there for a couple of months now. We let him know they are still up there and when his behaviour improves he'll get them back. Obviously they don't mean that much to him, but I know his brother does, and he is so remorseful tonight, I hope this shock has done the trick iyswim.

Libra - how are the boys today?

Sponge - how are you feeling today? Any more positive?

Good morning to everyone else, yesterday we spent a nice, sunny day waiting for guests to arrive and today when we have a free day it's pouring down

Libra, so sorry you've had an awful experience. Hope everyone is feeling better today.

Happy birthday Fraser!

Having a moral dilemma. There's a branch of our family that's been at war with my dad for several years. Now my cousin, who has behaved pretty badly, has tried to add me as a fb friend! Tbh, I've never been particularly keen. We were so close, I've never even met her son who I think is 10 or 11.

Ignore the friend request BDQ! I don't think he even gets a message saying you have refused does he?

Libra, that must have been awful, try not to feel guilty. Hopefully it will be the shock he needs!

Sponge, how you feeling today? Are you going to try get a scan tomorrow? I think you should try, no good feeling anxious till Fri.

Essie, are you still struggling to settle Iestyn at night? I have been thinking about it and wonder is he teething? My two had four teeth come through all the at the same time recently and I was giving them Calpol every night at bathtime and it really did the trick. Big doses too - 7.5/10ml as they were nearly one. I found when I didn't give them the Calpol they would cry and cry when I put them down. When they had the Calpol they slept great. (Only Calpol too - not Medised!) There was lots of thrashing about too, pulling of ears and putting their hands up to their heads and banging on their heads IYSWIM. No red cheeks though (wonder if you only get red cheeks when the bottom ones come through?). Lots of drooling too - so definitely their teeth. If they woke in the night thrashing around again I would give them a bit more (but often they would sleep through)

Puree, if my two are whingey like that in the day I try Calpol/Nurofen to see if it makes a difference. They are very rarely like that, but if they are I give them a bit and if it works I think 'OK, they were in pain', if it doesn;t make a difference I just don;t give them any more. But it very nearly always does the trick - when they are like that to me it means they are in pain, or they wouldn't be so unhappy!

I know my use of medicines has come in for question on this thread but I strongly believe that at this age they have a lot of toothache - no wonder they are whingey! Toothache is the worst - if I had it I'd want paracetemol. If they improve after I give it them, then I've given it them correctly, if they don't improve then at least I have ruled out the possibility of pain/toothache. As long as you don't give more than the stated dose it is not harmful and there is no build-up effect - the body processes it like anything else

Happy birthday Fraser!!!!

Essie - glad the settling down was more successful, I pretty much always have to leave him crying, however much I cuddle him he cries again when I put him in the cot, sometimes he has stopped by the time I get down the stairs but usually I put the monitor on and get on with something (washing up, whatever), just so I'm not concentrating on the crying, listen out for if he gets more upset then I will go back and check on him, sometimes something has happened like his muslin has fallen out of the cot, he needs that to rub on his face to get to sleep!

Sponge - can you get a scan to put your mind at rest? Hope everything is OK.

I used to get hayfever but since I was pregnant (last time) I haven't had it, which is great!

Libra- That all sound like a terrible shock, so glad he is fine, this might be the thing that teaches your DS1 a lesson.

Nappies here are a nightmare, he likes to kick his feet in the poo, try and kick it on me, try to get it in his mouth and all the time trying to flip over and crawl off the change table, I've tried putting my leg over him and it keeps him still but makes him scream (I think with annoyance at having to stay still!)

I'm feeling tired and queasy and really fancy a glass of wine, I'm rubbish at being pregnant, but then you lot know that, you listened to me complaining for nine months last time!

Libra, you poor thing that sounds awful for you all . I once injured my little brother by doing something my mum told me not to (I was about 6 at the time) and I still remember it now , so maybe this will be a bit of a turning point for him?

Nappy changes nightmare here too - A now cries as soon a I lie him down to change his nappy . I just try and get it over with as quick as poss so no top tips I'm afraid.

Well, I phoned the DAU and they refused to see me . Said it all sounded normal and nothing to worry about. I'm going to the MW drop in clinic tomorrow and just hope there's a sympathetic MW on.

poppy, re: your message about it all being a bit of a shock, I think you've hit the nail on the head tbh . I mean my tubes are completely blocked FFS, so how did a baby get in there? I think I'm still expecting someone to go "ha ha! got you, it was all a big joke"! I know that sounds daft, but until the baby starts really moving about I don't really believe I'm pg . Does that make sense?

Anyway, hi to everyone else and Happy Birthday Fraser .

Oh, and neenz, will reply to your nappy email too when dh gets home from shopping. Have some tips that may help .

Neenz- I am with you on the pain-relief front. I had a conversation recently with two people- one who has given Calpol less than a dozen times since her one-year old arrived and one who gives it every night as a preventative step! It makes me feel better to knwo that I fall somewhere in the middle. I have lost count now of the number of bottles of Nurofen I have bought....I even had to buy Calpol the other day when Cecily had tonsillitis (a nightmare to get into her since she still loathes the stuff, until I discovered that the insert and syringe from the Nurofen bottle fit the Calpol one exactly!) I know that I take pain relief if I'm suffering, and so if dummy, blankie and a cuddle don't settle her, I go in with the drugs!

On the nappy front we have mixed days. The moment it's off, so is she, and invariably pees on the floor. But if she is uncomfortable then she actually crawls to the mat and lays down. Go figure!

Have posted this elsewhere but thought I'd ask you lot too, want to save as much precious shopping time as possible for my v short trip to the UK next week,I arrive Sunday and leave Tuesday, so I need advice on
a suction bowl that works, child friendly cutlery, non spill cup, and a decent plastic backed bib, pref with long sleeves.
Also anyone got a tankini that's long enough to cover jelly belly? Seen some on M+S site but not sure on length of the top, sometimes they're way too short.

Deb, I use Tesco long-sleeved bibs, I think they are £3.50 each, and Ethel Austin and Matalan do OK ones, not as sturdy as the Tesco ones though. They are £2. Not got suction bowls or cutlery, and I use tommee tippee first cup, but I am not sure if it counts as non-spill? When they shake it water comes out so I assume not!

Puree, lol at giving Calpol as preventative step! I am not that bad but at times it does seem like they are having it all the time. I even checked with the nurse last time I saw her. But when teeth are coming through they need it. She said mum knows best .

Sponge, thanks, will look forward to your email re the nappies. I have got smelly nappies so if anyone has any tips for me they would be greatly appreciated.

It is a shame you can't get a scan, but also good that they think there is absolutely nothing to worry about . Here's hoping everything is just fine - roll on Friday.

Sponge, is that right that your tubes are completely blocked? So how DID a baby get in there?!

Deb we have tommy tippee spoons bowls and sticky mat thing(although mat is not edie proof as have had to do several cross kitchen dashes to stop bowl on head incident). Of the various cups a doidy cup prob best of them.
Sponge I suppose if MW says it's ok that is something- they are usually quick enough to get you in if a problem. I would never underestimate paranoia/fear in pregnancy ESP when you have good reason given your history. I know I will be just as bad as you fear all things until you see that baby and know what the apgar test is . So massive sympathy and best suggestion is to divert yourself with the apprentice tonight.
Neenz you make a good point (as does pearls) re pain relief- have noticed nurofen makes e a different girl. Also sometimes I think she is plain tired but too wired to sleep as so pleased with all new things she is learning. Deb made a suggestion of talking them down which seems to work quite well.
Libra how are the boys today?

Oh and glad it's not me who has a child who turns into some kind of poo crazed octopus when changing

Neenz - thanks

Poppy - glad some of my advice worked!

We've had much less screaming from Ethan today and he's been better at going to sleep. He is so pleased with himself for being able to stand even though he still needs support, but he can't move once he's upright, hasn't worked out how to take a step and is too scared to just go for it and sit down!!He'll get there soon I'm sure.

Deb - bought some standard Tommee Tippee cutlery on Friday. As it is the only set we have I can't comment on whether it is any good or not. Our long sleeved bibs are from Ikea (so no need to get in the UK). My Mum got them, and they were pretty cheap. The only downside is that you are meant to iron them to maintain water repellency, which is clearly insane. Ours don't get ironed strangely enough, and so after 6 months of constant use will let spag bol seep through them. So on that basis I probably wouldn't recommend them.

Sponge hope you get some comfort from the MW tomorrow. If you need to change plans for Tuesday, just text. I also remember throughout my pregnancy feeling like a fraud and waiting for someone to say "what are you doing wasting my time, you aren't pregnant".

Happy birthday Fraser

How is the family today Libra? BDQ what did you do about the FB request?

Ktpie lol are feeling sick and wanting a glass of wine at the same time. I think it is amazing how the mind manages to erase the grim bits of pregnancy from memory. I was watching a TV show other night and someone was sick into a toilet. It gave me a sudden flash back to hanging over a toilet bowl at 4am.

Here is a smug icon because I went on a 4 mile run this afternoon. I've not attempted it for two years. However there was a bit of walking that went on, but then we live in a hilly place.

Where is Rolf?

When was Paro getting married?

Recommendations:
excellent sippy cup we have the active sipper which works very well despite it saying 24 months plus.

gripper mat Poppy is talking about. Works with all Tommee tippee bowls etc or try this travel bowl the mat works well with lots of other bowls too.

cutlery though I have seen very similar with tesco logo. From personal experience, they are all the same at this point but a friend recommended this for when they start trying to feed themselves.

I cannot recommend this bib enough either the sleeveless or the sleeved. They was brilliantly and keep clothing clean despite not being plastic-backed. these are great too.

No help with tankinis I'm afraid- I am all about the swimsuits these days xx