November 09 babies are growing up quick, and mummy's getting used to getting covered in sick!

[PreggoK8]

Hope this has worked...

Pearl is 15 weeks on wednesday and she shows no interest in food, she does suck her hand but has done since she was first born so maybe that doesn't apply to her? I have done a bit of research on weaning and had intended to wait till 6 months and follow baby led weaning. Do you think there would be a weaning group meeting in my area? How did you find out about is scarlotti ?

I know, a few days isn't a biggie but the baby police aren't going to like it Perhaps I am assigning his misery to hunger and it isn't that at all? I don't know. I may have done this twice before but each one is different and I am not an expert by any means! He drinks whole bottles and cries for more afterwards, he chews his hand, he wakes at night, his not very content at all when he's awake. He could be teething too. Ahhhh! Why don't they come with a manual?

misssese I got a letter from the hv's inviting me to it. Have never heard of them before. I also asked them about BLW and they didn't really know much about it. From what I can tell, it's really just about giving finger foods and letting them start with those, but that will probably mean baby needs to be nearer the 6 month mark.

BBL what came through loud and clear from my group was that every baby was different and that Mum knows best. From what you've said in your post I'd say he's ready and also there's some teething going on.
As for the baby police - unless they live in your house, how will they know?
Ioan has just started crying after a feed and being hungry soon after. I take this to mean that he's still hungry but can't fit any more milk in. I then distract him and feed him again an hour later, where he'll do the same. He's constantly chewing his fists and is really interested when I have food. He wakes at 2am now and takes a full feed and then is unsettled from 4/5 onwards.
All signs say to me that he's ready so I'm just going to go for it. I might even start this week and take a few pots of purees with me to Mum's. It will be nice and easy going down there and so a nice environment to feed!

I want the manual!!! Have you had a feel of his gums?Maybe you will be able to feel a tooth coming in?? I think Pearl is teething she never used to like her dummy and has been chewing away on it nearly all day today!Or it could be an extra long growth spurt? is he on formula?

BBL is he dribbling copious amounts? Enough to soak his top in say an hour? If so, that's teeth on the move. If not, it's pure hunger! Ioan goes through 3 bibs and 2 tops a day with the dribbles, and has for about a month or more now. I can just feel the tooth under the surface now but I reckon it's still a few weeks from breaking through.

Ethan is dribbling copious amounts! Enough to soak right through his bib and get his top wet as well. None of the other signs though, no red cheeks and no more cranky than normal. I've ordered those sachets you can empty into their mouths so we have that and calgel when I think it's needed.

BBL Just discovered my niece has chicken pox (it must be doing the rounds at the moment) and DP has phoned NHS24 as my mum said something about babies having their mum's antibodies for 6 months? As I've had it, Ethan should be protected until 6 months although the woman on the phone said something about not taking any chances as it's not unheard of to get chicken pox twice.

I thought the mumsnet weaning guide was very helpful, can't remember who had linked to it previously but quite informative, especially about the signs that babies are ready to move on to solids. Not necessarily waking more or chewing fists, the tongue reflex thing is something I'll look out for. Still not sure about BLW or purees, will possibly try a combination here but would be keen to hear how everyone else gets on!

I'm sorry I just can't keep up.

Welcome back to the returnee's.

Get well soon those with sick lo's (my ds1 is on ab's)

Went to clinic for the first time today. Alfie is 8kl (17lb 10oz). He just seems to grow like forced rhubarb.

Wrote a proposal and hit a deadline yesterday feeling very proud of myself for that.

That's interesting about the antibodies. I hope Toby is not going to get it. I want him to have it fairly early on but not this early on. I'd like to place an order for chicken pox at 18 months please!

Chicken pox always seems to hit around early Spring.

I've just read that mumsnet guide and it is very useful, however, I object to some of the very emotive rhetoric about why you should not wean before 26 weeks. I know I am no scientist or anything and I might get shot down for saying this but: ALL BABIES ARE DIFFERENT! It is not that black and white! My opinion is that the mamma should go on gut instinct about when to start weaning, not peer pressure, not mumsnet pressure, not MIL / mother pressure, but your own gut feeling. I think you have to find the right balance between waiting until your baby is 'officially' mature enough for weaning and needing to satisfy them when they are ready for more than just milk.

When I think of 'baby-led weaning' I think of going with what your baby wants and following their signals. I didn't realise it meant not using spoons, etc. I agree with a lot of what they say about baby-led weaning, great stuff, I'd like to think I've followed some of those ideas with DS1 and DS2 but I still think spoons are good!

Enough ranting... off to drink my cup of tea now while Toby is asleep

I remember a strong argument i had with HV when DD was around 4 months old. She was not growing up the charts quickly enough, in fact was just off the 1960s based formula baby chart and we asked how we could try to get more food in to her. She had told us DD was close to failing to thrive crap and we needed to increase her milk intake. We had spent months trying her on bottles which i regret putting her through and having her crying and upset as she did not want them at all and we asked about weaning. She had many of the signs, although she was teething too and HV was very "NO! you MUST NOT wean before 6 months' Why? We asked, if she needs to eat, wants to eat and the guidelines were 4 months not a few months ago, why cant we do it? She might as well said 'if you do, you are abusing your child'. Needless to say, we totally ignored her and started weaning at 5months ourselves. DD was absolutely ready, she loved food fro the moment we gave it to her and still does.

The guidelines change SO much, 16 weeks, 20 weeks 26 weeks back to 17 weeks, who on earth knows? So, go with instinct as BBL says. If you offer your baby a spoon of baby rice, put it to their lips and they do nothing at all with it, not even a tentative lick of their lips, you know they are probably not ready, and can try a few days/weeks later. And you also know, if they have digested none, they will come to no harm. If however they love it, kick their little legs, gobble it down, or at the very least lick it and do it again if you put more there, you know they are ready. Might be 17 weeks, might be 20, might be 26. Go with it. As long as you are not stuffing chocolate ice cream down their little throats at 12 weeks you are not going to harm them if you do it a week or 2 earlier than the current guidelines which is all bollox anyway

BBL You're right, I noticed myself that a lot of the quotes were from mumsnetters... still I found it very good for explaining the different approaches and different views. Still unsure how to proceed myself but at least I feel that I know what the options are.

Pav You were congratulating ursi recently on very succinct posts, I think that was one of your best!!

you reckon? still a million lines. Bet ursi could say it as clearly in fewer words

DD loved BLW. But she also loved spoons. Makes for an interesting dinner of shepherds pie! i shall post some photos on facebook for you all to laugh at.

'One Born Every Minute' is on tonight at 9pm for anyone who hasn't watched yet, it's great! Makes me very thankful for DP as most of the men on it are appalling.

It's taken me ages to catch up! (I had to keep notes to remember to reply to everything!) I finally got to page 30 (the last page when I started) only to find that there is now 31 pages.

Weston Thank you for mentioning joint pain - I thought I was going mad (or old)... it's hideous, my hips ache in the night too!

Trikken Lukas won't be going in his own room for the foreseeable future, he's struggling to sleep as it is... and also, we've got quite a few changes coming up (house is for sale etc) so I think it's best to keep the one thing I can constant.

Ursi You beat me to it! Was just going to ask about the BF schedules... Lukas was going for about 3 or even 4 hours in the day, but making up for it at night. Now he's just constantly hungry... he's started emptying both boobs at each feed.

Scarlotti I'm in awe with you throwing a massive christening party like that! Don't think I could organise anything involving more than 3 people right now!

Fruit Poor you with the A&E trip! Must say am a bit envious about the poop... we're getting through 4 or 5 poopy ones every day.

Lemon Are you starting weaning from due date or from actual birth date? I keep reading conflicting stuff... Lukas is 21 weeks tomorrow so was going to start in 3 weeks, don't see how he could last another 7!

Easy 3 under 3 - you're superwoman! I do sometimes wonder why I can't seem to manage with just one... well I can manage, but I'm not getting any work done.

SirBoob Bryn talking! Lukas would join, I'm sure! hope you're feeling better... I think it's a rollercoaster of a ride we're on.

Raggie Have you thought about a "sidecar" arrangement? Lukas' cot is next to mine (but it's got 3 walls rather than 4) so there's nothing separating his bed from mine... (which is why he spends most of the time in bed next to me, as he rolls on over when he realizes he's in his own bed).

Pav Glad Reuben is doing fine. Your description of him made me cry! Was going to write a long post about how I know exactly what you're talking about (I spent the first 16 weeks feeling like I had to watch Lukas like a hawk, constantly, or something would happen. I used to carry him with me to the toilet and shower and everything. When he napped in the day, I sat next to him, when he slept at night I felt guilty about sleeping, because then I couldn't keep an eye on him... )

Anyway, it seems that you're feeling better, and that other have done wonders with pep talks. Just wanted to say be aware that anxiety is a symptom of PND. (Can't remember who said it, but I too kept thinking I can't have PND because I love Lukas to bits... I thought you had to NOT enjoy the baby if you have PND.)

Lovely that you're getting excited about the future, and studying. I'm about 2/3 through my PhD... it's the best thing, albeit most isolating, I've done so far! If you get funding (a 1+3 would even cover your Masters, it's not bad. You don't bring home big bucks, but still...)

Hobnob I've been wondering about jogging with the pram... think I'll try to get out on my own so I can get out on my own but I've seen a lady around here jogging with a pram so I don't see why not.

Wook Love what you said about life being a video, not a snapshot.

MissSese I'd planned on doing BLW, got the book, haven't had a chance to read it yet. Will be going to a weaning talk tomorrow, by the sounds of it a similar one to what Scarlotti did do we'll see...

Meant to say so many more things but will try to post from my phone in a bit. I don't know why, but Lukas has suddenly started screaming like mad every time DH holds him. Which means I now can't haev a 2 mib break without feeling like the worst mtoher on earth.
He's screaming thr house down so I better go... DH seems to thikn putting him on the bed will solve things but he ends up crying so much he sweats through everything he's wwaering.

GOD KNOW S HATS WRONG ITH H KEYBOARD...scuse me!

Pav here, here!!!

I will be watching OBEM if I can keep my eyes open until 10pm.

Hello Brood!

Or is it 'hear, hear'? I'm so sleep deprived I'm a right thicko at the moment!

Ninja and about writing a proposal and hitting a deadline! Before mat leave I was all set on using my keeping in touch days so I could hit the ground running after 6 months... Now I'd have 3wks of Mat Leave left and I'm dead on my feet! Will have to try to extend somehow...

Becky is the course in Bath? At Aquaglass? I've heard good things about it! Enjoy BOA! Take a walk along the canal if you have time and treat yourself to a drink at the Lock Inn afterwards, super cozy!

Pav thanks for the realitycheck re:weaning... I've been obsessing about number of weeks to start at... Had Lukas weighed today, he's 7580 grams (16 lb 10 oz) but has dropped from 91% to 75% so def ready to start solids soon I think!

Seriously, has anyone got a similar issue with DC rejecting DH? It's strange, heartbreaking and slightly annoying. They even had to follow me to have a wee to stop him screaming hysterically. Why oh why and what can I do?

Sleep... went to sleep at 7. Woke up 7.45 and 8 and 10 and midnight and 1 and 2 and 2.45 (from when he stayed awake chatting until 4.30) and slept til 7. He ate each time. Not just suckled, but ate. So he obviously needs it, rather than it being habit, but WHY IS HE NOT TIRED???

I'm FRAZZLED.

Becky also, thanks for realitycheck about weaning. And meant to say I've had chicken pox when I was about 4 or 5 months, and again when I was 7 years...

It is near Bath I think - at the Liquid Glass Centre according to DH. It was my birthday present. V. excited I wish DH could come with me but now we have three children nobody wants to babysit! Originally we were all going to go down but DH and I decided that was just too much to cope with.

Brood no wonder you are frazzled. THIS TOO WILL PASS. Repeat!

TOK i'm in the north-west too, in west cumbria (hence being hours away from any decent shops ) Where are you? How's your ds after yesterday?

laugs I used to be veggie, and so did DH, until we realised we really like meat. Although this was before we met for both of us. However, veggie cooking is just easier for us so meat cooking tends to be a weekend thing and is generally beef / lamb / venison / other strong tasting meat. Even when we use meat it tends to be half the amount the recipe gives and then double the veg. My fave comfort food is a plate of veggies with gravy, mint sauce and gravy I know what I'm having for tea tomorrow!

I can't believe weaning is creeping up on us. Or racing towards some Surely they're not old enough!

'Twas foolish to talk about good sleeping yesterday. Isla spent 2 hours in the middle of the night, and all morning, shouting about farting. So she's been sleepy today and not feeding very often so I'm expecting more of the same tonight Pav we have the same issues with evening-long feeding/dozing here. I'm planning on trying to put her up to the crib a little earlier every couple of days instead of waiting until we go to bed. I say that, but I'm finding I'm very lazy about setting out a routine with this one!

We had a similar weaning talk, based on NHS Grampian guidelines. I asked about BLW, and the HV said she knows many mums who have done it successfully, but that they were tied to the guidelines as far as advice was concerned. I'd definitely like to be less reliant on purees this time - I found it a lot of hard work. But then again ice cubes in a pot for lunch on the move was handy. We'll see.

I found out today that a friend from DD1's antenatal group is pregnant with #3. Reading a bit of the 1st thread, I was having serious flashbacks to morning sickness and I found myself today dishing out advice about it. Was weird. I've been thinking about #3 recently. DH is not keen, but I am and since I'm approaching 35 I'd like to persuade him otherwise sooner rather than later. We can't afford it until Isla is 3 and in a funded nursery place really. I found myself blithely thinking about potential mc's before it happens, entirely forgetting the horror of them. All a bit of a mess of aspirations, economics, practicalities and mother nature. We'll have to see how things turn out, but I'd be very if this was my last pregnancy and birth. I feel a bit unfulfilled as things stand. I think it stems from being one of 4.

brood you're having such a hard time. Be it hunger or comfort from teething or some other unnamed baby discomfort, you are clearly the only answer for your LO ATM. As BBL said, it will pass and DH will probably soon become the new you, and you'll be jealous. I hop the sleeping settles down for you. Is he colicky?

Going to catch up after my dinner. Wanted to show you this link No Rush to Mush for weaning. Have you heard of the Banana test?