FEB 2010 Valentines, pancakes and BABIES!!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Here it is, then - the post natal thread for the Feb 2010 gang - let the poo/bf/nappy rash/sleeplessness/crying

OMG whatdoIdonow!! conversations commence...

angela we did BLW with great success with dd. She forced our hand really by refusing to let us go anywhere near her with a spoon. Will never forget the look on my family's faces when she joined us for xmas lunch at the age of 10 months and ate the same as everyone else!

Anyone got any tips on how to get ds to nap for longer than 15 minutes during the day. I have tried EVERYTHING...

Ooh we want to try baby-led weaning too! LOL at your Christmas dinner chinook. But how much easier than having to puree everything, surely? Although messier, I guess...

AC I am at you spending 3 hours at the hairdressers! What were you having done?! I hate going to the hairdressers, that would be an afternoon of torture for me. How fab that your DD slept for the whole time. There's no way mine would have.

Except that she did have a three hour sleep this afternoon, come to think of it, I think she was tired out by mother and baby yoga this morning. So was I but that was mainly the mad dash through town to get there in time. Why can't I ever leave the house on time for anything any more?!

Climber I wish you hadn't posted about your run. I've just settled down with a flake and a large mug of hot chocolate. I know that the baby tum (hmm it's not a baby any more though is it) won't shift unless I change my ways (run more; eat less chocolate) but I can't face it! I'm going to a wedding on Saturday and rather distraught at how I'll look in the photos. Oh well. I can always hold DD in front of me I suppose!

Oh and slings - I looked at the MN forum and found there to be too, too much choice and no consensus. We had one given to us, a Babasling, which DP uses and I bought a Close baby carrier which is ok but not brilliant. I'm still on the lookout for the brilliant sling.

And stoof... deep breaths... it will all come together in the end, it always does . Well as long as no more volcanoes erupt, I suppose .

IC - just googled those 5 S's. We ended up doing all of those but only because DD trained us into it! Wonder if we did it the "right" way?

Oh the subject of sleep - DH managed to get DD sleeping alone (on the sofa ) for 3 hours this afternoon! Location not ideal but result! We're going to get her gradually used to napping without the slings.

Planning to do BLW too!

I wish there was a slingmeet near me to try out loads of carriers without having to fork out a fortune. Is there one near you fizi? Worth a look.

www.slingmeet.co.uk/forums/

Baby Led Weaning seems pretty common sense and so much easier that they eat what you do. Lots to learn for me

Still in pj's in the hope of a long nap. Wishful thinking but fingers crossed...

We did blw with ds1 and it worked a treat, so will do the same with ds2. Haven't thought much about it though because it is still 19 weeks away for us!! DS1 will have started school by then

Climberchick - you don't need to worry about exercise affecting your milk [http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/mom-exercise.html here from kellymom]

I have physio this pm so hopefully she can point me in the right direction with whatever is wrong with my walk. I know it will just be a tiny adjustment that is needed to take the strain off my knee. I just can't figure out what it is!!

avh, here's the right link this time!

My mum's flight tomorrow has been cancelled again!!! They seem to be trying to get planes and crew in the right place and can't be bothered to run the short haul flights until Sunday night. Managed to book her onto that now and if they don't fly then I'll steal a plane and take her over myself!! Sunday will be 10 days longer than her original flight home, so everyone's pretty fed up with the uncertainly, and my dad still in tears on the phone wanting his wife (cook, cleaner, company back.
Well, on the positive side, both girls finally over their horrible cold, very sunny outside, and planning apple pie and custard for later...

Fizi I am totally with you on hating the hairdressers! I was actually contemplating hacking my own hair off the other day as I'm starting to look like Rapunzel (that may be too flattering!)....

What is baby yoga? Sounds great! I didn't put on too much weight during pregnancy but the hours and hours sitting on my arse BFing are starting to take their toll. I feel like such a lump!

I'm really enjoying the feeling of permission to be a bit of a lump while lactating. And come on Girls, there are times when mothering absolutely DEMANDS chocolate. I had that earlier today when DD was going through a fussy period, wouldn't settle for a nap, getting cranky with feeding.... I ate half a big bar of 70% cocoa solids and felt so much better (and highly justified). Mind you, it's a dangerous road toward a figure which could most kindly be described as - um - "maternal", I guess. I should try and instill a little self-discipline, I suppose...

Still, all the baby-jiggling to calm DD down is a great thigh-and-calf toner - who needs the gym anyway? Just pick up a cranky baby and spend an hour doing some serious soothing. I can almost feel my muscles getting tauter...

Thankfully, she's asleep in the pram now and has been for the last hour - hence the post. I even managed to write a blog covering the first 12 weeks: here if anyone can be bothered (including a couple of pix of DD looking beatific, if not angelic).

I rather like our hairdresser - he's a tri-lingual, jolly gay German who talks to me about oral sex in English while old Pilar sits oblivious in the other chair waiting for her colour to take.

I'm now preparing to take DD to WOMAD in Caceres next month - ear defenders, baby sunhat and sunglasses are now on order (or will be once DH logs into his Ebay account) - anyone else attempted such a thing? I think it's going to be quite a test...

BG your poor Dad! He'll never let your mum out of his sight again after his ordeal. I hope the flight situation gets sorted for her ASAP.

mawbroon - darn, I was hoping for some easy tips again Will just have to do it via trial and error. Think we'll just get her used to napping on inanimate objects once a day, and once she sleeps through will move her into her crib.

Three hours = foils, cut and blow dry with a very chatty gay hairdresser, apparently I have lots of hair so it takes longer .

We take all our kids to festivals annually. This year my friend and i will have 7 kids between us the youngest being 5weeks.

reccommend a beach chair like this
for impromptu feeding anywhere.

reccommend trying to use disabled porta loos as there is more room to move about with a baby strapped to your front and tend to be cleaner, obviously if there are no queues etc.

i also took a camel pack when i was feeding as it was easier than carting bottles of water about.
but really all you need is a baby, a sling and some sunscreen enjoy.
any questions just ask.

sorry hi gear anywhere chair

Which festivals do you go to, RDR? Good advice btw, thanks - although I guess I'll have to forego sunscreen for this first one as I'm told it shouldn't be used on baby's under six months - I'll take a parasol (well, a brolly that will do the same job...)

We're also going to WOMAD in the UK - first time with a baby, but my sister and her mates usually take all their kids and they love it (I realise the baby may be a little young to appreciate the kids activities at this stage, though!!)

We go to Wickerman annually as it is local, but have also done T in the Park twice and glastonbury once.
Folk love a baby, don't be surprised if people try to give you money, 'a penny for the baby'.

A classic momment from our festival antics was me dragging my 2 yearold out of the dance tent at 2am cos i nedded to go to bed. He looked just the part in his waterproof all in one and ear defenders. At one point he was on a podium with people giving him their glo stixs.
those pics are saved specially for his 18th birthday party.

Hi,

Just a quick post to say I went to the Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy today in London for help with my choking problem and they were amazing. Finally I felt like someone was listening and taking my concerns seriously. Their view is reflux might be an underlying cause together with immature swallowing reflexes and can help my DS. Has anyone else been there?

not been there but the osteopath we used did her peadiatric training there and spoke very highly of them. She worked magic on DS he was a diferent baby after 3 sessions

thanks mawbroon

LO's passport arrived today and she already looks loads different than her photo

Clappedout - it sounds great. Haven't been there but sounds wonderful. A shame it's a long way from us. I'd be grateful for any tips. Think I will be requesting a fortnightly visit to the GP for the foreseeable future to keep upping the meds as DS grows (at a ridiculously fast rate - he's now 14lbs 8oz at 9 weeks!). I thought you had already gathered that reflux was the underlying problem - maybe I just assumed this? My DS has had a bad day with it today - probably 15 chokes since 5a.m. Only just asleep now on DH as every time he lies down he chokes again I'm also fed up of getting covered in sick!!

Those of you going to festivals - it sounds amazing, but as a festival virgin, don't think I will be joining you this particular summer. Will look forward to hearing how you get on.

p.s. Why is it that on my second attempt at leaving the house without kids in 9 weeks, I found myself still humming Thomas the Tank Engine tunes? (The answer may lie in the fact that DS1 wants it on every time I feed, but I was very annoyed, nonetheless!)

Much respect taking kids to Glastonbury, RDR! I love that festival (although WOMAD has taken over as favourite in more recent years) but it's so huge...
Love the story about your raving 2 year-old..!

I remember going to one festival with two 12 year-olds and a ten year-old in my raver days. Was dubious to start with, but actually, it was lovely having them around. I recall one night all the adults were feeling - ahem - "twinkly" for various reasons and as such made the most tolerant, caring, attention-giving loved up festival babysitters ever. The kids loved it - and so did we. We even collected other people who said our group was "so warm and full of love, we just wanted to stay near you"(!)

oo, just a quicky RDR wickerman was one of our 'locals' too? that and solfest of course? maybe this summer! yippee

climberchick sorry don't know the answers to your healthcare queries, but I know some people who will! if you haven't already had a look, check out www.britishexpats.com there's an america board on there where your questions will already have been asked and answered, or you can ask your own?. am assuming everyone will be as friendly and helpful as the crowd on the NZ board!

Crakey, I haven't been here for a week and had a lot to catch up with.

My mum just left after a week long visit (no problem here with the ash cloud as she travelled by ferry).

DS has been sleeping in his cot since the day we came back from hospital.

We still use a dummy especially to settle him down but DS starts to discover his thumb, he sucks it for a few seconds before wondering what it was doing in his mouth!

climber we also received DS's passport and he looks completely different from the photo (taken at 4 weeks).

We now know when S is doing a dirty nappy! His face turns red, and he does a pushing noise! Once it's done he has a big smile on his face! It's very funny and DH doesn't miss to tell people when it happens in public what a proud father

DS sleeps through now from 8pm to 4am and is now on 5 feeds a day.

On the exercise front, I do abs every day at home on the swiis ball and we go for long walk (about 2 miles) once or twice a week (o should I say I walk and DS is in the pushchair)

I've finally sorted the leaky bumgenius nappy by putting the bigger insert into the nappy which mean that I don't have to change DS trousers 3 times a day . I love the sunshine as the nappies dry quickly and are whitter.

Long post for me today. Time for a tomatoes and cucumber salad then walk.

Oh my word, my DD now weighs 11lb 9oz! She's such a little fatty .

Had her out and about in the babasling today, which until now she has hated, and she loved it, smiled at everyone who went past (which makes it take ages to do anything!) and then fell asleep. Thank goodness as I was beginning to think that was £40 wasted.

She's got some dry skin so I'm searching for something I can use on her, she had a reaction to aqueaous so I can see me having to find something special (and probably expensive) to use on her. I think she's doing it to prove she's a little princess .

DH has been giving DD a bottle on a night just for fun, but I still get upset when I have to chuck expressed milk down the sink . She's funny 'cos one day she'll suck dry a 4oz bottle, then the next day she'll have an ounce and fall alseep .

GF 8 'til 4? You lucky lucky lady