November '09 and the months are flying by, our 3 month plus troop, and us, the knitted boob group!

[SirBoobAlot]

New thread, we chat so much!

thanks for all reassurance i wasnt worried until went to weigh in and hv asked questions like..did the doctor check her heart....oh thanks that wont get me worried now...i am sure there are good hv out there but my esperience of them isnt great..with DD1 on day 3 she told me she must only have one kidney as she has an extra piece of skin in her ear!!! anyway made a doc appt mon just to be sure...

for those small babies zara have a really cute top that says 'je suis petite'...

not sure re sophie the giraffe..the lamaze cube continues to fascinate..

Hello all! I've got the HV due round in ten mins so I have tidied the house. Why is it that HVs make me so nervous? I'm a bit annoyed really as the last time she saw me in January I was in a real state of sleep depreviation and stress and two months of silence since then. Hmmm. Luckily for her I didn't jump in the river!

DS1's parent's evening this afternoon too.

It's interesting how different these babies all are. Toby's been taking 8oz bottles for weeks now. He's a hungry chappy. No idea what he weighs though or what percentile he's on as I haven't had him weighed since he was 6 weeks' old. Bad mummy alert!

BBL They make me nervous too. And that's like my HV. The last time I saw her I was really upset, in the throes of nipple-thrush-hell and asked her about how to switch to formula. She went on at me, 'please don't give up over this Laura, this is obviously something you feel passionate about blah blah blah' and promised to see how I was doing in 3 days - that was over a month ago and I've heard nada from her.

Although, a MW told me the other day that apparently every doctor in our health authority is now receiving training on thrush and breastfeeding after the way I was messed around.

Hello All!

Gosh, lots of chat these last few days. Firstly, it was so great to meet up with some of you in London. So interesting to be able to put a voice to the posts! Did think it was funny that we were put in the baby corrale (sp?), a discrete alcove between the buggy park at the front door and the baby changing cubicle and very much at the edge of the main space. I suppose they couldn't risk infants being actually IN the restaurant.

Pav Great news about your DH giving up smoking. Sounds like he has the right attitude and support to really succeed. Fingers crossed. Did you see the recent news that having two non-smoking parents is the greatest predictor for a child to grow up non-smoking? So he's doing something for LO's long term health too..

SirBoob at your bf comments to disapproving onlooker! Nice to think we're out there, helping to make bf in public a normal, easy thing. I'm normally pretty confident, but the packed commuter train on the way in to London on Monday was a bit much for me, so the muslin was deployed. Hard to be subtle when two people are sitting opposite you and only a couple of feet away.

Weston at your HV. For goodness sakes, the whole point of the graphs is to show the normal range of infant size. If baby is staying on their centile and is healthy and happy then all is well and it doesn't matter if that centile is the 2nd or the 98th. Bunch of mathmatically ignorant arses. Can you tell this one winds me up?

Skorpion LO sleeps 7pm - 1am? As this is more than a 6hr strech that it officially counts as sleeping through doesn't it? Bet it don't feel like it tho! Have you tried waking for a feed about 10.30pm to see if baby will move the long sleep to a more parent friendly time of night?

Ursi It does sound like Paula has just got into a habit of waking and expecting to be cuddled before she'll sleep again. Not easy. Every baby is different, what helped James was to do the old pick up, sooth, put down in cot thing as many times as necessary before he went to sleep, never letting him cry for more than a minute or so before picking up again. Of course it is absolutely knackering. And he was already in his own room. But he got the hang of it in a few days. He now generally sleeps for between 6.5 and 7.5 hrs so it was well worth it.

Scarlotti Really sorry that you're having such a hard time getting your DH to take on a fairer share of the family work. I do hope that he takes on board the lessons that the counselling will offer. Do you think he feels threatened by the whole process? You know, because it's likely to require him to change?

I finally think I've found a CM for James when I go back to work over the summer. Was beginning to worry, but she's nice, sane, well referenced and even used to be a nurse. Ho-flipping-ray!

Popping in to bookmark. I've not been able to get on here for a few days. I've been working out what to do with DS1's school situation, also thinking about future work commitments. Looks like something is going my way as hoping I've secured some solid work from Sept time. That means we'll be living off baked beans for the summer with me not earning an income. Oh well, at least there is work at the end of it. I will respond to posts later when the bubba decides to sleep

Venus, I agree about the habit thing but it is just too hard for me at the moment to teach her falling asleep on her own. I do try though to unlatch her before she is completely gone and let her fall asleep on my shoulder. I am wondering about the sleeping in a different room thing. I am not sure in her case, she seems to sleep calmer near me. And anyway, because of the layout of our house, we won't change too soon I think as it would mean that we have to move out from the big room to the smaller one which is on the front of the house in between garage and main entrance while Paula will stay in the big bedroom at the "safe" back of the house.

And I can proudly announce that Paula "moved" today in one direction (well, backwards). She used to turn already since a while but I didn't think she would start moving so quickly. Suddenly we need to get that stairgate now. Since yesterday she tries to get her bottom up and with lots of pushing from the hands and bottom up and down and fidgetting with the legs she somehow moves backwards. Very cute.

popping in whilst Isla feeds. Has anyone else had a nightmare since the 3rd jabs? Please say yes, otherwise I have more diet issues to work out .

Isla has been very troubled with her tum since I tried the formula a week ago. I thought it would pass with the long-awaited poo which arrived yesterday (i.e. the formula finally leaving her system) but no. She still won't settle at night. One night it took until 1am to get her down, despite starting at 7. She still wakes around 4 or 5 needing to fart but not being able to. A feed is the only thing that consoles her. She has been really unsettled and needy today. Lots of real tears and heart-wrenching whimpery cries. And wind. Lots of it. The jabs were on Monday. Anyone?

Yes! Hobnob Yes! Yes! Yes! James didn't really notice the first two sets of jabs, but was sleepy and a bit grumpy for a day and a half this time.

hobnob, Paula had indeed tummy troubles but I think it was slightly later. Maybe a week after the jabs so don't know if it was related to that. Didn't come to my mind. But I think they can have all sorts of problems. She did not sleep well after the 2nd and 3rd set. Each time for about a week and I usually had to take her into our bed and feed her a lot.

Oh, tho now I've read your post PROPERLY it doesn't seem to be all the problem. Can you try her on a different brand of formula to see if that helps? Anyone know if that helps or if I'm making it up?

Thanks Venus, we're getting the top of the range hypoallergenic stuff to try. I got the prescription written on Monday, but it has taken 4 trips to the chemist and a few phone calls to trace it to the wrong health centre . It'll be ready to pick up tomorrow. Definitely. Apparently.

We only gave her the other stuff 3 times. I just wish babies came with a plug-in computer diagnostic like cars

Venus get-outa-here!!! Sleeping through for me is 7 till 7 That's a good tip about the feed at 10.30pm, this is the one Lucy dropped some time ago. I usually go to bed at 10 so may just give it a go.

Hobnob really sorry to hear the poor little thing is still suffering. I saw our hv the other day and spoke about Lucy's tummy trouble - apparently my three-a-day orange habit may be causing the trouble... Something else to add to your list...???

Hobnob aha, the jabs! I hadn't thought about it but H has been very odd since Monday, lots of raving on and no poos then suddenly two big nappyfulls today. All makes sense now!

Skorpion hmmm do you think grapefruit for breakfast is unhelpful too? Not to mention the sag dahl and lime pickle and raw onions I've scoffed tonight oh dear.....

Running- I've been stopped in my tracks by the most excruciating pain in my right leg- all down from my hip. Like having SPD again aaarggh!

Ioan had his jabs yesterday and was so unsettled yesterday afternoon and today. Proper full on screaming sessions yesterday which is so unusual, and not happy at all today. Am hoping tomorrow brings a more settled baby.

ursi congrats on Paula starting to move, and commiserations at the same time as you will now not be able to put her anywhere knowing she'll stay put!! I imagine she'll be crawling very soon if she's already looking to move backwards.

Venus you must be so relieved to have found a CM! I know it's eased my worry about returning to work. Think DH will do whatever he can to avoid having to change, in answer to your question. Given I do most things I'm not surprised as change would mean him doing more!

wook I've been to the docs recently with pains in my hip. Am now being referred to a rheumatologist but am also going to pay my osteopath a visit Monday and see what she thinks. Hope your pain eases soon.

We started weaning again today and he wolfed down parsnip at 11am so think I shall continue. He's 20 weeks on Sunday so that's near enough now for me, plus he's obviously now ready. Means we're more on lumpy puree than finger food, but he's eating his hands/fingers so much it's only a matter of time I think!!

hobnob meant to say I hope Isla responds well to the new formula and things improve. Poor wee thing must get so upset and it must be so tough for you.

skorpion Rosa began waking at half 1 in the morning a couple of weeks ago, so I tried introducing the 11pm feed but it didn't work! She just woke again anyway! Maybe at 2 or 3 but another feed regardless. I decided to go back to letting her sleep when she wants and feed when she wakes up instead of waking her or even dream-feeding and she went back to her old pattern of waking once about half3 or 4. Last night we had a weird (but good!) aberration - she went down at about quarter to 8 and woke at 6am ! Of course, I woke up at half 3 and 5.30, at which point I had to pump as she'd weirdly only had one boob at sleeptime and the other one was about the size of a fruitbowl!

weston hope you enjoyed your date. DH and I are going to dinner and the cinema to see A Single Man finally next Thurs. Grandma offered as she's been unable to sit the few times we've asked and was feeling guilty, (AKA wants to gaze at Rosa while she sleeps...) No need to be of course, but I'm happy to take her up on the offer. I'm also planning a wee night out locally tomorrow too. The excitement!

Sorry to hear of wee ones unsettled with third jabs I'm not looking forward to that one.

BBL how was health visitor?

pav hope DH's stopping smoking till going well. And well done Reuben on the rolling! Rosa can get onto her left side now but no further as yet...

hobnob, forgot to ask (and sorry if it is a stupid question, but I just wish there was an "easy" solution for you and Isla), but would actually craneo osteopathy be helpful in your case? I haven't tried myself but it seems to be so good for so many different things in babies. A friend of mine has a baby with reflux and now, after a few sessions things really seem to improve.

scarlotti, tbh I think crawling is still very far away but I am really impressed how quickly those babies learn things and improve. This afternoon she moved but she wasn't strong enough yet to really lift that bottom up. A couple of hours later during bedtime routine - massage attempt, there was clearly air between floor and babybottom (actually babyfront). Or maybe it was just because there was no nappy. She is trying so hard. She seems to be much more interested in her body at the moment than in communication or other skills. (She might well become the Arsenal player my husband is hoping for )

ursi a friend of the family just bought DH Reuben a Build-a-bear, with the arsenal kit. I got given the box and said 'oh you shouldn't have' then opened it and he said 'now you mean that don't you? '!

ursi we did try CO at a chiropractor. She said DDs skull is great, but just has tension on her left at the bowel region of the spine (between nappy line and ribs) so we massage that bit to help with bowel movement. But it doesn't seem to help much. She has grizzled and screamed from 5am-7am, 10-5 and 8-now (half asleep on boob after failed attempt at putting her down at 8) with 2 hour long naps at 12 and 4. Her wee tum is bloated like a barrel and nothing is moving. Poor wee thing.

hobnob how long did this last with your other DD? Is there nothing else that the GP/HV/anyone can do? It must be soul destroying for you to see her in such discomfort and be unable to help. [hugs] to you.

Oh hobnob you poor thing and poor little Isla. Sounds just awful.

Hobnob poor little mite I really hope things improve for you both, sounds horrible. Hugs x

Fed up today. DP has to go and ID his dads body on Saturday, and is determined to do it himself Think the uselessness is probably part of it. Trying to keep a smiley exterior, but very hard. Off to take my ADs, eat chocolate and drink tea, I think...

Hope you're all well.

Pav how is dh going with(out) the fags? I've given up several times, twice for three years and now stopped for good. At first it is so unbelievably hard but eventually it's hard to imagine having ever done it, especially when you get a whiff from someone who has just had one and you think 'did I really used to smell like that??' Still, even though it has been ages and ages I still occasionally think 'hmmmm, a fag would be nice now' It is very good of him to be motivated to give up.

SirBoob very hard situation for dp, horrible, and poor you too, very difficult and very sad situation at any time.

On the chocolate front, I can vouch for milk bar moments as a definite cheerer upper.

Raggie any news on the job front? I am putting in a couple of applications this week. Yikes!

thanks all for the support regarding DH and giving up smoking. Poor thing is in bed. He has the most awful headache and does not look to clever. So DD and I are being nice to him and letting him lie in (it could just be a ploy for a nice quiet lie in ). He has cut down to 2 a day until sunday which is his d-day. From sunday onwards, he will be smoking no more. Physically he feels shit, but in terms of the cigerettes going, he does not feel too bad right now. But he still has the two hardest ones to give up. He was going to do it on saturday but we have a large social gathering to go to and there will be lots of smokers who he would usually smoke with, we feel that for his first day without fags, this would be too hard to manage. So sunday is the day. He has the Allen Carr book which sirboob sent, thank you lovely!

primary schools we got in to the one we wanted YEY! it was actually our second choice, but only because we thought we stood no chance whatsoever of getting in as it is a tiny school. But it is the best of the three, so weirdly our second choice was the best one! It has a size of around 180 children max. It has huge grounds. And the feeder schools for secondary are excellent. If she had gone to one 'nearer' us, her feeder would not have been so great. Ok but not great. Now, we can choose between two excellent schools. This school is in another 'area' to us, not technically plymouth itself, but is actually easier to get to then the third choice school which is actually the closest city school to us! It is due to our location on the edge of Plymouth and it goes against the flow of traffic 5 mins in the other direction. It is also where we are intending on moving towards when we eventually move. Sorry to go on, especially for fruit as you did not get yours, but I am so pleased and so relieved.

Hey, here's a weird one. Last two nights James has wiggled in his sleep so that he's ended up with his head against the bars and then woken up. It's like he's pivoted around on his bum because that's still in the centre of the bed. What to do? May have to buy a crappy bumper thing.