March 2010- Group Therapy on the cheap

[ValiumtheConqueror]

And cupcakes

Dal You already know what what you know and we're agreeing with - your instincts are that your second child is just like your first. To that end you know how to handle this. You don't need a hv stressing you out; that's no good for any of you. If baby is alert (resonably) happy and developing we can be pretty sure that he Is Healthy. Sure, if he were listless, floppy and losing weight then sure that's cause for concern. But you know this. Now, trust your instincts woman!

Incidently, we're still feeding at least two/three times per night, sometimes more. It seems my son also didn't read the same manual as the blasted hv. He is about 16 1/2 lbs though (own weighing, just out of interest. He's staying on the same centile as when we were ebf despite us having started weaning)

anna I really don't want to burst your bubble but DS1's eyes were blue until he was... well, I have photos of him taken in the august and he was born in november. Still blue there. But his eyes are very much brown now. I was SO sure I'd gotten my blue eyed child. Really hope this is it for you though!

Haha Manda, no problem... interesting to hear about your DS1... it's not like I dislike brown eyes, both DH and DD1 have gorgeous big brown eyes. What will be will be I suppose! It's just that I'm fed up when everyone says about DD1 "oh doesn't she look just like her dad!" and I'm sulking in a corner thinking "oh well I only carried her for 9 months, gave birth and breastfed"... but maybe I should have a maternity test done.

But there are bigger problems in the world!

Anna at the maternity test! Hope your DD2 does stay as your blue eyed gal but as Manda shows things can still change...how are things looking for your move to CN?

Dalrymps I'm so sorry to hear of your weigh-in stress . My DS is also a slow gainer who's dropped 3 centiles, and I know how stressful it can be when you're breastfeeding/solely responsible for the weight gain. And it sounds like you really went through the wringer with DS1. But, as others have said, I think you should trust your instincts on this one and just ignore the scales. This is effectively what the paed I saw when DS was 10 weeks said to me - ignore the scales and trust your eyes. I've seen the pics on FB and your DS2 is just gorgeous, just like DS1. You're doing a great job and obviously make 'em beautiful . You've said you want to go to the next weigh-in but I'd avoid it if I was you. You don't have to go, and if it makes you feel bad then that's enough reason in my book to avoid it. Your mental health and happiness if far more important than some chart! Oh and still feeding minimum 3 times a night here [which doesn't count the 10.30-11pm feed).

MElk sounds like you have a good plan on tackling DD1's biting. And oooh, do you really think you might be pregnant [good? or bad?]

Smac have fun in Cornwall! I love it down there (only been once but really liked it). You can say hi to Mad4mainecoons (I think she's a Cornish lass - forgive me if I'm wrong!). Oh and I think Siamese also had success getting her DD to take a bottle recently. I've also heard very good things about the doidy cup...

Valium interesting thread - I've skimmed it but hope to get back to it - as I quite like "auntie/uncle" for close friends, but get quite irked when people I don't consider close enough just use it themselves, in a "ooh babyFlip come to Auntie X" when I pass them my son (I think it somehow dilutes it for the aunties and uncles and the close friends). But I can hardly say "sorry, I don't consider you a close enough friend for that term". So I just use their first name only.

Siamese I can also join you in saving and dressing the world if the state of my plughole and hairbrush is anything to go by! Hope you're OK tonight with your DH away.

Evitas hope things are OK with your DS - do you think it could be a nursing strike? The feeding section on MN has some good advice on nursing strikes and biting.

Big waves to everyone else.

Well, I had a lovely afternoon with BusyMissIzzy and Rebeccaad - we went to the lovely Islington cinema and our babies were just gorgeous and let their mums enjoy their coffee, cake and rom-com .

Dalrymps I?m chuckling away at Stroganoff baby. Try not to worry about DS too much ? like everyone else says, he sounds like he?s following the same pattern as DS1, every baby grows at their own rate, not necessarily one which the book says they should! I think DH is right to say no more appointments without him present. Bear in mind the advice you?ll get will vary from HV to HV as well.

Flip It was lovely to have DD to myself for a few days.?usually I don?t really go out and about but I really made an effort with DH away just so I got some proper conversation ? normally I?m not one for chatting to random people in shops, but you couldn?t shut me up this time! Glad to have DH back though. Sounds like you had a lovely afternoon at the pictures.

IWCAS hope you?re feeling a bit more positive today, and wishing you lots more sleepy vibes for tonight! I did have a chuckle at the feed-and-poo tale though, hope it wasn?t too messy.

Scooby Fingers crossed your colleagues catch him, and that they are all safe and well.

Pixie Does this mean the trying-but-not-trying is starting up in earnest now then? And I agree with the others, the baby will belong to the March 10-ers.

MummyElk Sorry to hear about the biting, no useful advice I?m afraid.

Smac Have a lovely holiday, I hope the sun comes back out for you

annamama I feel the same about a ?maternity test? DD is the image of DH, although I read somewhere it?s an evolutionary thing so that fathers can see the baby is theirs.

Nothing much to report here really, DH is back from his camping trip having had a miserable time, he missed DD too much. She?s still rocking from her back to her side but no rolling over either way yet, still hating tummy time. Everything is covered in milky dribble, I wish these teeth would hurry up. Sorted out her bedroom the other day as it?s been used as a dumping ground for ages, but now it?s all ready for her to move into at 6 months, think we?ll put her in there when we get back from holiday?at least, if she?s sleeping through the night we will, no point traipsing around the house in the middle of the night.

Where?s the summer gone anyway?

smac really impressed with baby g weight .

melk would another baby elk be or or

funny dh asked today if i was pg as i've been very tired recently for no good reason . think it's highly unlikely but would be fun.

dalrymps my little titch is also small started on the 50th but dropped very quickly to just above the 2nd which she's sticking to . hv seem unconcerned their attitude if she's now staying on one percentile and not dropping any further don't worry . easier said than done my head says she's a very happy contented baby but 11lbs 3oz at 18 weeks seems tiny and i can't help worrying .if i had a pound from everyone in rl whose asked was she prem .i'd be very very rich.

Almostinvisiblewoman have you name changed are are you new?

Ok quick post as I'm sitting up in bed in a darkened room typing on the laptop, with baby asleep in her cot (hurrah!) beside me. We're staying with my Mum and Dad this week greetings from NI! (IWCAS, it works - cool) and having a nice time. However, the holiday is not stopping DD2 from being more or less permanently attached to me so I'm enjoying the rare break and opportunity to use two hands

Firstly smac if I announced that DD2 was now successfully taking a bottle then I was a bit prematurely excited as she's refused to take much more FF for the past few days. I've only tried formula so far and only the one kind of bottle (tommee tippee) so perhaps I'm not being inventive enough but I kind of suspect she just wants the boob and NO bottle will be good enough for her so I'm simply persisting to see if she'll get the hang of it. It's not stressing me out (yet) because BFing is so much more convenient - but I wouldn't mind being able to get away for an hour or two knowing she wouldn't starve without me. So sorry - but I'm afraid I can't pass on any tips or words of wisdom yet!

hair - yes, it's falling out. A lot. I'm finding strands everywhere!

stroganoff baby Love. It. dalrymps have you got to grips with your predictive text yet?? And I love how we all thought it was just a funny, cool phrase until you pointed out you were talking rubbish And FWIW I agree with the others - you just need to trust your instincts.

Londoners - so jealous that you all actually get to meet up. In REAL LIFE! Nobody fancy a trip to Dundee....no?...no takers...?!

Ok, ok I would love to do more shout outs etc but I'm sensing my baby-free time slipping away and the possibility of an hour or two of solo sleeping is too hard to resist.

Get us, we've gone Global hope you are enjoying the break Heckle though how annoying about your Clingon. Fingers crossed your perseverance with the bottle pays off soon!

Londoners equally jealous of the meetup. [thinks wistfully of how easy it was to do such things when you have only one baby]

Oh, and big up for IWCAS who appears to have had some sleep yesterday

almostinvisible imho is a namechanger, or a Melk stalker......and has a girl-flavoured baby. Hmmmmm. Nope, no idea. I presume invisibility precludes you from eating these delicious mini Rocky road bites i made last night for playgroup [wafts enticingly]

pg test I did one. All this talk of babies got me paranoid/panicked. Negative. Phew!

News from the Valium household- I made it through the night by myself.....DH is in court (would like to clarify that he is not a criminal but upstanding member of society. OK, he's a lawyer, so scrap that last bit. ) in The North of England so rather hoping that Scooby's colleagues have tracked down the gunman so that I stop worrying about him.

Anyhoo, off to drink cold coffee, ponder the identity of our mystery guest and change a smelly nappy. The work of a mother is never done. Enjoy the Rocky Road

Sorry if I missed you out. I can't do the multiple screens thing so entirely reliant on my ability to scroll, and my memory. Exactly!!

POTTY training DD (2&1/2) . Am tired. Only on day 2........

Morning everyone

I can indeed confirm that neither rebeccad nor Flip are hairy truckers in disguise (unless it's a very good disguise). Sofya is smiley and gorgeous and Richard is a little cutie pie!

My money is on almostinvisiblewoman being mumofeightplusfour. Just a guess, I could be very wrong.

Pixie and Arcadie yay and boo respectively for periods. Arcadie, how are your SIL and new little neice doing?

Pacific, if you're lurking, hope things are going ok.

Heckle glad you're having a nice time in NI

Valium Well done managing the girls overnight all by yourself. I start to go a bit mental if DH has to stay later at work, and I've only got the one DD to contend with.

Those of you with cats, how are the cats and babies getting along these days? Isobel has just started paying more attention to our cat, she smiles and sometimes even laughs at her. And I can see her trying to grab a tail or handful of fur sometime soon; not sure how that will turn out

OK, Isobel is trying to eat through my pyjama top; I think she's hungry

Good morning everyone

hecklephone we could meet!Dundee is not that far from Edinburgh

Valium a pg test!

Anna loved the "maternity test"!

Fliss we have also finished DS's bedroom a couple of weeks ago. We moved him two weeks ago and he seems happy.. or at least hasn't complained much.

Flip thanks for the tip. I'll have a look.

Nothing new here, part from in-laws coming to stay with us for 10 days!!

x

ICWAS good news on the sleep front. My NCT group also has all babies sleeping though and despite DD being the oldest baby, they are all bar one heavier than her too (shes 14lb 3 last wk). But she is the only one being exclusively breast fed. However, Charlotte is much cuter and cleverer and Ramsey is too! Its really nice to hear that we are not the only ones still waking 2 or 3 times at night.

Which brings me on to a problem Ive been having all week - DD still isnt feeding off my right boob - Ive expressed enough for a SCBU (and donated it too, thank god I can as she doesnt like bottles) and now she is mostly refusing my left boob unless its the middle of the night or she is sleepy. I know she wont starve herself and she is fine in herself (just had a great time at swimming - not grumpy at all) but why the heck is she being odd about food? My thread I posted on monday seems to indicate from others that it is teething but I thought breast feeding was the one tool i had against teething pain?

Anyway, jabs this afternoon so Ill talk to the nurse. She's never had any probs after jabs ICWAS, I hope that stays true today too.

Im so at the cinema meet up - what did you see?

BMI - cats - theres never been an issue with DD and cats but the cats hate me because I no longer spend my whole day with them. And they enjoy shouting outside DD's room when shes napping. She like to watch them

I bought and collected a jumperoo yesterday from ebay. All washed and ready to go when DD wakes up! Its pretty far from my 'no massively plastic toys, nothing with batteries' but Im so bored of hanging around doorways with her in her bouncer, or holding her because she wants to stand up constantly !

Bettter go and make the most of this nap by .. expressing again

Could invisable be Sariska?

No, not me. My money's also on it being mumofeight.

Sorry you're still having feeding problems, Siamese. Did the nurse give you any helpful suggestions.

Glad R has been a bit more accommodating on the sleepfront, IWCAS. I only wish I could say the same for my DD. Am thinking of namechanging to sleepwalkingmum.

Despite an inky dark room, she's still refusing to go to bed til really late - 11pm last night - and then either waking multiple time before getting up for the day at dawn, or, as last night, waking up to socialise for two whole hours at 2am. Up for the day at 6. And wanting to spend most of the daylight hours sleeping. Oh dear, everything's the wrong way round, isn't it?

I ache with tiredness - and, worse, I trapped DS's finger in the bedroom door this morning. Accident, of course, and luckily no lasting damage but, oh, how he cried. I felt awful.

On the plus side, I learnt yesterday that I am not being made redundant so will have a job to return to. If I can manage to stay awake....

hi everyone, oh namechang? i wonder who it is???lol

been to the hospital with DD today for her pre op- she is having the pins removed from her hip next wed! all ok so far,

oh and did u all know that in the eyes of a 2 yr old the bumbo seat is also a potty! Dd came very proudly into the kitchen earlier requesting a sticker for weeing in the potty- i checked and the potty was empty - she then showed me her wee in the bumbo! hahahaha at least it wasn't the floor and i guess its an easy thing to mistake!lol

very jelous of the meet up, i think we need a midlands one! anyone up for it?

gotta go going for BRISK WALK with a friend i need a loss this week at SW- plus am going out for an indian tommorrow night so need all the help i can get! lol

hope all is well

Evening all!

Can second that neither Flip nor BMI are hairy truckers (nor indeed ae their totally delightful and super dooper babies (Isabelle gets the gold star for not crying once during the film). The film, Heartbreaker, was rather funny, so do see it if you can go to a mother and baby screening or palm the little dots off on someone.

Sariska - ya on not being made redundant and sarah double yay on pins being removed.

IWCAS - tinfoil is also my friend as Sofya's room is west facing and heats up terribly in the afternoon leabing it 27 degrees by 6pm. Neighbours clearly think we are some sort of drug growing weirdos but what the hell.

Thanks to you all for taking pregnancy tests to stop me feeling silly on my own - very self-sacrificing. I do secretly want one of you to get preggers soon though! Definitely not me though - I like the idea of being pregnant but don't want another newborn for a while.

Just finished my pre-course module for the 3 day doula course I'm doing next Fri-Sun. It has been bloody hard work getting the old brain back in gear and finding the time to write stuff, research and read things. But amazing to get the brain working again and am really looking forward to it. Slightly filled with trepidation about leavinf Sofya with DH during the day for 3 days, only BFing her twice a day and expressing during the course, but hey ho!

Also, can totally recommend doidy cup. Successfully taught Sofya to feed herself from it in about 10 mins. Ok, quite alot goes on the floor/face but she holds it all by herself and slugs the milk back. Brilliant as I didn't want her to get nipple confused again while I'm doing the course.

Right, off to eat Ben and Jerry's, drink wine and wonder why I've got such a jelly belly!

p.s. my cousin's little boy has a sweet little blog about his treatment: harrys-journey.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html

Please send lots of positive thoughts his way!

rebecca, what a brave boy. Positive thoughts and prayers on their way.

IWCAS, hurrah for more sleep.

Dalrymps, boo to HV. I second the idea of not going for obsessive weighing (have stopped since Alex didn't put on anything one week and I got paranoid, then realised he was a happy little boy and I should stop worrying).

Sleep? Ha ha ha ha ha ha [maniacal cackling]. Alex hasn't read the text book either. Good sleep vibes for everyone!

Mummyelk, DD went through a biting phase when she was about 2 and as with the other advice you've had making it clear that it's not acceptable seemed to work for us. That and not over-reacting to it so that she used it for attention. It is definitely not your fault, it is apparently a really common phase. In our case the mum of one of DD's chosen chewsticks threatened to sue nursery for allowing her daughter to be vicitimised - that was the point I realised she was too little for this to be something sinister and it would pass. It did.

Valium, you are a domestic goddess with your rocky road bites!

Sariska, poor you on the door thing. Is the lack of redundancy good news or bad?

aunty/uncle - I avoid the use of the terms unless referring to actual aunties and uncles because for me it carries paedophile overtones. It's that "creepy uncle X down the road" who isn't related to you at all kind of thing. But I do get that it's a polite term in some cultures. DD calls most adults by their first names or "X's mummy/daddy"; some I insist she calls Mr or Mrs but they're usually a bit older or I've forgotten their first name!

pg tests Can I please win the prize as I've already done 2? One today and one a week ago. Both reassuringly negative. Not because I thought I might be but to get this ruddy coil fitted (now done) as the doctor wouldn't do it unless I definitely wasn't pregnant. Which I understand. Now I'm out of excuses for DH .

hats - definitely a circumflex.

Otherwise it's all go chez Dragon. House is now on the market and we've offered on a lovely place just round the corner, just need to sell this one to get them to accept our offer. Our place looks unnaturally tidy but it's been the boot to do a much needed sort out. I'm therefore back to work 1 November in order to pay for it all. Hopefully that gives me time to wean Alex onto bottles and start him on solids before he goes part time into nursery; he can then have a month of catching all the goo and grime so that when I do go back full time I won't be spending my holiday days looking after a poorly boy. Please note careful use of the word "hopefully" in that sentence. I'm a bit worried about him and bottles as he has taken them before but definitely prefers mummy and I haven't tried for a while as I can't seem to find any time to express am too lazy. Oh well, we'll find out later I guess.

I'll stop waffling in a mo but could I ask for some positive thoughts and prayers for my cousin's baby girl? Born last Friday, natural birth but was starved of oxygen and spent certainly the first 3 days in an incubator. Apparently they're as pleased with her progress as they can be but only time will tell what lasting damage there might be. Made me hug my two just a little bit tighter...

Shhh...don't want to get too excited but Robin's gone down into her cot for the second night in a row! AND I managed to get her off for a nap in there this morning. I'm so pleased, although I know it might not happen again! I'm putting it down to the magical effects of being Somewhere Else that's not home and the usual routine. But the sweet sweet taste of freedom...ah, it's bliss

sariska sorry to hear you're so tired but good that you've still got your job.

siamese I LOVE the look of that jumperoo - so cool! However we've already got something like it, only it's a seat instead of a suspended bouncer so, sadly, I really can't justify buying one!

iwcas great that you're getting a bit more sleep, it really makes all the difference, doesn't it. I'm another one still doing lots of night feeding - at least two a night, sometimes more if she's rather restless. The beauty part of staying at my parents this week is that DH and I are actually in separate beds - he's stretching out in my brother's king size and I'm in my own double with Robin. It's good because I can shove her off to one side and have a bit of space to myself - wonderful

We met up with a friend from uni today who's just had a wee baby girl 6 weeks ago - about the same birth weight as R but she seemed so tiny - R was like Sumobaby when we swapped back again!!

evitas we could!! Maybe we could even rope in our other Scottish friend pacific??

Valium thanks for the Rocky road - my favourite

X posted with you, bluey...will be sending a prayer up for your cousin's wee one. Hope everything turns out fine.

BlueY so sorry that your cousin has all that uncertainty hanging over her. Will stop and pray now.....

......... please tell her we're praying.

BMI New niece is totally, astonishingly utterly gorgeous. I get to meet her in 2 days. Can't wait.

IWCAS Just seen some FB pics of Ramsey. He's such a little poppet!

AF Well it turned up for a day and then went away again. Last time it did that I weed on a stick and ended up with Simeon. but short of another immaculate conception I'm reasonably sure it was just some breakthrough bleeding. I'd ask PD but she's lying low getting her family together - for which i wish her much luck. I miss you PD. I hope Joe sleeps soon just because I miss you on here!!!

Very quickpost as I run out the door to music class. Thoughts with you and yours Rebecca. What a brave boy.

Quick question- My DS is 18.5 weeks and doesn't yet roll in any direction. He can stand alone holding onto a sofa so I'm not concerned. I think it stems from him hating tummy time until last week and thus spent very little time on his tummy so hasn't learnt to roll!! He has cracked tummy time now though and can push himself up so he's happier although not ecstatic. So my question is are your LO's rolling in any direction yet - if not how old are they and if they are when did they start?

Thanks

x

Scooby, Alex has rolled once at 17 weeks and scared himself to death. DD didn't roll until she was a year. I wouldn't worry about it, they do it when they're ready. Standing with support at 18 weeks is pretty incredible!

Hmmm, Jackanory being read by Rupert Penry-Jones off Spooks. DD liking the story, I'm liking the scenery .

Thanks for thoughts and prayers, everyone.