CARE Fertility Bulletin Board

CGW1972 · 27 Jan 2009

Hi All,

Anniejohn - hows the c section scar? I hope its getting better. I am still numb above my scar and am still quite sore jut below my belly button. Not sure if its normal but it only hurts if I prod it lol!!!

Lottie - I love meringue, but am determined to steer clear of all sweet things. We have managed a week off chocolate and have been eating better, however DP's sister came unexpectedly last night (from down south) so it was all panic on what I could feed them after their long journey (I shop on a weekend so by friday the cupbaords are bare) her son is very faddy too so we ended up ordering in pizza which is mega bad, but I suppose a nice end of week treat. Back to beiing good today though..........

SB - I think "professionals" call sleeping through 12-5 or similar (I wouldnt call that sleeping through though lol)!
I am still up with Amber at least once. We have just started a new routine though. She goes down in her carry cot in our room at 7:00, I then wake her at 11:00 to feed her and hope she then sleeps through until 5:00 ish. First night she woke at 4:30, last night she woke at 3:00. I am going to perservere......trouble is I wake her and she is so tired that she falls asleep half way through her bottle and there is no waking her! If she could take the full 5oz then I think she would go longer............

Well Amber has her follow up with the consultant this week and I am going to talk "weaning" with him. Prem babies are weaned earlier (strange as it sounds, you would think later wouldn't you but its all about them getting nutrients from food that they missed out on storing with not staying in the belly long enough). Its recomended around 17 weeks, which Amber is now. I am hoping if we start her on baby rice at tea time we may get longer sleeps in the night........I can but hope!

Developmentaly Amber is really only doing things at her corrected age (age from actual due date) so smiles and gurgles only started a few we,eks ago. I am loving them though, she is so cute! She has just gone into up to one month clothes and weighs around 9lbs....so still small! Her neck is getting stronger, but she still flops a little bit.

As for immunisations she had her third set this week. She cried louder than the previous times, but she is a tough cookie and it only lasts about 10 seconds, but hear breaking none the less!

Right, better stop drivelling! love to all mum and babies!

x

Caz1234 · 02 Jun 2011

Hiya
Question for CGW.....where did you find that out about weaning a prem baby? Everywhere I have looked it says to hold off weaning, but Charlie is so ready for food now.....Cant seem to fill him!
Want to start in the next couple of weeks if possible
I never seem to get time to do anything anymore....its a luxury getting on the laptop for half an hour
How is everyone else doing?
x

CGW1972 · 27 Jan 2009

Hi Caz

Well according to all the advice that I have had you need to wean early......from around 17 weeks. I got a booklet from the neo natal department when I left hospital.

In fact we decided to try Amber with baby rice a couple of days ago, because we were in the same position as you......Amber won't have more milk at one sitting than 5oz but she would want another one very soon afterwards, plus she rarely goes longer than 4 hrs in the night.

We gave her a small amount of baby rice at tea time along with her usual milk and she seemed to take it well. She had another bottle again soon afterwards but she went to sleep at about 21:00 both nights, slept until 6:00 the first night, but was up for milk at 3:00 the 2nd night. I will see how she goes on tonight!!!

The consultant paediatrician said he was happy to hear we were weaning, he said to just give her baby rice for a few weeks then introduce pureed veg, then fruit. He said to play it by ear as to when to start giving her something in a morning as well.

As for her development he was happy with her progress.....he checked everything in terms of her corrected age....so 9 weeks old not 18 weeks old and she is doing well. back again in 6 months!

love to all

x

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Hi everyone,

SB - Can't your HV tell you when more baby clubs are or can you ask other mums? Have you tried kidsguide.co.uk ? someone on babycentre website recommends liverpool council website - I'd have thought that there'd be more in a big city like Liverpool than out here ... Our HV's run the club at the Sure Start Centre and we do baby massage, Rhyme Time, the tooth Fairy visits and there's a class on weaning plus we also have parties! Iz looked well cute in her yellow babygrow and bonnet for the easter chick party Very Happy

CGW - You need a bit of 'naughty' in any healthy eating plan otherwise you set yourself up to feel guilty when you eat something 'bad' that's why the new weight watchers plan had bonus points to use on top of normal daily allowance, I never felt guilty about treats after that! Smile

Keep meaning to get my old info out and get started but somehow I just can't get motivated! Hope the weaning goes well Smile

Caz - I know what you mean about not getting time to do anything, I'm typing this with one hand while Iz feeds ... I normally stick her in her rocker when I'm on my own as she can snuggle into it and she will sleep for longer then which means I get a bit of time to get stuff done ... am considering paying someone to help me catch up with the ironing though Wink

Anne - How's things? Does Lily love being a big Sis?

Isobel got weighed last week and weighed 10.5lbs and she's just 6 weeks! Supposedly after they weigh 11lbs there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to go through the night without a feed - someone had better tell her that! We've been doing the whole growth spurt feeding, but she's also been feeding more cos she's been fighting off a cold so has fed almost continuously every afternoon and evening for a week - I'm shattered! Did something stupid on thursday too - as it was 6 weeks since c-section I decided to try out the wrap sling, wore it for an hour or so and have found my innerds hurting ever since so I've put it away for a few more weeks, she didn't like the carrier I got for DH off ebay either but I think that she was just a bit little for it when I tried it.

Time to put the oven on
TTFN Lx

CGW1972 · 27 Jan 2009

Hi All!

Well, had a lot of something naughty over the weekend seeing as it was Easter and all......!!! Back to running tonight though, sad to think that 3 years ago I used to run 6 miles 3 x a week and 10 mile on a weekend....now I need oxygen after 2 miles! I will build it up gradual and get back to full fitness I am sure!

Lottie - defo leave the baby carrier off for a while.....I think I was lucky (???) if thats the right word that I was in hospital for 6 weeks with Amber as I am sure I would have done too much too soon otherwise! DP was keen for me to rest when I got home for the most part but didn;t stop me when I got the ironing board out Smile

!!!!!

Well, I am going to whisper in Ambers ear on a daily basis that she can sleep though when she reaches 11lbs and see what happens!! The first night of longer sleep when we gave her baby rice was short lived....she was soon back to waking at 2:30 ish and 5:30 ish, and after that she only really drops off for another hour if I'm lucky! I've started her on food in a morning too, and am going to try pureed carrot tonight. I love watching her eat, its so funny!

I've put her in her cot for the first time ever today for her nap...decided to try and get a proper nap routine going while I am home. She's been asleep for nearly 2 hours now which is an hour longer than when she falls asleep downstairs.......!

I hope all is well with all our mums and babies.
I am praying for the nice weather to come back while we are on maternity leave....we were spoilt with the nice few weeks we had...all my summer clothes came out and I need the winter ones back now lol!

take care all

x

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Hey everyone,

CGW - yes, we've put the sling and carrier away and will try again next week I think, that way I can get some seeds planted.

Back from another baby group - tooth fairy this week so have lots of freebies Smile

And the 'new' clothes have arrived from ebay so she's got more to wear and the vest extenders fit these ones so they'll go round her real nappies for longer which is good. Iz slept from 1am - 7am today so I'm feeling really refreshed, just a shame we can't get her to sleep before 11pm but she's only 8weeks this week so I don't think we're doing too badly.

Best go and jump start the car before it rains again,
Hope everyone else is doing well and enjoying their little ones Very Happy

LX

spacebadger · 12 May 2011

Hi all,

Just a quick one as baby Lucy is due a feed in a sec but just wanted to check in with you all and say hi!

It has gone a bit quiet on this thread now we are all busy with our little ones but I do hope we can all keep in touch like this as we will all be going through similar stages at similar times! Lucy is 10 weeks old today, I really can't believe how quickly that time has gone. She is doing really well, gaining weight every week and is now 12lb 4 (at least she was at her last weigh in, she's probably 13lb something now!). She has been sleeping through for the last week or so too which is nice Smile

Didn't do anything particularly inspired, but she must have just decided she wanted to have a full interrupted night's sleep!

CGW - how's Amber getting on? Lucy was the same with night feeds, she would fall asleep in the middle and I did everything to try to encourage her to finish the bottle but she never did. She used to grin in her sleep too so I think she was also being cheeky knowing that I was willing her to have more and sleep longer Wink

She really doesn't do daytime napping though, she will happily sleep on a person for ages but if she gets put down for a nap she will only do short bursts (15-20 mins). Hoping the napping develops over the next couple of months but I can't complain as I do at least get to sleep at night now!! Well done for the running, I need to get back into proper exercise. I am doing a fair bit of walking but I miss my bike, I used to commute to work on it everyday! Still got some belly flab to get rid of so may have to embark on a fitness plan, got a wedding to go to in October and want to be able to fit into a nice dress!!

Lottie - I'm sure there are other things but to be honest recently I haven't had the time to check or go to much! I have even missed baby massage the last couple of weeks cos I've had lots of visits from friends and family and had other days out planned. I will check out that website though, thanks for letting me know about it. Sorry that you had pain/discomfort when using the carrier, hope it eased off quickly. I have got a moby sling but Lucy doesn't like the newborn hug hold and wants to be in the position that is meant for older babies who can hold their heads up properly (she can hold her head up but not all the time) so I will have to wait to use that more. She likes the BabyBjorn carrier though so that comes in handy for letting me get things done when she is a bit clingy! How come you had to jump start the car?

In summary though (!) I am loving being a Mummy, everywhere I go people say how cute Lucy is and beam at me and I just think how grateful I am that the ICSI worked and I have got this opportunity Smile

Hope everyone else is well and enjoying Mummy-ness.
Take care all
SB
xx

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Hey SB,
Good to hear from you Smile

Wow, 10 weeks and sleeping through - sounds good to me! I know what you mean about LO's napping on people, car seats or her rocker but not in carrycot - Iz is the same, I'm hoping that changes too but HV said nappping in her rocker is fine (which is where she is now) she's not been sleeping much at all in the day and was up twice in the night so today's been all about her and getting her to catch up on much needed sleep as when she was having a 2 hour sleep mid afternoon we were getting much better nights.

I go to my classes as we don't have many friends or family here so I'm trying to get to know people locally ... it's in walking distance too which makes it much easier. As for pain from sling/carrier it's gone and I will be trying again soon as I'm sure she'd settle better that way....

I love getting compliments on Isobel too - makes everything we went through all worth it doesn't it Very Happy

As for exercise - I just need Iz to get into a more predicable routine so I can express for when I go to the gym but we go out for a walk a few times a week - less since the rain's been so unpredictable ... oh, and the car needing jump starting is because it hadn't been driven after my c-section (don't ask me why I didn't get DH to drive it!) so needed jump starting, and when we did get it going DH took it for a drive and the power steering went so now I still can't go anywhere!

Right time to check on Iz and potatoes

Take care,
Lx

CGW1972 · 27 Jan 2009

Hi All

SB - lovely to hear how you are doing!! Lucy sounds like she is coming on in lepas and bounds! Its something about little babies that makes everyone look and speak to you, its the same with me. Amber has such lovely big blue eyes that everyone comments. She is so good natured, we are getting loads of smiles and noises now, its so lovely. I am also adoring being a mummy, its the best job......we are so lucky to be in this position after all we have been through and I think it makes our LO's extra special Smile

I started running a month ago but twisted my poorly ankle again so been resting it the last few weeks, I really need to start again though.....I also have a wedding to go to, but in May!!!!!!!!!!

As for baby Amber's sleep, I'm not gloating but.........she has slept for 7 consecutive nights....and we are talking 8:00 ish until 6:00 ish........today she is still asleep as i type and its 8:20!!!! may be coincidence but it started as I introduced lunch time food. She's now wolfing down baby porridge for brekkie and pureed veg for lunch and dinner.
oddly I still feel tired, but much better!!!

Gotta go, she is murmuring!!! Love to all!

x

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Hey Ladies and Babies,

How y'all doing???

CGW - how many weeks is Amber now? I can't wait until Isobel starts sleeping better - we have good nights and bad nights ... I've been up since 6.30am but can't sleep when she does (like now) so am beginning to feel a little tired.

We've stopped using muslins as nappies now as she kept exploding out of them and moved onto these lovely fluffy ones that make her bum look huge Wink

and now I've started ebaying all her newborn stuff (have kept one set though). She had her first set of injections on Friday and her 8 week doctors check and I've been told to keep an eye on her weight for the next 2 months Sad

but he's not worried about her lack of sleep (11-13 hrs on average per day).

Anyhoo, I think she's stirring downstairs so I'd best go see if she wants more food.

Take care,
Love to you all,
Lx

CGW1972 · 27 Jan 2009

Hi All!

Hope everyone is well Smile

Lottie - Amber is 5 months old tomorrow!!! how the time flies......half way through my maternity leave Sad

!!!
I was the same as you, I know everyone says "sleep when your baby sleeps" but once I am up, I can't even nap!!
Well I've got used to Amber sleeping through and feeling a lot better for more sleep....it took a while I think because I was used to getting up it was almost like I was getting too much (which I know seems impossible) lol!!! she does sometimes murmur in the night so I still wake up, but go striaght back off when she quietens down. I love to lay in bed in the morning listening to her waking up, she can happily talk to herslef for half an hour before she starts getting grouchy for food!

AAAgh I bet Isobel looks so cute in those nappies....I am being non environmentally friendly with disposables I'm afraid!!!

I'm keeping Ambers clothes as I have friends who are likley to reproduce so I will pass stuff on. I was thinking who knows we may use the blast and try again, but I think that we have decided to be happy we have Amber and be comfotably off instead of have another and properly struggle......and now that decision has been made we are getting a puppy!!! We've talked about it for years but never took the plunge, but DP really wants Amber to grow up with a dog as he always wanted one. Anyway, timing was perfect as a workmate has just got pups of the breed that we like and whilst I am off work I can deal with all the messy toilet training etc......I have told DP in no uncertain terms that he is getting up in the night when puppy cries though....I have had my 19 weeks of sleepless nights...its his turn Smile

!!!!

How much does Isobel weigh? I think this percentile stuff is OTT. To me, as long as baby is putting on weight and eating well there should be no need to worry........plus for me Amber is way down the bottom of the chart bless her.......she's around 11lbs now.

Better go, I think I smell a nappy change........ Smile

take care

cgw

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Hey Everyone,

Looking forward to the bank holiday weekend???

CGW - I can't believe Amber is already 5 months old! You can keep your blast on ice for a few years can't you? You may feel like using it in a few years when the drama of your pregnancy and the birth have faded Smile

I know I wish we had frosties as we don't want Isobel to be an only child but as I've probably said many times before - we're adopting #2 as what with needing DE's and the drama of my induction/labour we've not got the energy to go through all that again!
At the baby clinic on Monday Isobel weighed 11lb 8oz and is back on her 50 percentile so everyone's happy but I'll be getting her weighed every other week for a while just to keep an eye on it as the Doctor requested.

A puppy - how much fun is that? And what breed? I'm kinda glad I don't have to think about going back to work and will take advantage of all the courses I can be sent on, I'd love a dog but am not ready to do all the poop scooping involved these days.

I think my days should be more structured than they are so what does everyone else do? We are breastfeeding and I know from our Mum & baby group that how long between feeds differs to bottle-fed babies but I'd love to hear what you all do during the day including nap times and lengths. The only routine we have is a bedtime one, and no set morning one - apart from Iz liking about 4 breakfasts! As to what you said about disposable nappies - we're definitely in the minority as I found out when we stripped our babies off for massage on Tuesday - I'm probably considered a bit of a hippy now as we're breastfeeding AND using washable nappies and wipes. We might use disposables when we go on holiday and we have disposable wipes (bought when they were on offer of buy 1 get 2 free) but she got such awful nappy rash when I used them at 5 weeks I'm not sure now.

Anyway, best go and get some lunch before she wakes and it's my Aussie soap hour.

Take care everyone and don't forget to let me know what you do during the day,
Lx

CGW1972 · 27 Jan 2009

Hi!

Puppy is a german short haired pointer! They are so cute! Their colours are changing so we can't pick until they are 5 weeks old....there are 6 boys to choose from and I have no idea how we will pick one!

You are right, we may decide to try with the frostie in a few years....we will see. I've not been traumatised by Ambers birth. if anything I would love to do it again - but properly this time Smile

I have a single friend who is trying to adopt......x

I'm pleased Isobel's weight is ok. We've not have Amber weighed for a while. I get on the scales with her every week and she is around the same as Isobel now.

She's just starting to reach for toys now, her eyes are all over the place looking at everything and she holds her heas steasy now. She's not tried to roll over yet though.

As for what I do all day.....well we have no realy nap structure but A does tend to sleep not long after brekkie and again after lunch. When we're not going out to meet friends or visit my mum (who's in hospital at the mo) I seem to be cleaning up, washing, ironing, or watching a bit of Phill and Hollie Smile

I also prepare tea if I'm in.
Laswt week I painted the kitchen wall and this weekend we are starting tp sort the ensuite and bedroom which will be epic!

gotta go, need food!

PS does isobel dribble? Amber dribbles all the time. but no sign of teeth

xxx

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Snuck on while DH is downstairs ... Just a quickie about the choice of dog - my folks had one and ended up having to get the breed rescue people in after 2 years as despite classes and lots of training they couldn't get the dog to work for them as it is a working dog and was very silly - thought nothing of spending hours twirling chasing it's tail! Don't want to sound like a party pooper but please research the breed very carefully and know that you can cope with it and a toddler before you get it home.

Iz likes blowing bubbles and as DH has now gone for a shower I'd best go as she's grizzling

ttfn

spacebadger · 12 May 2011

Hi ladies,

Glad to hear everyone is doing well and all LO's are gaining weight. Lucy has just moved up off her 75th centile that she was following really closely until now, now she's between the 75th and 91st at 15lb 1.5oz (double her birthweight!)! But they don't seem worried about it, and she doesn't look overweight or anything (although she has got a little round belly!!). Think she's going to be a tall 'un!

She is developing all the time, it's so lovely to see. She can roll herself onto her side (well, she has done a couple of times) and is loving her toys now. She looks at particular toys and makes a grab for them, and things are starting to be put in her mouth - especially her hands, she tries to get the whole fist in there and I keep telling her she's only got a little baby mouth Wink

She is also dribbling a bit more, suspicions that she might be in the early stages of teething even though she's only 14 weeks! I am trying to do tummy time but some days she is good with it and other days she gets upset after a few minutes.

As for routine Lottie, well it depends what we're doing but as a general example we get up somewhere between 8 and 9, it's funny because Lucy wakes up and is happy just lying in her moses basket for quite a while making little sounds, wriggling about and looking at her hands Smile

Anyway, a few times a week I give her a bath in the morning, otherwise I just top and tail her and get her dressed then give her a feed. She usually stays awake for around an hour and a half (during which time we play on her mat etc) from first waking up until she gets sleepy and goes down for a nap of about 45 minutes. Then we do another feed at about 12ish, then quite often I go out for the afternoon and Lucy will have another sleep in the early afternoon.

She will have to move into her cot (in a separate room, eek!) soon so at that point we're going to introduce a proper nightime routine with a bath etc but at the moment she usually sleeps on us from about 8pm then we go up to bed at 10, change her nappy and put her in her grobag which wakes her up so she has a little feed then goes off to sleep. She used to sleep until 6am but has started waking in the night again this week - I've heard of a 4 month sleep regression thing that ties in with an important stage of development so don't know if Lucy has just decided to regress early?!

I'm not sure how I feel about her moving into her own room, it's lovely getting it all set up (we couldn't get it ready too much in advance because DH's son slept in there at weekends, now his two sons will have to share the 3rd bedroom). Bought a wardrobe for her at Ikea last week, it's getting delivered on Tuesday Smile

I will miss being able to hear every little breath but then maybe I will sleep a bit better without hearing it all?!

Oh and in other news - I have an interview for the job of my dreams on 7th June!! Eek!

Right, I think that's quite enough rambling from me - take care everyone, love to all the babies (and yourselves obviously)
SB
xx

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Hey y'all (sorry, been watching Hart of Dixie on Really)

SB, Good to get a Lucy update Smile

Best of luck for 7th June before I forget!
In my La Leche League Breastfeeding book it talks about the four month fussies where babies start waking more at night and feeding funny so she could be going through this as 13-17weeks probably counts as 4 months. Has Lucy had unexplained sudden nappy rash and/or red cheeks & nose? Iz did and the HV thinks it could be start of teething .... luckily the tooth fairy came to our baby group so she already has a toothbrush and we do her gums every night when we wash face and hands and put her night nappy and nightgown on at 8pm ish ... finally got her a sleeping bag too after she kept kicking her covers off - bought 1 tog so it's good for this hot weather. She did a bit of tummy time on the garden under a tree on an old terry nappy and kept brushing it aside so she could get at the grass!

CGW - How's the painting coming on? Where do you find the time???? How's your Mum? Missed that when speed reading before so sorry for not asking before! I've started taking the peeling wall paper off in the spare room and now we've finally decided to leave the computer where it is and turn the spare room into Iz's room I can start doing it properly ... have to throw more stuff away again!

Anne - How's things with you? Hope all's well, you've recovered from your c-section and you're enjoying it all.

Caz - how's things with you too?

Have to tell you all that Isobel is in bed and asleep by 9.30pm!!! This is most unusual for us ... very rarely settles before 10pm, but usually by midnight and is waking twice a night at the moment - once between 2-4am and again at 5-6am so I'm tired but not sure where the energy to manage is coming from. She had just started sleeping through until 7am so I'm hoping it's just the 4 month fussies and the start of teething. Isobel is just above the 50th centile and doing well, weighed 12lb 13oz today Very Happy

Also I'm not the oldest Mum at our baby group cos one lady was saying that she was in labour on her 40th so that's good ... there's a good mixture of age ranges of Mums and babies so it's really nice.

Well as she's still asleep I'm gonna go downstairs, have a quick tidy (before DH gets back from work in half an hour) and make a hot drink.

Take care one and all,
Love n hugs
Lx

Caz1234 · 02 Jun 2011

Hi Everyone

Had a quick read throu......doesnt time fly when your having fun?? I cannot believe Charlie is 6 months old in 11 days time, he is a real chunk now, loves his food, had to give up breast feeding a few weeks ago as wasnt producing enough so it bottle all the way now, plus he is liking a bit of solids too. We are off to Egypt on Sunday on holiday, I am thinking now I must have been mad when I agreed to this..lol. Its a nightmare thinking of all that I need, plus will have to take all of Charlies food, oh well I am sure we will have a fab time when we get there.
We have decided we would like another baby, and have already been trying ( not getting any younger) We were lucky first time as it resulted in success....But we are aware that this might not happen again, plus money is a little tight so we are going to try and go natural....After any help and advice that anyone might have?? I have PCOS but apart from that nothing else is wrong I dont think.
Is anyone else thinking about having anymore?? It took so long first time thats why we are starting now.
Hope everyone else is well...the weather has been brill.
xx

spacebadger · 12 May 2011

Hi everyone,

Oops we had slipped to the third page of posts!

How are you all? I can't believe how quickly time is going by, it doesn't seem more than a few weeks since we were all ready to burst and now our LOs are all developing at an amazing rate Shocked

Caz - how was the holiday? I love Egypt! I went scuba diving in Sharm El Sheikh years ago with a friend and DH and I keep saying we'll go there together some day.

Lucy is 19 weeks now and doing really well, she was 17lb 3 at last weigh in (last week) so is a right little chunk too!! This week she is sleeping through 7.30pm-8am which is fantastic obviously Very Happy

But before that she had been waking every night at 3.30ish for quite a few weeks, I have put that down to the 4 month sleep regression thing but she is definitely teething now big time. Hands always in her mouth, lots of drool and slightly pinky cheeks. She is normally such a happy little thing that when she is suffering with her teething it's not nice to not really be able to help. Calpol and teething gel do seem to take the edge off though. She still doesn't like tummy time but has always been great at holding her head up and is good at rolling (at least onto her side, she hasn't gone all the way over yet) so I hope my soft touch with tummy time (only ever does a few minutes cos I don't like to leave her there upset) isn't holding her back!

AFM I GOT THE JOB! So chuffed. Did a talk and the interview and was apparently no.1 choice of all 6 people on the panel which is obviously a lovely confidence boost. I start that lecturer job on 1st October but unfortunately I have to go back to my old job first for a bit, and my first day back is 23rd July which is under 5 weeks away now Crying or Very sad

Can't believe how quickly my maternity leave has gone and I am already worrying about how I will cope being away from her and feeling guilty about it but I am also plotting ways to lessen the impact (e.g. leaving early, working from home - luckily my job is really flexible like that) and telling myself that she will benefit a lot from the interaction with other babies and the stimulation that comes from being in a nursery. I am the main wage earner so we really can't afford for me to stay home, but also I have worked hard at my career and still have ambitions so I really hope that the benefits of the money and my satisfaction and the example I set Lucy will outweigh the time apart. Obviously I will have to make the most of the time we do have together!

We went to a cabin in north Yorkshire for a few days at the end of May and we were so lucky to have that time away when it was the heat wave - it's rainy and grim here now, where is our summer??!

Love to all Mummies and babies
SB
xx

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Hey everyone,

Caz - How was Egypt? Hope you had a good break. Can't believe Charlie is 6 months old already - time really does fly doesn't it. As for babies - I think I've said before that we'll be adopting a little boy next so Iz has a brother.

SB - Congrats on the job! Will Lucy be going to a nursery where you work? Isobel has a teething toy that goes in the fridge which is useful when she's having a sore day - she's only 17 weeks now but the molars cause her trouble every now and then. I'm not sure what to do about going back to work - sort of thinking about going back to the new company as a part-time receptionist as I don't have a career but also have a load of stuff left from a previous business venture to sell on ebay so could make more money that way for a few months.

We're back from our week in Wales where Iz spent most of the time doing ab cruches in an effort to sit up! She's got really good at sock removal too and loved the walks on the beach - well we did as she always fell asleep but as she was in a carrier or sling we had to take it in turns cos she was 13lb 11oz at last weigh in 2 weeks ago. It was really nice for us to get away and realise that life goes on with a LO Smile

She does occasional tummy time on a mamas & papas play mat which cushions her chest and has rolled from tummy to back ... she did more tummy time while we were away as we didn't take her rocker and when I'm changing the sheets I put her on her tummy on the bed so she can watch me more easily.

That's all the news from us for now - final injections Monday so will then start baby swimming if I can get us organised.

Take care everyone
Lx

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Hey, what's happened to everyone???????????????????????

Anne has been suffering from PND I saw on another thread a few weeks ago.

My little Iz monster has started swimming once a week and is loving it!

Hope you're all well,
Lx

spacebadger · 12 May 2011

Hi Lottie, Hi everyone,

Sorry, it's been all go here! I can't believe it, but this is the last day of my mat leave!! I start work full time on Monday but I am already planning to leave early that day and as many days as possible - the highly ambitious workaholic me has definitely been replaced by the new Mummy me who just wants baby cuddles all the time! Lucy has been to the nursery (yes, it is the University one so I am just around the corner from her) every day this week. She did an hour on Monday and is doing 4 hours today, she is getting better each day and was happily bouncing around in a jumparoo (they have the same one we have got - rainforest jumparoo, highly recommended) when I went to pick her up yesterday. No illusions, it's going to be really really tough and I will miss her like crazy but I have to go back now for financial reasons (and in some ways I think I need to go back for me too, but maybe not yet if I had the choice financially) so I will have to get used to it and make the most of the time we do have together. Once she is settled my Mum is going to have her on a Tuesday so I will be able to meet them for lunch quite a bit.

I'm glad Iz is loving swimming Lottie, Lucy loves it too! We have been doing Water Babies but the term has just finished so we will just take her ourselves from now on. The nursery are actually taking them all to the Uni pool next Friday so I get to go with her (I'm just going to tell the boss I'm going whether he likes it or not!!).

Lucy is 24 weeks old now, she has come on so much, it's been amazing to watch her learn new stuff. She loves rolling now, and often sleeps on her stomach because she has rolled herself in the night (I have to try not to fret because she can actually breathe!!). She also wriggles and pushes her legs when on her front so I'm wondering how long it'll be before she starts crawling! She makes lots of cute noises, squeals and squeaks and sometimes even sounds like she's trying to say words!! Obviously that's a way off yet but she definitely watches people's mouths to see how they're forming words. She hasn't started any weaning foods yet, I haven't seen too many signs yet. She has had a bad cold so her appetite is only just coming back properly now so I will see how it is when she's fully recovered.

Sorry to hear that you've been suffering Anne, I know a few friends and family members have really been hit for six by PND so I hope you have got lots of support and that you get through it quickly.

Sending lots of love to all Mummies on here and to the LOs of course.
SB
xx

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Hey SB,

Looks like it's just me & you left!

What's it been like going back to work???? A friend has just gone back full-time and is hating it. HOw's the weaning going? I can highly recommend mango pips for amusing fun, Iz had one the other day and loved chewing it as it helped with her teething too.

Iz will go into her own room by the end of the month as she's nearly outgrown her crib so I'm kinda dreading that. Just been feeding/lying on the bed but she wouldn't sleep, now she's crashed out on my lap so I'm typing one handed. She's also been to the creche at our leisure centre wich has been nice 4 me to gym & swim.

Arm's getting sore so had better go Smile

CGW & Anne - HOw's things????? I got told by HV I was moderately depressed a few weeks ago so don't feel you're on your own!

Big hugs Lx

spacebadger · 12 May 2011

Hey Lottie (and others if you're out there!),

Sorry to hear you're feeling down, hope it's not all the time and that you aren't beating yourself up about it. Hormones and tiredness have a lot of say in all this and let's face it, our lives have just been thrown upside down! Even though it's something we all want so much it's still not easy by any stretch! Always here to listen if you want to talk xx

Amazingly I've been back at work for nearly a month already, and actually it's not as bad as I thought. I'm so lucky in that I love my job and the people I work with are not only great but mainly have small children or have recently had grandchildren so they completely understand all the issues and are so good at helping me be flexible to meet Lucy's needs as well as work. I was properly dreading it before, and yes I do miss her like crazy when I'm at work but I also appreciate the time to be me and to have adult conversations and it's so lovely to dash out of here at the end of the day and go and get her because that first cuddle after work is just fab Smile

Weaning is going really well thanks, she seems to have taken to it like a duck to water Smile

I guess it was the right time, I have read that you should go with your Mummy's instinct so I did and it seems to have worked Smile

She has tried baby rice, apple, pear, papaya, banana, potato, sweet potato, parsnip and swede and has yummed them all down! Will definitely try mango pips, that sounds so cute!! How has Iz been getting on?

I know what you mean about dreading them not being in the same room but you know you will be fine and so will they, it's another step in the journey and it is adorable seeing them in their little environment! Lucy looked so small when she first went in the cot but she is SO long now, she's basically the length of her John Lewis changing mat to give you some scale to go from Smile

She's got one tooth at the bottom - how many has Iz got? Bless them, it must really hurt!!

Right, had better do some work...or at least get a coffee and think about doing some work...!

Take care all, hopefully hear from you soon
SB
xx

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Iz has just tried to eat the cat! .........he was trying to sit on my lap and she grabbed his fur with both hands and pulled it towards her mouth! very funny, fur everywhere ! other than that, weaning's going ok but she likes to feed herself, her fav's are cauliflower and broccoli as easy to handle. Didn't like to roasted peppers, pork and courgette I did last sunday after I'd pureed it though and we've been having great fun with petite filous too.
Sounds like Lucy is doing really well on all fronts!

Must go, am trying to feed her when the cat's not distracting her

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

What's happened to everyone????????????

CGW - did you get the puppy???

Anne - how's life? Has the PND gone?

SB - How's things? is you dd ticklish? Have you tried ripping paper in front of her like that dad on the you tube hit? Iz thinks it's hilarious - mind you she thinks that about pulling my hair!

love to tyou all,
Lx