mima08

IMO it's better to find a way to soothe a distressed crying baby than to leave her/him cry. I offer my LO a dummy when he gets very upset - sometimes he wants it, sometimes he doesn't. He still goes on the breast ok as well....(although I do top up with bottles too). There are also theories that the sucking reflex is very important to be "lived through" as a child as it could reduce likelihood of additions (e.g. smoking) later in life. Of course, the sucking reflex can be satisfied by any means - fingers/thumbs, dummy, breast, bottle, piece of cloth etc - guess those theories really compare to the very old fashioned view of not sucking anything....

hi- i got bad pains in the last few weeks of my pregnancy and saw a chiro - east dulwich chiro on crystal palace road. was very good, 3 sessions and all pain gone and none recurred (aparently they don't always disappear with giving birth...) can hugely recommend that chiro, hope you get some help x

thanks for the tip- had not even occured to me to check! i've also found someone to help twice a week, so am very excited of the prospect of some sleep! thanks all for supportive msgs...x

congratulations on your new baby ! you are doing a great job! i can so sympathetise, as i sit here bottle feeding! like you, i had a fair few problems right from the birth and my ideal of exclusively breastfeeding did not work. i can fully relate to all you're saying but actually, reading your story makes me realize that you ARE doing a fab job and being really smart to put emotional health first - that will have the biggest influence on your baby 's wellbeing of all! sorry, have to try & get some sleep, hope you get some too :-)

thank you fuschia! people are so nice to offer help and yes, i have been out and meeting other mums but to be honest, what i need is extra sleep . i feel like a wuss being so dependent on my sleep for sanity - especially as my baby is not particularly difficult ! but i think i need the prospect of getting some sleep on regular basis, almost like having something to look forward to, which is why imposing on friends is difficult (cannot really demand that they turn up twice weekly ...:-)) so thank you again and i'd love to hear of any get togethers, while i try to fnd some help in the meantime too.

Dear all, thank you for your very quick and reassuring replies. I guess my energy levels are just depleted and these are giving me hope :-) I looked at the night nanny thread but i guess financially i can't make that work , however getting someone for a few days a week is an option - looking into that as well as the doula suggestion. my dp does take him in the evenings, so i get some sleep before night feeds but as he works long hours, he is starting to struggle with lack of sleep too and i am not sure how long he can cope with the pressure.....anyway, thanks again for your messages !

Hello, i found this thread while nursing my 4 week old and looking desperately for some help. i thought i was prepared for what it's really like but find myself out of my depth. Although i am lucky to have a wonderful helpful partner , i find myself not coping with the sleep deprivation and am in floods of tears on regular basis. i don't have family in this country and my friends don't have children , so i can't impose on them . i saw someone mentioning a "night-nanny"? not heard this before - can someone pls explain? i have also considered to get a part time nanny/help to allow me to catch up on sleep a few times during the week - does anyone have any suggestions ? sorry for gatecrashing- any help would really be appreciated ...