Smiler

:'(Sounds like a really hard time. As others have said, please don't beat yourself up. Sleep deprivation is a killer and can really skew the way one thinks / feels about everything. So anything you can do to get more sleep might help a little bit. Know is not PC, but perhaps it'd be worth considering stopping b-feeding at night, and splitting the nights between the two of you so that you can get at least 3 reasonable nights of sleep each week. And at weekends perhaps you could each have one lie in (oh for the days of weekly lie-ins together - unless you have any early bird friends or relatives willing to pick up the little'un at 7am and return after lunch!)? Is your OH happy to be at home full-time? He might be fed up too. When I was at home full time I was really horrible to my OH (and still am sometimes - I now work part-time). I regarded working as a break / easy / freedom compared to childcare / domestics (and I was rubbish at the latter, didn't do much domestic stuff at all - no cleaning or cooking other than for the little one, just washing and shopping and errands). I couldn't have cared less what his working life was like, I just wanted him to pick up the workload as soon as he got home! Wasn't fair of me to be that way, but was really struggling, especially with the nights (I did all of them at that stage - bad bad plan!). Changing the balance a bit so that we were both working, and talking about practical stuff we could do (rather than how crap we were both being to each other) helped. With respect to feeling isolated 'cos of working FT, friends / family who don't work FT might still be able to support you / listen / meet up at the times when you're not working - everyone is just muddling through the best they can. Hope that things look up soon, you're not alone!

:))

They sometimes do take a guess at the 12-week one, did with our first (and they were right!), it depends on who is doing the scan.

Oh to be 8.5 stone!!! But presume that means that if heavier can process more alcohol!

September - boo hiss!

Two bottles! Ha ha! The most I ever drank while feeding might have been around that much, much cava and wine at my friend's 30th house party, after a long time of total abstinence, drinking til 2am, fed the baby at 3am and she was definitely hungover in the morning! I was fine though, reckon that sleep deprivation creates the worst hangovers with or without the booze. Haven't repeated the experiment though.

Oh yes, I meant to say it can be good to talk about fears etc. with your man! And tell him if you want him around at key times, e.g. night before the scan, (or not, if you prefer to clean / bake / do yoga / knit / angst alone!) I got all upset with Mr Smiler for arranging a night out before the first scan, but then realised I hadn't actually explained to him how anxious I was and how much I wanted him there before as well as at the scan etc.

Suppose it also depends on our own upbringings - Mr Smiler had a country upbringing and would like that for his children, whereas I'm a city girl and think that big cities can be great for kids / teenagers. For us, the main problem with moving out is that our jobs are and will stay in London, meaning commuting for both of us, which probably won't be much fun and could detract from any idyllic country dreams! It might be easier for those with one partner at home or able to get a good local job.

My daughter did this for quite a long time, though she only ever bit me and her own arms and hands, think it was teething related. Ouch. Didn't find a solution, just lots of "no", putting her down immediately and saying "don't bite", and calpol / teething toys when it was obvious she was in pain. One of her first words sounded like "dirt bag": she'd go around chanting it, and as her language improved it turned out to mean "don't bite"! She did grow out of it. She has now (aged 2 and a bit) started hitting, which is much more deliberate and we punish that with the naughty step!

Hi Sally, Not neurotic at all, am sure lots of us have had similar anxieties at the same stage - I know I have. Really hope that it goes well for you tomorrow. If you can, try to distract yourself today and this evening with whatever works for you (for me it would be trashy TV / novels, my sister-in-law bakes, one friend meditates, another goes on manic cleaning frenzies!) Also, when you actually get there and are waiting (can be a while), don't compare yourself to the other women there, e.g. to see if they look "more pregnant", since there are lots of clinics running and they may well be a lot further on, or just fatter! In my first pregnancy, I remember feeling upset that my tummy was still flat at 13 weeks and really wanted to put on weight. Those days have long gone, sadly! Best wishes and hope the time before the scan passes quickly.

The school nursery places do not seem to be set up for working parents with their hours etc.

We are leaving and sad to be moving out, but the houses with gardens are just too expensive.

Special thin black marker pen, write on the labels.

Friends of friends / friends of friends' friends? Though may be insulted by friends' ideas of people who are suitable for you!

Classic, but I wouldn't have said anything - try to refrain from commenting to others about parenting issues (though bitch and moan in private!)

Has she reported it to the police?

Glad baby OK - hope the mummy duties fly by and that you're able to rest up a bit tonight.

Best wishes Fuschia xxx

Depending on their wishes for the size of their family, with a small age gap between children might need a buggy that fits two, e.g. Phil & Teds. We had a lovely Bee and now use a McLaren stroller, but think it is going to be difficult with a newborn and 2 1/2 year-old to use the Bee again, since the older one is unlikely to be able / amenable to walk / use a boogie board thing all of the time. Have been trying to get our daughter to walk as much as possible, but tiredness/discipline is an issue and I rely heavily on being able to shove her in the pushchair as a last resort or when need to get anywhere quickly. And don't fancy trying to get on buses etc. with her on the loose!

Yes, cucumber. The boys in the class were mortified, probably gave them all a complex!

I too thought the thread was about sex education. Will never forget the condom-over-cucumber mixed sex-education session in secondary school!

Ashbourne and Chesterfield Grove (off Melbourne Grove). North Cross Road into Upland Road.

Some of the magazine's main advertisers are probably companies selling formula; and a lot of its readers will be bottle-feeding mums or intending to bottle-feed (given the relatively low proportion of b/feeding). By being provocative, the author has generated publicity for the magazine that will probably be well-received by the companies / interest groups.

We did, as were relaxed about gap between babies. The handout from the Kings breastfeeding awareness session about b/feeding as contraception didn't mention all of the points GinaG3 has - kind of made it sound that as long as you were b/feeding lots, including at night, it would be natural contraception, or maybe I misread it! Next time, will be more careful!

Sensible, well thought-out arguments in the Daily Mail?! Sad times.