Belle

I had a French registrar at my recent birth - she clarified the French thing for me Little Ed Family: they count full term as 41 weeks but that does NOT mean that women go to 43 weeks before induction - in fact induction post dates there (Or certainly in her previous hospital in the South of France)is earlier than it commonly is here. I'm struggling to remember (she was errr... doing my stitches at the time!) but think she said something like 41 +3. My (community) midwives were suprised to hear from her that c-section rates at her previous hospital were actually slightly lower than the average here, and quite a bit lower than Kings. She mentioned that 'maternal request' c sections were provided at Kings (and as someone mentioned earlier, this was part of recent NICE guidelines) - and despite my midwives' obvious horror at this, I must say I fully support it, in the same way as I support women requesting a homebirth. I considered asking for an elective c section this time, based on various difficulties first time round, and unfortunately I think it's an option I should have perhaps pursued (or at least considered a planned hospital birth). Not because of any serious medical outcome as others have sadly experienced here, rather the emotional outcome - for me having to transfer in was pretty traumatic, and the second part of my birth really affected me badly.

Great, informative post sbryan.

My son ws 2 last jan and cd def appreciate it in the dec before, wd say he'll be evenmore into it now at nearly 3.

For the second year in a row, a family friend has bought my son an online advent calendar by Jacquie Lawson (www.jacquielawson.com). I just thought I'd mention it here as my son LOVED it last year - you get to click on a new window every day as per a normal advent calendar, and then there's a little animation with music, it's beautifully illustrated. This year it's London themed. We used to go back and reopen old windows over and over again. I don't know what it costs as it was a present but would highly recommend.

Sainsburys have the ones with the 2 part anti colic system - not sure if that's what you want?

thanks for asking designer jooles - no obvious improvement - we are seeing the specialist again next week. beyond tired right now! Hard to say what effect if any the formula/meds are having, though I'm guessing if they were really helping we'd see a marked change. Still a lot of screaming bouts that go on for a v long time, and v unsettled sleep. interestingly he took the nutramigen no probs, so that's good. Alieh, he's been prescribed a specific one called 'AA' so think it's poss different to the one you have, thankyou though!

haven't done it for a while but there used to be 2 lifts at brixton - one from street to ticket hall, but one down to platform too? alternatively train to london bridge and jubilee line to bond street - 2 X lifts at london bridge , and a short escalator at Bond St if you exit via the shopping centre. That's the way I go when going into town.

My son did the nap thing you describe just before we moved to one nap, a bit older - poss 15/16 mths I think. Basically I struggled to get him through to 1pm for one nap, but if he slept in the morning, an afternoon nap was out, but that then meant he was overtired by late afternoon. It was frustrating and was resolved when we managed to move to just one afternoon nap (starting at 12.30 or 1, sometimes earlier). I think cuppa tea's idea of one nap around 11 is a good one (you cd then move it later if you wanted gradually). With the nighttime thing - yes I think overtiredness can mean the kids just zonk out then wake up a bit later or sleep fitfully.

There was a documentary on a while back about a little girl of similar age whose parents sought help from a sleep specialist, it was a slightly different sleep issue in that she would be awake and playing/chatting to imaginary friends for hours, and one of the issues was how awake she really was (they couldn't tell if it was sleep talking etc). Anyway it had a happy ending and they were able to understand the problem, and subsequently address it. My son has done this but at a much younger age (the staying awake for several hours thing - am sure I sought advice here, and I do sympathise as it is just exhausting) - I think 8 months of it is a really long time and worth investigating, I'm sure a sleep specialist would take you seriously (and even if they say 'it's a phase, it will pass' - well at least you've explored the options).

did anyone's child get put on nutramigen or similar formula? We saw a paediatric gastro doc, who prescribed omeprazole (yay! though no improvement as yet) and nutramigen AA as a trial, to check for cow's milk protein allergy. however I hear it's absolutely foul, so not looking forward to introducing it...still, wd be good to rule an allergy or intolerance in or out.

the woman was a first time mum, who'd had a c-section just the night before - quite possible that it was all v sudden and thus she was in hospital unprepared (plus who really knows what the score is first time? I didn't know about the strict formula rules before my first). I was saddened by her situation as well remember not having a clue with my first - even how often to feed etc. She was obviously totally out of it, and to my knowledge nobody had offered help with bf in any case. The midwife chastised her for not changing her baby's nappy, and said something along the lines of 'you're a mum now, you have to look after your child' - which may be true, but surely a bit of guidance in how to do the looking after wouldn't go amiss? She actually apologised for being harsh later in the day - I just don't think it was a nice way to handle someone who'd had their first birth, and a c section at that, who was totally alone that day for whatever reason, and who clearly needed help. Just wanted to clarify the patient's situation as I saw it - not starting this tired old debate again!

when i was there at the end of Sept a mw was refusing formula to the lady opposite me (who had chosen to ff, but whose partner was unable to make it into the hospital that day with bottles/formula) - I felt SO sorry for her, her baby was only 11 hrs old and screaming its head off. She said they couldn't give it out without a medical reason. So I think you're def right to be prepared - we didn't have any with us, and fortunately didn't need it in the end but had a stash of the SMA ready made bottles at home and my hubbie was prepared to dash back for them if need be. I think the tommee tippee ones are fast flow from memory...

eek - just saw price - not sure I'll get that one in under the husband radar... I have a patapum which is similar too but think is only from 5 months - not sure there'd be enough support around the neck?

ooh KBN where did you get your beko from (just in case somewhere local before i look online)? like the sound of it.

Sorry to keep asking questions on this trhread, but since there are so many refluxy parents (or parents of reluxy babies more accurately) out there: what did you find worked for sleeping? my little one is so uncomfortable and pained when trying to sleep or even when asleep - lots of coughing, spluttering, v loud snorting, even choking sounds. during the day the most he'll sleep for is an hour, at night 2 if we're lucky, v occasionally a bit more. Realise no babies this young sleep for long, the issue is more that i can hear how uncomfortable he is. Did any of you try side sleeping and if so did you use a positioner to make it safe? because it's clearly the being on their back thing that makes it so uncomfy...even when tilted. Will sleep on me but I can't sleep well like this and worry about safety. The book mentioned above suggests getting one of those breathing monitors to ensure safe side/even front sleeping - have never liked the idea of these monitors, but am getting desperate!

having the same dilemma - baby bjorn suits my refluxy baby but is not great on the back...bought a wallaboo (pouchy sling) but must be doing it wrong as baby looks contorted in it and is not happy. Currently trying a kind forumite's close sling but am just useless with wraps, even easy ones like that! thought had got it right, then looked in mirror and baby was in some odd perilous position! are any of the stretchy wraps good for upright holds?

Yep, have all the same issues with my 2.9 yr old, sooo frustrating esp after an initial year or so of fantastic eating, was so pleased at the time! It's def good to hear we're not alone. I do think in our case anyway some of it is distraction - e.g. when we're out he often won't eat things which are staples at home, and just wants to run around/talk to people at the next table. Also tiredness. I do offer new foods alongside old favourites, so that if they're rejected at least something is getting eaten, but not necessarily one that's seen as a 'treat', if you see what I mean. have had success with some bizarre techniques - e.g. went off banana for a while, so I sliced them up and called them 'banana coins' as he loves coins whether chocolate or real, and that worked really well for a bit. Also likes raw carrots because rebecca rabbit on Peppa Pig eats them... I try not to let it get to me, but what I really hate is playing with food/not even trying something/throwing on floor - and he knows it, so winds me up a lot that way.

Oh thanks Littlemoo, I was given that book when my first son was sleeping badly so must dig it out! interesting idea re sleeping with baby bjorn in armchair - might need to resort to that. have had him in it most of today in order to get anything done. Also thanks hellosailor - least i know what the cause of the nappies is now, hopefully it'll calm down soon...

managed to get ranitidine yesterday - too soon to tell if will help, gp did say could take up to 2 weeks to take effect - so he hasn't let me put him down all day which is usually a sign he's sore. For those who used ranitidine, did you find it caused loads of poo?! of the explosive sort? We're talking every half hour, it's quite something. am hoping it'll settle... how annoying re infacol - could have avoided a particularly painful 24 hrs if GP had realised.

Feeling a bit annoyed with myself for not pushing it more at our appt - GP talked about ranitidine but then said to try infacol (hmm) in first instance - and he's no better in fact far worse in the last 24 hrs, lots of screaming (sometimes only relieved by feeding, which of course then makes it worse, vicious circle!), so am going back first thing tomorrow to ask for something else. Just as an aside - I almost wonder if the infacol somehow made it worse? If ranitidine is the first option guess we'll try that but bear in mind what everyone is saying re Domperidone and omeprazole. Thanks again! It IS horrible esp as I can see he really wants to be this chilled little baby he was at first, and he's in so much discomfort and pain.

Agree with F - two weeks is a long time in the life of a newborn! A lot cd have changed by then.

Thanks - all v useful. Little h - my older son def got better with weaning and less milk too, never seemed to sick up food in same way he had with milk, plus he crawled fairly early which I think helped. I'd say it had much improved by 7/8 months, and gone completely by 1 year. My baby seems worse though than my older one was hence why I'm going to push for further medication. Good to know what the medical options are so I can be semi informed when talking to the doctor later. Does seem odd that some GPs will prescribe them and some won't - rings a vague bell from experiences with my older son.

Son number 2 (nearly 5 weeks) is following in his brother's footsteps with bad reflux. Am going to see the GP tomorrow so not seeking medical advice, but more experiences as we only know about gaviscon - used it for my older son with limited success, using it now with baby with no apparent success (will only sleep up to an hour at night before wakes up screaming and being sick etc). I've heard about ranitidine and domeperidone, but also that you need a specialist to prescribe, so am ready to seek a referral if necessary. Trying lots of being upright for long time after feeds and just generally, going in sling, vibro bouncy chair and propped mattress - to little avail. As I say, will be seeing doc anyway but keen to hear others' experiences as we only have the precedent of our son and in retrospect gaviscon prob wasn't sufficient for him.

My older son did this - newbie started off loving basket, now much more clingy and doing what first son did, but 4 weeks on - gah! Also had similar issues re feeding with older son, so you have my sympathies. It's really hard because although all they need is colostrum in first few days if they're not staying on for long you do worry, and we did the whole cup thing which is such a hassle so I totally feel for you. Hope you get some support from your midwives. Sounds like you're taking the right approach re shifts with partner - things improved for us with first son once we did this. With new baby and cosleeping, I'm not breastfeeding much anymore but tend to do another approach whre he is on top of covers, and i am on back next to him with one harm down one side of him (if that makes sense?) - helps that we have a big bed so husband can't really roll onto him. I only do it from 5ish on though in morning though as feel we're all more awake then...

Oh yes, my son was allowed to keep his dummy first time round (was not using it by time of second op). We had the op done because of recurrent severe ear infections rather than hearing issues but actually think it made a difference to speech, so think his hearing had been affected too prior to the op (just not in a v obvious way). I found once I started telling people about it almost everyone I mentioned it to either had had the op themselves or had a relative who had, think it's really v common.