The Nappy Lady

What Fuschia said. You can use a muslin, old towel or even terry square (about ?1 each) under baby onthe plastic change mat. It is useful as then if they wee it doesn't run up the plastic onto their clothing. I think Skip Hops are great change bags, but if need be you can get by with a rucksack or similar and choose after baby arrives and you have a better idea of what you really need. There's a lot of stuff you think you'll need that you don't, and sometimes something that you found essential with your first baby goes unused 2nd time around so worth picking stuff up 2nd hand when you can. Good luck! Molly x

ryedalema, I feel your pain. It is getting easier to fit stuff in now, but I've been wanting to get fit since No2 was born, and only now (she's nearly 2) am I actually doing it....I think you are AMAZING to have achieved what you have already. I can understand that you don't want to let things slip just because you are back at work now, but equally I think you need to be careful not to totally knacker yourself out...so easy to do this at the stage you are at. It sounds like your week days consist of a LOT of rushing around, and I'm sure that is going to help to keep the weight you have already lost off, and the rest will shift in time. If you can set aside 30 to 60 minutes at the weekend for YOU time I think that would be really good. Sometimes it is so hard to do that I know - I'm awful for not asking my hubby to take the girls so I can do stuff, and it was only when he sat me down and literally told me that he'd take them while I went to have a massage/do a run/get a pedicure or whatever that I realised that I just didn't ever think to do that, and only used his help to allow me to get jobs done, rather than have time for myself, which is really so important. Sorry, going off on a bit of a tangent I know, but totally empathise with your situation, I look back on the past couple of years and have NO IDEA how I've crammed in all I have! Molly

Last winter I discovered my youngest merrily moving pieces of cole 1 at a time from the coal bucket to the WHITE settee..... I was delighted as you can imagine, and she thought she was VERY clever.....

I agree - armbands will do fine. M x

I've always suspected it is to do with let down - maybe one side produces more and/or the flow is faster and easier but have no idea. I can't remember any more which side was preferred, though I am left handed, and so always preferred her to be on the right leaving my left hand free to write notes, drink tea or whatever!! M

Ruth, if he latches on and sucks that may be enough to get the milk production going again. Otherwise, the pumping action might do the job, even if you don't think it does - are you sure you are holding it so you get a good seal around the boob, and if a hand pump the thing I didn't realise is that you squeeze and hold for quite a while and the milk will flow, rather than just sitting there pumping away like mad. I wouldn't worry too much either way though. I spent quite a long time looking lop sided with my 1st daughter who had a strong preference for one side to the other as she got older......in retrospect this was preferable to DD2 who prefers me to now sit with BOTH boobs out whilst she goes back and forth from one to the other leaving me nicely exposed :-$ (and kicks up so much fuss if I refuse to let her do this that it is almost worse)... Thankfully breast feeding days are almost over and I only give her access at home....phew. Molly

Worth checking Southwark council website as they often run stuff in the parks during the hols. I too miss the regular playgroups and things I must admit. Last year lots of picnics in the park with other Mums and babies got me through! Molly

Hi MrsBee, welcome out from behind that tree ;-) It is very common for little ones to be so caught up playing that they just don't 'feel' when they need to go. He will get the hang of it, and the odd accident will only help to reinforce that he needs to start to recognise and act upon the urge to use the toilet. I'd say as long as the accidents are not stressing you or him out then it is fine to carry on. If it helps, you can get Bright Bots Trainer Pants, which will catch a dribble, but not a full on wee (and come in a selection of lovely bright colours), so if they can't quite get to the loo in time they will help, and they they look like 'normal' pants so quite good I think. The other option are Motherease Trainer Pants, but these are not quite so attractive I have to say - they will hold a full wee though, whilst not being a nappy..... Good luck! Molly

I did the interval hill training that (Powerpramming) Liz suggested on Saturday, and it was great....but boy have the back of my legs ached since. Did a gentle run today to ease myself back in. Great stuff to 'feel it' again though. Thanks Liz for the tip. :)) Molly

Hellosailor, I'd ring the MA people, they are really lovely and very helpful - clearly used to dealing with easily confused pregnant ladies!!! I was very confused before speaking to them but they totally sorted me out. Molly

Yes LittleEDFamily - my midwife said it is very common for 2nd (and subsequent) babies to come when other children have been sorted/left the house etc. In my case within a few minutes of DD1 going over to the neighbours for a sleepover labour really kicked in - I didn't feel at all stressed about her being around, was quite happy with things, but even so it was interesting that once she was out of the way it all kicked off. I was also very worried about hubby not getting home in time for the birth/pool not being up in time/not being at home in time!!!, but it is amazing how often things do seem to work out so maybe we control our labours a lot more than we realise we do. For those of you expecting your 2nd it is worth seeing if a couple of friends - maybe those with children of a similar age to your current child would be willing to be on a standby list to take your child until Parents (or whoever) can get there to take over, should things happen quickly. In my experience people are often very willing to help, but we Brits can be a bit reticient about taking them up on their offers. Fingers crossed it will work out for you all without any hassles. Molly x

With mine, I can't really say how many cm's I was dilated, but was told to count 'established labour' as from when the midwife arrived at the house (both home births). So, with DD1 from first contraction to her birth was about 12 hours, first pains at 6pm, by midnight it was getting so I had to breath through contractions and midwife arrived at 1am. Baby arrived at just after 6am after an hour of pushing. With DD2 I had had 'rumblings' for about a week, and when I had the sweep the day before the midwife said I was already 2-3cms dilated. Very mild contractions the next morning, so I spent 3 hours out walking with my sister to make sure things kept going. At 4.30pm I thought I was taking my eldest to ballet class still, but when I walked up the road I had to lean on a car during one contraction so I decided it maybe wasn't wise (errr yeah!!!), so a friend took her instead. Midwife called in at 5pm ish and checked me and I was still 2-3cms but cervix very think and soft so she said when labour kicked in properly it would be quick...but that they needed to get regular and stronger - it could be that evening or the next day so she left at 6pm. DD1 went off to neighbours for a sleep over, and by 7pm we had the midwife back with me because labour had properly kicked in - the speed that all happened was amazing. At 7.45pm I got in the pool and DD2 was born at 8.37pm after just 3 pushes. I was truly amazed by the speed of her arrival, really didn't think it was the baby coming until the midwife said 'yep, that's her head'. I know I'm really lucky, always feel like I should apologise for my amazing births. Re gap between births, I don't think this makes much difference, I think health and general fitness are big issues, and they always said to me that because my first birth was fast and easy that it was likely future births would be even more so, so I was prepared to a certain extent, but what was great was not having to push for so long - that was the bit I was least looking forward to as I knew how tiring it got even doing it for just an hour first time around. Getting her out in just 3 short pushes was flipping brilliant (and midwife says transition lated approximately 3 seconds!!). Re delivering the placenta, I didn't really find this an issue, other than that you can't do much until it's out. But 2nd time around I was very comfortable in the pool (which was still amazingly clean), so baby and I stayed in, she breast fed, and we waited for the cord to stop pulsing (8.57pm). Then they cut it, and the placenta came at 21.12. Also, if you are not squeamish it is amazing to actually see the placenta - the midwives talked me through the workings of it, and I have to say it was so interesting - it is the only organ you grow and then discard in your lifetime after all! This is what I mean about me feeling I should have been a midwife, I am so totally captivated by the process, and how clever our bodies are in a zillion ways. Molly

- Yes....and for most people I know. For me established labour times were; No 1 - 5 hours 20 minutes No 2 - 1 hour 30 minutes Also 2nd time around was much less 'intense' over all, and the pushing bit was very quick - I'm told this was because she was so low - when I had a sweep the day before she came the midwife said she actually touched her hair (bit of a freaky thought, but all good I guess). Good luck! Molly x

....lead weights in his nappy ;-)

Princess, Just on the off chance it will make you feel a bit better about it all I do know of at least 2 friends who never bothered with stair gates and just kept a close eye and made their little ones do the stairs as much as possible (going up and down with them of course), and teaching them how to go down backwards as this is the safest way initially. Both families coped just fine, so it is possible......though I have to say there have been times I've been really glad of the gates because it does let you relax a bit more when they are at that age where you just seem to spend your entire time stopping them from doing insane things.... Really hope the Baby Dan thing works for you at one end of the stairs, and that maybe something else will solve the problem at the other end in due course..... Molly x

Buggie....v funny re your hubby!

Excellent Sally - sorry it was a bit traumatic at first, cheeky baby playing hide n seek..... .....so....how many times have you looked at your scan photos???!!! Molly xx

I 'created' a stair gate (barrier really) on our top landing where a stairgate didn't work using a Baby Dan playpen - 3 of the panels with the door as the centre panel. Wouldn't work on the stairs but might on a landing or in the hall at the bottom of the stairs if you have room? Molly

Probably 2 to 3 hourly according to the baby and their weight at birth?

Snowboarder, you need to read all this in context - both Pickle and I have children older than your little man, AND you've had a really hard time with him not sleeping etc. I think it will take you a while yet to get back up to 'full power'. Anyway, you'll be running after him in the park soon when he's off scootering/cycling/footballing, so bet you'll be fitter than the rest of us put together a year from now! xx

My friend got told to wake her son up for feeds if he slept for more than 2 hours, and I've always been told they mostly run on a 2 hourly cycle of feed, sleep, poo and start over!! Molly

Shadow of the wind is fab - I second that suggestion. Also from our hols last year - the Gargoyle - bear with it as first couple of chapters quite hard going but after that - amazing. Company of Liars - a really great read and hard to put down. My hubby loves the Falco books that Keef mentioned but I don't get on with them. I enjoy most Libby Purves books. Will post again if I think of more..... M

Goodliz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Molly, just once a week (or even every other week > to begin with) and then you can do your other > usual stuff twice. This means you are also getting > some variety. > PHEW ;-) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Liz .....I think (shaking in fear slightly!!). Should I aim to do a session like this once a week mixed in with my usual stuff, or more than once? Understand about alternating weekly, just not how many times per week.... Molly x

Thanks Liz - good advice, I have been doing some hills etc. (Nunhead Cem hill is a killer, but I can run all the way to the top now - with great pride!), and will try more of that and altering speed etc. as you suggest. It is so easy to fall into a rut as you say. Running faster is the biggest challenge for me, and usually I then have to walk a bit whilst I recover, which makes me feel that I am not doing as well as running non stop for 30 mins etc. but your post has motivated me to think again about this! I'm sure some professional advice is more than welcome on this thread, and I would fully endorse your Powerpramming sessions for anyone who wants to return to exercise post baby, I really enjoyed them back in the days when my eldest was a baby. Molly x