Beagle

Hello, I would value any advice re following. In the past fortnight our six month old baby has turned from a one pooh a day(since 3/4 months)to a constant pooper. The poohs are all still within the description for a breastfed baby although vary from usual yellow seedy poohs to quite green. We have had a swab taken, which was normal, and dr thought it might be a virus as other babies in her post natal group had similar symptoms. My baby is really happy and sleeping well, but every feed is resulting in a pooh and passing wind also seems to result in poohs, in fact it is reminiscent of the newborn weeks. She doesn't take formula and we put off weaning until this phase passed in case it was a tummy bug or virus but two weeks later nothing has changed. I have come to realise that "normal" has a very wide spectrum when it comes to babies, and that this probably is not unusual. As a bug is now ruled out I am thinking I will start weaning and put the changes down to a phase or teething, especially as she is so happy and content. Am I being crazy and should I wait until the poohing eases off, or should I take her back to the doctor? Or do we accept this is the normal for now?

My baby had it at 5 weeks and I breastfed her while she had the shot and she didn't flinch or even notice. The scab is still there but it has never been particularly scabby or troublesome and has certainly never bothered her. The reason the shot is being advised is due to the rise of drug resistent TB within some London Boroughs. I was vaccinated as a baby, it never worried me to have my baby vaccinated and it was certainly the least invasive and painful of all her shots so retrospectively I was pleased it was the first one I had done.

I think you are doing the right thing in reducing bedding covering your babe. Like poster above I also would have a feel of the neck throughout the night to see how warm the baby is, and have a look at them to see if they look too warm. However unlike above I would disagree with putting a hat on a baby indoors ( not that the occasion is going to arise in your particular case ). Double check with your midwife/health visitor when they visit and show them the room so you can be confident that your instinct is correct, is there any chance the themometer is positioned somewhere that is causing a slightly false reading - I had mine on a window ledge (in late summer) early motherhood so much to absorb!)

For anyones elses reference I went to Snappy Snaps in Sydenham as they could photo my then 6 week old properly for less than the instant booth price and with a guaranteed result and no stress.

I do think that historically or biologically (not sure if it is a biological imperative) when a baby comes along women nurture and men become hunter-gatherers. Through design naturally the woman is the primary care giver of a newborn and these are the roles we fall into temporarily and then it becomes more fixed. I gave up thinking you could have it all years ago and don't feel any less of a strong woman for this. What feminism gave us was the right to have choices, to choose to work, to stay at home, to have children or not to, choices denied to many of our forebears. All choices in the spectrum are valid to my mind even if they are not always exactly what we hoped for. That there is a disparity in the division of the childcare/home labour does get to me somedays and I think from speaking to friends that the division of this labour, and the lingering resentment, is the root of so many domestic rows. What I tell myself is that it is not forever. Of course we'll see! Anyway I made a rod for my own back by believing my cleaning skills were superior and criticising his, so he stopped doing what he did do . . .

I think you can visit to see it. I know some girls in my post natal group who had water births there since it opened in March. They speak extremely positively about the experience and the overall feel of the facility.

Ditto, find What to Expect the First Year great reference to dip in and out of. I didn't buy anything else initially then when I eventually thought about routines I used the Baby Whisperer and used a few tips from that. In my first week the NHS handbook Green and Purple covers were constantly by my side for quick newborn related reference. It was the most information my poor brain could fathom.

Hello, There is a leaflet detailing your rights while working and breastfeeding and which outlines your employers obligations to accomodate you. I saw it at my breastfeeding group/cafe. It may be available online as a PDf. My sister went back to work at 4 months and had a daughter who refused a bottle. Her midwife advised making the hole in the bottle nipple larger to start with, to make it easier for the baby. It worked, but then these things can be quite individual. Your post struck a chord as it is something I have been thinking about as will be our scenario in a couple of months.

we also did the evening classes at ED hospital, 2 hours x 3 evenings. They are specifically tailored to the birth experience at Kings so really helpful from that perspective, told us what we needed to know and we still see other parents from the group. If you are booked into Kings your midwife should have the application forms.

Both myself and baby have been struck down with this awful bug. I brought her to the doctor as was worried about dehydration as it looked like nothing was staying down. The dr was very practical and set our minds to rest and explained what the signs of dehydration would be, but my stomach felt like it was in knots and our poor baby has been crying and writhing in pain so I can only imagine she is feeling as bad. She looks so bewildered and we just don't know how to help her. She is better today but still has moments of pain and her pooh is very pale and thick. Would it be harmful if I took acidophilis tablets? I am wondering might they pass through the milk and be too strong for her little digestion. Also how long are we likely to be contagious as I wouldn't wish this on anyone!

We have same scenario with my partner who has had it since childhood. For skin relief he has found Aveeno invaluable, collodial oat base, also we came across a soap from Sedburgh soap company in Cumbria and it was developed by an eczema sufferer and doesn't irritate his skin. I can relate to your situation. He has tried so many different preparations/diets over the years. These only alleviate the itch and allow the skin to heal, to be honest for us the best cure would be to live on the coast as sea water really helps, but that won't happen anytime soon.

Thank you for pointer to previous thread, Woman of Dulwich, I had missed that. The rad seems the best solution if temperatures continue to drop, and will avoid breaking the bank and turning us into raisins by keeping the heating on. I do think that cool is preferable to too warm for all three of us. New mother panic de jour alleviated!

Morning, Last night when I did a 3;30 feed and change the room temperature had dropped to 13.4 degrees. 9 week old's neck was warm and her feet, and she didn't seem bothered. I doubled over another cellular blanket so she had x 2 doubled cellular blankets and one doubled cot sheet and again this morning when she woke she felt warm and happy and fed well. I am loath to leave the heating on all night as the house gets too warm and although there is a lot of information on overheating, there is less on lower temperatures other than the optimum is 18 degrees, which obviously last night was some way off (of late room has been approx 15.4). I know last night was particularly cold, but I am not sure how to balance room temperature v number of blankets. Should I be aiming for a warmer room and fewer blankets or continue as I am? Any advice appreciated. C

What looks like a lot of milk coming back up might not actually be that much. My 7 week old spits up quite a bit but although it seems a lot and can be startling it isn't really that much. Hiccoughs are not painful for babies. Mine hiccoughed in the womb and still does. It sounds like it should irritate them but it doesn't. The poo you describe is normal for a BF baby, yellow, seedy, but if you are worried check with your midwife. If you are worried about spitting up when changing do the change before the feed, I found this helped. When they are so new it is impossible not to worry, I was constantly referring to What to Expect the First Year in the first few weeks and it helped set my mind at ease. edited as I managed to delete half the message first time round!

Ladies, thank you. Feeling less like a rabbit in headlights now. I worry baby Beagle will have arrived and I'll still be wondering what to buy. My sister has been very practical but I have momentary panics when I feel so unprepared.

I'mm 33 weeks pregnant and was going along quite merrily until yesterday. I need to but practicals like changing mats and nappy bags and just find myself staring at pages of products unable to buy anything. Where do I start? Is a vinyl changing mat a better choice than one with a removeable towel? I know part of it is just tiredness due to the recent weather but I suddenly feel swamped by choices and am procrastinating at changing mats as if my brain has dribbled out my ear. How do I get started? Claire

I'd start lessons now and see how you get on. I'm 36, 7 months pregnant and resitting my test (again) in a few weeks. The waiting lists at the centres for the practical are long. Also I recall getting a flyer through the door last year for a female instructor around the Dulwich area who is insured to take a baby seat in the back of the car for mums who want to learn but have babies - anyone else recall this? It struck me at the time as I thought it was such a good idea.

I feel your pain. I suffered 6 months of recurrent infection after a knock to my face playing sport, antibiotics didn't help me and like a poster above what actually helped clear the problem up was cranial osteopathy, in Dulwich. Apart from that saline sprays offered the most relief but the cranial osteopathy actually cleared the pain, in two sessions.

Giggirl, thanks a million for the tip. Have tickets, have a seat, have big maternity knickers to throw at Frank Black, nothing more required.

No working ticket machine at North Dulwich Station for over a week and no ticket office open at 7:35am this morning. Is buying a ticket being slowly phased out in favour of oyster? I work outside the oyster zone. Oyster is of no use to me and obviously being facilitated in the purchase of a ticket is too much to expect these days.