Hello.Again.Kitty | ExpatWoman.com
 

Hello.Again.Kitty

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Latest post on 10 May 2011 - 15:01
"baby" yoghurt is just normal yoghurt but without the added sugar and colourings (at least the Rachel's etc stuff is). Don't get me wrong, it's yummy, and all that, but at that price, it's such a rip-off and there'd nothing wrong with normal yoghurt for them. If you want a fruit yogurt and want to control the additives and sugar, add some fruit purée to plain yoghurt. I used to use those Ella's Kitchen pouches to get a bit more variety in! <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 10/05/2011</em>
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Latest post on 10 May 2011 - 13:54
er, if anyone needs some, I have a few packs left (didn't get on with them at all). Just give me a shout on this thread and we'll get in contact.
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Latest post on 10 May 2011 - 13:45
Why is Dubai so behind (read: backwards) WRT breastfeeding education and encouragement for mum's? Why isn't there a push for ALL malls to have bf-ing rooms? (i.e. Dubai Mall is great but the newer MCC has none!). Why don't hospitals have facilities? City Hospital is noticeably lacking despite having a LC? You could easily extend that statement to disabled facilities too. Anything that caters for anyone who isn't "the norm" here is seen as a tag-on and additional cost (not in hospitals, ofc - that would be worrying! lol!) and/or last in the queue. I have a real issue with changing facilities located in women's toilets - what about when I pack DH off to change the nappy - modern man that he is?! I also refuse to feed my children in a toilet. When I get back to work, I'm going to come down hard on such nonsense - having kids has changed my perception of the build environment no end! Blaming isn't really appropriate here, ofc, but as to the reasons for the lack of awareness of the need and provision of such facilities, I would look to the designers of buildings, the clients commissioning them and their demographic. DH comes across a lot of engineers especially who've never even considered how a person with a buggy or toddler can cross the road at 1.6m/s, or even other designers who don't seem to have understood that "less mobile" people shouldn't have to do 100m more travelling on foot than mobile people in order to find the ramp to get into the building they want to access!
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Latest post on 10 May 2011 - 13:16
I think there's a lot to be said for the "Magic 6 Months Button" - a lot of people see it as a major - and instant - milestone (or hurdle) to get over and then see their lives as getting so much easier - being able to relax certain aspects of baby care, being able to feed them solids, etc... But that's a good point HAK - breastmilk, or breastfeeding, is "generally" by the time you get to 6 months, easy and hassle free. Why not continue without having to worry about formula and sterilizing and prep work etc. Oh absolutely! I could never get my head around that one, personally - the same for expressing when there's no real medical or practical need... bf has to be the most convenient way of feeding - all you need is you, bubs and maybe a muslin cloth. BUT, we're coming at it from a pov that it wasn't difficult and didn't affect us. I have a friend who did start bf, but had issues with it simply due to her and how she felt as a woman. She wanted to be "her" again and part of that was stopping breastfeeding, weighed up, of course, with wanting to do the best for her baby. I have to say, though, that my extended bf-ing was helped no end by getting properly fitted with underwired nursing bras (properly fitted is key here) - it made me feel like a normal woman, without huge monoboob (when you're a G-cup, there ain't much definition out there!) and I could wear nice clothes and look good... well, normal! lol <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 10/05/2011</em>
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Latest post on 10 May 2011 - 13:13
BCF - quick question on this. I noticed you mentioned on another thread about BM being the only source of nutrients for the first 4-6 months. And then you mentioned about solids not being primary source of nutrients until LO's are beyond 12 months. Why is there such a big push to start solids so early? Why start at 4 months??? My HV in the UK told me it was to try and counter very early weaning. Back in the day, people would feed their babies all kinds of stuff from very early - my MiL suggested "a bit of cereal in the bottle" from 2 weeks old! The HV also said that some people aren't aware of what foods are appropriate for babies, and this is down to education and family pressure - the good old adage "well, my mum gave me [insert inappropriate foodstuff here'> as a baby and it never did me any harm!". She told me she'd been round someone's house who'd been giving her 3 month old baked beans, following the thinking that if it's good enough for her, it's good enough for the baby - high salt, high sugar, colourings... yeah. The 4 month mark comes from the fact that a baby's digestive system simply cannot deal with solids before then. 6 months is "the ideal" and is meant to encourage people to push weaning back as far away from the early weaning stage as possible.... a bit like a work deadline when you know the person's going to want it asap, and you know it'll be ready at say 16h, but you say it'll be ready at 18h just to make sure the person doesn't rock up before 17h30! As you know, weaning is one of the major milestones of a baby's life (or rather of the parent's life) and some will also try to wean early to just be ahead in their imagined Advanced Baby Competition...
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Latest post on 10 May 2011 - 13:04
you've pretty much answered your own question - he's very mobile at the moment and a bit off his food, but otherwise happy and growing. I rest my case! ;)
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Latest post on 10 May 2011 - 13:02
I think there's a lot to be said for the "Magic 6 Months Button" - a lot of people see it as a major - and instant - milestone (or hurdle) to get over and then see their lives as getting so much easier - being able to relax certain aspects of baby care, being able to feed them solids, etc... The truth is it isn't a button - babies don't change overnight, and nor do their needs. Besides, I generally use guidelines as just that - for guidance, not as a hard-and-fast rule.
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Latest post on 10 May 2011 - 12:33
Why does everyone do this thou? I had a boss in the UK who lived by this slogan "if you need to do overtime everyday then either the job is too much for you, or you are not up to the job".... I also live by that, and overtime SHOULD be the exception not the rule..... I dont get paid for overtime and therefore i only do it WHEN necessary..... I live to work not work to live..... I think it's more a case of bad management and bad resourcing if a company has to rely on their employees working free hours in order to do the work - the bosses are quite obviously incapable of estimating the necessary time, resourcing the job and bringing in adequate fees to cover it. I had the dubious pleasure of working in a place that seemed to operate a "no free time ever" policy, but I am sure that it was down to the boss' ego as slave-driver. He once got one poor chap to stay until 1am doing a presentation and told him at 9h the next morning that it was no longer needed, and that he had known the previous day but hadn't had the time to say. Anyhow, I hated the job - no prospect of advancement, no enjoyment - so was in at 9h and out at 17h30 on the dot - invariably the first and only, but in my mind, a job is a 2-way thing - dedication works both ways. Needless to say, I didn't get fired. I think he was mildly amused that out of an office filled with sycophantic men, I was the only one with any balls to stand up for myself.
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 20:15
I found sudocrem to burn on already sore skin - but that was just me. I'd get him out of Pampers - horrid, chemical filled things. I found my two much damper with Pampers (I use Sanita bambi) Anyhow, aside from keeping him dry and bottom in the fresh air (not good with the runs tho! lol!), also try to make his diet a bit bland for a bit - no oranges, lemons, tomatoes (acidic stuff) and the same for you if you're breastfeeding. I have a friend whose son had horrid, blistering nappy rash and she realised she was eating tomatoes every day, so she cut them out and the rash cleared - one of my mum's friends had the same with oranges. No scientific proof, but hey - anything's worth a try.
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 20:07
I've noticed that neither Choithrams nor Spinney's ever offer the correct change. And I must be unlucky because I can't remember the last time that the amount was in my favor. You have to round it down and make it in your favor!!! If they take 25 fils because you owe them 5, 10, or 15 - ask for 25 fils. Generally you will get it, and if they are reluctant, tell them to make it up with the next customer they overcharge. Those are really good ideas - particularly making it into my favor! I think I need assertiveness training!!! When I do the "take it from the next customer" I have gotten so many looks by customers behind me. I know I look a bit cheap in doing it, but when you calculate all the money that they have helped themselves to over the years it can really irk you!!! edited by Crystil on 09/05/2011 hehe - yes, that may be a bit harsh if you're in the queue - I tend to go for "it'll be fine" or something nice and neutral.
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 20:04
When DD decided to help herself to the Panadol Extra "sweeties" that I was completely unaware DH had left on the table, the doctors told us that a person would need to take in the region of 10g of paracetamol before there would be any physical adverse side effects (to their liver, etc) - it's possibly the least harmful drug on the market. As it was DD was fine with having taken 3 pills of 500mg. DH, however... Different story, however, if you'd given the Calpol Plus or any other paracetamol suspension with antihistamines included, in which case it's the antihistamines that could cause big problems (there have been fatalities). It's for this reason that paracetamol for children with added antihistamines (Calpol Nights, Medised, etc) is no longer available in the UK and US for under 6's. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 09/05/2011</em>
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 19:53
I've noticed that neither Choithrams nor Spinney's ever offer the correct change. And I must be unlucky because I can't remember the last time that the amount was in my favor. You have to round it down and make it in your favor!!! If they take 25 fils because you owe them 5, 10, or 15 - ask for 25 fils. Generally you will get it, and if they are reluctant, tell them to make it up with the next customer they overcharge. Always carry plenty of 25, 50 coins. If your bill is XX.65, give them bills and 50 fils. edited by Crystil on 09/05/2011 I do that now too. Last week something came to 40.20 so I gave the chap a 50 and he asked for change, I said I had none, he apparently didn't have any 25s or 50s, so I told him to just give me a 10... he did have some kind of spasm and started on a "but..." but yes, I just shrugged and repeated "just give me the 10, it's easy" and he did. Also, at the same place, I was due 0.75 change and they only gave me a 50 fils! Still can't really believe it's even an issue - lol!
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 15:33
BTW one of the things would scare me the most if I would be raising children in the UK is how easy and cheap is to get dr_gs. sure, but that's actually pretty similar to anywhere in the world nowadays, sadly... even here. I think it's down to us to educate them to the best of our ability and then trust them to make the right decisions. As for the OP - Essex isn't that bad... ok, some parts of Essex aren't that bad! You could also look to living in Kent, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire if the commute wasn't too bad.
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 14:52
my two sleep in a t-shirt and knickers/nappy and I have the A/C on at 24 and just turn it off when I go to bed. DS won't keep any kind of blanket or sheet over the top of him but DD will - just a light something, although she often kicks it off. Better to be too cold than too hot! <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 09/05/2011</em>
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 14:31
Thank you very much ladies, I feel a little better now. The bleeding seems to be slowing down, I have a panty liner on just to monitor it and make sure its not too heavy. Still waiting for that magical contraction though!!! Hello.Again.Kitty I'm the one who asked for it. To be honest my OBGYN was all for waiting until next week when I have hit 39 weeks. The reason why I asked for it is because I'm struggling with really bad pelvis pain(spd) It started from about 29 weeks, some days are better then others. At night I can not turn over in bed, its has to happen in stages, I can not put any pressure on my hips, there have been times when I need to go to the toilet and I can not even stand up, I kinda have to crawl or get DH to help me. And to make matters worse I've developed pregnancy carpal tunnel. It really affects me and at times struggle to make a fist with my hands or hold a heavy object like a book. Yesterday driving was a little difficult as I could not wrap my hands on the steering wheel properly-not very safe me thinks! I never had any of this with my first pregnancy so this is all one huge shock to me. All of this is really preventing me from doing normal things with my son like I used to and in all honesty I feel slightly miserable. Hence requesting the sweep. oh, I completely understand on the pelvic pain front! In the end, I had to take up all the double bed just to roll over because it was impossible for me to lift my pelvis at all. One thing to watch though is when bubs is born and if you're changing a nappy or playing on the floor, remember that it will still hurt (er, kill!) to get up one leg at a time with no support... did that once and collapsed back on the floor!
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 13:02
Has he looked for a job in SA? Until or unless you/he does, then the conversation will always be your heart vs your head. Try and rule out the speculation. As for the UK, there are lots of lovely different places there too - obviously it's not the same as SA and will never hold the same attachment that you have to "home", but it's not all bad. If you do go back, make sure that you both compromise so that you're both happy. It's just another chapter, after all. ... and lastly, carry on talking openly to your DH about all this, warts and all. Oh, and properly lastly... are you able to consider a sabbatical-type break? Maybe go and spend 3-6 months in SA before taking stock of your situation and making your decision with a fresh mind?
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 12:36
medical fee? It's often 500/yr.
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 12:35
I also think it's odd and would be questioning it too. Also, from a "safety" point of view, I'd also find it questionable. Buildings are designed for a certain capacity in terms of fire regulations and evacuation, but if having an extra few parents in the building was to push them over capacity, then I'd be worried!
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 11:41
I haven't and won't give my two the CP vaccine. It apparently doesn't actually stop them getting CP, just knocks a day off it, so, er, really, what's the point of pumping them full of more stuff if it doesn't actually do that much? I know a lot of people will say that the symptoms are lessened as well and that CP complication can be horrid, but complications from CP are rare, really rare and any normal parent would be looking closely at their sick child to spot anything untoward throughout the illness. I think DD may have had CP - picked up from a child who had it and whose parents decided it'd be a good idea to take a long-haul flight - but I'm really not sure because she had all of 5 typical-CP-looking spots!
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 11:16
Exile - sorry to sound harsh, but - they get the foods that [i'>you[/i'> give them. If you don't give them milk instead of solid food, they won't get it. This isn't a failure on your part though - it's a case of wanting to do the best for our children but not seeing the wood for the trees. My DD is very similar - she loves milk and would happily drink and drink until she has no room left for a proper meal, but it's one of those times when I have to be firm and tell her that she can't have any milk for 30 minutes before a meal and she can only have 1 cup with her food.
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 11:11
I'd second the others - do what [i'>you[/i'> really want to do. If you want to breastfeed - and you can and will - then set your mind to it and persevere. It's completely normal for babies to drop in weight, and if your DD is back up to her birth weight in 6 days, then it means your milk is tip top! The key is the latch, and your baby will adapt it to suit your breast - flat nipple aren't necessarily a problem because a good latch takes in a lot of the areola too. Ask Cecile or another bf counsellor for help on this - it will be worth it. But, if you are comfortable expressing and can imagine yourself doing so for as long as you would have otherwise planned to breastfeed, then go for that option! I found that I couldn't express enough and so in comparison, direct breastfeeding was far easier, but everyone's different and at the end of the day, as long as your baby's getting the milk it needs in a way that you're happy with, it's all that counts. Good luck!
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Latest post on 09 May 2011 - 11:01
I had 2 with DS - neither hurt at all and I didn't have any bleeding either. First one didn't work, but the second did - I was in labour about an hour after the mw did it. I think they tend to shimmy things along if you're on the brink, so to speak May I ask though - simply out of curiosity (and not anything to do with you) - why your OB/Gyn decided to do a sweep at 37/38 weeks? It just seems very, very early, because it's only on the cusp of "at term". Usually, in the UK (which is my benchmark for how to do things properly) they will only do a sweep at 40 weeks, as it is the first level of induction.
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 11:49
Ha ha haaaa. I am enjoying your postings on the thread and was wondering what response you will come up with. hehe! I must stop now and do some studying. Must. Stop. Now... ... now
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 11:40
It could also be that you are a glass half empty type of person Kitty. you obviously didn't use the search function to find the "what kind of person are you?" thread from last week... ;-p
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 11:38
Thanks girls for your prompt response. Actually, we want to celebrate it at home, problem is, we do not have much space so we want to rent a nice place to celebrate our son's first birthday as well as for us, as new parent. We are also thinking of making the celebration for the two of us, as a week after will be my birthday! ;) How many people do you want to invite?! My advice would be to keep it chilled and manageable - you've got years and years to come of mad children's party planning, where you'll have ever increasing numbers of screaming kids rampaging around, catering, entertainment and the dreaded party bags to deal with. Family and a few close friends - it'll be lovely.
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 11:22
so lemme get this straight...so far this morning us EW'ers who use the forum to ask what might be construed as a stupid question by some of us more enlightened folk have been called: stupid lazy technologically impaired haveheightened self importance issues and are time wasters. care to add a few more of your insights ladies? Don't hold back now girls...really let us know what you think of us all ;) hehe - but there's proper questions and the proper daft ones like "what should I have for tea?" I also don't believe that anyone born after 1975 can be so technologically impaired as to not know about Google. I beg to differ. "What should I have for tea" is an excellent conversation starter and not a daft question. Talking about what people are having for tea can be revealing and enlightening, from the different English terms for types of veggies and dishes among the US, UK and Oz to getting an insight into what people actually eat nowadays. I have learned to widen my scope of what I cook at home due to these type of threads. ... or it could just be that they are incapable of independent thought. (that's another one for your list Aroha!) adding it. AND I'm going to add too old to google, given some of us were born on the wrong side of '75 :) Listen, even my mum can google, and her technological expertise involved a conversation long the lines of [me'> "Well, put the CD into the computer and it'll tell you how to load the software" [mum'> "Ok, I'll listen to that later..." Heck, even my dad can google (just about) although he does have a tendency to start shouting at the computer when it doesn't read his mind. ;)
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 11:12
at home! The first birthday party is more for the parents than the child, who will be happier with the wrapping paper than the gifts s/he'll be showered with. It's for the photos, rather than the kid having fun (sounds terrible, but if you invite a horde of 1 year olds, all they'll do is play next to each other and then get overtired and start crying and/or look dazed) Make it special, but special for posterity's sake - it's also the first anniversary of you becoming a mummy!
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 11:06
so lemme get this straight...so far this morning us EW'ers who use the forum to ask what might be construed as a stupid question by some of us more enlightened folk have been called: stupid lazy technologically impaired haveheightened self importance issues and are time wasters. care to add a few more of your insights ladies? Don't hold back now girls...really let us know what you think of us all ;) hehe - but there's proper questions and the proper daft ones like "what should I have for tea?" I also don't believe that anyone born after 1975 can be so technologically impaired as to not know about Google. I beg to differ. "What should I have for tea" is an excellent conversation starter and not a daft question. Talking about what people are having for tea can be revealing and enlightening, from the different English terms for types of veggies and dishes among the US, UK and Oz to getting an insight into what people actually eat nowadays. I have learned to widen my scope of what I cook at home due to these type of threads. ... or it could just be that they are incapable of independent thought. (that's another one for your list Aroha!)
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 10:35
A big box. Well, that's the theory. At the moment it's in various big piles on the dining room table. The plan is to chuck (boo hoo) the stuff that doesn't really have any meaning, photograph the stuff that is average and keep the stuff (in the box) that is special.
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 10:33
what she get banned for? thats just silly.... no idea and she has no idea either :( one of the great questions of this decade... CW - you can come back though. I suggest "Chiggy Wiggy II"...
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 10:00
Because EW is quicker than google? ? I'm going to quote Google on this: "About 886,000,000 results (0.10 seconds)" ... I think it's down to a combination of laziness and thinking that their problem/issue is oh-so-different from everyone else's... [b'>same reason people don't use the EW search function that much[/b'> Well, I know why I rarely rely on the EW search function, and that's because it rarely bl00dy works! you're not allowed to say that. The EW search function works really well in an alternative search-function kind of way and can provide a lot of information, although often not specifically to do with what you actually wanted to find.
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 09:55
so lemme get this straight...so far this morning us EW'ers who use the forum to ask what might be construed as a stupid question by some of us more enlightened folk have been called: stupid lazy technologically impaired haveheightened self importance issues and are time wasters. care to add a few more of your insights ladies? Don't hold back now girls...really let us know what you think of us all ;) hehe - but there's proper questions and the proper daft ones like "what should I have for tea?" I also don't believe that anyone born after 1975 can be so technologically impaired as to not know about Google.
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 09:40
Because EW is quicker than google? ? I'm going to quote Google on this: "About 886,000,000 results (0.10 seconds)" ... I think it's down to a combination of laziness and thinking that their problem/issue is oh-so-different from everyone else's... same reason people don't use the EW search function that much Incorrect. http://www.expatwoman.com/abudhabi/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=147045 lol - touche! ;)
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Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 09:35
Because EW is quicker than google? ? I'm going to quote Google on this: "About 886,000,000 results (0.10 seconds)" ... I think it's down to a combination of laziness and thinking that their problem/issue is oh-so-different from everyone else's... same reason people don't use the EW search function that much
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Latest post on 07 May 2011 - 22:10
This was HK's advice from another thread earlier(HK, I hope you don't mind me reposting). I have been following the method below with my DD. I am amazed how effective it has been. It has been 2 weeks since she had her last timeout (touchwood). She used to have atleast 4-5 tantrums and at least one timeout everyday before. HK, thank you so much for this. "ignore the tantrum, not the child"... basically, tantrums are the frustration of not getting your message across, no more, no less. So anyway, when DD kicks off, I calmly ask her what's bothering her and ask her to tell me in words, like a big girl, rather than ignoring her completely and walking away from the screams. I'm amazed at how effective it is. She will often calm right down within a minute and we'll talk about it, properly. I make sure to listen very carefully and tell her that I understand how angry/ sad/ frustrated [whatever'> has made her and then I tell her the reason why I said no, or why we can't do what she wants to... and that satisfies her. It's not "giving in" at all - she still doesn't get what she wanted - but she's told me in an appropriate manner how upset that makes her and I've made sure that I acknowledge her feelings. She feels more in control, and happier and I have avoided 45 minutes of ear-piercing screams. Win-win! Also, give your DD time to make her decision. i tell DD to do something, if she refuses right away, I say "tell me when you are ready". So, she has some time to ponder on it and feel that she is in control. Usually, she comes back after 2-3 mins and says "mum, I am ready". That way, none of us stress and I get what I want, she gets what she wants. Hope it gets better for you soon. wow! that's great news! So glad it's working for you too! It's a funny one though, because thinking back, it's just so simple - almost a no-brainer, and I wonder why I didn't think of it before. DD's tantrums had honestly got to a stage where I couldn't take it any more and was wondering if something was actually wrong with her! You're so right in giving them a bit of time too - I've also read somewhere else that it's good to give them a few minutes after introducing something like "it's time to go home" - so it becomes "We're going to go home in 5 minutes, so it's time to finish playing and get ready to say goodbye"
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Latest post on 07 May 2011 - 21:40
yup, stick to one country - there's be plenty to fill your days with and I think it far nicer to get stuck into an area than to spend your time rushing from one place to another. If you were to go tot he South of France though, you could pretty easily cross into Andorra or Spain (Barcelona?) or if you're on the Italy side of the French coast, go for a day to Monaco and/or then further into Italy.
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Latest post on 07 May 2011 - 18:43
I first read "after a flight" and was like, eh?! Was there not enough G&T?! Anyhow, I don't sulk. I can't sulk because it's just daft. If we have an argument, once it's done, it's done - we're both reasonable adults and can put our arguments forward without resorting to playground tactics... DH takes longer to calm down than I do, but it's not often a problem. We also don't argue about how we raise the kids - we've discussed it often enough, but never argue. We just share the same values, the same goal and in general, the same methods - it also helps that I'm the one who has looked into all this parenthood malarky, so DH looks to me for actual methodologies. We also feel it's very important to present a united front, so very, very rarely question each other's method in front of the children. Anyhow, just for the stats - DH and I have been together 14 years and married for nearly 6. :)
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Latest post on 07 May 2011 - 18:32
We went through a similar phase with DD - she wanted a late nap, which then threw dinner and bed out, so she would hardly eat and then be grizzly until bedtime. Our solution was to move her dinner forward, get her active in the afternoon, dinner at her peak, then a gentle wind-down to bedtime at 19h. I know it's a shame to feel they're missing out on all the fun, but they actually need their sleep more. DS has been missing out on the morning activities for ages and ages, but hey, he needs his nap. If I were you, I would push her morning nap back by 30mins/ 1 hour, lunch back to 13h-14h and then ride the wave until dinnertime. Thinking about it, too, she's currently lasting very well in the afternoon, in comparison to her mornings because she has lunch 3 hours after breakfast and then dinner 5-6 hours after her lunch... same with her naps - think about the amount of time she's awake - 2h in the morning, then 4 hours before her afternoon nap then another 4 hours before she's down for bed at night - there's no way she could last an 8 hour stretch awake and stimulated! DS's routine (which has been the same for aaaages) is up at 7h, breakfast at 8h, down at 10h30-11h, up at 13h, lunch 13h-14h, dinner at 17h, sleep at 19h.
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Latest post on 07 May 2011 - 15:03
Pick your battles. She's growing up and wanting to take charge a little bit of her life - becoming a bit more independent... so let her make decisions, but on your terms. Give her simple choices ("would you like an apple or some grapes?" "Would you like to go swimming or go tot eh park?" "Would you like to wear your pink dress or your blue one")... and give her positive attention. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 07/05/2011</em>
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Latest post on 07 May 2011 - 14:49
Hi! I didn't have full-blown SPD (or maybe just put a brave face on it) but mine kicked in from 24 weeks. I gave birth naturally in a kneeling position and didn't have any of the "normal" painful pelvic twinges. I would certainly recommend not giving birth on your back - even if the OB/Gyn says you should [for their convenience'> - because as I'm sure you've found out, lying on your back and trying to raise or move your pelvis is a one-way trip to severe pain! I couldn't roll over on the spot in bed, but somehow, in labour, could manoeuvre myself as I needed. I gave birth back in the UK, where the midwives let you move around as you wish and can deal with delivering in virtually any position. As for recovery, well... it does get better, but I found my body would "remember" the bad position it'd come to think of as normal and my hips would click out every 6-8 weeks after the birth, to a point where my lower back would also lock up and I couldn't stand up straight or walk. This wasn't helped by me also being mum to a 2 year old, as well as a newborn and thinking I was superwoman and not giving myself enough rest. This carried on until last December (18 months PP) when I finally decided to get it sorted and went for a series of treatment with Lauren at the Osteopathic Health Centre. She managed to reprogramme my pelvis in 4 sessions and I haven't had any problems since - actually, no, I had to see her again last week after I tried lifting my 15kg DS in a very daft twisted deadlift! I only wish I had seen her whilst I was pg and straight away afterwards, so if you can, do go and see her now - the least she can do is make you a bit more comfortable! <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 07/05/2011</em>
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Latest post on 06 May 2011 - 22:54
I had to have written permission from my DH so that they would let me set up a DU account for our household... it was tragic... I mean, it's not like I'm signing his life savings away?!
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Latest post on 05 May 2011 - 19:24
I heard foot massage. But what would I know. I dont even know what I am doing on this part of the forum :cool: oh yeah... that's another one. There's apparently a reflexology pressure point that can help... and even if it doesn't work, at least you've had a nice relaxing foot massage (which you probably won't get again for a very long time!)
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Latest post on 05 May 2011 - 19:22
no, it's just FYI. Neither of mine have a BCG and Hep A?B? because they're not required for Dubai, so we're just following the UK routine immunisations and they're both in nursery just fine. I did, however, attach a copy of the immunisation programme we're following.
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Latest post on 05 May 2011 - 19:13
I think I've had a grand total of 2 sick days in 4 years - and that was when I was so ill I actually couldn't get out of bed, so DH had to stay at home. I tell you, we would be Employee of the Decade with a record like that! Still, the beauty of comments like your SiL's is that when her child is howling the place down or she complains that her little angel is tantrumming/ not sleeping/ driving her wild/ whaever, then you'll know exactly what to tell her! As for your BiL, who does he think he is?! You have every right to celebrate the life of your mother and should do so!
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Latest post on 05 May 2011 - 19:06
I read the nipple thing is a long shot and needs a LOT of stimulation, like hours! Or electric-powered help! lol
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Latest post on 05 May 2011 - 18:59
Thanks for the reassurance HAK, I'm on Duphaston too (my last pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 11.5wks and when we started TTC again, my bloods came back as having low progesterone). I'm having another scan on Saturday so if all is well, I'm hoping I'll be given the green light to come off the meds. I hate taking tablets but I'm too scared to risk not taking them! Back to the crackers for me until then......! I've said it several times before, but there's actually no scientific research that proves taking progesterone supports a pregnancy or can save a pregnancy destined for miscarriage... sorry to sound harsh, but it's true, and I too suffered an mc at 8 weeks. Not saying to stop straight away or to disregard your OB/Gyn's advice, but in the UK it is positively unheard of to take these supplements... in fact, Duphaston has been banned in the UK (albeit for "commercial reasons"). A link has, however, been suggested between high progesterone levels and morning sickness.
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Latest post on 05 May 2011 - 18:52
Virgin, HMV or Waterstones maybe? WHSmith might also have them. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 05/05/2011</em>
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Latest post on 05 May 2011 - 18:51
I also don't think you're doing a bad job at all - in fact, you seem to be ticking all the right boxes. Seeing as she's going to nursery and is obviously in contact with lots of other children, have you thought about whether she's picked up worms or another parasite? I know it's horrid, but these things do happen and can affect their digestion. We found out last year that DD had picked up amoebic dysentery - OMG!!! - but it was all very easily treated.
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Latest post on 05 May 2011 - 18:46
yes, I was exactly the same second time around, apart from scrambled eggs would make me gag too - so it was just bread, breadsticks and mashed potato. I lost about 5kg in the first trimester, but DS wasn't at all affected - your body will take what it needs for bubs as a priority - just keep taking the vitamins and keep listening to your body and give it whatever it wants. My morning sickness stopped at 14 weeks, but I think it was prolonged and aggravated by my OB/Gyn telling me to take Duphaston. I took it from 11 weeks and within 48 hours of stopping, all my mc symptoms also cleared up.
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Latest post on 05 May 2011 - 10:50
I have a suggestion......I went into labour 2.5 weeks early last week. We had finished our shopping for the baby that afternoon and we bought a breast pump. DH, being as he is insisted on trying it out.......on himself first!!!!! Then on me! 7 hours later....on our way to the hospital! The midwives laughed their a**es off and told the world as they are convinced thats what brought on labour. Have a go, let's test the theory! hehe - yes, that would do it! Playful "nipple stimulation" is meant to, so rigging up an electric pump would, er... yes... do it!