Earthgirl gets back on track!

cha97michelle

All i can offer is what we tried that worked. We used infacol before every feed as it was a dropper where you put a certain amount of the liquid in babies mouth before they feed and it helps small wind particles clump together so they can be released easier.

I also found over time that certain foods i was eating were really not helping. Particularly broccoli, wine, and cabbage. I had to avoid eating them with DS1 but DS2 was never affected by anything i ate. It might be worth keeping a food diary and seeing if you can track down what is upsetting him.

Also, winding technique is important. Babies are not quite the delicate things we imagine. I was horrified at first when i saw a midwife wind my baby, but she got huge burps. She showed me to sit the baby on my chest with his feet pointing towards my chin, and then move him backwards and forwards from a sitting position to a position where he is really folded over his legs. Then leave him folded up and pat his back. This scared me, but they are so bendy and were like it in the womb. You can also try laying them over one of your knees so it puts pressure on their tummy and it helps.

Baby massage was helpful. Make circular movements around the belly button in a clockwise direction. Don't go anticlockwise as it can make them sick as you are forcing milk in the wrong direction.

To be honest, nothing cured it completely and it was quite a hard time for me, but these things definitely helped us. Trial and error. Get lots of tips, and see what works for you. If there was an instruction book that worked i would have bought it at that stage.

Kittikins

Oh Michelle, wish I'd known you when I had DD 5 years ago. I was the world's worst muvva at getting rid of wind - she's world class at expelling it herself now, lol

Iris_Blue

I agree Infacol is just fantastic stuff better than gripe water or anything else.
DS1 was breastfed and he really suffered with colic, he was the most demanding of them all. The others were bottle fed and were fine.

The only way I could calm DS1 down was the Infacol and to carry him in a sling all day whilst I got on with my housework. He seemed to like that. It's trial and error.

Hope things are going well for you apart from that

cha97michelle

I don't think i would have been much help 5 years ago as DS is only 3 himself, but i know what you mean. I got so fed up of wind i read everything on it i could.

2 champion wind expellers here too. Thank goodness as i don't think i could pick them up to wind them now. :rotfl:

And, if you decide to top up with formula feed, i would avoid SMA gold. I used it because my mum used it with us and my sisters did too with my nephews, but all the babies were sicky, and i read a link between that and colic. Not sure if it is true, but i used Farleys which became Heinz nurture with DS2 as the midwife recommended it as it is the only one made in britain.

earthgirl

Thanks, I will explain the winding technique you decribed michelle to my health visitor next week, and get her to show me as well, rather than make a mistake.

It just takes him so long to get his wind up at the moment, but at least it is coming a little better than before. I'll try infacol when I run out of coleif.

Anyway, have made an op of £100 so mortgage now starts with £12,xxx woohoo - on the home straight I think!

Car in for serivice and mot tomorrow, and I have budgeted and saved £200 for that, so hopefully it'll be under that amount. I have somespare saved up incase its over. I also need to buy car breakdown cover as taking earthlet upto mums at the weekend, and want to be covered.

Iam also going to do a bit more returning of items, and do a shop today.

My tutees that had exams all got a's and a*s, and due to popular demand (haha), I am starting tutoring again later today - but clients are coming to me, so earthlet can just be asleep (hopefully!) whilst they are here. I've explained it all to the customers, and they are all fine about it, would rather be tutored by me with earthlet than by someone else, so fingers crossed it goes ok!

cha97michelle

Things seem to be looking good. I don't blame you for getting the health visitor to show you, but she might not ne sure what i mean. It is not something i would have attempted myself though without seeing her do it, as i would never have felt i could bend him and pat him like she did, but they don't break under normal stresses.

Your students all did well. That must be very satisfying.

earthgirl

cha97michelle wrote: »

Your students all did well. That must be very satisfying.

Yes, but I think that once they have made a committment (i.e. to get a tutor) thats half of the battle, I just point them in the right direction, and I've been tutoring for 10 years now (omg) so I know few shortcuts!

I have had to spend my pennies

MOT and Service:eek: £330
Comments from the garage owner 'in 30 years I have never seen brake disks like it, with big chunks out of them!' and 'your wheels have had so much impact its amazing they are not square' and finally 'do you drive OVER roundabouts?'

I explained that I live on an almost undrivable road, and have to negotiate about a million pot holes every day. No excuse for the braking though:o

I MUST TAKE MORE CARE!! Part of the problem is rushing when trying to negotiate the road, so I vow to make sure I'm on time :rotfl:

Break down cover with recovery of car and passengers £17 - very pleased with this.

I have rechecked my budget and I allocated £200 for car maintenance for the year, and £150 for mot, so I am £20 under budget, and nothing can go wrong with the car for the rest of the year!

I have been ringing around the salons in a ton where I thought it might be cheaper, and I am still getting quotes of £50 for my hair cut and colour, so I am going to go to the college next week, at a cost of £17. Its ok to bring earthlet with me, and I have picked a time he normally sleeps!

I have been cooking from scratch and baking and finding the easiest way is to cook parts of the evening meal throughout the day, so thatI know its almost there, and then I am less likely to need a 'ready meal' if the baby is tetchy. I am going to start doing more batch cooking soon.

I've got about 10 items on ebay, off to photograph more!

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Well done, you are still really focused on MSE - it must be extremely satisfying to see the mortgage so low now. All your hard work is paying off. What are your plans for when the mortgage is all gone? Apart from a big celebration! My dream is a train ride in the Canadian Rockies, and Blue Maquis Molton Brown handwash (£13.50!!!) in my cloakroom!

Hugs to baby,

Squirrel x

earthgirl

love the ideas for after mortgage is paid off squirrel i am not sure but it involves less work, and perhaps a holiday home.. lovely thoughts

I have made another £10 on ebay, and although earthlet is the main priority and takes most of my time, I have also started tutoring again and its going ok, i charge a bit less when people come here, but its adding up nicely. oh has paid for my car mot and service, so all in all I have managed to op another 400pounds.

We are off on holiday on saturday to mil for a week, and alsoplanning on spending a night in sil caravan which should be nice. oh and i are not getting on well atm, he lives in a constant state of stress about the business(maybe i never noticed before because i did too!), but i think he actually likes to feel stressed.Maybe we will have chance to talk about it then - i won't get my hopes up though, fully aware you can't change a man.

still here are somethings i can do to make bigger ops:
saving money:
continue to reduce electricity
make a list of store cupboard meals, reduce shopping bill and batch cook
work out last christmas pressies i need to buy

making money
ebay 25 items per week
mystery shopping
contact potential tutees and update tutoring website
do small business work

looking forwrd to my hair appointment tomorrow, and seeing family at the weekend.

earthgirl

Hi all,

I've been really focusing on my save money and make money challenges and things are going swimmingly!

I had a great holiday at MIL, very relaxing.

I have contacted a few interested customers, and I have about 5 clients per week lined up now! This should pay off the mortgage in 2011, as long as I keep our houshold costs down.

I have another business idea that I am thinking about, but I want to clear up and clear out the house first, I need the space! I have listed 41 items on ebay and have almost lost the will to live! But anything not sold can go to charity next week, and I'll feel so much better to be decluttered!

Still to do:
- tidy garden, put manure down, take cuttings
- clean house
- Small business work