Procedures, paragliding and -of course- poop!

In baby news this week, our little babe did not poop for 3 days and we were getting a bit concerned as she seemed to have tummy ache (wouldn't you?!)

After a phone call I thought I'd never have to make-

“Hi there Health Visitor, can I ask you if it's normal not to poo for 3 days?” - we have learned that breastfed babies can go up to a week without 'passing,' simply because they are absorbing all of the nutrients. We ended up having both sides of the family amused by 'poo watch' and even placing bets on when the big event would happen! Amazing how family entertainment can reach such heights, hey?!

Anyway, I wont actually describe to you what we witnessed when the 'event' did eventually occur...what I will tell you is this: we had to cut our child out of her clothing.

There was no other way.

It seems this was all part of another growth spurt (I hope not every growth spurt involves cutting her clothes,) and I can't quite believe our little lady is now just over 5 weeks old. We're getting out and about most days now, which isn't bad. Not far- and not anywhere overly exciting- but mostly to see friends and family, which is arguably the best way days can be spent!

The first few trips out were all a bit weird and 'forced.' Has she been changed? Have I fed her? Have we checked the changing bag six billion times? Have I packed it as if we might get stranded??

Now, just a couple of weeks on, my confidence is up and we're just doing what we need to do when we're out. I know there's been lots of hoo-har about public breastfeeding lately, but so far I've only had one 'bad experience.' I've mastered some tactics of discretion involving careful muslin and scarf placements in public and I'm comfortable with that.

This one 'bad experience' we had was quite strange. We were in a café (I wont name and shame!!) having a lovely bit of cake with family when surpise-surprise, baby needed a feed. Barely anybody even realised what I was doing or even batted an eyelid when I fed her discreetly (the only bit of breast you could remotely see in the whole café was in some bloke's chicken sandwich!!)

However, a member of staff who was supposed to be cleaning up decided to just glare at me. For AGES. It was my Husband who was actually in her eye-line, reporting that a staff member was watching me and it was annoying him. Then she continued, not paying attention to the fact she'd scrubbed the same bit of table for so long she could have bore a hole into it!

This went on for most of the time that we were eating, with my Husband becoming angrier at the fact that she was “still glaring!” What was the problem?

Did she think we were too young to have a baby (at 24 and 27, I think we're fine!) Did she not appreciate the fact that I had a baby suckling on me in public? (Hello- it makes more sense than mixing milk from a cow's udder with Nesquik powder, love!!) Or maybe she didn't think it was appropriate whilst people were eating (which would be wholly ironic for a CAFE, wouldn't it!!?)

Anyway, my Husband became so cross at her relentless glaring that we had to refrain him from going over to her and flipping his lid: “I'm going over there! I'm going to ask her what her problem is! I'm going to take that cleaning spray and shove it......”

On reflection, we probably should have let him go and speak to her, as his next resort was ripping open A packet of salt and sugar and tipping up the pepper pot, smearing it all over the table, calling out, “Here! Have that! Clean that up rude woman!” He only stopped when the four of us at the table began spluttering from all the pepper!

To add to matters, the woman then came over to clear our table and (it can't have been coincidence!) wiped the 'spilt' condiments towards the 'floor,' which 'just so' happened to be via my Husband's clean, black jeans. Now we were all feeling awkward so we very quickly left, marginally amused by my Husband's condiment-coated legs!

Aside from that incident, I am appreciating how nice it is to be able to just feed my daughter pretty much wherever, whenever.

My Dad recently did a paragliding experience over in the West Wight (Butterfly Paragliding- would recommend!) and I have to say it was quite a bizarre experience sat amongst the grass on a beautiful, sunny cliff top, feeding my baby whilst waving at my Father flying over my head!! All I was missing was a tie-dye dress and flowers in my hair...

Here he is (it was a tandem, my Father hasn't acquired an extra leg):

I'm also participating in a Baby Development Course, which I would recommend to other Mums (check out TotsPlay!) It is a lovely time to bond, meet others, and it gives good ideas for developing and interacting with a newborn, because let's be honest, most of the time I sit looking at her, with me pulling weird faces feigning entertainment...and even then, her eyes can't really focus yet. I wonder what she's thinking.

Sometimes I waltz around the room with her and the radio on. That's weird. Sometimes I do baby massage or sing a song. Sometimes I read to her- she has a few books herself that I've got started on (thanks to a friend with a similar humour to mine, reading 'Barry the Fish with Fingers' is a popular one for us- when I say 'us,' I suppose I really mean 'me.') And recently I've started reading aloud the book I'm into. I would say I'm trying to influence her intellect, but the truth is I'm just really glued to a book at the moment called 'Me Before You' by JoJo Moyes and I feel too guilty to read it if I'm not engaging with our baby so she has to listen. It's ok- I know it's not an age appropriate book for her but I am doing the voices to make it more suitable. Lou, the main character (a carer from a quaint English village,) now has the voice of Mr Blobby, you see. (Mr Blobby- ha!!- can you tell we're not quite tuned with Cbeebies characters yet?)

And on that thought, I'm increasingly aware our 'sanity' with the adult world is only going to slip away further from here- 5 weeks in and I'm reading about fish with fingers; he's resorted to salt and pepper revenge; and we've both been photographing poo (yup, we had to take a photo of the dirtiest nappy we'd ever seen....and then WhatsApp the image round to the family at breakfast time...)