Rayray, Thomas gets the hiccups a lot too, and he always did while he was in utero, so I guess he's just a hiccuppy baby! It's annoying when they get then right before a sleep time though. Re working, I managed to pump at work and kept Clare on b/milk until she was one, then I just did night and morning feeds for the next year - are you able to pump at work? Good luck with your LC appointment!

Sarah, I'm not a great fan of the "feed, play, sleep" routine - I'm not a big fan of imposing anything on newborns, really. Maybe that's why Thomas is such a monster Mind you today he has had one imposed on him because dh went away on a three day conference (good for you dh, don't you dare complain you are tired when you get back) and I had to get up, get four kids up for school, take them, get home, clean the house up - and the little bugger went down for a nap and has happily stayed there. I guess I need to be more brutal. Sigh. I guess we all have to use what works! I'm so sorry you had such a nasty bout of mastitis, but I'm very glad you are better. And if feeling at your wits' end makes you a bad mum, I'm joining the bad mummy club! I was in tears this morning wondering how the heck I'm going to get through this week with a velcro baby and VCE exams for my 18yo and the 5yo acting out and the messiest kids on the planet. That deep exhaustion of a new baby... ugh. There's nothing quite like it, is there??

Dee, have you tried squirting breast milk in Ethan's eye? It's a great cure for conjunctivitis. I hope you don't get it too - when Clare was a baby, dh caught conjunctivitis from her and was really, really sick with it. Babies are such little germ factories.

TM, Rayray had it so right - this is not all about your DP, it's about little Jade and her getting the best start she can, and her best asset is *you*. A lot of men don't like it when their needs have to take a back seat to the very pressing and important needs of mother and baby. A lot of guys find themselves having to do a lot of growing up. Please tell him to stuff it when he says he won't allow something, and just do what is best for you. That's the only way he is going to get the message. I'm so glad you've got your mum. I hope things look brighter for you right now. (Oh, and try fenugreek capsules to get your supply back up - take three capsules three times a day - they are working when your sweat smells like maple syrup! But watch out because they can make your tummy a bit upset.)

Amazed, I have a packet of those hydrogel pads but I haven't used them, as you have to wash you nipples before and after a feed, and the way Thomas feeds, the time he wasn't on the boob I'd spend hanging over the bathroom sink. I'm glad you are getting some use out of them! You must be so tired with all that feeding and having to carry him around.

Thomas' new trick is smiling. He's smiling at everything and everyone. First of all he saved them for his baths, and now every time you look at him or put him in front of something new he smiles. I think he is trying to get his toys to smile back He even smiles at the box of wipes, expectantly waiting for something to happen.

I'm doing what I swore I wouldn't do now too and using a dummy to help him settle when he wakes up during his sleeps. I have been using one to allow me to finish doing things like going to the toilet when he's hungry, but this morning I realised that I just can't do it all with my Magic Bosoms. And he settled beautifully for his morning nap. None of those expensive Avent orthodontic ones either, thankyouverymuch. He prefers the el cheapo cherry teat ones. He's got two bright pink ones Oops, he's just woken up. Good-oh, time for some nice awakies before our afternoon sleep together.