Getting ready for baby challenge

Well first day back to work was a shock to the system but glad it's out of the way..... Homework time now!
I found the childcare easier when DS was younger, well more expensive obviously but less guilt, as soon as school comes life just gets so busy and I feel bad I can't pick up from school etc! I'm hoping to get a new job while I'm expecting, I'm on a waiting list so could be called anytime, decided not to put life on hold over a job though and carry on as if I'll be in my current position. Either way I'll get six months leave!
Lippie I'm sure u are worried about your appointment but hopefully it will be positive and put your mind at ease.
We are in rental but it's not expensive and is the nicest place I have ever lived in a great area so I'm happy here for now.
Back to healthy eating today and my stomach didn't know what hit it!
Welcome Mummy, don't be too hard on yourself you've done great work and Christmas is impossible, January is a good weight loss month because everyone is in the zone!
A few in tww and actively trying now could have first BFP of the group soon!

I am going to join in if I can.
I have a DS who is 2yr6m. I came off the pill 3 cycles ago, and am currently cycle 2 of TTC #2, CD8. I need to lose about 4stone which is my target although aiming to lose 2 stone before I get to a gaining weight stage of pregnancy. I had undiagnosed gestational diabetes in my last pregnancy which caused a fair few problems, my CS recovery was long partially weight related, so keen to shift some weight. I do slimming world which works well for me. I got to 1 stone just before Christmas, then put 5lb on after a 3weeks Christmas binge.
You would think wanting to be pregnant and lighter was enough of a reason to be 100% on plan... doesn't seem to help though

Red yeah same, DH mum works (and is lovely actually I wouldn't mind her doing a day or two a week but it's not practical with 2 hour drive and her work) and my mum yeah well she's retired but lives even further away and annoys me too much

I think I'd go spare if my mum was the nanny though she's a neurotic micro manager

Going to part time will be hard for both of us career wise but I'm a firm believer in work life balance and we've done ok until now so can afford it just pride gets in the way, especially for DH

Grumpy we have the same with family, DP's mum works full time, my parents also work full time. (My mum wouldn't do childcare for me anyway! She says she has 'done her time' )

Red we are in the same situation, I earn over twice what DH does; we are going to do six months leave each, then both drop to 4 days a week. Baby will go to nursery the remaining 3 days a week as we don't have family close enough.

We spanked all our money on wedding/honeymoon so will save up throughout this year to cover some of the downfall in my earnings! (So jel of the 7k baby fund confused !)

Childcare will hopefully work quite well as my parents will do a day, MIL will do a day & DH works shifts so can do a couple of days! I work for myself so will schedule work round the childcare!

It's SO life changing!!

My DM is currently looking for a house to buy, that we will rent from her at a significantly reduced rental value - this will help us so much!

Plus we are going to do Shared Leave as i earn more. i then hope that both of us will be able to drop to 0.8 FTE to reduce childcare costs, I'm sure i will be able to, but not sure DP will. If he can't then i will have to reduce to 0.6 FTE until school which will be a struggle but paying less on rent will lift a massive weight.

We have savings for baby stuff, namely in the massive deposit we currently have on our rental property.

I'm determined not to over-buy stuff though! & not worried about second hand nursery furniture & hand me down clothes from family

*downloading

Oh Nick I guess all you can do is go the appointment and then make an informed decision from there. Doesn't mean it will be a major issue and at least you know what you'll be dealing with. Really hope it goes well.

Haven't started a proper baby budget but have been downloaded my work maternity policy (work in NHS) to see financially how viable working part time would be. Fortunately I should be able to drop a couple of days but it will be really tight. What sort of things are you including confused? How much detail. Sounds like a good idea.

confused I just started this month saving for my maternity leave now so that the drop in income won't hurt quite so much.
As for budgeting for baby, I haven't looked yet to see what kind of budget we will need for pram, car seat, nursey etc but I have a rough idea how much they are. Childcare costs terrify me!! So we will just be on proper saving mode from now until we are lucky enough to have a baby.

awhhh Nick don't give up! I have a genetic issue too (Not heart related) but I got the all clear from the doctor and so will you! They might need to just change your tablets around and watch you closely.

Yeah I am not stressing aboout the BF either... I am kind of like I will try it for the first few weeks but I will have formula ready to go for when we need it. I would be the first in both of our families to make the decision to BF, maybe this is why it means a little more to me.

How far have people got with their baby budgets? I am trying to work out almost like a wedding budget what we would need and how much it would cost but I find myself getting side-tracked.

The wedding dress blanket is a nice idea... but my dress was a very heavy embroidered silk (almost like curtains) so I am not sure it would look great.

I have a lot to lose, sadly...

I think I'd like to breast feed but I'm on a medication for a heart condition so I think that's going to exclude me. I'm seeing a geneticist later this month to discuss my options re baby and genetic heart problems. The more I think about everything the more it seems that TTC should be years in the future....!!

JB the blankets look beautiful on the website, I'm really keen too.

Breastfeeding is such a personal choice. My sister struggled as her baby had a tongue-tie (although we didn't know that at the start so she just felt overwhelming and didn't know why it wasn't working) but is glad she persevered. Other people I know just went straight into formula feeding and that definitely made some routines easier and gave more flexibility. I would like to try but definitely won't give myself a hard time if I can't!

Hello everyone, been away for a day a wow that's a lot of posts to get through!
Well done to everyone who weighed in a lost weight, steps in the right direction. I'm 3lb down today which I'm pretty pleased about as only started on Thursday.

30 day shred is good. Prepare yourself for level 2 as it's quite a jump in intensity from level 1. It works though - lost inches when I did it. Might try find the DVD and give it another go!

I'm sitting on the fence with BF. I am open to trying it but if it's not for me I won't beat myself up about moving to formula or combination of both.

It would be difficult to sell my wedding dress since I'm such a short ass, but I love the idea of having it made in to a baby blanket. Will definitely be checking that website out.

I have been told/read that Oyster ! I guess i will have to grin & bear it for the early weeks at least, then move on to formula.

Sometimes i read BF posts on here & feel guilty by being absolutely horrified of BFing. The whole idea of it totally stresses me out and make me feel a bit sick No idea why something so natural makes me feel like that though.

It's possible to exclusively express (I have!) But it's the hardest way to feed your baby by far. You still have all the faff washing and sterilising bottles and you need to find time to express every few hours to maintain supply and then wash up all that kit too. Going out for the day is a hassle because you need to find somewhere to express. And if the idea of breastfeeding freaks you out, wait until you feel like a dairy cow hooked up to a machine, watching your nipples being sucked into a sausage shape.
Like I said, it's definitely possible but be prepared for it to be tough.

Welcome jupiter & buzzmoon

Well done everyone on weightloss, even 1lb is in the right direction! I am weighing fortnightly, so my next weigh in is on Friday.

I completed the most grueling cross country race ever yesterday, 10 miles of unrelenting mud and massive hills. Hell! But i felt so good afterwards!

Then i was up at 5am to get horses done and do my first ever circuit training class in my works gym before i started work! I WILL be slim!

As for breastfeeding, i'm going against the grain, it's not for me. It freaks me out and the thought horrifies me plus i would never do it in front of anyone. So i think i am going to express if i can. I have to think that i still have 3 horses to do twice daily, so other people may need to help feed if i am riding or down the field, or if i am competing. The easiest way is to express so that my DP, DM or friends can do it if need be. (My brothers and i were bottle fed expressed milk for the same reason, & its also what other horsey friends do successfully)

What's 30 day shred like? I'm doing slimming world but I find that all too often real life gets in the way! I ate a pizza on Friday night (a very thin artisan one with pumpkin, butternut squash and broccoli on!) And at work on Saturday despite telling my boss I was on slimming world the options were pizza or pizza. So I had three slices of a small pizza express cook yourself pizza with a bucket load of fruit.

If I could have one wish, it would be to wake up slim but the thought of actually having to be motivated to do it myself is very very boring for me :(

Well done to the ladies that lost weight! I am being very honest and i put on 1lb but considering we had 4 take outs!!! Over the last week im more than happy with that!

Anyone else on here doing 30 day shred? I start tonight

theres bf is a personal choice! I keep swaying between it but ultimately i would like to try but might do night feeds with formula for sake of ease... especially with those tomee tippee bottle maker machines they are amazing! But we would never judge you on your decision to avoid bf!

Ooo my wedding dress is worth a small fortune and is still currently sat in my mum and dads cupboard under the stairs as i can't afford to clean it! If you ladies did get preggo you could always sell your dresses to get new ones!