December 2010, where we waft about in mat gear eating icecream

[Miffster]

Yo December 2010 ladies, here we go - the mid-point of our pregnancies...and beyond!

Thank you notso that's really good info.

I am sitting here listening to my DH snore and throwing shoes at the door (he's in the spare room!) I really have no idea how I am going to cope when the baby is in wuth us for the first few months if he's going to keep on snoring like this Maybe we will just have to sleep in separate rooms. Trouble is, when he's in another room I can still hear him but can't nudge him. Gah!

Wow, busy thread. I've been away working all week. Home tomorrow thankfully - I'm soo soooo tired and am now flaring big-time with my Fibro which is no fun when I can't take many meds or even have a hot bath!

LO is moving regularly now and some nights has kept me up with kicking!

CheeseandGherkins - sorry to hear the news. Best of luck.

Hi everyone!
C&G really hope everything turns out ok! FIngers crossed for you.

pjen It's up to you whether you buy a pump. I would just say ONE thing: feeding is not the ONLY way to bond with baby. DP almost never gave DS feeds and he has such a strong bond with him. Just cuddling, doing skin to skin, bathing all these things work in terms of bonding. So don't get too hung up on your P giving feeds in order to bond. You shouldn't give expressed feeds within the first 6 weeks anyway as it can mess up supply/latch.

Morning all - woo must be getting pregnancy brain, had to write myself notes this morning to remember what I wanted to say

PJen We never used a nappy disposal system last time however nappy bins can get quite smelly sometimes so may be a good idea!
I used an electronic pump last time, couldn't get on with the manual, I mainly used it when i went back to work so I could continue BF, didn't reduce my milk supply seemed to increase it! Used to sit in bed at night attached to pump with DH quietly mooing beside me - how did I put up with him long enough to be expecting No2

CrazyKat I use a normal V shaped pillow, it was cheaper and easy to get covers for, I then used it for BF after delivery and at the end of pg when I couldn't sleep in bed it was great to prop myself up on sofa to sleep there.

C&G I am sorry you have had a worrying scan, I hope you get some better news next week.

Chloe Maybe it's something in the water by us that's 2 boys between us - are we going to bet all 3 of us have a boy?

cherylannTweedy I am sorry you are having a tough time, I really will try and make an effort to come over the water in a couple of weeks for a get together!

PitterPatter2 Cheese on Toast or you could try Cheesy Hammy Eggies - put ham underneath the cheese and a fried or poached egg on top after the cheese is melted! We had it for tea last night and if we had more than one egg I would be having it again for lunch

Notso I seem to be doing housework as well today even though DH is a SAHD and he "should" do it He has spent all week fixing my Trike (looks fab!) but I think he has been saving the "cleaning" for moving house as he knows we will have to do a big clean then - would have been fine if we had moved several weeks ago as planned but with no proposed date for move yet, well no house actually I think I better give him a hand

Japhrimel
Enjoy being home, try and get some rest and relaxation, it will help control the pain somewhat - also I know I have recommended it before but have you tried Deep Heat cream - it's really stinky but you only need to use a tiny amount - it helps me take the edge of the pain especially after a bath. There are a lot of similarities between Fibro and ME so I imagine we have similar experiences

Right off to drag DD away from the colourful, noisy, electronic babysitter - otherwise known as the telly and try and get her to help tidy her room! Have a good day all

Oh and df I had the same problem with DP before DS was born. He thought cloth would be more trouble.
I bought all DS's nappies before he was born, but be warned cloth nappies are bloody addictive! I have accumulated some other bits and bobs since then.

If you're worried about convenience you could always try pocket nappies, all in ones or all in 2s. They all go on just like a disposable so your DH shouldn't struggle too much. I'd suggest seeing a nappy agent. babykind are the best as they're not trying to sell one particular type of nappy, so their agent will talk through what you want, and recommend what suits. A lot of them also have a 'nappy library' you can borrow to try out. I think one positive of buying the nappies before is that they're already there waiting to be used. I think if you 'intend' to use cloth but don't have a stash ready, it's very easy to just not get round to buying them as you've got used to disposables.

Only other tip I have is don't use prefolds. Most people I know who've used them gave up on cloth within a short time because prefolds are rubbish!

Just a quick pop in, PJen & Strix looking forward to meeting you both later.

I am wearing a blue & white maternity dress today and have long blonde hair and freckles. I'm sure we'll find each other, Costa is not very big. Three pregnant ladies will surely stand out

I am planning on hiring an electric pump once I get out of hospital. I went to a talk at the multiple births foundation and they recommended expressing from the beginning as babies can often end of in special care as high risk of premature labour. Once home this will mean that I will breast feed (fingers crossed) and DP can do the 10/11pm feed with bottles of expressed milk, he can bond and I can sleep (I hope)

The baby seems to sleep when I sleep because I get very little wriggling during the night.

But at 7AM - wham!

How does the baby "know" when I am sleeping?
All rather strange to me still.

Duelling there wasn't much choice around when I bought my reusable nappies, I got to see some motherease in action and so bought those. They are multi-sized i.e. different poppers which make the sizing adaptable. I have got some disposable newborns to tide me over the first few weeks.

I would say make sure that ALL the terry cloth is inside the wrapper otherwise guaranteed leaks! I also started off putting the dirty nappies in a bucketful of water as suggested, but found it really annoying having to empty the water and then slop wet dirty nappies into the washer. So I 'dry-pailed' them - just chucked them in dry instead and never had a problem. BF babies do have less smelly poo as well, apparently. In fact they absorb breast milk so well DS went for 12 days without a poo! I was panicking a bit but the HV was 'thats fine'. There was an explosion when it came, mind . Luckily I had just asked DH to change him when it did. The paper liners I found washed a few times as well, obviously not pooey ones! As I remember there used to be a good second hand market for resuable nappies so you might find some cheapie pre-loved ones.

kitty my mil used to smoke in the car with me knowing I was pg but we hadn't told anyone, and she used to try and press me to take a drink. No, no, no, no, no.

Lcukily where I am my parents live close by, mil and bil died years ago, fil lives in France and even when he comes over he doesn't bother to see us and I fell out with my brother (makes us sound so disfunctional when you write it all down lol) so house guests are not going to be a problem! Judging by some of the posts that makes me feel rather grateful!

crazykat I've got a v pillow as well, also good for reading in bed and supporting the weight of the baby when you're BF.

duelling forgot to say I also used a cream on DS bum (not vaseline, went with something more environmentally friendly like 'better botty balm') and he never had nappy rash.

tricked you into having a drink - that's really out of order kitty .

I'm very proud of myself for getting my hair cut this morning. My last attempt was a haircut from hell which literally reduced me to tears - not helped that it was 2 weeks before my sister's wedding, so there wasn't enough time to grow it out. So nearly a year I took the plunge and I'm very happy with it.

I'm sorry I have not got time to read and catch up here. But just want to pop on quickly to say PJen and Lavita, I will be there and am looking forarw to it. I am white, have brown curly hair... and no idea what I'll be wearing... jeans and a casual top. I will have DD with me (she is also white). She is seven we will be making a mad dash from her dance show to Costa. Can't remember if the time was 4:00 or 4:15, but I'll shoot for 4:00.

Oh, and I speak with a northern American accent. I'll bring an owl to put on the table if I can find one.

DD is very interested in how we all met and why I have never seen you before.

See you at 4:00 (or 4:15?)!

Strix

KittyBump - we're probably going to get the MyChoice 3 wheeler. I can't find another one that ticks all the boxes for us - 3 wheeler, pneumatic tyres, carrycot option, parent facing pushchair option, no adaptors needed for car seat. It is tricky to take apart until you get the knack but I have no issues with my friend's. The basket is also crappy - small & hard to access.

chloesbaby - I wouldn't worry about the low placenta at this stage. It's so common at the 20 week and so few of those women still have it low at full term. It just means you might need more scans to check up on it.

PJen - I really wouldn't buy a pump now. If you want to breastfeed you shouldn't express until bfing is well established (except in cases of premie babies, illness, etc in which case the hospital would probably lend you a pump anyway). Your OH will bond even so. I'm thinking of making bath-time DH's "job" so he has that Daddy-baby time most days.

crazykat - I'm having real issues getting back to sleep some nights. Plus pip seems to get really active about 11pm and I go to bed around 10pm.

I managed to get some decent sleep. Thankfully DD slept through with no nightmares. My left leg was really sore thoguh coz I'd been asleep on that side all night. Can't wait til I can lie on my front again!

Thanks for the advice about pillows. I had a V pillow when I was pg first time and found it really uncomfortable, but then I did have a really small bump. I think I'll get it out of the attic and try it again before I spend loads on a dreamgenii.

Enjoy meeting up Strix, PJen & Lavita.

Hi all - hope you guys had a good meet up, strix, pjen and lavita.

DF I'm definitely not an expert, but I would agree don't buy loads of one thing in cloth as different types suit different shaped babies. The all in ones look really good, especially bumgenius. Basically, with cloth sometimes you have them separate with a cloth bit then a wrap you either velcro or popper on, which means it is like putting 2 nappies on, and sometimes you can get them all in one. Pros and cons to each type as I understand it.

We ended up using Totsbots with a nifty little rubber 'Y' shaped thing with little teeth that hook into it called a 'nappy nippa' to hold it shut - these are brilliant - with some motherease and some nature babies wraps. We also tried motherease nappies (personally felt they were bulky and less absosorbant) and also got a couple of bamboozles which were ok. We also used terries squares, there are loads of different folds you can do which are easy to learn. They are the cheapest but more effort for you and your DP to learn to fold them (doesn't take long - my DH got the hang of them). Terries probably get wetter quicker so need changing more often but dry faster. They are also about a tenner for a pack of 6 so you could get a pack to try out. I'll see if I can dig out the links to good website for folds etc. Try this one: www.terrynappies.co.uk/info/FoldingTerryNappies.pdf

If there is a cloth nappy group local to you, you could go along and see lots of different types. Some of the wraps are so pretty. Or get a nappy agent to come out to you - I used this website www.thenappylady.co.uk/

What else? I'd use disposables until the meconium comes through as it is a sticky, tarry mess!

I used disposable liners I got from moterhcare which are for use with their nappy system, but you can just pop one in whatever nappy you are using and then flush it away, especially when they are on solids and poos get more smelly and solid. You can just rinse a BF poo under the flush of the loo, pop it into a nappy bin with a lid and then just wash in your machine - I never bothered with wet pails and nappy soak and things. They do get a little stained, but if you get them on the line in the sun they come up white again.

It is a whole world out there, cloth nappies! :o It all sounds complicated but it really isn't, it's just there is a lot of choice. If you get a couple of different types you'll find the ones you like and get on with and then you can stock up.

Now, another one to get into is slings... again there are so many to choose from it gets v bewlildering.

If I think of anything else, will post - sorry this is a bit long. Neither DH or I are really the cloth nappy 'type' but we got on fine with them and got our money's worth, even though we did switch to pampers at about 11 months (mainly cos I was back at work full time and couldn't keep up with washing and making sure we had enough for nursery).

Oh yeah, find out from your local authority about nappy vouchers as you should get some money off when you buy them too.

Er, disposables until after meconium comes through I meant.

I'm so exhausted now, just watching Sat night tv with dp and dd, the boys are asleep in bed. Baby is kicking me lots hehe, she's really active in the evenings. I really like the look of the britax b smart 3 prams, I love britax car seats so seems a good option for me.

I've thought about cloth nappies before but then I think there is so much washing already with 3 kids, me and dp that with another baby I'm not sure I'd cope with it all, plus the drying in December would cost a fortune. It seems like a good idea to me in principal but I kind of think the reality for me would be too much. I can imagine I'll be really busy with 4 children and their washing, baby will go through a fair amount too if she's anything like the others were as babies. Plus with the dog blankets that need doing, and walking, playing with etc and of course the kids, house, 2 cats lol. Anything that takes some stress away and makes my life easier will be appreciated!

Hope your meet went well today.

Japhrimel hope you can get some rest and aren't in too much pain, I feel for you :(

Lavita fingers crossed your babies won't be early, I know someone that went to 38 weeks with twins and both were around 7 pounds :)

Pitter Maybe the movement, so when you're up and moving about the baby can feel this but when you sleep you're moving less plus your heartbeat will be slower at night when you're asleep etc.

Wholelotta I love slings, I have an ergo ng from last time still which I adored, as did ds2. I also tried a hugabub which was fab once you got used to tying it. It depends what sort you're after. Just avoid the ones like the baby bjorn etc as they put pressure on the wrong part of the baby, can't remember too much about that though as I haven't read about them in ages.

Wahoo! Today I have won a travel cot for a tenner and a cot (exactly the same as the one I had for the boys) for £14.50. I'm also watching a Close sling that currently has no bids on it, so fingers crossed for that too!

Evening, I am in a mood DH and I were supposed to be having a cosy dinner and DVD tonight, but when I got in from being out with my Mum he announced he was going out for his brothers unofficial stag night, he went on the official one last weekend!
I have scoffed the cosy tea and choccies and decided to guess his log in for his laptop and I was right ha ha!

DF I am the snorer in this house or rather I Hum loudly, I have even woken myself up! Hopefully the baby will have heard and be used to the noise therefore not get woken up too.

japh poor you sorry you are in pain. I am getting lots of kicks too, I love it.

QoD Totally agree about feeding/bonding, DH hardly ever fed our two even once they would take a bottle, and he had no problems
with bonding.

jobob agree with the ickyness of wet pailing, my Mum was amazed that dry pailing was so easy!

Lavita Pjen strix hope you enjoyed the meet up.

maxpower Weldone! I hate having my haircut, I have only had it cut at a hairdressers about 10 times in 10 years, recently I have been cutting it myself using the Mumsnet method.

craztkat I get that from sleeping on my left side too, I have also had to swap sides with DH as I get claustraphobic if I face the inside of the bed.

Wholelotta I want to love slings but in practice I end up getting hot and uncomfortable. I have a wilkinet I used for DS and got a peanut shell from TKMaxx for £3.50 so thought I might give it a go for this one.

C&G My friend has one of those prams and she loves it. I kind of get what you mean about the washing although I found with disposables I had so many leaks that I ended up doing extra washing anyway! Also the extra cost puts me off them, we had a friend who worked in a nappy factory when the other two were little and we would get a box of 200 disposables for a fiver! They work in a cheese factory now though!

My top Meconium tip is to completely cover the baby's bottom in vaseline before the first couple of poo's and it just slides off.
Wish I had known this when I had DD, I recall nervously dabbing at it with water and a cotton wool ball wondering why the hell nobody had told me newborn babies pooed tar mixed with superglue!

Sorry mammoth post! Have typed myself out a mood nearly, off to start reading Girl with a Dragon Tattoo.

Evening all. Lovely to hear all the advice about Nappies. I will take any advice I can get. We've already bought lots of newborn disposables but hope to move onto cloth ones so I will see if I can get a couple through ebay and the like. Will also chase up the links provided, I know there is a woman here in S Wales who loans nappies out and gives advice.

I have 2 slings now, both from ebay and really hope that I can get the hang of it early

Still not sure which pram/pushchair to get. I was bidding on a mothercare spin but even though I was the highest bidder (ebay) it didn't reach the reserve they put on it. I am hoping they will re-list. Not sure we want to get a new one if we can get a decent second hand one.

I showed my 'baby stash' to my sister yesterday and she got all excited, though really I don't have much at all.

notso do you get cheap cheese now?

thanks notso hope you enjoy girl with the dragon tattoo - I've nearly finished it. Personally I found the start hard going but persevere becasue it suddenly gets good.

morning ladies.

i have spent pretty much all weekend in bed! i have been so tired. thought i was supposed to be blooming by now?!

really getting into shopping now that i know everything is ok and it's a girl. have got most of the big things, nursery furniture ordered,bedding and decoration bought, pram picked, moses basket and a few bits of clothing bought. starting to get excited.

df i had a go at the spin in mothercare and it seems really easy to use. still love the icandy though! dp really doesn't like it. our compromise was that he picked the pram and i got to pick the colour.

notso i have that book but have not started yet. let me know hpw you get on with it.

how did the meet go yest? it's a shame we can't all get together.

cheryl well done on the bargains!

interesting to hear about the nappies. when i had dd, 6 years ago, there was no info about them so i just stuck to disposables. might have to look into it now though. only thing i would ask though, whqt happens if the baby goes to nursery or something, are the generally happy to use them or do they prefer disposables?

anyway, off to get a car seat today. after my breakfast in bed that is!

have a good sunday everyone.

Hey all hope you are all well - have been reading back up the thread but there is so much going on!!

House move went well, now all unpacked - at last!!

Cant beleive will be 24 weeks on Wednesday, wow... genuinely never thought I would get this far.

Have bought a few bits, a sling from my friend (its a moby wrap), and I have my bugaboo and maxi cosi from DD... need to buy a bigger car though.

Have the cot, and a few new clothes etc, but still need to sort out all the clothes from DD. (they're in the shed, grim)

Getting nice and fat, gone from 10 stone to 11.6... feeling fairly sad about that actualy, but I am starving all the time.

Have a good sized bump now, and arse, and hips and boobs.,.. wooo

have a great Sunday guys xx

Wow, that means I'm 24 wks in Thursday OWO!!! I'm a day behind you .

Everyone has been so busy buying / choosing stuff. I'm bidding on a playmat with sides that will hopefully prevent the baby being bashed by the toy cars hat normally race along the floor. I'm also going to start looking for the kind of buggy I want and then search ebay or guntree. If I can get second hand then I definately will. We've sold some good condition stuff over the years!

I'll probably be a disposable girl this time. I tried washables with DS2 but for some reason never really quite got the hang of it and found it a bit of a headache... I know we should probably have perservered but I think the problem was I didn't buy enough, just a few to try out so I never seemed to have one full set ready . It also seemed like such a big outlay although I know it helps in the long run - especially if you use them with more than one baby!

Hi all, hope everyone having nice days. I'm feeling a bit rough with headache and sore throat, so off to bed in a sec as DD just settling for nap.

mumatron - DD started nursery 3 days a week at 7 months and was in cloth. They were fine with it; I even gave them terries to use, just prefolded them for them. I have to admit I gave up on cloth in the end mainly because of the washing and sometimes would run out espeically on day 3 of nursery if she'd gone through a lot and it was mid-winter so they weren't drying very well. I believe there are some types you can dry in a tumble drier, but a lot you can't and I guess not as eco-friendly (depends on your motivation for using cloth I guess! Mainly for us it was money it must be said although liked not chucking away so many nappies too).

Feeling very domesticated at the moment. DH and family are commenting as I seem to be constantly cooking things, and even made DD some playdough from scratch yesterday - wish I'd done that when was having morning sickness as the shop stuff stinks. Think I may be nesting.

Right, off for my nap now :)