December 2010: no, it's not an autumn pumpkin up my jumper ...

[Miffster]

...and we're gliding towards the third trimester, draped in suitably flowing attire.

OWO omg are you feeling OK? Have they given a reason for the bleeding? So sorry you're going through that, rest as much as you can. The steroids are good but try not to worry. Are you having contractions or anything?

OWO thinking of you - hope you are ok.

owo hope you are ok. i had small bleeds when i had ds and went on to have him full term. will keep fingers crossed for you.

OWO omg hope everything is alright.

all ok, just so tired and head ache from hell, does any one know the side effects of the steriods?

OWO hope your ok! There are negligible side effects from steroids if any. I was taking them before I got pregnant and found out that they give them to women who have recurrent miscarriages to stop that happening. I think in your case it is just to make sure that the lungs mature just on the off chance. Keep us up to date, your in good hands I'm sure.

Hi all, we've had a good weekend here, had a drive down to Weymouth Friday, and spent the last 2 days down the seafront. A friend from my old Nov 05 thread came down with her family today, so it's been lovely to see them.

DF - glad everything is good for your SIL, what is wrong with these sonographers?

C&G - yay, congrats on the date, less than 2 weeks you lucky thing!

Japhrimel - exactly the same as me with gavison, I was taking the Rennie tablets too which are bearable, fortunately heartburn has now gone for me though when baby moved round.

Blimey Jobob they're some weeds you've got there!

Ooh Miffster - if this was my 1st that would have been my pushchair of choice.

Squistle - sorry to hear about your MIL, hope she is OK.

Franken - glad you're feeling better, amazing what a soak in the bath & some chocs can do. How come the swine flu jab?

OWO - hope all is ok with you.

Oh I forgot to ask, what are you all doing about a coat? Seeing as this weather is so poo atm I'm thinking I may get more use out of one than I originally thought, but have no idea where to look. Any ideas?

Cheryl I bought a coat on ebay which is really nice and cost less than £15

OWO I had steroids to mature the lungs with all 3 of my previous baby's and I didn't experience any side effects. Obviously, for the baby, it's far better to have the steroids to help mature the lungs though. I really wouldn't worry about those tbh, I'm a worrier about everything and I wasn't too concerned about the injections.

OWO Thinking of you, hope you are relaxing right now and feeling a bit better.

Cheryl I just plan on wearing a lot of scarves and layers even if I can't do my coat up it still fits, for now at least. Although ebay is a good idea.

DF I feel the same about visitors and am already worried about Xmas. I know my MIL is coming, i'm just hoping she stays at SIL's house which is close by, I don't want to bring it up as I think it might start another arguement with DP aargh...

What does everyone think of co sleeping? I am not against the idea of it but would be far too scared of squashing my babies. I upset DP today as he assumed we'd be doing it. He moves constantly in his sleep and is very hairy I told him he'd suffocate them! I'm worried that we have a lot of different ideas

DF did you just search for 'maternity coat'? Silly question but doesn't seem to be bringing much up except for ones in Hong Kong.

Lavita, mine doesn't even do up over my boobs let alone my belly! Atm if we go out I'm having to wear one of DP's jackets, goes well with a pretty dress . I didn't intend co-sleeping with either of mine, but it just happened (and actually so much easier when bf). Not sure how it would work with 2 babies though.

I did but I went into the advanced options and looked for things only in the UK.

what??????????? You've gotta love those bargains on ebay!

OWO thinking of you, hope things settle down

Had a nice weekend so far. Met up with an old friend for lunch today who I haven't seen for ages and we had a good old gossip. DD has been an absolute delight - we even managed to successfully wash her hair without any tears or tantrums (which believe me, is close to a miracle). Off to the IL's tomorrow and DD's staying a couple of nights. She loves it but I'll miss her terribly!

OWO thinking of you, hope everything is ok still.

cheryl but it was free p&p!! I had to buy a poncho (no sniggering) when we were on holiday, but the head bit was so tight you couldn't pull it down!

lavita great to hear your scan was fine and the twins are also fine.

I won't be co-sleeping, but the moses basket stays next to the bed and when LO is bigger we have a drop side cot that goes right up to the side.

Has anyone seen/used the Phil & Ted Smart Buggy? I have car seats that would fit this so I'm keen to have soemthing lightweight I can chuck in the car. I also have from my first pg a Jane buggy (oh, the days when we were childless and both working!) which was great but a bugger to get the car seat to fit the buggy bit. But it lays flat light a pram so great for me when I walk DS1 to school. There is no where here that I can try a smart buggy so I'm a bit stuck.

squistle hope you mil is doing ok, my dad had that as a baby but hopefully medicine has improved in the last 70 years and she has some options.

Hope everyone else is keeping well.xxx

Is anyone else feeling uncomfortable all the time? Don't remember it being an issue last time round.

OWO hope you are ok - thinking of you and sending best wishes.

maxpower I am feeling quite uncomfy! Heartburn, SPD pain which seems to be getting steadily worse and just general aches and pains around the bump. I was uncomfy last time, but feels like it is all happening earlier this time. However, my sleeping is so far not too bad so counting my blessings. I think part of the problem is running around after and lifting DD and not getting as much rest.

About co-sleeping I think having baby in cot pushed up to side of bed is still classed as co-sleeping and they get the benefits of being in the same room as you. Baby doesn't have to be physically in the bed (bedsharing) with you but can be next to you IYSWIM. If you're interested, read 'Three in a Bed' by Deborah Jackson. We did have DD in bed (still do when she climbs in in early hours sometimes!) but not all the time when she was a tiny newborn as didn't know much about it then and worried about squashing her. There are safe co-sleeping/bedsharing guidelines e.g. don't do it if you've had a drink (either of you) or if either or you smoke, if you're v v tired. Keep duvets and pillows away from baby and sleep with baby between you and wall or bed guard etc (breastfeeding mums are more in tune with their babies and you tend to lie kind of curled around them on your side with arm above your head so would be very hard to roll on them).

One thing DH and I are considering for when the baby is really small is a snugglenest or similar to pop in the middle of our bed. After we stopped using moses basket we had DD's cot pushed up to our bed with the side off so I would BF her lying down and if I hadn't fallen back to sleep, I'd wait till she'd finished and scoot her back into her cot which worked about 50% of the time.

I loved sharing a bed with DD until she got biger and too wriggly! Much easier for night feeds as well. She was in her own room and sleeping through the night by 12 months BTW even though her sleeping was a bit shocking at times and we did wonder if we were doing the right thing.

Sorry for the essay...just wish I'd known some of this before I'd had DD as I wouldn't have worried so much.

FWIW I have shared a room/bed with mine and it has always been an instinctive thing to be aware of their slightest movement. Once they are a bit bigger they soon demand their space from Dad themselves!

What I did, and have since discovered is what most mums do, is have one arm out at a scarecrow angle making a safe harbour for baby, and somehow knowing when to wake up and prod DP to move him. Just don't overheat them under the duvet, but I was breast feeding so usually had it slid down anyway to let the boobs air. (Towel or bedmat underneath for leaks).

I found I didn't lose or gain any more sleep this way than when I made an effort to keep them in the moses basket. When they got bigger I used a cotside bed with a drop side so there was more room for all of us.

Cheryl I had the swine flu jab as I am concerned to be in a high risk group in flu season. Vaccination is such a controversial topic and therefore such a personal choice. It just felt right for me. I was unwell for a couple of days and my arm is a bit sore still that's all.

DF I hate shopping for clothes and definitely don't want to be doing it when I am much heavier so I have been getting cheapo winter gear off ebay too - if it gets ruined by my swollen ankles etc no big deal!

Far from a longed for fashionable image, today I was decorating wearing old tatty clothes, stretched and bagging in the wrong places due to bump, a pink polka dot shower cap, face mask, plastic goggles and rubber gloves. Kids thought it was hilarious, DP worryingly rather turned on, poor lad, it has been a while.

Thanks guys, mil is fine. She is not worried in the slightest about the operation. They want to do another MRI before they operate and if there is a space before Tues then she will have the op on Wed. If not it will be next Wed. It's all happened very fast!

I don't know about everyone else but I'm quite looking forward to cold weather. The humidity here has been unbearable for the last few weeks and I'll be glad when your clothes don't stick to you

I need to catch up on my shopping......I feel like I have nothing!

hey went and had 2nd lot of steriods, have been having dragging pains, really dont want to see this baby too early, not 27 weeks till Wednesday, want to get to 32 weeks idealy!!

Hope everyone else ok x

OnlyWantsOne - really hope everything is okay!

CherylAnnTweedy - I'm still wearing my Wallis trenchcoat as it just buttons over the bump if I leave the lower buttons unbuttoned. Not sure what I'm going to do later on though! Buying a coat for 3 months or so seems an awful waste of money. DH's coats aren't any bigger than mine so he's no use!

Wholelottalove - have you started physio for the SPD?

Lavitabellissima - we won't be co-sleeping. Both DH and I can sleep really deeply, especially with his anti-histamines and my pain meds! So it wouldn't be a safe option for us. We'll definitely start with the Moses basket next to the bed though.

We went pushchair shopping thinking we'd get the My3 and ended up deciding that we didn't like it because it wasn't all that sturdy and is difficult to take apart....and we both fell in love with the Quinny Buzz! Of all the ones we saw, it was the sturdiest and even I found it easy to take apart. Bloody expensive though! We considered getting one 2nd hand and then figured that getting the warranty and Mothercare 2 year guarantee is worth quite a bit. We're going to wait until after we come back from holiday and there's another offer on to buy it though. I'm so glad we've made the decision as all the options were stressing me out! I think that for what we want, it should be great.

15% off at JoJoMamanBebe when you spend £65 or more

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Oh, and meant to ask. Any opinions on special baby pillows to prevent flat-head?

Hi all, new thread looks great!

Thinking of you, owo. Sounds like they are, but I hope the hospital are doing everything they can to make you feel secure and safe.

On a much less important and frivolous note, what are everyone's thoughts on toys for newborns? I'm certain they're not necessary but on the other hand, I can't help thinking that having something some colourful things to look at/distract him might be good for him?