April 2011 - back to back sex and other mysteries

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Here we go ladies, a brand new sparkly thread that should see us all into our 2nd trimester

Many thanks for the warm welcomes

I've felt lots of movements this evening, I was sitting in quite a twisted position which is why I think I felt it so much.

Happy new year everyone! Oh my god, it's 2011. Having spent most of 2010 thinking that time was crawling by I am now alarmed at how terrifyingly close it is to BABY time. Only 13 weeks left at work. Woo hoo and gulp!

I've been offline since before Christmas so a bit out of the loop, congrats on engagements and hello anyone new to the thread!

I have made my first baby-related purchase! I think I might be a bit slow off the mark here but I bought a Quinny Buzz 3 stroller from ebay for £160. My SIL has the newborn pram attachment and car-seat so I'm getting those as hand-me-downs. Also getting her old crib so I am Mrs Bargain Basement so far. I need to get an easyfix for the car but am also planning to ebay that.

I did venture into John Lewis on 27th Dec with a view to hunting down some baby things. Waited 40 mins to get into the car park, only to be told by the very cheerful sales assistant that "this is the only John Lewis in the country that doesn't have a baby department". I am doing everything online now. Shops are rubbish.

Have now got a huge list of bits and bobs to make a start on but I've decided I'm just going in for cheap and cheery babygros to start, rather than buying lots of nice stuff that only lasts a month or so. Though I have just been to Baby Gap and there is so much lovely stuff in the sale.

I need to buy myself a maternity coat first, the buttons on my normal coat are about to give up for good and it's starting to look a bit weird. Anyone got any good suggestions for something smart enough for work but not silly looking when out walking the dog in wellies?

On other subjects, I had the flu jab at my last appointment. No side effects. Also got my HIP form sent off before 1st Jan so going to see if that works out. My due date is 17th April and GP didn't say anything when I asked for the form, just signed it and gave it to me. I'll report back if I get any useful info.

Happy new year.

PS the dog is not wearing wellies. I am.

I didn't mean you were old, I meant you were more experienced and wise and know these things because you've done it before

Good luck to everyone going back to work today and gentle healing thoughts to those with pelvic pain. It sounds utterly miserable and I hope you all have lovely physios who can help.

3 questions (I am a regular fountain of them):

Does anyone have a special nursing chair and is it worth it?

At what point does one start to worry/plan a CS if baby is transverse and shows absolutely no sign of moving from that position?

When are ELCS's generally done?

In other news I looooove my daddy, he's buying the pram for us! So today I ordered:

pram (babyjogger city mini with carrycot)
babybjorn babysitter (and cover and wooden toy because I am a sucker)
waterproof protector sheets
sheets for pram
giant muslins
cotton swaddling cloths
thermometer
muslin gro-bags
sexy maternity pants and towels
some Lilypadz which I'm sure are also available in the UK but are apparently the thing if you're going to BF

Still to get:

bibs
6 x bamboo nappy squares
nappy nippas
hats? mitten? (do I really need these in the tropics?)
breastpump
car seat (maxi cosi here to a pebble, a streety.fix and a creatis.fix - can't seem to find the cabrio)
Travel cot?
nighties for me and for baby
changing mat
some form of play mat (although I might have that on the hint list for presents)
baby bath?
towels
EBM storage bags

Hi, Can a new one join? I am due on the 7th April but the way things are going at the moment its likely to be earlier.

I'm very disorganised and haven't done anything for this new baby yet. We'll probably manage with the minimum while I decide what I want (nappies, suits, etc). I'm off sick at the moment due to an early labour scare and really looking forward to stopping work. I can stop in 3 weeks time if I want and its very tempting!!!
xx

Welcome Itmar :) Labour scare sounds scary, hope all stays as it should until much nearer the time.

Frakk: my thoughts:

Does anyone have a special nursing chair and is it worth it?
I bought a rocking one with stool off ebay and i would say yes, used it for night-time feeds (once out of our bedroom) and the kids still love it now as a rocking chair. Was also thinking of bringing it downstairs as it keeps you more upright instead of slouching on the sofa.

At what point does one start to worry/plan a CS if baby is transverse and shows absolutely no sign of moving from that position?
Well, babies can turn right up until the last minute but...the docs seem to like to plan a CS around about 38weeks.
My reservation about this is: if body has not gone into labour then baby is not ready to be born. I would prefer a plan of waiting until labour starts, then have a planned c-s, at least then you know baby is ready & your body is ready - some people struggle to establish BF after planned c-s as hormones not ready to make milk. Also gives baby last chance to turn - they may agree to do a scan before prepping you for c-s, and maybe then avoid c-s altogether.

When are ELCS's generally done?
Normally around 38/39 weeks IME.

Jo - bad luck on only JL without a baby dept, grr indeed!! Oh and i've changed to my Mat coat, bought with DS2. It's from Jojomamambebe, great company :) Think they now do a version with a removable panel so you can use it afterwards too, mine doesn't have that! Long, black and warm, with a hood :)

Jo this one

oh thanks JKS that looks perfect. Excellent!

Yeah, better coat than mine as it has the panel & it's cheaper too now !!!

I am already planning a lunch-time escape tomorrow to make a purchase. I owe you one (smile)

You work near one? even more Though their p&p is free but still sometimes it's nicer to go in and see stuff. Check out the tops & dresses would you and see if any are nice? :)

Hey all,

Back to work today wasn't so bad, but my back is aching now. Just started to get a couple of pelvic twinges at the end of the day (I swear I can feel those 2 joints at the back!).

Finally got my GTT results this avo and I don't have GD! Woop! Chocolate time!

JKS that coat looks lush, although I'm going to try to keep going with DH's selection till the spring!

And 10 weeks till I start my leave! I'm so ready for this baby to come, even if he's not!

Hurrah on the GTT results petalouda

Welcome itmar, I hope your baby decides to stay put for a long while yet

Frakkin - I've got the Cosatto Glider chair and stool and it is probably up there with the best baby purchases we have made. It is still used every day with ds2 and it will get well used with ds3 as well. I am so attached to that chair (hours spent breasfeeding and cuddling my babies) that I don't think I will EVER get rid of it. It even still has a really faint lochia stain after having ds1. I'm sure you probably don't want to know that, but everytime I look at that stain it reminds me of an amazing period in my life

My friend was a big fan of the Lilypadz as she was a real gusher

I would imagine a MW would start taking notice/interest in a transverse lie from about 34 weeks onwards.

There is so much room in the uterus at the moment that they move and tumble all around the place. At the moment I feel kicks very low in my pelvis and then I can feel them at the top of my uterus. I think with both ds's I have noticed when they have finally settled for the head down position at about 34 weeks.

It seems to depend on your local PCT as to when ELCS are done. The PCT where I am prefer to section at 39 weeks, but others do it at 37 weeks. If you choose to have an ELCS then negotiate your delivery date, you DO have a say.

DH has always bathed with the ds's since day 1 (as in he gets in the bath with them) so we have never had a baby bath or top and tail thing. I like this time as it gives me a break and it is great for dh and the babies as it is a great way to bond in the early days when the baby is mostly attached to the breast!

Finally catching up after weeks of apathy. Good to hear everyone's news and a big welcome to the latecomers! Worrying on all the mentions of purchasing though. I'm now 27 weeks and have bought...pretty much nothing, aside from the cot and changing table (Stokke) which I bought at around 12 weeks. I went to Babylist before Christmas and made a huge order but for some reason I haven't got round to actually confirming it. Christmas, not wanting to jinx things, apathy... However, I HAVE chosen my buggy - mountain buggy - which is the same brand as the one I had for the twins, although obviously a deliciously slimline single pram this time! But no babygros or anything useful to dress the baby in. Oh, and bought a pack of maternity pads the other day. Bizarre!

Haven't had my GTT yet but I'm seeing my consultant next week. It was supposed to be tomorrow but I have to be in work all day and so have had to postpone for a week. I also need to look into this health in pregnancy grant thingie. Where the hell do you get them from? I don't see a midwife - just my consultant - so can you pick them up from your GP or something similar?

Tummy feels enormio but then I look at photos of myself at the same stage of pregnancy with the girls and obviously I'm much smaller by comparison. I've really no idea how I fitted two babies inside me last time. It's really strange to thing that at 27 weeks I had two babies snaking about, sticking feet and elbows out. This baby moves a lot but it's all quite 'muffled' as the placenta is at the front this time.

Got a scan at 30 weeks to check the placenta again. I've also booked myself in for some hypnobirthing class in an effort to try and improve my chances of swerving a caesarean. The hypnobirther seems very nice but did make me stifle a snort when she responded with a "Oh, there won't be any pain" when I babbled on about pain management breathing, etc. I did think, 'you haven't seen me with a paper cut, lady' so she may be about to face her most disappointing pupil!

Off to Google Health in Pregnancy. You can buy a lot of nappies strawberries with that!

Work Pah! Worked til 6 tomight, then took home filing & stuff to do infornt of telly and spent 3 hours doing it. Am I mad??

So tired today too! Think i missed my mid afternoon nap i've been having every day since Christmas! How am I going to manage with a baby! Do they come ready weaned and able to get ceral from the cupboard???

I have had to admit defeat with the Rennies and stomach Gaviscon, but the Mint Double4 Action one. Aniseed Bleurgh! :o

On good news though, my friend had a baby boy on Hogmany, Ayden! Going for cuddles on Thursday! Can't wait! Now she has her's, I'm getting a bit impatient! I've still got one other friend due before me too! So all 3 of us will be off together! yay!!

Erm there was something else I was going to say, but it has been a very long day and I've forgotten

I'm off to bed! night night!!

Grovel accepted frakk i knew what you meant

I have a rocking chair with a footstool which I used for feeding. It wasn't specifically sold as a feeding chair and did get a bit impractical as DS got older as the ends of the arms weren't padded so I had to watch I didn't bang him on it. It's still well used though. We've always kept it in our lounge and moved one of our armchairs up to DS room to make space. The armchair was just as good for night feeds and is now used for bedtime stories and to nod off sit in while DS goes to sleep.

I have my GTT tomorrow morning so am now avoiding the kitchen and all the Christmas goodies still left in the cupboards.
I don't know why I have to have it as I don't cover any of the criteria mentioned in the leaflet they gave me with the appointment. I was close to but under the BMI limit of 30 (29.4) at my booking appointment when I was 14 weeks. However my BMI was the same when PG with DS and I never had to have it done that time. The only other factor I can think of is that I had raised blood pressure towards the end on my previous pregnancy but none of the literature I've seen links that to GD.
I'm going well prepared with a good book and a couple of trashy magazines, and at least I get the morning off work.

My bump must definately be getting to the more pregnant than fat looking stage now. I was kicking my wire shopping basket along the floor in the Food Hall queue at M&S at lunchtime (i'd overloaded it as usual). When I got to the conveyor belt the nice man behind me in the queue asked if I'd like him to lift it up for me, how could I refuse such a gallant offer. I even offered to let him go in front of me in the queue as he only had a couple of items and he refused.

Happy New Year, folks! Back to school, tomorrow, bit worried about being ridiculously knackered as I am sleeping so badly at night and having lovely long naps during the day at the moment....but generally looking forward to being back in the swing of things and seeing colleagues etc. And knowing that I don't have to last the whole term - whoop!! Aiming to stay till 18th March (due 6th April) but we'll see how it goes.

Good to read all the purchasing advice, doing ok here, but mainly in the form of donations from friends (hugely generous and exciting) and lists of toiletries to get later..... chest of drawers for newly bordered nursery arriving this morning, VERY excited and will probably become someone out of Little Women later on and put paper in the bottom of all the drawers.

One questions for experienced mamas - baby slings? What to go for? Bewildered by array so far.....

Hello all,

A quick question for you. I had an appointment through for a 28 week growth scan, apparently its because dd was small for gestational age at birth. She was 7lb 7, and I was induced at 42 weeks. I am tall 5ft 11 but I don't think 7lb7 would be considered to be small do you? She certainly didn't feel small when I was bloody pushing her out! She did drop through the centiles a bit after birth but plotted on about the 50th centile initially, she is still on the skinny side at 3 but absolutely fine otherwise.

I cant go for the growth scan anyway as I have to work (self employed and can't cancel work) but wondered if any of you have been recommended growth scans because of supposed sga babies previously?

Of course I would go for scans if there was any real concern about this baby ie if I seem to be measuring small etc but it all seems to be a bit over the top. Anyway I cancelled the appointment and will discuss with the midwife when I see her next week for my 28wk appt.

Jen - i've cancelled loads of appts this pg, if i don't see a good reason for them i cancel them :)
eg. GTT, VBAC at hosp, Consultant....

7,7 is a good term weight, for 42 weeks it is perhaps smallish but not that i would have worried about, always say some of us have to be small, some big :)

Growth scans are notoriously inaccurate anyway so don't bother with it i say :)

Slings - i have loads, used some more than others; maya wrap (gets v hot though), ring sling, a sort of pouch one that i never really got round to using. PLus the baby bjorn style ones - hough i prefer those for a slightly older baby than newborn.

JKS I'm not a million miles from the Clapham and Putney shops, so was thinking I might sneak an extended lunch break and get to either one. I could just buy on tinternet but I'm a short-arse at 5'2 and sometimes clothes just drown me so I like to try things on, if I can, before I buy. Not looking too good today though as work is really busy. Darn it!

Now (spot the person who hasn't read up enough about pregnancy), is the GTT test given automatically at the 28 week appointment, or do you have to book one? I haven't heard it mentioned till now but I have my next midwife appointment sorted for 28 weeks. Given that I have eaten all the Christmas chocolates in the office I ought to prepare myself if there's going to be a test involved! Why do I feel like I'm at school and haven't been paying attention again?!

After reading all the posts yesterday I had a panic and bought sleepsuits, t-shirts, socks, hats, muslins and scratch mittens from Mothercare. What else do I need to take for the baby to wear back from hospital? Presumably not something as heavy as a snowsuit, in April? Sorry for all the questions but it's this or drive my SIL round the bend.

I have no ida about coming home clothes either!

Have knitted a cardigan and am reckoning a sleepsuit, hat and toe and hand coverings are a must. Ours will probably come home in his pram as we're a 10-minute walk from the hospital's front door so I reckon the above clothing with a couple of warm blankets and possibly the cardigan I've knitted for him will do the job.

I'm more than halfway through knitting my Debbie Bliss blanket now. Phew!

Oooh I'm knitting too :) Slightly crazy given the weather here but I found an adorable crossover sleeveless cardi and I want to do a blanket as well.

(BTW scratch mittens? waste of money. sorry! they just fall off. If your baby does take to scratching its face, socks are much better at the job :) )

Jo - hope you get to go soon, i had a look at where all the shops are and they're just too difficult to get to. Am hoping to manage a trip to a Gap maternity soon, DH bought me a top from there for Christmas and it's my favourite mat top :)

JoEW - the GTT isn't given to everyone, don't panic . If it hasn't been mentioned already the only reason you may be given one is if your glucose levels show as elevated in your 28 bloods or if you start dropping it in your urine.

I wouldn't bother with a snowsuit, just use layers and blankets. April is a tricky month weather wise though isn't it?

April weather isn't easy at all.

A dear friend sent m over some sleep gowns from the US and they have sleeves that fold over as integral scratch mitts. Genius.

JoEW definitely go instore to try on JoJoMaman clothes rather than shop online. I can't do any of their clothes, they make me look very frumpy (I'm 5ft4).

To bring the baby home I'm thinking a pramsuit. Is that what you call them? It's an all-in-one but it's not as thick as a snowsuit. I've got a cute furry one with ears from Gap that we had for DS and it's small enough for newborns. The 0-3mth snowsuit we had to bring DS home in was so big you could have lost him in there!

I want a nursing chair now after reading all your recommendations! I haven't bought anything yet but I'm moving house at the start of Feb and will be starting maternity leave then so I think I'll wait until I'm in the new place before I go on a crazy shopping binge prepare for the new arrival!