Feb 2011 - The home stretch! Let's see more of those babies :-)

[WanderingInAWinterWonderland]

A shiny new thread for a shiny new year.

thanks tadjennyp, have done lots of internet research, but feel it would probably be sensible to go out and wheel a few around. I think you're right about none of them being perfect, PDR. Had just decided on one that seemed ideal, and then read that it's hard to get up and down stairs...not so good for basement flat dwellers.

If anyone else is in the same boat, I just paid a quid for a trial subscription of Which, and they have reviews of hundreds of prams, including videos of how they work.

Which one are you looking at lostfromoz?

that's funny, debka ...My DH is even less motivated by the search for the perfect pram than me. Though this does get annoying when I'm trying to engage him in discussion...it's the sound of one hand clapping over here

PDR, was looking at the Babystyle Oyster...but then found some reviews by people who'd had it for 6 months to a year who found it had crumbled a bit. We'll probably have at least one more baby, fingers crossed, so it might be worth spending a bit more

Hey lostfromoz don't worry too much, I didn't buy my double buggy til after dd2 was born... They can go in a sling for a few days if yu haven't got one. But personal recommendations and Which? are they way to go!

Someone was asking about painkillers...my first midwife said people really underestimate the power of paracetamol for labour so pack some anyway. I didn't get any afterpains either time and the hospital will often give you painkillers to take home (I even got some with my homebirth) but good to have your own too. Every little helps! I always had stacks of those energy/lucozade tablets for the few days after to help. And some arnica tablets too, for bruised bits!

Oh and well done to gina fab mews about your little boy, have you picked a name yet?

Haven't heard from the prof for ages...has she been around?

All this talk has made me realise how disorganised I am. I haven't done anything in prep for this baby, (apart from the initial shag, obviously) I must try harder, I must try harder!!

Just the one shag 40?

I think I remember a few people on here have bought the Oyster - I don't have one myself so can't help much! Since DS was about 18 months though I mainly use my Maclaren stroller as it's lightweight and easy to fold/unfold and doesn't take up much room in the boot! Get something with a decent warranty as well - I had a Quinny Buzz go kapput after about a year and I got a full refund!

Ha ha! You already know too much!

Mmm just also noticed I wrote dd2 when in fact I meant ds2 ! Poor child

40wks - i am the same, feel very disorganised, don´t even have a car seat yet. Here they keep you in 2 nights absolute minimum so I guess even if we are caught short that allows time for dh to pop out and beg/borrow/ steal or even buy one. cot, we have one but not up yet, haven´t got a moses basket yet, really keep meaning to get more sorted.

On the plus side I did give all my cloth nappies a good wash through, they are all flapping in the moonlight as I type. Have all the newborn clothes on shelves but haven´t actually washed them yet.. planning to get to it once i am on mat leave, still 3.5 weeks to go...

Well my mum is here for a visit this weekend I am sure she will galvanise me into action.

PDR I imagine that there is a "perfect" pram somewhere but it probably costs the same amount of money as a small car!

Lostfromoz perhaps make a list of the kinds of features that are important to you. eBay is a great place to look for bargains.

can i just ask if anyone is having probs with varicose veins??! I developed a couple of very big blue veins after ds1 but they never really got bulgy or anything. This time though they are getting darker and you can feel them really easily under the skin. Also had two more come up on the other leg I´m only 33!! I am feeling increasingly worried about what my legs are going to look like by the end of this pregnancy.

I've got awful varicose veins . I'm only 27! My knees are getting really badly veined but I think it's hereditary too. My Dad had them and my mum has really bad ones too. I keep wondering if I can maybe get them stripped one day? Not sure whether they still do it on the NHS.

eurgh. yeah i was searching on MN and it seems like jury is out on whether NHS still does them or not. I will have to check out if social security here does them but not too hopeful. Wish I wasn´t so vain (har har) but I AM! imagine it is very expensive to go private.

My Dad had his done but it was before I was born (he died nearly 14 years ago!) You wouldn't think a man would bother so much would you?!

I think they tell you not to have anything done if you're going to have more children. I don't think I'll be having anymore though!

Where do you live roundthehouses?

I am DEFINITELY not planning on having any more, I am not too big on pregnancy tbh, and thats with no morning sickness, no particular aches or pains. I just find it really tedious! 2 is fine for me.

40weeks - spain - love it here but can be odd reading MN and having all this input re how the NHS does things when it can contrast quite a lot with how things are done here.

You know, we are on over 100 posts already and this thread is only 3 days old- don't think it'll last us out, will it!!

sorry to cause concern re painkillers- i am having my 4th section and was not too impressed with the paracetamol i was given after my last one,i have packed some codiene i am an ex nurse and a bit immune to mild pain relief haha after pains with 2nd yes but not that bad and dont last long

thanks ledkr I knew you'd know

Oh dh is on codeine for his bad back, but can you take that and breastfeed, do you know? I know paracetamol is ok but might ask him to keep me a few!

need to check re bf and also the hospita i was in was understaffed at the time,my friend had section few wks ago and was well medicated so dont listen this old moaner

I have varicose veins too on my left thigh. Am gutted - total vanity I know but they look awful. Just had prominent veins with DS but these are lumpy and you can feel them. Am hoping they go after birth?

Not sure about the veins? Are they painful? I am very veiny when pg, almost blue skin now! And have thread veins appearing daily which are ugly but no lumps (yet)