Jue in June 2011 - not even our growing bumps can stop us from wittering on

[neenewps]

Onwards we go with the 2nd trimester...

Misshoohaa - the pictures aren't great, our Beanette was very wriggly :)
But everything checked out okay, and baby weighs 12oz!

That's exciting that they can weigh them too-how do they do that-is it based on length?

lisacat and other non first time mums, what would you say are essentials then? House move looking more and more promising but don't want to go buying lots of things until its sorted (and money will be tight even if its not now).

So far been thinking we need:-

Car seats
Cots
Cot for side of our bed/moses baskets
Pram/buggy
Breast pumps
Monitor
Changing bag
Baby bath

Obviously clothes but going to see what I receive from my friend and as pressies.

Is there anything you bought that you really didn't use?

moufflon how horrible. No idea what to say of any use but hope you are being looked after :(

Seems like we're having lots of girls between us!

jasmine definitely let us know what you get if you wouldn't mind :)

misshooha I got sent for a wee half way through too as my bladder was starting to take over!

I can't remember who said they hardly got to see the screen at their scan, our hospital has a tv screen up on the wall so you can see whats going on all the time, I assumed this was fairly standard, is it not? That's pretty rubbish if not!

Kara by bean is 326g which I make 11.5oz ish :) sarah I think it's done on a combination of head size, leg length, tummy circumference etc. My bean has a larger than average head and short legs at the moment, it's all very clever how they work it all out!

moufflon how awful, It's so sad when these things happen.

treez10 This is going to be number 4 for me!

Clarkiee I think your list looks alright, although I have never used a changing bag! I think a lot of the stuff they list in these parenting books is quite useless. Or they say you will need much more than you do. I had almost nothing ready when my first DD arrived 6 weeks early. My friend made my DH buy a load of fancy stuff that I didn't want and had no use for, and didn't get the things I asked her to. (She's not a friend anymore). We wasted nearly £100 and we really couldn't afford it.
I'd advise getting the basics and stuff you know you will use, then getting anything else as you need it.

I personally found a baby monitor useless unless you have a massive house and are not likely to hear the baby crying from downstairs. I just found leaving the doors open between baby and me quite efficient. You are more in tune to baby cries I find, and qare jumping up to sort babies out before anyone else even hears them cry! Or maybe thats just my slightly deaf husband!

Also probably don't need to buy a breast pump until you are sure breastfeeding works for you. You wont have enough to express extra for the first month or so anyway until you establish supply and they are available pretty much everywhere, even in the 24 hour supermarkets if you know you are likely to carry on breastfeeding. They are one of the most common baby things people sell on unused just because they weren't able/didn't like breastfeeding.

Treez - this is number 3 for me. My boy is 3.6 and my girl is 13 months.

Today a lady in a shop asked me how many weeks I had left to go and then she had a very embarrassed and shocked look when I said I'm only 17 weeks gone. I'm quite small framed so bump really shows. Doesn't help though that I'm already slightly paranoid about how big my bump is already, I wasn't much bigger at full term with DD. Hoping that's not a sign of a big baby.

Hoping you're all ok and having a nice weekend xx

Clarkiee - I spent £90 of my health in pregnancy grant with my DD on a fancy JujuBe changing bag and it was by far my worst purchase to date. So much padding it ended up not holding alot and being too heavy so I ended up using just normal bags. Find a bag that's comfy and stick with it but it definitely does not need to be a 'changing bag'. I also bought a JujuBe nappy pouch which I have used a few times to pop into another bag but it definitely is not essential. A nice gift for someone but not worth the money, not if it's your first and you have so much other stuff to buy.

Thanks citrus, crumble and mille.

Right decided not going to get a changing bag- will probably just get a big bag from Primark or something, then it doesn't matter if it gets damaged.

Good point about breast pumps- might as well wait to see if I need it (plus live in a big town with plenty of 24 hour supermarkets so can get one pronto if necessary).

Hmm monitor, well as the baby will be here in Spring then leaving doors open shouldn't be a problem. Also thinking that it might be one of those things that somebody will lend you.

Did you buy bouncy seat things?

Hope you are all having a lovely Saturday evening xx

sending a hug to moufflon. clarkiee we've never bothered with a baby bath. Sinks are good or just pop them in the big bath (with or without daddy). jasmine51 any double buggies? jasmine2011 ah, Didcot - in beautiful South Oxfordshire (yes, that's its official strap line). We must have a soxon meet up... treez I'm on number 4 too. almightycitrus - are we mad? Supposed to be catching 5 mins rest before friends come over for dinner. Zzz

clarkie- i found the bouncy seat really worth while getting it and really got my use out of it, i wud try and pick them up from nearly new sales or friends etc tho as there quite pricey, we got ours for 45 and ended up selling it for 20 pound

also i know other people have sed not to bother with monitors but i found mine invaluable and still use them now, that way we can put DD to bed close the doors and listen to tv as loud as we want and know we will still be able to hear her we dont use it in the bedroom anymore as were only nxt door so can hear her but always have it on when were downstairs theres no way i wud hear her with the front room door closed and a film on without it

also stock up on maternity pads closer to the time u will go thru a lot!
and get your hands on as many free nappies as u can :) ive got 3 small bags free so far and two £2 off coupons so will have five bags for about 3 pound in the end which shud see me thru the first 6 weeks hopefully

oooh yes jasmine51 any doubles? :)

Thanks jbells think I'll have a look round for one of those. If we get the house we want (fingers crossed) its a 1930's semi so ceilings are quite high so not sure if I'd hear the crying (unless its both of them), might go for the monitor.

Maternity pads - check. Joined Asda baby club and was supposed to get free Huggies starter pack but the voucher didn't work .

How are you doing moufflon? Just read your post- sounds terrible. Make sure you take care of yourself x

On stuff for first timers -I know not many will agree, but I happily did without the baby bath. I used to have a shallow grown-up bath with DD sitting back against my tummy. Given how tall she got so quickly, we probably would have only used the baby bath for a couple of weeks anyway!

And bags, yes, any old bag will do. Although baby changing bags have all the pockets, these become redundant as soon as you start to deviate from what that brand of bag considers essential ("what do you mean you don't need to take a bottle? well nothing else will fit in that pouch, you know!!!"). Much better if you already have a big bag that either goes in the wash or doesn't mean all that much to you.

As for pads, get in a few, but then see if you actually use them before stocking up - I was given boxes of the things, but I never once needed them. And yes, I know I'm very lucky in that regard, but I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Breast pumps - that's a tricky one. A big problem is finding out (after you establish whether or not you can express, and I'm sure you will) whether you get on better with manual or electric. I bought an electric at first, just assuming that, by virtue of being more expensive, it would be better. At first it got loads out, but then, I don't know if my boobs just toughened up from what DD was putting them through, but they stopped giving anything to the soft pumping motion of the electric. However, as soon as I tried a manual, out it all gushed. It was a bit unsettling at first, seeing my nipple stretch about an inch down the pipe, but like I say, I think my boobs needed the more strenous pumping action of the manual to compete with DD's efforts.

BTW, this might sound utterly gruesome, it really isn't. It didn't hurt at all, it was just a very different sensation using the manual pump.

So if there's a way you could try both, perhaps via the midwife or in the maternity ward, give them a go. Otherwise I would err on the side of manual. Unless others have a completely different experience of electric vs. manual. I've not even looked over on the breastfeeding boards.

Oh and if you like gardening, check the monitor has enough coverage to take outside with you.

Now, for what I came on here to post. Is anyone else waking up with their stomach in pain? You may wonder wtf I'm doing online so early on a Sunday, and I am too, quite frankly. But every morning I seem to wake up from the pain around bump. It feels like a severe muscle pain, so my first assumption was I'd been naughty again when I picked up DD yesterday when she was crying. But now I'm downstairs, sitting upright, and have had some breakfast, it feels fine. I wish I'd left more time between to two, to see which had more effect - the sitting upright or the food. But it's really starting to bug me now. Anyone else got it? Any suggestions for what could ease it? I can't believe my bump is big enough to warrant needing a pillow propping it up just yet, but then my last bump was smalller than I am now even by the 8th month, so perhaps my body is not designed to support extra weight.

Thanks lisasCat

Cool I'm going to pop to Primark Manchester and get myself a nice big cheap bag (because the changing bags, especially the double ones start at about £65!).

Eww the breast pump making your nipple tubey does sound gross- suppose you get used to it. Not sure what to do- if way to try them put via mw sounds good.

Sorry to hear you've been so uncomfortable with stomach pains- hope they start easing soon. Sounds like it might be due to the fact that your bump is so much bigger than last time.

Couple of people have said that my bump looks small- don't think I would normally mind but after being told that my twins are smaller than average. So I hope it starts looking bigger soon. Someone at work is 12 weeks pregnant (with one) and her bump is huge, but then again its her second and shes a much 'bigger girl' anyway. Plus I've got a long torso (often end up buying tops from the 'tall' section) so maybe everything is strecthed out! I know I need to stop being paranoid really, everyones different.

Lisa I wake up quite early most mornings needing a wee to the point my stomach hurts. But when I actually "go" there's not a lot there. Sorry maybe TMI but not sure if it's similar to what you're getting?

Clarkiee I'm trying to ignore bump size related comments. I've had some saying my bump is massive and others saying it's small so think it's a matter of opinion. As you say everyone's different and try not to let it bother you.

Morning all.

Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. Managed a bit of a sob yesterday morning before work then went back to being numb. I'm just so shocked & can't stop thinking about what she must have gone thru :( And her poor, poor kids. They were left waiting at school to get picked up until gone 6pm when they called the police.
I only saw her a couple of days before & her last words were that I was to stop freaking out about the birth & to start listening to dh. Advice I shall heed.

Have researched Remifentanil a little & discovered the epidural rate has dropped by 50% in Belfast due to ladies opting for this drug. I wonder why it's only used once or twice per year here then?! Cost maybe?

Dh cracked me up. 24hrs after telling me a pushchair isn't an essential item, he informs me we are getting a Bugaboo Chameleon & Maxi Cosi Pebble lol. I really wanted to suggest this combi but it's better he researched it & choose as now it's "his idea" ;)

I found a really cheap, new, electric Tommee pump for sale so bought it. That's the only thing I have bought.

X

Oh. Is anybody going to the Baby Show in excel in Feb? I'm going on the Sunday.
X

Morning mouffloncake I'm not suprised you're still numb. What an horrific thing to have happened. Hearing about the kids waiting at school, completely unaware, is just heartbreaking.

Always a good idea to let DH think something is 'his idea' (even if you have to send subliminal messages to him).

Did you buy the pump in a shop?

Where is the baby show?

clarkiee - I know. Those poor little ones.

I got the pump off eBay, new & sealed :)
I was really chugged at dh's research. Bless.

I think there will be some offers & promotions at The Baby Show, it's at London's Excel.

"info here"

Hopefully off to do a tour of tbe maternity ward this afternoon. I can't decided between 3 hospitals lol.
X

Another invaluable purchase I made was the bouncer seat (Winnie The Pooh Organic range but don't think they sell it anymore). DS used it for about 7 months but DD used it for about 11 months, she loved sitting in it watching DS and for a while it was the only place she could fall asleep. She loved it so much it needs a bit of patching up but I'll definitely be using it again for number 3.

Asda baby event is worth a look in! Got Avent microwave steraliser for £10. Two bouncher seats £15 each (were £22 each)(thanks for tip millie) and a nappy bin (I know they aren't essential ). I might have bought more but DH was not in the mood for shopping .

Sling expert people (or anyone really!), what do you make of these?:
www.mobywrap.com/p-13-originals.aspx

They seem to be going for £20-25 on ebay, any thoughts, good or bad?

Ooh the Baby Show looks good and we're away the week after that to the Lake District so might even both have that weekend off work for a change, shall suggest it to DP later. Only wish the train to London wasn't so bloody expensive, cost us near on £70 with travelcards at new year and that was booked in advance!

Started working money out earlier, looks like we'll have about £20 spare a month whilst I'm on mat leave Still, it's the right side of the overdraft I suppose, on the bright side!

Hope you've all had lovely weekends, I've been bloody unproductive today!