August 2011 - 2nd trimester blooming - not us!

[KTisPG]

New thread for us August 11 ladies

Jenni to be honest the pram, car. Seat option all depends on life style. For example, if you use 2 cars and eat out often, I would recommend both a fixed and a carry out. The fixed you will have to move to at 9 kg anyway and we found it better for long journeys.

The carrying is a good option if you don't want to wake the young baby in the early days transferring car to pram or eating out. For example the baby won't be comfy in a high chair until a good 6 months so eating out you can carry them in.

Also the carry out ones get very heavy, very quickly. I could only really carry it any distance up to Bout 3 months and I'm very fit. ( or so I am told !

Also you can only leave a baby in car seat 2 hours max unless they lie flat.

Think about space, ease of use and speed , putting a new born in a pram with out weather is a race against time.

All my mates who go travel systems bar the bugaboo have switched to mclaren type buggies now.

Anyway after the epic equipment post, thought I'd update. Well Ive realised my back pain is probably a uti. So I must find a walk in centre to test my wee!

Can any of the second timers just not be bothered to get ready for their impending arrival? I'm getting worried that I need to convert my study and yet feel I have ages yet

I'm not really getting ready, though if I look around my bedroom now, I can see a huge plastic bin, full of newborn to 9 months clothes and a Moses basket, so it's not like anything has been put away since DS was small (nowhere to put the stuff anyway, our house is teeny)

Pram wise, we have the mamas and papas pliko pramette travel system. In hindsight, not the best buy when I didn't have a car. It's a big bugger. We have a car now, and it's fine. Takes up a lot of boot space in a punto, but I quite like having a tank pram. We've borrowed a chicco umbrella fold to take on holiday, and I used it yesterday. I just don't like it as much as the pliko.
We won't be buying a double pram, I'm doing what my mum did, she put me in a sling for 6 months, then turfed my 2.7 year old brother out of the pram and made him walk. I am going to get a buggy board though so DS can have a rest occasionally.

i used to have pliko pramette for my 1st ds. we don't have a car either but i found it okay. for a small baby its really nice but then as a buggy it is a bit bulky..
mrs vidic i am not really getting ready at all yet either, i want to but just feels like nothing i can do or get til after 20 weeks scan anyway, or til after we move

bettyboo DH and I looked at a Silver Cross 3D we found at the baby show yesterday, nearly new, and were tempted, but went off it when we looked at the reviews online. See www.babyworld.co.uk/information/reviews/product.asp?id=483. Problems with the brakes, and how heavy it is are mentioned.

There are some positive reviews as well though, and I'm definitely no expert, this is my first and I am utterly baffled by the range of pushchairs and travel systems on offer.

Am hoping to find a decent second hand pushchair / travel system, then maybe buy a new compatible car sear (as I've read you shouldn't buy those second hand in case they've been in car crash). Quite tempted by a MaxiCosi car seat as they are a WHICH best buy and compatible with a wide range of pushchairs. Anyone got any advice on car seats?

Wow this is a busy thread! Im a new mum to be due on 5 august and have my 20 scan next week exciting!

I havrnt bought anything so far - now worrying i should get a move on after reading this thread -someone told me the price of a pram travel system thing the other day i nearly fell off my seat - we really dont have a clue where to start ?!

Sore back today and wondering if i should try an aqua natal class - when do people start doing this? Worried it will be full of people much more pregnant than me and ill find it too boring?

Any advice appreciated :-)

Welcome BabyK and congrats :)

I'm still loving the Jane Strata R with Matrix Light. It is totally perfect as the car seat/pram thing can lie flat or upright in the car, and we travel back to the Midlands from Wales every 6-8 weeks so it will be really good for that. The car seat will hopefully last up to 18 months, so just in time for the next baby (wink wink!!)
Also do a lot of walking. Not seen any others that quite live up to it in that respect TBH.

Just wondering if any of you are getting like a constipation but for weeing? I am absolutely busting sometimes, but I really have to force it out, not painful or anything, but it's a pain when I am desperate and have to sit there for ages with a little trickle coming out. Sorry if TMI

That happens to me to KLou, it's most annoying.

Thank God for that, not just me!! :)

Any baby sling/carrier recommendations? Prefer to have one that I can use straight away, and eventually have baby on back as well as front :)

Over the years I've had seven pushchairs of various shapes & sizes (including a maclaren XT & Phil & Teds) and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Baby Jogger City Mini the best BY MILES!! It steers like a dream, it has loads of shopping bag space, the hood is absolutely gigantic (no messing around with silly parasols), it folds with one hand and it lays completely flat with one easy move. It's also compatible with a Maxi Cosi car seat & you can get a bassinet for it if you like your baby to face you laying flat in the early stages. In my opinion it is definitely worth looking at - wish I bought mine as a first time around.

The Jane is also brilliant KLou. A friend of mine has one & the car seat is just genius! A bit pricey, but if you can afford it definitely worth every penny.

As for slings, I have always loved my mei tai sling. I started off with a Babybjorn, but it killed my back. The Mei Tai is very easy to use & I've never found it uncomfortable (on the front, back or on the hip). I've also heard some really good things about the hug-a-bub ones. Best to avoid the 'bag' type ones - there has been some reports in the States of babies suffocating in them.

Sorry for the essay .... all I can sy is its a good thing you didn't ask about cloth nappies .... you'd have gotten a book!

Those of you searching for prams / "travel systems" - if you live anywhere in the near vicinity of Peterborough, I would thoroughly recommend heading to Kiddicare. It is a massive warehouse type place with 3 floors - the whole of one floor is dedicated to prams. I can imagine that it would be a teensy bit overwhelming if you haven't a clue what you're after, but they only had about 4 twin-prams so we didn't have too many options. We then went to John Lewis as they had another twin pram in there that had been recommended, and the ladies that served us were FANTASTIC! They really knew their products so could talk us through our options, pros and cons etc. I would recommend enlisting help on this subject else it is mindboggling!! We learnt alot yesterday as we clearly didn't have a clue.

klou - I'm with you on the wee constipation!! I need to go about 20 times at day at the moment - sometimes only about 10 minutes after I last went. But when I get there there is barely anything to let out and what there is has to be slightly forced out I'm guessing it is because one (or both) of my twins are sitting on my bladder and therefore making it feel full, but also preventing anything coming out.

Is ANYONE else on here having twins incidently? I would love a twin-buddy. Everyone on the twins thread is very quiet and WAAAAAAAY ahead of me so I'm not going through the same stages as them. Ah well, at least they are giving me some insight into what to expect!

Thank littlemissw the mei tai looks great. I looked at the baby bjorn, but that's it really. Really don't want any back probs here!! :)

Lol MrsS with the 20 times a day. I'm about 15, and sometimes get to the bottom of the stairs, sit down and have to go back up to the loo (God I miss my downstairs loo!!!) :)

I used a Moby wrap sling when DS was tiny, and am planning to resurrect it for the new one so that DS gets an extra few months of pushchair time - although he loves to walk, he weighs a ton so having the option of jumping in the Volo is a real godsend atm. The Moby is fab for newborns as it's so soft and snuggly, but once they get to a certain weight it becomes too stretchy. This time around I'd like to investigate woven wrap slings and try and carry the baby for longer, as it is so convenient having both hands free for toddler-wrangling.

If you google 'slingmeet' there should be a group you can get to locally who can show you different types of slings and let you try them out. I got a 2nd hand Baby Bjorn for DH as he refused to try anything that didn't involve buckles but personally found it very uncomfortable for DS and me.

I'm following the sling discussion and recommendations with great interest. Seems ridiculous finally purchasing one for 3rd child, but I borrowed one with #2 and as has been said, it was fantastic when I was 'toddler-wrangling' #1!
mrss are you any closer to knowing which buggy/pram you'll buy after your reconnaissance trip?

I know what you mean about not being bothered this time around MrsV. We are currently living with M-I-L while we save, and there is just no room to store anything. All of DS things from when he was a baby a
are in a storage unit on the other side of town!

Also having found out that we are having another boy has curtailed my planned shopping sprees for all things pink, as all we need for a boy are some new bibs and muslins. Not very exciting :(

For pram thingies etc we chose The mothercare Trenton Deluxe: www.mothercare.com/dp/B004H26RVI?ref=sr_11_1
which was fab. A bit bulky but I liked that I didn't feel that I would break it, or hurt DS when bumping him about! I did use a sling for a while, no idea what make, got it on Lidl for £7.99! but as DS was 9.5 born, I gave up before my back did!

This time around we are just gonna clean up the buggy, and purchase one of these: www.preciouslittleone.com/product-information/18/4246/buggypod-smorph-2-pushchair-toddler-seat/#reviewtab for DS which acts as a fold away side-car!

cappcarrie and jenni we are scan triplets! My anomaly scan is on the 4th too :)

Oh and for those not in the know - mothercare.com has their mid-season sale on right now, with upto half price on many items, including prams/pushchairs and cots. Worth a look I reckon

Oh well, on nightshifts at the moment, so off for yet another and to stave off the boredom!!

I have had an awful day yesterday. After spending the morning at the local walk in centre to check for another uti, due to back pain etc I was told inmay be beginning symptoms of SPd!

That is one of my biggest fears as it means I won't be able to excersize much which is very bad as it keeps my head straight re putting on weight. I was in agony last night but feel ok today so I'm going to see what I can do at the gym / pool.

Anyone any experience? P

Klou I have exactly the same thing with seeing- only came on recently. Even had it in the night last night.

I think I'm going to inherit a 2nd hand baby bjorn so will give that a go first as my sling.

Buggies are a minefield! DH and I were in a restaurant on sat and I spotted a particularly tall looking one next to us. DH insisted on going to ask them what it was and turns out it's a Stokke, which I've been looking at for a while. They're expensive though and I have my concerns about how good they'd be on non-urban walks etc. Does anyone have any experience of them? DH and I as are both tall and they seem to be good for that. Also they don't seem to be stocked anywhere I can get to apart from Harrods! Never imagined myself test driving buggies in there!

Feeling really rubbish at the mo as I've caught a cold and have very sore throat and trying to avoid taking paracetamol. Hope everyone else is blooming? My bump has finally started to show - yay!!

Sorry cross posted MrsV. Sorry to hear you're in pain. I don't have any exp of it but know what you mean about keeping your head straight re weight gain. It's a really big fear for me too, that I'll have the baby and after a couple of weeks will realise how enormous I am which will send me spiralling downwards into a sleep deprived depression. I hope you can get to the gym today - think I may be working from home and staying close to my bed!

Morning all! I'm in the not-getting-anything-organised-for-numbertwo group, too! I didnt do anything until 32wks for DS as worried I might tempt fate having MCd before.
My advice would be beg and borrow what you can and go to as many nearly new sales as you can manage. We bought our cloth nappies at the baby show and saved about £100 - great if you ar egoing down that route as all are on show to have a look at. Also - go to shows early - parents and children rarely get there before 11!!!!!!

We used a close parent sling as DS was tiny and they are good for 4lbers plus - brilliant. Baby bjorns are ok but baby needs to be bigger the 8lb IMO.

Planning to use a buggy board and sling rather than go for the double buggy option. We have a Britax which is great. If we had had the car boot room & cash we may have gone for the Jane system but inlaws bought us the lie-flat crib car seat for the britax which was really good for the first few months.

Morning ladies. Probably everyone knows this but if you join Boots' parenting club you get 20% off buggies and car seats and lots of points on baby stuff that you can then convert into treats for yourself - evil

Really sorry to hear of your pain MrsV - hope better today and NOT SPD.

Is anyone else getting emotional over little sprouty seedlings. They seem so much more significant this year!

Only 3 days till 20 week scan. Will I be the first in this group? Anyone else not planning to find out the sex? It seems to be more normal to do so but I think the surprise will be lovely...

RugbyWidow I thought paracetamol was ok? Just aspirin and ibuprofen that aren't? Having said find paracetamol completely useless.

Hi Feral, yes paracetamol is fine I'm sure - just never been one for taking things, but may well resort to it soon!

Currently avoiding work by buggy hunting - much more fun. At the mo I like: Icandy Apple, Jane Slalom, and Stokke Explory (though going off this as don't think it's off road friendly).

Thanks for the reminder about Boots parenting club too Feral, I've also heard you can get a free changing bag when you join. Going to join now! Love the ideas of sneaky advantage card extras!

CappC - we are favouring the 'Baby Jogger city Select' or 'OBaby Zoom Twin travelsystem'. Baby jogger seems to tick all the boxes (all the boxes we can think of anyway, probably forgotten the most important detail!) but comes, as most do, with a hefty price tag of just over £1k with all the trimmings. Will shop around though!!

MrsV - I have no idea about SPD but a friend of mine had it and found gym/aerobics agonising but the pool was much easier so she swam loads instead of gymming it. Might be an option for you if it does turn out to be SPD (although I hope it isn't)

I think I have officially popped today! My bump felt huuuuuge when I woke up (might have been partially due to dire need to wee) but everyone at work has commented on how much I've grown too. I love it

Thanks VERY much for the heads up about the mothercare sale and the boots parenting club thing - I didn't know about either! Woohoooo! Advantage Card treats ahoy!

Feralgirl - I don't plan to find out what I'm having either, although I'm scanned every 2 weeks so have been warned that I might well spot if they are boys!!