The CBFM Graduates Vol 1

[StormBird]

We have got to know each other pretty well during our TTC journey's so have created this thread on Chocciechips advice (hope she doesn't mind!!) so we can all contintue to support one another through our pregnancies.

Welcome................

Congratulations water! IMO the 12 week scan was the best to look at as you can see baby outline really clearly. I remember saying to DH I couldn't believe how much bobabean had grown since we'd seen it at 7 week scan. Don't get me started on the dating issue from this scan Enjoy sharing your news. x

missy it depends where you plan on buying from. Think most independents are 10 to 12 weeks but prob within the week from Lewis'. That is just with icandy though not sure about other prams. Heat not bothering me too much just everything else!

keziah best of luck for tomorrow hun! x

Congratulations Water... enjoy telling people

We had our 8 week scan (dated me behind the community midwife, but the same as my dates) today at EPU... 19mm long, could make out head and saw heartbeat. Huge relief. 4 weeks to go to dating scan and see obstetrician after that apparently for "care plan".

Woo hoo keziah do you feel better now? Everything in your favour now you've seen heartbeat at this stage. Sooooooo pleased for you hun. x

kezia just wanted to say, HUGE congrats, so happy for you and you are an inspiration to all us strugggling TTCers!

Thanks Far.. hope all ok with you.

Well today went to ivf clinic, paid them £310 for priviledge of getting pregnant naturally and for writing expensive private prescriptions that I need. Included in price was a scan, so I thought "why not" - 2 scans in 2 days, wow! This one was so much better, bean had grown to 20.6mm in 24hrs, was wriggling on its head (!) and waved to us. Sonographew showed us arms, legs (very short) and the cord was just visible. Got signed off from clinic today.

Just hope all ok for 12 week scan now.

Wow- things are really moving on - have been keeping an eye on things from afar- but v pleased how well everything is going for everyone- am now 17 weeks, and still look like have eaten too many pies rather than pregnant- bbs suggest otherwise though! All plodding along- have plan and budget- so 3 weeks to go until scan and can start buying some stuff- panicking as due new year and worried re christmas orders and delivery times!!
Neeed to go and unload shopping- hungry,
Love to all,

Xx

Gosh 17 weeks already fr00tbt we went and ordered our pram and cot after 20 week scan - it was really exciting. We're off to pick them up tomorrow so even more excited!!!

Keziah - so pleased for you! It's magical that something so beautiful can grow out of something so tiny!

Has anyone else experienced forgetfullness during their pregnancy? I put the dinner on today and came back about 15 mins later to find the oven on and the baking tray sitting on top of the worksurface!

hows everyone?

iv been reading gina ford and baby whisperer. liking gina, a lot. am very organised person and have always scoffed at the idea of 'baby led' and thought it a sure fire way to have a small person ruling the roost, and becoming a little brat....anyone else thoughts? thought it was better to discuss here than on main forum as they always get so bloody aggressive and we're all friends on here!

Hope you are all doing great whatever stage of pregnancy/babydom you are at

Liz x

Ilovekitty - not long to go now for you! I am too afraid yet to read any maternity/baby books but am watching for replies with interest to inform my reading!

Am 10weeks now and it feels a long 2ww to 12 week scan. Not sure then if I will breathe a bit more easily. At least can stop the pessaries

I was wondering when people started wearing maternity clothes. I have a dilemma in that due to the injections and pessaries my already less than flat stomach is now more round. Dh helpfully told me it was only round and fat and it was ok I didn't look pregnant!! It seems to have expanded in a week, but I haven't put on any weight. I don't want to wear maternity clothes yet, but when I go back to school I don't want to "show" - I at least don't want work to know until I have to have time off for an appointment, but don't know how best to get round this if clothes are "tight". I am just hoping when I get to 12 weeks and stop pessaries I will deflate - as stomach is just like it was with the ivf cycle.

Ilovekittyelise, is that the 'Contented Baby' book? I have never read it but have heard things about it. It seems to be very controversial, with people either loving or hating it. I am also a very organised person but I've heard 'Contented Baby' can be quite strict. I was thinking of reading it later in my pregnancy and then tweaking it to fit with our family. I'm not sure Gina would agree with that, but I'm not sure I'm completely comfortable with giving over my whole parenting style to one book. I believe motherhood has some instinct about it and every baby is different in terms of personality. A friend of a friend did the Gina programme, but her baby would never quite meet the times suggested (e.g. would want to feed every 3 3/4 hrs consistently) so she changed parts of the programme to suit her baby and lifestyle. I think it worked ok for her. I would be very interested to see what you think about the book.

Saying that, another friend had an entirely baby-led approach and he is sleeping 9pm to 7am consistently and has a good routine (by about 7 months).

Keziah, I started wearing sneaky maternity trousers by my 10 or 11 week. It wasn't that I was massive (although DH did acknowledge that I had grown slightly), it was more bloatedness and the fact that anything tight around my abdomen made my morning sickness worse. I wore long tops to disguise the elasticated waistbands and alternated between normal tops and stretchy maternity tops (that did not look too maternity-like), depending on how I felt each day. I found that cardigans were better than jumpers as they didn't have to be done up, which distracted away from the tummy area (especially from side-on view).

Thanks for the tips Water - I know I am bloated, due to medication and am 10 weeks now so still feels too early. It was last week when we went away I learnt one sweatshirt fitted fine at start of week and not at the end of week that I realised there was an issue. Jeans do not fit now, linen trousers do - a long top is a good idea.

I second that advice keziah. I was in maternity trousers @ 11 weeks but you can hide them with a longer top.

Thanks Boba - shopping I will go this week (11 weeks this weekend) as maybe it is not just bloating. Any recommendations of places to get maternity trousers, especially for work (am a teacher)? It is definitely trousers that is the problem as I have looser tops etc.

I've only bought jeans, dresses & tops. I've found Next, Topshop & ASOS really good. Prob Next best for work stuff I'd say. Happy shopping!!!

Thanks, was thinking Next too for work. I will be 13 and a half when go back to work, so will be a disaster if nothing fits!!

Hi all

I wrote a marathon post yesterday but somehow lost it and gave up. In brief, kitty I think Gina Ford seems to be one of those people who seriously divides people. She came in for a thumping among all the other mums to be at my NCT class, but I haven't had time to read anything at all (my poor child) so can't really comment myself.

keziah I echoe what others say about clothes. My best disguise for bump was long proper cotton button up shirts (my favourite is a white one from Next) and a cardi unbuttoned over it. I did get a big shock though realising that most stuff has to be bought online, and not even John Lewis stocks a maternity range. So if you have any special occassions coming up, plan for them now! My favourite jeans came from JoJo Maman Bebe.

Has anyone due soon (or who has recently had their baby) got a list of essential things to take to the hospital - for baby and mum? I'm still snowed under with work, exhausted beyond belief, but thinking I really need to get some basic things lined up and hoping I can piggy back on everyone else's experience. For some bizarre reason, these are the things i remember reading mum must tack: lip balm (gas and air apparently dries out your lips), maternity pads, big knickers (and maybe some disposables), a bendy straw or two to drink without needing to sit up, snacks.... what else.....? I thought we could maybe build definitive lists that we update in the way we did our stats on the CBFM thread. I'll start one with my bizarre contributions .....

My news - you won't believe this - my blasted car will not accommodate a single car seat. Has no isofix, can't use a seatbelt base because it has storage units in the floor well and the drop down leg thing isn't long enough, and we can't use the old fashioned seat belt accross the chair option because our seat belt isn't long enough (not that I'm keen on the least safe option anyway)! So looking at having to get a new car. Unreal.

HOSPITAL LIST - FOR MUM

Lip balm (gas and air apparently dries out your lips)
Maternity pads
Big knickers (and maybe some disposables)
Bendy straw to drink without needing to sit up
Snacks

This should probably be sorted in some sort of logical order. Would others find this useful - or is it just extremely busy lazy old me?

Ooh - choccie can't add anything, but this will be SO useful!! great idea.... so sorry you are so snowed under with work. Oh - one idea, something to give birth in?

I think a list is a great idea! I can think of some things:

Towel (or few if thinking of waterbirth)
Change of boxers/socks for dad (or knickers for birth partner)
Hairbands/Alice bands for those with long hair
Flannel/sponge
Maternity notes!

Pillow, if your hospital requests that you bring one
Amusements for stop/start labour (book, cards etc)
Camera!

Phone charger?

I have heard that some people take a 2L bottle of frozen water with them, so they have access to cold water later, although this would assume you are organised enough to remember to get it out of the fridge as you are getting in the car! The birth centre where I plan to deliver has a kitchen with a fridge, so I'm not too worried about having cold water.

Obviously I have never given birth before, so some of these ideas may be hugely naive!

I have already had a horrible dream where I've turned up at the birth centre without Maternity notes and they've sent me away! I can't think of anything else at the moment.

choccie here's a thread I found quite helpful. I am packing bag this wend after finally getting everything!

Started washing baby's sheets today and will do clothes tomorrow. I'm finally starting to let a little excitement creep in and realising we may just get our much longford baby after all - 3 weeks on Friday - aaaaargh!!!

OK ladies - had another bash at this copying some stuff I found online. Let's keep editing based on experience and common sense wisdom. I've done a sort of sort. One of things I am especially bothered about is the heat and noise in the wards afterwards, so really like the idea of frozen water with me for a start....

HOSPITAL LIST - FOR MUM

Maternity notes
Birth plan

Something to give birth in (e.g. big shirt or special birthing outfit )
Slipper socks (feet apparently can get cold in labour)
Hairbands/Alice bands for those with long hair
2 dark bath towels (or a few if thinking of waterbirth)

Something to recover in - button-up nighties seem to be recommended over PJs)
Large size Maternity pads
Big spare knickers
Sleeping eye mask - for bright wards
Nursing bra and breast pads
Slippers
Light dressing gown (for hot wards)
Going home outfit (very loose or what you wore at about 6 months pg, apparently)

Your own prescription medication
TENS machine
Massage oil
Antispectic wipes if you are phobic about hospital cleanliness
Handheld fan <a class="break-all" href="//(www.amazon.co.uk/Cooler-Multi-Function-Personal-Mini/dp/B000P9CM20/ref=sr_1_4?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1313589788&sr=1-4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(or something like this )
Cooling water face spray

Pillow, if your hospital requests that you bring one

Bendy straw to drink without needing to sit up
Snacks
Large bottle of frozen water for afterwards
Glucose tablets

Flannel/sponge
Lip balm (gas and air apparently dries out your lips)
Cosmetics
Contact lens solution /glasses case
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Hand/body lotion
Shampoo/conditioner
Hairbrush
Tissues

Amusements for stop/start labour (book, cards etc)
Camera!
Phone charger and chargers for other things as well?
MP3 player and sound system (for during labour)
Spare batteries

HOSPITAL LIST - FOR DAD

Change of boxers/socks for dad
Lots of change for parking or buying snacks/magazines
His own prescription medication (in case its a while before he gets home)

List of important telephone numbers

HOSPITAL LIST - FOR BABY

1 pack of newborn nappies
Baby wipes or cotton wool
Nappy bags

Nappy cream
2 cotton vests (depending on the season)
2 cotton sleepsuits
Cotton baby hat
Cotton bibs
Baby socks
Baby blanket
Scratch mitts
Going home outfit

Car seat (most hospitals check that you have a car seat before you leave)

Oh x-post Boba - that link has other stuff I'd forgotten about but read ages ago and thought - '.... really?!!!!....'.

i.e. formula/bottles (hospitals don't supply anymore at all and although I def plan to bf don't want last minute freak-out if I end up on morphine or have surgery (which is where I seem to be headed at the moment) and can't manage as I hope and baby is starving)

Peppermint oil or antiflatulants - no joke, apparently wind pain after a c-section is excrutiatingly painful

Arnica tablets for post-birth /surgery bruising. Will do another consolidated edit tomorrow to include all.

boba I'm only at the stage of starting to gather stuff together..... wish I was as organised as you. Still no car seat because we have an unsuitable car! So this weekend we're looking for a car

Just what you don't need choccie I actually had a scare last week and was admitted to hospital on Wed evening for 3 days as had severe UTI and dehydration - was non stop vomiting and stomach cramps. Quite scary so DH has put foot down that bag MUST be packed by Monday just in case & lets face it who wants to rely on their man to pack knickers for them, mine would end up packing a lacy thong - eh no thanks!

Are you going for car with Isofix? Can't believe your car is incompatible with a car seat - what kind of car is it?

Has work calmed down a bit for you yet? Hope you're managing to relax a bit more. x

Oh and p.s on the bottle situation - I hadn't even thought of that but I can't seriously see the hospitals having no bottles/formula to feed babies - plenty of mums either can't or baby refuses so they can't let them starve - can they?