Due August 2011, third and final trimester here we come!!!!

[KLou111]

Oooooo ladies, an exciting time for us all either already here or speedily arriving.
Can't believe how quick it's all going.

Bubbas will be here in no time!!!!

re the feeding and weddings, I didn't have any formula in the house, so I wouldn't be tempted, it was quite a hard slog for the first 6 weeks with undiagnosed thrush f the breast ducts (probably set off by antibiotics in labour after my waters broke) a sleepy baby after diamorphine who was quite tiny (6lb 7oz) and large boobs with flat nipples.
But I did percevere and it got so muc easier, carried on till 14 months in the end and plan to do the same this time.
Last time I did not feel like going anywhere for quite a while, I had a large episiotomy with lots of stitches and struggled getting up and down stairs, I felt like I had been run over by a bus and with struggling to breastfeed, dont think I could have gone away o a wedding and definetely couldn't have left dd with anyone. We did do loads after 6 weeks (camping at 6 weeks, holiday in tunisia at 8 weeks) which was fine.
I think it depends on the birth and feeding, if you dont have a cs or oads of stitches and feeding is going well, you might feel like going, but dont put too much pressure on yourself!
S x

My sis is also getting married on 5 September 1.5 hours drive away (DH doesn't drive) and I've said we will go if we can, but not to expect us. The DC are being flowergirl/page boy and I've said they can only do that if my parents look after them/pick them up etc so that there is no pressure on me. I'm hoping we'll make it, but I'm not going to commit to anything and luckily she's fine with that.

Just out of interest, if bottle feeding ends up the solution at some point, does anyone know what the latest recommended bottles / formula are, as I know it changes regularly?

Morning I think that's a very difficult question to answer because there is no independent information available about what goes into different brands of formula etc. The only information available is that provided by the manufacturers themselves but they don't make their data available for independent verification. I think it is largely trial and error and the same with different bottles/teats.

Yukana have you asked to change your midwife? If you feel she is not being nice simply because of your age then you may feel happier with one who specialises in looking after younger women, is there a local childrens centre you could go to for support too? I would, however, say that it sounds like you have a number of issues with mental health and home life, some out of your control, so she really is just doing her job by making sure that you have some support mechanisms in place. I do not know if social services are appropriate as I have no experience in that but with your depression and anxiety problems they should keeping an eye on you and trying to help, it wouldn't be a duty of care to the baby if they didn't to be honest, even though you sound like you are sensible and caring. The advice from your doctor about your iron levels sounds very good so I hope it works and you start to feel better soon. Any news on your DP's job yet? Fingers crossed.

I am full of cold today, in June! So is DS2, neither of us had a very good nights sleep last night and we have a busy day today so early night for me I think.

Tbh I would decline the wedding; we've turned one down for 24th Sept as I know I won't feel up to travelling that far (Yorkshire to Dorset), and I've found that doing too much really affects my milk supply. Personally I couldn't leave my babies with anyone else for the first few months, I was very attached to them!! And even if you do, you'll need to take a pump and express so you don't get engorged.
Re: the 2 hours in carseat advice, my parents live 5 hours drive away, and we figure that to do the trip they will just have to spend a lot of time in the car seat, but we try to keep them out of it for the next few days. I think the advice is to try and stop people keeping their babies in the car seat all day by using it as their buggy/rocker in the house etc but I wouldn't worry over a one-off trip.
We found cow&gate formula gave DD more 'breast milk like' poos, whereas aptimil bunged her up, but I'm sure every child is different!
And DD was fine with Avent bottles but DS (who was bf but had one bottle of formula a day) would only take tommee tippee. Trial and error I'm afraid!!

Jenni we've bought a lie flat car seat due to the long travelling, and they are meant to be fine, it's the more upright ones that you're not meant to use for more than an hour at a time for the first 4 months due to breathing of baby.

OMG Wishwales Morgan is gorgeous!!!!! So strange looking at her thinking that ours are like that ie a proper little baby!! Oh so made up for you, hope she is doing very well :)

Mornings We've got some MAM anti colic bottles. A friend got us 2 sets for free, and they are meant to be the best ones for combining breast/bottle if you express, but I personally think it depends on baby, so we'll see at the time.

We've said no to the wedding. DH said it's for the best, and he's not keen on going anywhere far either until the baby is at least 6 weeks old.

We've also said that visitors will have to stay somewhere else, which I do feel bad about TBH as we have a spare room for guests, but with a newborn we feel we just want our space and will not want to look after other people too. It may change and we may be grateful for people here, but we'll just have to see at the time. It will only be the grandparents that we'll want here anyway, I don't want anyone else coming, even if they stay elsewhere.

klou that sounds very wise both on the wedding and no visitors. We've found that being due in August, lots of friends will be away and are happy for our parents/brothers etc to stay in their empty houses, which means we can offer free accommodation to family members, but, like you say, not have to look after them, and we'll get some space as a family.

Congratulations wishwales.
rugby I would not attempt a hen do having just had a baby. first few months are just so physically and mentally exhausting. plus my boobs would have exploded if I had left them for long!
I am not worrying about an august baby in relation to school. my DD will be 8 in August and is doing well at school. the only inconvenience is that we have her party in July as people are on holiday in Aug, but she benefits from drawn out celebrations.
she is not keen on sharing her birthday though or on another brother so am hoping I do not have a boy on her birthday!
I am feeling so tired and ribs are really hurting so very grateful my friend has my kids for yes tonight so I have two hours peace and quiet.
read the Sylvia plath 'you're' yesterday which I always like to look at when pregnant.

Tea not yes. Bloody smart phones

mornings - rumour has it that Dr. Brown's bottles are supposed to be the current 'best bottle' as they have some kind of tube that goes down the middle of the bottle and helps prevent wind / colic (allegedly). Our NCT class organiser woman promotes them so much I wonder if she's on commission.

Sounds as though a lot of us have events in August / Sept that we'll be missing! My cousin is moving to New York in August and my brother to Dublin in Sept - both of them are having 'bon voyage' events plus two of my cousins are having their children christened in late July / August .... I think we'll be missing all of them :( Gutted really as my family is quite small and we don't see each other much so I'll be sad not to be at big family doos.

Wishwales - congratulations again!! Morgan looks like a cutey in the pics but teeny when you look at her hand compared to whosever's finger is in the pic! Hope you're both still doing really well.

Had a growth scan today (am 29+3) and both babies are still looking good :) they are going to be little nippers though rather than biffa babies. Had a chat with my consultant about mode of delivery and he basically said it would have to be CS for the babies' sake. I had kinda anticipated this but am still disappointed as I really wanted a natural birth. I will do anything to reduce the risk to my little poppets though after all they've already been through! Consultant was talking about 36-37 week delivery so only 6-7 weeks to go now. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Oh and vis-a-vis August babies... my bday is 29 August and DH's is 24th. We have both always hated being last-in-the-year people as everyone else gets to do things first (well, learn to drive and get into pubs anyway ) PLUS all of my friends were always on their hols for my birthday so parties were a bit hit and miss. I always said I wouldn't do the same to my children and here I am being due on the 23rd Aug!! Having said that... they'll be here in July all being well so not quite as bad.

Any of you getting period type pains?? Been having them all day, not sure if its just how i slept, and how ive been laid today. Backs aching too :(

Its hard to know whats normal and what isnt

Hmm.... winter, no I can't say I have had period type pains, lots of BH which make me feel very uncomfortable / need the loo but nothing more. How frequently are you having them? Would you say they are regular pains, i.e maybe contractions starting up? Could they just be BH or do they feel different to that? Needless to say, if you're really worried or anything just call the hospital / labour ward / assessment centre and speak to a midwife... don't just sit and fret. Hope you're ok

Sorry to post AGAIN but I have a Q for you all vis a vis bras.

Firstly - someone raved about a type of bra on here a while ago, what was it? My only 2 maternity bras (from debenhams) are rubbish, not supportive and just make me look saggy :(

Secondly - when do you buy nursing bras? I've read / heard that once your milk comes in your boobs balloon - sometimes up 3-4 cup sizes. So, I don't know whether it is appropriate to buy one pre-babies arriving so I have one to take to hosp or whether I should get it afterwards (altho as I'll be having a CS and twins not sure how easy it'll be to get into town and buy one). Thoughts ladies?

mrsS I'm thinking it's either pressure from LO or everything stretching as it's pretty constant. Don't think I've had BH yet, I'm laid in bed now so will see how I go..

Re bras I have no idea what to do as I'm a 36j now so really need support..

winterlover it's probably nothing, but labour pains do start off a bit like period pains and sometimes with backache, so worth keeping an eye on it and getting it checked out of it carries on.

Mrs S I would get a couple of bras in advance. If you get measured somewhere like JoJoMaman Bebe or John Lewis etc they should be able to take into account how you change post baby. Loads of people like Bravissimo but they sold me a bra that was too tight with my DS1 so would not go back there personally.

MrsStevo I got mine in advance with DS1, at about 37 weeks, and they fitted fine afterwards. I do not have a huge increase in boob size during pregnancy or breastfeeding though (once the initial 'Pamela Anderson' milk coming in days are over!). They take into account the fact that they will get a bit bigger.

Hope the pains settle down soon Winterlover, I haven't experienced that so would get it checked out if it carries on.

winterlover I had cramps a couple of days ago - it didn't last long but they were a bit sharp; when I was at the doctors on Tuesday I mentioned it and she said it's probably to do with the water infection I've got. So maybe that, are you needing the loo a lot? I've had plenty of uti's before, but this one was pretty much symptomless as far as I'm concerned.
Or it might be braxton hicks? Ring your mw if you're concerned.

winter i have had a few pains like that but wasnt too concerned, i had it a bit with my ds2 too i think its due to just pressure or maybe stretching kinda things as you said, and back ache too but i think thats just due to carrying around a huge bump all the time. mention to midwife if you're worried though just for your peace of mind?

as for formula i agree with carrie cow and gate was the best for us. i did try aptamil as a lot of people label it "the best" but wasnt happy with it so went straight back to c&g

about the august bdays mine is august too but never minded it, always felt its better to have a birthday in the summer than in the winter when its cold and gloomy. might end up sharing a birthday with this baby as due date is one day before mine, and wont be let to go overdue so if they did induce on due date would probably come the next day? i rather have a different birthday each tho, don't want to share, altho if he is born on my bday i suppose he will be a nice present .

Thanks everyone, im thinking its a bit of erm trapped gas Ive been resting doing sod all the past few days and I think that could be it. Will keep my eye on it today and call if it worries me :)

Firawla im due 2 days before DPs birthday... and a week before my dad flys back to work.. Its his first grandchild so I realllllllly hope I dont go over

MrsS I've read to get nursing bras from 36 weeks. I've just mentioned actually to DH that I need some new bras, even though mine still fit, boobs are beginning to looks a bit wonderbra-ish!! I'm a 36c usually (well, they fit nice so assume am that) but went online to see how to measure yourself and apparently I am anywhere from a 38dd to a 40c?!?!? Think will go in somewhere lol!

Not had any BH here yet, is it normal not to (31+2 today)??

2 months to go for me today woohoo!! Going quick isn't it, or is it just me and thinking that as we have still so much to do, and how the hell are we going to do it all??!
DH trying to finish our en-suite asap, as that's the last 'major' job in the house that he is doing, the rest is plastering etc so we've got someone coming in to do that.

Then it's painting spare room and nursery, recarpeting the landing, furnishing nursery, and DH wants to lay a wood floor in the lounge rather than carpet, so he'll do that when all the plastering and painting is done in there, which should be relatively easy for him to do. Then skirting all of downstairs, and little finishy-offy bits. Our bedroom needs doing, not urgently, but may get my dad to wallpaper it when they come where DH has put the en-suite false wall up so it's bare at the mo. It's like DH said though, if we don't do it now, we'll never do it, so might as well get it done.
Can't wait for it all to be done now, had enough of the mess and crap in boxes everywhere!!

Have a great weekend all :)

littlemisslozza We have a children's center nearby but from where we currently live there is no transport to it. As for changing midwives I don't think this is possible, as my local surgery is very small.

Regarding the social services, I think it makes me angry that they are bringing it up more than anything. It also makes me worried as I am determined as is DP, to bring up this child as a couple and to support each other. I really want to stand on my own two feet for once and being investigated by the social services will just make me paranoid. I have been involved with them in the past after my mother abused me as a child, but they were pretty much useless at that time.

I'm keeping things going with my iron tablets so hopefully in a couple of weeks at my next appointment things will have improved.

We will find out about DP's job and view the new house early next week. :)

I found out last night that I am on TEAM PINK. :) I can't quite believe it as I was so convinced little one was a boy. Getting used to the idea of being mama to a wee girl. 4D scan was ace. The still pictures we have are not that fantastic because baby was hiding behind the placenta, so I won't share here, but she did look cute.

Thinking of you all, hope you are having nice weekends and taking it easy.