We're now halfway and it's PMA all the way - Nov 2011

[cep]

Halfway there now ladies. on the countdown.

Cali aand smiling, yup, flying no problem, as I will only be 32 weeks. I need a fit-to-fly note though, but doubt I'll have problems with that.
Most airlines let you fly up to 36 weeks, as long as you have the note and have an uncomplicated singles pregnancy.
You can check each airline's restrictions in the FAQ section.

Cep we are very lucky with the housing allowance and the holiday for that matter (as it's paid for). DH got a very good expat deal from his company, so we are very lucky

Folic I agree, we looked at the City Select, but it was too bulky and heavier. Also looked at the City Elite, but the front wheel was so annoying when folded.
I agree with the stroller issue. The City Mini can be used from birth and is light and small enough to do as a buggy too (which is why we seem to have fallen for it). You can either buy an insert to help baby's head, the pram bit, or a car seat (remember that you need to buy the adaptors too though) to make it compatible from birth.
I always thought proper buggies were too "flimsy". Don't know why, but they remind me of the cheap buggies that kids can get for their dollies and that makes me cringe (obviously fine for a doll and a child-mummy)

We looked at the McLaren XT, but the canopy has those annoying clippie things (sorry, can't think of the word) and DH demonstrated what would happen if I was pulling the canopy back and baby decided to pull it down. Trapped fingers. Ouch! :(

busyboy congrats to your DH!

Cali I almost spit my sip of water out! £2000?!?

Mrs hope the second scan goes well today and that baby spreads its legs for you :)

Sorry, I seem to be writing monster posts lately :(

Smiling go speak to someone about your woowoo, it could be early SPD and the earlier they treat the better for you. I have the same thing at work after sitting at my desk. It doesn't hurt when I'm sitting but when I stand up the world seems to sink down on to my pelvis and it is agony at the front of my woowoo! It wears off after an hour of not sitting.

I've tried to get the occupational therapist to come and help me set up my chair more optimally, 5 forms and 3 days later - nothing. Tempted to stay home because it could bring on full scale SPD and this is way to early to put up with that!

smiling and Folic my colleague is trying to persuade me to get the maclaren xt, she had for her DC from birth and is convinced you don't need anything more expensive.

But then I read mrsa comment about the iCandy, and I would like the iCandy cherry, and I don't know what to do! There seem to be a lot of icandy's available on eBay so also weighing up whether I should buy second hand.

mashpot it really up to you what you want from a pushchair, the maclaren xt is an excellent one (have loads of friends who have/had one) but for me I didn't like the fact that it is forward facing only & looked at the maclaren ?xcl which you could buy a carrycot type piece to make it cosier for baby & for baby to face you but then for less money I managed to get a mamas&papas switch (exdisplay) which does a lot more & though it is slightly bulkier I prefer it. I will prob get a cheap stroller style buggy if we go abroad but would do so even if I had a maclaren as wouldn't want £200 worth of equipment thrown the way baggage handlers do!!

smiling I agree with pam in that it could be the early signs of spd which physio can help. I'm having similar probs with sitting for a long time then getting up but also walking any distance (what would normally take me 10mins), walking up/down stairs and getting in/out of car is also causing me pain!! Have appt with MW on fri & hoping for a quick ref to physio!!

Ha ha, the dream genii!!! I have one too, got one 2nd hand off eBay a month or so back. Got to say I didn't like it at first either and didn't understand why everyone else was feeding back glowing reports. But I've ditched it a few nights in favour of an ordinary pillow and I can really tell the difference. If u use ordinary pillows I tend to wake with even worse back ache, as opposed to just being uncomfy. I do wrestle with it though.

I think making a decision about a pram is one of the toughest. I think you should think about what you want out if it. Although unnecessary, we really wanted a 3 in 1 travel system, so that ruled out a lot of pushchairs. I have to confess that the pram is one of the things we're really splashing out on. Initially we weren't going to but this is dc1 and we hope to have at least 1 more, maybe 2, so the justification in spending more, and buying new, is that this pram will be for future dc as well. I would say, read lots of reviews on any of the buggies you bare looking at. We're investing the the bugaboo cameleon, which IMO is a great pram, but I suppose time will tell!!!

I'm struggling with the decision on a pram too, I think this is the one we're going to go for, I just adore the simplicity of it. (I don't adore the cost, but my parents are going to pay fortunately!) It folds flat enough for my needs, and doesn't look too bulky for use around town or on and off public transport. I don't think we'll bother with the carry cot option, since baby probably won't be in it for too long at a time. We're getting a moses basket for it to sleep in for the first few weeks as well. Apart from that, I don't think we'll really buy much, my grandparents have an old fashioned cot we can have (needs a new mattress). We'll get a manual breast pump, a few bottles and a microwave steriliser as well. I really just want to make sure that my house stays as uncluttered as possible, it isn't very big, but I love it as it is, so the least changes we can make, the better. Does anyone else have the same absolute adoration for a product once they have chosen it like I do with the pram? I

Hi all,
I did attempt to catch up last night but was up at 6:30, filming all day 8-7, and then home at 8pm, and couldnt believe how tired I was! Literally talking was an effort! So I started reading and then had to sack it off!
Hi princess - sure someone has mentioned about facebook group we have....if you PM cep she will get you on if you want.
poppys so jealous of maldives, i went in 2009 and its where we got engaged....such a fabulous and relaxing place. Have you been before?
Prams - really liking the concord neo....anyone seen/got/have any views?
Was actually contemplating the dream genii as currently using normal pillow as its only way i can get comfy but it usually falls out of bed in night or DH steals it! think they do one thats bit smaller but can be used as feeding pillow too so may have to go for that!
DH birthday today so nice tea out tonight and then its Friday....hurray!

we have a travel system my parents bought when pg with ds which was about 300-400. still ok, i did get a second hand pushchair for £50 which folded down better for going abroad.

I find the genii quite comfy, either resting my leg on it or putting it between my legsbut i don't alway sleep on my left. I know we're not supposed to sleep on my back but i can't remember what's wrong with sleeping on my right hand side. it was also that they are supposed to help as a feeding pillow that helped me decide to get it.

Collie we are getting a 3rd hand bugaboo cameleon off a friend for £150, she is changing the brackets which give up after a year or 2 and I'm getting new wheels as the 2007 model (which this is) is pneumatic and punctures easily. The new ones have a foam tube I think? We'll replace the colourful bits as well and make it look new.

Her review was that it was excellent for shopping and general pavement pushing but off road and snow was a nightmare. I know you can get snow tyres - but given the 2-3 foot of drifts last year in my area I may just stay in with Film 4.

V jealous of the Pram buying. Can't wait until fit enough to get to the shops to try them out. We dont have much room. Study will become nursery although for first 6 months baby will be sleeping in our room so will leave single bed there in case one of us needs a good nights sleep! Afterwards cot will be moved in there. Hopefully my old Moses basket has been well looked after so will just need new matress and bedding.

Feeling much better than yesterday which saw me in bed for most of the day but did manage without any painkillers. Waiting for friend with twins to visit and have even managed to bake so e muffins for us with fruit from the garden. After years with no year love my little garden.

Hi everyone, ooo pram talk, loving it! I spent a fortune on a pram for my 1st 2 but to be honest I hardly used it once they were out the carrycot stage so am going for a slightly different type this time. Havent a lot of spare money but my MIL is buying it - still she isn't rolling in it either so it will have to be sensible suggestions only! Am hoping a pram will be in the sale when she is ready to buy it :)

Having a rubbish few days, terrible terrible heartburn and despite managing to keep down some Gaviscon tablets it is not getting better. :(

Also seem to be having one of those weeks where nothing goes right. my ex (kids dad) seems to have had some sort of transplant of personality or sense or something and is refusing to take dd to her friday night activity when she is at his. The reason for this? It interferes with his other ds's bedtime and apparently it takes two of them to to put a 1 and 3 year old to bed.... Apparently I will 'understand' why when I have this one. I beg to differ! Then my son who has a SEN statement which dictates his educational needs is due to start a new school, despite warnings from myself and family, the language and communications team and his current school they have gone against advice and made a decision which we all totally disagree with. Cue my contact with them and a woman within the school shouting at me so loudly down the phone that 2 colleagues in my office, sat at the other end of the office, heard her yelling at me. I cried solidly for 15 minutes. Eeek.

PMA though! I am finished for a week and a day from work on hols, want to decorate the front room and examine the homebirth route!

Hi all,

wow, things really seem to be moving along don't they. Exciting stuff mostly but big hugs and good vibes to all those who have been having a stressful time through one thing or another.

I seem to be having problems with what look like varicose / spider veins (oh so glam!) and my legs are feeling bruised and sore. Keeping my fingers crossed that they don't get much worse. Not put much weight on yet, but think we are at that point where there could be a substantial growth spurt!

voodoo such a shame you are having to put up with extra problems. It seems to me that some people go out of their way to be awkward. If you have time during your hols, do pop in at the cafe and we can share woes / PMA and indulge in some of my lovely home made brownies (I will PM you with info on where I am)

We will re-use DDs pram. Its a Britax travel system, I don't think they actually make ones like this anymore but we were really pleased with it. It has been at my parents house for the past couple of years, for my nephew to nap in when he visits, and when DD (age 4) was telling my dad that we would need it back for the new baby she had a think about it then said 'maybe you and Granny should keep it in case you get another baby?'. My dad was in hysterics......my parents are almost 80 years old!!

Someone mentioned footmuffs a few posts back, could I suggest something that I thought was fantastic? And super cute.....www.buggysnuggle.com. I went through a few different footmuffs with DD until I found these. I found most of the ones on the market only covered her legs in the pram, whereas these came right up round her like a blanket. She loved hers, and so did I.

Oh, I forgot to mention - last night I used the last £50 vouchers for John Lewis from our church online! I love ordering stuff, it's like Christmas when they arrive!

Again, DP was so funny, picking stuff for his daughter (he's so excited, she'll be a proper daddy's girl) - he picked these and made me go for a different bouncer because he didn't like the colour on the other one!

Also, a friend has offered us a complete birth-to-potty nappy set, for free! That was my biggest spend in our budget, and I was starting to panic a bit...

i meant to add, that i would not compromise on anything for safety just to save a couple of quid. I would not get a second hand car seat, you have no idea if it's been in an accident or anything. I know what's happened to mine i know any damage it's had (i also know it's actually stronger since dh fixed it strangely enough, damage was down to a design fault) and because it's been damaged i would not sell it on again after we're done.

voodoo that's disgusting, the school has no right to treat/talk to you like that. I would make a complaint, if someone was shouting at you that loudly that's just plain wrong.

Evening all! Sounds really exciting now we're all buying stuff! Me and dh are doing mothercare in cardiff on saturday! Not top buy anything, just for research!

We're planning to come up with a list and estimate of prices, woirk out what's really important and what's a luxury. Then we'll start talking to family as some have already asked what they can buy us so if we casually say, "well this is our list..." hopefully they will offer to get something that we want, rather than something dodgy! Not being presumptuous at all, as this is only peopl ewho have already said they'd like to help get stuff.

Everyone seems in much better spirits this week... even those of us with dramas still on the PMA! I like it!

Right off to go chop up a watermelon and watch Torchwood! Woowoo! xx

Staceroo Watermelon! (Craving....)

We made a wishlist on Amazon, too, for family etc. It's got our non-essential would-be-nice-to-have stuff on it, like playmats, toys etc.

What Cep said about car seats. They and mattresses should be brand new for safety (IMHO)

ooo stace I love mothercare in Cardiff. There is a lovely big one on Newport road and another big one down in culverhouse cross. I'm in Newport Road regularly!

Anyway, evening all!

Had scan today and they saw most stuff they needed to (except all of spine but they've not seen anything of concern) plus she was pretty sure she saw a willy!! So, we're team blue. Eeekkkkk - I 'know' girls. How will i cope with a willy!!
on the plus side, fast forward a good few years and only one lot of periods and boobs plus a chance to bring up a son who cooks and cleans as well as anyone! (or else!!)

We're keeping this quiet so not a word when I get myself on fb.

On prams - the icandy cherry is the small pram system and I don;t think has an adjustable handle or can be swapped around (double check). We loved the Apple cos the pram faced us (a few times we turned it around if we were walking to the sun eg) and I really believe babies should lie flat in a pram when they are very new. There are some pushchairs that say they lie flat but don;t quite and it can sometimes cause back problems in the future (that's just my research though).
What was also great is that in the pram (DD was born in a Sept) meant at xmas i could take her to the Trafford centre and she could lie on her back and look at all the twinkling xmas lights :)
When she was older and went in the sit up bit, she faced me so I could talk to her about what she was looking at and hopefully take some of it in. When she got even older, she then faced out and could see things on her own IYSWIM.

Oh and my Close and Moby stretchy wraps arrived. I ordered both, intending to send one back and keep the one I liked but (damn) I adore them both! They both fit (and I couldn't get a Baby bjorn to fit me) and can be worn all day and pop baby in and out. I suspect I may keep both. Ooppss.

Finally, those with more than one child - I am worrying i won;t love this one as much or that DD will feel pushed out. How did you cope? DD is still my pfb. Tell me it'll be OK!!

mrsa yay for good scan & team blue.

I agree with you re: baby lying flat - it is my biggest bug bear with the travel systems which allow car-seat to be attached to pram. It is great for quick trips but I hate it when the poor baby is stuck in the car seat for hours around shopping centres + the travel there & back; it really isn't ideal for the babies development. It grates on me even more people who go out for a walk (no car involved) and just use the car-seat rather than the main seat - WHY??? Sorry will slink back off of my soap-box!!!

As for your worries re: DD feeling left out - have you considered getting DD a present from baby and vice versa so she can welcome baby & gets something special for being a big sister - DS still has melamine plates & bowls so from baby we've got him a special plate & bowl; DS will get baby a special toy and he has been allowed to chose first clothes(out of a couple of sleepsuits). I feel this gives DS a sense of being involved in all parts of baby coming & what it means to be a big bro. I am also planning on ensuring DS still gets his individual bedtime story routine (even if it means baby crying in other room) so that he has special time too. The other thing I plan to do so that DS doesnt feel left out is to ensure any visitors spend some time with DS prior to having baby cuddles for the first visit (I do this with all older children when I visit once new baby comes as most people go straight for baby then the older child seems almost an after thought!!). Just a few of my thoughts/ideas, I'm sure others will have some suggestions too.

I can't really answer re: loving new baby less but I am already in love with baby & baby is already part of our family. As it is something you have recognised in yourself then I am sure you will find ways of overcoming this.

Thank you Pam & Bump for the SPD advice, I've been googling and it looks like it's important to take action quickly. I'm going home this weekend and my sisters a physio so will grill her about it.

Another question, does everybody here know how to do pelvic floor exercises? I really can't get them I don't think and I'm a bit worried about it. I can work out two muscle clenches down there, one is more like a bum clench and the other is more of an internal punani ripple which I defo couldn't do on the bus as it's kind of sexy feeling iyswim. I know it's supposed to be the feeling of stopping wee mid flow but that's not really helping.. do you find it easy to do? Can you clench it and hold it?

Thanks!

kate393 Yep, been to the Maldives last year for our honeymoon, so this time it will be 1 year anniversary/last childfree holiday. I can't wait :)

Mrs Congratulations on team blue and a good scan! We had to have the spine rescanned, because my OB was not happy with the sacrum not having been seen. Rescanned last week and all is normal

smiling those are the two muscles as far as I am aware.
I still haven't started mine?I can clench and hold very briefly, but I can't do many in a row. Have you tried to hold your wee mid flow? That might let you see if you are clenching the right muscle?

Well, it's Friday and after 10am my time. I can't wait for the weekend. I am so exhausted the last couple of nights I have been straight into bed after dinner.

We got our new sofabed, which replaced our double in the baby's room and I love the colour (navy blue)! It fits nicely next to where the cot bed will go and I hope to be able to breastfeed and play with the baby on it. The covers are washable, so that is a big bonus.
We also got the chest of drawers delivered, so we will be building that this weekend and then I can move all the baby clothes (only have very little so far) and muslins into the nursery.

I hope you all have a lovely Friday and some beautiful weather for the weekend :)

pelvic floor is a single sling like muscle that goes from back to the front. It is the muscle you use to stop yourself from passing wind & also stopping your urine flow. It is easier (esp when pregnant) to do it whilst on all 4s or lying on your side (as you don't have weight of baby & things to contend with). You can ensure you're using the correct muscle whilst going for a wee but once you know the correct muscle don't stop urine mid-flow as it can lead to infection. It is best to do 10 fast tighten & relax followed by 10 tighten & hold for up to the count of 10 (but remember to breath throughtout). If you aim for 5sets a day it is optimal - try doing them at a time you can remember e.g after you go toilet, every red light on transport etc.

Hope that helps - smiling if you're still worried talk to your sis & ask her advice