Brewing a March baby!

[Carlitawantsababy]

Hello! I've just found out that I'm pregnant and due on the 23rd March! I'm 29 and live in London with my husband, dog and cat. So far at 4 weeks things are going very smoothly! I'm very excited about going to the doctor (even if they don't care) as feel it will make things more real!
If you're expecting in March too please join the thread and share a bit about yourself and how your pregnancy is going!

Glad I'm not the only cautious one then
Fee - whereabouts are you in the uk? We went to kiddicare last weekend and although it was mind blowing, they have an entire floor just filled with travel systems so well worth the trip - although for us peterborough is only an hour away. I had liked a few types on their website but in real life, they didn't look as good - and ones I didn't like the look of online were actually fab! Massive savings if you buy online so we'll prob do research on the ground but buy online.

I have everything but hadn't even considered packing a bag. That is scary.
Booked my hypnobirthing course today; very exciting!

Ooh! Carlita (nice name change btw)...
I'm considering hypnobirthing, but haven't booked any classes yet. Do you think you'll use the techniques you learned? Was it worth the money?

I've heard about hypnobirthing, supposed to be good if you can block out everything that will be going on. Let us know how you get on!
My yoga has finished til January now so I've got to breathe on my own with the help of a DVD my friend gave me But seriously, I will defo use the techniques and exercises that I've learnt when it comes to D Day so would recommend finding a nearby class if any of you are vaguely interested in it. If nothing else, it's a fantastic relaxer for the evening! Xx

Hi Ladies, I have not been on for a while, so thought I would catch up with everyone. Sorry to hear about the house carlita, but I'm sure you'll find something else soon (hopefully this weekend)!

We have bought quite a few things now, got the moses basket last week, also have the following stacked up in our spare room:- car seat & base, swing, nappies & wipes (get them when I see them on special), steriliser, bottle warmer, bottles and teats (this was a set on half price in Babies R Us) and I do actually plan on breast feeding but figured I will need them eventually. Also have a breast pump, a changing mat and one outfit. We have been looking at nursey furniture and prams, which I think we will be getting after Christmas.

I hadn't even thought about packing the hospital bags yet, I'm sure that will be a whole new minefield of what to pack?! Also on the midwife appointments, I had one at 24 weeks and the next one is at 28 weeks, which I will have at 27 weeks due to Christmas.

And lastly before I talk all day, I really wanted to find pregnancy yoga classes or aquanatal, any ideas of where to look, as I seem to be drawing a blank locally to me?! And those that have done the classes, are they worth it?

I remember seeing a really good thread a while back about what to pack in your hospital bag & meant to copy & paste a v useful looking list that someone had written. Never quite got 'round to it, of course. I'll have a proper look a bit nearer the time...

Has anyone got any NCT/ hospital classes booked in?

Have been half-thinking about pregnancy yoga- there's one place near me, but it's quite expensive & you have to book 6 sessions in advance which puts me off a bit in case I didn't get on with it. I'm also likely to be pretty bad at it, so I was thinking of waiting 'til my bump's a bit bigger so I could blame it on that!

I've been going to aqua natal every week for about a month, I love it. I just googled aqua natal London and it came up with a list.
I start hypnobirthing in feb when I (hopefully) move to hastings, it is a 2.5 hour a week for 5 weeks course. I have a friend who did it and is using it again for her second baby as it was so good. I really think it will be worth it, the theory is very good and fits perfectly with the stuff I've read about natural childbirth in the Ina May book, the fear=tension=pain theory makes a lot of sense to me. It is also something I can use in a home water birth which is what I'm planning!

I'm actually wearing a new born in a sling right now too!

Kiki - pregnancy yoga is definitely worth it. Classes are more about breathing and cover a few gentle exercises to do while you're in labour (plus info about the labour itself)... so don't worry, you won't be asked to get your legs behind your neck or anything!! My class also prefers us to pay up front for six classes but I said the same to my instructor (about not being sure whether I'd get on with it) and asked to pay each week for the first six weeks. It's not like us mummies to be haven't got other things to spend our pennies on, is it?

Oh sorry, just to answer your question, yes we're off to NCT classes - we start on January 2nd. So excited, can't wait to meet new friends and learn more about what this adventure is going to be like

On another note.... I had my 25 week midwife appointment this morning. All is good and I got to hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time! Amazing He/she was wriggling about a lot (made me and the midwife smile) and the heartbeat was v strong. I know it's possible to guess the sex from the heartbeat and it sounded quick to me so now I'm thinking we might be having a girl! Anyway, we still don't want to know, it's lovely guessing though haha! Bump is perfect size for 25 weeks (25cm) and MW happy with other stuff.

Got a glucose tolerance test on Tuesday - anyone else had one? MW said everyone should have one at this stage? Sounds a horrid test, more bloods, fasting, just drinking lucozade... Yukky.

broody I didn't know glucose tolerance tests were standard in some areas! They only do them here if they suspect gestational diabetes or if you have a high BMI. Does sound a bit icky.
I heard that the heartbeat is only different gender wise during labour, under normal circumstances just an old wive's tale (spoilt sport
Oh yes, on your questions kiki, I haven't been offered any NHS classes and decided against NCT in favour of hypnobirthing (we only wanted to spend out on one or the other really)
I haven't got NCTM

Nobody has mentioned glucose tests where I am, broody but they're pretty disorganised, they could always spring one on me! I know when I see the MW at 28 weeks there will be more blood tests, so who knows... Thanks re: yoga reassurance- I might give it a go in the New Year. It's £9 a session which seems a bit steep to me, so I may just do one set of six to learn the techniques & then try it on my own at home.

Carlita- the Conquest hospital in Hastings doesn't run its own classes, so they pay for the NCT to provide a free set of four. You may be able to squeeze in on some if you move down & register in time?

Ooh, excellent kiki thanks! Would be awesome to get free NCT! That would give me a chance to meet people too, we're having private tuition for hypnobirthing as the woman in Hastings is new to it, she doesn't have groups yet so is doing it privately but for the group price. Nice to have it at our house and fitting around DH's work and our moving date but shame to miss out on the group aspect.

Yes, I'm looking forward to meeting some people at NCT, too. My London friends seem to be all having babies at the moment, but most of my Hastings chums are mainly footloose & fancy free or have slightly older children...

Looking forward to seeing 2 London friends on Sunday who are both exactly 2 months ahead of me- to gauge bumps etc, and see how they're getting on.

I'm doing NCT too! First one is on 5th Jan & hoping to meet some new people to share experiences with I'm real life. Most of my friends either had kids a few years ago or are footloose & fancy free. The MW said not to bother with NHS classes if I'd booked the NCT ones, but if you could get NCT ones for free, then even better IMO!

I'm also having my GTT on 5th Jan too - it's not standard in our area, but my DB has diabetes and I have PCOS so will have to have the GTT despite a low-regular BMI. not looking forward to it- just from the POV that I get grouchy when hungry & I'm getting hungry/grouchy every 2-4 hours at the moment - nevermind 12-14hours!!

I've not done or booked Yoga/aquanatal yet. Aqua is a turn up on Wednesday's type thing & I need to call the yoga folk, although I do body balance (which includes yoga) at the gym - not sure we cover the breathing exercises as much as a pregnancy yoga class would. Will give it a go.

Had my 25wk appt yesterday & my bump is measuring small (22cm), but the MW said not to worry as it's perfectly normal to measure small to start with. I think that's a missive from the MW to eat more mince pies

I got completely the wrong end of the stick Carlita - I thought you'd done the hypnobirthing & when I read back, you'd booked them! Oops! Ah well, let us know how you get on!

Hello, hope everyone had a good weekend. Was anyone else following Nickelbabe's live birth thread? I was completely fascinated!

I have my blood test this week, and also a second physio appointment for the PGP, which is now confirmed after my initial self diagnosis! I have been doing exercises all week as given to me by the physio and the pain seems to have got worse rather than better.

No one has mentioned glucose tests to me either - I guess that they can't be standard around here.

I have found out that they don't do guided tours of the hospital here, they no longer use pethidine (which I am VERY pleased about) and the midwife you see through pregnancy is not the same as the one who will deliver your baby. Was I being naive? I had thought that the team of midwives who do your appointments would be the same set who do deliveries.

A friend has given me her gym ball and DH pumped it up yesterday, so I spent some time wobbling around on that. She also gave me a couple of her maternity dresses, so I am wearing something DIFFERENT for the first time in weeks. I was getting so sick of seeing myself in the same outfits!

We have been really fortunate in terms of stuff for the baby - haven't spent any money yet but we have been given second-hand:

10 newborn babygros - Mum found them at a car boot sale hardly used, 20p each, so a present from her.
Moses basket - Mum at a car boot sale again.
Cot from Freecycle
Bumbo seat from Freecycle
Bottle warmer from Freecycle
Breast pump from Freecyle
2 baby monitors from friends
Baby carrier from friend
Crib from cousin
Travel cot from friend
3-in-1 buggy system from friend
Car seat from friend
Baby bath from friend
Top 'n' tail bowl from friend

I am holding off buying things as long as I can, as the more reading I do the more I learn about what I do and don't want! For example, I was thinking about the baby play gym things - you know, the mats with a sort of arch across them and toys dangling down? At first my attitude was just whatever the cheapest one on ebay was . . . but then I read around a bit, and apart from the obvious differences like number and quality of toys, quite a few people commented on the musical ones driving you completely loopy after having heard them a few hundred times. But there seems to be one that people don't get so irritated by, so I am trying to get one of those. I expect DH will think I'm being picky, but he's not the one who'll be listening to it for hours every day!

Only thing is knitterati, hypnobirthing is a 5 week course starting in February so by the time I can feed back it'll be too late!
Great list of stuff wordweaver we've done bootfairs, friends, freecycle and topped up with eBay and it's very satisfying! Just need to buy a cot and a changing mat or two now, watching a perfect cot on eBay! I have heard people talk about the live birth threads but have never found one (I assume they are in the childbirth section?!)
We got another house in Hastings on Saturday, it's really great, not quite as pretty from the outside and street not quite as nice but still in the area we wanted, better room proportions (3 good sized bedrooms rather than 2 and a box) and a beautiful garden instead of a concrete square! Chain free too so hopefully 4/5 weeks?

Nickelbabe had THREE live birth threads, and the last one was specially extended to 2000 posts by Mumsnet so that people could keep posting support! It was here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/1360796-nickelbabes-live-birth-saga-part-3-There-HAS-to-be-a-birth-in-this-one?pg=1

Congratulations on finding another house so quickly, Carlita! Definitely better to have a garden than a yard - and it's more important what it's like on the inside than the outside. So that will hopefully be a January moving date?

oh my god i so need to get organised, you all sound really organised! did go to a massive mothercare at the weekend tho and got some good ideas of what i still need.
i flew up to scotland this weekend (did check with the airline in advance) and i was treated like royalty. it was amazing! moved up to first class, got special boarding and departing of plane. ha ha, one benefit of being pregnant i suppose!

Thanks wordweaver I'll take a look! Yes, a january moving date looks hopeful!
New year, new house, new baby!
I'm looking at ideas for the nursery today

Ooh, that sounds good, Carlita. Hope it all works out this time.

Feekerry I literally only have a few baby clothes & blankets so far, (and a set of muslin squares!) but hoping to raid a few friends'/ family's attics in the early New Year for all kinds of things. Been offered a crib/ travel cot/ play mat/ bouncer/ sling/ bottle sterilizer etc. I think the only things I'll buy new initially will be all the toilettries/ nappies a few bottles/ breast pump etc... though still having nightmares about the travel system/ pram. A good friend is working in the John Lewis baby department and has been fully trained up, so I'm hoping to pick her brains & spend some time testing them out...

I don't think I'll have a nursery for at least the first six months- while baby is in my bedroom I'll keep the study intact, and will convert it when the baby moves in. Not sure where I'll put all the things from the study!

Really must try to remember my freecycle log-in. I had to create a yahoo account and can't remember the user name or password.. Maybe easier to create a new one!

Note to self for tomorrow - check out freecycle!!

My SIL has not long had a LO, so I'm definitely going to be having any of their cast-offs where possible!

I'm a bit worried about their Moses basket though...their DC has already grown out of it...after only 2 months!! I was thinking about buying one of these miyo baby hammocks - quite pricey, but when you spread the cost over a couple of DC and put it on eBay later (good resale value) it doesn't seem such bad value, plus they seem to last most babies about 6months. Does anyone have any experience with baby hammocks? Good thing or a gimmick & just don't bother?

Right, I'm back on Freecycle now! You inspired me, Wordweaver.

knitteratit- did your SIL have a very small moses basket? My friend's DS is almost exactly 6 months old and still has loads of room in his- they must come in all different sizes. I don't think he could have been left safely in a hammock for the past month or so at least, 'cos he's just too wriggly- I think there's a chance he'd fall out. The hammocks look lovely, but I know if I had one my cat would be in there in about 2 seconds!... I have exposed beams in my bedroom & did think about hanging some kind of cot from one so that it swung a bit when the baby was tiny, but was slightly worried in case it fell, however secure it was.

I think I'll get a Moses basket for around the rest of the house- may be able to borrow one- have noticed friends use them once the baby has outgrown them to store toys/ blankets etc. X

Moses baskets are lovely but I have to agree that they tend to be small and babies I know (Inc my nephew) have all outgrown them within two months. However, I do like the look of them so we will probably get one anyway! Or maybe a crib as they look bigger and so should have more life in them. I think we'll use the pram/carrycot bit of our travel system in the house quite a bit too.
I've had a look on freecycle - some good stuff on there!! Thanks for the tip mummies to be

I have a lovely fifties bassinet that I just need to reupholster, found at a bootfair.
Had my 25 week appointment today, all is well with me and the boy, bump measuring at 27cm which midwife says is normal range. Lovely to hear his heartbeat again.