Frisky and Glowing in The Second Trimester on The February Baby Bus!

[BillComptonstrousers]

Well, are we?

Has the sickness abated?
Are our locks shiny and luscious?
Are our nails long and strong?
Are we back on form in the 'ahem' bedroom?

No? Well we soon will be ladies it's The second Trimester*

*billcomptonstrousers accepts no responsibility if this does not happen to you.

Old thread here

crazy, so glad all seems well.

sugar, sounds like you've had fun! I ordered some stuff from Boden maternity (sorry) and blooming marvellous (just bought by mothercare) to wear for a wedding next weekend. It's MADNESS to have spent the amount i've just spent on maternity clothes which i'll wear about twice, but i can't really turn up in jeans can i?! Will try to flog on ebay once baby born. It all arrived today and looks ok, phew.

Am feeling very smug as i took DD to swimming lessons this morning AND went swimming this evening (for the first time in about 3 years...). I can't do aquanatal this time as it clashes with more important stuff, so i've decided to swim instead. Have a feeling i'll be ACHING tomorrow! And i won't feel so smug.

18+2, i think x

Crazybit Glad to know all is well. Hope you're getting a much deserved rest.

Kayano We went to John Lewis and got a 90 min lecture on strollers and travel systems from an amazingly knowledgeable man. DH would like the Bugaboo Bee Plus (I think, I began to quite tired and began drooling at some nice handbags instead and stopped listening). But all this is hideously expensive and I'm currently burying my head in the sand a bit.

Sugar80 So Gap Maternity had a REALLY limited collection but I found two black trousers for work. Need a grey/brown/non-black one but their website doesn't seem to sell it. Also a very comfy wrap cardi that I think can be used post birth as well. Having spent my entire time in the US of A in Gap trousers I know which fit/style works so it was a bit less stressful. Jojo Maman Bebe were having a sale and I picked up some skirts for work for 5 quid and some tops for a similar amount. I need to go bra shopping and I'm not looking forward to it.

We have a NCT Nearly New Sale coming up in a couple of weeks nearby. I've heard these tend to be super crowded? Is it worth going to and how much cheaper is stuff?

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend and the weather isn't too dire- we've planned a surprise birthday for DH's brother.

Potol, we were going for the iCandy Strawberry but release date is now November. Other option for us is the Oyster.... But I secretly want the stupidly costly for us Strawberry lol

Glad everything is ok crazybit

We've bought an icandy peach so we can turn it into a double if we decide we want more babies sooner rather than later, although I was very tempted by the strawberry, it's beautiful!

I have an iCandy Cherry at the moment and I love, love, love it!

I've bought a Jane Powertwin for when this one arrives.

Buggies are fun, it's so easy to spend far too much money on them!

Starting to get proper little kicks and flicks daily now, so reassuring.

18+3

Hi everyone I've been v quiet on here as it's been my first full week back at work after my delightful 6.5 weeks holiday. I have been lurking though!

My 2nd trimester energy boost seems to have kicked in at exactly the right time so I've coped really well at work. It's just late evening when the tiredness kicks in. Had a good appnt with the mw on thur everything s fine & progressing normally. I didn't get to hear the heartbeat but wasn't really expecting to. I am starting to feel definite flutters and my bump is growing at rate of knots so I didn't panic. I managed to fit in a sneaky trip to mothercare as well bought a dress, a couple of tops for work & 2 bras which looked mahoosive but at least I'm finally comfortable.

Kayano I also had a quick look at buggies my top favourite at the moment seems to be the silver cross surf but I've only really looked online. I've still not bought a single baby thing. Going to wait until after the 20 week scan and oct half term now. Also I think it was you who was having tension headaches google "stroga exercises tension headaches" and there is a video of some really good neck exercises that are identical to the ones my doctor told me to do.

crazy so glad for you that it was nothing worse than a bit of wee.

Crazybit - Glad everything turned out ok. I'd rather leek a lil wee than my waters at this stage!

Kayano - I've been looking at travel systems before i even knew I was pg. Love the really techy ones, silver frames big wheels! Me and DH have been out to look at some. He liked the Oyster Plush, we both liked the Quinny Buzz and we both like the iCandy Peach although i prefer the new Peach Jogger. I've kinda ruled out the Quinny and Oyster cos my heart is set on the iCandy Peach. DH loves it too but doesn't thing it's worth the price tag. I keep telling him we've only seen it in John Lewis and if he'd just let me shop around i'll be able to weedle out a bargain somehow. WE WILL GET THAT PRAM!!!!!!

After spending a very wobbly teary day at work yesterday DH had a lovely surprise. He'd got tickets for an outdoor showing of One Day at Heaton Park in Manchester (only thing was i had to drive ) But it was BRILLIANT!!! We had a picnic, they gave out buckets of free popcorn and there was free wine too. It was only given out in shot size proportions so i was allowed one. Mmmmmm cheered me right up. And luckily it didn't rain! Bloomin knackered today though :)

So glad you've been given good news crazy!! Wee away

I had a lovely long distance call last night from my friend in Canada (originally Ireland) who has been trying for a second for a few years. She POAS last week, BFP yay, then had a scare... Week of tests and pokes and prods... And all clear yest!! BFP it is! So pleased for them

Today's task is making pizza dough. We totally love them in this house, and kneading is so theraputic!! Tomorrow, pear and almond cake YAY!!

I love prams! We had an old hand-me down that I hated for DS, then because we a 19 month age gap I got a Phil & Teds for DS and DD which I loved. I sold it to a neighbour when my DCs got too heavy to push together and got a 2nd hand Quinny Buzz, which was ok. I need to get a carrycot for it for this baby.

I have two bits of advice for first timers - it's worth thinking about if and when you'll have a second and getting something than can be a toddler/baby double if you're likely to have a smallish age gap. The other thing to bear in mind is that no matter how posh your pushchair is, you'll probably get to a point around 8 months when you'll just want a super-light McClaren or something like that. You can get really good condition second hand pushchairs.

NCT sales are pretty good. Get there early, have an idea of what you want and have sharp elbows!

I'm feeling movements everyday now too - proper little kicks and pokes. I loves it .

17+6

mellie was it you I told about my deal on the icandy peach? John Lewis was a couple of hundred pounds more expensive than the deal we got in the end, it was that that won DH over! I'm loving all this talk of prams!

Kayano We are splurging big time on the travel system as we're getting almost everything else secondhand from our very generous friends who have completed their families. We have narrowed it down to icandy peach or uppababy vista (we're only looking at options that will allow us to convert to double as we won't be leaving it too long to try for a second LO because of my age). We're going to go on a day out to Kiddicare in Peterborough after the 20 week scan to try them all out and make our final decision... then we will order from wherever we can get the best deal. Am leaning towards Uppababy Vista at the moment, not as expensive as the icandy and really like the look of it :)

Re. maternity clothes... for work I've been wearing my normal black trousers open underneath a bump band from topshop which I think is the best thing ever. I also got a pair of skinny jeans from topshop maternity with a small stretchy under bump panel... they are soooo comfortable... As I'm only 5ft tall I'm finding at the moment I can manage with normal tops in a size bigger as they are quite long on me anyway. As I mentioned a few pages ago I've already been through the boob measuring saga... today I purchased an underwire in my 'new' size as I just couldn't get used to not having the support of the wire, but my cousin told me that as soon as baby starts digging into my ribs I'll be back in the non-wired :o

Have 16 wk appt with GP on Monday... not sure whether they'll check heartbeat or not but I'm going to ask anyway, so here's hoping baby cooperates!

15 + 5

I have the powertwin with the matrix on the back. I need a pushchair for the boot of my car as I don't want to be lumping a big pram in and out the boot, plus ds2 will be in nursery if i'm out shopping etc.
Therefore I want a jane as the matrix will fit on that too. Really like the rider but still too many pennies :( so will probably sete for the carrera anniversario.
I only buy second hand buggies! I once bought a 6 week old £300 push hair for £20!
Also look out on ebay for last seasons colours. I got my power twon brand new for £250 a heck of a lot cheaper than rrp!

Phlossie is right about the 8 month thing too. I'm the only person I know still using the pram everyone else switches to strollers which I hate!

I love the icandy peach too - just need to convince DH. I was looking second hand but there is a new doubles kit coming later this year so I want to wait for that. They do have great resale value though.

We used a maclaren for DD from about 6 months so agree about that. Mainly because I hate the travel system we bought (mamas and papas switch) so would agree with phlossie about considering what you need for the future and not making a rash purchase like me.

on prams, i have the mothercare my3, which isn't the perfect pram, but was a LOT cheaper than any icandys (about half the price I was quoted), is very similar to them in lots of ways. And i'm still using it every day after 19 months, QueenFee. I dislike forward facing pushchairs and strollers which is why i'm still using it. I really do recommend buying cheaper because there will be plenty more things to spend hundreds of pounds on later!

I AM aching a lot after last night's swimming, But i'm planning on doing it again next week, as my back, hips and pelvis have felt a lot better today, fortunately.

I'm feeling lots of movement now (sorry, first timers, I know it's a long wait, it was about 20 weeks with DD) and proper wriggles and kicks, rather than just popping or butterflies. I know it should feel more real now, but it doesn't. Has anyone else with more than 2 felt differently the second time, interms of the reality of it? When pg with DD i was SO obsessed with being pg, this time it's just happening in the background while I chase DD round. Is this normal do you think?

Thanks.

18 + 4 i think

Woowa - Yes! I completely forget I'm pregnant most of the time now that I feel pretty normal again. It was like this when I was expecting #2 aswell. With #3 the elder two weren't as dependant on me so I was more focused on the pregnancy.

I would recommend buying prams second hand, especially the iCandy's they have so much use in them and as people have said most people get a stroller later on. I paid £200 second hand and its in a condition where I could sell it on for that much again.

Hey everyone, I haven't been on for ages but just posting to keep up with everyone - will read rest of thread I promise.

Have had very stressful few weeks, DD has had 4 (yes 4) viral infections in the past two weeks, which meant one visit to emergency doctor and then 2 other visits to my normal GP in the last two weeks. She had a throat infection, a rash, stomach bug and now has viral gastro. DH also caught her gastro bug and then gave it to me. I'm hoping she gets over it this weekend I have had to take so much time off to coer her being sick. I think it's because she's moved to the toddler room in creche and is just getting used to new kids.

Then to top it all off my Dad (who has had colon cancer and stomach cancer) has got secondary stomach cancer. They can't operate on this time so he is waiting for his consultant to come back from hols and will be on chemo for 6 months.

In other news I am fine - feelingl ittle kicks and jabs now as well and loving it. Re prams I still don't know - all of the mammies in work who have a small gap have the out and about nipper. There are about 4 of them with the same pram.

Anyway off to read the rest of thread - hope everyone keeping well - I too feel back to normal except when have the kicking this one is an active lttle bean.

Hi gonerogue sorry to hear you've been having a difficult time. I hope DD recovers soon. I'm very sorry to hear about your dad too.

To all the women who are not first timers, I have my eye on a Silver Cross pram, I think it looks lovely, it can change from a pushchair to a pram when the baby is big enough and its affordable. Does anyone have any experience with a Silver Cross (I really am the first in my group of friends to have a baby, well I have two great friends who are due the month before me but its all our first time)
I see the iCandy is very popular on here, I checked it out in a local baby shop and the model they had was ?1099 maybe because this was an independent baby shop and not a chain

16+1

woowa totally agree, the pregnancy is going quicker this time and im nowhere near as obsessed as i was with DD, forget how far on i am all the time.

We got the petite star kurvi match+ pram which i love its forward or mum facing and changes from a pram to a pushchair with a few clicks, a lot like the my3 i think! Was cheap too and came with a lot of extras.

generogue i hope youre DD is better soon and sorry about your dad :(

pam i seen the silvercross surf is that the one youre looking at? Its lovely! I got a silvercross stroller with DD and loved it, i still have it so will be using it for this DC too, i think theyre a really good make.

Not much to say today, very tired and very thirsty all day.

18+5

Generogue-Sorry you're having such a shit time :( Hope dd is better now and so sorry about yor dad.

woowa-Yup, definately keep forgetting and seems to be going quicker.

Re prams: I really like the Mothercare Spin, oh I know it's gimicky, but I like gimicks and DP is quite impressed with the spinning . Am bidding on a quinny buzz on ebay atm, finishes in 2 days. It looks new, is a 4 frame and has everything with it, including carseat (but not base) and is currently £51, but I probably wont win it as I'm tight not too sure what it should go for. Am also watching an iCandy double one (peach?) which can be used as a single (I think) so would just keep for spares or in case by some drunken fumble miraclewe end up having another.

hey louby yerr you did! Me and DH went to John Lewis after our 12 week scan to have a play and get an initial price. DH was very impressed, so much smoother and sturdier than some we had played with and easy to put up and down. All the moving parts had very definite clicks to it which I kinda liked. I have no intention of getting it from there as i KNOW with the gift of my gab i can get it cheaper elsewhere! Luckily there are 2 independant places near me that I hope to play off each other :) I am kinda kicking myself though as when we were at the BabyShow last week they had the iCandy Peach Jogger, carrycot, Maxicosi Pebble, Base Unit and adaptors for £850 but for some insane reason we maxed out on furniture instead. But it is soooooo pretty what we got!

Hi everyone :)

Crazybit - glad it is good news although a few more kegel's might be in order me thinks

Gonerogue - sorry to hear you have been having such a tough time, and so sorry to hear about your Dad. It is so difficult when the little ones catch every single bug going around. I unfortunately get a double whammy of bugs from DD and bugs from the kids at work which I then pass on to DD so I can completely empathise. I hope your DD gets better soon.

With regard to buggies I am sticking with our Cosatto Mobi and stroller, but getting a buggy board for DD and also a sling for the new baby. If I could choose a travel system again I would assess it according to these criteria (not in order of importance):

1. Light (Mobi is too heavy)
2. Quick one handed fold and set-up (Mobi has this and it is so useful when you have a baby in the other hand) NB Kiddicare website good for videos to show you how it all works if you can't see in store.
3. Compact - both narrow for public transport and small enough for the boot of a smallish car
4. All extras included in price (i.e. pram top, car seat+adaptors, footmuff, raincovers, sunshade etc...)
5. Easy to get hold of spares (raincovers etc...)
6. Seat big enough to hold larger toddler
7. Facing towards and facing away options for seat (Mobi has this, facing towards really good for soothing baby and allows you to chat to them more easily which is good for speech development)
8. Converts easily to double if you wish to have another child with a small age gap
9. Big basket underneath for shopping and baby essentials which is still easy to access with pram top on and seat in either position
10. Single handed light-weight steering

I did some pushchair research a few weeks ago. Really like the Baby Jogger Summit XC, but can't find a shop that stocks them so I can have a look. Had a play with a My3 in Mothercare which we liked, and seemed good value. The other recommendation I've had is a Jane Slalom Reverse.

Oh I love all this pushchair talk, someone mentioned the Silver Cross 3d, I had one of these with dd and it did what it says on the tin iykwim. The only problem I found is because it has smaller wheels it wasnt great on dog walks kind of rattled a little, although if I wasnt such a pramaholic id prob be using it again for dc3. I really really want the Mima Xari but there is no way I can justify the price when it wont be long before im itching for a different one. So im thinking I will be using my vintage silver cross (if it ever gets finished) and will also get a 2nd hand buzz and customise the frame hood covers etc to use day to day and see how I go.

Im also a stoller hater so I stick to a larger pram, although I was a quinnycaster and got a zapp xtra from them which is great and very compact, still using it for ds but trying to get him walking more before the baby comes and I really dont think he will need a pushchair by then so no double for me this time.

On the talk of prams this is possibly THE funniest thing I heard at the babyshow last week.

Man quite genuinely to partner/wife "so. These maclaren prams. Are they the same as the f1 cars?"

Cue me and dh stand where we are and laugh uncontrollably at him whilst his wife/partner gave him a dubious look.