Barman! A pint of your finest Gaviscon with a ferrous sulphate chaser if you please! On the February 2012 Baby Bus.

[BillComptonstrousers]

Right then my lovelies, this thread is going sloooooowly now we have our little secret facebook group

But we need to keep posting here for people who haven't joined our other group, so keep on going!

If anyone wants to join the facebook group, can they ask someone cleverer than me and they will set it up for you!

Old thread is here

I hope to EBF. I managed it to 9m with DD when she started biting and being more interested in the world than concentrating on feeding - so we switched then. DD had a slight tongue tie to begin with which Although it didn't stop her gaining weight made it painful for me. Bleeding nipples etc. But because she was gaining weight, the clinic wouldnt refer us for the snip . Luckily it broke naturally at 10wks just as I was on the verge of giving up. It instantly made the world of difference. If it happens this time I'm insisting they snip it straight away even if I have to pay £130 to get it done private.

Other than that I found the more BF clinics I went to, the better. I went to one every day for my first four days in the hospital and then about once a week for a few months after that - but mainly to chat to the other mums. At the start DH could get DD to latch on to me better than I could (which was annoying) but in the end DD & I sussed it.

Everyone at the BF clinics has a different tip and all the BF counsellors were friendly and ultimately very pro-choice. I've got formula in the house just in case. I expect we'll use it at some point. I wish we'd started earlier with supplementary bottles so DH could help. By the time I decided I needed the help (about 5m) DD refused to take the bottle. We had to literally hold her down & shove it in - at which point she decided "oh, ok, it's milk" and guzzled it.

Lanisoh breast pads are excellent (but expensive) especially if you are blessed with an over abundance of milk. I found the washable ones pointless. Lanisoh nipple cream is brill. Other brands are pointless IMO.

Nesting started here last night with a major cooking session. Also put in a big order on Boots.com for nappies, breast pads, bottle teats etc (free delivery over £45)

Oh - bottle sterilisers - we've got the Boots travel microwave one. £8 and does 3/4 small medela bottles at once. We found it much more convenient than the huge Counter top Avent steam steriliser. It's too small for Tommee Tippee bottles ... But... You could probably use a large Pyrex casserole with 200ml of water for 8minutes on high! Same idea. Less expense & descaling nonsense.

Right - nap time for mummies here.

Phlossie - my placenta is a bit in the way too (for feeling presentation, not birth). You can keep asking for scans to about 39wks if it's in the way for birth as its in the last few weeks it stretches most out of the way (not all hospitals tell you this & just book you for a section). Don't worry too much about presentation - they can flip pretty much right up to the hour you start labour although yes, is less likely after 37wks. Some hospitals are now saying its better to try a breech birth than have a CS.

Totally agree with you Phlossie about night feeds and BF. I couldn't be fagged with getting up in the night to do bottles. Much easier to wop out boob. But then I am very very lazy

Oh and with my DD, boob vs bottle and the dream feed idea made absolutely no difference at all as to her night time sleeping. Worth a punt, but in there's no science for it working.

Happy new year all - glad to say I managed to get over hormonal slump by xmas so had a pretty good time with DH and the step-kids. At least until last night when we took them home and DH's ex was in a serious mood and exploded at him, me and - worst of her all - her kids in the most unpleasant manner. We thought something like that might happen at some point because of the fact we're having a baby, though. We managed to leave on a relatively calm note at least.

Hmm - not sure what to do on the maternity bra side of things. My breasts have not changed size at all through the pregnancy so I'm not sure how to proceed about buying nursing bras when I really don't know what size I'm going to be!

Slowly starting to sorting things out for her arrival. Been given a buggy by friends but need to fix the brakes plus it's effing enormous so I'm not sure we'll keep it. Looking to use the 'moses basket' attachment as, well, a moses basket!

Not sure whether to go for traditional cot upstairs, or one you can have by side of your bed (space issue, really). Same friends can give us a bedside cot as well, so maybe I should just go for it on the basis I won't have to pay for it aside from getting it shipped to my part of the country. :-)

BUT - need to sort so many bits of the house as well (a lot of boxes that we still haven't touched since moving in a year and a half ago!).

Phlossie I don't mind saying I'm crapping myself (well I would if I wasn't so constipated - arf) at the thought of having to look after this fragile little thing and reading about your own fears when you already have kids doesn't help!! :-D And comiserations on the MIL situation. As others have suggested, if DH can't yet stand up to her in the way he should, it's probably up to you. I know it's easier said than done, having found myself in similar situations to do with my own dad, but Just Say No is the best policy.

Hi All, Haven't posted in ages, previous nickname was bmm39 but changed it as it was so incredibly dull. Well, it's getting closer and closer ladies, how exciting. I am in full swing with the nesting, just need to get the cot and changing table in the baby's room and everything is done. I have even packed my hospital bag .

Not sleeping very well. I am getting numbness in my left hand and occasionally in my legs or feet at night time. It is a nightmare!!!! Getting more breathless lately, depending on where bump is lying.

Leave work in 14 working days, not that I am counting ... lol.

Start my antenatal classes next week and I have been listening to a Hypnotherapy CD which has been a great help to me.

33 weeks - by the way.

I think I just had my first Braxton Hicks contraction... if that's anything to go by I think labour's going to kill me!!

welcome back mumsrbest. I'm getting really breathless too. Not helped by today being physical - aquanatal followed by vacuuming, furniture moving, toddler care, cooking, wardrobe emptying, black bag shifting etc etc... I am EXHAUSTED, and will shortly be going to sleep I think (unless the sugar from all the chocs I've just eaten keeps me awake!).

Sometimes I have to carry DD upstairs for a nappy change if she's too excited to come, and then I have to sit down for ages to recover!!

glowfrog, i think 37-38 weeks is the recommended time for nursing bra measurement. I think i bought one, then waited for baby to be born and went and got measured again then, so I didn't waste loads of money if it was the wrong size. It was a bit stressful taking tiny screaming DD in when I was measured though! In the meantime I used mothercare night time feeding bra which is an over the head thing, which I then used for months and months of night feeding so was well worth buying. I've just got them out again, they are lovely and grey!!

On BFing, i think if you are in the position of "I will breastfeed and not even consider FF", there is no point buying anything, your determination to BF and the consequential seeking support will probably get you through. if you are more of a "I want to breastfeed but i don't mind if it doesn't work", then get some formula etc in. I was the first type with DD (with the addition of, "i really can't be bothered to express!") so i didn't get any in, and am the same this time. But it is up to us each! Worth noting - when I had DD the hospital gave out free formula, they have since changed their policy and don't provide any milk at all. Whatever you are planning, it's worth knowing what the policy is in case things don't go to plan.

Right, sleep!

36 weeks today!! (and scan tomorrow, hoping all is still well, house not quite ready despite major tidyup today!)

Sugar I've been having tightenings for a few weeks but a few nights ago had my first bothersome BH. Bit scary aren't they. Doesn't do the confidence much good for the real thing if the practice ones are that bad does it.... I just keep telling myself, billions have done it and it'll all be worth it in the end

Possibly tmi but I have decided to spend the rest of the evening with an ice cold drink while sitting in me bra and Knicks lmao.

Had heating come
On automatically and didnt realise how hot I was until I have nearly keeled over

just rang in to maternity assessment unit - had stabbing pains on right side and breathlessness and as I'm a pre-eclampsia risk and those are both symptoms thought i'd better. They advise painkillers and just going in for scan tomorrow as i'm booked for. Just started to panic! How am I supposed to sleep now?! worry worry...does anyone know, if you do have preeclampsia, whether it's a sudden life or death sort of thing , or whether you could have it for a few days and it would be ok til detected?! might ask on the main pregnancy board too!!

Woowa - sorry to hear you're having troubles. Hopefully as they've said wait til tomorrow, they consider you're low risk for it becoming full blown eclampsia. Presumably no oedema? No flashing lights? No frontal headache? They'll only get properly twitching with three markers in the absence of a BP check & urine test.

From what I gleaned from my mum, she had symptoms for a month before she decided to see anyone and in the end it was ok. She is nuts though.

Woowa nothing to add but hope your ok.

I've just had a quick read of the thread and i'm off to bed to toss and turn all night.
Kids back to school tomorrow!

34 weeks (42 days to go! 21 till 'term')

Hope you get on ok today woowa.

Hope scan and check up goes well today Woowa x

Well had my scan yesterday, baby fine all measurements normal, fluid good and my placenta has moved out of the way of my cervix so I can VBAC rather than ELCS yay :)

Slightly daunted now by prospect of another 9-10 weeks of being pregnant followed by the 'ring of fire', but hey that beats another CS.

32+2

Hope it all goes well woowa.

Zhen, I have an appointment on 17 Jan to decide between induced VB and ELCS, don't know which is more scary!

34+4

I am getting my iCandy Strawberry!!!

Woooooo
Over the bloody moon!!! It looks sooooo good gushes and swoons

Just been to Tesco and brought some more very cute baby clothes. I am so excited.

Hope you're ok, woowa - let us know.

Oh dear, people have started mostly telling me I'm huge. The receptionist at DS's school asked when I was due, I said 'the 12th', to which she nodded, and then I added 'of February' at which she looked shocked and then laughed a lot!

I have today bought:
nip cream
breast pads
fanny mattresses
newborn nappies
arnica
senakot (for the postnatal poos)
lip balm and toothpaste for my hospital bag

Next I'm going to wash the baby clothes. I am determined to be more organised!

34+3

Hi folks... Sorry no personals as totally brain addled!! I honestly thought it was Thursday...

had my BF class today (2 hours!!) which went really well. The girl running it had 3 kids, and was so happy to talk about it all. She'd had 3 different births, 3 different BF experiences and she goes in the hospitals to help establish BF with new mums too, so was an incredible wealth of informative knowledge!

It was good to be told the negative side of things too, and that there is a ton of support to get through those times to reach a more successful conclusion. Still feels "alien" to me.... I suppose because I still live in a toilet humoured postcard world

There was only 4 people including me. In a little room having a chat. Got the documents handed out, and talked between us all about it. I felt good There was me and 2 others on baby 1 and the other lady on baby 2. One of the 1st timers was due today!!! She went the loo, and we joked about timing her... she was starting to get fear face at every twinge, that currently we all count as "normal"... bless her. She was 100% more calm than I would have been!

Now I have my MW appt this afternoon... gonna push for scans for growth if there is even a tiny hint of bigness about me.... maybe I should scoff loads of food before I go and get a proper belly on - like I need help there

Anyway, still have work to do - with a massive lack of will power! Frame of mind is definitely not set to "work mode"

Catch up later ladies... wishing you all well x

woowa hope it goes ok, let us know!

My midwife is coming over in the morning to check my BP and urine because ive got flashing lights in my eyes, blurriness and headache behind my eyes, and just feel rubbish to be honest. Also got rib pain last night on the right side but not sure if thats down to baby/my sleep position :/ BP was last taken on 28th and was the highest its ever been for me but still 'normal' at 132/68 (Im usually no more then 120/60) And ive had traces of protein since 28 weeks so will see what its like tomorrow. Probably nothing though! Been told to rest and take paracetomol this afternoon.. so much for that with DD and ironing thats been put off for about a month already! Nothing much else happening with me.. think baby might have dropped a bit because im getting a lot of pressure down below and had shooting pains in my cervix yesterday.. also very swollen down there

Zhen glad youre getting a vbac! :)

35+2

Been into work today. Let's just say it was a waste of time but very interesting at the same time. Might do a post on the secret page as my initial concerns are very much now!

MW appointment went well... She's not worried about my size, but is going to refer me anyway as I AM worried!!

Head is down, heartbeat is good... everything seems normal still!

This has been so unremarkable a pregnancy, I am STILL forgetting all the time!

31+2

(PS hope Woowa had a good scan and Carmen, hope everything is OK for you too xx - Deardear... off to read that bit now )

monkey unremarkable pregnancies seem to be the best

Carmen hope MW puts your mind at ease and also that its not PE

woowa hope all was fine at the scan

My GP appointment went fine too, also 'unremarkable' but I'll be having a scan every 2 weeks from now on as is normal procedure here. Is it normal to feel the foot in your ribs (right side) if he is already head down? The doctor at my last scan said he was a tall baby so maybe it is possible, I'd love if he just moved a bit over to the middle though :) then again he should make himself comfortable in his own house

My bump has suddenly grown huge in the last week and after NYE party (at mine - much easier than getting sitters and going anywhere!) have realised I have nothing in the diary except giving birth... read all of friend's Natal Hypnotherapy book which calmed me down but wasn't nearly as good as Hypnobirthing which I had last time (NT is much more about getting you to buy the CDs or attend classes and also mixes well-referenced stuff with crap like homeopathy, whereas the HB book comes with optional CD and gives more detail on exercises in the book itself so you don't need anything else). think I'll buy another copy of HB. And a cot. Have sorted car seat though.

Consultant today was lovely - says they may want to observe dc2 after birth but that would be a few hours and probably could be done in the MLU if we manage to birth there. Though the pelvis seems to be trying to catch up with last pregnancy so may order wheelchair shortly, and will take birth as it comes, I hope. At least we have a roof on the house this time. Just lacking a working laptop (researches smartphones!)

Currently trying to convince myself it's not bad parenting to let ds watch the same movie twice in a row; it's learning how to fast-forward through ads by himself so very educational, honest! Suspect we'll be watching a lot of telly over the next couple months...