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Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

We will have a serene, pain free, uneventful pregnancy and birth and will BROOK NO ARGUMENT on that.

989 replies

scarletfingernail · 15/01/2012 13:40

New thread.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Biscuitsandtea · 22/01/2012 11:15

I think with the travelling at 33.5 weeks, the reason my mum is nervous is because when she was pg with me, at her 36 week appt they told her 'not to go far', ie I wasn't far off. But this is 2 weeks earlier than that so I think maybe she's being a bit over dramatic? Mind you she was bang on last time for nagging me about my hospital bag (which I finally packed the day before I went in). Maybe mums know these things Confused

NinjaChipmunk · 22/01/2012 11:25

maybe take an emergency hosp bag? Or keep your hosp bag in the car?

I'm getting carried away by the idea of making some ring slings, have just been on the ikea website looking at fabrics as their cottons are nice and sturdy and some have gorgeous prints on them. OOh exciting!

scarletfingernail · 22/01/2012 11:53

Biscuits you'll be fine going away then. It'll be far much easier to go then rather than with a newborn and a toddler. Take your hospital bag with you if it'll make you feel better.
We're going away for a weekend to visit relatives when I'll be 36 weeks and that's a 2.5 hour drive away. The way I figure it, it's highly unlikely anything will happen anyway and just as unlikely that if it did, it taking 2.5 hours or less. I might take my hospital bag if it will fit in the car (if not, I will definitely take my notes anyway). But if at any time I think labour might be starting we'll just get in the car and come home.

I'm also Envy at those of you buying new prams/pushchairs.`I wouldn't have chosen mine if I'd known then what I know now, but it's still in excellent condition and was expensive so can't realy justify a new one. That said, I still wouldn't know which one to choose instead. If there was one I was really keen on I'd probably just tell DH I really wanted it and persuade him to think the same. I had a quick look the other day and the only one that I could be tempted by I think would be the Jane Slalom.

Have a lovely time shopping today musical.

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ScreamIfYouWantToGoFaster · 22/01/2012 12:24

Afteroon ladies! Thanks for all the pump/breastfeeding advice! It all sounds like a huge gamble really, but ultimately I know I'm going to be a very prudish breastfeeder (if I'm successful at all!) and I won't at any stage be willing to bf with anyone other than DH or the mw around. So if I can't make expressing work I'll end up mixed feeding earlier than I want to, probably from 2-3 weeks old or whenever we agree to start letting relatives visit. So I just want to get the best pump I can and try to express a bottle a day from early on - and keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't backfire!

I hope Dream's DD slept through last night, and is feeling better today?

Also loving the pram chat, even though mine is now ordered! I love the iCandy obviously, but the Bugaboo has such a gorgeous range of colours! You're so lucky to be going through all your options for new ones!

Biscuits I was originally planning to go all the way to Brussels at 32 weeks! In the end I felt that so long as I would never be too far from a good hospital everything else would work itself out. Even if your ILs live in a fairly rural area it's unlikely they're more than 45 minutes drive from the nearest hospital, right? So long as they're close enough to a hospital you have confidence in I'd just bring your hospital bag with you and everything should be fine (fingers crossed to ward off jinxes!)

By the way Biscuits thanks for asking how I'm doing. I haven't been into the office (or anywhere requiring any walking) for just over two weeks now, so there hasn't been a recent change there. I've had so much to finish up and hand over this week that I've actually spent MORE time working from home / sitting upright in bad positions over the last three days than before. Luckily I finished almost everything yesterday, and just have one task left for today and then I'm completely done! No more sitting up in terrible positions to use my work laptop efficiently! Unfortunately I couldn't get a doc's appt on Friday, but I've got one for Mon so I'll get my sign off letter then and talk about crutches with him. So things aren't overly comfortable for me right now, but I'm really hoping that my first week of not working at all, starting tom, will make a huge difference :)

Plus one of my best friends is popping round in an hour! Grin She is one of my 3 closest friends and the other two are already out of the country (sob sob) and she's moving abroad as well in a week's time :( Her leaving drinks are today and obviously I can't make it so she's coming round here first to say bye. I'm gutted none of them will be here for my baby shower or when the baby is born, but I'm really looking forward to seeing her today!!

Oooooo yes! Another question for you ladies, are any of you having baby showers? If yes is your house big enough to have it at home, and if not where are you having it? Mine's being organised by my lovely American cousin-in-law, but we will be making it a suitably understated and English affair! Unfortunately my house is far too titchy for all the guests and somehow I guess having it at the local pub isn't really appropriate! Any ideas for venues that don't cost a bomb?

DreamingOfPeace · 22/01/2012 14:11

hello all,

after a few disturbances, DD slept til 8:40, and only woke up with a 38.5 temp, so much better. She's still grotty, but a bit less 'flat'. Won't even be held by daddy though, only mummy will do when she's ill and the bump ache is extreme already! we went to fill up the car and nip to shop and dd fell asleep in the car the woke up in the refuelling so dh desperately trying to get her to have a sleep of more than 10 min now, highly unsuccessfully.... we can't decide about the gp or not... especially now her temp is coming down... anyway, enough of that.

purple, can I jump on the band wagon for the medula swing pump?! I am going to cheekily send you a pm. Smile

ninja, glad the puke got cleared up. Grim.

I was definitely told the same about the night feed- that a 2am feed is actually very good as your prolactin levels are highest then so great for ramping up milk supply in growth spurts etc. I know on the twins thread, some people who had babies in SCBU were setting an alarm to express then to increase their supply under the instruction of the nurses. I think I would hope for some help with a bottle in the night- but I'd still be feeding the other, and could only be on DH's non-working nights so i don't think it will be an issue for me. We tried to introduce a bottle after 8 weeks for DD but it was too late- she wouldn't take it.

hi hawthers, well done for managing 2 by yourself at bedtime.

right best go and nag discuss doctor or not with dh

DreamingOfPeace · 22/01/2012 14:19

oh... missed the whole last page of posts....

no baby showers here! too American for me Wink Plus I'd feel awkward.

scream hooray for being signed off tomorrow and hopefully feeling a bit better. you can't count having not gone into work as you've been on your side on laptop etc etc so not ideal anyway. I hope this week is much better.

I'm checking out what to put in my buggies for newborns. Are you getting a carrycot musical? Sheepskin liner? just a buggy snuggle/cosy toes? I don't think it's soft and padded enough as is for newborns. And is a sheepskin liner ok on a buggy if they're sleeping in it? They don't recommend them for cots as increased risk of overheating and therefore cot death but I would imagine thats different for a pram- If mine fell asleep in it I'd leave them outside if it were cooler there or bring them in if it was a hot summers day etc etc??? Plus obviously its for naps not overnight. Any ideas? I'm tempted by Phil and Teds cocoons, need to check if they'll fit my Monster Buggy (which is after all a P+T designed buggy)

DreamingOfPeace · 22/01/2012 14:23

scream, the ventiflow mattress is back down to £65 on amazon if you haven't already bought the lovely cosatto one

ScreamIfYouWantToGoFaster · 22/01/2012 14:59

Thanks for the heads up on the mattress Dream! We've ordered the bedside cot now and DH is reluctant to buy the big cot so early because we're not planning to use it until LO outgrows the bedside one, so we could be hanging onto it until as late as October before using it! Which would waste alot of the warranty. Might see if the change in price changes his mind though... I'm glad your DD is feeling better this morning, even if she's not 100% yet. Poor little thing. Keep us posted.

The whole sheepskin liner thing sounds gorgeously warm and fluffy! I haven't looked into anything like that so far, because I'm due in April and I'm assuming I won't need any warm-type accessories for months. You raise a good point about softness though.

I think the 2 a.m. feed thing would still fit into my expressing plans as well. I was planning to do a feed just before bedtime, then DH would take the next feed which I imagine would be around 11pm / midnight, and I'd take the next one which would be in the small hours. I can't make him get up in the small hours when he's got work in the morning. I just want at least 6 hours uninterrupted sleep every now and again! Probably between 8 and 2. By the way, this probably makes me sound like I'm going to be trying to keep LO to a schedule, which certainly isn't the case. (I can't get myself to stick to a schedule let alone a baby! Confused) I'm just giving example times based on the assumption very young babies will feed every 3 - 4 hours or so.

DreamingOfPeace · 22/01/2012 15:06

scream apparently these sheepskin liners/ lambswool liners keep them warm in winter cool in summer ???? I didn't have anything like it for dd but had proper hard bodied pram top for her with proper mattress so not needed

Wants3 · 22/01/2012 15:37

Thanks for all the pram details, looks like it will have to be a bit more gazing at the Internet as DH informed me we have no money for big purchases until at least March. Lets hope there are some good deals on then! Got my baby fix today though by getting my free pack of newborn huggies in Tescos. I have also been saving all my club card vouchers and am planning to use them in the large baby department ( we have a Tescos extra). I have nearly £200 pounds worth so will be able to fill a trolley for nothing! It will feel like supermarket sweep:). Also starting to make plans for rearranging our bedroom to make space for baby clothes and clobber as it doesn't look like the extension will be finished ( or even started!) before baby arrives.
Pumps, I had manual avent and bottles before but this time I will be trying tommee closer to nature as I will have to return to work but want to keep up bf ( did it for 2 yrs each with DS's so want to give this bean the same. work already talking about providing an area for me to pump if required.
Glad DD slept better dream
off to the Marina now to walk the dog! Hope it doesn't set bhs off too much!

jenfraggle · 22/01/2012 15:43

Dream what do you think of this mattress?

scarletfingernail · 22/01/2012 15:47

I thought that about sheepskin too dream, warm and cosy in winter and cooling in the summer. I didn't ever get one either and I probably won't this time, although I do think they look lovely.

No baby shower here either, not really my thing. Hard to explain why though without sounding negative about them, which wouldn't be my intention. The main reason is just a personal, probably irrational thing I've got going on about not daring to celebrate until the baby is here safe and well.

It's lovely that your cousin wants to organise one for you though Scream and I would go to someone elses if I were invited.

Good to hear from you Hawthers hats off to you for how well you're doing with both DSs on your own.

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Wants3 · 22/01/2012 17:14

Workmates want to do baby shower, I said I didn't mind as long as they didn't call it baby shower! They are planning a tea party in the preschool garden on my last day so I don't have to worry about space to host it.
Walked for about an hour before bump started to ache. It seems to be growing at an alarming rate ATM. DH is loving it and saying he can't believe I am growing another one in there!

DreamingOfPeace · 22/01/2012 18:07

hi jen, that looks lovely- it's the same brand as the ones I have just bought for the boys,Kit for Kids, and that DD is on now. The only difference with mine is its pocket sprung- and a bit cheaper on amazon! Same ventilation layers etc though. I think it's just nicer to have a decent mattress for a cotbed as they'll be on them til they're a lot bigger and heavier than on a cot mattress. So anything like that is nice and supportive for developing spines etc

Now look, I've been googling sheepskin liners and don't know how to choose... Confused . Has anyone got one they can can recommend?!

scream, babies are such noisy sleepers... I don't envisage the boys being in our room for that long- I lasted til 9 weeks with DD, and I couldn't take it. But I am a very light sleeper, and as a bf-er, found being so close to me (moses basket right by the bed) DD woke up constantly, and I woke up with her snuffles and noises and grunts and groans. As I know I've said on here before, she was up every 2 hours feeding til she went on her nice new cot mattress in her own room and did 8 hours the first night! So will all depend how small the boys are/howw often tehy need feeding and how they sleep- if I'm as tuned into them as I was DD I know I cant sleep and they might not either! So I will wait and see and will start off with them with me, but they may get kicked out early-ish!!!

PurpleWithaBlueBun · 22/01/2012 18:10

Scream it might surprise you to know that I am a very prudish feeder myself! I like to feed discreetly and I am not one for flopping my entire boob out at the cafe/supermarket. Wink I respect others who are so brave I can tell you! Anyway, there are many ways you can feed discreetly so you don't expose loads of flesh if any. I would look into these as it would be a shame for you to feel really stuck, when there are lots of products to help. Might also fit in with your current shopping thing. lol

Oh and newborns and even older babies do feed very frequently, breast milk is very easily absorbed/digested so they do like to feed more, also is a biological mechanism to ensure your milk supply, the regular feeding in the early days!

No baby showers planned here, either although might have a last supper out with friends. :)

DreamingOfPeace · 22/01/2012 18:14

Yes, i'm also a bit prudish- but saying that I'd feed DD anywhere she needed it. I used to wear the belly bands for early pregnancy and just pull my top up, so my tummy and back were covered by the bump band and weren't exposed, but I could wear my normal tops and not have a whole boob out. I didn't think I'd feed in public scream, but its perfect milk temperature, bf itself always calmed and soothed DD and was easy and convenient. I never had to worry about having something to feed her with as it was just me!! I've been in a cafe and talking to someone who didn't even notice I was feeding for about 10 min! Can be a lot more discreet than you think- and that was without fancy specifically designed bf tops or shawls etc.

Wants3 · 22/01/2012 18:20

Just had a phone call from mil saying she would like to buy us the first size carseat. Yay I can do some shopping after all! Off to google best price now! :)

PurpleWithaBlueBun · 22/01/2012 18:23

Ye olde strap top underneath your usual top was my fave, pull the everyday top up and strap top down, don't expose any flesh and a muslin over the shoulder if your worried about people seeing whilst you latch baby. However, most people won't notice and are just not interested and you get very quick about doing it all, just as a thought it is quite daunting so I understand why you feel like that :)

ScreamIfYouWantToGoFaster · 22/01/2012 18:40

For me I think it's not even the actual exposure of skin, in a bizarre way that I can't even explain it's more the fact that everyone in the room knows I have my nipple in my baby's mouth! The only way I can explain it would be that even if I had a perfectly designed armchair in my living room, which meant that I could use it as a loo (fully plumbed in!) without exposing myself to anyone in the room, I still wouldn't use it whilst I had people round - just because they would know what I'm doing!

I know it's an odd thing that the vast majority of mothers wouldn't share, but I think it's just my personality and not something that will change when I actually have a baby. I do view breastfeeding as a bodily function, and like all my other bodily functions I just wouldn't be comfortable doing it in public. I guess it's similar in a way to how much I don't enjoy baby movements. So many women love feeling their baby moving around inside, and I certainly appreciate that it's an indication of health and normal development, but ultimately I just find the actual sensation really odd, freaky, and all too reminiscent of Alien!

ScreamIfYouWantToGoFaster · 22/01/2012 18:43

This doesn't mean I have a problem with anyone else bfing in public by the way! I think everyone gets a little freaked out by the occasional exhibitionist who feels the need to strip to the waist Grin but the normal, discreet, mother who is quietly feeding her child doesn't bother me at all. (Although I'm not great with actually having a conversation with someone mid-breastfeed, I usually make an excuse to postpone the conv until it's over!)

Wants3 · 22/01/2012 19:25

I have been given a couple of mothercare bump bands. Would I be able to wear them in bed? Just musing as I am finding it difficult to get comfy at the moment!

musicalmrs · 22/01/2012 19:29

Thanks everyone for your advice. My plan is to EBF, but with the pump and bottles available for night feeds etc. I wouldn't want to introduce a bottle until bfing had been well established... so will be taking your advice Purple, thanks! :) In an ideal world I'd never have to use a bottle and express, but I know life doesn't always work like that ;)

I'm also hoping not to be prudish, and to be very open with BFing here, there and everywhere. I can completely understand where you're coming from Scream. I suppose I've had to become quite confident as part of my career (exposing my music/singing/lecturing/madness in public, depending on what I'm doing at the time!), and as a result of becoming more confident through having to do that, I feel confident enough to try breastfeeding in public etc. We'll see though...! Trying to take Biscuit's relaxed thinking approach - the bonus being at the moment that I'm so tied up in work I haven't got a tremendous amount of time to think about all this!

Seems like a couple of you recommend the Tommy Tippee teats so I've added a couple of those and a couple of bottles to my Amazon order! (that I can't order for a couple more weeks, so they're delivered when I'm home at half term.. but still!).

Scream, sorry the sitting and working hasn't been helping :( Really hope you make leaps and bounds with regard to feeling more normal over the next week though! Have you decided what you'll try first with regard to your physio's advice?

Also, on baby showers - not sure if I'm having one! It's not really my type of thing, but my two closest friends from childhood - who also organised my hen party- suggested they might want to do one! I'm not a big party person - my hen party, for example, was a cocktail and cakes affair at home (with a few hen party-esque games thrown in). If I do have a baby shower, it'll be a similarly subtle affair, and more of an excuse to get all my nearest and dearest together than a gift-mad event (and I may ban gifts altogether!). Again, if I do have one, it'll either be at my own house, or at my parents' - purely because they're located near lots of my friends (or their parents).

Dream, glad DD slept better last night. Hope she continues to improve, and her temperature drop. In terms of the buggy, we won't be getting the Baby Jogger carry cot, that's for sure! Thinking we'll get something like a Snuzzler or a similar cosy thing - and cosy toes later. I was tempted by the cocoons, but do they have a way of attaching the belt (if that's what you call it!) safely? I know you can with the snuzzler... My plan is to try and use the sling as much as possible early on, and avoid using the buggy until it's really needed - and I'll be honest, it's not something I've done as much research into as I need to yet! Haven't looked into a sheepskin liner but will do so. I agree - definitely needs something comfy for a newborn!

I think I did some searches on it before we got it- just to reassure myself that it could be suitable for newborns - and snuzzlers came highly recommended...

Wants, hurrah, have fun shopping! :D Love the idea of using all your clubcard vouchers on the baby. I might do something similar if a good clubcard exchange comes up at some point - at the moment we're planning on using them towards either food or a hotel when we go on holiday mid Feb.

Didn't see much in the outlet shops baby-wise sadly, though did get myself three maternity tops for £4 - hurrah! I now have enough to last me through the working week, which will save on the mid-week ironing.

ScreamIfYouWantToGoFaster · 22/01/2012 19:51

Hurray for shopping! I've just ordered the ventiflow mattress (I talked DH into it Dream because I couldn't bear it if it went up in price again!)

I've also ordered some wall stickers for the nursery! What do you think of these? I'm such a sucker for children's books and I love this one so I thought they would be sweet as decoration. I've got a matching "Guess" border, plus a Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit clock to go with the stickers! Grin So excited to start decorating!

Good work on the 3 tops for £4 Musical nicely done!

Wants I'm sorry I can't comment on the mothercare bump bands, but I'm also finding it really hard to get comfy at night (or any other time!) so please let us know how you get on if you decide to try them out while sleeping!

Wants3 · 22/01/2012 21:38

Ok scream, I'm in bed now
Started looking at carseats but need to find out if we have isofix attachments in the car. DH thought yes but couldn't find the label in the car. Would somewhere like halfords be able to tell or would a specialist baby shop be better?

scarletfingernail · 22/01/2012 21:42

Both should be able to tell you Wants. If you have a look at the car seat manufacturer's website they also usually provide a list of cars with isofix attachments. If the car doesn't have isofix attachements, I know that you can still get an isofix type base that you can fix into your car. For example I have the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix, my car doesn't have the isofix attachments so we bought the alternative which is called isobase. It's basically the same thing.

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