June 2012 - all aboard the Jubilee Line, next stop babies

[SeriouslyStrongCheddar]

Welcome aboard everyone!

Previous threads...

Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 4
Thread 5

Gwen I think most people on MN seem to use the layer trick. You wear a vest and then a top over the vest. You pull the vest down and the top up so you don't show anything off really. And a bra obviously.

Hi Anna, I'm like you and have nothing. I'm also having a homebirth, planning waterbirth and despite being 37 weeks (I think - dates unsure - I could be more) I still don't even have a pool, - and erm, a midwife for that matter.

This will be my third. Might go out tomorrow and get a box of nappies and clothes perhaps. I have a sling somewhere so that will have to do for transport assuming of course I don't have a c/s. Friend has offered a car seat.

Anything else I have forgotten?

I've breastfed two. In June I'd probably just wear a vest/top and a cardi. Lift the top, stick baby's head under cardi.

I had some feeding tops the first time around but tbh found them more of a pain and could never figure out the entrance and was always getting myself into a pickle clothing-wise.

Oh, - nighties fform - that's what I need!

Star I love the way you seem so relaxed about not being ready. Are you secretly bricking it?

Gwennie I had been trying the vest/top combo trick, which has sometimes been successful, and sometimes not! It was easier in hospital where I didn't really care so much about getting my norks out but now I am out in the big bad world, I would like to be a little more discreet!

I picked up some nursing tops from H&M this week that I love - they are essentially the same as a vest under a cross over top, but the vest part is shorter.

Gwennie - if it helps at all I used these Emma Jane feeding vests over a feeding bra.
www.figleaves.com/uk/product.asp?product=Emma-Jane-Bamboo-nursing-vest&product_id=EJ-826&size=&colour=Black
This meant I could wear a normal t-shirt or top over the top of the vest, lift the top up which left my tummy covered by the vest. I definitely needed a bra too as I'm an E or F cup when feeding.
I had friends who managed to just wear a normal string strap type of vest and pull that down - over a feeding bra.
I also wear my bra 24 hours a day as I leak so much so need something to keep breast pads in place. I used HotMilk bra's - very comfy but I'd go to a proper underwear shop to try some out as I've got one Emma Jane bra that was hardly worn as it just hurt too much!

Bit of an epic post really as I'm just repeating what McKayz said!

www.figleaves.com/uk/product.asp?product=Emma-Jane-Bamboo-nursing-vest&product_id=EJ-826&size=&colour=Black

Should have done the link thing...

Ooh busy on here - my husband has been to watch rugby so I have nothing better to do than MN!

I don't think I am McK. I mean, all things being equal, I'd really prefer not to have to give birth at all, so perhaps it is more denial.

But as you've seen (I think), things don't seem to be so straightforward with me. We've had a LOT going on in the past year that having a baby is really only a small part of it.

We've moved house twice (3 times if you include our couple of months living in a hotel when I was 7-8 months pregnant) and we're in the middle of a pretty nasty legal battle over our eldest child's education (he has autism) with deadlines for this and that and a tribunal date of 16th June which has now thankfully been moved until a bit later, - which whilst much better, will cost us financially.

The homebirth midwives have agreed to see me for booking in on Wednesday, but I can't make it due to a multi-disciplinary pre-tribunal meeting which will cost us £5k to rearrange. I haven't even told the midwives. I don't know what to say. They have bent over backward to fit me in then.

So, anyway - a bit of a taster of why I'm unprepared. Perhaps it explains why I have no tolerance for being told my baby is back to back, big or that I need a scan - er - whatever..........

Tea, - I meant to say....Huge Congratulations!

Incidently, does anyone know where to get feeding bra clips from. After a couple of weeks I'm not wearing those horrid non-underwired feeding bras. I want to sew the clips into my nice underwire bras.

Hi all
When BF DS1, I just used the vest with another top over that. However, I always used a muslin square to also help me cover up when I was in public, just draped it over my shoulder and let it hang over the boob aswell.

re: feeding tops/bras, I got some bras from the local lingerie specialist last time, and loved them (I have always hated underwired bras anyway though), they kept me going for 2 years! going back there next week to get new ones for this pg. I would still be wearing nursing bras now if my boobs hadn't grown so much - tbh am glad I'm not though, as it gives me an excuse not to nurse DS during the day.

tops wise, I just wore slightly longer tops than usual, and hoicked them up - really, with a baby in your arms, nobody can see anything much! I occasionally used a muslin to cover my flabby tummy though if I felt exposed. I do have 2 nursing tops this time from NEXT, both also maternity tops, and the only 2 tops that still cover my bump!! no idea how good they'll be, but they are very comfy. they are these two.

I took my wedding ring off on thursday as fingers all swollen, but put my engagement ring on as it's bigger - it was loose on thurs, and was too tight by mid-afternoon today, so my fingers must have really swelled up some more. they feel hideous. getting headaches now too, not sure how much it's to do with sleep deprivation (no nap today due to bed delivery). will call hosp tomorrow.

right, today has been epically long and tiring, so I think an early early night is in order!! just need a snack first :o

I also do the layering thing, cheap vest with stretchy straps under loose fitting top

Star I suppose with everything else that is going on its easy to let the pregnancy take a back seat and let your body do what it has to do.

Kveta make sure you get checked out. Don't want you getting poorly.

I've needed the toilet a lot more today so I was hoping that maybe Baby was engaging but I can still feel a head burrowed into my hip so obviously not.

These are the H&M ones - although in the shop they had more interesting ones - navy, cream with navy stripe (oooh nautical!) and cream with navy polka dot.

Hmmm I need some trousers - can't fit into pre-pregnancy trousers yet, but am getting a bit fed up of over the bump jeans which are too big, and the only other pair I have is some under the bump skinny chinos (which require a long top to hide my flabby belly ) - I can't wear the same trousers every day though!

However my bank balance says otherwise - I am suffering from having to buy ALL of BabyTea's equipment this month At least it's only a week and a half til payday!

Yes Kveta please get checked out! Maybe in the meantime, put your feet up? (if that's a viable option?!)

Kveta so much swelling so quickly should be checked out. Hopefully nothing to worry about but best to be safe. On a completely different subject, I was just rubbing in my bio oil over my belly when for the first time I've noticed loads of dark blue veins, really prominent. Not noticed them before, anyone with similar?

TDW I have them on my boobs. Looks like the London underground map!!

Thanks ladies... the vest thing makes so much sense!! I'd sort of thought of vests and cardis but somehow assumed I would "need" special tops too.... quite annoyed with myself really as I think I've been quite good at spotting the gimmicks so far with this pregnancy/motherhood lark!

Thank you for your advice :)

DH made a lovely thai curry tonight but even by our standards (which are pretty hot) it was spicy spicy! Eek! NCT lady did say that curry etc would only work to start labour if you were pretty much ready to go anyway, so I sure hope that's correct! I could be racing blondie otherwise!!!

If you like them dates are full of oxytocin, and there has been some research in Norway I think showing they can help start labour.

I'll see if I can find a link.

cornwallmidwife.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/eating-dates-helps-you-birth-easier.html

Okay, - wierd link above!

Starlight- have pm'd you

Hi all. I'm sorry, I'm so rubbish, beyond tired at the mo and have been reading all the posts but simply cannot retain information. I read the posts and think 'oh yes, must comment on that etc' and then my brain goes fleugh and nothing remains!
blondie hope you're feeling ok and that things start properly happening for you.
star lovely to see you. Sorry your time being pregnant hasn't been as relaxing as it should have been for you. I hope you manage to find some time away from the stresses soon.
kveta I am so rageful, it's not just you. I've had to say sorry to dh so often lately for being unreasonably horrible for him because I just feel so cross with everything!
gwennie I had a variety of issues breast feeding with DD and some of it stemmed from my shyness doing it when other people were about and I felt awkward with the feeding tops that had scoops at the side. When DD unlatched I always stressed about flashing my nips and I think it was partly why I didn't bf as long I should have. Have got these on order for this time.

Hope those with breech, unco-operative babies find their LO's start behaving and those in the insomniacs club can find some decent naptimes in the afternoon. I almost feel like I've missed out on these 5 am convo's!
I'm suffering massively from the urge to pee basically every time I stand up so am staggered at those of you doing massive walks. The end of the road seems daunting enough for me! Feel a bit of a rubbish mummy at the moment as really can't face long walks to the park with DD, so really trying to find activities or play dates for her to keep her occupied!

Can't believe I managed such a long post!