PART 3!! Sept-2012 Baby Bus!! Christmas-and-New-Year-Shaggers-all-aboard!

[TinkerMaloo]

Cant see another one anywhere on the board and part 2 is full up (finally) so here is part 3! (unless I'm just being a moron and missed it?)

Chat more please ladies, we are too fat and useless to do anything else! ;)

Hey brizzmus when are you due? It's never too late to join in. Lol and welcome :) I'm liking the bed sheets idea, might have to steal that idea.

Glad to hear things are going well for you cjbk1 and that your measuring spot on. :)

Heartburn (think that's what it is) is starting to kick in, any good way to get rid of it without liquid medicine as I can't take it. :(
Xx

Rachel heartburn is grim.... Sympathies! I had some last week for the first time, and asked for advice on this thread here, and got great tips: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1508691-Help-Acid-refluxy-sickness-What-are-good-things-to-eat (I didnt take GAVISCN, BUT THE OTHER food/drink ideas on that thread did help a lot).

You are all so kind... Thanks for everything you have said encouraging about lack of grandma! It really means a lot and i appreciate it, and my heart goes out to all of the many of you who have the same kind of situation....

And Brizz and Ladyga thanks very much..l I think we will do the same, and give wombat mum's name as a middle name. A friend of mine told me smething amazing yeaterday.... Her DH's father died just before their youngest child was born, so she never knew him, but! They talked aout him somuch that one of her first words was pointing at a photo of her kate grandad and trying to say grandad! So i think one can keep them present, although i think there is a risk i may dissolve in tears each time i try at first if pregnancy/postnatal hormones are anything to go on!

Mum wrote a series of children's books so i could also read those to the wombat?

Ah you loves - big massive hugs to you ladies who have lost parents - although mine are fit and well, I do see them get older and more frail and it worries me senseless. They are in Ireland and I am sad that they see their grandchildren so infrequently but nonetheless, overjoyed that they are still with us.

ballroom and winter I am not going to bother with getting in any bottles or back ups. I think I listened too much last time to those who said I "ought" to teach baby to take a bottle and bought all the kit - bottles, sterlisers etc and it was never used, complete waste of money. Although bfing is relentless in the early weeks and months, all too soon it was 6 months and I was introducing solids and the breastfeeds dropped way down so this time, I am going to trust my body to feed my baby, DH can have his "turn" doing other stuff and I'll get my time away from baby later, when we are ready.

I had my 28 week check up today and don't have another appointment until 34 weeks which seems mega far away! I went to a homebirth workshop on MOnday which was lovely, very low key and positive. Interestingly the midwife leading the group had herself had a homebirth, one of the mums-to-be in the group is a midwife and the new Mum who was there to tell her birth story was also a midwife! Made the Q&A session at the end particularly useful to have 3 midwives in the room.

Hi ladies, I wrote a really long post yesterday but for some reason lost it...so here goes again!
WeeNurse congratulations on the birth of Finn. I hope he's doing well and growing stronger each day. What a shock? It's make me think that I need to get a little bit organised. To date, I have bought nothing! Not one thing. I think with Dad dying such a short time ago and it flooring me completely I couldn't bring myself to buy and get excited. We have just come back from a week in France which did me the world of good and now I feel more ready to get started. I feel excited again about the baby too which feels great.
WinterMymble I am so sorry about your Mum and grief. I know exactly how you feel having lost my wonderful Dad 6 weeks ago suddenly. He was so excited about the baby and I had so much planned for us to do together. Last night I was thinking about him never meeting the baby and how the baby will never call him Grandad....it broke my heart. I am going to make a 'Grandad box' of things to share with the baby as it grows, pictures of him, things we did together, some memories of mine written down to read and things he loved (he loved photography so I have lots of beautiful pictures he took) Then hopefully he'll still be a small part of the babies life....I want to keep him alive in some small way. I think reading your Mum's books to your baby sounds perfect.
Loup23 I am with you on the weight gain and am getting a little worried about putting on so much when so many people seem not to. It's not like I've eaten terribly badly or anything and thought that this weight gain was normal :( I was a 10/small 12 to start with and have currently put on 25lbs which sounds like so much! It's pretty much all over and people keep commenting on how tidy I am but I've put on quite a lot really I suppose. Eek!
Rachel130690 I get a lot of heart burn and if you don't want to/can't drink Gavison then I would recommend Tums. They're much tastier than the Gaviscon tablets (the strawberry ones are gross) and they work. I have the lot!
I had my 31/32 week check up this Wednesday and everything was good. It was fab to hear the babies heart beat again as ever and she thinks it is head down even though I was sure it was still head up because I can feel something so hard underneath my boobs, she thinks that is bum and feet...anyway, I know there is loads of time for it to still move about and change around.
I am planning on buying a couple of bottles for just incase. I really hope that I can breastfeed exclusively for a while but I am sure I will express now and again after a few months (I am buying the Medela breast pump) I have no idea what bottles to get but I guess those with a similar suck action to breast feeding so that the flow isn't too fast and we risk the baby getting lazy on the breast.
I am working up to 2 weeks before I am due so I am really hoping I get through the next 6 weeks OK here...I got so hot and swollen yesterday I thought 'what am I thinking' but today I feel better. Fingers crossed, I hope I don't regret the decision!

Bakeroo you totally have my sympathy - I am so sorry you lost your dad, and so recently :(. The Grandad Box sounds absolutely brilliant. We can make them all vivid to the little ones!

And truly Bakeroo, I don't think you have gained much by the sounds of it! In fact it sounds to me like you are exactly right. My 1.5 stone is 22 lbs, which is almost the same as you, and as I mentioned I am worried I am actually losing weight now, and struggling to keep it on. I found a very helpful website that let you input your starting weight and then current weight and week of pregnancy, and it showed the expected increase in a big chart, showing a range of good potential weights for each week increase (not one size fits all, but a good range). And it goes up a LOT! I have looked for this site to reassure you but can't find it again, but it seems there are a few of them. I think you're fine :)

I'm so sorry about the sadness you're feeling about your parents, and I can't imagine what you've been through recently with the loss of your dad bakeroo. I hope it's gradually easing over time. I think all the ideas people have put forward for making sure loved ones are remembered sound beautiful.

I've been feeling a little bit grumpy and down on and off recently but it seems to have lifted today which is great! There hasn't been a reason for it other than presumably hormones so I hope it's gone. I also have slight back and pelvic pain but other than that have been very very lucky so far in terms of physical problems. 29 weeks today so I suspect it's all still ahead as we head for those September due dates!

On the bright side I have just taken delivery of a bargain iCandy Peach Jogger, second hand off eBay but as the man of the household selling it was nearby in his black cab he has dropped it to my door. I'm delighted with the price and the condition so there's one in the good books for eBay and second hand bargains!

Wintermymble, how wonderful that your mum wrote books - of course you must read them to your DC, and what a lovely thing for her to be proud of as she grows up.

Rachel, I'm due 15 September, but have a strong feeling bump is rather eager to get going!

Can I claim that it is a necessity of pregnancy that I go home early from work and watch Djokovic and Federer play?...

wintermible and bakeroo so sorry to hear about your losses. I was never told anything about my grandmother who passed before I was born, so keeping the memories alive for your dc's is a great idea.

I'm just feeling sorry for myself today and dribbling uncontrollably as I had my anti d this morning, and a filling this afternoon .

My weight gain has been tremendous. I never weighed myself before (I measured myself on what clothes I could fit into), so I don't know how much, but it's the first time since I was at high school that I've had a proper appetite! I think I'll be two dress sizes bigger though just on boobs, never mind arse! Never mind, nice food denial can start after sprout arrives

Hugs to those who have gone through a recent, or not so recent loss. I can't imagine losing a parent. My ds has only one set of grandparents as both ex's parents passed away when he was a teenager. I know it's something that played on ex's mind when I was pregnant with ds and after having him. Glad to hear you are keeping ok Bakeroo , you have crossed my mind wondering how you were.

That's along the lines that I was thinking MakeTea . Don't think I will bother with bottles to start with although I really can't see me bf for 6 months.

I am suffering the misery of awful hayfever today. Haven't stopped with sneezing fits all days and I've got through a box of tissues already. Thought I'd got away with it as it hadn't bothered me as yet but obviously not. May have a look tomorrow and see if I can take anything natural for it (that probably won't work) as my antihistamines are a no-no.

Sorry to hear about everyone's losses. My dad had a liver transplant just over a year ago and I'm constantly freaking out that something's going to happen to him and he won't get to meet Peanut- I never got to meet his parents as they died when he was 7 and 18, so really want him to stick around. DH's grandfather died a couple of years ago and his grandmother isn't doing too great recently, so I think the grandad box is a wonderful idea. We are also considering using their names- Peanut will have my dad's mum's name as a middle name, and if we have a boy in future he will most likely have DH's grandfather's name in there somewhere. I think provided you keep the memory of them alive, they're never truly gone- DH, his sister and dad are always talking about their grandfather's exploits, and it really does feel like he's still here in a sense.

On the comfortable tracksuit bottoms front, I got some black ones from Asda for £8, and they do a sort of smartprice pair for a fiver- not bad! Means I can bung an extra layer under my wraparound dresses and wear some of the shorter ones now without exposing myself...
With regards to the toga idea (welcome Brizz!) can I adapt that? I used to get rotten periods, so couldn't wear anything that would squeeze me- I used to get a nice sarong and tie it under my crampy stomach, then just wear a vest... and when I couldn't find a sarong, a fleece blanket did the job! Don't recommend it for outside the house, lol.

Regarding bottles, I've bought the tommee tippee anti-colic starter kit- 2 bottles, 2 each of the slow, medium and fast teats, and 2 of their nice milk bibs, get it from Amazon, which is cheapest. I did a lot of research, and these ones seem to be most like a breast, so I went with them. I too am planning to b/f, but want to see if I can express so DH can join in with feeds, although even if I don't, they'll come in handy for cooled boiled water later on.

I've just been out baby shopping and am amazed at the money you can save if you do some research online. For example I saw an Avent newborn starter kit (two newborn 4oz bottles, two larger ones and a bottle brush plus other bits and bobs I think) for £16 so checked online and found loads of places doing them for £12 (but plus P+P so not quite so cheap in the end). Then saw the EXACT same thing in Mamas and Papas for £26! Mothercare have them for £10 on a special offer but have sold out online.

Madness.

Am now spending hours and hours obsessively checking the price of everything from cotton wool to nappy buckets.....I think it's being from Yorkshire that does it, I can't bear to waste a penny :)

I hope everyone else's plans are coming on nicely too...I'm really enjoying the shopping and it takes my mind off the aches and pains I'm getting more and more frequently now.

I'm also hankering for bargains funchum it seems some of the high street shops love to rip off naive first time mothers !!

My sister and I are off to a nearly new NCT sale next weekend so will hold off buying bits until then but have saw a brand new with tags fluffy bear sleep suit from GAP in a charity shop this week do nabbed it! Hennes or H&M also have some lovely bits too!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend x

Dear all can I have an opinion pls; since yesterday I felt like I had a 'crick' in my right thigh and if eased overnight now it's back and makes me not want to put weight on right leg and when I do it makes me limp a bit, obviously it's not very painful but it is ok isn't it? thanx x

Sounds like you've pulled something cjbk1. Either that or it's another one of those pregnancy loosening whatsits we just have to put up with. Keep an eye on it, and if it doesn't get any better, then maybe see your doctor or the midwife, depending on when your next appointment is.

Thanks rusulka not seeing mw for 3wks so GP it is x

winter I too send hugs. Wombat will I'm sure not be short of love! The book idea is lovely. Your mum must have been very talented. Wombat will be very lucky to have such a special reminder of her granny.

brizzmass bed sheets are only allowed as outer wear if either covered in a fetching 1980s Laura Ashley Floral print or children's carton characters

cbjk glad your 29 week scan went well. I ve got a growth scan tomorrow.

Rachel I suffer terribly from acid reflux and have taken to carrying a bottle of Gaviscon, complete with a straw around with me! I've found avoiding chocolate, caffeine, fizzy drinks, tomatoes and spicy food helps a little. Still need Gaviscon though :(

maketea am a little of home birth. My consultant was adamant that I couldn't have one. Hope all goes to plan for you. Seminar sounds interesting especially with 3 midwives in situ!

I considered stocking up on bottles etc just in case but thought at 3am after lack of sleep and sore nipples, I'd be mightily tempted to give up on BF in a sleep deprived state when in reality, I'd like to do for 6 months (if possible) so I think we're not going to get any in advance...

rusulka thanks for tracksuit bottom advice, was think of getting cheap pair or two to wear post birth.

I agree funchum definitely shop around! We reserved out car seat and base on line for £40 cheaper than in store price then collected and paid in store and got the base fitted!

Hope your leg feels better now cbjk

Immense double post over, am now caught up anyone else throughly exhausted? At my midwife check I was told I needed to take iron tablets. Gakk! I hate them so much.

I know of some moms who BF for a year! Knowing this will motivate some of us I guess.

I get thoroughly exhausted every time I walk about 100 steps.

Had my 30 week scan, baby growth is on spot. this made me happy and has reduced all my fears.

That happened to me Twizzlestix with dummies: wish I had never had any in the house. Dd wasn't sleeping at night at all and screaming the place down and I would have tried anything but if they had not been handy I might have found another way to settle her and my dd would not now be totally addicted to damn dummies.
I had another scan last week to see where placenta is and it is still very low. My boy is really growing and he is on the 70th centile: which is great because dd was tiny when she came out.
Hope everyone has a good week and that where ever you are it stops bloody raining!

twizzle If you have made it through 6 months of breastfeeding then its easier to continue than start with all the hassle of bottles etc.! 6 months onwards is the really easy time when you will be glad that you stuck with it through the hard parts :)

20 months and 15 months veteran here. (with bouts of mastitis, and a few tears and tantrums along the way)

And I agree that if you have the bottles etc in the house then you are way more likely to buckle and use them on a hard day than if they arent around. Its a bit like trying to quit smoking but carrying a packet of fags with you in your bag?

Oh and iron tablets are evil! They have me on them, I'm meant to take 2 a day but I'm certain that I'll never poo again if I do that so am sticking with just the one and eating extra green veg, so far though Ive only managed once a week... Doesnt help that they have me on the pregnancy version of the atkins diet for my GD though, normally I would just eat lots of fruit etc but thats off limits, so... :(

Still not long now! :)

HYas anyone else noticed their bump get smaller over the past few weeks?? I think it might be just because the position has shifted down a little but mine seems to be a fair bit smaller than it was and its a little worrying! :/

My god, some movies should have warnings for pregnant women not to watch - watched "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits" last night and from the cast (Natalie Portman and Lisa Kudrow), I was expecting a bit of light-hearted fluff but I found it sooooo upsetting and cried all the way through - so ladies, avoid for now is my recommendation! (mind you I blubbed through Murray's Wimbledon speech too)

Hello all, hope you all had a good weekend and it wasn't too wet where you are!

Have been reading the post but haven't been posting much, as i feel so tired most of the time (due to poor sleep). I plan to breast feed but have got two bottles and a microwave steriliser just in case. Will get a box of formula in case supply doesn't meet demand!

31 weeks last Friday, 7 more weeks at work. Can't wait to finish. And hope I can work from home during the Olympics as can't imagine commuting with thousands of Olympics spectators!

When does baby's head usually turn? Mine is still breech...

Oh MakeTea I bawled at Murrays speech too - DH just looked at me like I was some kind of lunatic!
Tinker I'm not on iron tablets but am still having issues in that dept. The lactulose i was prescribed has helped a bit but the badness is still there.. :(

Also, big Yes to shopping around on the internets before buying big things - we saved around £100 on our travel system thingy because we wanted to buy it from Mothercare, and they price match, so we found the lowest online price and they matched it! DH loves a bargain though, so I left all the big shopping to him.
Although i am quite happy with my bargain baby wipes haul yesterday - last week Tesco cancelled my delivery without telling me, so i complained ALOT, and got £20 worth of e-vouchers. So this week they have their mum and baby event and I have ordered 18 packs of Tesco baby wipes on 3 for 2 and i'm only paying the £3 delivery charge! Over 1000 wipes! :)

Have a good week everyone :)

Hello all, I had the worst sleep ever last night.
Zombie film before bed and heartburn all night. Never good.

I've got a few Avent bottles from last time but not bothering with buying formula as the shops are never far away if needed.
Knowing how perseverance got me through the first weeks makes me really determined not to doubt my body and keep up the feeding. Hopefully I can go for another year of bf'ing with this one.

I think she's already head down, from the shape and movements. I'll ask midwife at appt on Thurs. Last time DS was always head down from the first time they could tell so never had the big turn.
My mum had the big swivelly turn with both her pregnancies late on. She says it was really strange!
I think making sure you're sat forward and upright rather than leaning back encourages baby to go head down.
Although I can do nothing but slouch and lounge around with my heavy self!

I agree the second six months of bf were much easier. After weaning they want less milk and fewer times per day.
By nine months he was only really having three feeds per day with a fourth formula bottle to get ready for me going back to work.
Ooh, I can't wait to get going again so I can shift this weight. It hurts being this chunky!

Had my consultant appt & weigh in today and they've told me I can't have a water birth or be on the MLU as I'm still medium risk, despite weighing less now than I did when I got my BFP.
I'm extremely irritated, as it turns out the reason is because nobody with a BMI over 30 can have what I want. My BMI is 39. If they'd just told me that in the first place instead of stringing me along for 4 months, I don't think I'd be this angry. I'm so infuriated that nobody thought to give me this information, it would have saved so much upset.
Oh well, nothing I can do now.