November 2012 - baby shopping time has really taken off

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1505839-November-2012-nearer-the-end-than-the-beginning

Stats list: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1485512-November-2012-Stats-List

Argh stress not dress or dressed. Stupid phone!

I would go for it MrsWee - and if you find it conflicts with your pregnancy / causes too much stress - then try to deal with it then (either via sick leave, reduced duties, or if push comes to shove by some sort of disciplinary / legal process). Recessions are a tough time to be preggers but equally they have no rights to try to force you to do a job you can't handle due to health reasons (and also they can't use pregnancy as an excuse to push you toward demotion or constructive dismissal, legally you would wipe the floor with them and get a hefty payout). Don't stress now, it might work out great - but prepare to get militant if required in the future. You sound like you've got your head screwed on.

Good luck!

Do you mind me asking what you do - to give it some context?

ValiumQueen Don't be jealous, if I actually did ask him it would only be 'man cleaned' ie. done in 10 minutes and I'd have to do it all again when he went to work :) I seem to get all the symptoms you ladies get 3-4 weeks after, so I'm taking full advantage of any spare energy and am ready for a crash in a couple of weeks.

MrsWee The exact same thing happened to me 8 years ago during my last pregnancy, unfortunately I was very ill for the duration of my pregnancy and I had a choice to either take a pay cut, stay where I was and do a really crap job or do my current job in London (I'm in Manchester, wild horses wouldn't drag me away from here). So I quit! This was the right decision for me and I'm not the job slave I once was. You can only try, it might be scary but anything out of your comfort zone always is. Hope it works out for you :)

Talking about sleeping on your back, I'm a very naughty girl and always sleep on my back (propped up by 3 big pillows) because my bump just really hurts otherwise. The other night I had slipped down my pillows a bit and when I moved I was really dizzy, so it is only us mums that it affects and not our little babas. This is the fourth pregnancy I've slept on my back for and as long as I'm well propped and half sitting up ( also another pillow in lumbar region of back, I use a feather one) then I've not come to any harm.

For bf milk storage I used Axifeed bottles, available on eBay. Come in various sizes, and reusable. There are other brands available.

I never used the special bf bottles and had no problems with my two.

I passed up on a promotion recently, but put an email to managers formally saying I was interested but due to health concerns, pregnancy related, high risk pregnancy, family commitments and time impending mat leave I was unable to give the post the commitment and continuity it required at the time, and want to be considered for future opportunities, kinda thing.. That way it is on record that it was the pregnancy, and they cannot hold it against me. May be totally different in your circumstance, and my job is at risk. Do not make yourself ill over a job though, or money. Not worth it.

Re sleeping positions - I am still sleeping on my front! I wonder if anyone knows if this is ok? Dont have too much of a bump yet and am extremely well padded, and it is still comfortable, but wonder whether I should make more of an effort to sleep on my side. I do try from time to time, but inevitably wake up on my front.

Shelly - wish I had your energy. All I do is work and sleep at the moment!

Really tired & still on fone so can't face writing a long post, but long story short, DD is v poorly, fever (38.7 & demanding medicine, saying she's cold, 6hrly doses calpol, whimpering, not sleeping) & poss ear infection I think. Dr appt for her later. Hardly slept. Baby barely moved overnight, think because of disruption, but a bit unusual, so worried me. Had MW appt booked anyway, all fine, heard heartbeat so bubba is well. Just DD (& me!!) that isn't!!

BF/Bottles/Pumps; I tried AVENT manual, would barely get anything. Only pump that worked was the electric medela swing. Had plenty of milk, leaked constantly, but just couldn't express more than a few ounces. Uses breast shells to collect leakage during feeds & froze it in Boots milk storage freezer bags. Handy thing was I would only get an ounce or 2 each feed, but easily stored & defrosted in small batches like that.

Back sleeping; agree with other posts - pref to sleep on left for baby positioning but on back is not bad for baby. After 30wks according to my yoga teacher you should put something under your right hip to offset baby's weight.

Pillows; dream genii all the way for me.

DHs; mine is complaining about tiredness too despite barely stirring with DD.

madam there will come a time when you are unable to do that. I kinda sleep in the recovery position, so half on side, half on tum. Also well padded. I think tummy time is not advised, but I am no expert. I could not do it now anyway.

Sorry DD is illl chunky mine had a temp of over 40 a few weeks ago and scared the life out of me.

Oh and my boobs keep feeling full and warm, like I need to BF, if that makes sense, so getting really paranoid about leakage, but nothing so far. Was leaking a fair bit by this time with DD, but maybe BFing means they can 'hold it in'??!!!

Poor mini-Valium!! That's the worry with mine, that she's SO hot but won't let us strip her down or anything because she's cold. It is hard when they're ill isn't it? Hope the pox subsides soon Valium

Oh I feel sorry for you with poorly children, thankfully mine have mostly grown out of all that now (until November :)). My only advise is baths and Calpol really, but I bet you've done that anyway, it's so hard when little ones are poorly :(

I've just read that by 23 weeks we should have put on between 12 and 15lbs, but obviously this is VERY general. I've only put on 5lbs but baba is still making sure I'm on this fruit and veg pig out and for the first time in absolute years I have proper cheek bones....... I'm on the same weight track as I was when preggers with number 2 so not too worried.

Ooohhh, my milk is in! Had a bath on Sunday and it started to flow. Regarding expressing, I find it a nightmare. I can only do it with a pump when baba is on the other boob and the 'let down reflex' has just happened then I pump like hell, I can usually get about 3-4 oz if I'm lucky then nothing! I stopped even trying in between feeds because it was just dribbles. I used the Avent pump and bottles for all 3 of mine and had no problems at all.

I'm also all ready for Christmas , all money put aside for my ankle biters, cards all bought on line for other family members with money in them, little presents bought for the little ones and I get vouchers through work for food in November. Meeting my 12 year old from school in a few minutes, buying her some school pants for September and then I have all 3 new school uniforms bought, washed, ironed and covered up in the wardrobe all ready for September. I am usually the most unorganised person you will ever meet, but have been determined that I'll be prepared financially this time.

Just have everything but the pram to buy for baby now , although I did buy the very FIRST thing for it on Sunday, a Finding Nemo changing mat ready for my home-birth.

Oh yes, I took my eldest and hubby along to a home-birth seminar a couple of weeks ago, hubby has come round to the idea but is still worried that he will have to deliver it due to my fast labours but best of all my eldest was absolutely blown away by it all (it really wasn't all that good). She was amazed by everyone's stories, by everything the midwives said and just sat there with this look on her face. She told me yesterday that she is now thinking of becoming a midwife! Honestly if you met her this is a major step for her, she has never known what she wanted to do but probably something to do with music. I'm just hoping that the idea sticks. I did a basic college course to get me in uni to do midwifery so she's seen me do that for a year (just A level stuff) so fingers crossed it's all rubbed off :)

I am keen to try and buy the Avent breast pump, you wouldnt belive the price over here! (Australia) online they are 65 quid ($99) !!! Some stuff over here is so expensive it is a joke!! I will ask my mum to buy me one and bring it over with her when she next visits (hopefully when the new baby arrives).

I would agree with others that the baby bjorn bouncer is awsome, I loved ours.

Expressing, just like feeding does not necessarily happen. It amazes me when mums can express for months and feed baby exclusively via bottle. I couldn't for sure.

To be honest Valium, I couldn't even be bothered exclusively expressing.

Liking the finding nemo mat. Very funny and apt.

I've put on 8lbs so far, a hell of a lot less than with the last 2.
I'm planning on breast feeding, mainly because I'm a lazy woman and making bottles is hassle.
I found it really easy with DS2 and DS1 was just not interested and expressing alone was not enough.

I'm so dizzy at the moment and the top of my bump is so sore, I'm hoping it doesn't get worse.

Bottles are such a pain, as the guidance is now to make them up as you go. Sod that!

GP thinks fractured in two places so off to hospital. Nice to be out actually

Valium - fractured in two places and you've been walking on it how long? Hardcore! Labour's going to be a breeze for you eh?

I found expressing a pain in the bum but I am glad I did it, making up formula is a headache (for me). I managed to BF for 4 months and then did FF. You gotta do what ever works for you and your family. Everyone is different!

I never forze any of my milk just kept it in the fridge and used it up pretty quickly, so it was just stored in the bottle that came with my (crap) NUK pump. Hated that thing!

I expressed with my DD a lot earlier than recommend as I was admitted to hospital when she was 2 weeks old. She was with me all the time but it was recommended I express to try and rest. I had a tommee tippee manual but it was hard work on my wrists so my mum did a ton of research and bought me the spectra 3 electric pump from amazon. It was amazing! I've recommended it loads on here, its a great price and a second funnel can be bought as an accessory for around £6/7 and it can then be used as a double. It was a godsend!

Rant alert so look away now...

I have dry peeling skin on my nose and cheeks but spots on my chin, I'm breathless all the time, my hips hurt, don't even mention the vaginal discharge, I've just had a nosebleed, I have gained a stone, I have pins and needles in my hands, my ankles are swollen, I can't wear my wedding ring, oh yeah and it looks like constipation is the next problem. Seriously WTF? Shouldn't I be glowing by now?

Rant over.

Still love being pregnant though!

Ah compared to everyone else I've seem to have put on a lot of weight ! Pre pregnancy I was 8st 11 and now 9st 10 :/ . For my height and weight I think I'm suppose to put on 1st-2st in total. SoI have used up half of my allowance already :) As its my first I don't know whether I shall be putting on around the same amount or more in the latter part of the pregnancy.

I know I shouldn't worry about my weight as baby is most important but doesn't really help that all my friends in the last few years seem to pop back to their pre pregnancy weight few months after giving birth!

Btw thanks for all the tips re bottles/feeding ... I feel a bit bad as I'm so clueless and feel like I'm gaining more from these threads then I am contributing

Hi, I'm new to the thread, due with 2nd DC this November. I'm doing alright, but so so tired and have some mild sciatica. (working f-t in desk-based job, have a 3-year old DD & supportive DH so nothing hardcore to complain about!). Oh and a low-lying placenta, although I don't know much about that other than I need to take it easy if it's going to move out of the way (which 95% do, according to my doctor). But taking it easy is not 'bed rest for a few weeks' so I don't know what I'm meant to be doing...

A colleague said to me today 'you're not supposed to be tired, isn't this your energetic & glowing period? Anyone else tired?