November 2012 - into the third trimester

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1529536-November-2012-reaching-the-six-month-mark

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other women's blood in the shower? Really? That's horrible!

Jeez horsey poor you! I would be mumpy about this situation by now. He can't just keep dropping by unannounced you could be on the couch BFing or having health visitor examinations - loads of stuff you might not want his company for. Early days you need privacy and visitors at your say so. And said visitors shouldn't come unless they bring food and shouldn't leave until they have made some tea and / or done some washing up. You or DH are going to have to be honest with him and tell him that as you have a tiny newborn to look after - he's going to have to man up and cater for himself (in terms of hot drinks and whatever else he expects). Is he recently berieved? (sorry am sure you mentioned MIL's death earlier in our pregnancies but can't remember when). He needs to develop outside interests, as, you guys are not his 'new family' / wife substitutes - no matter how lonely he is. To be fair if he is lonely it doesn't sound like his rudeness and presumption is doing himself any favours anyway. Good luck!

As for the bednests - my wonderful wonderful sister has lent me hers - we just need a new mattress. When we're done we'll be returning it so she can Ebay and get some of that cash back - she didn't really have the money to blow on it but with a wee prem one of the biggest risks is sleep apnoea so it's really important to have them sleeping close to you so that they get the breathing cues. I have to confess to total paranoia about SIDS so I am going so chuffed she's lent it to us as it will be such a reassurance. Even if sleeping so close to a snuffling baby will do my head in - the worse case scenario is just not worth thinking about or risking.

Horsey we have a similar situation with my gran just now. She's pretty much housebound but lives at the top of the village we've just moved to. I jest not, bith DH and I get on average 10 phonecalls each a day moaning at us to go up there for some reason or another. Normally i wouldn't mind but she has become quite miserable and just wants to moan snd criticise EVERYTHING we do. She's even suggested she stays with us for a while after babys born - no way! As much as i love her she really is becomming a pain in the arse and I'm just to polite (with her anyway) to say anything about it. Have you tried speaking to any other family about it? My mum plans to 'have a word' with her so heres hoping that might ease the pressure on us.

nervous yes! There are cleaners, but not after every shower taken, and childbirth and the days after are a pretty bloody business. The bidet and toilet can be pretty gross too. Take some antibacterial wipes perhaps? After my section I went for a shower and there were blood spatters up the wall and I was not in a fit state to start scrubbing. Not everyone is as particular or indeed able as everyone else.

yw If like me you are really paranoid about SIDs, then I'd reconmend an Angel care breathing monitor. It really gave me the peace of mind I needed when I moved my DD to her own room. I meant I wasn't checking her every min and waking her up!
It beeps even if they breath a bit shallow. I've not had too many false alrams but have had one or two when she started to wriggle down to cot. The first time I jumped out of bed so fast, Dh was well impressed! DD was fine and the few flase alrms we have had are still worth the peace of mind!

I recommend an Angel Movement Monitor too.

If anyone's looking for a Medela Swing there's one on Amazon at the moment for £105.46 listed as an unused unwanted gift: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B000LPZTQY/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

I second flip flops for the shower, I've got flip flop type slippers so a bit comfier.
I never had the pleasure of the toilets because I had a catheter, then when that came out I had to do 3 wees in those cardboard kidney dishes- nice!

Ah yes the catheter. Another fond memory of childbirth. Not everyone needs one, and if you do, you will be very grateful they were invented. Smarts a bit though

For anyone looking at an electric pump I seriously rate the spectra 3. Can be found on amazon or their own website which is anawiz. It's honestly amazing and if you buy a second breast shield it can be used as a double. It's very reasonably priced, around £60 I think and I loved it. I've recommended it on MN before and even had a couple of PMS thaNking me cos they got on so well with it!

Has anyone ever tried the hypnobirthing cds? I'm sure someone was talking about it on this thread a couple of months ago. I've just ordered one from Amazon, somewhat swayed by the weight of good reviews, but can't help feeling a little sceptical that all these women have fully dilated without really noticing that they were in labour. Any objective opinions?

Thanks for listening! Just sounded off at my mum bless her. Will try to sort it. I do feel for him but he's just so self absorbed, doesn't realise how lucky he is and OCD!!

Have just spent small fortune in boots. I think I have nearly everything though!!!! Will check lists thi m it's just sheets I need and job done. Oh and sanitry stuff but someone has said theyll get that cheaply for me :)

Oh and a matress!!

Will I need a new Moses basket mattress, it was brand new for ds and he didn't spend that much time in it, any thoughts?

Just registered with asda baby club, must have missed that one when preg last time!

Grrrr am really uncomfortable today and have been for the last couple to be honest. Bump is rock solid and the tightenings are really uncomfy around my entire torso. It's been like this on and off for two days. Thought the pain initially was indigestion and had a good old swig of gaviscon but no. BH earlier (weeks 20+) were not really painful or uncomfy but these are definitely bordering onto painful and just won't give me any respite. I've literally had a nearly rock solid bump for 48 hours, none of this 3-4 BH an hour the web talks about - they're constant. Should I ring the midwife to check? She's not had a paranoid call from me in weeks so I'm sure will be missing me....

The bellydweller is plenty active and giving me lots of kicks...

Izzy I just saw your post and I was thinking about getting the Spectra 3 but Amazon have just reduced the Swing to £99.99 www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000LPZTQY/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=. Now I'm torn, which one should I get?

DH21 yes it's recommended that you get a new mattress for each child to reduce the risk of SIDS. They're not that expensive so I reckon it would be a good idea.

Dh21 I couldn't print off the asda voucher?

Just had a right stress at one of my banks. Why can they not make charges in the same way? I keep wondering why I never have money in there and each time they mess it up??!! Then decline an overdraft when I ask for one just to give me time to add more money into that account. I am going to operate from one account soon!! In fact do you all have joint accounts or separate ones? We agreed to one joint account when fell pg but that's not happened yet. Must have that conversation again tonight....

YW I would give your MW a call just to be on the safe side.

DH21 it is recommended to get a new mattress and they are £10ish but I didn't as they are sealed in plastic so I do not see the risk personally. It would be different IMO if it was ripped or soiled. There have been many threads on MN about this.

Catbag - I'm going to try hypnobirthing. I researched a bit and looked at different products. The Natal Hypnotherapy CD set looked good and I was tempted to buy...I kept my eye on ebay for any 2nd hand sets. Their website was quite helpful too and has links to videos etc.

In the end I spoke with a friend of mine who recently gave birth to her second daughter, though tragically lost a son (stillborn) 2 years ago. She had a one to one session at her house for £120 and she could not stop singing her praises. I have booked this lady too (though have had to reason hard to scrape the money together). She is a midwife who also helps people with the 'Hypnobirthing' method. I'm busy swatting up on the book of the method she uses called Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method by Marie Mongan. It comes with a hypnotherapy CD to listen to. So far I have found the book very calming and reassuring and am looking forward to my session. Not listened to the CD yet as the book hasn't prompted me to but so far I'm happy.

I guess everybody is different. When I looked into it you could read a book on it, listen to a CD, go to a group class or have a one to one. Have a look around the net for anything local or any friends that may have tried it.

My session is a week on Sunday so I'm sure I'll report back with how it went...though the ultimate review will be after the birth of course!

peaky Hmmm, my options for classes are fairly limited as I'm in rural North Yorkshire but if I could find one, I'd be inclined to try it out. I ordered the Natal Hypnotherapy one from Amazon, but it was a general one rather than the one that is designed for twin labours as Amazon didn't stock it.

I labour very fast (painful!), and loudly, and with 3 other labours under my belt I think I'd be a good candidate for judging any potential difference that the cd may make. Chances are with a twin pregnancy that I'll be delivering a few weeks before most others, so I'll give a full run down of results (or lack thereof)!

My bump is big and rock hard today. Like someone has stuck a pump up my rear end. Not painful though. Thankfully.

DD2 is climbing all over the new pushchair getting acquainted with it. She likes it! And it is pretty sturdy as she has not knocked it over. Baby doll is in cocoon.

Yw defs phone the mw - if nothing else then for reassurance xx

For anyone else that is interested in hypnobirthing, this is the one that I ordered. The feedback is astonishingly good not that I have a suspicious lawyer's mind or anything

Doh! Link would help! www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1905220502/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00