Due in September 2006... into the 2nd trimester... hopefully blooming soon!!

[compo]

Here is new thread

Mandaz - with DS we bought an unisex clothing bundle of newborn size bits and pieces from ebay for about £15 and it had EVERYTHING and more! No point buying expensive new things for new babies - ours only lasted in it for 4 weeks then we were into the next size up (I did buy one new 'going out' outfit though - cute!). The carryot car seats are the type that lie flat with baby horizontal on the seat, mams & paps, beb confort and Jane do them among others. The trouble with them is that in the crash tests the fastenings on the seat don't hold and it comes loose and can go flying or can swivel round with such force that they can open the car door - not want you want for baby!

Also - love your names, especially Georgia Rose, that has such a nice sound. I think we 'decided' this morning - 99% anyway - we're going to call him Alexander James. Anyone think of any reasons why not, I don't want to set him up for a lifetime of teasing? My other little boy's called Benjamin Harry, though we call him Ben.

Thanks for the advice. I have seen some of those bundles of clothes on Ebay. I will definitely keep an eye out.

I think Alexander is a lovely name. My cousin is called Alex.

So, the infant carrier styles are best? I am getting pram which is just a pram, not a travel system so will be buying the car seat seperately. It's all very confusing!

Norms - asda have (finally!) started doing small velcro bibs with plastic backs - know what you mean about the ribbon ties - arrgghh! Just a shame they stopped doing maternity clothes, could really do with some cheap t-shirts :)

Has anyone had experience of using a cloth type sling - I had a baby bjorn last time but was so difficult to actually get him in/out (couldn't lift his legs high enough over top) I can't face it again. I'm thinking of an hug-a-bub or a didymos at present - thoughts?

All the names sound good. We are at a stalemate with names. DH is refusing to have Johnny (because of the condom thing) and I just can't see myself with a Hamish. We're ok with girl's names. Both like Elizabeth and Martha. DH also likes Stella which I don't mind. Pretty sure this one's another boy though so we need to get thinking.

Mandaz, can you perhaps speak to your HV about your situation too. We donated DS's moses basket to the HV to pass on to someone who needed it. He hardly used it and it was in very good condition. She had told me that they get quite a few donations of clothes etc. It's worth a try because it's such an expensive time even with two of you contributing let alone being on your own. If you live in a Sure Start area then there may be a local co-ordinator that can also give you advice. Good luck.

Can't stand tie bibs either. I found stretchy neck ones somewhere and they're fab. Wish I could remember where they came from. They're nice and big too.

Thanks homemamma. It's just so annoying because before I moved I was in a well paid job but because I had to move quickly and to a different area I just can't get work. My husband has told me that he will quit his job if it means he doesn't have to give me any money so I'm trying to cope, paying my bills etc and living on benefit with no real hope of having any support from him. I've worked since I left school (which is a long time ago ) and am finding coping without a regular wage very difficult. I am looking into training as a driving instructor so that I can work flexible hours from home and earn a wage. The annoying thing is that if I were to stay on income support, I wouldn't recieve any of my husbands' CSA payments. Yet, if I work I get tax credits, CSA payments and help towards child care so I really don't have a choice. Sorry to moan, I'm just finding the whole thing so frustrating at the moment
I should be able to get most of the stuff I need with the Surestart grant and I'm trying to get bits as I go along.
Thanks for all the info though, I'll look into the options I have.

Hi everyone!

Loving everyone's names. We've still not decided....

I'm like Norms, have all the stuff we need from ds. Might get him a buggy board though. BTW the "Buggy Board" one does fit on M&P prams or at least fits on the MPX chassis of the 3 in 1 system (friends have it). The same one works on a stroller too so you can transfer from one to the other (though I think you need to buy extra attachemtns as these stay on the pushchair IYSWIM). I'd ask in John Lewis if you need clarification.

Welcome frazzle and roundabout.

Lysettes - I'd say if you want to give it a go naturally you should give it a go.

liquidclocks - hope the tightenings ease. I had this a lot last pregnancy and ended up going in and out of hospital. Ended up diagnosed as having "irritable uterus" - no real advice except drink lots! (asda around here still do maternity stuff so hopefully you can find stuff in another store)

Cori - I looked at that dress in lilac for a wedding. Lovely!

Homemama - very jealous of your P&T, lovely pram!

Second Norms suggestion of getting baby stuff at kiddicare - fantastic value and great service.

thinking we'll be OK for water here in Central Scotland!

Mandaz - have you looked into maternity allowance? Sorry if you have and I'm just barking up the wrong tree. It's just that I had to leave my job when I had DS beacuse I was commuting from north Lancashire to NW Wales - and a 3rh journey plus living away during the week wasn't really an option! Anyway, I got MA because I'd worked over 26 wks of the previous 52 wks before a certain point in my pregnancy.

Hi Tassis - tightenings seem to have eased off now a bit, only once and hour or so now, I did get loads of braxton hicks last time to but they didn't start quite so early and I had been drinking rasberry leaf tea so probably own fault! Today my thing is a painful lower leg for absolutely no reason I can think of - feeling more and more like a hypochondriac as the days go by... :)

we liked the sretchy over the head bibs too and will def get some more of those!

I bought a freedom ring sling at the Baby Show recently. It's really like the Maya one. Looks great. I was there with a friend who had her 6 month old with her so could trial it with both her baby and my almost 3 year old. I loved sitting the wee one on the hip with it. We'll see how much I use it...

Hi all,

We bought our pram last night, I got a m&p pramette we are using the car seat from our old graco travel system. Norms I enquired about buggyboards when I was in the m&p store last night and the response wasn't good, basically they don't recomend them as they put strain on the frame work and the pram would not be covered by the warrenty.

Homemama the phil and teds looks like a really good pushchair, I was considering it as I childmind but the one year old I look after only comes once a week and prefers to walk, So after much thought I decided against it.

I really like the names mentioned, if our lo is a girl then it will be Elizabeth Anne, We can't think of any boys names we agree on although we are swayed towards Ethan or Adam plenty of time to come up with something.

No problem with the bladder department here besides when sneezing , and I have a cold lol. Need reminding to do my pelvic floors.

I hope benjaminsmum is ok, shes not posted for a while.

Morning

Wow all this talk of buying loads of stuff, very jealous…..all so exciting!

Well one more sleep until my scan tomorrow – ye ha! Then I am going to treat us to buying a little outfit this weekend just so that it all feels real.

Liquidlocks – hope the aches and pains have stopped.

Well am late into work today so best get cracking……..

liquid - i am now having cramps in my calves quite often - think it's to do with hormone changes...

am trying to be v good now i have stopped work and go to the gym each morning, and when walking on the treadmill i have to stop every 15 minutes and massage my feet and calves - looks very inelegant trying to get back up off the floor!

mandaz - the MA idea is definitely a good one, and i know it must seem you are stuck between a rock and hard place - don't worry bout ranting though - it's what we're all here for!

Liquidclocks - thanks, I have looked into the maternity allowance but the problem is I hadn't been in my last job long enough for it to apply. I'm just going to have to make do with the Surestart grant.

I got a letter this morning from my husband saying whilst he will pay CSA, he wants nothing to do with me or the baby and doesn't even want his name on the birth certificate (which I'm going to do anyway for baby's sake). He says our marriage was a sham and that I'm an evil person.

Needless to say I'm not in the happiest of moods today

Mandaz - Lordy what a horrible man, poor you!!
Have you family support around? With someone being this nasty to you, you will need somebody to be really lovely to you!!

Bella - I can certainly pick them! Yes, my family have been very supportive, I don't think I could cope without them. I have a good solicitor too which helps. This certainly isn't the way I imagined my pg would be!

Thank goodness for your family then. How long were you together? Sorry hope you don't mind me being so nosey!

You must make sure you come on here and vent whenever you need to as you must be going through such a stressful time at the moment!!

Thanks, I appreciate it.
We were together just over 2 years. We only got married in July last year but it was the biggest mistake of my life. I left him because he became abusive and my blood pressure went really high because of it. I had to have an emergency scan but it made no difference to his behaviour. I know we're probably better off without him but it still hurts that he could reject his child and that one day I'll have to explain all of it to the child.

Unbelievable how someone can turn like that.
Well stay strong and deal with stuff when you have to, we are all here to listen xx

Gatecrash Sorry

HK just wanted to pop on and say hi and hope that is all going well with you and bump, don't forget to pop onto the Nov thread to keep me and Rodeo up to speed.

Love to all Beks!

mandaz, do feel free to post his details on our thread so we can all tell him how we feel

he sounds like a dreadful guy and you really are better off without him and it is great that your family are so supportive.

def agree with the earlier post about speaking to your HV re nearly new items - also NCT sales are a good source of items.

puppy, that's interesting re M&P and the buggy board. I wonder if any pushchair manufacturer actually recommend them as they're going to put a lot of extra strain on the chassis...

Lysettes, I'm so impressed at you going to the gym!

mandaz - so sorry about your ex-husband. hope you're OK.

I forgot to say that I had my physio appointment on Monday. She was incredibly thorough and gave me lots of exercises and an attractive tubi-grip. Reckons I have mild SPD. Hoping it doesn't get any worse.

Bella - hope your scan's lovley tomorrow.

Thanks Lysettes but as he's already accused me of having something to do with a burglary on his house I guess I'd better not

Thanks for all the comments, it's good to be able to vent.

Good luck with the scan tomorrow Bella

Mandaz - just read your other thread. Sorry to hear you're going through all this crap. Puts the heartburn and rib ache into perspective!! {{{hugs}}} to you xxx