April 2013- part 3 scan scan scan

[trying2bpos]

Started a new thread for all us April ladies.

I have bought my pram new mainly because I was offered a substantial sum towards it but I am borrowing other stuff for example have swinging crib lined up and possibly a cot will probably get crap loads of little outfits when baby is born and will probably pick up other second hand stuff too so had to buy it something new :D

I have always gone by the advice you should buy your baby new mattresses for second hand cots etc (even tho im not entirely sure why!) so I figure a pram especially the carrycot bit should be the same really my pram came to the sum of almost £700 but that was for pushchair bit carrycot, car seat and a posh beeping reclining isofix base it also has a two year guarantee with mothercare from around when baby is due and im probably gonna use it those two whole years. I've been given £540 towards it so in effect I'm not paying out anymore than I probably would second hand don't get me wrong I know I'm incredibly lucky and I'm very grateful!
I'm also buying maternity clothes second hand bar a few bits that I needed ASAP like work trousers that I put on one morning and wouldn't do up, what's a girl to do when she needs to go to work with trousers on!!! So I feel I'm justifying it somewhat if that makes sense!!

What I want to know is about second hand breast pumps?! Is it frowned upon or is it perfectly acceptable?! I plan on expressing quite a lot and so would like a really decent one but they seem to be also quite expensive so was looking at the idea of picking one of those up second hand if it were acceptable

aufaniae that sling looks awesome do you have to wrap it like that yourself tho?! I'd be terrified of doing it wrong hehe!! Looks great for supermarket shopping or walking the dog however!

Hi ladies - just a quick check in from me. Sorry not been on much, but work is manic and I've been finishing a course assignment. All done now and have passed the first stage of my course, so really pleased!

Also had our 12 week scan today. Great sonographer, loads of time to watch baby on the screen as it was hiding a bit and she needed to get a good CRL measurement. It was fun and the baby was so active - lots of arm waving and even saw fingers (finger bones!) really clearly. Its definitely feeling like a baby now.

The nuchal measurement was just 1.6mm, so we're really pleased with that. Just gotta wait for the final risk score to come in, but hopeful for low risk despite being 35.

Got moved on one more day, wo now 13 weeks exactly and due date now 23 April.

Hope everyone is well, nausea free and getting excited.

Just in case anyone doesn't know the cot mattress should ideally be new (second hand mattresses are a SIDs risk)

Also car seats should be new unless you really can't afford it. If you are going to for second hand, here's some advice from RoSPA on what to look out for.

Car seats are like crash helmets - once they've been bashed about they don't provide the same level of protection. With bought second-hand you never really know what they've been subjected to.

Cross posts Missmuffet28!

Missmuffet28

Actually that's an interesting point about the prams and the SIDS advice for mattresses.

My flatmate has just turned up with her old wedding album and baby pics! So I'm going to be slightly distracted for a bit! But I'll have a good think about that ...

Hi Ollibobs I've been making a wish list but so far DH and I like completely different styles in pretty much everything, cot / pram / nursery!

The only thing we are settled on is a co-sleeping cot for the first few months, probably a bednest or armsreach. Both quite pricey at about £299 but they go for at least £200 on eBay so I think I'll get new and then sell of number 2 doesn't show up quickly!

Prams are a far more contentious issue, DH likes bugaboo, I like a traditional coach built pram, with a sling for short journeys! I'm sure we'll find a compromise!

We'll be getting some second hand things for my parents house, so we can travel light when we visit. I know mattresses / anything safety related have to be brand new, I'm not sure about prams, but I know I was wheeled around in an old silvercross pram my mum got out of the local paper and it didn't do me any harm!!!

Good advice from aufaniae about car seats. Another thing to think about is that we still have DD rear facing at 17 months & will do so probably until age 3 when number 2 outgrows the baby seat. We have the Besafe Bizi, they are pricey though at £260. I mention it now as apparently there is a 0-4 months seat about to come out for about that price, clearly won't clip into buggy bases etc though. Worth checking out www.rearfacing.co.uk for the stats. Supposed to be 75% safer in a major collision, I am not a safety nut at all, have never bothered with stair gates etc but this made sense to us.

missmuffett is this your first? I would be wary with buying a breast pump just because you may not be able to breastfeeding for whatever reason, may not be able to express (some women can't express a drop) & might just find it too much hassle. I would personally recommend waiting until baby is here, seeing how bf goes and then most NCTs can loan you a pump for a month to see how you get on. Or you can buy a cheap manual for about £20- £30 & check expressing suits you then buy a more expensive one. I fed DD for over a year and had the TT manual (great) TT closer to nature electronic (rubbish!) and the Medea swing (great).

I bought a pram on
eBay, but not car seat, however am also getting it 2nd hand but from a very good friend, so trust when they say never been in accident.

Probably get 2nd hand crib but brand new mattress and new moses basket, of course safety first but will not buy anything new I can get a fraction of the price and still in perfect condition!

15+2

missmuffet official view is that breastpumps should be new as technically it's impossible to sterilize all of the parts so there is a teeny tiny risk that if you bought it from someone with a transmissible disease you could pass it on to baby. That said I got my pump off eBay, as there are loads on there that are hardly even used. I think lots of people buy them before baby arrives, then either struggle with bfing or struggle with pumping so sell them after only a couple of uses.

Welcome to the new people. Can't believe there's still more April ladies lurking out there.

I have caught DS's tummy bug and have spent the last 12 hours throwing up or sat on the toilet, sometimes both at the same time. Yuck.

likecandy I almost bought a bednest for DD, then a friend offered me her Moses basket. It drove me mad, bulky, real pain for travelling & pain to store. I'm definately going to get the bednest this time, luckily as we have almost everything else should be our only big expense (I hope!)

Was going to ask what those with smallish age gaps are doing re buggies?? There will be 23 months ish between my two. DD's already a good little walker & we have a Quinny Buzz & Quinny Zapp (stroller) I was thinking for big day trips they can have one each & I'm unlikely to be alone. Or can put DD in stroller and baby in sling for a few months. Or baby in buggy & DD walk. Am I mad???

Been away for a few days, just catching up & was happy to read update from mama I hope things are looking up for you now.

I mentioned the word buggy to OH, he completely freaked out, spent like an hour explaining that we have no money & I think if he gets his way he will just make some sort of sling contraption out of old tea towels for me instead. That being said though, he is starting to get better now, he expressed a wish for it to be a boy & made 1 proper name suggestion.

I got home expecting a midwife letter with appointment date but its still not here, I am going to phone them again tomorrow to chase, its getting a bit late now.

14+4

toobreathless how about a buggy board?

Thanks all for advice RE breast pumps its not my first but ds1 came when I was quite young (just 18 to be precise) and I could think of nothing worst than BF at the time therefore he was FF from moment he was born, so I really am in the dark when it comes to the subject but i know this time round i really want to give it a go!
I will def see about being loaned one for a few weeks once babe is here or whatever too see if it suits, but wouldn't the sterilising problem still be the same?
When it comes down to it there's soooo much to think about! I should start making an organised list of questions and stuff!

Ooh 14 + 1 now

toobreathless there was 26 mths between dd1 and dd2 and we got a buggy board that fitted the pushchair (bebe confort streety) and stroller (maclaren).

As far as second hand stuff goes, its lovely with your 1st but perfectly fine to accept hand me downs or buy nearly new too imo. This will be dc3 and don't plan to buy much at all. We still have our pushchair and car seat, cot bed from dd2, both unisex incase this one is blue! and plan to bf (fingers crossed). Will get shit loads of clothes bought for baby no doubt and don't really 'need' anything else.

Welcome to newbies and good to hear mama and bean are hanging in there!

Ooh, starting to feel little kicks/flutters last few days too, soo exciting

Oops 13+5

Hello all

It's been ages since I have been on here, I can't believe how many more have joined us :)

I've got my 16 week appointment tomorrow but not feeling any flutterings yet, I have just got awful tummy ache today, although that is possibly nerves for a uni exam I have got this afternoon which I should be cramming for I have been really stressed at work and with this exam, so this baby is coming out grey!! Although my love boss said yesterday (they are funding my degree) if I fail today of which there is a massive chance as I'm struggling to concentrate on revision and retain information, then don't worry, they'll pay for my course after the baby is here again.

Phew!

Anyway I really must divert to try more revision and I will speak to you all more in the coming days.

16+3

I had a chat today with Försäkringskassan (Department of Social Security in Sweden) today to see what sort of paternity leave my husband can have. I haven't worked since moving to Sweden so assumed it's only him who will be entitled to anything. I'm not sure what I'm more shocked at, being pregnant in the first place or finding out about available benefits.

There is no maternity or paternity leave here. There is instead parental leave which is 480 days split between both parents as we decide (60 days minimum must be taken by each), to be taken anytime from 60 days before birth to age 8.

My husband was worried because he can't afford to go onto reduced salary so I asked how much he would get paid if he took the maximum amount allowed (I'm home anyway so he can have it all). 80% of salary paid by the state plus 20% paid by his employer. So he can take 420 days at full pay

And even more gobsmacking, because I don't work I can 'only' claim the guaranteed basic parental pay of £20 per day plus child benefit. Double

No wonder Sweden consistently comes out at the top of the UN table of best place to have and raise children.

Flamin - I always knew there were extremely generous parental benefits in Sweden. Not sure I expected them to be quite as good as that, but there you go! They definitely have it sussed!!

Fantastic news for you - think I'll move to Sweden before my next one!!

I knew they were generous too, but never expected that much. Mind you, husband has been paying 50% income tax so I think he's earnt it.

Blimey Flamin Sweden sounds amazing!

We're getting loads of secondhand stuff too, thanks to very generous friends and family. I was going to get a new car seat and cot mattress - but idoes anyone know if it's OK to go secondhand on these when you know exactly where they've come from and know they haven't had an accident etc? Mine will be coming from my little godson.

Accidentally wandered into Mothercare at the weekend 'just for a look' and DH didn't even flinch...most surprising

Blimey Flamin - there may now be a mass exodus to Sweden!

Just had a look at the Bednest (had not heard of it before) and it looks great. That has defo made it onto the list.

My lovely Mum has offered to buy the buggy and we both like the Jane Trider which is there latest 3 wheel offering. It is lightweight but rugged and good for off road which is something fairly important for us. Very exciting

Hello everyone - just dropping in for a selfish brag post because I just had my 12-week scan and there was one baby bouncing around in there with a heartbeat and limbs and everything. So strange to see it so mobile when I feel pretty normal at the moment - was convinced they were showing me the feed from someone else's scan.
In a cheery bubble now, telling friends and family. Won't be thinking about buggies etc for some time to come!

Aunty - that's wonderful news, congratulations!

Thanks BonaDea. We're pretty delighted.