May 2013 - we've seen our babies and our trousers are tighter as we enter the second trimester!

[SevenElvesAndAReindeer]

Shiny new thread. Come and grab a and a .

Happy New Year all - guess what?? We're having a baby this year!

10 that sounds absolutely terrifying, but glad you had such fab care. That's incredibly reassuring. Hope you're recovering from the shock. I too was in my onesie on the sofa on NYE watching Danish crime dramas and sipping a virgin bloody Mary...party on, Wayne....

Beaut such lovely news, and what a wonderful way to do it knowing some real good will come from it too. Congratulations. And I LOVE Oscar, Finlay and Jude....

Pickle that's really interesting. I'm expecting to feel similarly myself as I honestly can't really tell what I'm having....my instincts say girl, but I'm bracing myself for the opposite. I think I'll cry either way but it's a strangely complicated situation so don't feel weird about your reaction. I think it's okay to mourn - is it mourning? Probably, in a way...

Welcome Sisi - good to have another one on board!

Quick medical question....sorry if TMI....having a bit of dull pain when weeing (usually at the end and when needing to go) and also during sex...particularly at the end IYSWIM. Thought it might be a urine infection, and seeing midwife on Monday anyway. Anyone else?

21+2

Hi and Happy New Year to all! What a wonderful year 2013 will be for us all :-) ... we are off for our scan tomorrow so will finally find out if this is a boy or girl ... dying to find out as then I feel I can start bonding rather than just feeling its a bump. I have convinced myself its a boy (already have a DD and this pregnancy has been so very different) ... most friends think its a boy but DH convinced its a girl (I think that is just so he continues to think I will be able to reuse DD clothes and not start out on such a mad buying spree that I did the first time!) .. regardless she was a winter baby and this will be a summer one so I feel some serious shopping coming on! We are also having a predictive test to see how likely it is I will get pre-eclampsia again .. not really sure how I will feel either way but at least it should give an indicator of what I should expect and whether its an elective at 39 weeks or sometime before. First day back at work today and so surreal to think its the last time back after a holiday before going on mat leave ... decided to head off just before easter holidays ... and although taking a year off on mat leave I dont intend to return (after 20 years) ... so so bizarre!!!

Back from scan all is fab & she is definately a she haha but she is a little on the big side but no surprise there .. So many boys this time good luck for everyone with upcomin scans xxx

Great news Shelly - glad everything looks good!

I'm excited to hear more scan news and see if the girls can catch up with the boys!

Beaver, I haven't experienced that kind of pain but it sounds like it could be a urine infection if you are getting some pain when weeing - definitely check it out with midwife when you see her (or before if it gets bad?).

Pickle, I definitely think the emotions around it being a boy/girl are complex - it's so strange holding both possibilities in mind and then getting the news is so final. I am liking knowing though - feel much more in touch with it as a real baby now!

Congrats shelley on your girl and beaver33 on your baby
Welcome sisi, wow time is marching on isn't it?! So cool that we are all getting that little bit closer to meeting our babies. Eek!
10 my god that must have been scary, you poor thing! Great that the care was so good and that all is fine.

Dont know about the pain thing so much but at night when I wake up dying for the loo it aches a bit before and after in my abdomen. That could be to do with endometriosis scarring though. I say if you are in any way worried at any time always get it checked out. Can't do any harm and will put your mind at rest either way.
Sex has been rather gentle for us, I think we've both been a bit nervous about it, but we're getting our mojo back a bit now

Sorry to vent, but have had really upsetting time with fiancee's mum & sister. I sent a text to his sister asking if she'd like to meet up and get to know each other a bit better (all the drama with his mum's depression has meant that she doesn't see us very much) and got a reply basically saying that she's not interested in being involved with the baby or the wedding in any way. Says she's too young to be any help (she's 26) and good luck for the pregnancy she doesn't want to meet up at all. The implication has been that now we are 'grownups' she can't relate to us any more. What the frack?! Both of them have said the vaguest of congratulations and are behaving really badly about all this. We are a totally normal couple (whatever that is!), ive always been really polite and friendly to them, and can't understand how they can still be sulking about him moving away from Brixton (to north London!) and apparently 'abandoning' them after we've been together for 4 years!! Depression is a complex and complicated thing & I'm trying to be understanding, but it really hurts that they are both purposely not having anything to do with their son and his life for no apparent reason and being so hurtful. Really sorry to vent, but my hormones are amping this up and I keep bursting into tears :(
On the upside NYE was fab at party with also pregnant mate and half a glass of prosecco. Party hard!

Beaver Sounds like a bladder infection to me.I had them loads with ds1.

Shelly Great news on the scan.I can't wait for my 4d one now.Dont know why but can't get enough of seeing this baby.

Mool Hope it all goes well tomorrow.Exciting.

Gah if one more person says something negative about me having a third boy I actually think I will slap them. Grandmother in law said oh really that's a shame when I told her I'm looking forward to being the princess of the house now that its sunk in

Has anyone else been spending in the sales.So far I have a steriliser, bottles, bath box ,bibs, pushchair and cotbed/wardrobe/changing set on order.

Beautician Loving your sale shopping spree ... mine has yet to start (will defo head off to Marlybone High St straight after the scan tomorrow to buy (s)he a little gift once we know what it is. I have a friend with 3 boys and she had the same from family/friends ... i would be so happy if this one is another girl and if we had another and it was a girl too ... people are sooo funny about their notions of what is right for a family. Ignore them all ... I used to dream of a house of boys and me being the princess ... however with her girlie side DD is definately the 'princess' (She normally bills me as the wicked witch or evil mother - lovely!)

Mool Yes I think everyone has a different opinion on what the 'perfect family' is. At the scan the sonographer said I think I know what sex baby is and that she was 90 per cent sure.Ive not found out the sex before but I 100 per cent sure they always say stuff like that to cover themselves.However, all and I mean all of DPs family have said oh well hopefully she got it wrong
I won't be telling them about the 4d scan as we have only booked it as its our last child and I've not had a 4d before.

Hi 10 Do you mean a list off all the essentials

Posted too soon.I meant a list for all essentials or just feeding.

Ooo yes, a list of baby essentials would be really useful for us first timers - finding it all a bit of a minefield. I think the first few weeks will be much easier if we are quite organised in advance, but don't want to buy things we won't use.

Sorry beaut about the negative comments - how ridiculous!

10 it's my first too and I was thinking of investing in bottles/a pump because it may be helpful sometimes to express some milk in advance e.g. when planning a couple of glasses of wine/when going out and don't want to breastfeed.

My MIL also suggested it's useful to add some rice flour (?!) into formula milk for a before-bed feed because it gives your breasts a chance to refill and it's apparently great to get them to sleep. She was breastfeeding in Hong Kong in the late 1970s, so that advice may be out of date....

I'm def planning on breastfeeding (if I can) but it might be useful to have an alternative on stand by.

Wirra sorry to hear about DP's family, that's a toughie. I think you have done all you can and it's now up to them. Very hurtful though. Can DP have a chat with them and reiterate how much you both want them to be involved? Have had a similar issue with my sister who miscarried at 12 weeks just as I found out I was pregnant. She took it really badly and is now leaving the country rather than be around for the birth (!!). We were very close before and it's horrible. But you just have to do what you can and then leave them to it.

Thanks re medical advice - think it prob is an infection so will make sure MW tests for one.

I have a list already here it is ;

Travel:
Pushchair
Car seat
Changing bag- invest in a good one with plenty of pockets.It will be your new handbag

Feeding:
If breastfeeeding(I'm not this time but did with ds1 and 2)
A breast pump- so that DH can do occasional feed.
Breast pads and lots of them
Bottles- I used Tommee Tippee ones for combined breast and bottle feeding as they are supposed to be closest to feeling like a nipple to baby.Im using Nuby this time which are also fab.Dont buy too many.
Bottle warmer- To heat if using bottles.
INFACOL- Essential item.Nearly all babies get colic and this stuff is fab.
Calpol
Dummies
Muslins-Fab for breast feeding can use to cover breast if needed and to put over shoulder/ hand when winding as bound to get a lil sick on you at some point.

Sleeping:
Cotbed
Wardrobe
Chest of drawers-changing units are a waste of money I very rarely changed my two in their room.
Moses basket
Baby blankets
Fitted sheets for cot and Moses basket.
Bedding set for cot- can be bought later on as wont be using for a while.
Sleep suits
Baby monitor
Sleeping bag
Cot mobile

Changing/ bathing
Nappies-Dont stock up on too many as you will find some you don't get on with.
Changing mat
Wipes
Sudocream
Cotton wool
Baby wash
Baby shampoo
Sun cream
Baby bath box-I like to keep all my essentials like baby wash, cotton wool,INFACOL in one place.
Baby towels
Baby bath -I would just get a bath or use sink.I like to sit on floor in lounge bathing baby. Don't get a set you will never use a top and tail bowl and neither will you use a thermometer an elbow is just as good.

Essentials
Big knickers
Maternity pads
Nipple cream
Vests,hat,outfits for baby

Hope that helps

I forgot a major essential a bouncer or swing.Mine always slept in theirs.I loved the bouncers I had although did find myself whiling away hours spent using my hand or foot to rock baby to sleep in bouncer. So this time I think I will invest in a swing as it will do that all for me

I agree Roast, a list would be so useful! I've started to buy sleep suits and babygrows, a few newborn, a few more 0-3 and a handful 3-6 but how many am I likely to need?? I'm going down to bumgenius nappy route so want to start stockpiling them, their website and youtube have been great in being realistic about what you need, especially as a first-timer and seeing how you get on. As for breast-feeding, apart from my boobs I have no idea what equipment I need??? I too am feeling a little overwhelmed by what to buy/get prepared in advance!

As a first-timer I also made the mistake of buying a couple of winter outfits, not thinking May is spring!!! Doh!

X-posted beaut - YAY for the list!!!! Xx

If you are using bottles either alongside breast feeding or on their own you will need a steriliser.I had the Avent one and hated it.Ive got a Nuby one this time.All Nuby products are reduced in Boots at the moment

beaver it was so weird, because at first I couldn't explain the tears and DH looked crushed which made me feel even more guilty, but I've spoken to a few mums and they likened it to mourning and all felt the same with the first. I felt so much better after a little cry and a chat and now do excited about meeting my boy. roast I def feel closer to the baby now, I talk to him loads and I'm reading to him DH's old books he read as a child and I've started picking things out for his room.

another for the list: Fenugreek tea

....I was watching programme the other day about breastfeeding and they recommended fenugreek tea from week 36 to encourage your milk to come through. So for those that like herbal teas and plan to b/f, it might be worth adding to the list.

10 That looks fab does it include a breast pump.I just had an email through from babies r us use the code 20JANE for a further 20 per cent off all sale and full price items