April 2013.....we're halfway there! (Part 5)

[bunnygirl80]

Our newest home!

Old thread here

Stats thread here

MincePiesAndBaileys chamomile might be worth a go? I find it can help settle my mind if it's racing / overthinking. It's safe to take when pregnant.

Has anyone used a TENs machine before? My midwife has recommended I get one for the SPD pain, there are some really cheap ones in Argos but would rather pay more for one that works. Thanks.

Mincepies have you considered a journal? I have periods when I can't sleep and writing my stresses down gets them out of my head. I also use pillow most from Avon which helps me relax. if you have a smart phone consider buying a sleep relaxation app too.

Essex I haven't but I know people who found tens useful. Look at Boots and Tesco who I think both sell and hire pregnancy specific tens machines. Might be better than Argos?

Essex I tried a tens in labour it didnt touch the sides for me but I guess a less intense pain may benefit from it? It was also almost 11 years ago so I don't know if they have changed since iv seen the rental ones about too I'm sure they are around 30 quid for something like 5weeks. For that price I think I may give it a go again, if it helps I work in the store you mention and don't think I have ever put through the till or handed out a tens machine in 8years so can't be that popular from there (in my store anyway)

I'm apologising in advance for not using names while replying. I've listened three times to the replies as there are so many, thank you.
I was planning on buying a few second hand reusables to see which suit us best. We have no outside drying space though so I think we will need to use the nappies with separate wraps for drying reasons.
I used to childmind for my nieces when I was 16 for a year or 2 when they were 3 months and 3 years old but back then I could see, that's the only thing worrying me. How will I know they are clean after changing? Once she's moving how will I keep her safe?
I keep flipping between excitement and real worry. I'm sure DP will step up as he's brilliant already caring for me but I want to be a normal mum.
With insomnia I'd recommend a nice warm bath, a boring audio book or listening to a radio/tv show that really bores you and if you can get a lavender sleep spray or balm and apply a little around 30 mins before getting in bed.
This helped me with stress insomnia in the early days :).

All the4d scans sound amazing! We can't justify spending the money on one at the moment but I've heard friends say how fantastic they are.

Drop side cots must be ok or they wouldn't be able to sell them in the uk. I think, as with most guidelines, they are just that, a guide. Babies have been using them for years safely. I'm not going to avoid one but that's just personal choice and ease of use :).

Hi all

I am shattered today - not been getting to sleep very easily as I'm stressing about lots of things and then ds2 poorly in night so up several times - I am soooo out of touch with being got up in the night - both my boys are fab sleepers - not up before 8am right through the Xmas hols - even on Xmas day!!!! I know they are not normal!! :)

So at least as ds2 poorly I am home today and getting a rest - home from school run, few chores done and breakfast with daytime tv - maternity leave cant come soon enough. I am finishing work at 38 weeks just in time for Easter hols so no peace for me!! I have a countdown on my wall planner at work.

On the name front we have settled on Ruby for a girl but cannot agree on a middle name yet. OH has a double barrelled last name so we don't want anything too long.

I have opted for a drop side cot this time - I struggle with a normal cot putting a sleeping baby in and being able to reach when the cot base is at the lowest level. I'm not really short but petite enough for it to be an issue! It seems perfectly safe so I'm not sure what the issue is with a drop side?

I have my 26 week check tomorrow - looking forward to hearing the heartbeat again. It seems different areas have different check ups - my next will be 30 weeks and I notice some people have said they have 28 week appointments.

26 weeks today

Hello all. Just had my 28 week appointment. BP hasn't gone up any more but is still slightly raised. I'm seeing a consultant on Tuesday and then may have weekly MW appointments after that.

Hope everyone else is well. Starting to feel like we're actually getting there now!

27+5

I found the randomest thing helped me with insomnia, I switched sides of the bed and have been sleeping amazingly since, if all else fails it's worth trying

I woke up at 6.00 this morning with the craziest pain in my calf, it felt like someone was ripping my muscle in half I couldn't move it, I know it's normal to get cramps but that wasn't like any cramp I've had before and it's still feeling a bit achey now...
I've been back to the doctor again yesterday, since the beginning of pg I've been really itchy in my vagina (sorry if tmi) they kept telling me it was thrush but nothing they gave helped so I finally persuaded a nice doctor to do a swab and it came back negative for thrush, but she's really confused because she doesn't know what else it might be. They've done another swab, just waiting for the results, but think I might get the midwife to look at it as well when I go next week as I'm just really fed up, it's so sore and uncomfortable and I'm worried it might cause problems with the baby...any suggestions of what it might be? anyone else had anything like this?!

27+4

Hi ladies can I join April please? I'm due right at the end of April/ beg of May. Where do I go to join? xx

Here! You joined! Welcome!

bird could it ether be bacterial vaginosis (does it smell?!) or allergy? I react to changes in shower gel, washing powder, I even realised some toilet paper and tumble dryer sheets affected me!

jojo that's it really! You introduce yourself and jump right in. If you look at the top of this thread you can see a 'stats thread' link. You could copy and paste and insert yourself in with your due date.

Then jump right in and start asking questions! Do you know what flavour you're having? Is it your first baby?

lol ok thank you! Well, I'm Jo, I'm 32 and currently pregnant with my 4th baby. I have 3 daughters already and I have a s-son but sadly was killed in Aug. This time around I'm expecting a boy! I'm struggling to be social with this pregnancy (it was planned but due to our recent circs) so have only really been on fb to tlak lol. Thought it was about time I made an effort! I look forward to getting to know you all so long as I don't get lost in all these posts lolol xx

Hi jojo and welcome to the April thread Dive straight in and start chatting, there are loads of us on here all with a million and one different questions and situations.

I am just enjoying an elvenensee snack of a hot cross bun and strawberry milkshake.

The whole drop sided cot thing is just another passing fad, we always had drop sided cots and they were perfectly safe. The only reason my cot this time isn't drop sided is because I bought it second hand and it just came as it was.

I remember a few years ago health visitors were advising that cot bumpers were dangerous and shouldn't be used!! No idea if they still do or not but I have one and will be using it as usual.

Knackered here, I feel like I am getting less and less sleep each night purely because of the pain from the SPD. Also I can only manage about 10 mins on my feet at a time now until I have shooting pains down the outside of my thighs and feel like some one is repeatedly booting me in the fanny I end up walking like I've just got off a horse!

jojo what a difficult time for you all :( based on your dates I guess you found out you were pregnant around time the time your Sson died? Just try to go with the flow, thsi thread does move fairly quickly!

Anyway I'm Faith, 31, expecting DC1 (probably a girl) 23/4/13 after a long time TTC.

Bless you jacq you are having a rough time aren't you? Do you have a maternity pillow to sleep on?

birdbrain I have same problem. Is driving me nuts and is a bit worrying. Am going to ask about it at my 28 week appointment on Monday.

Anti d jab in a bit and bricking it : (

Hi jojo and all.

Had gtt yesterday and all is fab, nursery is now stripped and wall paper will be ordered today. If anyone is looking at kiddicare register with quidco first, you get cash back online.
Got lots of boxes around but need nursery finished before I can unpack them.

You lot are all terrifying me about maternity leave. As technically I'm
One of the first to pop with dd of 31st march I should be going off soon but I'm working to 22nd march. So going right up to the week before. :)

28+4

I agree that there is a lot of conflicting or at least changing advice out there, but I don't necessarily think I would say that means that advice is a 'fad' because it has recently changed... The advice not to use cot bumpers still stands - it was based on a large american study a couple of years ago which showed that they add very little benefit but that there were a shocking number of baby deaths associated with their usage (mainly strangulation and suffocation). Of course, you still have to do what you want and what you think sounds sensible, but it is at least worth looking into the reasons behind changing advice to draw your own conclusion.

ratbag - don't be terrified about mat leave - you just need to do what works for you depending on how you feel, how long you will be taking overall and obviously the financial side too. I'll finish in early March. Due date is 3 April, but I will be induced around 20 March so I will have about 2 weeks or so off.

I need to order wallpaper actually. I've chosen some lovely Quentin Blake stuff. The room doesn't need a complete overhaul luckily as it was given a fresh lick of cream paint about 2 years ago and has hardly been used since. So, we'll paper one wall, get some matching curtains up, a rug and then that's that.

Have loads of stuff which has now arrived - pram (eeeek!), lots of bedding, changing mats, changing bag, cot mattress (not cot yet!), car seat etc. It is pretty much all still in its boxes. Seems too early to get it out jsut to lie around gathering dust. Although we did fully assemble the pram to make sure all the bits were there, pushed it round the living room a few times and then took it apart and repackaged it!

Welcome jojo, you are due around the same time as me- am due 30th April with my first.

Feeling so much better this morning after reasonable nights sleep and no achy hips- went to pregnancy yoga last night which really loosen things up.

Just wondering if anyone having problems with their teeth/ guns like me- went to dentist this morning as been getting embarrassingly bad breath ( my poor OH). I thought it was hormonal but aparently not brushing well enough and bacteria they..aghhh. I have a lot of blood when brush so had been rather gentle but apparently the blood is a sign you should brush more. Was rather upset when the dentist said I could be harming the baby by not brushing well enough...

Wowsers, just caught up with all the posts after a busy start to the year. Work manic and doesn't seem to stop when i get home, plus had been suffering the same insomnia as lots of you with leg cramps, heartburn etc. waking me when I did finally drop off. Feeling guilty for not doing more exercise and eating lots of chocs, but just so tired half the time. Mission this weekend is to get more sleep! :)

Great to hear from Bec and know she and little Alexander are doing well.

I'm planning to work until 38+4 (12th April) so may be one of the last of us still working, I'm dreading going back already (although also wondering how I'll work to full term!). [jacq] really admire how matter of fact you are about having to work around your time off, but that probably shows how ideally suited you are to the field of work your training in!

Anyone else getting a smidge frustrated at the lack of information provided without asking from the MW/consultant etc.? It seems like if we don't ask, we don't get. We got the appointment for the 20week scan through 5 days before it (after querying not having it at the 16week MW appointment) and I won't see the consultant again until the 34 week scan, despite not seeing one since before I went on the blood thinners and being told by my haematologist I would need to work out a birthing plan with the anaethetist as it affects me having an epidural if required. The MW seems to think it is fine leaving it until 34 weeks, but doesn't leave me a lot of time to give notice and arrange early postML childcare if the decide to induce or ELCS early... Currently being hounded at work as forgot to ask for MAT1B at 24week appointment, MW said "oh, you're the 4th person to call this morning who had forgotten to ask for it", you'd think they would automatically just give you it? I've also not been weighed or measured since my first appointment pre-12weeks so no idea if I'm the correct weight or size, guessing she must have thought I looked about right or they would have said something at 24 weeks but it all seems a little vague...I think I'm just in worry mode :)

Bought first baby clothes at the weekend. Felt guilty buying them so early but suspect next 3 months may fly by... still need to find/make room for a cot and changing area somewhere as our bedrooms are "compact". think we need to start on that this weekend. Anyone thought about/got any black out curtains or blinds they can recommend?

JoRich I use a sonicare toothbrush. My brushing isn't great and u know it does a great job. I've also started flossing since I got pregnant which is weirdly fascinating in the same kind of way as squeezing spots! The toothbrush wasn't cheap but I did get it on offer at Boots and raked in points from it! :)
I think mat leave depends very much on what you do. As a nurse on the ward, I don't want to work much past 36 weeks because I'll be limited in what I can do! I'm fortunate that I've got holiday I can take.

Drop sided cots are unsafe? That's probably why I've been unable to find one at all here in Sweden. Was planning to come over to the UK in the summer to get one. Might have to go to Ikea now and buy a saw to take the legs off. (Because I'm a midget who cannot reach the bottom of the fixed sided cots at all).

Just had a snuggle with the 4 day old Ruby!! Scrumptious! She was so tiny!!

What's this about not being allowed to use wet wipes for 6 weeks?!
Ruby had her bum changed and cotton wool was used, so I asked how come they weren't using wet wipes as it used nearly a whole bag of cotton wool (poosplosion!) and was told your not meant to use wet wipes or toiletries or anything on them until 6weeks!
I'm gonna fess now and say that for the midwifes purpose I will have cotton wool on display but I will most def be using wet wipes! I can't think of anything worst than pulling apart cotton wool! Makes my toes curl just thinking about it!

26+4

JoRich I have been suffering with my gums. Dentist said best to keep brushing even if they are bleeding and actually she is right. That and flossing more, and some decent gum mouthwash they are much better.

Yesterday woke up with a pain in my left side, which spread and I my bump was really sore all day, especially under my left ribs. Eventually thought I better phone the Drs rather than be worried all evening and got an appointment within the hour! He was very good, did lots of checks, listened to baby and reassured me it wasn't pregnancy related - possible bug / indigestion?? I wondered if its just the bump stretching? Luckily much better today.

jj247 i plan to work till the 12th too - we should have a count down!

BonaDea which Quention Blake did you choose? We put the cream menagerie up in the nursery on Saturday. It looks fab .

Trying to keep up with some exercise, albeit toned down from what I am used to. Went swimming last night and slept like a log, didn't even hear my alarm this morning .

Thanks for all the reuseable nappy suggestions - need to do some research!

Missmuffet with DD we used cotton wool and water for six weeks - pain in the neck!

The meconium is so hard to get off with cotton wool (like tar!) that I'm definitely taking wipes for pooey nappies at the hospital - no matter what the MWs say! I'll probably use water at home but wipes for out and about (and poosplosions as you say)!