April 2013 part six...what does the third trimester have in store?

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toobreathless it is really interesting to read about what happened with you on the ward. I have never stayed on a ward with a baby but am hoping that this one will arrive at the right time and then we will probably have to stay in for a day or so?

With DD1 I was given a private room as she arrived so early and was whisked off to NICU.

With DD2 I insisted on being discharged on the same day (it was Xmas Eve, DD2 was again in NICU and DD1 was at just the right age to 'get' Christmas and her stocking had not been packed!)

There is a tiny part of me that sort-of-hopes that this one comes early if only because then I know what to expect. Of course, for the baby's sake, I want it to stay in until it is properly cooked.

For those living in/moving to Walthamstow [http://m.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/jan/18/lets-move-walthamstow-north-east-london let's move to Walthamstow Guardian article]

Whoops m.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/jan/18/lets-move-walthamstow-north-east-london

Hi all-
Not been posting much but lurking v. regularly!

Glad to hear of all your updates and the bits and pieces you've all been buying. We're pretty much sorted- just need to get some newborn clothes and bits for a hospital bag-- eek, very exciting, 29 weeks today!

Been a tough day- I had a mc before this pregnancy and baby would have been due today, that made me feel a bit weird, topped off with a row with dh didn't help! But alls well - hubby and I are friends again and trying to be philosophical and positive about the mc- the baby I'm carrying now is obviously the baby I was supposed to have and that's all there is to it!

Am v. Jealous of those with quentin Blake wallpaper- we've just gone for boring magnolia- but we've ordered some lovely curtains that should arrive this week and that'll jazz it up!

Anyway- it's tonic water and shit tv for me tonight- tomorrow's another day and at least without today's 'due date' looming anymore it'll all be in the past. Onwards and upwards!!!

Have a great week everyone!
X

wishful don't want this to come across the wrong way... but it really doesn't hurt to remember what could have been. MiL had many miscarriages and stillbirths [to be honest can't believe she kept trying] and she remembers each one in her own special way. FiL is less than kind about it, but she now just ignores him and does her own thing on those days [we are talking at least 30 years ago, DH was her last child, but she still honors their memory].

We've been loving the snow, DD is just a bouncing ball of energy and though she should be tired she is not sleeping well and both DH and I are exhausted as we take shifts in getting her back to sleep.

Watching call the midwife...

Hi all :) how is everyone?
I have my first physio session tomorrow and because of the snow no visitors today so i Decided to stop being a coward and with the nurses help had a proper look at myself. Well im a mess of scars but then I was before, I have lost a lot of weight though which looks kinda funny as I'm all boobs but little else. I can't have another child, that feels like a constant dull ache somewhere in me but its ok,and They don't know if I will be able to use my right leg again, but I'm gonna give it my best shot. I'm also going to have my hair cut, its long very long and dull so dd is sorting out a new style for me to try, feel the need to reclaim my body from the medical men if that makes sense.
Please don't feel the need to reply to any of that, I just needed to write it down, I hope that's ok?
I cannot wait to see Alex tomorrow and hopefully have my cuddles.
Thanks so much to everyone who mentioned places to buy prem stuff, much appreciated .

Mama hoping the physio session goes well tomorrow although I imagine it is a long road, so to speak. Having a hair cut and a new style should make you feel good and more like 'you' rather than a puzzle for the medics to put back together.
Cuddles with Alex are definitely something to look forward to - how is he doing?

We only had snow flurries here today so everything should be back to normal tomorrow. DD2 had a party to go to at soft play so DP dropped DD1 and me in town (and took DD2 to the party) so we went shopping for baby stuff

Town was really empty which was great and DD1 is a wonderful helper and carried shopping bags and chose some lovely bits for the baby.

We got:
Changing bag this MAM one but at less than half that price and in the blue trim

little caterpillar outfit

And a bunch of other, less interesting stuff
-baby blanket

• muslins

-H&M vests - which I loved last time as they do up on the side and do not need to go over the head -sleepsuits - one in leopard print and one in a cow print (DD1 chose these and they have matching hats and vests ) -cardigan

And when I got home and was telling/showing DP our stash (and he was pretending to be interested) he remembered that he had seen the old moses basket in the loft so went up to get it. It is still in great condition, the mattress looks fine and there were even three fitted sheets sitting inside it. I have put all the sheets, apron, liner and hood in the wash and it should all be fine. Now I am wondering whether we need to buy a stand - we had one before but gave it away.

When I told my mum that we had bought some stuff she did make a point of saying that the baby is going to stay in FOR A LOT LONGER YET!

Hope the physio goes well mama and Alex gives you big cuddles. Your optimism and positivety really makes me feel humble and glad you feel you can share your ups and downs with us x

Re post natal wards - my only experience has been at a birth centre which I really can't praise enough. Private room and bathroom, Dh was allowed to stay over nite and fantastic nurses and bf counsellor on hand. Stayed 1 night with dd1 and 2 with dd2 as I was in agony with afterpains and bf. Goin to a different birth centre this time as the other has now closed but plan to stay a cpl of nites to make sure we get bf sorted and to give me some peace

Bought some cheap vests and sheets online today in the Asda baby event, if you join the baby club you get a huggies newborn starter set if anyone is interested and priced up nappies on amazon. Getting there slowly!

27+2

enjay how did you get the starter pack? I have registered online but not received an email or anything of next steps. Thanks.

Morning all weve had more snow overnight its starting to depress me now im ment to be going to pay some money off my pushchair but cant go out. dcs are off school and im ment to have app with consultant tomoro not sure if ill be able to make it and really dont want to miss it!sorry for that rant just fed up.

Morning all!

toobreathless not long now until Mat leave for you, how lovely.

JJ Am so glad your mum got the all clear, the relief must be fantastic.

Pontouf yay a girl! Congratulations!

Thanks for all your concern, my husband finally made it home early Saturday evening, and I spent a quiet weekend on the sofa. My headache is much better now, and I made it into work this morning on a very slow, very crowded train.

My car may be quite poorly, DH is finding a garage to book it into, and although I know damage to the car is less important than damage to the baby or me, it is an expense we can well do without, so I'm hopng not too much damage done :-/

Lovely to hear about all the things you have been buying, I am keen to press on, and want to buy the crib and car seat.

We also need a bouncy chair, but are short on space, can anyone tell me if we need a baby gym too, or will a bouncy chair do for now?

Also due to space, I wasn't planning on buying a changing table (until we move), and was just planning on getting a changing mat to use on the sofa/bed. BUT as a naive first timer, would this be okay? I have noticed that Ikea do a foldable one, if I buy this for use in the bathroom, would this be a better idea and would it be useful? I am anticipating pooplosions and my sofa, and thinking that my first idea may not have been the best!

Changing table

Also, does anyone have an ikea cot? Due to being in a one-bed flat for now, I was thinking of getting a crib like this:

crib Actaully, there is anicer mothercare one that I would probably get, but the website is playing up!

But am wondering if a cot like this may be better, as it would do her until she is bigger/older:

Ikea cot

Any thoughts appreciated!

Angel no need for a changing table imo i never used one and have just brought a changing mat again for this time round. I have brought a play gym and am getting a baby gym but a bouncy chair will be fine as it means baby can look around more when you need your hands free!thats just my opinion x

angeltattoo just a changing mat is absolutely fine.
It'll be safer on the floor though once your baby is near rolling age.

Baby gyms and bouncy chairs serve different purposes, you don't need either of them.

I found the bouncy chair very useful when I needed to have a shower. I put DS in it, in the bathroom, so he was safe, and showered while talking to him!

I found the baby gym useful as it kept DS entertained for 5 minutes. It was also useful to put the arch bit over his changing mat to keep him entertained while changing so he didn't wriggle off somewhere else! Also as he wasn't keen on being changed.

I think I found the bouncy chair more useful over all (could have used something else to keep him entertained while changing I guess).

Could you buy both second hand perhaps?

Our bouncy chair was very basic, literally a chair which bounced by the power of my foot! You can get all-singing all-dancing ones, which are great, but it's not necessary to spend a fortune - you've got the bouncy-chair-requirement ticked if you just get a basic one.

Angel if you do want to buy new asda have bouncy chairs reduced to £16 in the baby event atm.

Hi all, hope your keeping warm. We had no school today as the playground and carpark were all icy and it didn't stop snowing till late last night so they couldn't have gritted it, so happy to have had the day off as I was up all night, every position I tried made something else uncomfortable so it was nice to catch up on sleep this morning.
Had a really miserable sunday as well, was in a really grumpy mood all day and poor DH everything he tried to cheer me up just made me start crying again! feeling much happier today but definitely still very hormonal, and I have whooping cough jab booked for weds so no doubt thinking about that will put me in a bad mood again tomorrow!!!!
Cheered myself up by sorting through all the lists I made of baby stuff to buy and crossing off what we have so I can see what else we still need to buy.
any recommendations of cheap baby monitors, we live in a flat so baby will always be nearby just want one for reassurance (nervous first time mum!) nothing fancy with screens etc as we're on a tight budget, just something that you can hear the baby on...
also apart from the obvious big expensive places like john lewis, mothercare etc where can we buy a cot mattress from (we have a crib for the first few months but trying to see what else we can get in the end of sales)

sorry for the long post
29+1 (can't believe I'm counting down less then 12 weeks now, remember when we were all counting to get to 12 weeks!!!! )

birdbrain have a look on gumtree for monitors I got an angelcare sensor one yesterday for £20!

Evening all. Hope everyone is doing ok in this icy weather. The pavements are great on my route to work in London but locally they're a nightmare and it takes me ages to walk anywhere.

angel, glad to hear your headache has gone. Fx the car doesn't cost too much to fix, the main thing is you and baby are ok.
I was going to ask the same question on changing tables. I'm thinking of just getting a couple of changing mats rather than something we might not really need.

I picked up a bag of 0-6 months clothes via freecycle today. I'm sure we'll weed some out but should really help to boost our baby supplies without maxing the budget.

27+5, can't believe how quickly the time is flying now

Teapig, i bought a change mat from the asda event (thanks Steph!), I am going to try with that and see how we get on.

I phoned the car insurance, they will collect, assess and fix and I only have to pay my excess of £110, thank goodness!

Okay - I know it's nothing compared to childbirth, but I had my whooping cough jab this morning and it's so painful now! Anyone else feeling my pain?!

Ordered changing bag, nappies and wipes from amazon, got the fisher price woodsy bouncer too, 2nd hand from ebay for £20!!

Not much left to get. Just little bits like muslins, sudocrem, lasinoh for me! coming home outfit etc.

On the downside (sorry if TMI) but I thought I'd escaped the pregnancy piles but no!!! Ouch!!! What can I do?!! xx

Novia, yes! I was surprised how tender it was, not so much at the time, but for a few days after. Feeling OK now. (Had it done on Weds).

It was a bit of a surprise too. I was in the Drs anyway for DS, and I said to the receptionist I wanted to book the Whooping Cough jab. I wasn't sure what week we're meant to get it from, nor was she, so she called the Dr to ask. The Dr said, "well we might as well do it now!" and so we did!

I think I have my whooping cough in a couple of weeks - I am hoping to make an appointment to have that done and that have DD2's pre-school booster done. I will have to be brave and go first and show her how easy it is and then she will have hers - but she gets chocolate buttons.

I have my steroid injections on Thursday and Friday and every time I mention them, people point out how much they hurt. I imagine by Friday I will be feeling like a pin cushion as they have rescheduled my missed GTT from last week for this Friday so I will have the blood test, the drink, the steroid injection and then wait a while and then have the second blood test. I think after that it might be a relief to get into work!

As for the questions about changing tables - my parents bought us one when we had DD1 and we have used it... it is great for storing stuff on I think we did use it in the early days of each baby but then we just move to change them on the floor or bed or lap or wherever is easiest. It is great as it has lovely wicker baskets so we store the reusables and swimming stuff and baby towels and other baby stuff on it but have to be careful or we just pile stuff on top of it. It also played a major role in DD2 learning how to climb (and then she taught DD1!) as it is so solid and has well-spaced shelves!

picked up a cot top changer today for £5 - total bargain as there is not a mark on it. Doesnt quite match cot but close enough! We are both tall so thought it would be easier than always bending down! It also
saves on space.
Also picked up rocker/bouncer 2nd hand for £10 - again spotless, just needs airing.
Regarding mattresses www.cotmattress.com have a huge range of styles / prices. Thinking of buying from them.
Next midwife appointment I have the whooping cough and anti-d injection and bloods to he taken. That will be fun!
Hope you are all keeping warm and safe in the snow - absolutely none here!

Novia had mine too last week and it freaking killed afterwards, had a massive lump and was red and was told off by DP for 'whimpering'! I couldn't sleep on my left side for 3 days, phew, thought I was just a total wimp and dreading labour if that was the case

29+2

Got a gestational diabetes test tomorrow (got to have one as I'm officially fat!)

I don't think I've got gestational diabetes, but then I don't know much about it. I hope not!