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Original poster

Sept 2013 - kicks, prods and finding out the sex...

999 replies

LexyMa · 30/03/2013 17:25

here we all are... hoping for nice clear 20w. scans, not too much inadvertent weeing and getting that 'glow'...

OP posts:
JammyTummy · 01/04/2013 21:39

I got the microwave Tommee Tippee steriliser, purely because I didn't fancy another piece of electrical kit sat on my kitchen surface, space is of the essence!
Is an electric pump much better than a manual? It's a huge price difference so would be good to know of its worth it.

frogchops · 01/04/2013 21:40

Am also (not planning) but not discounting the fact that breast might not happen for me.... With this kit I'll be we'll away with the bottles if all else fails. Sod it I'm ordering....

JammyTummy · 01/04/2013 21:40

Ps frog I think you might as well! My steriliser and bottles came to about £45 and I didn't get any free useful stuff with that!

Original poster
LexyMa · 01/04/2013 21:45

I breastfed with a couple of wobbles in the early days. You don't need that set. You can pick up a microwave steriliser for very little, it is dead simple to use, and just get a couple of bottles (one on the go, one ready washed and sterilised). Cheap supermarket ones are fine, but if it is really just for the odd 'daddy takes over night' and your baby is mostly going to be used to boob, it might be worth using some of the more boob-like teats like Nuk, which also are all BPA-free as standard.

We had an unfunny night on about day 2 when colostrum was very definitely not enough but proper milk hadn't come in, and DH had to drive at 11pm on a Sunday to find somewhere that sold formula. We weren't even in the wilds of rural anywhere, it was zone 4 south London - but the only place was a 24hr petrol station, and the guy on the night payment counter was only used to sliding packets of fags through the hatch, not big tins of powder! So my suggestion would be to have a few of the ready mixed cartons if you really only want to be prepared for the last resort inconsolable hunger emergency, bearing in mind that once the carton is opened you probably won't be able to use it all before it has to be considered unsafe and chucked. We didn't even get a tenth of the way through the tin of powder before it had been opened for its max recommended time so only using half a carton might not be such a false economy as it looks, IYSWIM.

OP posts:
Creamtea1 · 01/04/2013 21:47

:) frog if you keep it all in the box until needed, and then it turns out not needed you will be able to get back what you paid for it I'm sure.

weebarra · 01/04/2013 21:53

Lexy - I'd agree re the cartons - because DS2 had a bottle so rarely, buying powder would have been a false economy.
I'll pick up a few cartons, a bottle and a cheapy steriliser and make sure I've got the details of the local breastfeeding support groups to hand!

frogchops · 01/04/2013 22:05

Am ordering and will try very hard not to get it out to play with promise to keep it boxed.

fl0b0t · 01/04/2013 22:42

I'm also planning on BF but know it won't necessarily be as easy as that. Someone has offered me a bottle steriliser second hand which I will take, so just need to work out what other bits I need. Acquired a car seat, Moses basket, bag of unisex clothes and about 8 washable nappies, plus a play mat yesterday from a friend, all second hand. Have washed Moses basket covers and car seat covers as they had been used up to the point we took them, and have washed all the white baby grows, which look darn cute on my drier! Same friend will be giving us her cot, slings and high chair! She is moving next week so hopefully we can grab the last bits then. I want to give her &some& money for the bits but I know she won't want it, wonder how I go about forcing some on her?!

Had a hilarious names discussion with her 4 children yesterday too..... But we've chosen and are keeping Schtum!

Boiler is 'doing a Jesus' as we're calling it, and after dying on Saturday seems to have risen again today. Maybe it thought it was a leap year and got the days a bit wrong? V grateful tho!

Hope scan and tests go well frogchops and that everyone has had enough sleep and relaxation over the weekend to feel positive and worry free about their pregnancies.

I'm blooming shattered from moving furniture and cleaning all day, but we now have space for nursery furniture and have a proper spare room. Things are starting to look shipshape! A mix of nesting and spring cleaning..... All the things I've wanted to do since getting pregnant but have been too sick to do. Sickness seems to have (for now) mostly abated, thought I need to eat more and more regularly otherwise I start feeling terrible again.

frogchops · 01/04/2013 23:12

Got any other very useful friends Flo?? I want one!!

Squidwoman · 02/04/2013 00:14

Good luck tomorrow frog.

Can anyone help? I'm getting the urge to order a pushchair and am thinking about the Baby Jogger City Mini GT. Anyone had/got one? Would you recommend the carrycot too?

I'm due on Sept 5th and have been following this thread for a while but haven't managed to join the stats thread yet!

Thanks

BinarySolo · 02/04/2013 07:11

Good luck frog.

I have this pump and steriliser. It was all I needed last time. Hand pump worked well for me, help if you express milk from one side whilst baby feeds off the other. An electric pump would have been too much for me as I had heavy milk production and didn't want to stimulate it further. Home Bargains sells breast milk bags far cheaper than Boots etc.

Squid, I agonised over my pushchair choice only to hardly ever use it! I much preferred using a sling, but there are times when the pushchair is handy. Things to look for are how heavy it is, how it collapses down and whether the baby can lie flat. I wanted a carrycot last time, but honestly I'm not sure it's worth the extra spend for the amount of time you'd use it, you could use it instead of a Moses basket tho. Whether you have a car or use public transport may also be a factor, if on a bus you'll bang it light enough to collapse and lift with one hand ideally. Just my opinions, I'm sure others will advise further.

Ion I have a cold. How is that even possible to get a new cold whilst still suffering with the previous one? I'm concerned that this will see a return of the sickness too, so I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself.

flipflump · 02/04/2013 07:23

Great tips on bottles, Lexy, thank you for the ready made milk tip. Will stock up nearer the time.

Frog, good luck today, we're all behind you and thinking of you.

Fl0, you have a fab friend too, isn't it amazing what people are willing to give, saving us a fortune. We returned home from our Easter family/friend visit with a cot, Moses basket, stair gate, bumbo chair, bouncy chair, bath seat, play mat, breast feeding pillow and nursery curtains. I look forward to being able to pass all these things on to another friend when we're finished with them.

Kittenkatzen · 02/04/2013 08:56

Goodness, 113 posts into a new thread already!

Right, I'm way behind on everyone's news so a very quick download from me and then I'm off to catch up!

Had 16wk appt lat thurs which I think I did mention in the last thread. All well, heard heartbeat, 4 weeks today until 20wk scan Smile. We're having a wobble on whether to find out the sex or not - originally thought not, but now thinking maybe...anyone want to convince me either way?! Lovely Easter weekend, lots of friends, family and chocolate. Think I might have felt baby movement on Friday but nothing since so not sure if it was or not. Have ordered an angel sounds Doppler from amazon Grin. Not so good news - have come down with a streaming cold and feel awful, got no sleep last night due to blocked sinuses and having to sit upright to be able to breathe. Have binned off work for the day so will be staying indoors but all I really want is a nice big dose of Day Nurse!! Sad

That's me done...of to catch up with all your news now!

jennimoo · 02/04/2013 09:01

I agree with binary on the pushchair. Bought a heavy second hand Phil and teds and used it for about 6 months before switching to an umbrella fold maclaren. I'd save your money ready to get a decent next pushchair myself.

Also a sling fan, but but they don't suit everyone / all babies so probably worth borrowing or trying them out once baby arrives

Kittenkatzen · 02/04/2013 09:14

Just a couple of bits to add - frog good luck today, am thinking of you x also I'm planning to bf but have also bought that TT set just in case/for expressing. It was on special offer so was a bargain or I probably would t have gone with just a few essentials from tesco or wherever.

ready have you checked out Seraphine for work mat clothes? They had some nice dresses last time I looked.

jemimahpuddleduck · 02/04/2013 09:36

frog good luck today.

Great to see lots of useful advice this morning, am also hoping to BF and was wondering what I would need.

Had a very productive clear out yesterday it will be round 2 in a couple of weeks then getting the house decorated thought we may as well do it now as may not have the funds later and it needs doing.

Got consultant app this morning due to asthma but hoping he will not need to see me again as can't really see it causing any problems.

nerual · 02/04/2013 10:24

good luck frog!! on the sling front can recommend ergo baby, I can still use it for ds1 in back pack mode :) ...

fl0b0t · 02/04/2013 10:32

hurrah for friends! I'm making a big spreadsheet of everything we need and trying to recall every conversation with a friend who mentioned "I've got a steraliser I don't need" or similar! So I can track where it's all coming from and where it may need to go back to (or who I owe a drink to!)

frogchops · 02/04/2013 11:11

Kitten....re the sex, I know I didn't want to know and a part of me still wants that lovely suprise af the birth.... But since I've compromised with DP and agreed to find out, I am soooo excited to know. I'm also thinking of how lovely it will be to buy nice pink/blue things! Looking at names is a right pain too so hopefully that will be easier. Appt today is 2:15, will update later! Thanks for all the good lucks girls!

BinarySolo · 02/04/2013 11:12

I looked at the ergo sling but in the end chose the boba 3G. I think they're quite similar but I liked that you can breast feed in the boba and I liked the matching change bag. It worked out cheaper than the ergo. I'll hopefully get it this week and will be testing it out on my nearly 2 year old ds.

Oh and as predicted the vomiting has returned with the cold. Bums!

astroming · 02/04/2013 11:18

Good luck today Frog, thinking of you!

nerual · 02/04/2013 11:38

boba looks very similar to ergo...the beco is also supposed to be very nice...it has a headrest which could also be useful. one thing I would say, it is very tempting to get a beautifully coloured sling, some of them are gorgeous, but make sure you buy one that dp is also prepared to wear ( ie resist too many flowers and butterflies!!). also saw that stokke have come up with a new sling which looks similar kind of design, ie where baby sits in sling instead of dangling by pelvis, it also looks good...so much choice!

PurplePoppySeed · 02/04/2013 13:16

wow - I think I'm the only person who hasn't got anything yet!

Ready & Kitten - Another work clothes option that I've found is working for me is stretchy, jersey type dresses with suit jackets. I've managed to find some good ones in Hobbs, Phase 8, White Company - none are maternity, but they work fine and I think will have room for a while - for example - IVORY-12&refpage=dresses Hobbs Dress

PurplePoppySeed · 02/04/2013 13:16

oops - hyperlink fail!

try again - IVORY-12&refpage=dresses

redandyellowandpinkandgreen · 02/04/2013 13:16

Two thoughts from my last pregnancy:

I stockpiled loads of nappies and then found they really didn't suit DS and leaked badly so had loads of nappies we couldn't use. So I'd be wary about doing that. Maybe get one bag and put some money on a card for later use?

I couldn't use a sling with DS at all as he was such a puker and I was totally going to use one before he was born but I didn't fancy sick down my top on a permanent basis. I don't know how many others find themselves in that kind of situation but something to think about before spending a lot of money.