July 2013 - thread 7 - and we're still talking as we enter the 3rd trimester

[Persuasion]

We've managed to fill yet another thread, so here is a new one to keep chatting away on...

And the stats list is here

Georgie - be reassured - it is guesswork and babies grow in fits and starts at different times, if your baby is 95 percentile now it may have had a growth spurt so is ahead of the curve and will drop back down. And re cars - we kept our 2 door mini cooper when we had ds1. Only traded up to a bigger car a month before Ds2 was born. And our minicooper took us on driving holidays in France/camping etc. It can be done if you dont want to change your car if you've just got the one coming along...

Esme - if you go for the R2D2 outfit (which I recommend as it is soooooooooo cute) beware they size for small babies - I reckon the 6 month one I got will work well on a chunky newborn.

Morning ladies!

RE hospital bags - PLEASE do not panic about them. Yes its good to have a few creature comforts but the hospital is not going to make you walk around starkers because you havent packed a nightie! Or god forbid dribble baby slime because you forgot your pads.

If baby comes early (pre 37 weeks), in all likelyhood you wont need your babys stuff as early babies are not usually dressed in anyhting other than nappy (which hosp provide) and then kept warm in incubator.

Everything can be bought pretty easily now and partners can always dash out and pick bits up.

I'm a quick birther and didnt have my bag with me with my 3rd - and TBH it was the last hing on my mind - the hospital lent me babygrow/vest nappy untill my hubby went home and bought our bits in from home.

Anywho, got my 28 week MW appointment this afternoon so trying to be good and eat healthily (appart from the cupcake breakfast, Shhhh dont tell!) and drinking pints of water.

re cars - think we have decided on the discovery, although have looked at XC90 but its just not big enough for 4 kids/fat labrador and all things baby ( sounds stupid i know!). I'm happy with the disco as love it my only bubare is the tax is £490 a year!!!!!!!!! I'm actually a bit of a greeny but we do live and work on farm so 4x4 is quite essential - kind of broke my old citreon by driving over fields, not that i did it on purpose (honnest!)

28+1

Ama - to echo bigbelly, when I'm going on holiday at end of May in the UK (counting down the days already - not as much as DH who cant wait to go to Legoland) I'm only going to take my maternity notes with me - will have clothes etc for the week away and everything else can be bought/sourced from somewhere nearby if need be.

Bigbelly - think you made the right choice on cars. I just cant see how an xc90 can fit 4 kids, a dog, buggy and lots of shopping in it without lots of clever packing...

Hi all, glad to hear Oliver is stable, every day he must be getting a little stronger

All this talk of cars has finally made it sink in that by mid July I'll have 4 kids - bloody hell!! Anyone else having a wee panic about how they'll cope with another one?
I saw the most chilled baby ever at work yesterday, she's just 8 weeks and has slept through the night pretty much from day 1. Can I have one like that please?!

I agree with bigbelly re hospital bags, unless you live miles away then dh can always bring extra stuff in if needed. One thing I would recommend is to have a small selection of clothes kept separate at home in case you end up staying in longer than you expect. I was in for a week with ds1 and had to ask dh to bring me extra clothes, which he picked out himself. His choices were, umm well interesting and not at all what I would have actually chosen, so I'll be leaving a specific pile of clothes to be brought in if I need to stay.
Having said that I had 6 hour discharge with ds3 which is pretty standard up here and I will hopefully do the same again this time as I'll be desperate to get home to see my boys

Hi All,

Great to hear Team Shiv have had a positive 24hrs. Team Sunday are proudly waving our Oliver's Army flags and sending best wishes and strength vibes to you all

For cake emergencies here's one you can whip up in five minutes:
cake in a coffee cup

My hospital bag is a plastic Boots carrier bag at present, with totally random things stuffed in it. But first on my list was nipple cream - first timers beware, BF might be a bit painful to begin with whilst little one is getting the knack of it, but stick with it if you can as it's totally worthwhile in the long run IMHO.

29 + 6 wow just 10 wks to go tomorrow ( in that order!!! )

Just realised I forgot to ask midwife about whooping cough vaccination this morning! I'm meant to have next gp appointment at 33/34 weeks - do you reckon I should just wait til then?

I could be wrong but I thought you were supposed to have it at about 35+ wks - best check with someone more knowledgeable than me though...

GP told me I have it from any point from 28 weeks onwards - I have my next GP appt at 31 weeks so guess I'll find out then.

Just a quickie looks around and dares not hope beyond hope as something positive is nearly always followed by something negative, Oliver had his first breast milk at lunch through a tiny weeny tube. I was there and it made his toes curl! (Hopefully in a good way).

That's brilliant Shiv, I am glad he is coming on. :)

x

Great news Shiv what a little trooper

Ah Shiv that's fab news - those toes were curling in delight! Well done you! He'll be so looking forward to the next taste x

The whooping cough jab is between 28 and 38 weeks, I'm hopefully getting mine done next week when I have gtt and bloods done.

Hi everyone. :)

My driving instructor and I have decided that I am taking my test end of June/start of July.

Panicking but I might be a driver by the time DS2 is here. :o

Brilliant news, shiv that's really made me .

Ahhhh that's so good shiv how lovely for you

Went to get remeasured for a maternity bra today, last time i went the lady told me to just buy more underwired in a new size if i still found them comfortable and come back again when they weren't, so went back and the woman who measured me was really nasty about it saying 'don't you know how BAD underwires are?!!' And also kept giving me and OH nasty looks which i can only presume is because of our age, considering this was in a mothercare i thought they'd be more sympathetic to hormonal pregnant women! Had to leave in the end, was so close to tears

Wouldn't bother getting measured in mother care Icing - they are woeful at it. Under wired bras are fine so long as they aren't digging in or restricting you or making your boobs hurt at all - its only really in late pregnancy you want to move to proper nursing/mat bras without under wire as comfort becomes paramount then. If you have a bravissimo near you, go there - they are lovely and measure much better!

aww shiv that's excellent!

Aww shiv...that's amazing!! Aww how lovely

Brilliant news shiv!

Dinky keeping the car would have been my preference but unfortunately it wasn't fitted with the option to turn off the airbags so has to go!

Well done Shiv - it's great to hear that you are expressing for him.

I saw a 26 weeker born in the last few days. He was so teeny-tiny, and I was a pretty emotional thinking of Oliver and your family. Please do keep giving us updates when you have the time and strength. I hope you and your DH are looking after each other and managing some food and sleep. It's easy to forget to care for yourself in situations like this. I think you are enormously brave and strong.

I remain totally exhausted and had a letter from antenatal clinic telling me my haemoglobin is 8.5. I have a genetic anaemia trait, so am used to being about 10.5 but I think this drop has really pushed me over the edge in recent weeks. Sadly iron tablets won't help as my iron stores are fine. I think a little trip to occupational health is in order. I can't keep working current hours feeling like this. Thanks for the work tips, Vinegar... am ST2 so thankfully not running LW by myself quite yet!

No hospital bag here... I am planning to put stuff together around 32 weeks.

28+0 today and just about to have a nap.

Excellent news Shiv

I consulted Dr SIL re vaccine reaction, she asked midwife at her work who said two days lurgy is normal. Two days it was too, am fine today. Apparently my GP's practice nurse was being optimistic.

Dh has gone off for his first proper offshore rotation this morning. CatB and I have scowled out of the window at the windy weather and done some more cleaning. I am off to Englandshire tomorrow to see my family - banking on lunch at the posh services at Tebay to break the journey.

Oh Shiv that's fantastic to hear, a really positive step! Still thinking of you, Oliver & MrShiv everyday! Sending love, hugs & positive thoughts! Xxxx
Sunday that cake in a cup looks amazing! Will have to try this later!

Icing you have reminded me of the need for me to go & get measured, falling out of my current bras!

Hope all is well with everyone, need to sort out Spocketta's things at some point, gathering way too much & have lost track of what we have! 26+5 I think

Yea Shiv so glad little Oliver is going well.

Icing sorry you had a bad bra experience, sounds like the lady was not very nice!

Schro whoop whoop for the driving test!

26+5

Schro - super exciting re your driving test!

Georgie - I agree babies and airbags don't go. Crazy you can't turn it off!

Slouching - no wonder you're tired. Is there anything that can be done to help the haemo levels or not really?

Abzs - hope you have a lovely trip to see family and dhs rotation passes quickly for you both.