September mums-to-be - the bumps get bigger and we all get more excited!

[HettySunshine]

Here we are ladies. A shiny new thread for us all. Let the chatting continue!

Oooh, off to have a look - today may be the day I actually buy things - there are so many good offers on everywhere. I joined TAMBA this week so now have discount codes for all sorts of places which is a nice touch!

We just bought nappies, bottles and a steriliser, as well as maternity pads, in the tesco baby event. The new bedroom plastering is finished and the new floor is down. Need to slap some paint about, put the carpet and furniture in and move DD1 over, and we're pretty much good to go. This is bloody good news as I've started feeling very tired over the last few days.

herewego so glad you're all ok, what a horrible shock. :(

Hi all! been away for a week trying to relax ... mostly succeeded - only a few peeks at fb and this thread, tried to go low-fi for most of the time.

Baby is having the usual post-lunch jiggle just now. Also has a workout first thing in the morning and at night. Lots of the night actually... hope that's not a hint of things to come...

I am 31+4 now I think, but won't get my 32 week appointment until the end of next week when I'm 33+3. Somewhere along the way they got out of sync, I'm not that bothered except for right at the end when I want (mainly for DH's reassurance) to make sure I get a positive confirmation that home birth is a completely good idea. They do the 36 week appt as normal and also another 36w one at your home (checking not a crack den as someone else said!!). Then they deliver the pool and the can of G&A and I hope show us how to use it. If my appointments are still a week behind i.e. at over 37w, I DH will be a bit jumpy not to have had the ok from someone who's seen lots of births... plus I am on a course at work all of the week from 35+6 to 36+3 so no opportunity for daytime appts, then going to Devon for a week at my parents' from 37w exactly - that's me living dangerously!!

We still have nothing approaching a nursery whatsoever. Car seat and moses basket but no bedding, newborn clothes, nappies ... eek!!

Hope you are ok herewego, what a shock.

SGJ thanks for the info on the carseat, I had a bit of a wobble when I read the mumsnet reviews as they were pretty awful... but runningbear checked Which for me and it is considered safe by them. I'm going to try it in the car this weekend just to check it fits, then work out how to clean the covers... along with the pram covers on the pilko pramette it fits with.

Weather forecast for the North West is terrible so I've sent DH off to his last pre-baby bike race on his own and I'm tackling the 'nursery' properly. Have moved everything out into the hall and living room and am having a rest for my aching back/bum (due to standing for hours at social events thursday and friday evenings). Next up is a deep clean of the nasty dust bunnies and filthy skirtingboards behind the furniture... then I'll worry about the stuff that all needs a new home... what a gamorous weekend!!

Still, I'm away next weekend visiting friends and DH is at home to do to the recycling/tip/charityshop runs...

Bad guider - I've just taken the cover off our car seat to wash it... It was such a mission to get it off abd in not sure ill remember where it hooks back on! At least the good weather should dry it quick so I can get it back on ASAP...

Rake have a look on amazon for a book called 'Do Birth' something something something. It's written by a midwife and sounds really really good, and is very encouraging of women who choose to have a home birth.

I got such a cute changing mat from John Lewis today- white with pink bunnies. I want to use it now!

Anybody seen any nice pictures for baby rooms? We've got a picture hook in the room with a very arty photo from vietnam in there which isn't really baby-friendly..... wondering if ikea or somewhere would have anything a bit more child-friendly... not sure what i fancy... maybe something with a nature theme as we're very outdoorsy...

Actually, dont' worry - i've gone for this one www.allposters.co.uk/-sp/Alphabet-Zoo-Posters_i4859298_.htm

the N is for Narwhal etc really appeals to me as I used to work in a natural history museum :)

Thanks jammy, I'll see what amazon throws back if I search on that!!!

Thought this was good: advice..

That's the book I meant rake- www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1907974032/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1372526483&sr=8-1&pi=SL75

Good article, so true! I think the most irritating advice I've been given during this pregnancy is from the 'eat a ginger biscuit' brigade. Feeling sick?! Oh gosh, I felt so sick with my son! Honestly, just have a ginger biscuit!!!
Ahhhhh ! A ginger biscuit? Really? Gosh, that is just so novel and completely unheard of, I must try that... #makes fake note to eat a biscuit.
Also hate the ''having a baby?! Oh! Gaaad! Is your life about to changeeeee! You will never sleep again! Say goodbye to fun! You two will never have sex again! Over! It's all over!'... Fear mongering by existing parents.

Does that maternity pay/childcare employers paying apply to all? I currently use the full £243 per month so if I continue does that mean once I hit smp the company pay 243 and my smp is untouched? ??

Should do kamikazeekid, and for anyone who's on their first baby, you can start it from your salary as soon as the baby is born, and bank the vouchers. So, if you are paid better than smp for the first six weeks or something, you can take that partially as vouchers, then when your mat pay drops to smp, they can't deduct below it so you get the vouchers for nothing. It apparently works out for the company because they also benefit in the longer term by not paying employer NI on that part of your salary.

This sounds good but I'm not sure well cope with the initial drop by £243 when I'm on half pay :-/

You can pay less frog I didnt think id notice as not really paid attention to it paying it since last year but I reduced for a couple of months to £1 whilst my awe was calculated and I felt rich! But then my tax was higher......

Someone mentioned a clicky bump a few pages back - my son clicked loads towards the end I was convinced would have problems but he's not clicked since.

joskar really sorry to hear you've got worse :-(

And glad the car accident wasn't more serious .

Sorry for posting about old posts I struggle to keep up with thread! Fbooks bit easier but miss lots of stuff!

I've also just read that push present thread....jeeez I know everyone's entitled to their opinions but there are people on that thread that are offensive!

I've neverheard of one before. I got a lovely card with an amazing message from my hubby and I got an eternity ring for a special birthday months after the birth. Whats wrong with a man expressing himself that way?? Its not expected and he did all the important stuff. If I was to request a gift it wouldd be soooo much cured meat, pate and a runny egg

Funny u bring up the push present thing.... I saw a lovely looking box of chocs in thorntons today and hinted told DP that i am expecting them when in hosp. He asked if I'm still entitled to them if I end up having a section and then won't have done the 'push' part!

I am all for a bit of spoiling its so rare haha!

Mmmmm chocolate.... Could ruin a tray of ferrero rocher right now!

Oh and no pushing here either emcs and a elective planned unfortunately

But id still request a 'no push present'!?

I had my WC jab yesterday and now my arm is all red and swollen and really sore. I think this is karma for my lack of sympathy for the wee lassies at school when they get their jabs!

I thought the push present thing was just a light hearted joke! I don't really see myself as "providing" my DH with offspring so I don't really think I need payment. I sort of thought the baby was a gift for and by both of us. But I'll not say no to chocolate or pate or runny eggs or champagne!

I feel ill when I think about the drop in pay. I'm pretty much the only wage coming in and I have a horrible feeling I'll be back at work much sooner than I wanted (Feb instead of June). I suppose it's not the end of the world. Lots of people in this world don't get any maternity leave paid or otherwise. I probably need to phone HR and get them to tell me all the details.

Lovely to hear about eveyone's nursery buyings. So far we've been given everything big like moses basket and travel system (phew). How many babygros do you think are needed? How many reusable nappies?

Just been reading an article about tummy binding (post birth)....never heard of it before, but now serious considering investing in a belly wrap..

Has anyone else tried/considered/heard about this?

Hope you're ok herewego! Must have been very scary.

Currently dying of hayfever :( Very very grumpy as I want to go out for a bike ride but don't want to face the pollen!

badguider that print is really lovely. Was very tempted to copy you! The lampshade I ordered for the nursery arrived yesterday, and we took our old rocking chair to be reupholstered. has got me very excited. Nursery will be easily the nicest room in the house. Perhaps I could sleep in there while baby sleeps in our room...?

On babygros my sister suggested 7-10 newborn size depending on how often I plan to do washing. Thought I'd probably get a few wearable ones as presents, so planning on getting maybe 7? But why WHY are they all bloody pink (or blue, obviously. but am team pink, so blue less appropriate. but so much nicer). Or really bright colours? So far I haven't found any that I really like. Think I may just go for lots of plain white. Minimalist or boring??

Ready tell more about the tummy wrap... Sounds uncomfortable? But probably necessary given state of my triangular tummy.

I've got some babygros from sainsburys that have bright coloured patterns, in the boys section. I recommend them as they have integrated scratch mits: good for stopping scratching but also keeping little hands warm when it's just a tad chilly.