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!

bad guider - how much is your rented co-sleeper from the NCT going to cost? We're looking into this as it was actually pretty difficult trying to scoop DS2 out of the moses basket and put him back after feeding, post-section, so thought a co-sleeper might be the way to go!

I've just got some tommee tippee bottles and am planning to bottle feed from birth.. Does anyone have experience with babies refusing them or are they closest to breast?

I'm also DREADING July/August as will be huge and in the height of summer! I will be so grateful if this crappy weather carries on

Tommee Tippee are pretty good, fairly similar to nipple! We had no problem when we used them and that was infrequently, so they can't have been too repulsive for DD. however, we switched to Avent after a while because they were more secure and easier for DD to hold herself (something you will be keen for them to pick up quickly!)

Ready - hopefully your child care wont be that much once your child is over 3. Firstly the ratios change, so nurseries need far less staff per child (it goes from 1:3 with under 2s to 1:8 with 3 year olds (or 1:13 even if there is a qualified teacher in the setting) for over 3s) assuming your child is going to a nursery that seperates children by ages (and most do) it will get cheaper just for this reason. Also, from their 3rd birthday, your child gets 15 free hours a week child care in the form of a free educational nursery place. Again, you need a qualified teacher in the setting, but lots do have this (children's centres def do), so your fees drop even more. Im currently a teacher in a central London children's centre and the fees half in price from when the child is 23 months to when they are 36 months. You might still be looking at £6/7kish for that extra year, but it's more bearable than £16k!

Does anyone know what kind of steriliser you need if you are going to sterilise electric breast pumps? Or are sterilisers just things that end up taking up space when a pan and water could have done?
I always start off so determined I won't get caught up in a spending frenzy, but then get seduced by "essentials"! Having said that, I have only bought a pram so far. Its just I can tell I'm getting sucked in slightly with lots of other stuff ;and my mum isn't helping - I was trusting her to be a voice of reason, not an enabler!)
Despite having bought virtually no baby stuff yet, the baby fund has been getting a massive bashing as I've been buying lots of household things I can no longer put off - a wardrobe for DH and me which will help us maximise space, a carpet for our stairs (the last one was downright dangerous) and a tumble drier (I keep on reading how essential they are, and our flat can look like a laundry with just DH and my clothes drying on racks. Add baby clothes and hopefully reusable nappies and I doubt we'd have any space left!) all that's come to well Over £1000. I wish I'd spread the cost out over the last couple of years now. It's depressing!

mrsmustard we were given an Avent Naturally Express microwave steraliser. Used it when SIl was here and all part of pump (non elextric, no metal) pump and bottles fit into it. Very good and quick :)

ION anyone see THIS: blogs.discovermagazine.com/science-sushi/2013/05/26/dolphin-assisted-birth-possibly-the-worst-idea-ever/#.UadS2NKKKSp WTF?!

oh wow. muchos muchos respect

Thanks for the reassurance mustard!

I've ended up ordering some self sterilising Mam bottles as the kit was 1/2 the price on Amazon that they are in boots....no idea if they'll work, but they look pretty & I think it'll mean I can go without a steriliser in the short term at least:

www.amazon.co.uk/MAM-Anti-Colic-Self-Sterilising-Bottle-Starter/dp/B004BATV96/ref=tag_stp_s2_edpp_url

weebarra nct bed nest is £50 for six months plus another £50 for all new mattress and fabric sides.

Google "hire nct bednest" for the website.

Just an updatd on my bump ache. It was so uncomfortable and aches last week but since the weekend it feels fine again! I think the baby must have had a growth spurt or something.

Just thought I'd share in case anyone else is suffering and wondering like I was how I'd get through another 3 months if I was so achey already!

Oh dear mooster, here have some and a . Hope your day for better!

fl0 that is quite possibly the most bonkers article I've ever read! And rake respect indeed, and she already has a 5yr old!

ION this is a message for the selfish idiot I have the misfortune to be sat next to on the train - no no, don't you worry...of course you should slob across a seat and a half with your paper flapping around and your legs as wide as possible while the 6mth preggo perches precariously on the half seat next to you. Clearly your balls must just be THAT BIG

jenni mine comes & goes too....but then I read something about rib pains at this stage & now I'm thinking that the 'bump' pains are actually caused by my ribs expanding. Somehow it helps sort of knowing what's causing it!

Omg Flo, that article is insane! Dolphins....why??!

I've just read one on hypnobirthing which sounded interesting, Is anything planning on a hypnobirth?

In terms of aches Im not having rib pain, but have horrible shoulder pain and achy legs which keep waking me up in the night! I have to get up every couple of hours and pace the room for it to go away :-( dh sleeps through it. ...wondering if he'll also sleep through the baby crying

Wasn't aware of the hooping cough vaccine - didn't have with ds 2 years ago....

Has anyone had it? Been reading some of the side effects!! Obviously having the immunity is important but was alarmed at people's experiences!

Another spd sufferer here - ouchy!!! Waiting list for physio is stupid tho as I'd finally be scheduled physio AFTER baby arrives!

Has anyone else been suffering with leg cramp at night? I got it last night & woke both myself & DH up rolling around in agony! It's really not nice so if anyone knows how to stop it happening that'd be good...

Ready-yes! I wake up every night with achy legs and have to pace the room and rub them. No remedy that I'm aware of...

Urgh....am having the morning from hell so far . Woke up at 3.30am thanks to leg cramps and a partying baby, not been to sleep again since. DH away this w/e so drove self to station - realise I forgot change for the car park. Scrape together enough 10p's, spend 5mins plonking them in the machine....40p left to go in and it stops taking them - turns out there's a coin limit . Walk round corner to newsagent with cash machine....newsagent has flipping well shut down. Obviously have missed my train by now . End up walking right round to other side of station to other shops, get cash, get change, walk back to car, buy ticket.....wait 20mins on platform for next train which, of course, is rammed. Sigh.

Urgh....am having the morning from hell so far . Woke up at 3.30am thanks to leg cramps and a partying baby, not been to sleep again since. DH away this w/e so drove self to station - realise I forgot change for the car park. Scrape together a fiver's worth of 10p's, spend 5mins plonking them in the machine....40p left to go in and it seizes up - turns out there's a coin limit . Walk round corner to newsagent with cash machine....newsagent has flipping well shut down. End up walking right round to other side of station to other shops, get cash, get change, walk back to car, buy ticket. Obviously have missed my train by now so wait 20mins on platform for next train which, of course, is rammed and will make me late for work. Sigh.

Hope everyone else's Friday goes better than mine...!

Ooh random double post, sorry!

Sounds rubbish kitten :(

For leg cramps I think tonic water is supposed to help. I haven't had any cramps yet this time but remember how excruciating it was last time.

ready fozzie & kitten another one with the dreaded leg cramps in the night. Just so painful, legs ache for days after too. Had them for few weeks now. Tried putting tiger balm on them as precautionary measure before bed but not made any difference. Tips to relieve the pain would be gratefully received

Freaked myself out yesterday and got v upset (I blame the hormones!) - must remember Google is not always my friend re. little/ no movement still from baby at 25 weeks. Read something that need to get in touch with mw if no movement by 24 weeks as may need investigating. Got my 25 wk appt this aft so hoping to get reassurance from hearing heartbeat. Even had DP with his ear to my bump to see if he could hear anything last night as I was inconsolable when he got home.

Lcr - I'm glad your appointments this afternoon, I'm sure your MW will be able to put your mind at rest. Is your placenta at the front ?

Hi all,

I know for normal cramps bananas are the remedy due to the potassium but I dunno if it works for pregnancy ones (or you all have already tried this and Im being slow!)

Mooster the labour book I'm reading is The Good Birth Companion by Nicole Croft, only read the first two or three chapters but so far so good, mostly about the organising and birth plan and relaxation techniques!

LCR hope all goes well at MW, I am in the same boat, 23 weeks and no movement, but I have my home doppler and the HB is good and strong. Im sure all will be fine.

I'm so bad at keeping up, I do try to lurk though.

To be fair, I am a bit busy.... getting married next Saturday and am in the process of buying a house, that will be ready to move into in ... SEPTEMBER (possibly not the best idea I've ever had).

Kitten I had that the other day, but it was a lady! jabbed me in the ribs with her elbow rooting in her massive handbag for 50 mins all the way to clapham! Grr. And then this week on a damp train I had BIG SHOULDERED WIDE LEGGED MEN either side on their fucking laptops. These is no space, have a nap like a normal human! Sounds like you're having a crappy day- definitely due a pain au chocolat and a cuppa!

Fozzie I'm sceptical of the concept (and the size of the book) but interested. SIL gave me book and CD, which I probably should have started listening to/reading by now?

I've gone from sleeping like the dead (and having a nap) to not being able to sleep last night. I've not had much exercise this week but still! I don't feel tired this morning as expected though.

Random thought, do you recon they'd let me have some of my very large and slightly mad collection of rubber ducks in the birthing tub with me? :)

lotsatuddles that's a lot going on- goodluck! :)