Graduated elderberries - 30+ and looking forward to DC1! (Thread 5)

[Alexandra6]

Hi everyone, hope you had good wkends, I'm looking forward to my holiday next Saturday (although won't be the usual sunbathing with wine flowing!), still can't wait just to relax especially as I'm feeling a bit rough and sick today! Work are piling on the pressure ahead of my hols but who cares, in one week I will be off for two weeks woop!

Just wondered when the really preggers people started to get lightning crotch/cervix pangs? So I can be prepared and not go into cervix panic!

Wow Merkin, huge congratulations!!! Absolutely fantastic news!

Lovely to see you Bunny and hope you're over here really soon. Elodie and I are doing great thanks.

Sorry Janey but I am laughing at all Miles' poo incidents. We have been lucky so far but I'm sure the smile will be wiped off my face once it happens to me!

After being stuck in all week, I have been brave today and BF on a park bench and in the feeding room in Mothercare. Ok, the second one doesn't involve much bravery but it's a start when you are not used to getting your massive painful boobs out in public. Another Mum who was also BF in Mothercare told me she was discreetly BF in our local Costa Coffee and was told to go and do it in the toilets, which I think is an absolute outrage.

Woo hoo merkin!!!! I've been AWOL for about a week not sure why but may have been trying to prove a point to DP who said I was obsessed with MN but had to comment on that!

I think that's an outrage too cavort! Good work on the public bf'ing. I'm a bit worried I'll be a total prude and only want to bf when no one is watching me, but a friend was telling me earlier that tiredness etc affects you and you usually end up more relaxed about it! Hope so!

I thought I'd be a prude but was happily feeding in front of my brother on our second day out of hospital. My main prob is that I haven't bought any nursing clothes, as I wasn't sure I'd be able to breastfeed ok so didn't want to buy any in advance. So that means that I kind if have to get half naked to feed - so when you came over Alex I had a dress on I had to pull down to my waist, not suitable for the general public!! Might buy some tips next week then I'd be v happy to do it in public and if anyone tells me to move to the toilets I will tell them to fuck off in no uncertain terms. The law says you can feed anywhere now!

Late to the party but congratulations Merkin - wonderful news. Let's hope this is another Berry rush.

I have BF in front of loads of our many visitors this week - I had no choice as she was on it constantly so I draped a large muslin over my shoulder and over Elodie's head to save anyone feeling awkward, but I feel slightly different about doing it in public and i'm not sure why? Maybe it's because I don't want to face Costa Coffee type confrontation yet while i'm still feeling quite tired and hormonal, but i'm sure it will be fine. It felt quite good doing it out in the open today. It dawns on me that if I want to give EBF a good stab I need to be at ease doing it publicly or I will be stuck at home for 6 months or however long I end up doing it for. The lady in Mothercare today said everywhere else she had BF had been lovely about it, just Costa Coffee who were twats.

Janey I also hadn't bought any nursing clothes so I went to Mothercare today to get some. I got a few summer tops and a dress out of the sale. They really wouldn't be my attire of choice but they allow for a discreet nipple to sneak out so needs must and all that and at least they were half price.

I should also say I have invested in some normal-sized nice pants and ultra slim maternity towels which have made me feel loads better now I don't feel like I am wearing a Primark massive granny pants nappy. It's the small things in life.

I got a couple of cheap nursing tops, but those are horrible, leave you half naked even when not feeding. So will try the solution recommended on MN, to wear a strappy top under a normal one, so you can lift up one and lower the other and still be mostly clothed.
I disagree with the "oh don't worry, your baby's head will cover the breast anyway" comment though that you always see - either they are talking about a lot bigger heads or a lot smaller breasts.

I was thinking the exact same thing the other day - was feeding Miles and thinking that my boobs are at least double the size of his head

I've tried the two tops thing, is ok. The only problem is I don't have any bottoms that fit me properly - maternity stuff way too big, normal stuff too small or rubs on my scar. As such am living in maxi dresses that I have to pull down to my waist to feed!

My friend has one of those bf burka things that she uses but another friend of mine just used a pashmina & loose tops. Guess it depends whether baby is happy enough underneath something though I honestly think that anyone who objects is a total tw@* anyway.

I finally had my NHS scan on weds & my EDD was brought fwd slightly to 11 Jan. Makes me 14wks +1 today. Has a trip up to London so took advantage to stock up on some maternity clothes. Some normal bottoms starting to feel tight & would rather invest now to see me through than just keep buying bigger sizes. Also supposed to be on hols in Sept & don't want to get caught out with no shorts & only winter stuff in the shops.

Took a leaf out of the hazle book of pregnancy today & did a body combat class. Felt great after tho did give the press up section a miss!

Oh & had dinner with a RL friend who admitted she is due 2 wks after me! Think she found it really helpful to talk to me as she's had a pretty rough time so far & not told many people yet. So exciting!

Body Combat. May I ask why? It is such a high intensity workout

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it's fine to continue with most activities and sports you have been doing pre-pregnancy. I did Combat and Tae Bo almost til the end and was still teaching Bodypump 9 months pregnant - and I believe that at least partly due to that, had a very easy pregnancy.

Body combat is better than the fight class I used to do which was more fight training & I actually used to get punched in the stomach!

I think they also advise being a bit more gentle in the first trimester (when I had zero energy anyway) but now I am full of beans & don't even feel pg. I took it a bit easier than I used to & will stop anything that doesn't feel right.

We just took Elodie for a newborn photoshoot, which I spotted on special offer for £15 and included the 3 hour shoot and one 12 x 8 print, but judging by the few pictures I have seen already I think we will be spending a much more on additional prints (which I am sure is the photographer's aim when she sells her initial services so cheap). Elodie was brilliant and slept all the way through while the photographer moulded her into various foetal positions. I can't wait to see the full results.

we had a photoshoot at the hospital when Vic was I think 3-4 days old. They have their own photographer who will offer one print for free and you can then buy more - haven't seen the photos yet, but I'm sure we will get more as well. Quite a business idea, I'm sure the additional prints won't be cheap.

Wow was just looking at his newborn and 1-week old photos, it's amazing how much he has changed already!

Ah love the newborn photoshoot idea! My stepdad does photography so I may get him to do a shoot for us when the time comes. Was thinking about getting him to take a couple of bump shots, I wouldn't put those up anywhere, just for me to keep.

Also loving this point in pregnancy (20 weeks) - feeling great at the moment! Am still letting DH do a lot of running around for me though, might as well milk it hey

Hi girls.....
I hope I'm allowed back after my total abandonment of the thread....
I went off MN for a while and have only just returned to one thread but have had a read over here and thought I'd come and say hi.
I'm so happy a few babies have popped out and we have some new joiners too!
I'll be 38 weeks on Tuesday so in the final run now. Last week at work and feel as ready as I will ever be!
Will chat more once I know you won't kick me out...
Lol x

Hi Lol, of course we won't boot you out, the more the merrier over here!

I can't believe you are 38 weeks, I thought you were quite far behind me. How are you feeling about the prospect of imminent birth?

Aw thanks hun! I'm trying and failing miserably not to panic but at the same time I'm getting quite uncomfortable so sometimes I think she needs to come out and be done with the hype!
Yeah these last few weeks have flown by!
How have you been? I saw you had a little girl. How lovely. How's bf? U managing it ok? I'm having a girl too and am way too excited about that!

Hi lol! 38 weeks? That's crazy... Bet you are uncomfortable now, can't imagine being pregnant still in this heat....

Yeah, you must feel really uncomfortable at 38 weeks in this heat? I gave birth at 41+2 and was pretty miserable for the last few weeks and that was with normal shitty weather. I think the end of pregnancy is hell for a reason so you don't fear the birth so much because you are so desperate to get your lodger out.

I have been great thanks. I was dreading getting BF established because I know loads of women who have struggled, but it has been quite easy once you power through the sore nipples. She instinctively rooted for her first feed 30 minutes after birth and hasn't stopped since, the little fatty! If you are hoping to BF definitely get a tube of Lanisoh and use it from the first feed and after every feed to lessen the sore nipple pain. It's about £10 but my MW has since told me you can get it on free prescription. I am 9 days in now and my nipples are much less painful.

Yes yes yes to lanisoh. Use it every time before you get too sore. That's not to say you won't be sore but I've avoided the terrible cracked, bleeding nipples I've heard so much about. Just over two weeks in and it's painless after the first five seconds although those first few seconds still make my toes curl a bit

Having said all that have resorted to giving baby a bottle this afternoon of expressed milk and formula. He's just been eating all day and I'm worried he's not getting enough due to the heat. Know I should trust my body but I've been glued to the sofa for hours but I figured one bottle would be fine...

Hi lol

I'm adding lanisoh to my baby list!

Hi Lol and welcome back! Wow 38 weeks already, so we can expect another small Berry soon.