September 2013 - Definitely in the third trimester now!

[badguider]

New thread... will try to find the stats thread and link...

boat that is great they are doing that! it bodes well for how helpful the children's centre will be after your new arrival too.

Flo I have had the opposite! although the best thing to settle a bad tum is to drink some flat full fat coke - always works for me (you can put some sugar in to make it flat).

Hello everyone. It's been ages since I've posted (I think back at the 12 week scan!) but I have been lurking. I hope it's ok to come back now.

I was just wondering how come so many of you are having growth scans? I've just had the 12 week and 20 week scan, but nothing more. Is it because of twins etc.?

Also, did anyone join the mothercare baby and me club? I joined as they promised £100 worth of vouchers but nothing ever came in the post or by email and I was a bit miffed. Did anyone else get their welcome pack? Were the vouchers useful things or just random nappy bits etc.? I've emailed them twice but have had no response.

Also, is anyone planning to do expressing? Apart from a pump and a bottle what else do you need? The bags? A steriliser? I'm not sure how to prepare.....

Thanks very much everyone.

amiready good to see you back! I know that the reason I never got anything was habit- I ticked all the "no I am not happy for you to spam me forever" boxes....

Amiready - you'll definitely need a steriliser if you plan to express, and I found the bags quite good for the freezer. I liked a steam steriliser myself but microwave ones are usually smaller / cheaper I think. Got my steriliser on free cycle...

Anyone getting dizzy? I've nearly toppled over backwards twice this evening and keep feeling dizzy / light headed...

Amiready, I bought this when I was about two minutes' pregnant

The bags sound really useful but I haven't had a chance to trial any of it, this being my first. I'm going to express so will buy a pump too, but thinking of getting a manual one.

I bought that too, was my first preg purchase! That long ago that I have no idea where it is! I just figured it has what ever ill need if bf goes wrong.

Ooh where do the bags come from please expressing peeps? Not seen them anywhere and they sound useful...

I could only get them in boots I think. I was a little annoyed that supermarkets didn't stock them, but had 3 shelves of different dummies...

I've seen bags in boots, also in John Lewis I'm sure (if you're there for any reason)! Amazon family would probably be a really good place to get these from!
Haven't got any yet though although sure it's something to rember!

I finally got around to checking out those t-shirt dresses in h&m yesterday....so light & comfy! I ended up getting two...a nice red one for hot days & a black one to use in labour. Way cheaper & nicer than any of those maternity nighties. Thanks ladies :)

kitten try amazon for bf bags...although I think I'm going to go for the lanisoh storage bottles as I heard the bags can be a bit fiddly.

I bought that kit too Juniper.. great selection of stuff.. also the first thing I bought . Got a really cute baby on board caterpillar teddy for the car yesterday .. very essential purchase .. not.

We are going to Ikea at the weekend to get the cot. Like the little canopy for over it too.

Are any of you getting a type of sickness taste in your mouth? It is awful.

Hello all. Just freaked out a little as I realised my due date is in 29 days time. How on earth did that happen? I'm putting together some ikea furniture today for the nursery, and shopping for hospital bag stuff tomorrow. Then decluttering and cleaning I guess. Does anyone have a list of first week essentials? I have a random collection of things, so not sure I have everything covered (if it it possible to have everything covered..).
I'm also going to batch cook some dinners to freeze. My minds gone blank on this as well. Any ideas?

Wow, that's a big set! We just had a steriliser and some bottles for DD1. She was FF from 1 week onwards (hoping to last a bit longer this time). DH managed to break the steriliser the day after DD stopped needing it, so we bought a new one this time round, with the aim of using it once we've BF down pat, and I can start expressing so DH can do the 10pm feed, and I can sleeeeeeep!

Have an appointment with my midwife on Wednesday, and she's promised to bring an info pack on expressing/mixed feeding, as well as showing me the cups they recommend. Hopefully will be a bit more knowledgable weds pm, so will report back.

rake, that sounds lovely, I'm a bit of you. boats, that's so nice of them, made my eyes water reading that. :)

Yesterday I bought the manual tommee tippee closer to nature breast pump - its less than half price on amazon £11.24 instead of £29.99 it contains the pump, bottles, storage pots, breast pads and a steriliser box. I thought it was a good buy and not too much to spend until I know I can breast feed o.k and then I may get an electric pump. Amazon sell the bags too.

Thanks ladies, will check out amazon/boots today and get some ordered.

Will also pop to hennes at lunch to check out the tshirt dresses you're all raving about - assume they are non maternity? Are you all just buying a size or two up from normal?

They're non-mat, small/med/large. I'm normally a 16 so went large & it's perfect. They're £7.99!

MrsMustard your post made me count my days- I'm 36 days away!!! That sounds so much sooner than 5 weeks! Yes, definitely freaking out a little...

I wish I could batch cook some stuff but we have an annoyingly small freezer. DH and I were pinning after our old American style huge fridge freezer upon seeing it in a shop yesterday.

Ps I bought some BM freezer storage bags in Mother care this week.

And for when you're up and running, my top tip when storing expressed BM is to store it in 1oz batches. As you can always defrost a couple of bags at once. But only needing a little bit then having to defrost 4-5oz and seeing most if it go to waste is a bit soul destroying :)

Amazon just gave me the option to share my purchase on Facebook....helpfully pre-populated with "I just bought Philips Avent Comfort Breast Shells and Lansinoh Breast Milk Storage Bags" ...

I declined!

Hahahaha kitten! You have to be sooo careful with this kind of stuff these days! Seems like everything winds up on Facebook!

Another daft question from me - I have a Tommee tippee pump, can I use any storage bags or are they specific to your type of pump? I've just had a look on amazon and can't find TT ones.

Ooh flip I didn't even think of that! Have got TT pump and just ordered Lansinoh bags...

If batch cooking make sure it's something you can eat with a spoon / fork in one hand and a baby in the other... DD always wanted to feed just as my dinner was ready, so would regularly eat with her on my lap and a bowl balanced on the arm of the sofa...

And I'm not sure many milk bags fit on pumps, I just poured it from the collection bottle into the bag.

Kitten that made me laugh so much about sharing your purchase on Facebook!
Good tip too about storing in 1oz's.

I am going to have to start cooking and freezing some meals - I always think the following freezes well Chilli, curry, lagsagne and fish pie (although check fish hasn't been previously frozen).

Like jenni I just poured from the collection bottle into the bag.
Have MW visiting soonish (hopefully) - have had headache for a couple of days and some spots in front of my eyes. Had pre-eclampsia with both boys so thought I'd better get checked out. Think low bp thoughts for me please!