October 2013 - only 3 months to go!

[roxvox]

Baby due dates/sexes/name choices here

I'm having to try and calm my Dp's excitement. It's his first baby so it's understandable but being my 5th I know only too well about all the not so great bits. I've tried to tell him about the sleepless nights in the early days but he says he's used to that after years working on fishing trawlers where you wouldn't see your bed for days. I reminded him that he was a heroin addict then and that's probably what got him through. (drug addiction is a massive problem among Scottish fishermen).

That's great Pseudo - glad all is well.

Ah Wicked, that's a shame, but at least it explains the chronic tiredness. Do they ever give you any idea why your levels are low? Is it just one of those things?

Clapham - DP was the same first time around in that he never found pregnancy very attractive and was never one for shopping for baby stuff or reading pregnancy/baby care manuals etc.. But he did generally have the air of being positive and excited about having a baby.

We both struggled with the first year (particularly the lack of sleep) and, although DP loved DD to pieces and always pulled his weight in terms of childcare and supporting me, I don't think he found that time very enjoyable.

This time, he just seems Mr doom and gloom about it all. We are going away at the end of this week, so I'm hoping we may get a chance to properly talk about things then.

caz - love the name Alicia (that spelling)

The anaemia is just one of those pregnancy things. I've had to take iron tablets in all of my pregnancies. I was hoping that because I had them in early pregnancy, I would be fine but evidently not. Oh well.....only 3 months to go before meeting this little person

legally - can understand you feeling stressed. Will they just keep a very close eye on your BP for the time-being?

Good news, pseudo

Legally - I don't know if this helps, but from a very low starting BP, mine has crept up every time it is measured during this pregnancy and I would expect yours would even more with twins.
I don't think 120/85 is that high - it is only just above the "normal" range (

I understand the worry Legally but a rise in blood pressure is normal at this stage and being stressed out in this heat won't be helping either.

I'm glad your mind has been put at rest Pseudo

I'm dreading becoming aneamic and am not much of a meat eater so have been cooking with loads of spinach.I really dondon't want to end up on iron tablets especially after the awful constipation I had a few weeks ago. There's no way I want to go through that again. I never knew that constipation could make you feel so ill.

Glad things seem okay Pseudo

caz, I like both spellings and pronunciations! Alicia is a bit more classic. Don't worry too much about having to correct people - my name is simple but is always mispronounced at first but people who care will get it right esp when they get to know me. It's a good filter to find out which people are rude and don't bother to remember!

Clapham, you could have been describing my DP! He trails after me vacantly and good-naturedly in shops, expresses opinions when asked, but hasn't proactively done much!

He's excited generally but doesn't seem to understand how much hard work it is going to be - he thinks mainly of the fun bits in the future but is incredibly arrogant about his (imagined) powers of coping with the difficult times.

Legally, hope you get some reassurance soon. How often are they checking your bp?

They are checking bp every week (next check on Weds)... I just can't help worrying! Its just such a big and sudden leap from my (admittedly v low) usual bp... Sorry to be me me me guys. At work but will catch up properly soon.

Good news Pseudo and try not to worry legally. 3lbs is a fab weight for the twins already and high BP doens't mean they will whip the babies out just yet...just try to relax and keep an eye.

clapham you could have been describing my dh too. I felt the same last time round but it does annoy me. I feel like I'm a nuisance and we haven't even been baby shopping yet. He does make comments about when the baby's here etc and I do think men struggle to get their head around it until the baby arrives. We are reminded of it constantly and they aren't. The lack of desire makes me paranoid too but I told DH and he has more tactile. I genuinley don't think he finds me very attractive these days but how could he...I am like a massive sack of potatoes lying in the bed that can't change position without a huge effort...not what every man dreams of I suspect!

Had a huge row with Bugaboo at the weekend and was totally disgusted with their customer service. The steering on my camelion has never been quite right and I wanted to get it fixed before selling and buying the donkey. Anyway took it into the retailer who then rang Bugaboo (as advised) who had said they would talk him through how to fix it. Anyway the woman on the phone was so rude, told me there couldn't be a problem with the steering and said I would have to provide video evidence of the fault if I wanted them to have a look at it! I was disgusted as you know yourself when the steering is off but she implied I was pushing it wrongly and then it was supposed to be like that. She was so cheeky and her manner just appalled me. The retailer replaced the chassis and the problem is fixed but no thanks to bugaboo. I am just disgusted as those prams are so dear and I really want the donkey but after that I'm not sure I'd give them the money. I have complained in writing so will see if/ how they respond. grrrrr..just a warning to those buying Bugaboos!

You're not being me-me-me, legally

Does that mean you'll get another reading in two days?

Hope its not pre eclampsia legallly
I feel the same re people telling me I bet I'm hoping for a girl warlin I'm not hoping for anything other than a healthy baby. I don't know why people feel the need to comment at all to be honest. If it is another boy then I certainly won't be having baby number 3 just to see if we can have a girl. I am not so vain that I need to have a mini version of myself!
So excited about Kate's baby but agree it must be awful having the world camped outside your hospital waiting. If she's only in early labour it could be days before she actually delivers. Poor girl.

You're not being me me me at all legally but if you were then it would be understandable. I've certainly been guilty of it at times but It's hard to focus on anything or anyone else when you are consumed with worry and anxiety.

Random question time; what are you going to dress your winter baby in day-to-day? Someone said something a while ago about a vest under a baby grow, but I am unsure as to whether they meant a vest like we would wear (cut off at the top of the legs) or a vest that has poppers that go under the nappy?

I think we're supposed to put them in vest (no or short sleeves with poppers under the nappy) and then a babygro on top. This is what I've seen my friendw do. Vest can be removed or cardigan out on depending on temperature!

Roxvox...... A vest / body with poppers under a baby grow/sleep suit will be fine for winter inside the house. If the baby feels cold, pop a cardi over the top. If you are warm, the baby will most likely be warm too.

Vest with long or short sleeve and poppers at nappy level. They hold the nappy on! Then baby grow. Can also layer with cardigan. If I took DS (Jan baby) on a dog walk in the sling I would put trousers on too.

Thinking of you Legally. That reading isn't panic stations yets but I'm glad they're keeping an eye on you.

He he Rox! Yes, unless its v hot (like now) standard clothes for newborns are:

• vest (ie bodysuit that poppers over nappy)- either no sleeves, short sleeves or long sleeves (I've always used short sleeved only)

• babygrow (the kind with feet - not footless, otherwise you need socks and they don't stay on!)

• cardigan if needed

• scratchmits if needed

• hat for outside

• pramsuit for outside

That's it for at least 3 months!!!

I always got baby grows with integral scratch mitts. Can stand actual mitts as they fall off (socks work better on the hands!) I refused to feed DS unless his hands were covered as he'd scratch me to bits :o

Thank you everyone I do feel like I going into all of this completely blind so I am glad I have got all of you to help me! I am the first of my close friends to have a baby, and there have been no newborns in my family for years so I have no-one to ask these sorts of questions to!

Now I know. I need vests (with poppers), babygrows (with feet), cardigans, hats and a pramsuit!

How do you know if you need scratch mitts? I assumed every baby wore them

oh I'm so relieved my DP seems to have so many clones and it's not just him... it makes me feel a bit less paranoid. Thanks girls X

LOL roxvox so funny! I also wonder what could have possibly sent Kate into labour... what a puzzle...! media can really be desperate sometimes...

warlin shocked at Bugaboo's customer service considering how much they cost! What a stupid suggestion "you are not steering properly". It's a buggy FFS not a fighter jet!

legally this really isn't high blood pressure but perfectly normal reading. I know what you mean though. I also normally have low pressure (around 100/60 or 110/70 at best) and a couple of months ago it plummeted to as low as 90/60 or even ridiculous 80/50 one day (yes, I still had a pulse!). So I had a similar reaction when it was 120/86 at my 25 weeks check. I'm just not used to having "normal" / average readings! My GP laughed and said it's a perfect reading and they don't even worry until it gets to 89/90 for the second reading. She also said it can fluctuate a lot during pregnancy. During my last pregnancy my highest was 125/89 at 39 weeks and they weren't bothered at all.

pseudo good to hear all is good with the baby! You can relax now x

And caz I prefer Alicia (both spelling and pronunciation) but these things are so personal... My neighbours' daughter is Alisa

Clapham - that really helps. Thanks!

Legally - I just borrowed a book called am I allowed, my friend got it from her independent midwife. It gave you all the facts and information of your rights during labour and antenatal apps. So you can be assertive. There was a section on blood pressure average readings, unfortunately I gave it back today! Typical...

But it was by AIMS, called am I allowed

That goes for everyone, v useful :)

pseudo glad to hear everything was alright with Babba.

legally I know what you mean about BP as mine is also low. Please try not to worry too much and see what it is at next couple of checks. Try and take it easy as much as possible.

wicked it's crap about the anaemia. I got similar blood tet results last week and am now on iron twice a day. Already causing bowel issues and I'm trying to do my best to enhance absorption which is hard :( oh well as you say not too long now!

clapham I was also too slow to respond to chat a few days ago. Dh and I haven't dtd for ages and I feel really bad about it. I'm not in the mood at all between the heat and feeling big and uncomfortable. It was also sore the last time tmi which didn't help. He says I'm beautiful and sexy and is starting to ask if I'm attracted to him but that's not it at all! Maybe I ll try and be more tactile......

legally I wouldn't be too concerned about your bp mine is 140/90 all the time was even higher in dd's pregnancy

roxvox my baby will be wearing best (short sleeve with poppers by the nappy) and a baby grow (with feet) most of the time for the first few weeks then will probly go into clothes 70% of the time ie tops trousers jackets etc i would say a snow suit is a definate thought but in 0-3 not new born as if born late September then a snow suit probly won't be needed. Some ppl prefer to stick to clothes and others prefer baby grows with the odd outfit. Its heat to buy the baby grows with the built in scratch mittens S u never no if u will need them and then u have the option but don't not buy a baby grow u love if it doesn't come with built in mots as it really isn't the end of the world but hats are a must as everyone else said too

Glad everything went well at the hospital psuedo at least it wasn't too busy there :-)

WRT un- excited dh's/dp's its the same in this house, he's an amazing dad to our dd but was so un-excited when I was pregnant with dd, like someone else said I think its hard for them to get excited as they aren't carrying the baby and its easy for them to put to the back of their minds

Can't remember who was asking about the name Alicia .... But I love the name but sorry to say I would pronounce it a-lee-sha and I would spell it alissia for the pronunciation u prefer.

Xx