Graduated elderberries - 30+ and looking forward to DC1! (Thread 6)

[HazleNutt]

Oh, looks like I wrote the last post! So new thread here where we will see more berry babies and hopefully loads more graduates as well.

Nah, I like all the baby talk and tips, it's good preparation. Plus if you guys are going through it then it is likely I will too. Plus give it a few months and more of us will be on your side, obviously if we get heaps of newbies they may have other ideas but I'm happy to hear your baby news.

Oh and I am planning to use a dummy so don't feel bad cavort.

She sucked the dummy for about 5 minutes and looked like she was nodding off (I was getting the cake and party poppers out), but then seemed to realise it wasn't a boob, spat it out and would only have a nipple after that. Boo! I will try again a few more times and see how it goes.

I've been using one since the start. In my defence they gave him one in intensive care once he was off the morphine and the ventilator, to give him some comfort as no-one could cuddle or touch him. Anyway it seemed to work so we have used one ever since bad parents

Cavort - sometimes Miles sucks furiously, realises no milk is coming out, then goes NUTS. But most of the time if we give it to him after a feed or when he's grouchy, it really settles him. So if you want to use one, Elodie may well still take to it.

So come on then knocked up folk, share all your pregnancy chat so we don't all get booted off ante natal clubs! Feeling good, bad or indifferent?

Who's left on the pre-birth side - there's me, quod, mother, who am I missing? Can't believe so many are post birth now! It's quite nice having post birth experiences in the same thread as we get tips on what methods/products you're trying, plus it prepares us for the reality of it all. And I'm not terrified at all about the crippling lack of sleep and exhaustion, nope, not one bit eeeeeeeeeek! I guess the bright side is no work at first as I can imagine your brain is fuzzy and energy levels are low with the lack of sleep!

I can't see the problem with a dummy as loads of people seem to use them - they can't be that bad if the NHS gave Miles one! What are the cons?

She just had a bit of milk and was then dozing while suckling, so I whipped the dummy in quick and I now seem to have a baby who is fast asleep sucking on a dummy. I won't count my chickens just yet but I'm off to bed while the going looks good!

Me! I'm (very) pre birth and still lurking between grads and berries until I feel more confident.
(very) early scan on Thursday to put my mind at rest pre hol, and assuming all is well will be joining you full time post sunshine break

Good luck with the early scan merk! How many weeks are you now? I had my early one at 8 weeks.

I know that in theory the NHS advise against them for the first few weeks to avoid nipple confusion, but I guess they make exceptions!

Lordy just seen this . Ouchie.

Merk - good luck with the scan. I had one at 7 or 8 weeks too, exciting tes! Hope all goes well for you - and let us know!

Nobody is quite sure how best to date me due to late O and long cycles. I think 5+6 (based on 266 days from O) doc says 6+6 (??) so no idea really but super early. However its 2.5 weeks from finding out and the time goes so slowly! Perhaps because i'm worrying so much about everything!

Time literally crawls by doesn't it merk! Snap with the worry!

First 12 weeks are ridiculously slow... 12-20 really slow, 20-40 are strange and don't seem to go fast, but before you know it, you have a baby...

So don't fear it does speed up. But yes, the first few weeks are unbearably slow. You have my sympathy!

I def relaxed a lot more after the first scan, and then even more after 12 weeks by the way, so it gets much better each week that goes by and time seems to be moving normally now for me!

I second what they are saying merk, the first few weeks seem to go by in slow motion! I had a scan at around 9 weeks as I was desperate to tell my folks and my OH wouldn't let me till we had a scan. TBH it was quite blob like but the heart was beating away merrily which put a smile on our faces. After the 12 week scan times seemed to go much quicker for me, I blinked and was at 20 weeks, thankfully things have slowed down a bit now.

My friend swore by the dummy as her son had ventouse and forceps and had a very bruised head for quite a while, the hospital recommended the dummy as it helped to release the pressure in the head or something. In the end she took him to a cranial osteopath who sorted him out and made him a far far happier little man.

Hears to a nice long nap for you cavort! Sleep Elodie sleep, mummy needs some zzzzz's.

Oh and OUCH to that huge huge baby, god can you imagine, gulp!

Re this dummy debate. I was given a leaflet on how to prevent cot death before I left hospital and it says "there is a chance that giving a dummy to your newborn baby before they fall asleep may reduce the risk of cot death". So surely its not a bad thing then???!!!!

I feel like time has absolutely flown since 12 wks too - got my 20 wk scan tmw - where has the time gone?
In the past week I have gone from passing as not pregnant to getting a shock every time I look down or catch my sideways reflection in the mirror. Kicks have also got much much more definite very quickly, and now totally feelable from the outside. The big jolts are actually quite disconcerting sometimes if you aren't expecting it.

Right, I am still in need of holiday inspiration. I got all excited at the thought of going to Cuba, but then realised that it is hurricane season in September when we have to go. Wish list is: definite sun, something a bit exotic (so pref outside Europe), some good reasonably accessible nature and or culture, not too health-risky for a 26wk pg person...and not too long flying time. Oh and not too pricey once you are there. I want an exciting last-holiday-as-a-couple! Any ideas?

Quod how about Sri Lanka? I went in September and it was lovely! Or Maldives? Goa is also lovely and hot.

Enjoy your 20 week scan quod and lots of luck! I've got my 24 week scan in mid-August to check on the head size. It's a really exciting time isn't it, I love that I look pregnant now and also love the kicks. I'm always telling DH when I'm being kicked, the novelty hasn't worn off for me. Find it hard not to tell other people every time it happens!

Ooh that's tricky on the holiday - DH and I had a last holiday in Spain recently and it was perfect for a pregnancy holiday, we just wanted to chill though. I went to the Maldives just before fertility treatment and love it there but it's pricey and far from hospitals etc. Hmm, what about Southern Italy? I know it's Europe but would be lovely and should be warm in Sept. Or somewhere really nice in Turkey maybe? Personally we decided not to go too exotic in pregnancy purely due to heat and stomach bug risks after a nasty bug in Goa a few years back!

Cross post lol but about Maldives and Goa!

I do absolutely love the Maldives, best place I've been to, stayed at two great resorts with amazing snorkelling. Better stop dreaming, will be a good few years before I'm back there!

Kerala? I've been there and Goa, and def preferred Kerala. Or what's the weather like in Kenya or South Africa? Haven't been to the latter but the safari I went on in Kenya was one of the most amazing hols I've had. Thailand was lovely when preggers - although not sure about weather in September? I also went to Dubai, which I loved, but not sure it meets your criteria! But might be starting to cool down nicely there by then?

Ooh hazle had an exotic hol at your stage - poss to Costa Rica, but I might have made that up

I want a holiday! Although did fill in the application form for Miles' passport today!

Just popping on mid way through a massive bust up with DP while junior naps on me post feed to say hi.

Alex- I have horrendous piles. But they don't hurt. So not overly worrying (tho the midwife who gave me a wipe down postnatally - spinal block not quite worn off - did say 'ooo that looks painful...' but she might have been referencing other damage! )

Lol I'm exactly in the same boat. Good as gold during day but turns into a milk monster by night- not latching,heheadbutting, won't settle after feeds. Midwife said it's to do with increasing supply - he fights because he's not really hungry but knows he has to suckle.

Was worst so far on nights 3-5 has improved slightly since but now in a growth spurt.

DP keeps saying we should just get formula because of the night disruption (can't believe he has the gall to complain when I'm the one doing it all) I keep telling him that being mildly inconvenienced is not a good enough reason to jack it in, which he says is selfish of me.

No wonder we can't pick a name really :(

Oh and fingers crossed for all the scan action- so exciting!

brave poor you - on the piles and night dramas!! I don't think you're being selfish at all for what it's worth! Is DP on paternity leave or working by the way?

brave your "D"P thinks you are selfish if you prioritise your newborn over his mild inconvenience? If you decide to react appropriately, we will come help to hide the body.
Just tell him that if you use formula then that's an excellent opportunity for him to bond with the baby by doing the night feeds.

Quod I went to Puerto Rico but that was kind of so-so, would not exactly recommend. I personally would go to Asia, Thailand or Malaysia for example - although I do believe it's rainy season at least in Thailand. Of course, the nicest beaches are on relatively remote islands where you don't necessarily want to go when pregnant, but I'm sure you can find something that's close enough to decent hospitals.