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.

I thought about it quod, but then chickened out. To be fair I'm glad I did. I'm clearly a useless mum but am struggling to get all our normal washing done, despite not working, so not sure how I'd cope with loads of nappies too. It's hard to get much done when you constantly have a baby attached to a breast! Having said that once they feed less frequently I think it would be much easier, and the amount of waste disposables create really is awful...

I was really keen on trying washable nappies and where I live you can borrow a trial kit for a month to test a few different ones out before you buy them as they're quite a big investment if you do go for it (though save you money in the long run). I really wanted to like them because I'm a big fan of saving the polar bears and the waste with disposables is shocking but I really don't like the washables

They're really really bulky compared to disposables so look ridiculous on a little baby with this huge nappy on. They're so bulky it almost looks like she can't straighten her legs properly with this massive nappy round her, and that's the sized ones! (Others that are birth-toddler are even bulkier) Also the faff when you change them of having to change them upstairs so you can flush the pooey liner, then try not to get poo all over your hands as you put the nappy in the bag for washing, then have to use washable wipes so youve got shitty flannels sitting around wairing to be washed...even my inner Eco warrior is struggling with this one, I really wanted to use them but I just don't think I can.

I did buy some washable breast pads though to try to ease my conscience slightly.

If anyone has questions about washable nappies, I know a fair bit about them (and had always been a big advocate of them until i tired them) so just ask.

My SIL works in the recycling management part of her council and did try to talk me into using them. I'm also all for the environment but I'm of the view this whole newborn thing is a lot harder than anyone ever told me so I've an excuse not to want to make it even harder.
On the subject of nappies though- how many do you go through in a day? I'm changing Lara about 6/7 times a day but now she has a red bum and I'm worried I'm not doing it often enough. I can't do it each time she feeds as this is between 15-20 times a day!!!! Any advice?

Buy some metanium nappy rash cream, I would say I change Lucy about the same amount of times as you're doing but a couple of times she's got a bit red, I've put the cream on a couple of times and it has gone. Tis good stuff.

Purple is it better than good old sudocream?

It was recommended to me by several mums as
One of those 'have to have' brilliant products and it does seem to work well and quickly. I haven't used sudocreme on her (though I have got some)

I got some washable nappies for later on, when he's newborn Im afriad Im going for the ease of disposable I do have some biodegradable disposable ones though which makes me feel better

We bought our pram today, was planning on the mothercare orb but went for the mothercare expedia in the end as it was on special offer so was half the price. Im afraid it did just come down to money in the end....thats bad isnt it. It does look fab though, easy to use, fold, switch modes etc.

Thanks purple. Just ordered it from amazon. It's not as red as it could be I suppose but I want to make sure I'm ready if it does! Trying to change her more often today. Will aim for at least 8 and see if it makes a difference.
Good news on pram mother. Price is important and as long as you are happy with it there is nothing wrong with getting a bargain!

Bepanthen is my recommendation for nappy rash. It's like glue but every mum I know swears by it and it's great for healing tattoos too

somehow having the pram makes it all seem very real.....that sounds stupid doesn't it!!

Hope bubs red bum goes down, think some babies are a bit more prone to it than others.

I agree mother - somehow the growing bump didn't make it feel real, but buying baby stuff does! Odd hey...

Totally agree about pran making it feel real. We were going to go for the expedia too mother but my folks offered to buy us the pram which made the orb possible.

Jury's out on whether parents will come round to Horatio. .. my dad visites today and made a point of expressing his concern for DS future welfare at school because of his name. I know he means well but this was very irritating. One because it suggested we hadn't given it any thought and two because he has no understanding of the naming conventions of today or the fact that this area has a high immigrant population in which Horatio would barely turn a head!

All good fun tho :)

On the nappies front, my friend said there's no point with reusables with a newborn - they are too little so the nappies end up being ginormouse and there's too much poo (Purple, that does sound like a lot of shit and things with shit on them to be dealing with). I agree about baby stuff all being hard and being able to cut yourself some slack. My plan was to get some reusables in via the voucher from the council and second hand off eBay so that we have the option. I don't want to put pressure on ourselves to make life harder and so plan to keep both options (disposalr and reusable) open - using reusables doesn't mean you can't use disposables when it's more convenient, right? And equally I don't want to resign myself to disposables without giving the reusables a shot.

I had a v long lunch with a friend who is a couple of months ahead of me today - it felt SO weird - and also great - being able to talk baby/pregnancy/birth stuff guilt-free for ages and not bore each other! Neither of us has had a RL mate to do that with up til now.

Ouch! I just woke up on my back (I tend to fall asleep on my side then roll over in my sleep) and I'm in pain, really achey around my back and bump in particular. Is this just what it's like from now on?! I always make sure I sleep on my left these days as I know that's textbook for pregnancy but do you think right's ok too? Damn I've been sleepin like a baby (well not a baby, but something that sleeps really well!) up until tonight! Been lying here for half an hour grumpy and sore and determined not to worry that the pain is something other than normal at this stage! How did other people sleep from 24 weeks onwards?

Alex I was sleeping on my stomach until mid-20's weeks so I am probably not the best person to ask! Towards the end I always fell asleep on one side (I always found right side more comfortable tbh) and would always wake up on my back feeling quite uncomfortable. I'm sure what you are describing is normal but might be worth mentioning it to your MW when you see her just to be sure.

I'm with you Janey, struggling with just the normal housework without throwing disposable nappies into the mix. I'm afraid i'm all about the easiest life possible at the moment.

Quod I have a Boba Wrap fabric sling which I love as it gives me two free hands to get on with stuff/eat when I have a baby who wants to be held constantly and I have BF in the sling when out and about. 99% of the time she falls asleep in the sling. I have heard some babies hate slings though so it might be worth waiting until baby is here and going to a sling meet (these do exist apparently) to try different types out. The downside to a fabric sling at the moment is that it can get quite hot wearing it in the warm weather.

Brave you should have told your family you were calling DS something truely awful and when they found out it was a wind-up and was actually Horatio they would have been pleased.

Nappy rash (or lack of it) is a bone of contention in our house... DH keeps putting Bepanthen on as a 'pre-emptive strike' even though Elodie's bum is currently peachy and lovely and completely rash-free, but it drives me mad trying to clean it off her out of her skin folds and lady bits when I don't think it's necessary to put it on in the first place - like Merk says, it's like glue! I think I might hide the cream.

Managed to get back to sleep at last but still kept stirring feeling sore. Am in a different bed tonight so could be a firmer mattress (stayed at my mum's last night in case that made me sound like a dirty stop out ) Everyone is telling me my bump is quite small/compact so it shouldn't really be causing me pain especially I might just sleep on my right too if you did cavort and not worry as much about rolling onto my belly, am being a bit goody goody about the left side thing but maybe it would help to swap sides now and then!

And yeah hide the glue cream!

alex I sleep on my right most of the time too, I'm on the left hand side of the bed so tend to fall asleep laying on my right side with one leg on the quilt and one under it and the throw over me. I do sleep on the left too but find the right most comfy for falling asleep, I get kicked or punched if I roll too far and squish him. I really miss sleeping on my front, but it's just not comfy anymore, I had to give up on that at about 22/23 weeks.

I feel like crap today, think I have a cold coming on, have blocked nose and cough....oh good. Think I've overdone it this weekend, over 2 hours of dog walking, did all the housework, washing, cleaning etc. Picked up the kitchen Thursday, had friends over for dinner Friday, my brother around Saturday building us a wall, my folks were round Saturday too, then built the bed frame in the spare room Sunday and went shopping for the pram....not surprising I'm a bit run down really. Maybe I need to slow down a little? I am my own worst enemy though, I want things done and it is far quicker and easier to do them myself than wait for my OH. This weekend should be busy too as we have to take the old bed to the tip, then it's my mums 70th so we have lunch then are taking her to the casino for the first time. Eeeeeek, I'm tired just thinking about it.

Bless him cavort my friend said she brought 4 tubs of sudocream but has only used that tiny thimble sized one you get free as her son hasn't had nappy rash. I would hide it too or maybe let him put on some general moisturiser or talc if he feels he has too, but not such sticky cream, a tiny bit of talc might be a good compromise?

Oh and alex they should measure your bump at your next MW appointment, I thought mine was small too, especially as I didn't start to show until well after 20 weeks, but I was 25 weeks and measured 27 cm. About spot on, she said you should measure 1cm for each week, I guess maybe were not overly small just other people have huge bumps

You know, I'm not so sure about this new job, the pay is terrible, the hours are ridiculous and my new boss is an absolute tyrant!

Brilliant purple! The worst thing for me is the physical abuse - you shouldn't have sore nipples after a day in the office!

Mine head butted me in a temper earlier, you just don't expect physical abuse!

no holidays either..

Mine constantly invades my personal space. Lodge a grievance with HR?

And he looks at me like a piece of meat. Am sure I saw him looking down my top earlier