February 2014 - Part 5 - The one in which nobody has ANY vomiting, heartburn, or random leg injuries...

[marzipanned]

Well, here's hoping!

You can get these really lovely swaddling blankets I cannot remember the name but I got one for a friend a couple of years ago. She said it was the best thing ever. They had them in baby blue, baby pink and cream. They were oh so soft and had some give in them like a little bit stretchy. I really want one they were not around when I had my two I don't think but am going to get one this time.

I was given a really beautiful Moses basket second hand from a friend last month so I will use that. I had been planning on getting one of those white wooden swinging cribs but now I have the Moses basket I will make do, it is lovely and I would rather not spend money I don't have to.

Then I have still got the cot from my two DC I am going to re-use that but I have heard it is not good to re-use mattress so I may buy a new one.

missk according to the reviews on MN you can only use it in the co sleeping position until baby can sit up but you can reconfigure it in the crib (low mattress) position and it's good until baby outgrows it (one MN-er had her LO in there til 18 months)

It folds up so can be a travel cot too - I think if it does all as promised it'll be well worth the expense.

Just got back from a lovely weekend camping and there is sooo much to catch up on!

Ds went in to his cotbed (at the foot of my bed) at 3 days as his carry-cot was annoying me . I tried dream feeding him but it never made any difference to how long he slept for. His night feeds gradually reduced like textbook and he was sleeping through the night by 21 weeks. I have to admit I turfed him out of our bedroom at 17 weeks though as we were disturbing each other. He still doesn't like sharing a room with me now....

Dh missed ds's birth (my fault!) and my bff became my emergency birthing partner (she was 6 months pg with her first at the time!). She was amazing as she is just so practical (getting towels, finding babies stuff, putting on the central heating etc...). I went in to myself and didn't want anyone bothering me so actually quite pleased in a way that dh wasn't there (he wouldn't know where to find nappies or how to work our boiler!). This time, we are planning on dh being in the house but leaving me to it with the mw's. My bff might come again but she has 2 of her own children to take care of now so this might not be feasible!). I really do NOT want dh to see me birthing.

missk dream feeding is where you lift the baby without waking them in the night and give them a feed. So I guess the idea is that they get used to the continuous sleep and eventually they don't need that feed and keep on sleeping. I think that's it anyway.

I had my two in with me in a Moses basket until 6 months then they went in a cot in their own room. My DD when I got her home and she was over the prem too tired too feed phase, used to wake up hourly for a feed. She would have a nappy change, feed for an hour, have to be winded forever, sleep for an hour then it would start all over again. It was so exhausting I remember a lot of tears at night time when I could barely keep my eyes awake to feed her.

I was always envious of those who could breast feed lying down and just fall asleep whilst feeding. Because my DD had reflux I couldn't lie her down and feed or put her down soon after feeding or she would be sick. A lot of the time she would end up sleeping on my front and I would have to sleep like that propped up by pillows.

But by 6 months both my two went in their own room and slept 12 hours a night. I had been slowly reducing night feeds. I know loads of people don't agree with it but I left mine to cry for a few nights and just settled them without feeding. It only took a few nights and they slept through every night after that it was bliss.

Dream feeding is lifting the baby just before you go to bed yourself and giving them a little feed, but doing it very gently and quietly so as not to fully wake him/her. I don't get how it's a choking hazard?! I used to wind both of mine before putting them back down and at that age they always fell asleep when feeding anyway so how would it be different from them fall-sleep-feeding in mid-afternoon?

I saw the consultant on Friday morning. She went through my previous notes with me, said there's no reason why I couldn't try for a VBAC if I want to or I can have a section if I prefer. She went over all the risks and said they watch for signs of rupture (which is my big worry) and in her entire career she's only seen one but they spotted warning signs and the lady was actually prepped and in theatre when it went so it was just a case of whipping the baby out. If I do have a VBAC I've to go to hospital as soon as I realise I'm in labour and I'll be prepped as if I'm having a section (to save time in case of an emergency) but will then just labour/delivery normally (hopefully), the only thing is that I have to have the monitoring belts on throughout. I've got until 36 weeks to decide and they'll scan me then too to check size/position, etc. If I notice any leaking I have to go straight there (DD had barely any amniotic fluid), ditto reduced movements or discomfort, and if my MW is ever in two minds about referring me to the consultant over any issue (like last time) I have to insist on being referred.

Hmm... I thought I'd just feed the baby whenever it cries for food? I mean, what if it just sleeps through the night without wanting food, is that bad?

I demand fed during the day but the dream feed was pre-emptive. For the first few weeks I waited until they woke for it before taking myself off to bed then by week 2-3 I knew they'd wake sometime between 11pm and midnight so used to pre-empt it by lifting them at 11pm. By 6wks they both refused the dream feed so we stopped it.

Dream feeding didn't work for us mainly because DS uses to pee like a racehorse and so every night waking for a feed meant a full outfit/bedding change as more often than not he had peed through his nappy (and we tried every brand under the sun, finally resorting to putting two nappies on!) So when we tried a dream feed, it just meant he was guaranteed to wake up soaking wet at the next wake up. I just demand fed him and the gaps gradually increased. By 7 months he was still waking once around 3am for a feed so we had to help him break the habit (and yes we did controlled crying, I know some people think it's a terrible crime but it worked a charm for us all).

Oh and he was in the Moses basket next to my side of the bed until 3 months then into a cotbed in his room. With hindsight, he had probably outgrown the basket by about 8 weeks and we all slept so much better once he was in his own room so will consider shifting earlier next time.

lirtleen in the beginning if they don't wake then you should wake them they should not be going longer than 3 hours without a feed. But most if breast fed will feed more regularly than that. I fed on demand and my babies fed a lot, greedy little munchkins.

Marzipanned - you know NCT hire out the bednest, right? it's something like £109 for six months and that includes a brand new mattress and sides (so its only the woodm bit that's 'second hand', nothing absorbent)
It's what we're doing after it was highly recommended by several friends.

Here you go; www.nctshop.co.uk/NCT-Bednest-Rental-for-6-months/productinfo/4364R/

somanychanges - is that the miracle blanket? We've got one of those after loads of recommendations from friends...apparently, they're brilliant for swaddling.

We've got a moses basket (couldn't resist, too cute) and also a hammock -

www.naturessway.co.nz/product+support++faqs/Baby+Hammocks+Sale+ends+April+20th+2013.html

Is anyone else planning to use/used a hammock?

I tried a few of the specialist swaddle blankets but we found the old fashioned way best once we had the technique perfected.

My problem was the transition from swaddling to gro-bag. DS loved being swaddled and flailed his arms and legs around like a maniac, waking himself up, when he wasn't swaddled.

homebynine no it was actually just like a normal blanket it had no fancy bits just the normal square shape but its called a swaddle something? I will have to ask my friend as I have no idea. I bought it in a little baby shop in Chiswick.

Morning all, I am hoping to have a good day today. We have friends coming over so will probably go on an adventure with the children at Boxhill. So I really cannot be doing with any sickness.

Hope you all have a good day.

14+5

Hi all!

17 weeks now! Eek! I'm definitely feeling movement!

For DS I used a Moses basket til 4 months as he was tiny and the he went into his cot in his room... I say that but he actually woke so often that he didn't stay in it all night and we co-slept til he was nearly 1 I think. He only started sleeping through at 14 months maybe! As a tiny one he would wake every 2-3 hours and that went on for months and months. I tried dream feeding but he would often wake when I did it or at normal time too. He never really followed a pattern for ages.

We tried swaddling too. Never really used sleeping bags ren though we were given loads. They always just made him too hot because we'd end up bedsharing!

We didn't find out with DS so a lot of bits are neutral in newborn size. I don't think we'll find out this time so I'll try and sort through everything so it's easier to sort when baby arrives! Most of DS's clothes were hand me downs from friends and some were given back so need to work out if we have enough in certain sizes if it is a boy too!

I feel awful saying it but I do have a slight preference for a girl this time, just so I get the fun of new clothes options! ;)

Morning all

off to see my new nephew this morning. We should already be on the road but DH's bf moved in around the corner from us and it was his 40th, so DH had several beers too many we've got a 3 hour drive to get to my sister's, and I haven't passed my test yet. I'm being very kind to DH and bringing him alka seltzer etc, but I'm inwardly seething a bit! I did point out that morning sickness = permanently feeling hungover.

Oh well. I'm sure my sis won't mind if it's 11 or 1 when we rock up. And DH will be the one having to drive back in the chaos of late bank holiday traffic on the m25.

My sis said she was looking forward to seeing my bump. She might be very disappointed! I'd better eat a big breakfast so it looks more substantial!

hope everyone else is doing well

Somany do you live near Boxhill? We're in Guildford so probably not too far from you.

After three clear days I puked this morning, damn. And DS is now on Day 6 of a sick bug which is showing no real signs of abating, so we're a bit of a pukey household at the moment. My stomach also feels a bit crampy and delicate so I'm praying I'm not coming down with DS's bug too. That's the last thing I need!

milk I didn't know that, thank you!

Loves I sympathise. I also had a couple of good days and am now in vomit city again. It started yesterday evening and went on all night. It's so horrible when you think (again!) you've turned the corner. Puking was really painful too - but I think that's why I'm not showing much, all the vomiting has tightened my tummy muscles!

I'm terrified that this episode has been food poisoning, I had prawns yesterday, but they were fully cooked so DH things it's very unlikely. I just hate the not knowing :(

Champagne I've never had it so don't know what it feels like - but I'm sure you're right. I'm a worrier at the best of times so pregnancy just makes me into a complete crazy lady.

You are so right about the 12 weeks thing. can't remember if I wrote this upthread but I found some data collated from various studies about when morning sickness passed for the women involved. It only passed at 12 weeks for something like 10% of women, most were at 14-16 weeks, and 85-90% by 20 weeks. I really hope those of us still suffering are done by 20 weeks.

champagne i'm with you on the uncomfy sleeping - in the past week I've started off lying on my left hand side, getting stiff and sore hips, rolling onto my back, subconsciously realising this isn't good for bump, trying to roll onto right hand side, which involves facing my DH (I don't like him breathing on my face whilst sleeping) so then end up shifting back to left hand side again.

It means I'm waking up throughout the night every couple of hours. Think I might struggle once the bump actually appears in full force!

15+1

I'm with you on the sleeping ladies - I'm like a rotisserie chicken just rotating all night from one position to the next. Alas no more front lying tho which is my go to position for when I really can't sleep. DH nearly got shouted at this morning for waking me at 5.30 for some snuggle sleeping. Luckily I managed to get back to sleep after needing a wee and some grumbling. I've been looking online and it seems to be okay to sleep on or backs until about half way through the pregnancy luckily as I often lie on mine. Agree with the hips getting a bit sore on the sides too

I really don't know if I look pregnant or fat yet! My belly is out waaaay past my boobs which has never happened before as my boobs are massive and even when I've even heavier they h e managed to our flank it so I'm feeling like a chunky monkey. I think the main issue is by belly button is still very "innie" so I don't look nicely rounded I just look like I've eaten all the pies (quality street). Never thought I'd be prayin for an outie! Ie told DH I'm going to develop a product for ladies at this early stage of pregnancy to help "pad" the belly button - his comment was "like a buttplug for your belly button?" YES! exactly! I'm sure it would solve everything!

Champagne, I have the achy hips and legs too. They are agony and I just can't sleep at all, but I had this with DS from 20 weeks so I was expecting (and dreading) it.

I'm trying lots of pillow configurations but nothing is helping so far. Today my left leg and hip is still painful and stiff.

It's not fair that you have this to contend with as well as sickness. I try not to complain since the aching from the waist down (as painful as it is) is my only real symptom. (18+6)