Graduated Elderberry Pavlovas - Thread 7

[Cavort]

Newly diffed right through to new Mums. A thread for the over 30's expecting their first baby.

Mother - what size are you approx? I have a cheap and huge maternity coat you're welcome to borrow? It's a size 12 or 14, really isn't glamorous at all but is incredibly warm....will happily post it. I'd want it back at some point just in case I have another baby, but will be sitting around unused in the meantime? I guess it depends on how cold it gets over the next couple of months too...

I'm not buying one either mother and was thinking just the other day, that I'll just layer up with tops and pull my normal coats as far as they will go over bumpy! I'm still in my normal clothes at 29 weeks so am doing well!

Nice work alex I bought 3 floaty summer skirts with a stretchy over bump panel and one pair of wide legged trousers with bump panel which have seen me through so far.

I am still in most of my normal clothes, 99% of my tops are fine as they are long enough to over the bump and are stretchy too, although some can't cut it over the new massive boobs. But my bump is really low so under bump stuff isn't really an option as it just makes me need a pee even more often, so skinny jeans etc which still fit are out as I'm constantly in the loo. Plus he also kicks me constantly if I wear under bump stuff so I think it presses on him or something? I also have a pair of over bump leggings which are AMAZING, I plan to wear those with jumper dresses as it gets cooler.

Ohhh janey I may well take you up on that, I am going to go through some of my coats and see how they fair across the hump and the newly epic boobs. I should be fine during the day as long as we don't have a really cold snap but evening dog walks may be a tad chilly. I'm still hoping the weather will warm up a tad in a week or so. yes I am deluded!

Yeah my summer wardrobe was perfect, damn this cold weather! I noticed my bumpy kicks when I wear my pyjama bottoms and leggings actually, I did wonder if it's telling me off. Better get some maternity leggings and tights ASAP and sleep in something else! Have to get a maternity bra as well, as limited on my usual bras I can wear and having to wash them lots. Any recommendations for cheap but nice mat bras? My sister in law gave me mat jeans the other day and they fit perfectly so that was good.

this not having heating on during the night is an uniquely British thing. I've lived in 5 countries, 2 of them considerably colder than UK and in all of them, people turn heating on when it gets cold in the autumn and turn it off in the spring. No daily fiddling.

I went to check out some cars today and now can't decide between 2 models, both slightly used. One is fine, has most of the stuff I want, I'm sure a totally decent car. In my price range. The other is top of the range and has everything I want and more. But also more expensive, of course, more than I was planning to spend. Then again, I'm planning to keep it for quite a while, so over the years is not that much of a difference. But on the other hand, the first car is absolutely sufficient and do I really want to pay that much extra? Hmm..

I think a car should be practical and get you from A to B so I'd prob go for the cheaper option if its comfy and a nice drive. --how did I end up with an expensive yet impractical sports car

I think you're right Hazle, we're a tight bunch us British! But the average annual gas an electricity bill for a modest 3 bed semi is now about £1300 and going up way faster than inflation so no wonder we don't want to have the heating on unless absolutely necessary. How much are utility bills in France?

Hmmm, I am probably the last person to ask about cars because I am completely practical and have always just got the cheapest one which will do the job. DH however is a bit of a car nut so you can imagine the debates we've had recently when trying to decide which car to get. DH's current car which he is reluctantly selling is very high spec and has lots of extras and gadgets, which I do have to admit enhances the driving experience (god, I'm sounding like Clarkson ) Personally I absolutely love the heated seats and memory function (so the car remembers your settings and automatically moves your seat, mirrors and steering wheel to your preferred position). I also really like the parking heater so you never have to defrost or get into a cold car on a frosty day. So if the more expensive car has gadgets which will get lots of use and therefore enhance your life then I'd be tempted to go for it, but if they're just novelty gadgets then get the cheaper one. We've ordered a new car with a few extra gadgets which I know will get lots of use.

I think I'm a bit tight on the car front. We only got a qashqai and any old basic one would have done me. DP insisted on the top spec one if we had to get that car though, and whilst it pains me greatly to admit it (and I wouldn't say this to him) I think the leather seats are v practical with a little one, the reverse camera thing v useful, the Bose speakers rather lovely, and I've already used the seat warmer despite it only being early September

Janey are you the same as me? I couldn't give a toss about what's under the bonnet so long as it goes but I am interested in stupid things like how many handy cup holders it's got. We have ordered a Touareg R Line (or a Toe Rag as it has become known in our house) which is not coming until sodding November.

I very nearly insisted we bought a Q7 just because the salesman was such an arse. We took one for a test drive and decided it was nice but too big and the salesman overheard us discussing it and, as well as talking down to us like we really couldn't possibly afford one, then commented really patronisingly that it probably was too big for a woman to handle. Yes mate, I used to regularly drive a Sprinter Van so there's obviously no way I could handle a big car...

Haha just like me! No idea about the engine but it's 'nice and smooth' to drive (my brother pissed himself when I said that) AND there are two cup holders in the front, plus another two in the back which I see as a real bonus

My friend has the touareg - I think - is that the car that magically parks itself?! I'm absolutely fine doing parallel parking but still LOVE the idea of pressing a button and the car somehow mysteriously slotting itself into a space. Wow.

last year we paid about 2000 eur for oil (was a cold winter, usually a bit less), so not exactly cheap here either. I think the main difference is that some countries see heating as necessity, essential, something you would save on only if you're absolutely starving. Some see it as luxury, nice to have but you can manage without. I still remember when I was visiting a friend in London in January for a few days. He forgot to mention that his house was being extended, so there was a whole wall missing. He didn't see a problem, surely I could just keep the coat on?

as for those 2 cars, the more expensive one has rear view camera, which is nice to have. But both have parking sensors and that magic self-parking, so not essential.
panoramic sunroof, again quite fun
full leather seats, practical with dogs - other model has half leather-half fabric.
distronic, the thing that warns you if you're getting too close to other cars while driving. Also warns you if you're too much on left or right on the road, reads the markings.
and the expensive one has a more powerful engine, which I actually really like - the motorways across the border in Germany don't have speed limits..
Still, the other one is perfectly fine too.

In other news, Vic has decided he does not like that bottle either any more Agrees to chew on it, but doesn't really suck. Here we go again..

Hazle it sounds like you prefer the more expensive one but are trying to talk yourself out of it. You should treat yourself, you work hard enough after all.

Yes 2000 Euros is really not cheap. I guess for me it's that I hate being cold but don't see the point in heating the house when I'm asleep for 8 or 9 hours and I am nice and warm in bed. But those nights are long gone for the time being (unless she starts sleeping through in the next few months - I wish!) and I can't get up in the night if it's too cold so I suspect this Winter the heating will be staying on.
DH's parents' house is 200 years old and is absolutely freezing at all times, even in warm weather, but they just seem to be immune to it. Sometimes I have several layers on and a thick jumper and am still chilly and they both are wearing short sleeves and are fine. They live an hour away and I have spent many nights at their house sleeping in a thick jumper and wooly hat. Some people just seem to feel the cold more than others.

Bad news on the bottle.

We're struggling with bottle again. I'm currently hiding in my room upstairs while dh and mum try to give her w bottle. All I can hear us her screaming and it's breaking my heart. Don't think I can take it much longer, will just give up and give her boob. Ended up throwing it away last night and didn't feel like expressing today.
What bottles do you all use? I'm now trying the avent slow flow ones and it seemed to be going well for first few days but not any more
Sorry about rant. My baby still crying

I can't help lol but poor you! (And yet again, eek!)

Ha janey I always tell people our car is "nice and smooth" to drive and then DH bangs on about how many litres etc Having said I don't need the expensive car with extras, I do love our heated seats, cup holders, memory function etc so actually maybe I will think about those things when we crack and sell our impractical car!

Lol the Avent Natural with size 1 teat was the first one we tried when she was 3 weeks. She took it but took an absolute age to drink it and fussed a lot, so then we went against logic and tried a size 2 teat with a faster flow and had no issues with that one. I think I have quite a fast let down so the slower teat was slower than what she was used to and she just got frustrated.

lol we first tried Medela and he was absolutely fine with it for several weeks, until he suddenly wasn't. Then tried a bunch, silicone ones were rejected immediately, but NUK First Choice was acceptable. Until he again decided that breast is best. But at least he agrees to chew on the NUK, so gets some milk this way.

Oh actually, we had a Medela Calma which came with the pump and that was rejected straight away before we tried Avent.

The Doctor on Lorraine reckons we all need a hybrid tummy tuck as it's the only way to get rid of the residual belly you are left with after having a baby. My stomach is flat again but not to it's pre-pg flatness.

My aunt bought me these no idea yet if they are any good. My cousin said they were amazing with her little one but as we know every bubba is different.

pfft I know plenty of people who have had babies and still have perfectly flat stomachs. Mine is not there yet but getting smaller every day, so not running to have surgery just yet.

So any of planning DC2 yet? I asked my doc what he recommends as a gap so body has time to heal etc, he says "So, you had normal delivery..6 months. Here, I prescribe you some folic acid!"

Mine wasn't perfectly flat before so I don't hold out much hope for afterwards.

Wow hazel check you out, are you really thinking of number 2 already?????

Hazle! I can entertain the thought of having another baby relatively quickly but I really can't stand the thought of another pregnancy - I need a surrogate! In an ideal world I'd like to try again when Elodie is about 18 months but at 35 I'm not sure I should leave it that long as that would put me at least 37.5 for #2, which I know is not that old (Hi Janey ) but I worry about struggling to get pg again if I leave it too long. So that is a really waffling way of saying I don't know! DH and I have spoken briefly about it but not concluded anything. And then there's the small and hassle-free matter of needing to move house before another baby.

My stomach is not the same as before but it's still early days and I think I'm probably the only person who can tell so I don't think I'll be going under the knife just yet and would rather have a boob job.

Mother I've heard good things about the Dr Browns (and MAM) bottles for windy/reflux babies but I think it's just trial and error for fussy ones. Loads of people have said their bottle-refuser liked the NUK ones but Hazle is having mixed luck with them.

I'd love a tummy tuck! Oddly, although I'm only about two lbs heavier than pre pregnancy I'm still bigger all over so none of my clothes fit which is very annoying and my big wobbly tummy is the main culprit.

As for having another child, I'm thinking never at the moment, despite hating being an only child myself I'm trying to convince myself that this is the ideal so I don't have to go through it all again. I had such a bad time of it I'm just not sure I can do it again especially since things like the OC and SPD and back pain would almost certainly happen again. That and the fact that she's barely slept for the last three nights is putting me off

Hopefully all the keeping me up half the night feeding will have improved her weight though as I'm back at the health visitors this afternoon and if they say the wrong thing when I'm this tired I'm likely to rip their heads off.

Oh and I haven't bought a onesie yet (do they even make them for people as midgety as me or would I have to get a kids one?) but my clothing sin was that I bought a hoodie yesterday...from the maternity range well I know it will be comfy, long I the body and loose!

Good luck for this afternoon Purple. I would never go against medical advice but if you have a perfectly healthy baby who is feeding well, lots of dirty nappies, etc. then I really can't see their argument. It's not like she's losing weight and a gain is a gain even if it's slow. I think you've said you're quite small yourself so Lucy obviously just takes after her Mum.

I don't blame you for not wanting another pregnancy - you really went through the mill. And I am by no means definite on wanting a second. DH is happy to have another but would also happily stick at one if I didn't want to do it again. I will continue to sit on the fence for a while longer.