February 2014 - is there an octopus in there?

[LittlePandaBear]

Okay I don't like to run out of things, even threads, so here's the new one.

Can't remember who described their baby kicking like an octopus but it's very true :)

thingy don't forget to add something to push his back out of shape so he gets really stiff and starts to waddle...

Hope your antibiotics kick in quickly winter and you start to recover from mammoth cold.

sorry - that should have been thisis

I would reccomend a phil & ted as it can be double and single. I had one when I had my second DC and it was fantastic.

When they were both older I moved onto a Maclaren with a buggy board. But I really detest buggy boards as it is so awkward to walk behind. So I usually ended up using the P&T anyway if we were going out for the day or places I knew I needed them both strapped in.

Also it was great for carrying everything as it has a big basket.

That was for Sassy

Now = not .

Thanks iPhone.

Having some strange bump sensations over the last few days - feeling pressure in the bladder area which I think is it digging its head in, followed by slight breathlessness like it's also digging its heels/knees/bum into my lungs. Think the little bugger is trying to stretch out - either that or practicing its limbs-splayed-you-can't-make-me-move move for future temper tantrums. Anyone else get something similar? It's a bit weird because can't feel anything at the top of the bump, just get the knock on effect of whatever it's doing.

I'm still having octopus effect - kicks and bumps all over so I have no idea what way round he is. Seriously breathless though. Gets me a bit freaked out sometimes! DH told me I was breathing like a pervert last night Doesn't help that I can't breathe out of my nose either!

I hope you feel better soon, winter.

I'm just starting to be able to feel hard areas in the bump and know that's where he is. Funny how it changes all the time!

waiting at the hospital for my appointment... being stingy and waiting till the last min befote buying my carparking ticket!!!
Dreading feeling up the tiny wee pots!!! Hope everyone has a good day in the autumn sun shine!!!

Littleen How are you holding up with mental health crap (as I fondly call it)? My anxiety is pretty good atm but tics are intrusive.

Barebranches Oh god, hospital parking is so frickin expensive. Watford is particularly bank breaking. We ended up paying close to £10 for our anatomy scan parking, plus £5 for pics on top of that. Plus the car park is shit!

Just back from the doctors myself, got my iron tablets. Iron was 11 and not too low but he said he'd give me the tablets now as he would expect that to get worse if he didn't.

My sore throat and cough has errupted into a full on cold. Taken the day off work to recover, my maternity cover starts tomorrow as well so hope I magically get better for tomorrow! I've got the most unsympathetic boss who just does not understand. Yesterday I received comments such as

"Well, it won't be much good if you're not here when your cover starts" b*l s*t as there is plenty for him to learn before I get started on my projects

And

"It doesn't matter if people catch your germs, let them"

Thanks for the support boss.

Sorry for the rant! Hope everyone has a nice day, hope you feel better soon winter

winter, tiny, hope you feel better soon.

notone I've got the breathless thing going on too. My asthma has been significantly better this pregnancy, but in the last week it's gone down hill. I'm trying to work out how much is baby squishing lungs and how much is asthma. I can't tell the difference yet!

Thanks for the advice re double buggies / buggy boards. I think a cheap double buggy is way to go as can't see dd using buggy board when she could be sitting down relaxing!

Sassy not much help probably but we have a Phil & Teds buggy for DS and he will be exactly 2yrs when DD arrives. So we've bought the doubles seat to turn it into a double. We also have a lightweight Maclaren and I'm guessing sometimes for short trips, I might have the new baby in a sling and DS in the buggy. Love the look of the newborn cocoon for the Phil & Teds - you can just lift it out with sleeping newborn inside without waking them.

re hospital parking. check with your maternity unit whether they have a discounted rate for the maternity ward and labour. certainly Cambridge did and it was something like £3 for 24 hours rather than needing a second mortgage. you had to get your ticket validated to get cheaper rate.

I think we are going to go with buggy board, as DS is pretty big and at the limit of UK buggies. there is the option of him in buggy with baby in sling, or him walking, baby in buggy and sling available should we need it and the failsafe of taking two buggies if DH comes too.

A question re buggies and the like - we were so overwhelmed with the whole thing at the Baby Show we didn't buy anything at all, although we really liked the look of the Stokke Xplory, but the new version is hugely expensive.

So we have decided to not buy one at all - just a car seat so we can travel home from the hospital by taxi (don't have a car) and go and see family, and intend to use a sling for the rest of the time until the little one is too heavy for me/us to cart around. Our somewhat irritatingly smug eco-warrior friend has managed with only a sling for her now two year old, but I'm not sure I want to do that for long days out. My question is: how long would you sling for? Am assuming I don't have a c-section and can use a sling comfortably, and also schlep a changing bag and handbag with me...

Gnitting I have a friend like yours... I would say though that it's pretty rare to get on with just a sling. The beauty of a lie-flat pram is that you go out for a walk, baby falls asleep, you arrive at your destination (coffee shop, friend's house, or back at your house) wheel the pram inside and have a nice break while the baby sleeps. If they fall asleep in the sling attached to you, you're sort of stuck. Which some people find ok but personally I enjoyed a bit of space without a baby stuck to me (they are stuck to you plenty in those early weeks/months with breastfeeding, rocking to sleep or just sleeping on you when it's on your terms) and also you could argue that it's good for them to learn to nap on their own. Plus my DS was tricky to get him to nap in his cot for ages, so the motion of the pram was a total godsend initially - quick wander up the road, baby asleep, back home and I could put my feet up or get stuff done around the house for a couple of hours. Hope that helps! You don't need an expensive one by the way!

gnitting I wanted to do the same and have no pram but I've been convinced otherwise. We asked the midwife and she said it wasn't good for baby to be held in sling if you're out all day as they do need some time lying flat.

sassy you should be able to pick up a P&T for quite cheap on Gumtree or EBay. We sold our which was in really good condition and had the double seat, cocoon etc and brand new wheels. We only managed to get £75 for it which I was quite annoyed about. But shows you that there are bargains to be had.

Just rushing in to remind you about your pelvic floor. SQUEEZE and hold.
Can you tell I've just been reading some incontinence/prolapse horror stories? Ok, as you were.

Thanks ladies :)

I'm another thinking of going with sling as much as poss but loves that's such a good point about prams and sleeping!

tiny don't pay any attention to your boss! If you aren't well listen to your body and stay off as long as you need

Thanks loves that's helpful.

eeyorish cheers, had forgotten about the lying flat thing !

I adored my moby wrap but definitely needed a pram as well.