Martians 2014 Thread 14: on intra-uterine discos and knocking stuff over with your bump.

[SuperMuddle]

Come join us on our shiny new thread!

[ChaffinchOfDoom]

Ive done a bag list, amalgamated MN and NHS lists plus my own crucial ''nice snacks & drinks''
bought some cotton wool balls today, they are expensive, even from home bargains damnit.
remember vaguely that a good thing I did last time there was a baby about the place was have a nappy change station upstairs and another full set of stuff downstairs..

[FrankelInFoal]

Yup Baking, that's me! I've still got two portfolios, an assignment and a research project to submit . To be fair they're not all due right now, they're spread between now and August, but I want to do the majority if not all before Baby Frankel puts in an appearance!

[MummyPig24]

I had my bag packed at 36 weeks last time and the little madam hung on another 5 weeks! I need to actually get a bag first.

[BakingEating]

Hello newbies! Aloya how are you finding the Yorkshire accent and settling into the UK?

I am utterly clueless about nappies and its worse because I'm in Germany and don't really know the brands. Plus Aldi and Lidl are actually the most depressing shops here.

Frankel, where have you been hiding? Was it you doing a Masters degree along with work?

[Rockchick1984]

Lottie they are going to be screwed on that theory then... Huggies don't make anything bigger than newborn any more

[commsgirl]

I have pampers and aldi, hoping one or the other will fit!

[Lottie345]

I too have heard only good things about aldi/lidl and also kiddicare (morrisons) nappies. Just a fandango to get to. Some 'expert' (read annoying know-it-all parent who I'm sure is just trying to help... But always gets my back up) told me babies are either Huggies or pampers fit and they swear by that one and then the other brand always leaks for them.
How that translates to own brands I don't know but all trial and error eh?

Hope meeting went well MTB and hello hello to all newbies, returnees and lurkees

[commsgirl]

Hi strangers!

I've been trying to catch up but I'm definitely way behind! I hope everything's going well for everyone and I'll try and keep up from now on!

Slings next week you'll be sitting in a circle holding hands, humming and talking about your fears.

[puggywug81]

I'm also looking forward to packing the hospital bag but as I'm not due till 26th March it's too soon so I am making a comprehensive list instead, I love a good list!

[mrsmugoo]

My SIL just gave birth at 38 weeks - I'll be having my bag packed from 36 I think. I'm actually looking forward to packing it and getting all the bits!

[IceNoSlice]

Hello hello. Found the thread again. Hope you're all well. I'm feeling a bit twinge-y, ache-y and tired today. But that's par for the course, eh?

Hospital bag/s. Hmmm. Didn't pack until 38 weeks last time. Haven't really thought about it yet. Maybe I'll do a list. Gotta love a list.

Has anyone had any reflexology? I had some after I started mat leave last time - loved it. I'm not sure I buy into the theory but a foot massage is my idea of happiness!

[mrsmugoo]

Just checking in to say hi - I've been reading but not posting.

All good over here, starting to have wobbles about not knowing sex and wanting to maybe have a chat to DH about having a scan to find out - it's name related more than anything. I'm having cold feet on our "agreed" boy name and think maybe if we find out the sex we would at least know for sure if we actually need to a difficult conversation about the boy name.

[FrankelInFoal]

My best friend said she found that Pampers leaked constantly with her little boy and that she thought Asda's own brand were the best for him. Of course every baby is different so I've decided to buy small packs of several brands to see what works, rather than buy huge amounts of one brand.

I've also been given the tip to buy unscented wipes. A friend told me that whenever she smelt the scented wipes she used she instantly thought of poo! Smell is a strong memory trigger!

[ChaffinchOfDoom]

I remember Lidl nappies being surprisingly good too agree pampers/huggies not got the edge over the supermarket specials

[pixiebell79]

MTB - Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments for you and provide WRITTEN reasons for any adjustments they are unable to make. They cannot force you to take mat leave early, except during the last four weeks before EDD, and only then if you take time off sick during those four weeks. If you're having issues I've found ACAS to be a great source of help and advice - you can talk to their advisors too. They know the legal side but being a conciliation service they can also advise on non-alienating approaches to take.

Wishing you all the best for your meeting, let us know how you get on x

[FoxMulder]

Good point on the Aldi nappies Rock Which? really rates them.

MTB Good luck with the meeting. Your work sound like right unsympathetic bastards.

[liberuna]

Echoing puggy. mtb they legally cannot force you to start mat leave early. Again make sure everything goes in writing. Otherwise you can't prove it's they who are making you sick/worse.

Is there any progress on getting gp? Going to a&e an option?

[puggywug81]

Sorry to hear about your boss\hr troubles MTB, don't let them bully you toy shouldn't have to start your mat leave before you are ready to.

[MTBMummy]

Thanks Lib sadly my boss and HR seem to be on the same side and are pushing that I just start my mat leave early, which I refuse to do as I'm only 29 weeks

[Rockchick1984]

Those pampers nappies are still fairly expensive - Aldi nappies are fantastic (leaked far less for DS than pampers/huggies) and are 7p per nappy, those pampers are 10p per nappy! Asda little angels newborn are 8.4p per nappy, so unless you specifically want branded ones (that don't get better reviews) I wouldn't buy pampers :)

[MTBMummy]

Thanks Slings - I'm hoping that a major BH will hit in the middle of the meeting to drive home my point, although by 3:30 when I have my meeting I'm generally in agony and tearful anyway so that should be fun

Fox I'm not really talking to him yet, i kind of think to him, poor little mite probably thinks I'm a miserable bint because all I do at home is tell the dog off, and then DD for winding the dog up, or be miserable because I'm so tired, bet he can't wait to come out and join in

[liberuna]

owl Tell me about it. Also we're edd buddies. Race you!

lottie elimination communication is training your child toilet techniques from very early on. (Not tried myself) from what I've read, every time they wee^poo you associate it with a sound or visual. The idea they will eventually either tell you they need to wee by copying the gesture or will go toilet on demand when you repeat gesture. (Think Pavlovs dogs) someone feel free to correct if I got this wrong.

mtb good luck for today and remember they cannot refuse to make reasonable adjustments for you. Get everything I writing. As if they do ,you can sue/go to HR.

[SlingsAndRoundabouts]

Good luck, MTB. Knowing your twat of a boss that ain't going to be an easy ask, eh? I do shudder at your horrid commute

Foxy, I'm waffling the same old shit to my baby: 'Hello, darling Walter, hello, gorgeous Nancy, we do wonder which one you are [yawn] and who you look like [it's not rocket science: with a donor egg it's unlikely to look like me]. Guess what's for tea tonight..?' [Zzzzzz......]

Owl, my thoughts exactly.

[MTBMummy]

Welcome aloya and Puggy

and welcome back Frankel

Wish me luck I have a meeting with HR and my boss to discuss me doing more work from home - I cannot cope with the 5:30am starts any more and I'm in constant pain, as I currently have no GP or midwife I can't even get signed off as was promised by my old GP surgery

[FoxMulder]

I might get them nappies of Amazon too. Although I think you have to spend £10 to get free delivery. It still feels really weird buying baby things. I don't really talk to the bump. I don't even really think about it. I still don't quite believe I'm having a baby, just that something a bit weird is happening to my body.

lib at my MW appointments she always asks me if I smoke. If I said 'no' last time she asked, and the time before, and the time before that, and that I've never smoked, I wonder what makes her think I'm about to take it up now.