July 2014 - Thread 5: Blooming!

[lemonpoppyseed]

Thread 5 already! Sorry about the un-witty title. Am awake because baby is having a party in my belly...

Bleurgh. Had a rough night with leg cramps and that thing where you doze a bit and then wake up too refreshed to sleep again. Then to top it off I've had menstrual-like cramps since about 3am, still going. I found myself hugging my pillow because of the discomfort. No bleeding or anything and bean is moving, adding to the discomfort and calm at the same time, IYSWIM. Seeing midwife for an early 25w appt (and bringing DH) this afternoon so will have more reassurances then.

Most helpful comment I've seen re hospital bags is to bring food. DH and I have severe food allergies and although my hospital was fantastic last time I was there, I did spend a lot of time hungry between meals. My own comment is bring earplugs and headphones and chargers, and a sleep mask if you want to rest at odd times.

I have had period like cramps for a while now.
It's been weeks actually.

I'm pretty sure it's Braxton Hicks - annoying nevertheless.

Hi ladies,

Sorry I haven't been around for a while. I'm a bit of a worrier, and was finding that comparing myself to other people was not particularly helping. However I am now 24w and determined to let myself start getting excited.

We decided not to find out what we're having at the 20w scan so will be a surprise for us (also means I'm less likely to spend ridiculous amounts on cute clothes before baby arrives).

I've enjoyed catching up on this thread, especially with the tips on what to buy etc. So far we haven't bought anything, which is my next thing to worry about, but we are being given quite a lot, so it's just a case of organising to collect a lot of it. We've also decided on the Silvercross Wayfarer as our pram, but need to get round to ordering it. Our friends have given us a list of what they bought when they had newborns, and there's so much to think about! I have a feeling DH will be making more than 1 emergency trip to the shops once baby arrives!

jbiscuits you are definitely allowed to get excited now :) I haven't bought anything yet either, but MIL has been make it up for my lack of effort so have a few bits from her. So glad to hear someone else is getting the Wayfarer as well as we really liked it in the shops but have seen a few worrying reviews online.

Afternoon all from my sunny garden :) just constructed a water table for DS to play with from some spare Ikea Trofast boxes I found lurking in the garage! DS v happy and me too as I can sit quietly outside!

kitkat & jbiscuits we're getting wayfarer, I love it & seeing it out & about it looks very practical & comfy/easy to manoeuvre. cant decide on blue or green tho, I want blue but OH thinks green is more neutral should we have a girl in the future.
went to gp as couldn't hack the pain in my right ribs/abdomen, she cant decide if it's gallbladder or muscular/skeletal, signed off work for a week with certificate to say URQ pain & fatigue, looking forward to getting some rest.
so far we have: deposit on pram, isofix base off gumtree for car, new maxi cosi pebble carseat, one 50ish pack of newborn size 1 pampers, pack of 100 napoy sacks,5 packs johnsons sensitive wipes, hooded bath towel, avent natural breastpump for when established, pack of 50 tommee tippee breastpads 5 x up to 1month long sleeve vest, 3 x 0-3 sleepsuits, 3 x 0-3 pattern vests, 3 x 0-3 bottoms, 1 x 0-3 month knitted jumper, 2 x hats.
going to have a nosey in ikea. we want a chest of drawers, a cheap changing table, 2 change mats, a foam bath insert for use in belfast sink & a crib (£40 at mothercare &£12 mattess, some sheets also) rather than moses basket. think that's us pretty much sorted

Wtaf are my maternity tights too small??? They're the same size/make as my non-maternity tights but they don't fit! Argh!

In other news baby is very active this evening and noticeably stronger than before

Mummytobe - I think we're going to go for the purple one, I'm hoping it would work for a boy as well as a girl. I do wish they did more neutral colours though as I don't want black and sand just looks way too light to be practical.

We've made our first big purchase today. A cotbed and mattress from amazon. It's a nice sleigh design and £185 all in not too bad.

mummytobe that all sounds very organised!

I have bought a load of newborn nappies and realised I have loads of unopened cotton wool pads from DS from when we switched to wipes (though cannot remember when this was!) and am looking forward to fishing out all of my newborn and 0-3 clothes for a sort out....into a neutral pile, a definitely boys pile and a could be either pile/could have different buttons/embellishments added to make girly pile :) that way I can quickly clear out the definitely boys stuff if we have a girl (well...put it away in case Dsis has a boy as they're gonna go for a surprise too!). Will be glad when I can get on with this as all feels a bit limbo like at the moment. Still trying to work out when we move DS into his new room too and whether we keep him in his cotbed or move him into his toddler bed...he's now 21.5 months so will be nearly two when all this happens...but then he will be able to bet out of bed and up to mischief so maybe we should keep him in his cotbed for as long as possible ;)

I fell asleep quite nicely earlier but now wide awake...hence on MN!

auntiem I have never got on well with maternity tights....it's bad enough finding trousers etc to fit properly but what companies do with their tights is beyond me in terms of sizing! I have a pair of unopened chocolate brown 40d mat tights from mothercare which I'm happy to post to anyone who might be interested though...size medium...I'm not going to use them! PM me if you're interested!

Right...now to try sleeping again...

Wow mummytobe I have lists and prices of all those things but none in reality :-( going car sear shopping this weekend though so should have that and a base by Sunday! Decided on pram so waiting to see if mamas and papas have a sale that includes it!

blue really random question but I can't stand the feel of cotton wool- can I use pads with baby rather than balls? If not obviously I will force myself to but just one of those textures that I hate!

ickle

buy a metre of fleece and cut it into baby wipe sized squares.
very soft, non-allergenic and washable, a good alternative to cotton balls.

if you buy cuddle fleece or minky fleece, they are even softer.

ickle I found cotton wool balls yoo small and really liked the large cosmetic type pads-but from the baby section as much cheaper and v often on offer. Boots do them and Asda-not checked other places. It's funny though as neither DH nor I can remember when we ditched cotton wool and water and switched to wipes with DS

Never knew constipation would be so annoying and never thought I would prefer to go back to 3 times a day irritable bowel in preference. Can tell the baby doesn't like it either!

mummytobe and kitkat - so glad I'm not the only one liking the Wayfarer. We're currently tossing up between the blue and the purple (although we liked the green but decided it's too pale and likely to get dirty easily). It was the only pram in our price range we really liked, apart from a Britax (B-smart I think), but that just felt huge to me.

auntie and blue - I'm currently living in my maternity tights with dresses, as I'm finding it impossible to find any maternity jeans that aren't 6 inches too long for me or ridiculously expensive. Anyone know anywhere that does petite maternity wear at a reasonable price?

biscuits Next and New Look do some short leg length stuff though it tends to sell out quickly or try eBay- second hand I know but there's quite a lot of short length stuff on there. I have had the same trouble-shops seem to forget that if you were petite height pre-pregnancy then you will still be so whilst pregnant plus have zero time/energy/patience for shortening things!

Ps for both you'll need to order online as v little mat stuff stocked in shops but both have free returns

Just spent £30 on the pumpkin patch website. Everything half price and they have some fab bright coloured stuff if you are looking for gender neutral!

I need to get some trousers I think as currently living in joggers. I bought jeans from newlook but they are too long so need to exchange. Fortunately the Newbury branch has loads in store.

The bathroom fitting has gone from bad to worse and we are now looking at it finishing next week 'sometime'.

I don't think I used cotton balls, ever.

for the very early sticky poos (meconium)I applied vaseline when putting a clean nappy on so the next lot of stickiness comes off easier nd used baby wipes

I never top & tailed them either - found it too much of a fuff, a quick bath is way nicer!

I'm not exactly that short but still find most jeans way too long. I have bought a pair from mamas and papas and had to roll them up by about 3 inches! Seems way too much effort to have then altered.

I've been spending again but his cot bumper is just so sweet! mekubaby.com/products/birds-in-the-bush I couldn't resist.

I only used cotton wool in hospital and switched to baby wipes at home. I'm finding leggings more comfortable than tights and they stay up better too.

GTT on Saturday and I'm dreading it. Hate needles, hate fasting and last time it made my morning sickness so much worse for a week. To add insult to injury after the test with DS4 was negative the dr kept saying I had "undiagnosed diabetes" just because DS4 was measuring big and my bmi is high.

ellie

poor you.

I refused to do it this time. bloody woman gave me a speech about how each pg is different blah blah blah - don't I know?!

If there's was ever any problems with my pee or any symptoms or weight gain I'd get a GTT, but I seriously doubt that I'm in any danger of having it.
yes, I might be ignorant and bloody minded, but it's a lot of stress and organising to get to the hospital that i just can't cope with.

plus I was only ever suggested to do it with DS5, so if they thought it was so important why not the other 5 times?

I meant excessive weight gain

Thanks for the tip blue. I'd looked in store in Next and New Look, but haven't yet looked online.

ellie I have the GTT next month due to family history and am dreading it already. I get really hungry in the mornings and can get a bit light headed at times, so am really worried about passing out. I'm making DH go into work late so that he can drop me off, and I don't have to risk fainting on the bus!

Hi everybody! I'm due 29th July and (fingers crossed) may well find out tomorrow whether we're having a boy or a girl. Is anybody else struggling to sleep through without having to go for a wee in the ridiculous hours? I didn't have any of this last time but this time it's getting on my nerves! Ha!

due to being signed off for a week I went to visit my gran, shes 82 & such a lively spirit, hope im like her at that age! anyway we went up the town to look at the baby shop & outside the shop on the cobbled pavement a lady tripped infront of us into a running fall and landed hard on her belly. it was only as she was running/falling I seen she was preg, maybe a month or so ahead of us ladies. I couldnt believe what id seen and I helped her back to her feet, poor lady was mortified/almost in tears but insisted she was fine and run off. havent been able to get her out of my mind since it happened. think I have also pulled a muscle in my back helping her up but more annoyed hoping everything is ok with her :(