August 2014: growing bumps and 20 week scans!!!

[Owlysims]

New thread!!!

Just had a look at the two strollers you mentioned, Ruggle. Having had the experience with DD, I personally wouldn't go for something like that for a newborn because they have to be strapped in and one of them states 'near-flat' rather than completely flat.

I believe that current advice is that newborns ideally need to lie completely flat for their backs? Although I am sure that they wouldn't be allowed to advertise suitability from birth unless 'near-flat' was absolutely acceptable.

It just seemed to me that DD was most happy when she had complete freedom to lie back and kick her arms and legs completely unfettered, no straps. I'm going to pull the pram out of the loft for the new baby and just use a sling if I want to go into town/the city.

Thanks Secretlypregnant
That's really useful! I have never had to think about things like pushchairs before so I really have no clue! What I do know is that I live on a steep hill. Well, to get to the nearest park it's a hike up a pretty steep hill anyway, and to get to the baby and toddler meetings it's a hike up the same hill followed by a bus ride. Also, at some point I'll have to commute by tube/train with baby (if I find a nursery near work) and both stations have lots of steps....so my priorities are definitely lightweight. I don't drive, so it's not like I will be needing a puschair that can take a carseat or anything like that, so I think the two I've been looking at might fit the bill really. I'll have to try them out in a shop for handle height as I don't think they're adjustable...and I'm very short!

Oh...and in response to your second comment about flatness, that did concern me....but hopefully when the bub is tiny tiny I will be able to use a sling instead. How long to they have to stay flat-flat for? I can imagine if it were in a carrycot-type puschair it would end up sliding down as I pushed it up the hill!

Yes, it makes a huge difference if you're somewhere hilly and don't drive! It sounds as if those two you named would work well. I'd also suggest looking into slings though, if you haven't already. I found mine so much more convenient than any pushchair/pram when I was out and about.

Sorry, I keep cross-posting! I think the guidance is three months - but bear in mind that it's also about the length of time they are in the seat/pushchair. If it's a small amount of time and they're mainly in a Moses basket at home or on the floor, I wouldn't worry. By the sound of it, your little one will spend more time flat than a lot of babies anyway, if you don't drive!

The pram I have, by the way, doubles as a lie-flat car seat, so it has a belly strap which I used to put on if we were walking any distance (seeing as I live in a pretty hilly part of the country!).

Before I had DD a friend of mine told me that they hadn't bothered with a pushchair/pram at all - they just had slings until the baby was big enough for a Maclaren type pushchair. I didn't take his advice, but it makes me think maybe it's totally feasible to wait until after your baby arrives to decide on a pushchair, and just have a sling ready? Might be a mad suggestion!

I have a sling question for those who have experience! Can you use them from newborn? Do you generally need someone to help or is this something you get the hang of and then can get baby in sling pretty easily by yourself? Am thinking I could do with a carseat and sling scenario rather than pushchair....

You can definitely use them from newborn, and you shouldn't need anyone to help you. I practised with a doll a few times before I had DD, but actually I think I would have been more stressed with an audience. As it was I put her into the sling with the help of the mirror and it was all very calm and quite good fun!

However, not every sling suits ever adult/baby. So I would suggest that you either buy a cheap secondhand (one after a bit of research), so it's not a disaster if you don't get on with it, OR you go along to a sling library first and try various ones on.

Also remember that there is time after the baby arrives to get a sling then. I didn't even try with a sling until 15 days after DD was born. (And should you end up having a CS, you wouldn't be carrying baby in a sling for some weeks.)

Hi! Goodness all this talk of prams makes me nervous! I have absolutely no clue!! Will wait until after 20week scan before I start looking.

I went to see GP about my bladder issues. Urine sample was completely clear but she's treating me for a UTI anyway in case. I'm not entirely convinced but in work tomorrow so can speak to one of the doctors there if I have yet another rubbish night. Think it might be nap time now. Going to bake a cake later but hoping for an hours sleep first!!

disney I'm still suffering from headaches too. I went for acupuncture today to see if that helps. I normally only get a couple of headaches a year. I have had one almost every day since BFP. My BP is normal, so it's not that.

londonchick I'm not looking at prams for a good while yet. I am still struggling to believe this is real, tbh.

I've also had a couple of nasty headaches in the past two weeks. I thought it was possibly caused by constipation...but I found that a bit of exercise helped relieve it (the headache rather than the constipation). I've been blocked up coz I've been craving bagels, and I can't usually eat anything bready, so it's really messing up my stomach...though it is also common in the 2nd trimester ...when everything gets sluggish anyway.

Ruggle

I found two buggies invaluable, especially when I lived in London. We had a bigger, more sturdy one for walks or when we took the car. It was more comfy and more solid - but also heavier.

Then we got a super light one for going on the tube and travelling. That was a lifesaver when going up and down stairs because I could easily carry it or if I was on the escalator (which always scared me - I would often go to Holborn where the escalator is never ending) I would hold the child and sling the buggy over my shoulder. But the downside is that it's not as comfortable, especially for napping/snoozing, and also only good for older babies (they say 6 months plus for the one we had).

If your budget can stretch to it then, given that you use the tube, I'd recommend a light buggy and a more solid one. It's the same for us in NYC as it was in London - we have a car but we use the subway a lot as well so I've got one sturdy, comfy one with good wheels for things like walking the dog or days out if we're taking the car but I'll get a very lightweight one later when the baby's older.

Then again, dd1 never used her stroller. She hated them until she could sit up and would scream constantly if we dared to put her in one! Lucky we had number two or it would have been a total waste of money. DD1 introduced me to the world of slings!

Shakshuka, that makes complete sense, but I can't see myself pushing a heavy buggy up our hill. It's hard enough walking up it. And I don't drive (though that might change). I think I'll start with slings and see how we get on with those. I have hip impingement so might not cope with the weight for long...but that's also going to be true of pushing a buggy.
Thanks for the input though. It's great to get advice from people who've been through it already!

I never found the weight an issue for pushing so much, it's the carrying! I think you should be careful about the wheels because that's what makes a difference with pushing, especially when you have a heavier toddler in there. Also an adjustable handle will be helpful if you're shorter than average to make it easier on your back

I would get the odd migraine normally but it seems to be tension headaches at the moment and it hasn't really gone away completely since last Tuesday (had no headaches at all since my BFP until then), it's always lingering even if it isn't actually painful. It makes concentrating at work really hard as well. It's not dehydration as I drink nearly 2 litres of water at work every day (plus a cup of tea).

Let me know if the acupuncture helps Euro I'm thinking of getting a massage at the weekend to see if that helps but would also be willing to try acupuncture!

A girl in work was selling her travel system for £60 a few weeks ago so I snapped it up (I did have a quick squiffy for reviews first), it seemed pretty much exactly what we were looking for so I snapped it up before anyone else did. I now have the car seat that clicks on to it too and the isofix base all for about £110.

All this talk of prams, was looking forward to shopping for one but brother in law has given us his with car seat, its not what I would have chosen but would be daft financially and a little ungrateful to say no. London, I sympatise with your wee problem, I was the same for about 2 weeks and spoke to mw about it at 16wk app, she said it should improve and it did, so much so that I forgot about it until I read your query. I think it stopped by wk 18. Hope you are feeling better and less frustrated. I know it may sound rude but does anyone else have people giving you too much 2nd hand stuff, I know its really nice of my friends and sister but my tastes are quite different to theirs and I am also parranoid about my son being seen in all family photos in the same outfits as his cousins. Sometimes I am not sure if its generosity or poeple just trying to have a clear out. Is there a polite way to deal with it because I'm worried about peolple saying "he never wears that outfit I gave you" and me feeling obliged to put them on him. Honestly I do feel lucky my friends are so kind but I have waited years for this and feel a bit overwhelmed by everyone, a bit like buying your first house then having your mum furnish it for you in her style.

thanks for sling tips secretly, I think I might be getting ahead of myself a bit but want to be prepared (as much for logistics as for actually having items in readiness!).
Am 19+2 today and really feeling very crampy - does anyone know if you should/shouldn't use a hot water bottle for aches as with AF cramps I normally would. Have used one on my back but didn't want to get all gung-ho and overheat the wee dot.

Just checking in

It's really interesting to read everyone's advice re. prams. This weekend DH and I hired a van and went to visit his bro and sis in law who have offloaded literally all of their baby stuff. We've come back with a good sling and a good buggy but a knackered out and broken old pram (not surprising seeing as it's had 3 kiddos in it!). We were sort of counting on getting all the big things as hand me downs so it's daunting to think about choosing a pram now...the dream would be to have a big, robust one for walks etc. then a small and nippy one for me mooching about town on my own with the baby but we'll need to make do with the one I expect.

Interesting to think that we could just roll with the sling at first and take our time choosing a pram though.

On the subject of slings, the one I've got is quite solid and big - definitely more of an outdoor type sling I think. I was thinking about getting a softer, fabric sling for wearing round the house. Has anyone had any experience with those kinds? Any recommendations would be most welcome!

Thanks for all this good pram advice everyone. Keen grandparents have offered to buy us our first pram and I was thinking of a bugaboo bee. I live in London and plan to mainly use a sling for trips out into London but the bee looks small and useful for other journeys too. Can't fit two pushchairs into our rather small house, so need something compact but practical. Anyone any experience with it?

Weeza13, honestly if I were you I would smile and say thank you and then just sort through the clothes for anything you actually like and bag up the rest and store them in a wardrobe or cupboard.

Firstly, no one is going to see your little one every single day except you, so they can't possibly know what he wears every day. In my experience, people are just happy to feel that they are helping and contributing. We were given absolutely shedloads of secondhand clothes and equipment, and no one ever asked if it was being used.

Secondly, you might well find that you can use some of the initially unwanted clothes - it's always good to have backups with a newborn. We had a load of vests that had gone through several children, and I am sure I remember that I threw one away rather than washing it, after a particularly explosive newborn nappy drama. In the early days you may occasionally get through several in a day.

Dreamphone, it's great that you've got all those things! I never had to think about choosing a pram either - just got given one. You'll probably meet loads of new parents once you've had your baby and be able to examine all their prams anyway - if you decide to just have the sling initially. I remember noticing prams SO much more than I ever had in my life before when I was pregnant last time!

I use a stretchy Kari Me sling around the house - picked it up secondhand on eBay after recommendations on Mumsnet. It's been brilliant, and one great thing is that you don't have to keep undoing it and re-tying it to get the baby in and out. A friend of mine had a stretch sling that had to be unwound and untied each time, which was a bit of a bugger.

Wow, generous grandparents, mssleepyhead! No experience of those but what a lovely present.

Just re-read what I wrote - mssleepyhead I meant that I have no experience of Bugaboo Bees, not generous grandparents!

Disney - I thought I had tension headaches and put up with them for ages and it turned out to be a sinus infection. Might be worth going to the doctors. I like the idea of a sling library. Does anyone know if there is one in Manchester?
I'm due on the 14th but i'll be having a c-section a bit before then.

London my bladder issues seem to have gotten worse too, I have a retroverted uterus, I have to bend over and push forward to help get some of it out, I keep thinking that I have a uti but I'm very prime to them so the pain isn't bladder, but have been worried about the lower pelvic pain tonight, but sitting down now and it's gone.

Secretly, thanks for the advice. I am watching OBEM, how is it that seeing the dads cry always sets me off, its not even a hormonal thing, this programme has always done this to me...don't know if I will still be able to watch it further down the line though, delivery for me is still 4 and half months away so it doesn't yet seem real that it will me doing all that yet.

I fell asleep before OBEM tonight so missed it. It took me a long time to watch it again after previous birth! And I always sob... I have my scan in a week and am so worried about it. I just want everything to be ok. Anyone else unreasonably worried?

travis I feel utterly terrified of the scan so you're not alone! Thought I'd be more relaxed but just can't shake the uneasiness. 2.5 weeks to go for me!

missvaughn sorry you're having issues too. Maybe there is some irritation there? Mine is most comfortable sitting down. Any other position is a disaster! I did have a slightly more comfortable night so maybe antibiotics are helping a bit