TTC 10+++ Months Grads Thread

[sweetgrouch]

Decided to start the new thread seeing as the old one is filling up.

Euro I haven't quite decided yet but it will be similar to you I think. I might do 6 months once baby is here but it really depends on how work goes. Mr Sea won't be able to take more than 2 weeks so it will be tough. Are you going down the nanny or day care route once you go back to work?
I read your post on the other thread about wearing baby on board badge. I feel a fraud too. Haven't actually got one yet despite family and friends' nagging. I feel too self conscious for some reason.

Free I think spreading the cost is sensible. I haven't bought anything but I'm only16 weeks. I'm scared to in case I jinx things. I have only just started looking at antenatal courses. Can't bring myself to book. How are you feeling?

sea - a little boy! Congratulations. That is so exciting. I didn't book any antenatal classes because I wasn't sure how I would feel after the delivery. I regret that decision now. I think it would have been good for me.

Free - Mr grouch bought stuff on sale as the pregnancy progressed. I was too scared to buy things myself in case I somehow jinxed the pregnancy.

Euro - The maternity leave sounds sensible. I will be going back in July (6 months). I could have gone back sooner, but I prefer being home right now. All the time away made me reconsider my career choice, a change will be good. Mr. Grouch wishes he could spend some time home. My BIL did and really enjoyed the time - I'm sure mr. Euro will too.

Lemon - you must be moving along well. The last few weeks were slow and tortuous for me. I felt was so close to the finish line, I just wanted to cross it - hopefully you can enjoy much more than I did.

I can't bring myself to buy anything yet. I had in the back of my mind that if the 20 week scan was an all clear I would bite the bullet, but as you might have seen from other threads, at the scan yesterday although everything looked good with centime, there was a question mark about whether the blood flow to the placenta is as strong as it should be, so I have another scan at 28 weeks.

Oh Euro I am sorry to hear about blood flow worries. FMC told me about blood flow too and apparently clexane and baby aspirin can help with both. I had been a bit resentful that I am still stabbing twice a day and taking the pill (as prescribed by the Argy) but when they told me that I finally understood what it was for. Are you taking any of this?

Sweet - How are you? 6 months seems to be a popular time to go back to work with my friends in RL. Do you wish you could be off for longer or do you think it's about right? I will book the antenatal course. I am just procrastinating is all. I am just a bit nervous about all things related to pregnancy that's all. I still can't bring myself to get the badge for the tube. Crazy I know.

Buzz - How are you? How is little B feeding these days?

I'm on low dose aspirin to 36 weeks, sea, and have been since egg collection. I hope it's nothing but really want to reach a point where I feel that I can relax and enjoy this, and I'm not there yet. It was the very last thing they checked on the scan too- everything had been going well up to that point.

I know! I'm sure the aspirin will help would you consider adding clexane to the mix? I wasn't really happy to keep taking it but since FMC told me or helps with blood flow I have felt much better about it. I'm sure it will all be fine but after everything you have been through you deserve not to have any worries at all.

euro I don't quite understand if they are concerned about blood flow then surely they would keep an eye on you more closely, 8 weeks is a long time, I would have thought they would scan you within the month, I didn't buy stuff until I was about 23-25 weeks

sea I got the badge so people wouldn't think I was fat and lazy but I felt rather odd wearing it, I also found only women offered theirs seats to me and its mainly women who offer to hold doors and help with the buggy I stopped expressing at 8 weeks, we are both happy with FF from the bottle, my next hurdle will be weaning, oh how I can't wait for that to start in a few months, she has had some reflux but baby gaviscon seems to be doing the trick

Kayla is at this moment sleeping on the bouncy chair she has pretty much slept on everything we have bought for BB.

Buzz I can't believe baby bb is almost at weaning stage! Time must be going quickly! Kayla sounds like a little minx
I will get that cat I have been waiting for one day!

sea We are still a couple of months of weaning but there was an article about some research being done into childhood diabetes and it suggests slowly weaning at 4.5 months, its a very gradual thing but they say if you leave weaning till the recommended 6 months by the NHS your child could have a higher chance of developing it, supposedly the NHS is watching and seeing what happens with the trials etc

this is Kayla in the cot and bouncy chair

I'm glad Kayla seems to approve of the purchases. :) You are a star for expressing for 8 weeks buzzy.

8 weeks does seem like a long time between scans. I'm seeing my mw on Monday, so I will see what she thinks and whether I need to be referred to consultant care at this point. I've also wondered whether I should be on the dreaded Clexane.

Having read up on the condition, I have actually got my head out of the sand and decided we will start to buy stuff when I am back from my US trip (I'll be 23 weeks then). The most likely adverse outcome seems to be early delivery. Reading on t'internet some of them have been VERY early. So I think we need to be prepared for that eventuality.

hi everyone I hope you had a lovely extended weekend for the Easter break. I am basking in the triumph of a successfully hosted Easter lunch for 8 including in laws. As I am not the best cook, managing to do a roast lamb with sides, starter and dessert is a challenge for me.

euro sorry about the blood flow concerns I hope it all turns out to be all right at your next scan. I also think it is a long time to wait. Let us know what the midwife said about it

buzzy that is a lovely looking cat on some lovely looking kit. No wonder she wants to sleep on it! Well done also on telling your FIL what's what.

I have my next check up on Friday this week where I will be 24+2. We went to an enormous baby product shop on Easter Saturday. It was a mistake. Jam packed and not enough sales advisors. We did manage to find out about car seats, there are not that many that will fit our rather old car so that was good to get informed. MrFree is relieved we don't have to buy a new car. We'll go back and buy it at a quieter time when I'm further along.

Have a good week.

short question: I have an antenatal class starting up at lunchtimes in May. It's 2 hours and at least 20-30 minutes each way to get there and back. So I applied for holiday to attend. My manager is refusing to approve my holiday and said - just go. It's once a week. I know you do more than your alloted hours anyway and I don't see why you should use your holiday for this. The thing is, pregnant women going to midwife appointments or hospital appointments in the middle of the day for 2 hours without allocated holiday really annoys me in a customer facing team where we have to cover each other. So why should I get time off over other members of staff who don't or won't have kids? Is it stupid to insist that the holiday is necessary or am I overthinking this? If I were on the receiving end, I'd think - this is just not fair. Admittedly, other members of staff do go to the doctor, dentist, receive deliveries in work time without official time off. But they are rarely gone for 3 hours a week, over a 6 week period.

free - I wouldn't push it. I guess I didn't worry about extra time off during my pregnancy, other people take time for other reasons (ex: I work with smokers who take 3-5 15 minute breaks throughout the day for years). I know I get my work done and work more than the allotted time so I just consider it like all the breaks I haven't taken over the years.

Euro - Sorry about the extra worry. I'm glad the internet provided some comfort. Good luck with the US purchases - DH and I noticed that the sizing for baby items is a bit different than up here (and the european clothes).

Buzzy - weaning already! Wow - our recommendations are to go 1 year + with bfding. I am actually relieved you said this, I am considered slack because I felt that if I made it to 6 months it would be a lot for me. I have to say you are a champ that you did 8 weeks of expressing milk. I'm glad my kitties aren't the only ones enjoying the baby purchases.

sea - Honestly, I would like to stay home longer. I really have been enjoying my time with little sweets. When I was pregnant I didn't think I would want to stay home longer. It might also say something about my current level of job satisfaction.

I must be really thick, I just realized that the badge for the tube is a real badge !
Over here we rely on the bump to do the talking. In my experience, was men (generally with young families - or so they would tell me) and women aged ~35-45 would offer me a seat (we have priority seating for pregnant women, injured people, and the elderly). Otherwise, a 50-something year old woman shoved me out of the way and dove into a seat when I was nearly 30 weeks along . At 35 weeks someone asked me to move and give them my seat - I stood up, thought about it, turned to them and said no.

thanks sweet MrFree told me to stop being such a jobsworth/goody two shoes. I will relax.

free I agree with sweet just leave it and enjoy, not worth worrying about

sweet to they expect you to bfeed until 1 year??? The NHS guidelines is to bfeed to 6 months then start weaning, although I have mentioned that there is some research into starting slightly earlier, I think we will start with babyrice when she is about 5 months or so, I'm glad your kitty is better :)

euro and critter enjoy your meet up

Free I know how you feel but I agree with others you should just go to the class without taking holiday. I only just recently started my new job and am v conscious about taking time off for anything pregnancy related. I only do appointments at the start or end of the day and always work late most days. I do feel the pressure though as I feel they think I took the job only to get maternity pay (I had my own biz before) when in reality I don't qualify for anything. I actually took a pay cut to do this job as it's something I really wanted to do with my life. It's hard but I just have to live with it.

Sweet. I guess you never know how you will feel until baby comes. Lol about badge. I finally succumbed and got a badge today and felt so weird wearing it. About 5 mins after I ran into a work associate who immediately commented on it. I felt so uncomfortable. I actually took it off when I got home.

Buzz v interesting about early weaning. Do you have a link to that article?

Buzzy - They expect you to bfeed until 1 year with food slowly introduced around 6 months. After speaking with baby sweets pediatrician, we are starting food at 4 months (he is a big, hungry boy) and bfing will continue as long as it makes sense for us. Thanks for the comments for my furbaby, I actually was nearly in tears at the vet when I realized her infection and tooth problem were treatable. I love my furbabies like real children.

Sea - Try to think like an instadiffer when you get comments . I honestly only got comfortable asking for a seat when I was between 35-40 weeks pregnant. I should have done it sooner but for some reason I felt like a fraud which makes no sense

sweet bloody hell that is more military than the NHS here, you have to do what is right for you and your beautiful baby :) furbabies are important I don't know what I would do without mine

sea I looked at a couple of articles one was a bit long winded and technical but the daily mail also mentioned it which made me a bit only because its the DM I have also seen an article that doesn't recommend early weaning, you just can't win really

kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/solids-diabetes/

www.rcpch.ac.uk/news/babies-weaned-after-six-months-are-three-times-likely-develop-type-1-diabetes

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2358753/Babies-weaned-months-times-likely-develop-type-1-diabetes.html#ixzz2YdA5Kjfq

buzzy - I can tell by your photos on the other place that you have a very much loved and cared for fur baby

The recommendations for children usually seem to be based on correlative studies.

I think that each batch of children is seen as a cohort and try to make a small change to see if it benefits the children. For example, they got parents to eliminate nuts from children's diets until the age of 2, hoping to reduce the risk of allergies. That cohort seems to have more peanut allergies than any other, the recommendation has now been reversed. So I guess it is very hard to know what to do. We're just trying to avoid things that are proven to be harmful.

The BFding thing is a bit stressful here, I have friends who felt incredibly judged by medical professionals when they did not BF for as long as was recommended.

Its quite full on here to bf and i know alot of women who have been miserable doing it but have carried on, yes there are lots pics of fur baby, she is now sitting on the playmat in the sun

I really liked my MIL's advice about bf - "don't make yourself sick or miserable doing it, more than anything else your baby needs to be cared for by a happy mum". She was one of the few who bf for quite a long time when it was really unpopular.

Couldn't agree more

Hello everyone!!

Sorry I've been gone for so long, decided to take a break for MN and internetty stuff, still not sure if I'll be back for good or leave it to focus on things like reading in my spare time (shocking how little I've read since Hamish arrived), but I wanted to see how you were all getting on (I'm nosey like that!)

So good to hear about all these pregancies progressing well :-)

euro I also had issues with blood flow to the uterus, and I had a scan about 24 weeks (I think) and it had all resolved itself then (most women's arteries do eventually open up to let all the blood through, it just takes a wee bit longer than the average).

I was given aspirin at 12 weeks but to be honest, I was puking so much and felt so ill due to the morning sickness and I was already having to take my thyroxine every day that I just couldn't face another pill, so I ended up not taking it at all during my pregnancy. The consultant said I could start taking it at 20 weeks if I felt better but that the evidence indicated it was best taken from 12 weeks so I never bothered. I'd definitely mention it at your next appointment as I agree with buzzy that 8 weeks seems a long time to wait for a scan to double check

buzzy glad that baby bee is doing so well. Hamish is a bit of a 'mare just now - he really wants to walk to the extent that he's really not that bothered about trying to crawl, he just wants us to hold his hands so he can walkabout - all the time! - bloody agony on the back - he's made a lot of progress in the last week (given how sedentary he was for ages!) so is now pulling himself up to stand and can sit from lying down and cruise round the furniture a bit, so he's more mobile (hence lots of emergency tidying has had to be done!)

I can't believe he's going to be a year old next month - it just seems like yesterday I was in hospital giving birth (still have warm fuzzy thoughts about that :-)

We waited 6 months to wean both of ours primarily as I wanted to do BLW and your baby really needs to be sitting up well with good hand/eye coordination to pull it off (and also weaning is outrageously messy, so the longer I could put it off the better!).

It's so individual with babies though. Hamish has taken to solid so well and has (excuse the TMI) solid formed poohs since about 7.5 months (DS1 was over a year before that happened with him, and even then they were always more runny). Hamish just loves his grub and loves getting handfulls of stuff and shoving them in, whereas DS1 never really did the 'grabbing fistfuls of lasagne' thing, he would use a spoon and pick up finger foods but would never pick up sticky/messy foods (e.g. with Hamish we can just put a pile of veg curry mixed with rice on his try and he'll find ways of getting it in his gog, DS1 had no interest in that at all!) I always knew babies were different, but it's not since Hamish has arrived that I've really understood that that is true (if you know what I mean?)

sea - glad to see another little boy on this thread (totally biased, but baby boys rock :-D

lemon 33rd week? That is so so close!? I found the last trimester just sped by - next thing you know you'll be in that labour ward wondering how it happened so fast :-)

Hope everyone else (posters and non-posters) are doing well, love E.