December 2014 Thread #7 - third trimester here we come, jingle babies all the way

[Chipandspuds]

Hooray into the third trimester!

I think ladylel opens the FB thread for a bit if you ask and then you can find it. It's secret at the moment.
I've been reading a DK Day-by-day baby book which is good. My mum's also insisting that I read a book called Why Love Matters by Sue Gerhardt. She's a councillor and apparently it's the must have book for new mums. I have it but haven't read it yet. That might be one for maternity leave!

A friend of mine was advising me not to read any books. She did and said she felt pressured to do things certain ways.

I have NO idea what to do with a baby, but folk keep telling me that it'll just come naturally. I'm expecting to be asking lots of questions on here and ringing various more experienced friends/relatives constantly

I've got the old What To Expect book, but it was mostly useful before 12 weeks. Taking everything in it with a cellarful of salt, though. My volunteers keep finding me baby books in the shop now, haha.

I definitely decided to avoid any book that was from a specific viewpoint/doctrine. I wanted something that would talk me through the first year without judgment or making me feel like a failure if what they said was 'best' didn't work for us. As I said I've found first time parent quite good as although it talks about the different theories, it highlights the good and bad in all of them and emphasises that you need to find your own way with your baby. There's also simple guides (with pictures - always good for a panicky ftm like me) for things like bathing, changing nappies etc. DH was also bought the Commando dad book which looks quite good although he hasn't properly started it yet.... hmmm, might have to give him a kick up the backside on that one or else I can pretty much guarantee he'll only start it on the labour ward

Thats just it. I dont want doctrine or strategy, more like how to wind a baby, how to recognise when they need winding, have a cold, are not well etc... DP keeps saying it will come naturally but I need to have a vague idea of what I am doing.

people keep saying that to me big hairy which is all very well and good but I have literally no experience of babies (the last baby in my family was me) and a few people have laughed or been a bit surprised at how much reading I've been doing but I at least want to know that I did all I could to prepare myself for looking after my baby without making silly mistakes and putting him in harms way. I always have been a worrier lol

I quite liked the Baby Whisperer. IIRC there was quite a lot in it about recognising cues. It does promote the "EASY" routine - eat, activity, sleep, you time - and DS hadn't read that bit so we mainly did "EECESCEE" where C = cry, but otherwise it was fine.

I will pm Ladylel about the fb group - Thanks for the info BHLS, Hugmonster and others

Think maybe I will wander into a bookshop and have a browse. I know quite quickly when a book is going to irritatw me!

Sorting through all mine and dps clothes at the minute. Tis theraputic to see space appear, not so theraputic to be sneered at by tiny pants..

Been to a sling meet this morning and so can now get shopping. Decided I want a woven wrap type one. Will have to see how "rainbow" DH is willing to wear though!

Also quite a few mums there discussing their pierced nipples/breastfeeding experience, which was very reassuring.

I need books to help with what to do as well. I usually feel nervous when friends hand me their babies and am usually too terrified to move in case I hurt them. Then I hand them back if they look like they're about to cry. I'm sure instinct will take over but I need confirmation. I'm much better with cats!
I tried on a load of slings in JL on Saturday. Think I'm going to go for the close parent caboo. It seems slightly more structured than some but still a soft wrap type.

Hahaha. Finally. Stupid app wasn't working on my phone but is now :)

Get the Wonder Weeks book - you will cling to it like a woman possessed when trying to explain your newborns latest behaviour, and its really helpful in understanding what might be coming up

Also Gina Ford if you're worried and need a plan. You don't have to follow it to the letter and her tone can be a bit strident but we went to it late on last time and I'm planning on getting into her routine much earlier this time as having no routine was becoming a nightmare! The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan (stupid title) by Alison Scott-Wright is also a book I swear by although we didn't start that with DD until she was 7 months - she was then sleeping through the night within 4 days and we have never looked back! It compliments the routine Gina suggests too and purports to have the same benefits.

As the others say though, I had the books there to educate myself a bit before time as I knew nothing and then used them to go back to if I needed some tips on how I might approach something. I don't subscribe to this whole 'you're doing it wrong if you don't do it my way' or the ridiculous claims they all make as to how successful each approach is as each baby and Mummy is different. I found it useful to look for a different way of doing something if our current approach wasn't working and I've taken that all the way through to dealing with a toddler too.

And re Facebook, I'm an admin too so I'll open it up from Secret to Closed now and return it to Secret tonight. If you miss the window, pm me and I'll open it up again. You are looking for 'Jingle Babies - DD Dec 2014'.

facebook group is now set to Closed so you can search for it and ask to join. I'll return it to Secret about 10ish tonight

I've done nothing but eat today and watch Peep Show. Work is going to come hard tomorrow :(

Have taken the plunge and requested to join the Facebook p

Sorry, hadn't finished: Facebook group, look forward to chatting with you all more there

Hi, have also requested to join.

Peace I love Peep show! I have been clearing out my wardrobes. Evicted loads and stored loads. Feels good!!!

Ladies who've had feeding chairs, any recommendations? I didn't get one last time but as fb was such a disaster I'm thinking it might be a good option.

*bf Stupid autocorrect

Love Peep Show too. On the bus home and just went past the place where they filmed the opening credits in the later series. When DH and I walk past we always have to bounce up and down singing the theme tune. Such losers

As in a chair to sit in whilst breast feeding? Is that a thing?

Many options at Mothercare
They all look to be similar - best to try them for size as everyone has different proportions (and budgets!)

I've not been able to get on here since they changed the mobile site (induces headaches) so have snuck onto DH's pc whilst he's at work, have requested to join the fb group (initials DS, pic is a sepia toned baby lying down..the baby is me)!

monkeybaby, you can pick them up really cheaply on eBay (they're so huge I guess people want them out asap after they stop bf), my best friend has a retro rocking chair that was ideal for bf!

Spider; first time parent book is fab, and as a third time parent I wish I still had my copy!
It's no bull or side taking, whereas most of the other books I found were..there was a dads book that said something like 'obviously you won't be able to help with nursing as your wife is breastfeeding', really pissed me off!

Peace, hurrah for cot! and for another video gaming MNer, DS1 came along a month after Skyrim, devastated.

Lisa, how did your GTT go? x

25wks now & feeling every bloody minute of this pregnancy!

I'm quite ashamed at how unfit I've become. Walking a couple of miles is exhausting and leaves me needing a nap. I felt like crap waking up this after exerting myself with a 45 minute walk the day before.

I have no time to swim or exercise without ds which means I'm limited to going on walks with him on his bike. Wish I could get on my bike as I may be able to keep up with him then!