April 2015 thread 7: Our viable, wriggling bumps have us walking belly-first into the new year!

[BrixtonBunny]

New thread xx

That's a nice bag Boo. I'm after the Boots parenting club one. Lol tight.
I've got everything for the hospital. M&S had some cotton granny style button front nighties in the sale. Everyone says that hospitals are boiling.
RL I would like the bugaboo bee. OH likes it but isn't convinced. Grr. I need to convince him. I'll be the one using it more. My parents are kindly paying for it so I can be a bit indulgent. I want a parent facing one. Haven't even thought about when to order it though!!
Anyone bought a car seat yet?

RL20 I feel the same money-wise especially as we don't drive and it would cost about £40 on top to get to the scan clinic. Money isn't crazy tight for us thankfully as we are living with the in laws so no rent to pay but OH is hoping to have passed his driving test before bebe arrives so driving lessons and car to save for! And we are on one income as I am a student but taking the year off :)

Catsofa Think I shall give them a go, how do they measure, are they about right compared to your normal size?

Ahh just ordered the hushamok hammock tonight, shipping from America. Another huge item off the list, somewhere to sleep being high on it

I'd happily fast forward to say February now?

chicken I've got the Bee, used it for 2 yrs still going strong, any questions I am happy to help!

Who was it who has a phil and teds? i'm looking at those but there are sooo many models

You are all making me a bit nervous about lack of preparation!

Oh Siarie we also swapped from a sports car when dd was on the way - we got a golf gti and I love it (as does DH and he's the car fiend). Not quite as quick as the Audi RS q3 but definitely very nippy and sporty feeling to drive, and a lot cheaper and more readily available than the RSs. The only downside for both the gti and the q3 is that they are good sized for one child - if you get a smallish pram - but quite tight for 2 (rear seats and boot space) so we are now looking at possibly moving onto a q5 or an estate, eek.

TheBooMonster I think so. Their stuff is made of viscose and elastane (feels better than cotton because it wicks), very stretchy and would hang fine if a little baggy, so probably not too size sensitive. I erred on the larger size because I do seem to be going up the dress sizes as well as growing a bump - my bum is massive now !

Ahh minipie, I have a thing about golf cars. The last few near accidents have been from them so I have developed a bit of a anti (as you can imagine). I have no idea why maybe I'm just unlucky but one almost killed me and since then it's like the car is out to get me haha! Probably just looking out for it now.

We don't want to drive a hatchback at all so either going to go for a coupe (but longer) or a sport/SUV hybrid I think. I drove the Q5 and it's a milk float if you are used to acceleration which really put me off. I was all for the Q7 before that which I can only imagine is even slower since it's bigger. Cars are a personal thing though, loads of people will love all different models but I'm not easy to give up my acceleration just yet

Now if only they would release an RS Q5 that would be excellent!

Catsofa- we looked at the m&p three wheeler today in the shop. Its in the sale at the moment I think. Its the only one we've agreed on that's not waaaaay over budget. I've been struggling to find one that's suitable for us both to push. I'm only 5'1" but DP is taller so we need something that will be comfortable for both of us.

I'm also feeling like my bump has got massive in the last few days. DP took a picture of it for me and I look like a house. I'm 24+1.

I hired this one with my two Catsofa and got my second hand one for £8!!!!

Wishing your lo well SquattinNeville!

Can totally recommend a TENS machine, bought the ElleTens for last time which was a god send whilst in early labour at home. Then once at hospital hopped straight into the pool which was just as good!

Car shopping here too. Currently driving a BMW 120 M Sport which is lovely and quick but the boot won't fit a double and with 2 car seats in the back we won't have any leg room in the front (well I will but DH won't!) Love the Beemer so currently deciding between an X3 or the 3/5 series estate. The part of me that wants to stay young is leaning towards the X3 but think we're gonna go for the estate. DH assures me it will be a speedy one but I still think they scream 'sensible'. Think it's time to grow up...

Chicken I've not seen that one but I'll have a look! Had my heart set on a Cosatto (although it was one of the only ones I'd looked at haha) but now I'm more looking towards the mamas and papas zoom that has been mentioned!

On the subject of car seats I've not bought one yet, but mainly because I'm after a 3 part travel system so it'll come within that.

Lucy, will you be entitled to the Surestart grant that is offered to first time mums? I think it's £500 which helps towards costs of baby things! I only work 8 hours a week but I've heard you have to be on some sort of benefits to be entitled to it, which I'm not! So I've booked an appointment with citizens advice in January to have a talk with them about benefit entitlements etc, and to see if I can get the grant as it would be a huge help!

oh squatting they are really pretty sleep suits! I got one with pink and yellow birds on but it wasn't in the sale >.< Their sizes are a bit odd though, as newborn is up to 10lb and prem is up to 7lb, whereas all of the rest of my stuff prem is up to 5.5lb and newborn is up to 7.5lb...

thanks catsofa

I keep my pushchair in the car as it's massive even folded (Quinny Buzz 3). I'm switching to a Quinny Zapp Xtra 2 which is tiny but tbh I'll probably still keep it in the car rather than the house so it's out of the way. I have a Ford S-Max which is a seven seater so no worries about fitting DS4 into the car! My DH drives a two-seater sports car as we realised we only really needed one big car. I'm not sure how that's going to work when DS4 arrives though as there's a big age gap between DS2 and DS3 so I can see us needing to take DS1 and DS2 off to one activity and DS3 and DS4 elsewhere so I suspect DH may need a bigger car next year. His is on its last legs anyway so it'll have to be replaced in the next year or so anyway.

I had the boots changing bag, but then found a skip hop one second hand for only £15... Will use the same ones...

No car, but will need to buy a car seat. Last time a friend gave us hers, but we passed it on now...

rl20 not currently entitled to it as we arent on any benefits as OH works too many hours however once bebe is here we will get working tax credits which I think is one of the benefits you have to get to get the grant? And you can claim it up to 3 months after bebe is born so once we do start getting working tax credits will try and apply for it :) not much use for buying things before the bebe is here though, but we have bought/been given most stuff just need a travel system and a few little bits. It is very confusing working out what benefits we could get I found the entitledto website helpful :)

I meant the mothercare three wheeler haha. I'm gutted just looked on the website and its sold out in plum. Might have to have a look for a second hand one.

Has anyone seen or heard of any nice backpack changing bags for when I take her out in the sling?

Squatting, I forgot that Boots did that parenting club thing.. I'll have to look into that.

Happy New Year to all of us on mumsnet.
I'm currently lying on the sofa with partner, watching normally telly that we watch most nights.
Currently have mild heartburn which I've only had once before at night and it made me feel a bit ill, so won't be long before I go to bed!
Hope you're all having a good night.
Will talk to you all next year!
X

Happy new year ladies!

Happy new year bumpettes! (nonalcoholic of course!)

Happy new year ladies! Can't believe we're having our babies this year!

On the subject of buying things, we did a big sweep the other night and ordered the travel system, bedroom furniture and a crib for our bedroom. And we already have the mamaroo, so we're sorted for big things yay! Time to start thinking about decorating the nursery!

I forgot who mentioned it, but we went for a Cosatto! Got a great deal, and love the pattern :-)

minipie we have the Phil and TEDs classic I think. ours is ten years old, inherited from my sisters, and peanutella will be the fifth kid to use it I think. I bloody love it. I would buy second hand though unless you're feeling very flush as they are indestructible and very cheap. My childminder recently bought a double with most of the gubbins for 75 quid!!! The cocoon is very handy, albeit only for 4-6 weeks, so worth getting. The sleeping bag is v expensive if bought separately (I paid 25 quid on eBay for a second hand one after our zips broke and the dey cleaner wanted 40 quid to replace them) so try to find a deal including one. The travel bag (into which you put the buggy if you fly with it) is also important as the Phil and TEDs doesn't have a clip to hold it folded.

The very old Phil and teds models (like mine) don't have adjustable handles but dh and I are both medium height (5'9) so look out for a more recent one than that if you're short or dh v tall.

mudguards non essential. and I've been through EPIC mud. In fact they're more likely to clog up.

You don't have to buy the Phil and Ted's sunshade. I have a snoozeshade which works fine.

Happy New Year everyone