June 2015 - bumps ahoy!

[htf2]

New thread time all!

I think episiotomy are very common. Especially if you need assistance getting baby out with forceps.

Both my mum and my sister had them but I had an elcs so didnt (obvs!).

I think just as many people have them as those that don't. Luck of the draw I guess.

It's been great reading all the comments on mat leave. I guess there are lots of factors to consider.

Today I went to the Mamas & Papas Armadillo event. Originally we planned to get the Bugaboo Cameleon but think we now prefer the Armadillo Flip XT - it's really compact and seems to have all the features we want. And it's cheaper! We'll be making the final decision after going to the baby show.

Just to balance the episiotomy thing a bit... I got away "in tact", no stitches or anything so it can happen Naturally I am expecting the same again!!

I also manage to avoid any issues like that at the birth..all the way through I kept thinking 'I must listen to the midwives!' So when they said to breathe/wait or widen legs, I did!!

I'm going to hope for the best this time, too. I did use that oil thing you can get for the area for a few weeks before. Maybe that helps?

Is anyone else wearing pregnancy tights and know where is the best place to buy them? I'm 5'4", thin and all bump but I'm being cut in half even in large size primark tights so need to bite the bullet and get some mat ones... Is it true they are £15 for 2 pairs??? [faints]

Good luck to all the Junebugs having scans this week :)

I have some nice ones from H&M - here kind of woolly so casual rather than work wear, but I also have some from M&S from my last pregnancy which are great. I had to order online and collected in store. They weren't £15!

That's a good point - anybody not have fally-down tights? I've tried mothercare (fell down like crazy) and have got quite a lot of M&S ones, which are good but still need rearranging a lot. It's not a good look doing it in front of 30 kids!

I got my maternity rights from eBay they were £2.99! And fit perfectly!

I joined boots parenting club and they sent a load of vouchers this week - one was for 50% off maternity rights although I haven't actually been in and bought them yet so can't really give you a review!

Maternity tights - not rights!

I used my boots voucher as well. They feel nice. I went for the black and berry colours. I've yet to actually wear them though. Too cold! Although, I have a meeting on tues where jeans aren't appropriate so dress and tights it will have to be.

I'm short, so I'm not holding out much hope for lack of fall down. Nora batty tights will forever afflict me.

I need to join boots parenting club! I have bought all my tights from there and have to say I love them (but the black ones are about £10 a pop) - haven't worn the sheers but went back and bought another 'fashion' opaque (just a bit of texture really- still good for work and I am in a very corporate environment) I'm 5'4 and no extra weight except bump and they are lifesaving. I haven't picked up my maternity work pants so am dresses and tights every day.

Also re the episiotomy the nhs suggests massage in the last few weeks - it doesn't discuss how hard it might be to reach down there by then though :P www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/episiotomy.aspx Not sure I will manage that given I struggle to remember kegels and vitamins.

Just in case anyone is interested Mothercare are holding some Expectant Parent Events during Feb-March.

www.mothercare.com/expectant-parent-event/expectant-parent-event,default,pg.html

Never been so don't know if any good, but might be able to save a few £s

We bought a lot of weaning type stuff from boots, like spoons, rice cakes (the only place that does plain ones!), baby stock cubes etc. You get 10 points per pound on baby stuff if you're in their club which is great. A lot of their bigger baby stuff (prams etc) are more expensive than other high street shops, but we got a Britax Dualifix ERF seat for DD with a 10% off code and the 10 points back per pound, so worth keeping an eye on. We saved about £60!

They send quite good vouchers too, things like money off swim nappies. Their clothes are good quality too.

I think my last mat tights were from mothercare and they're a bit Nora-esque now but did see me through last pg too. I got some from seraphine which are under bump ones and just slip, plus one pair laddered immediately just from a hole developing on my toe during wearing. I have some new to try from jojo!

I think the boots club is definitely worthwhile. I already used my advantage card a lot but with this you get 10 points per pound on baby stuff. We still get nappies from Asda but pretty much anything else, all toiletries, maternity pads and so on I save for a "boots run" so I can get the points. They send reasonably useful vouchers too imo.

ASOS tights here, £20 for 3 pairs they have a sort of grippy elastic lining inside the band and stay up a treat!

I have found the boots vouchers worthwhile, although they took around 5 weeks to arrive in the post! I spent an evening over christmas joining all the 'parenting clubs' online... Boots, sainsburys, tesco... Took a bit of time but seems worthwhile! £5 off baby products in sainsburys when you sign up x

Thanks for the tips about the Boots club. Will definitely join up.

Good luck to those with scans today/this week. Hope all goes well.

Morning all, hope u all had a lovely weekend. We sorted our girls room ready for when dd2 arrives, some will of seen on FB.

Good luck with this weeks scans! 2 weeks and they will all be complete, exciting

Re episiotomy: i had one in my first labour as i needed ventouse (suction) assisted birth, they did local before the cut so i didnt feel nething, they try to cut to the side if possible to avoid damaging back passage.
I had mine repaired in surgery after as i had further complications but most would get stitched in recovery.

My second birth wasnt affected by the previous cut (21 mth inbetween) however i did have a slight tear, again stitched under local which eased the after birth ache aswell. Top tip - dont let the paracetamol/codeine wear off after labour!!

Well, I broke my zip on my coat this morning. only one winter coat left that fits and it's a short one. my legs were freezing. really don't want to buy another before winter is out. Still, if that's the worst of my problems today, then it will be a good day.

Monday morning smiles ladies, Monday morning smiles.

Good morning :)

I'm now officially off nights, and winding down to leaving work. 4 day shifts this week, one uni day next week, then I decide whether to go on sick leave for the 6 weeks before mat leave, or to continue on 4-5 day shifts a week. I'll probably leave. We'll see.

Tights - I haven't worn anything but maternity tights since 5 months pregnant with ds2! That's 2.5 years of maternity tight wear! I got them in h&m, 2 pairs. I was a size 18 when I got them. Size 12 now. Yet they still fit just the same! I've been 10st11-16st2 in them. And they haven't given in or got ladders.

Safe to say they come recommended from me! Oh and I'm 5ft 2 also, and they don't hang between my legs!

Going to try and keep up on here now I will have a little more time. I haven't read the thread since November :(

Just wondering if anyone else on here will be a single parent too? I'm trying to find others forced in the same boat and not having much luck. Feeling anxious as ever about what is to come!