April 2015 Thread 11: The finish line is in sight as we get closer to maternity leave and our babies!

[BrixtonBunny]

Old thread getting full xx

I have started packing!!!! So far I have:
Jeans and top, several pairs of knickers and socks, nursing bra, 2 nighties for me.
5 sleepsuits and 2 vests for baby.
Nappies, wipes, maternity pads, breast pads.
Tens machine.
Toiletries and towel.

Need to add: hair bands, cardigan/jacket for baby, Slippers/something for me feet, Chargers and camera. And probably more that I can't think of!

Evening all

Wow, I've missed a lot! Hope everyone is ok especially babycakes if she's reading.

I am 34+1 today which is quite a milestone because DD was born at 34+0. Really hope this one stays in till at least 39 weeks (no chance of going over 40 as I have GD so will be induced then).

I will be staying well away from raspberry leaf tea, sex and anything else which might bring on labour till I'm at least 38 weeks.... then i'll be trying everything I can to bring on natural labour!

Can't believe there is still so much DTD going on especially those of you with toddlers! - I am far too huge and tired! DD is teething so not sleeping well at night and also yesterday was her first no nap day noooo

No stretch marks yet despite enormo bump - and no cream - I have pretty oily and tough skin which probably helps (though also makes me acne prone, swings and roundabouts!)

Better run as got to read dd bedtime stories!

Penguin - yes I would recommend a proper fitting. I went to Peter Jones and they did mine. I hasten to add that unless they're completely out this time around I won't be bothering to get sizes checked though.

Have asked DH to get some of a particular brand of Turkish Delight at Istanbul airport. Called 'Divan'. Never seen it for sale here but it's amazing.

RL - I feel like baby is lying across me too I get movements to my extreme right at same time as just to right of bb.

cinnamon - I'm sweet of tooth now as per last and am reliably informed it's a boy this time so not sure there's a connection either way. Shocker about the prison dream!

Chicken - yes 4 is a good number. Chances are you'll be wearing them at night too.

No stretch marks yet. Didn't get any last time. I used bio oil religiously then and have done bugger all this time having heard that it's purely genetic and also being busier and more tired what with DD to take care of.

The JoJo nursing tops are expensive on the face of it but for me it was very much worth it as I EBF for nearly a year. They wash v well again and again. The cost per wear must be ridiculously low especially as I have them all to use again this time around. Obviously if you can get them on eBay for pennies that's even better.

Banana - mini eggs! Going to get myself a bag of those tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder.

Daholster I'm sorry your DD is throwing hard objects at you but that cheese story is the best thing I've heard in a long time. Also there is nothing wrong with proving a DH wrong but don't over-exert yourself in the process.

Bit of a boast, hosp bag is finished save for phone, hairbrush, makeup (which I won't end up using), charger - the stuff you need now basically - and tiny nappies which DH can always get from the boots across road from hosp.

On this weeks shopping list at least 1 pack of size 1 nappies to go in the bag. I'll buy in bulk later on. It's not like there isn't plenty of people who can grab some on the way for a cuddle once baby is here

I'm a bit envious of all you ladies with your nurseries. This one is going to be sharing with DD once it hits the 6 month mark and can leave our room. We have a third bedroom but it's a loft room and don't want to be on a different floor than the DCs anytime soon. I suppose that's the price you pay for not having a tiny box room and a proper staircase to the loft instead.

Currently feeling a bit restless and a bit bored. Don't want to read, don't want to knit, can't find anything worth watch in the tv... Just don't know what to do with myself. Might just go to bed.

Didn't wear mine at night smogsville, needed some air to my boobs so slept on a towel!

Ds2 is going in with ds1 now and baby will be in his own room for now, not sure what we'll do when he's sleeping through the night. Dss is in with them too and they are all on the other floor to us Lauren82000 as we have a three storey house and our room is top floor.

I was too leaky and heavy for that cinnamon. Ah lovely memories! If I get the night sweats again - and I fully expect to - I will encourage DH to sleep in the loft room as no point wrecking his sleep too. Then at the weekend I will have lie-ins

Dd is lying in bed saying "big girl"... Cos of her big girl bed with no side on

Have not done ds's room yet... But will post a pic of dd's, it hasn't changed too much yet but for the lack of cot side and far more soft toys than she used to have!!!

We haven't got a nursery yet as in a 1 bed flat (was a 2 bed but we use 2nd room as dining room and baby storage room atm it's also got the outdoor access so not ideal as bedroom anyway). We're in middle of trying to buy a house and will be losing our v nice comfortable existence once nursery fees kick in!

Does anyone know what bits you get for children? It's our 1st so a complete noob. I know we get child benefit at 20 quid a wk and don't think we'll get any tax credits as we both work and earn over £20k a year each. Someone mentioned the new govt nursery scheme this year where they pay 1st 20% of fees but I can't find anything about it. Want to make sure we get everything we're entitled to esp as pay hugely into a system and hardly ever use it in return!

Dd has managed to fall asleep... Place your bets on how many times she falls out tonight?!

Here are a couple of pictures of her nursery, as I said it has more toys in now (she won't be without any of those teddies!) and a missing cot side but other than that it is pretty much unchanged from when she was born. Dark gunmetal grey carpet. She loves the wallpaper, has always smiled at the birds since she was 6 weeks old, evey time without fail! Now she just natters about them Can't believe how much she is growing up!!!

The changing table is on the opposite wall which is plain cream too and it matches the cot and wardrobe set (Mamas and Papas but I can't remember which model).

Brumma, www.entitledto.co.uk/ have a great benefits calculator to check This Sort Of Thing.

It might also be worth checking out if you or your husband's employers do employer supported childcare, better known as vouchers - although I note this scheme is meant to be closing to new entrants from autumn 2015 - www.employeebenefits.co.uk/benefits/childcare-and-carers/employer-supported-childcare-vouchers-to-go/104362.article

See also www.savvywoman.co.uk/c5-pages/c5s2.php?art_id=959 on the tax break thing - incidentally, I really like Savvy Woman for financial stuff anyway, and she's good on childcare stuff (for obvious reasons).

[sorry, totally assumed husband in that post - should have typed partner. Blame lack of early morning tea!]

I beleive the household total for tax credits is £20k now Brummagem :( childcare vouchers are good for saving some money and no childcare setting should refuse them. They are through lots of different companies depending on who your employer has signed up with. You can get up to £243 per parent, which is taken out of your income before you pay tax and then put into a separate account that can only pay registered childcarers. So you essentially get an extra £243 each per month tax free income and used to save Dh and I £80 a month, there have been talks of reform as they were exactly the same when I had ds1 (nearly 8)!

Morning ladies a question on Nursing bras, been lucky with bras so far only had to buy an extender as boobs not grown but seems I have milk now at 34 weeks, I plan on breast feeding when would be the best time to go and get nursing bras and sleep bras?

Also any recommendation on places to get them? Many Thanks x

LOL Lauren at front-bottom-trumps! I know what you mean, it's really quite tricky to get comfy. I like to make the effort too tho, DP is very good to me (and - apologies if TMI but im actually kind of more orgasmic atm when I get round to it, anyone else?) - but he's lucky if he sees my lady-bits every fortnight at the mo! (Tho to be fair, I lost sight of them myself about 6 weeks ago).

Who was asking about Scottish Girls Names on the last thread? Iona is one we've been throwing about! Isn't Isla also Scotch in origin?

Swollen ankles ahoy! Fingers crossed for no pre-eclampsia tho I guess the MV can enlighten me tomorrow.
(On the upside tho, we got a big load of Peanut-related shopping ticked off this weekend. Including a goddamn pram. FINALLY!)

(Oops. Looks like I managed to accidentally skip about a billion posts out before replying. Don't mind me responding now to stuff that happened about a week ago.. )

(Cute nursery DaHolster - I could quite fancy crawling into there for twenty winks myself :0)

Re nursing bras - didn't someone advise leaving it til a couple weeks before DD if poss then getting Mothercare to fit you up?

Morning everyone

Cinnamon - I've started packing too, well, I've packed my slippers anyway I'm waiting for payday this week when I'll hopefully be able to get out and grab the last few bits I need for the hospital bag including a nightie etc.

Lauren - Nothing wrong with big bums, ha ha! It's all the choice I had with my family, we are a family of women with big bums! Even if yours is just from chocolate But you're right it actually could be your curved back because of bump, making it look bigger.
Also, don't worry I'm also one without a nursery for baby. 2 bed flat, one room being partners daughters which is the smaller room so no room for a cot or anything with her bed in there. Will be next to my side of the bed in a Moses basket to begin with, then cot, then we will hopefully move!

Smog - Turkish Delight is my all time favourite chocolate, not heard of Divan before though! Enjoy

Didn't post much last night as I ended up going to bed about 8pm! I must of needed the sleep.

I don't know what's up with me recently, I cannot stop thinking about labour and birth. Scaring myself silly. I keep reading more and more peoples stories etc and I feel like no one just has a natural straight forward (ish) birth anymore
Scared because baby was breech at last appointment and was sideways at the one before, and now if I'm correct I think he's sideways again. I know there's time for him to go head down, but then what if he turns again to breech or sideways when I go into labour
I'm overthinking it so much! Anyone else?!

Skyra I like my JL own brand ones best. And as it happens they must be some of the cheapest at £30 for a pack of two.

Hi, RL20 Can I also join the No Nursery club? (And the Big Bum club while I'm at it - mine's huge at the best of times. :0) Again, two bedroom flat, of which the spare room is currently full of my work stuff!. We decided to just relax and see how Peanut does in our room to begin with, then make any adjustments as we go along.

Also thinking more about the birth now. If it helps, I know someone who's baby's been breach for months, but has just decided to turn the 'right way up' (so to speak!). And with breech, as I understand it, it is still possible to deliver via vag! It seems kind of dependent on whether they have in staff that are experienced in that (I've heard it's a bit of a disappearing art form as folk tend to opt for caesarians, but it's still an option you can press for)
But, yeah, am getting nervous too. The way I look at it tho.. they have to come out somehow, and we're lucky to live now in an age with lots of medical options for that to happen successfully :0)
We've also had a few visits from a lovely Doula who has been great at encouraging me not to sweat it (mainly by reminding me nearly everywoman does it and is designed to manage it).
But I totally know what you mean - my brain crawls all over it whenever it has time to think. Am also excited tho! But just want them out safely!! :0)

RL if you're getting scared about birth I really, really recommend reading a hypnobirth book (I have a couple and I really love the one by Marie Mongan) - even if you don't think it's for you, it should help alleviate some of your fears! I would also follow Positive Birth Movement on Facebook, the post loads of gorgeous articles and stories of happy, relaxed births. I'm actually really looking forward to giving birth! I think it's something that has become a terribly scary thing in our society which is madness when you think that women have been birthing for thousands of years. X

Re: nurseries, in the new house we will have two good sized bedrooms and a box room, so baby will be in with us but will put changing table etc in box room for now so we are still able to have a functioning spare room, at least for a little while. Which will make a big change from our current gorgeous but tiny one bedroom flat where if someone stays over they have to sleep on the sofa!

RL my birth with dd was straughtforward! First birth, paracetamol and gas and air, 12 hours from waking with my first contraction, to finish.

You're designed for it, don't panic about every feeling, just go with it. And that's it!

Most babies turn by 36 weeks and some even after that, and as far as I am aware before 36 weeks many many of them are not the right way round. I'm nearly 33 weeks and mine is NOT the right way round I don't think, I would guess he is moving between transverse and breech.

32+6

we don't have a nursery either. Technically we could, as it's a 3 bedroom house (well, 2 and a box room) and my boys share, but baby is going to sleep in our room for at least a year so not bothered to clear the box room out for her and won't until she needs it

Oh yes I forgot to say -

Hypnobirthing: I read the book by Maggie Howell "Effective Birth Preparation". I found it really helpful, in fact that and gas and air got me through DD's birth without any panic even though she was so early. I never did a course or got a CD.

The first section of the book is a bit annoying as it goes on about how birth culture in non Western cultures is so much better but the underlying message about not being scared of birth is a really good one.

It also has some physiological information about how tension and fear increase the pain you feel and make it harder for your body to do its thing, and about what your uterus actually does during birth, which is what I found most helpful. There's also tips about visualisation/distraction/concentration techniques which can help with pain management during the birth. I found counting and pacing and squeezing fingers together really helpd.

That all said - I do think it's important to remember that hypnobirthing has its limits. Ultimately some babies are just in the wrong position or don't react well to birth and that's where medical interventions come in. I know some women who were so wedded to natural/hypno birth that they felt they'd failed by having an intervention, which obviously isn't true!