July 2015 - we are nearing the halfway point!

[Fattycow]

We are already nearing the halfway point! Some of us have already reached the 20 weeks, the rest will follow suit. Let the countdowns begin!

Here is the stats list, please update them with your scan dates and the sex of you baby (if you know it):
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p3idkH2TaQYAy22I_N73k1_-G6Ezq67lAdhQvDjQkU0/edit?pli=1#gid=0

I get lots of pain around the bottom of my bump. Both midwife and chiropractor have told me it's related to the stretching, mine definitely feels worse when exercising or afterwards. Something to do with all the relaxin making your tendons more stretchy than usual.

I saw my bump moving when I was in the bath yesterday and called DH in to witness it! I love it, it's like there's a little alien in there! MW told me that I'd probably start to discern a pattern in movements by 32w.

Off to my first prenatal pilates class, hope it's not too hard I've barely exercised since I got preg!

Awesome news both charlies. Our bubs moves away when dh touches bump but it goes crazy for dd. I will never forget the first time she felt it, her face was a picture. Sorry you had a meltdown though, other Charlie. Blame those hormones!

Tomorrow, I'm going to view a jane pro slalom pram/pushchair that's for sale locally. I'm so excited! We have a quinny pushchair but we borrowed the carrycot from our friends last time (didn't see the point in buying something we knew would only be used for a few months and glad we did because dd wasn't a fan!) so I've been looking for good brands of second hand prams at reasonable prices. A few friends recommended jane so going to see it for myself.

I've also started buying a few bits too - got a nice blanket from mothercare the other day, some vests, dd chose a soft toy crab to give to her brother/sister when they first meet and I got a couple of bargain snow/pramsuits recently. Want to drag out some of dd's old things soon just to remind myself what we've got! I remember the baby Bjorn bouncer, a cosatto rocker and a very vile pink play gym but beyond that is a mystery!

I had a midwife appointment yesterday as well. My bump is measuring a bit ahead, just like last time, but nothing worrisome. Heartbeat was nice and strong and it was just a very good appointment altogether.

Eek! I bought the jané! I love it. Can't wait to use it now

I think I'm going to buy a BabyJogger GT. I live in a yummy mummy-competitive area so the uppababy/icandys are EVERYWHERE but the GT is really lightweight and has the most incredible collapsing mechanism which I can see would be really useful.

Lol charlie, yes mummy competitions are unfortunately everywhere - worst side of parenting! As long as baby is comfy and safe, opinions are irrelevant IMO. I noticed that when went to groups or classes, everyone would be sizing up judging everyone else's taste in car seat, pram and pushchair. Its such a personal thing.

Just asked dd (three) if she thinks she's having a sister or brother. Today, she thinks sister. Asked her what we should call her... "Bong, that's a lovely name". Interesting.

Argh having a name crisis! We've settled on a name for baby boy, we love it but just found out a friend, who we probably will end up mixing with at play groups etc has picked same name for her baby girl due today!
OH thinks we should just go for it anyway, I'm torn. X

We're having name issues as well. We had decided on a name but it's one of the top 10 most common names and I just hate the idea there will be millions of them! But we like quite classic names so I suppose that was always a risk! We have another name in mind but DH likes the popular one

Do you want me to ask my dd what she thinks you should call your babies, ladies?

I got my own way with name for the third time and there is.no way I'm changing now

Loving the Easter themed name change, fatty!

I haven't noticed the competitiveness thing but that may well be because I am generally completely oblivious. I am actually looking at the vista 2015 purely because it converts really well to a double but that actually puts me off slightly.

We haven't really started discussing names yet, we struggled last time to agree so maybe we should get on with it.

I like that about the vista 2015 too, purple, it'd be something I'd definitely be interested in getting if I was planning on having two babies close together because it's set up for it perfectly. I also love that it has the extra hood bit that comes out to provide more protection from the sun - more manufacturers should do that to try and prevent littlies getting damaged by the rays while out and about.

Yep it's got a lot of good things about it and the fact that it converts back to a single means we can sell our current pushchair and it fits in our boot! Now I am just spending most of my time justifying the cost to DH.

Haha, oh yes, I get the dh convincing thing! I just went for it with the jané today and so far he's not asked how much it was (it was second hand though so not the £500-800 they command at new). A carrier, however, is taking a lot of time to convince him on. I'd got my short list...only for him to say no to my favourite, which was a Connecta! On the plus side, though, he has kept the most expensive Tula carrier on the list so I shouldn't complain too loudly!

The vista was way too heavy and big for us, but this is DC1 and we live in London (no car, all tube all the time!). That being said, one of my friends is a HUGE vista fan, she loved all the space in the basket.

I saw that Broody well done on getting a good bargain. Carriers is another thing I am working on with DH. He has accepted that we can't use our original baby bjorn but that's as far as I have got.

Charlie I have heard the vista is big and that was why we didn't get it the first time but when looking at tamdem doubles the choice is more limited. I did a lot of walking on my last mat leave though and really relied on a basket so it will hopefully work for me. I wouldn't get it either if I lived in London though. What have you got?

Hey all,

Our little man is a right wriggler, seems to be even more so in last few weeks (maybe as he's growing bigger /stronger it's becoming more and more). Especially before going to sleep and MrF says it's like he's having a party in there!

We swapped names lists recently and surprisingly had 3 matches! He did have a few weird ones on his list though, made me (internally) laugh as didn't expect that of him. So we have a top 3 or 4, but have decided we are not telling anyone. We told people the baby's sex but his name will be the surprise!

Second the Which £1 trial Charlie as it's the pram/pushchair, car seat and cloth nappies as our last things to buy! So many to read up on / compare.... mind boggling.

Eeek Broody, you sound really pleased & excited by your pram purchase. Defo after a tandem pushchair as we hope to have more sooner rather than later, so might as well. Yes it's defo each to their own preferences and I know I'm so fussy on silly things (like I don't like that trim bit or the colour of the wheels etc) but maybe after a play at collapsing, feeling how it moves, what it weights it might change my silly aesthetic preferences!

Got a midwife apt in under 2 weeks the day before hols for a check over so now also looking forward to being "bump measured" (they didn't do it at my 23wk apt) as my bump seems to be getting rounder n rounder, bigger n bigger - doh isn't that obvious!

Anyone having / had the 3d scan before? So many people are recommending us to do it and I feel sad we won't see our little Pokemon again until his bday which at 25wks seems ages away. So considering booking one for 30wks. But is it really worth it? Does it ruin surprise of seeing / Meeting them for the first time?

Cross posted with you purple, but yes purple and Charlie and any others - tandem recommendations be gratefully received here too!

I have the graco stadium duo. so not a massive expense but I luffs it. my mum bought it for me bless her. she realised that it was going to be a fair chunk of my money to get one and considering im on my todd and not working she decided to be super nice to me.

ps...it is super light? basket is massive and the front seat reclines a bit so if DD did drop off (she doesn't tend to nap anymore but she is still only little and will only be 19 months when baby is here) she won't be hurting her neck being stuck upright.
and broody thanks

Blood test for Down's syndrome 'gives better results'
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32153941
About time...

Re. The Vista pram, the old style also doubles up with a rumble seat so for anyone interested, it might be worth looking at ex-display models (like we purchased) or second hand ones. You can get them for £300-£375. The only think you can't do is have two carry cots at once but think that would only be necessary for multiple births.

My Vista doesn't seem too heavy and it's great for tall people ( I'm 5'9" and DP is 6'0").

MrsF I was thinking about getting another private scan. I get increasingly paranoid about the lo and thought a further anomaly scan might calm me down! Was thinking of end of May when I'll be about 34 weeks.

Might also get a Strep B test done too at some point.

Hello late joiner here, I'm due 14th July with a little boy, 25 weeks pregnant yesterday. He's my third child and I just can't wait. Does anyone else on here have an anterior placenta? x

Welcome loopy Anterior placenta here too. Not worried about it at the moment!

However got the most painful attack of sinusitis - in agony with only paracetamol to take the edge off. Just in time for family visit over Easter!

On the plus side DH and I agreed on a name for the shortlist this morning, quite out of the blue! We're probably going to wait to pick from the shortlist until after the birth to see which name suits her best