April 07 - Look out world - hormones flying, it's the 2nd trimester

[Bramshott]

Ta-da!

Controversial posting - Have been fascinated by all this cloth nappy talk and have quite fancied the idea since DS2 but....
... DH says that if I do he won't change a single nappy !

Plan to bf as usual although with DS2 I only last 6 months (compared to 14 with DS1, but that was long ago when I was young and strong ) and that was with FF top ups from about 4 months. If I get another big one I can't imagine it being any different, although Bugmum et all, thanks for some useful tips. I will have to find this thread again when the time finally comes!

BTW, if you stand up straight, with your feet neatly together, and try to look down at your toes, can you still see them? I can't, not at all !!

MIAM - size 2 nappies are from about 15lbs in wieght so will be too big for baby - but okay if you want to wait until bigger before you try. If they are out of stock - you could go back and ask for size 1 pack - they may have them - not that you are in a huge rush! To fit a size 2 tots to a newborn you can fold the applix over at the front and nappi nippa it - but your wrap will still be too big! Happy to lend you a small wrap by the way if you want to try this solution when baby arrives to save you buying anything else until sure its for you. Sorry to confuse!!

Bugmum - thanks for the advice on bf - I would really like it to work this time - so any more info would be good.

GGF - not controversial at all - and despite my dh being happy to use them - after 2 kids he still couldn't put them on properly - backwards always a favourite! Think he does it on purpose...

And just to make you spit your coffee all over your screen - my hamburger got an extra topping at last!

Cornflake - happy to post any advice I think of re bf; am no expert, but it worked for me and for an awful lot of people I know, so there's quite a pool of experience to draw on.

One thing I forgot to say, and this is vital: if it hurts a lot, or if you have a high temp, the strong chances are that you have thrush or mastitis (sp???). Tell your doc something is wrong, don't ask and get fobbed off! Both probs are relatively simple to cure when caught early, but leaving them can cause proper poorliness and a failure of breast milk.

Oh, and also: a friend of mine had real 'flu when her bub was about seven months old; friend's milk dried up, so for a couple of days she had to give formula, but she still let the baby suckle. And the milk came back! Lots of times, milk drying is not a permanent state.

Btw, I absolutely agree that you should do what is right for you and the baby, but choice is always best if you are properly supported and informed. And as CD points out, it might not be as easy for me this time, but I feel I'm going in with a good chance, having it work last time.

My top tip is the swaddling, though. Made so much difference to me in feeding and in general.

Cornflake - And spit our coffee/teas we did!

cornflake - consider coffee and toast spat in combination!

Morning all

So much to catch up from the weekend!

Really interested in the b/f decisions, and totally agree that getting the right help from the very beginning is crucial. Ds was born with the help of suction very late at night, after a very long labour. I felt so out of it, and for that first night I couldn't even pick him up. Body felt like lead, and still had catheter in. I still feel guilty for that first night, and feel so (sorry, starting to fill up a bit and can't see screen properly) because I'm convinced that that was what turned him against the breast. I feel so much better for saying this out loud - apart from dh, no-one has had any idea how much it still affects me.
I do remember the mw taking for a feed in the night, and just telling me that "he still needs to be fed" We were in hospital for a few days as ds had jaundice, but the mw in hospital were literally forcing him straight on me. He would cry his heart out as soon as he saw my breasts. It took dh being very firm with the mw, and we made the decision to bottle feed. He knows how gutted I was (and still am) that I didn't b/f. Its part of the reason why we're planning a homebirth, much more relaxing atmosphere.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. Very busy clothes shopping with my mum! Bought some really nice tops from Next (maternity section useless), that should last me through winter, and was thoroughly spoilt by my mum Took ds to see fireworks last night, and was absolutley mesmerised by them.

16+6 today

x

Cornflake - ! Me too tho...

Runnyhabit - what a nightmare with your DS . It obviously hasn't affected him at all (honest!) and you know that whatever happens this time, even if you do end up in hospital, you and your DH will have loads more confidence to make sure you all get what you really need.

And seriously... Can anyone else not see their feet already???

GGF - jus stood up to do it. cant even see past the boobs never mind the belly. oh lordy - i wistfully think of slinky winter party dresses...........................

runnyhabit - I am so, so sorry to hear how badly you have been affected by this (notice I say YOU and NOT your DS); I wish you a much happier feeding experience this time

GGF - I bumped into a friend in Tesco yesterday, and she could hardly hide her surprise at my great girth!

Thank you so much for your support. It really does feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders just talking about it.

Can only just see my toes! But then my feet are rather big (size 7 on a good day)

Weeonion - You can wear a slinky dress! Got one from Dorothy Perkins. Baby doll style - fits really nice on the bust, and then floats out over the bump and finishes just above the knees. Although I doubt very much I'll be able to wear it after Christmas!

I've just checked how much I spent on new clothes over the weekend. Guess it'll be beans on toast for tea But dh (bless him) thought I looked "really nice" in everything (esp the dress) and I deserve treating because I'm doing such an important job - looking after ds & bean

GGF - have just done the feet thing (and nearly fell over in the process!), and there's not a peek of mine, so it's not just you! I really feel like I have a proper bump now, although that could just be because I'm now in full-on maternity clothes.

Had a tiring weekend - working Friday while the rest of my lot went to the fireworks , and then pottering Sat, and busy Sun - went to a kids party which was 2.5 hours with nowhere really to sit down and felt exhausted. Then came back to filthy hovel of a house, and despite spending 3 hours on it, only managed to do upstairs.

To add into the cloth nappies debate - I've got a box full of Cotton Bottoms here. Don't think they're necessarily the best, but they were what I got last time, on the basis of them being based fairly near here, and me being really confused by all the choices! They do dry pretty quick though as they're a prefold with a separate outer. I've only got the size from 11-20lbs and the size from 20lbs+ as I didn't get round to getting them straight away. So this time I'm planning to use some sort of eco disposables until it gets to the 11lb point, which should also make the early days easier. I've got a number of friends who tried real nappies with newborns and didn't get on with them, and then didn't come back to them, so I have advised a few people that it might be easier to use disposables for the first few weeks, and then launch into the real nappies when life is a bit less bleary. Very interested to hear about you composting Moltex CD - like someone else, I thought you needed a wormery for that. That could be the way to go for the first few weeks for me then.

Feeling better about the feet, although mine are 7 as well, Runnyhabit and no sign of 'em! Sadly I can see past my boobs, from which point my bump sort of flows outward. But all my old maternity stuff is still too big (I got seriously huge last time) and my normal stuff doesn't fit propertly !! Now DH is back (apparently he's finding it hard to acclimatise after his holiday, ladies!! ) I think I shall take myself into town to do a little shopping. Have a night out next Sat and I like the sound of the DP dress Runnyhabit found.

Bramshott - I may show this post to DH and see if I can change his mind about the nappies. I like the idea of using disposables during the "zombie" days and then tackling real nappies!

GGF - not sure if this link to the dresswill work, but will try!

this

The link works! Very pleased with myself

Am going to try and find a little gold cardi/ shrug thingy to go with it.

i like it runnyhabit. in a cheaper note - primark is doing one almost the same (loads of colours and a beaut spotty one) for £14. they also have gold shrugs for £8??

I know, but to be honest, the DP one fitted me much better. (and considering I was going to buy a proper maternity dress from Next for £50!) Didn't see any gold cardis in Primark though. Guess I'll just have to go shopping again

go for it and glad you treated yourself
party season is coming and why shouldnt you look slinky and sexy!!

a whoel group of us were planning to head away for New years eve to a lovely rented cottage in teh highlands. we normally all head on a partying city break but due to my bean grwoing bump - we all decided to have a more sedate one this year. i had booked it and paid the deposit but then yesterday word started to filter through that differnt couples couldnt make it so - long story short, me and dp are left with nowhere to go. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. i was looking forward to it so much and as it is dp's birthday on teh 29th dec - it was his treat as well. any bright ideas folks????

Sorry, me and dh are in the same boat for New Year too. We haven't had anything planned, but we would really like to do something. Friends of ours are having a bit of do, but they get very drunk, very quickly, and usually end up arguing, with him cornering dh, and her cornering me, telling me that all men are useless! Honestly, its like being back at school - girls on one side of the room, and boys on the other!

Hey its my birthday on the 29th too!!!!! No useful suggestions unfortunatley as we are in the same boat... but I just thought I would let you know!!!

Goodness me, you lot are ambitious: staying up for New Year's Eve! I certainly haven't managed that since the one before I became pregnant the first time, and I used to be the original party animal. Heigh ho! This NYE, DP will be doing voluntary work, and I shall probably go to bed around ten thirty, with one ear out for DS in case the fireworks wake him. That's excitement enough for anyone

GMM _ he hates the date of his birthday - when a child he just got combined xmas and birthday gifts and now most folks arent back from respective xmas jaunts to join in the birthday fun!

Ooh - I like that dress RunnyH, (also defo with a little shrug as my upper arms are not up to it!) and will also check out Primark on my shopping trip WeeO.

And to all those of you for whom this will be your last Christmas / New Year child-free, take it from me, DO SOMETHING!! Even if you end up spending a small fortune on a last minute getaway (mmmmm... last minute getaways....) DO IT!! Otherwise you will not get the same kind of chance again for many many years !!

GGF, thats what I keep thinking too.... having said that everything that I look at is either a small fortune or has been booked up for months.. normally I would say fcuk it and do the most expensive thing... but we need to upgrade our car, and do some house renovations and buy all the baby stuff... need to start and be sensible!!! ish.....