December 2015 #4 - Hello Second Trimester!

[MissMrsMummy]

Making our way into the second trimester where we all start exercising properly and eating healthily (ha ha)

Enjoy your hold metal:-)

Went baby shopping today had personal shopper at mamas and papas and must say it was an amazing experience . Made up my mind on the pram I'm getting cyber priam just waiting now till if it does go on offer . They also gave me a goody bag with lovely toy and bibs it was my first proper baby shopping experience and must say it felt great

I also went baby shopping yesterday, to Mothercare. It was not like your experience Cheshire! The main reason was actually to get a maternity swim suit for me but we looked at prams, car seats and nursery stuff too. No idea where to start, no staff around to help, which was wierd as I thought they'd be jumping on us. Came away feeling lost about the whole thing :-(

Oh and the swim suit? Crap selection. But the only place in town that seems to do them and I needed one by Tuesday for my first aquanatal class. They only had tankinis and I ended up buying a size 14 to fit my boobs into as the size 12 boob compartments were tiny?! Wft?! These are preg women outfits! So now the pants are too massive for my size 12 arse and I'm having to pair the top with my existing tankini bottoms from home. They are both navy which is some consolation.

Chops go mamas and papas website and type personal shopper it's free and you choose a date and they will then call you and ask you what you need and confirm your experience day. On the day you're welcomed tea/ biscuits you get a personalised booklet ( I've kept it on baby memory box) and you get £5 gift voucher when you're done and a gift bag with goodies inside. It's free and they were amazing I must say and help to help. I didn't buy a thing I just wanted to look at prams and travel seats and try them in car if they fit so I would recommend anyone to do it - it's free after all

Just remembered they've got new family event day day next weekend - have a look at your local one if they still have space - you need to book it and it's still free.

My lovely goody bag
Toy
Bibs
Baby on board sign
£5 gift voucher
Keepsake personal experience booklet

chops I need to go buy a bigger or maternity swimsuit. Doesn't sound like mothercare has a great selection. Anyone know where else I might find one?

Sounds like a great experience for you Cheshire.

My first baby blue clothes :-)

I know they do maternity swimsuits on sports direct website, not sure if they have them in stores. I wish I'd gone for one of theirs as they are proper speedo ones etc. My new tankini is more like a lounging around the pool jobbie rather than a lengths of the pool/aquafit class! But £4.99 delivery on top of the suit and it might not be a fit, it wasn't worth it.

I'll look into mamas and Pappas but I'm not sure there is even one in town anymore. It's seriously shocking the lack of anything useful for parents to be in Bristol :-( so hard to find maternity clothes, preggo exercise classes, places that sell prams.... Poor. Really poor :-(

Chops I got my swimsuit from eBay - have you tried that ? Loving the baby clothing:-)

Is it true you have to wash everything before baby's arrival ?

There are no mamas and Pappas anywhere near Bristol! One in Cardiff, one in Swindon! Shocking!!

I thought there was one at cribbs causeway?

Nope, not any more. There was one by IKEA too and in Cabot. Zero stores in Bristol according to their website.

I was wondering about the washing of clothes thing too Cheshire

Chops I'm Bristol too
I'll have to try and remember my password/reset when i can get on the desktop site.
We spent a fortune in mamas and papas for DS when it was by ikea. Their aftercare service is brilliant, they've repaired our pram a couple of times with no issues (I even took it back when we stopped using it for DS for a spruce up ready for our new baby!). Closest now is in Swindon. It's such a shame kiddicare has also closed down now as that was a massive store with some lovely things. We tend to go to John Lewis at cribs now, I've never had a personal shopper but I bet JL do it. They have pretty much everything really, from prams to baby clothes. A bit pricey though, but excellent quality for the special things. Mothercare by ikea is ok but I agree, not enough staff. Try on a quiet weekday. Supermarkets are really handy too, asda does so much!

Cheshire I washed everything in advance of DS1 being born. I will not be bothering again! Firstly because, we didn't use a lot of it and could've taken it back/exchanged for bigger sizes if I'd left the tags on. Secondly because it didn't make a blind but if difference and by a month old we were bunging stuff straight from the pocket on him anyway

Thanks cherry as I was reading an article an they were on about washing everything with detol disinfectant for clothing to kill all bacteria blah blah .

Bet it's all money making business as if you're not spending enough in preparation :-( I won't bother - will only wash the ones bought from eBay - though new, you don't know how they were stored.

Shame you guys don't have m&p's near by. Try John Lewis then I'm sure you might gave same experience - I would just recommend it to anyone whose never done it before even if you are not going to buy anything the whole experience is to show you what you can buy.

Well im glad I didn't travel all the way to bristol to visit the no longer open mamas and papas then lol

Hi there, bit late to the party but if possible could I please be added to Facebook group. I was waiting til after 20 week scan.
Stats are age 35, first baby due 18th December

Welcome Deede ? Where have you been all this time ;-)

Thank you Cheshire...mostly with my head down the loo (bleugh) even browsing online made me feel ill. I'm excited to read about m&p personal shopping, sounds like it could be fun and pricey

Welcome DeeDee! I can get you into Facebook group if you add me as a friend. I put my details a couple of posts back. Or pm me your name if you can't find me.

I'm also 35 and expecting first baby do you feel old and creaky and not built for thus or is it just me?! Hope your morning sickness has eased now? Did you fund out the sex at your scan?

Did either cherry or DeeDee friend request me on FB? If you could pm me saying who you are that would be great :-)

Hi chops I did but I also sent you a Fb Pm

My pic is me (blonde hair and sunnies) and my little boy

I had both requests at the same time so wasn't sure who was who!

First aquanatal class last night. Was soooooo late, yawn. 8.30 til 9.30! Lush pool though. Was in the pool of a posh hotel, like walking into a bath, mmmm :-) dimly lit with loungers around it. Bit embarrassing doing all the weird bits, especially the pelvic floor, with the hotels guests milling about in there too! Was a small group of 8 of us. 2 of which were 38 weeks so might not see them next week! I think I was 2nd oldest there, although none were young young if you know what I mean? Late 20's early 30's. Then there was one lady, easily 40, who was also 21 weeks :-) she was also new like me :-)

That sounds like fun chops I have to search if they do have aqua netal around my area as I've now gone of exercising completely.

Everything I keep trying to join locally keeps being cancelled. Antenatal yoga has been running 12 years, I enquire and its stopping. Some other pregnancy class I've asked about is finishing this month... It's a bit like a sign. do not exercise

Spent the morning at delivery suite after having contraction like cramps early this am...turns out my IBS is flaring up and making my uterus irritable...all appears well with little bean though