The relaxed grads.

[lostindubai]

Joining from the relaxed TTC-ers. Hoping to see everyone here soon

My stats:
Age 36
DS 29 months old, still bf once a day at bedtime.
Currently 7 weeks pregnant.
History: had a mc at 9 weeks prior to DS - also had bleeding while pg with him but all was well.

Been feeling constantly ill for a week now! Last time I ate to feel better but it doesn't make any difference this time. Only actually been sick twice though. Had to fess up to the parents/PILs already as so off colour. Started taking spatone sachets today to try and increase my energy levels. Looking forward to speaking with a midwife to see what else I can do, if anything.

Hi everyone, and a very late happy new year! I've been doing bits of shopping in the January sales, have just ordered a cot bed from Mothercare and have bought a second hand pushchair from eBay (we went and looked at all the new ones in John Lewis and nearly fell over when we were told the price, especially as we're not sure yet how much we'll use it).

lost that's rubbish about the anaemia, but at least now you know about it you can do something about it. I hope your house gets sorted soon, we were in a similar position before Christmas and it was so stressful.

I've been lucky and not had too many weird illnesses so far but I have had a weird gum thing. I've developed a lump on my gum behind my two front teeth, which I only noticed when I bit into an apple and saw it was soaked in blood and I looked like a vampire after a fresh kill. Lovely. Apparently pregnancy gives me exploding gums. I've had to wait a couple of weeks for a dentist appointment but I've got one on Tuesday so hopefully they'll be able to sort it.

I'm due on 5th May and have been getting lots of little kicks inside my bump, I really like it, for now at least! :)

Hey hope you all got my message explaining who I am

Sorry to hear about everyone's different pregnancy ailments I have horrible heartburn at night it's just awful and keeps me awake . Never knew pregnancy was this glamorous(!)

I have done a little more shopping and brought some nappies so I can start stocking up on them feel better now I have some practical things brought.

Finally finished paying off my pram today! Can't believe how quick it's all going.

It's so exciting seeing everyone's due dates we are all so close gonna be one baby born after the other! I'm due 30th April

Is anyone planning to use reusable nappies? We'd like to use them but it looks like there's a bit of research to do before deciding which ones. Any tips much appreciated!

I got your message Sally

Yep got your message Sally thanks.
Sounds like everyone is getting prepared for our spring babies. Got some pregnancy / mat bras this weekend as my old ones are getting uncomfortable and finding the underwiring digging in.

A lot of bits are stored in PIL loft like moses basket & will get out about a month before. Arranged my last day at work to be 23rd March and due date is 14th April think it's going to come round quick now

We have booked to have a weekend away in France in Feb as a last chance to go away as a couple and have some lie-ins before no.2 arrives.

Haven't used reusable nappies so can't help Blue sorry...

Blue we are hoping to use reusable nappies. I know some areas have a sort of trial to help with knowing and learning. Our area doesn't but its worth checking if yours does. It's like a minefield! I remember using cloth nappies when my cousins were babies and I was on babysitting duty. It didn't seem that complicated then

We've managed to find a sort of solution to my insomnia. One that pleases us both whatever works! The nausea has stopped thank goodness.

I'm exhausted after a very long day but had a fun time at my niece's birthday party. Warm bath and bed for me. We're booking our 4d scan this week but it won't be for a few weeks. OH keeps telling me off for calling it 3d.

Hoping everyone is well.

Blue we used reusables with our daughter for quite a while, but she's on disposables now. This is my DHs choice as he's SAHD, so he get's the say in it as he has to do the washing...
We bought some new ones as they were all fluffy and adorable (Little Lambs), but we also bought lots second hand on EBay, I'd really recommend that as they are often in very good condition still.
Issues we found:

• initially we had to use quite thick liners as baby wee-ed a LOT and would soak through quick at night. You have to do at least one night change usually for newborns anyway, as they will poo overnight for a little while.
• DD started off quite petite, but went through a phase from about 3.5 months where she got very chubby round the thighs, and the nappies started to chafe her. We had been using Little Lamb sized ones, but we bought some LL One Size Fits All ones at that point, which were more flexible in adjusting, but DH felt they weren't as good overall.
• We never bothered with liner as it just got rucked up very fast, and there would still be some handwashing needed to get worst off before washing machine. However, milky poo (from BF baby anyway) is surprisingly un-yucky, so it was ok. Once she started eating solids however, definitely more yuck!
• We found we needed about 25-30 nappies to avoid issues about running out if they were taking a while to dry (we had some bamboo which is more absorbent but takes longer). But we could probably have tumble dried a bit, never did as worried about condition. Cotton is middling, microfibre is fastest drying but least absorbent.

We also used, and have continued to use, washable wipes, which are brilliant. We got a load of Cheeky Wipes, mixed cotton and bamboo, its saved quite a lot of money, and its perfectly hygenic. We have a little clip-lid box we store some in already wet (we used pure water for ages, then when she was much older, a mix of water and essential oil, very weak), plus a 'wet bag' for when we are out, so we can bring them home to wash.

Good advice in general for nappies whatever wipes you use is to remember to dry their bottoms after you've cleaned/wiped them, once we started doing this carefully we never had any issues with nappy rash. We have some large size bamboo wipes that we just use for drying off.

Hi all well the house move is tomorrow so I'll keep this short as I should be packing

Blue I haven't used reusable nappies but I take my hat off to anyone who gives it a go. Good luck! Pleased to see lots of great advice on here for you.

Have you had your dentist appt yet? Hope all went well if so.

I've had another blood test to check iron and been called in for an additional antenatal appt on Monday so I assume I'll need iron injections rather than just the tablets (which I've been on for a week now but can't say I feel any better!)

Latest symptom is lots of Braxton Hicks contractions of an evening. Very uncomfortable and much earlier than last time around. Anyone else getting these yet?

Hope everyone's ok

Hey everyone hope you are all well

lost glad to hear the house move is tomorrow and you are finally moving!! Congrats hope you are really happy in your new home sorry to hear about the iron thing my next appointment in 3 weeks I have to have my iron levels checked again hoping they are ok. I have no idea what Brixton hicks contractions feel like so not sure if I will know if I have them or not.

blue I have no advice about cloth nappies but one of my mum friends is planning on using them and is going to a thing about cloth nappy use soon so I can find out what's said and pass the info along if you want.

rocksie glad to hear that you have solved the insomnia problem whatever works it's better than going without sleep and that nausea has stopped. I have booked my 4d scan for next Sunday I will be 27 weeks then which they said is a really good time as she shouldn't look too squished and won't be skeletal looking either I'm soo excited.

apple A weekend in France sounds lovely hope you both have a wonderful time and you get a well deserved rest before baby comes along

I had my 25 week midwife appointment today and was so happy to find out that my bump is the right size for where I am in my gestation and baby is growing well. I am also gaining weight and my BMI is now in the healthy weight category so they are no longer worried. Got to hear her heartbeat again as well which was loud and strong I always love hearing that

Thank you for all your advice on the breastfeeding/expressing thing I really appreciate having you lot on here to help me.

I am also wondering how you are Reebok hope you are feeling better and doing ok

Hi Everyone,

Hope the move went ok lost and you are now feeling settled in your home. Hopefully your OH can take the strain of lifting and any decorating and just leave little bits of unpacking for you!

Glad the midwife appt went well Sally it's always reassuring hearing the heartbeat and knowing growth is as expected.

Like Blue have had a few annoying pregnancy symptoms like constipation and itchy skin on bump! oh the glamour of pregnancy

Think am now 28 weeks and have a couple of months left at work, when is everyone else planning on finishing at work?

Hope all well and thinking of Reebok too...

Hi all, sorry I've kind of disappeared. Thanks for asking after me. Life has been hectic. Back at work full time, still not back to 100% health...at 26 weeks the hyperemesis is still present. And while it's not as awful as it was, it's still horrible that I'm still throwing up/on medication and nauseous all the time.

Got a bloody horrible cold at the moment and lost my voice so staying home today.

Insomnia is driving me mad! Sciatic pain keeping me awake too. Sorry...wish this was a more positive post. It seems pregnancy and me just don't agree. How are you all? Hopefully glowing??? Going to try catch up on posts now while dd sleeps.

InFrance thanks for all of the reusable nappy information, that's really helpful. I think we'll definitely give them a go and see how we get on.

lost congratulations on your new house! Hope you're settling in okay and the move wasn't too stressful. I had my dentist appointment and apparently I had pregnancy epulis, which means the hormones cause the gums to grow a lump. The dentist gave it a fairly brutal cleaning, which caused so much blood they had to give me a wad of wet tissue and a mirror afterwards to wipe the bloodstains off my face! It was a pre-work appointment, and I quite wish I'd checked in the mirror again as soon as I arrived at work because although I'd managed to get the blood off my skin, it was only after being at work for about an hour I looked in the mirror in the loo and realised I had very bloodstained lips! it's much better now though, so clearly needed a bit of brutal force. Iron injections don't sound like much fun, are you feeling any better now?

Sally I'm glad your midwife appointment went well, I had my 25 week one last week and I was right in the average line for bump size, which is nice to know as I feel massive, although I don't think I've put much weight on elsewhere (which doesn't stop my mum from making comments about weight gain in pregnancy and how stretch marks are only caused by the woman over eating, and am I sure I'm not eating too much?)

apple I'm planning on finishing work at exactly 37 weeks (maternity leave starting at 38 weeks with a week of annual leave before that). I've also got some more annual leave to use up so i'll be having a few long weekends towards the end.

Reebok I'm sorry to hear you're still so unwell. I'm finding work very tiring at the moment without being ill so you must be exhausted. I've found that it's taken me much longer to get over a a cold while pregnant than it normally would, so I hope you can take as much time off as you need to get rid of it.

My baby's been very quiet for the last week or so. I was getting a lot of kicks up until just over a week ago when I had over 24 hours of barely any movement. I called the midwife and she told me to go to the antenatal clinic for a check and everything sounded fine, then I had my usual midwife appointment a few days later and everything sounded fine then too so I don't think I need to worry. I think the baby must have turned so that it's got it's back to my belly so I can't feel most of the movements. I'm hoping it will turn back again soon because I find the kicks very reassuring (and cute).

Hi everyone, sorry I've been absent recently too. My sickness came back at 20ish weeks, then we were all struck by colds, and flu (DH as DS and I had vaccination, thank goodness).

Otherwise not too bad, my GD is not too bad, only a few high readings post-breakfast. Getting fed up of the clexane jabs but hey ho!

Feeling lots of movement now, another wriggler and my bump is now obvious, it's only really popped out in the last week or two.

Hey everyone just a quick one hope you wonderful mummies are all doing ok

I had my 4D scan today and it was the most amazing thing ever! I wasn't sure At first as people had said baby looks skeletal and demonic sometimes but she didn't look demonic or skeletal at all she looked soo cute and looks like she has her daddy's nose . I would honestly recommend it

So what's everyone been up to? Is Preparing for baby almost done or still doing lots of bits? I've got a lot to do still but I'm getting there. ok

Hi Everyone hope all is well with bumps as we hit / approach the third trimester? Time is ticking but also going slowly in some ways. January is not a great month to get out and about and am waiting for next midwife appt this weekend at 30 weeks.

Sorry to hear Reebok and Decca have been unwell. Also had cold/flu illness it's so horrible that you can't take much for it beyond paracetemol for all the nasty symptoms.

Sally your 4d scan sounds really exciting, what a great bonding experience for you and your OH.

We are kind of ready, we kept a lot of stuff like steriliser, Moses basket, babygros from DD, sling, have a buggy to use etc.. As thinking about a home birth think that will be the biggest thing to prepare for, hiring pool etc.

Have the NCT refresher course in March and am sure that will orientate me to thinking about the birth, which I am kind if trying to put off at the moment

Hello all, been super busy so not much posting.

Reebok very glad to hear from you, but not glad that you still have sickness (even if improved). All the other complaints of late pregnancy on top of that must be very disheartening... but you're on the finishing lap now! And same to you Decca, more sickness, plus the clexane is unlucky. Hope you feel better.

Lost glad your move finally went ahead, you can get well into the nesting vibe now I've been given rpescription for borderline anaemia too, but no way am I taking the ferrous sulphide tablets, already only just managing to keep constipation at bay, so am changing diet and eating vast amounts of iron-rich food, plus off tea too.

Apple I'm effectively self-employed/unemployed at the moment, so I will unlikely be getting much "off" time before the due date, as multiple projects cross over late April Last time I stopped working 2 weeks before, because we only get 16 weeks total in France (they try and give you 6 weeks off before, but you can shift some).

Sally that sounds like a wonderful experience! I know what you mean, I often think babies look weird in them, except mine who look perfect and adorable

I am off for the work trip to Canada next week, feel so lucky to have had the chance to go business, economy would be horrific, I am so massive already. last time I flew a month ago my bump was already touching the edge of the table when it was down! And being able to sleep on the flight will make a big difference to jetlag, which I'm kind of dreading...

Getting HUGE amounts of movement, kicks, prods, turns. Lots of hiccups too which I remember from last time, so cute. Am finding good use for the woven wraps I bought, using them for belly-binding (not as extremely as it sounds!), it makes a big difference now having bump support.

OK off now, best wishes to all, will report back probably after Canada and I have my last scan at 33 weeks in a fortnight or so.

Hi everyone thanks for the good wishes for our new home! We're in, but I wouldn't say settled yet - still no broadband and my connection to my data on my phone is incredibly patchy (better at nighttime hence me grabbing the opportunity to update now). Also no shower so having regular baths and dp is washing my hair with a jug! It's like being 8 years old again ds finds it all highly amusing. So we're rushing to get new windows and doors sorted (some are only single glazed and they're all very shabby) and the other priority is getting ds and baby's rooms decorated. It's a late 60s house with lots of original features, some of which I'd like to keep - like the primrose yellow bathroom suite!!

Healthwise I feel no better after 3 weeks of iron tablets. Next consultant appt is Monday, when they'll check my blood again. I avoided an iron injection two weeks ago but they're obviously keen to monitor me. They did however give me the whooping cough jab so I didn't avoid needles altogether! I also mentioned my problem with massive bump causing pulled muscles which are so painful. I've been referred to a physio but still waiting for an appointment.

Latest rubbish symptom is a very sore patch on the front of my bump. It's on the surface so the slightest touch makes me flinch. It's horrible, really affects my cuddles with ds never had it last time and no idea what's causing it. Nothing is visibly wrong it's just so sore. Has been for over a week now.

And now I have a horrid cough and cold (another reason I'm awake this early). Honestly I'm exhausted. Trying to still unpack, keep a household running and carrying around all this extra weight - I'm sure I'm overdoing it but I don't know what else to do. Dp is busy with decorating and we had so much help from family with the move that I hate to ask for more.

Going to post this now in case I lose it due to dodgy connection. Personal replies coming up (I hope!)

Sally - I've lost track of time. How are your iron levels now do you know? Re Braxton Hicks - for me one side of my bump goes really hard for a few minutes, quite uncomfortable. In my first pg I thought it was baby pressing up against the skin but then realised it was something different! Usually get them in the evenings.

Glad you were thrilled with your 4d scan it sounds lovely! Did you get a dvd to bring home?

Apple - I'll be finishing work around 37 weeks, same as last time. I actually find work days easier than being at home with ds, at least I can sit down quietly without too much interruption! Although it feels like a way off I'm sure it'll go quickly and I'll probably be grateful when the time comes.

How exciting that you're planning for a home birth! Have you got a room set aside for the pool? I bet it takes a fair bit of planning?

I have my hypnobirthing course booked for March - agree I'll need to start thinking about the birth some time soon too. Really haven't had the brain space to think about it up until now!

Reebok I'm so sorry you're still poorly I remember how debilitating the nausea was early on and you have my utmost sympathy. Are you going to start maternity leave early?

Blue - that gum thing sounded really painful and unpleasant! Loving the sound of your dracula lips though Glad you got reassurance from the midwife about baby's movements. Are they more becoming more obvious again yet? Hope so. I must admit I don't care what time of the day or night baby wants to wriggle/kick. I'm always pleased to feel it! One of the few pleasures pregnancy does give us hey?

Decca - sorry you've had illness in your house too. Hope you're all over the worst of it. So much of it going around. Are you still feeling sick?

InFrance - I'm on ferrous fumarate which is apparently not as bad as ferrous sulphate for constipation. Could you ask for that instead? I've heard that diet alone is not enough to fix a problem with low iron (although can't hurt of course) but at least you're being monitored. I'm not looking forward to the injections if it comes to that. Apparently the fluid is thicker than usual injections so feels worse

Enjoy your trip to Canada! Look forward to hearing from you when you're back. Glad you're in business class. I know what you mean about the trays - using a lap tray is nearly impossible for me now, as is getting close enough to the washing up bowl to actually wash up!

Take care everyone x

Hey everyone hope you are all doing ok

dubai glad you are in your new home hopefully it won't take too long to get everything sorted out. I would go insane without broadband I swear sometimes I feel like everything I do revolves around the internet its really bad actually. I remember when my parents had a new bathroom put in and I had old school strip washes and washing hair with jugs boiling water from the kettle etc mum said to me this is how it was before showers

Not had my iron levels checked again yet but got more tests on the 11th so they will check again then. Have you tried the spatone iron sachet drinks you take 2 while pregnant and the ones I get have added vitamin c to help you absorb it no tablets to take and daily recommended iron. There's a slight metallic after taste for a few seconds but they are quite pleasant.

Sorry you have a sore patch that really sucks is it constant? I find when baby pushes out behind my belly button It's really painful you can see this lump appear and I have to try get her to move! The problem is it seems to be her favourite thing to do!

InFrance Hope you have a great time in Canada look forward to hearing about it when your back. Maybe you could try the spatone sachets too? The belly binding thing sounds interesting do you just wrap the sling round your bump?

blue how are your gums now has the lump gone and bleeding stopped? I had quite the image of a vampiresque pregnant woman biting into an apple lol im glad everything was ok I would have been really scared hope you can feel baby moving around a bit more again now.

Sorry your mum makes comments about weight it seems like when your pregnant everyone thinks they have a right to comment on how big small you are its weird. As long as midwife is happy that's all that matters.

decca hope you and your family are all feeling better now and that the sickness has passed once again. Glad your GD is under control and that the readings haven't been too high that often.clexane must suck but it's not that long to go now! It's lovely having a proper bump isn't it I was so happy when I started showing.

reebok sorry you are having such a though time of it hope you can have a little bit of relief soon but it's only a few months till it's all over and you will have your beautiful baby

apple it was a lovely experience and OH seems really excited as well as scared now I don't feel alone anymore last night he touched my bump and said "what's my little girl up to then" I nearly cried (massive wuss). A home birth is exciting I have no Idea how it works do you have to pay to rent the pool? do you have a midwife team there with you during or do they check you after?

I had my first ante natal class today and it was awesome I learnt so much and found out that the birth centre where I plan to give birth do delayed cord clamping as a given they never cut the cord until they feel all the blood has gone back to baby! The midwife leading the class was lovely and answered lots of questions I had and all the other women there were really friendly as well. Got another one next Saturday and really looking forward to it.

I feel I've been really lucky and my first experience of being pregnant has been lovely Only problem I have is me and sleep aren't friends anymore lol. I get really bad heartburn, cramps in my legs baby kicking my ribs and unable to get comfortable anything that can keep me awake at night does. I guess it's just practice for the lack of sleep I face when she is here

On a rather embarrassing note how do you girlies keep up with your personal grooming..shall we say my bump is so big now I can't see anything! I know midwifes don't care and it's probably silly but it's stressing me out a little.

Sorry to anyone I missed lots to catch up on lol hope you all take care and the coughs and colds clear up soon x

Urgh so now I've caught tonsillitis from my son! I am so fed up of feeling ill, it's been one thing after another since September, I can't wait to feel normal again (hopefully) when the baby is born, the placenta is out and my immune system starts working properly again.

Ahhhhh, rant over! How are you ladies doing?!

Sounds like you're all quite busy. Looking forward to hearing how things progress towards your due dates as I think most of you are a month or more ahead of me.

Hi All,

Sorry to hear that Reebok and Deccan still feeling poorly. Sometimes it can be one thing after another & tonsillitis on top of dealing with pregnancy not nice, can you take anything for it?

Just been getting over some cold/ flu bug. It's very draining. I think in my case wasn't helped by low iron levels which midwife picked up. Tried the spatone sachets that Sally recommended & has made a difference.

inFrance a trip to Canada sounds exciting let us know how you got on. You are very intrepid travelling although am sure business travel makes it easier!

Still planning a home birth you can borrow a pool from a local support group but have to buy new liner. We are going to a home birth meeting so looking forward to finding out more about it.

Sally on personal grooming. Have been able to tidy up my bikini line just using a razor. Last time round didn't have a toddler so was still able to go to have a bikini wax, which I did before the birth think my standards have slipped a lot since then!

Hi everyone, survived the trip, although it was in the nick of time as in the last week I've reached the "unwieldy and uncomfortably huge" stage, sure it's earlier this time than last. Also, despite wearing the wrap, I get pain in hips and back if I walk or stand too much now. I think she's also starting to engage as there are definite stabby cervix pains now and then.
It was a bit challenging walking around on snowy pavements in -28C temperatures when my bump was so big the jacket didn't zip up properly!

I've also been really hormonal, crying a lot, and starting to have the freaked out feeling that "OMG there's a baby arriving imminently", although I am so keen to meet her too! Also got lots of random worries something will go wrong at the last minute, I remember this from last time too.

Am stressed as it feels like there's a million things to do still and no time (cleaning house, sorting, packing stuff up, plus batch cooking).
I find myself getting annoyed at DH for not achieving more as he's the stay-at-home dad (maybe the rest of you who are at home too will put me in my place ), but he manages to use a lot of the free time during the day (when DD is napping or at creche for two afternoons) for hobbies, not jobs.
Is anyone else starting to get towards panic-mode?! Maybe it's because I remember how crazy life was with a newborn, the cliches about no time to even brush teeth were true for us!

But one good thing is that our nearly 2 year old seems to be be drastically improving her sleep, with 4 sleep-throughs from 7.45pm to 5.30/6.30 am in the past week. We never did any sleep training, as I don't like it and believe in letting them learn to do it themselves, and finally she seems to be getting there. Good timing!

Will reply to all separately!

Dubai maybe you could try wrapping your bump? I find it makes a difference to the awful heavy feeling and ligament pain, as well as painful tummy button area. Here's a link to a youtube tutorial, you can do it with any decently long fabric, but there are also a lot of very nice cheap woven wraps (£30-40) on facebook groups e.g. "Affordable Baby Slings for Sale or Swap"

Sally I manage grooming just by trimming using nail scissors, can't see anymore though so it's by touch! It's more for ease of access for drs during the birth really in case of another episiotomy as I don't normally shave or anything.
We asked for delayed core cutting too; it's very worth it healthwise for them and it was actually really nice in a way to have the baby out, but know that we were still attached to each other for about ten minutes
Interested to know how much they teach about breastfeeding at antenatal classes, I think this is really neglected in general.

Decca damn tonsilitis sucks, hope you're better now...

Apple it must be really exciting planning the homebirth; do you know the midwives who do on call births already? Are you getting a doula? How did the homebirth meeting go?

Oh InFrance I sympathise so much. I was just coming on here to say how I'm stressed out and worried about every-bloody-thing and you've basically said it all in a nutshell for me! It's awful isn't it? I am crying on an almost daily basis, panicking the new windows and doors won't be done before baby arrives (it's a three day job and will be very messy), wondering how and when I'm going to fit in potty training/transition to big bed for ds whose third birthday I also have to think about next month, and feeling generally unsupported emotionally by dp

I've had my rant now and will be back for a more sensible update soon x

Glad it's not just me freaking out (we're not so "relaxed" now, eh!)...
I'm 33 weeks today, and that means baby will be full term and could potentially arrive in 4 WEEKS
Suddenly it's all very near; even if I do go to 41 weeks like last time, it's still hardly any time left, and I have so much work to catch up on, I had to laugh when my friend said it must be nice to start maternity leave early as I'm not on a job contract right now... fat chance!

In some ways being super-busy is good, I'm just not able to pay attention too much to the aches and pains, but I also want to make the most of the nice things about being pregnant (feeling her move, when not painful!). I don't think we will be having a 3rd baby, so this is my last time with a beautiful big bump- I do remember missing it last time, despite having a delicious baby instead!
Am trying to put my hormonal emotions to good use by getting weepy over newborn videos, both of DC1 and also random stuff- saw a beautiful one on facebook of a 3 day old breast-crawling, just too beautiful [sniff]

The sleeping through for DC1 has been stymied by illness unfortunately but I am hoping it will improve again. I would like to do potty training, but I'm not at home and I don't think DH is keen to add to his cleaning tasks! To be honest, I think we missed the boat when she was about 18 months, as she used to tell us all the time that she'd done a poo etc, but I thought it was too young to start, and so didn't, and now she doesn;t really tell us reliably anymore

But good news: we are homing in on the names too finally, thank goodness, it's been much harder this time round!

Hey everyone hope you are all doing well as we lead up to the birth of our babies!

I am totally with you on the stress InFrance and Dubai I'm getting really stressed now and everyone keeps telling me not to stress and everything will be fine which makes me stress more!

I cannot believe how close she is to being here now panic mode is setting in some days I get really overwhelmed and feel like I can't do it and I'm gonna be a terrible mum other days I can't wait to meet her I'm all over the place (normal right??)

Baby kicks and movements are still really cute and I'm gonna miss them but they hurt me a bit as well now.

At the time of writing this I'm 31 weeks which is crazy I need to go out and buy the stuff for my hospital bag soon as I have nothing for that yet it is all getting so close now I'm getting scared.

I have no idea how you cope with having other children I'm struggling not being able to sleep at night but lucky to be able to have naps during the day I have no idea how I would manage if I had another child to look after. You are amazing women!

InFrance I had ante natal classes they are finished now and we had a really detailed one on breastfeeding! They said never to feel pressured into topping up with formula that makes things worse. Breastfeeding is supply and demand the more you feed the more milk your breasts produce. We were told breast feeding shouldn't be painful it can be a bit uncomfortable in the first few weeks as you adjust but should never be painful. They said if it's painful baby is not latched properly and a Health visitor should always check baby's latch when there's a problem.we then watched a video about how to latch baby properly and incorrect ways. They said baby's nose to nipple, chin leads first allows mouth to open wide enough to fit the breast in no uncomfortable clamping. I feel pretty clued up I'm aware that most classes aren't like this though I think it's just because it's a pro breast feeding midwife lead birth centre I'm giving birth at not a hospital.

I have been to countless expectant parent events and even went to the London Baby show which was amazing picked up some bargains and got a chance to listen to some childcare experts and learn some baby first aid.

So think I'm as ready as I will ever be good luck to everyone and I hope these last few months/weeks don't give you too much trouble.

apple, Decca, blue, Reebok and anybody else I missed how you all getting on? hope you are well x