March 2016 #4 - entering the second trimester at last and (hopefully) waving goodbye to sickness

[marmitemofo]

started a new thread as the old one was getting full up. Thought I would post the link to stats here too so people can update if they want!

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CWO_z74sygCKB3cdMb7jXf2VP1TwJB8KCTF-M5XbTyY/edit#gid=0

Haha, me too, I look back and think it was all so easy and so idyllic, why did I worry about everything and think I had it so hard? Epic rose tinted specs.

Part of me thinks, though, I had such a difficult baby last time that it must be my turn for a good one? One that will lie on a playmat or in a bouncer, or that goes longer than 45 mins between hour-long feeds...

I'm feeling all nostalgic about childbirth tonight, my little sausage turns 3 tomorrow! 3 years ago right now I was off to bed with no idea my 3am wee would involve waters breaking

Aw, happy birthday for tomorrow mini-Suz!

Yeah, DS was difficult. I have, at times, thought it was just me being inept, but the friends I made on leave at the time still tell stories of how unbelievably implacable and difficult he is was.

I'm hoping for one without reflux (or at least, that I can recognise and treat early), one that sleeps longer than 35 minutes. Maybe nappies that don't leak every night (still no idea why, we tried everything). I'd like one that happily watches the world go by, will eventually spend hours colouring. One like my sister was! (Not like I was, as DS is!). I'm hoping that trying to stay relaxed in pregnancy will help. If not, well, we survived it once!

Mynameis, I have the opposite fear..DS was a dream baby - great sleeper (well once he started sleeping through the night at 7 months he's basically never looked back and now at 26 months regularly let's us lie in past 8/8.30am!) he's a great eater, hardy ever cries etc. I am completely unprepared for one who is hard work and everyone says there's no way I get two like him!

In terms of mat leave I'm hoping to have 10 months in total including annual leave. Last time I took 10.5 months mat leave plus annual leave which was almost a year in total. Would be fab to do same this time but no way we can afford it. DH doesn't earn much, I've dropped to 4 days since DS, we've got a mortgage that is more expensive than our rent was and ideally I'd like to keep DS in childcare at least one day per week so I get some time with the baby alone. My work pays 90% for 6 weeks then up to 6 months at 50% followed by three months at stat pay. Which is not bad but still big cut! I agree though that money goes
Much further when on mat leave.

For those considering a Woombie get one! They are amazing! No 2 will def be in it from birth as have a few from DS. I'm sure really helped his sleep in the early days. We bought a glider nursing chair but TBH as it was in the nursery and DS was in with us I barely used it until he moved into his room at almost 6 months. It continues to be a fab chair for bedtime stories though!

With regard to what to buy and what we spent last time, I'm a proper bargain hunter like you marmite. The Which report was fab for checking out the best buys for everything, I got a free trial then researched all the big buys (cot, pushchair, car seat etc) on there. This time round I want to get a bedside cot but other than that and a new monitor as ours broke that'll probably be it. I second the vests and sleep suits until 6 months. dS was always in outfits with coordinated bibs (as he was so sicky), including socks and shoes. No way will I have time for that this time round!

Congrats on all those hearing heartbeats today. It's a lovely sound isn't it? Can't believe we 're fast approaching the 20 week scans. That first 12 weeks takes for ever then after that they just fly by!

Happy birthday to your LO Suz have you got any plans to party?

Haha no night feeds after 6 months You've been lucky beautiful, or just have very compliant children! DD was still feeding every two hours at that point. Though she did give up around the one year mark after we encouraged less night feeding very slowly over six months and she naturally dropped the middle of the night feed. I have to say (and this is just my opinion) I don't really believe the whole 'they don't need milk after 6 months' thing , purely as all babies are different, eat different amounts during the day, have different metabolisms etc. Out of the six babies from our NCT class, I think two had given up night feeds by 6 months. The rest of us had to struggle on! I didn't actually get a feeding chair till DD was 9 months or so and that was mainly for before bed feed. Until 6 months I fed her in bed, after I just fed her in a normal chair in the night. I might get the IKEA chair this time if DP will let me, as I think it'll be better for newborn feeding than our rocking chair (which we mostly got to rock DD to sleep rather than for feeding).

I also love the name Willow (and both me and DP are big Buffy fans) but DP has vetoed it as sounding too hippy, haha.

With DD she was in proper outfits from birth since that's what people bought us and we didn't really buy many clothes ourselves! If I had a choice I'd put DC2 in sleep suits from the newborn stage but depends on whether it's a boy or girl and of son whether we reuse DDs clothes or my sisters DS hand me downs! But yes, definitely easier to just dress them in sleep suits at first.

Yes MiniSuz happy birthday! Two of mine were born in the 29th (and one on the 9th!) so it's like a lucky number to me

I did feed the girls in the night after 6 months, but not once they slept through! I am lucky that they're good sleepers but I've always been very strict about bedtime.

I like that you think it's hippy along with the home births and breastfeeding and so on, I could almost pass for one haha. Willow's name will definitely be the odd one out in the family though! Poor girl.

DD1 was in proper outfits and dresses as I was so excited to have a girl. DD2 was in sleepsuits for 6 months!

Hello all! Sorry I've been AWOL - been having ishoos getting into MN.

Happy birthday mini suz!

suz and indom we're telling ourselves we're due an easy baby this time or at the very least a sleeper! DD was constantly on the boob, wanting to be held, or screaming inconsolibly! Someone told me 2nd babies have to be easier so generally are

Baby will be in sleepsuit a most of the time for us too. Pink ones at that as she/he will have to wear her/his sisters old ones!

15 weeks today, yay. Hope everything's ok. I can't really feel movement any more but guess it depends on the baby's position. Apparently it's the size of an apple now..

Hope you all have good days!

me the only thing I'd say about your list, lovely you've got people wanting to help out like that by the way, is the caboo. It's one of the few things you might be better off getting second hand. Although they are really easy to use, they become softer and 'buttery' with use which makes them even more supportive and easier to wrap with. Slings are usually well looked after as people know they hold their value and improve with time. Facebook sling selling groups are good to find them and also great for getting tips when you're sleep deprived and doubting you've done it right. My caboo was second hand and has been lent to loads of friends since I stopped using it, put it on yesterday with a friend's tiny new born and it was even easier to use than with dd! Look forward to using it with this lo again.

Dd eventually night weaned at 14 months... A dream to bf, but loved her night feeds. Stopped feeding altogether just after her second birthday. She was never the greatest sleeper, still doesn't spend all night in her own room, but doesn't tend to be up before 7.30. Finally good at going to bed since getting her big girl bed, just comes into our room at around 2 am and sleeps on her old cot bed matress in our room.

Dh swears he can feel the baby kick now. Felt something sunday morning when I could feel strong movements and again when he came to bed last night. 18 weeks tomorrow so feels like it's rediculously early for that as with dd he didn't feel much movement and not to 27 or 28 weeks.

jealous of your DD sleeping in till 7.30 dobby! I spoke too soon about DDs sleep this week, she woke up at 4.30am today We've got a bed in her room and I got in with her till 6am, then I swapped with DP and I slept till 7.30. Absolutely knackered today and got a two hour lecture to teach at 11! Need more caffeine.... When I dropped DD off at nursery today and told them she was up at 4.30am they said 'right.. so you're going to be tired today then A aren't you?'. but I bet she will be really happy all day but as soon as I get her home she'll become a screaming tired mess. and DP plays football on Tuesday evenings so it's down to me to do dinner, bath, and bed. fun times ahead...

I also got a caboo second hand. I have to say, I didn't really like it after DD was about 3 months - I found it slipped quite a bit once she was heavier, no matter how I tied it on, but I had a ring style one, and I think they have non ring style ones now? I've bought a manduca carrier this time round as wanted something a bit more structured but still soft, and not the baby bjorn. I've been using it with DD and loving it so far.

I'm also a bit of a hippy beautiful haha. I also suggested Skye and River as names to DP, he actually likes both (and Willow) but for some reason dismissed them all as 'too hippy' (though I admit River is a bit out there).

Very much of a TMI post but does anyone have any great remedies for the dreaded constipation? It's been killing me for weeks now
Tried fibrogel and drinking 3/4 pints of water a day but nothing's helping so far. Lady in the pharmacy won't give me anything either, said they can't recommend anything.
All advice welcome.

Q - have you tried good old fruit? Dates cherries figs and grapes usually work! I think dates are gross but could blend them into a smoothie or something? Also there is something in the pharmacy called senokot - just had a quick Google and apparently it's natural and can be taken but obviously I'd speak to your midwife or pharmacist or someone first. Hope that helps!

Thanks so much for the boobs reassurance and sleeping tips a few pages back - I sleep so much better now, without leg pain

Had an appointment today at just over 17 weeks, thought we might get to hear the heartbeat but it seems like all they do here in Germany is ultrasound scans! All looked fine, the baby was just relaxing but it was the right size and we got a good view of the heart. They haven't measured the heartrate and also couldn't tell the sex from the scan yet so we're no closer to knowing! Having another scan at about 20 weeks, hopefully we'll find out then!

Nice to see your list me, at least half of it were things I hadn't even thought of. Will start writing my own list soon, good to get an overview.

Wow this thread is nearly finished!! we are definitely a chatty bunch!

I was really ill over the weekend had the nastiest cold ever, no sickness though which is great, phoned in sick yesterday and I wish I did the same today still feeling the cold symptoms :(

Dp surprised me with a doppler on Friday, was a bit worried about using it but it worked and It was such a relief, you could also record the heart beat and keep it as a memory on a cd so I thought that was cute :)

Reg baby lists, ours so far come up to £2,600 so we're trying to save up as much as we can.

17+2 today and last night I felt really strong flutters in my belly don't know if it's gas or baby but I'll try and monitor it from now on fx its baby!! 3 weeks and 3 days until our scan so nervous and excited!

Crossing fingers for an easier baby this time - DD had pretty bad colic, catnapped during the day, seemed to feed constantly. Night feeds stopped at about 11 months just before she stopped BF.

As far as what to buy for your baby, first time round I was pretty flummoxed with everything on offer but I found this book really useful

www.amazon.co.uk/What-Your-Baby-Hughes-Joshi/dp/1907952284

Remember, people are very generous especially if it's your first baby. You will be bought loads of clothes and toys so I'd say only buy the absolute essentials clothing wise. And you will only be bothered to dress them in sleepsuits and bodysuits for first few months anyway!

Can recommend a slightly cheaper Mamas and papas version of the Woombie which was really good in the newborn stage.
www.mamasandpapas.com/product-swaddle-shell-cream/734603400/type-i/

TK Maxx can be good for a bargain especially things like giant muslins.

Oh and it's always worth asking friends and family if they have any baby stuff they don't need any more. It's a good halfway house between buying second hand and new as you at least know where it's come from. We got loads of stuff given by friends that were almost as good as new - saved us a fortune!

Keep an eye out for sales as some of the bigger retailers such as Mothercare, Mamas and Papas and Kiddicare have them regularly and you can save a lot on your bigger purchases.

Q by the time we've had these babies there will be no such thing amongst us as TMI!

Try hot water with half a lemon squeezed in it. That gets things moving for me. Orange juice is also meant to be good and yellow melon (the one shaped like a rugby ball....don't know what it's called) apparently melon is one of the quickest things we digest and it ferments (lovely!!) forcing everything out

dobby actually I have bid on a caboo sling on eBay ... I thought if I win it I just won't tell dh it's secondhand!

LCR77 that's a good point and I've got a few friends having babies now and in November so hopefully there might be some newborn hand me downs. DH has agreed that he can bear to have secondhand from friends! No babies at all in our family though so hoping everyone will just be so excited to have one that they'll all want to buy us lots of presents!

Thanks paper I love melon so will stock up, been for a walk around the local retail park after work, I think I'm bunged up from lack of exercise and usual pregnancy stuff. Melon and grapes it is haha. 16 week appt tomorrow so will be asking for help there too - I feel like most of this bump will disappear if I could just go haha.
Just bought the most adorable little hat and set of sleeveless vest suit thingys in asda they're so tiny I couldn't resist. A friend has text offering us her baby bath too as she has used it once and baby hates it, prefers little seat in the big bath. Another one ticked off the liSt. me our 2nd hand stuff is only from family and friends, luckily 4 babies have been born between my best friends and dp's sil's over the last 12 months with another 2 due in the next 8 weeks so most things are coming straight across to us.
Popped into mother care but all their 50% off stuff was the boys and girls thing's none of the unisex newborn stuff

Thanks for all the happy boy-birthdays guys! It was lovely, we went out for dinner tonight (at 5pm!), so grown up!

One more suggestion Q, have you tried peppermint tea?

I think I'll start buying stuff after my 20week scan - three weeks today, eep!

Was fully in maternity clothes today and got noticed for the first time by a friend who I haven't seen for ages and hadn't yet told, so I must be properly showing! I was reading on one of the baby development sites that in the next couple of weeks (I'm 16+5) the baby will double in size, so am expecting a bit of a spurt.

q have you tried lactulose? Can't quite remember if you're allowed it when preggers but certainly worked with the post birth poo

I'm watching OBEM on the train home and trying not to weep like a mad woman!

Ooh yes, and apparently at around 17 weeks our centre of gravity shifts and we're all off balance!

Lol Suz I am desperately trying to hang on til my 20 week scan too but it is soooo difficult esp since I promised DH that I wouldn't buy anything without him there too.

Making notes of what to but from where doesn't count though does it?

• buy!!

Bloody fat sausage fingers!