July 2016 (6)

[Cheery1]

Hello ladies - here we are on number 6! Let the chat continue! x

Anyone started to think of what pain relief they want in labour? I only used a TENS machine last time, I had it on from very early contractions right through until after DD and placenta were out. I'm hoping I can cope with just that this time but am open to other options if I feel I need it. Hoping to be on the low risk unit this time so things are a bit more relaxed.

Woodsy I think your DH is being a bit unfair, of course your going to want to buy things for your own child. We borrowed lots of stuff for DD but the outfits that are special to me and that ive kept are the ones that we bought ourselves.

Congrats on all the scans. Mine is not before March 3 so it's great to hear that everything has been going well for you lovely ladies... Did you have a full bladder for the 18-20 week scan?

Scandi, i went in with a full bladder as it told me to on the letter but then was asked to go an empty my bladder and move around . Baby needed to move her arm to get a better view of her heart.

Thanks for the re-assurance that I am not unreasonable ladies. I know it all stems from a fear of my MIL being even more overbearing when baby gets here and with my own family being so far away sometimes I just let the little things get on top of me.

Scandi yup, my letter said to drink and a pint and a half, an hour and a half before. Well, of course, I was absolutely BUSTING an hour on from drinking it and had to nip into Tesco's on the way to hospital to let a bit out! And even so, the sonographer commented on how full my bladder was!

I think it was good though as he was all curled up and still (bless him, no room to move) so they were able to get lots of measurements easily, and then they asked me to go and empty my bladder so that he would move and they could get the rest of the checks in.

Woodsy you are definitely not unreasonable :)

Thanks Woodsy! I'll come with a full bladder to be on the safe side There is nothing more tempting than buying baby clothes and I'm with you when it comes to new stuff for the little new born. You should enjoy it and not feel guilty about it! What sizes do you buy? At this stage non of us knows if it is going to be a big or small new born so I wonder if it is risky to buy too "expensive" stuff in size 0-3 months...

I have just bought a couple of things in 0-3 and then a couple in 3-6. Realised we had no newborn stuff for the hospital so that's what I was purchasing last night. Then you think....what if we have tiny baby and we don't have anything.
My lovely mum is throwing me a baby shower at her house a couple of weeks before my due date (so that I get to see my friends and family who live a couple hundred miles away before baby gets here). She has suggested registering - very American - but I have a huge family so prob a good idea. Due to other circumstances we can't really have the shower before then. (Hoping i don't pop early). DH says we should wait and see what small items we get then........sigh. I think a few secret shopping trips are in order.

Indians - re NHS hear hear! Have a lot of friends who are docs and it's appalling what's been happening. Also watch a lot of 24 Hours in A&E (can't cope with One Born Every Min anymore!) and couldn't be more moved and impressed. Hope you're on the mend now, how awful and frightening for you.

Ted has a bad chest infection with a temp of 102 and seriously considered a trip to A&E in the early hours this morning so am very pleased you've had a good experience.

Cheery & Bluebell - speaking of Teds, yes I've read Life after Life quite recently actually and loved that Teddy was such a charmer in it! Much better than his older brother Maurice who never seemed to die! I work in film and wonder when it's going to be adapted. Felt very filmic to me if exhausting as you say Bluebell! Inside gossip: ITV are currently making a 'Ritz in the Blitz' style Downton Abbey series set at the fictional 'Halcyon' hotel in London from 1940-45. They shoot in April I think so maybe a Autumn/winter transmission....

And Cheery, will report back on Polly's cake-tasting though bday not until April!

Regarding baby clothes sizes, you will always use 0-3, as even the biggest baby will fit in these, and smaller ones will eventually. Newborn is going to fit most babies, but my DS was very long and 9lb 13oz, and didn't fit in newborn. We didn't actually have too much of that size as I suspected he might be on the larger size. This time, I've got a few newborn size stuff, but I think I'll take some 0-3 to hospital as well.

Culture thanks for the advice on sizes :-) I've just been shopping a bit - those little sizes are SO cute.
For your info The White Company has a lot of last minute sales items with up to 60% discount...

I except vests and babygrows to get us through the first few months and then clothes will make an appearance. I remember with DS that with the number of stealth vommings and poonamis, sometimes the clothes didn't survive. It was easier to change than faffing around with dungarees and such like. Having said that as soon as he was big enough to fit in clothes I did start enjoying dressing him.

I also found the most effective way of buying clothes was picking up bundles on ebay and local baby selling facebook pages. I got some real bargain . And it is a great way to buy clothes. It is only when they get to nursery, eating more and crawling that clothes just don't survive and it is really hard to find good bundles. If this little is a girl, i might be tempted towards dresses a little earlier. But nothing faffy or slippy.

My favourite kitten just passed away I will have a rant later about why ai think she died but for now RIP Lily which is what I named her

I am sorry scase. Here to hear your rant

Aww Scase I'm so sorry. Virtual hugs. (Lily has always been one of my favourite names.)

Sorry to hear about the kittens Scase so sad.

Glad to see we are talking clothes, I'm so naive. I have no idea regarding vests and baby grows! Do they wear both?! Long or short vest underneath? What about in summer?! What do they wear to bed?! So much learning and experience to gain when I asked my mum she just laughed at me and said 'you'll know, you'll learn'...

Scase - so sorry to hear about the kitten. I hope you are ok.
I went around to friends house last night & they gave me a pregnancy book. Has anyone else been reading up? I haven't read anything yet, but now feel like I should.
I hope everyone is having a relaxing Sunday. I am off to acupuncture in a bit. Looking forward to it.

Beautician I feel the same a lot of the time. I try to book in to get my nails and tan done every fortnight and eyebrows once a month. Makes me feel a whole lot better, I don't wear make up during the week and only on weekends if doing something so with a tan and an eyebrow tint I at least feel half decent!
Scase sorry to hear about the kittens

Ive been online looking at baby clothes this morning and can't wait until I know what we're having so I can buy some cute baby grows. There's not much unisex choice.
We're not telling anyone sex of the baby, mostly because I'm selfish and want to choose clothes and names without interference. My mil tends to buy me lots of things for the house etc. And I know it sounds ungrateful but sometimes I would like to choose my own bed sheets and towels etc. I can only imagine how many baby clothes she would manage to accumulate over 20 weeks if we told her. I wouldn't mind telling my mum as shes a very practical person and would rather give money or buy something I've chosen but I don't think it's fair to tell one granny and not the other...

Also my mil can't keep a secret so every one would know the day after the scan haha

I think the rule of thumb with clothes is that the baby should wear one more layer than you're wearing. But you should check how warm/cold they feel as well, just in case. In a very hot summer they may end up sleeping in just a nappy. We've got a Gro room thermometer that changes color according to the temp, and it came with a guide about number of layers. Overheating is more immediately dangerous than being cold.

In hot weather I found sleeveless vests to be handy, and baby would often wear just those on their own, or with soft trousers.

Generally though, in the early weeks they'll need lots of changes due to explosive nappies/dribbles/vom. So I just put DS in a short sleeve vest and a sleep suit (baby gro) pretty much all the time. When he was a bit older and more mobile I started to put him in outfits, usually short sleeve vest, trousers and a jumper/cardigan/top. I did like dungarees as well, as they look v cute.

20 + 5

Thom my DM has kindly offered me her pregnancy/child-rearing books that she had for my DBro and me. Of course I've politely accepted but tbh I'm not sure I'm going to be following advice from the late 1970s! Maybe I'm being overly sniffy (I mean, clearly it I turned out OK, twitch twitch) but I suspect some of the advice has changed for the better so I'm planning to buy one of the books that've been recommended on this thread.

Happy Sunday, ladies! We're off out for brunch with DH's sister and family - think I'm gonna have my belated pancakes at last! (And she's bringing me her maternity clothes )

Congratulations on the scans/team joining!!
indians glad to hear all is ok. Must have been frightening and glad your experience was so good. Your clothes are GORGEOUS! I was eyeing them up in John Lewis before we found out and I must say felt sad when I knew I wouldn't be buying them! But have embraced a few nautical items so I'm happy!

For those not knowing There were some
Great neutral white bits in the White Company 60% sale.

scase devastating news about the kitten I'm so sorry
beautican I feel EXACTLY the same. I'm really quite funny about keeping myself 'together' and the spotty/greasiness is getting a bit on top of me. And I bet you feel the pressure to still have your normal appearance. How I feel about my weight try not to be too hard on yourself, you have had a pretty crap time of it by the sounds of it. And having 3 children is hard going when you're growing another person. Today I'm being ultra greasy/disgusting!!
mascara the year my dd1 was born was boiling and lived in a nappy/maybe just vest! But I doubt it will be that warm again! I reccomend a good room thermometer and check the back of their neck for temperature. Usually a layer more than you would wear. I would get a mixture of vests (short sleeved) and baby grows. Maybe even a few footless ones as its summertime? Romper style ones? I think I'm going to buy some big muslins for swaddling as they are thin- and my last dd was such a swaddled baby! It's unpredictable in summer these days though... I'm going to buy a little cardigan just incase..
woodsy if you want to buy- you buy! You aren't being silly at all. And in my experience you do need newborn. I've even put mine in a few 'tiny baby' as they were so scrawny. I don't tell DH half of what I buy its part of maternal instinct and like you say other people have different tastes to you. It's part of the fun and don't let anyone make you feel bad. We chose the baby's going home outfit together though. That was DHs only input. Your baby shower sounds super fun! And you can ask for some sensible bits that way, people like being able to say 'we bought...' In my experience.

scandinavian I went for a big wee right before I went in and was totally fine! For my gender scan I had such a full bladder there was no space in there and the sonographer couldn't see as baby was SO squished! I think different places have different opinions but I don't think it really matters.
bird funny you say that about your taste buds- I'm the opposite and team blue! I'm usually all about the cake but my main 'needs' are meat, cheese and bread!
mrsSJP I've never tried out a quinny sorry! I did really like the I candy but we couldn't justify the money (though don't rule out second hand) nice bump progression pics! I wish I hadn't taken mine in my underwear now...