August 2016 number 5 - waddling towards the third trimester!

[Mslg]

For the August 2016 ladies and babies!

I hear that Pickle. I had a massive cry about it too, I can't believe what's going on. I honestly can't believe this is real!

It's all a bit unreal. I'm Scottish, and left the UK (I thought temporarily) 12 years ago. Then the immigration laws changed and made it impossible for me to return with my American spouse. I can't reconcile what's happening, its so different from the country I left. The racism and intolerance is just awful. Its happening here too, I've never become a US citizen because I'll always see myself as British, but with Trump on the rise I'm afraid what will happen to immigrants like me. It does make me realize that there's always something momentous happening - when I had DC1 it was the height of the recession and Obama was being sworn in on TV when I was in labour. When I had DC2, the Arab spring was going on and now with this one, it seems the world is shifting beneath our feet.

Lily have you decided what you're going to do about your paint situation? I've been looking at samples all week myself as we're moving DS into a different room and we also have the nursery to decorate. The crown breath easy selection is actually very limited isn't it! I'm struggling to match a pink with the wallpaper I've chosen

I've got myself a bit stressed about the decorating and I now have ulcers in my mouth I just feel like I'm running out of time! My first pregnancy went so so slowly but this one is just whooshing by!

Also, yesterday I caved in and brought clothes in the sale for next year. I don't know what I was thinking as the discount wasn't even that good and it's not the easiest thing to return because I live 45 away from the shop by car I think I've just gone into panic mode!

M2B that vaccine after effect looks sore have you called the midwife to check? How are you feeling now?

Pickle yes I will buy a couple of sleep suits in tiny size but not many. Most of the sleep suits I have are newborn size.

Sorry to look like I'm ignoring all the recent political comments. I really don't want to start a MN war as I'm only on this thread to talk about baby related subjects so I'm just keeping quiet about it if that's OK

Hello everyone!

Thanks for all the washable nappy advice. I'd like to try reusables- I had a look at the Little Lamb bamboo nappies and they just look so soft and lovely. My council does a reusable nappy trial thing (I think they send you a free starter kit) so I'm going to sign up for that. As someone said upthread, I might use disposables for the first week or so at least though. No need to make life too complicated....!

Glad you got car seat sorted fizzy. I think we're going to go for the Cybex Cloud Q because it has a lie-flat option. We don't have our own car so for day to day times, I'll be using a combination of public transport and taxis. Also, I envision taking the baby on trains (etc) to visit people who then pick us up from stations in their cars. As you can't leave babies in regular car seats for very long, I was thinking the Cloud Q as part of a travel system is a good option as the baby will be comfortable in the Cloud on the pushchair chassis but it gives me the option to safely strap them in if I then get a lift/taxi for part of the journey. (If anyone sees a flaw in this plan, I'm happy to hear it. The Cloud is £££ so will be an expensive mistake!)

I ordered the pushchair yesterday. We've gone for the Mamas and Papas Urbo2. Mostly because I like the way it looks but it's suitable from birth and has a couple of nifty little features. I ordered "last year's colour" (ha! Pushchairs are so weird) from Precious Little One so it was £150 cheaper than the new stock (and I prefer the colour - black- to this year's selection anyway!). So, I'm pleased with myself for that.

Lily and Pear. We just used regular paint for the nursery. The baby won't be sleeping in there for ages and I reckon it's probably fine anyway. It's been two weeks since we finished and the room does still whiff of paint a little (just FYI re:timescales). I honestly wouldn't worry too much.

Otherwise, things are ticking over. Still constantly worrying about how much I've felt the baby move. I suspect I'll just always worry about that, aside from when I can feel it. I just don't think it's a very active baby....

I keep getting an upset stomach which I'mnot sure whether it's my IBS or something pregnancy related. Either way, it's annoying and another thing I'm worrying about. (I'm probably paranoid- can it affect the baby?!).

Hope everyone is well and looking forward to the week ahead. Those of you already on mat leave - I am envious!

plimsolls I swing from constipation to upset stomach too, it's most off putting but I think the baby just puts a lot of pressure on your digestive system so it isn't working at its best right now.
Nappy chat is super helpful - thank you, I'm also considering it too but only once I've got the first couple of weeks out of the way.
Second time mums - I am a bit confused about sheets and protectors for the Moses/pram. Do you put on a waterproof sheet and then a fitted pram sheet?

Plimsolls I loved the cloud Q for that very feature, but they only had the base for the aton in, and it locked down so amazingly, I figured best to just get that one. I'm not a fan of using an infant carrier on a base so she'll be out and in a pram or sling the rest of the time, but yes, the cloud q is the best!!

As for paint everyone, I bought eco organic paint from Lakeland, but when I was in b&q asking about breathe easy (which turns out only home base stock) they told me their own brand, valspar, does not have VOC's as its made of acrylic paint, not solvent based. On the tins it has the 'minimal' voc count mark on the side, which my totally organic Lakeland paint also had, so that's what I've been going by, the same for gloss. Not all but many do have minimal voc counts these days as we move into less solvent based.

Oh and the cloud q is also heavier than other carriers, but really that's just because of its extra functions. I'd say it's a perfect choice!

Pear it's not the politics, it's the division and hatred combined with the risk of economic collapse. I would hope however anyone voted those things woukdnt seem like an ideal situation to bring a new baby into. Britain has always been a very moderate country and the rise of the far right terrifies me, but then that also shouldn't be too out of the box either is it? To be honest it's very relevant to a thread about babies after all the primary purpose of a parent us to protect their children and last night I felt like I wouldn't be able to protect mine. I was looking for some backup from people I thought might feel the same way or be able to help me with some reassurance, it was quite hurtful to be shut down. Don't worry I'll just take myself away somewhere where my worries don't make you feel uncomfortable until I'm ready to put a brave face on it.

Thanks fizzy that's very reassuring.

I'm sorry that you're feeling so unhappy picklebot. FWIW, I think pear just said she was not going to join in, rather than asking you to not post. I agree it's very unsettling. I don't know if this will reassure you but I had a long chat with my dad at the weekend who I consider to be quite 'in the know' about these things, and he was quite upbeat/optimistic that this period of upheaval will be short lived and that everything will be "back to normal" ish quite soon. He also outlined some of the signs that make him think we won't actually leave in the way people are worried we are. Anyway, I don't know enough about it to go into any more detail or repeat the detail he told me accurately. I just know I was less upset after he'd explained. Sorry, probably not very helpful after all....

alfie thank you for the reassurance. I'm sorry you're suffering too though.

I forgot how uncomfortable baby moving can be and the feeling you get that baby is away to fall out

Anyone else getting that feeling when walking, suddenly it's sore and it's as if the pressure is really great down below

I got it with my first pregnacy too

It's such a weird horrible feeling, only way I can describe it is it feels like baby away to fall out.

I'm also ignoring ref comments as I'm perfectly happy with result and my vote was for my kids future. For the long term not the here and now. So I'm not wanting to engage in it either as clearly views are different.

salene I woke up at 5AM almost in tears (as I do every morning) because she's so RIGHT THERE. I just feel like I can't possible grow anymore, I psychically hurt and feel pulled to the brink. I think it's worse in the mornings when my stomach is empty, not sure why. Just that feeling on a really hard stomach where I can fee every lump or bump of her, and her fidgeting actually moves me is so painful! I'm very ready to be done now😔

I don't think it's fair to bring a political debate onto here or to take it personally when others don't want to join in. We all have our views and we can all rant about it for days but that's not what we're here for and this is supposed to be a place we can talk, not argue..politics always lead to an argument. I'm sure there are threads on here where people are happy to have a rant but not this one

Yeah I find the movement very uncomfortable

I also woke up the other night and went to turn over and my bump was agony, no idea why but I could hardly move, managed to get turned and slowly the pain subsided

It wasn't very pleasant though you really do start hurting near the end I find for one reason or another.

The last few days I've found myself googling "babies born at 33 weeks" "can I request to be induced?" Obviously I know that she needs to stay in there and wouldn't want her sooner than she'll be healthy but I've just reaaaalllyy had enough now, I'm majorly struggling!

I couldn't sleep until 6am, baby moving, needing to pee every 30 minutes and reflux.

Christine I totally understand where you are coming from. I have to admit I was a bit gutted that even with my disability getting worse by the day, my reflux being out of control, the constant, painful Braxton hicks every time I move, they still wouldn't consider doing my ELCS before 39 weeks, I was really hoping they would say 37 would be just fine.

I think the baby has dropped down a bit, I have so much pressure in my pelvis!

Pickle don't feel bad about mentioning your concerns. I think the big thing is that arguments are flaring up all over mnet and the Internet in general because people are so worried or uncertain. No one will mind if you voice how you are feeling, I think people (or certainly speaking for myself) don't want to fall out in this group over something we can't change.

Also struggling at night. Feel ten times bigger and just lie there with insomnia. Fun fun. Getting period pains too, is this normal? All yesterday evening and now this afternoon

Sloth.

I got all manner of pains in first pregnacy , lots of rib pain and stretching pain etc cramps too

Not so much this time round but I assumed it was because I'd been pregnant before

If you are concerned call your midwife to put mind at rest.

Pickle, Fizzy and Shanster Totally agree - I had a little cry too - I don't want my little one to have to live in a country (and specifically an area of the country) that is this full of hatred of minorities. All we can do is bring them up to be loving, accepting and kind to everyone regardless of their identity and background, and empower them to be the generation that changes things for the better.

I'm ordering the nursery wallpaper tonight woohoo

I just can't believe I'm 31 weeks and that birthing classes are this weekend. I know everyone warned me that the second pregnancy would go quick but this is scary quick!

I've been advised to eat more vitamin C from now to help prevent tearing as Vitamin C improves elasticity. Hey, I'll try anything

Speaking of preventing tearing dare I mention the perineal massage?! I did it last pregnancy for a good few weeks beforehand and didn't have any tears but not sure it was a coincidence! My baby app this week came up with it and it triggered the memory to the experience...!

What kind are you getting peardrop? We're thinking of getting some wall decals, but can't decide on theme.

Have you heard that eating mejdool dates can shorten labour? I'm going to give those a go too!

Good tips pear and dileas. For some reason, I feel really squeamish about perineal massage but I must be brave! I've got some Vitamin C facial oil....I wonder if I could kill two birds with one stone?! (Kidding, I imagine the Vit C oil is not designed for sensitive areas).

Dilas and plimsolls I was going to try perineal massage but read an article this morning (www.scienceandsensibility.org/blog/what-is-the-evidence-for-perineal-massage-during-pregnancy-to-prevent-tearing)that said any evidence only shows a tiny decrease in tearing and only for first baby, not subsequent ones. There does seem to be a reduced rate of episiotomies but that could be that women who have practised massage are more likely to refuse them. Advice seems to be - give it a go if you don't find it horribly uncomfortable, but don't worry if you don't :-)

sophia ah the link doesn't work, interested to read it.
plimsole haha nice idea! Tbh I haven't got anything much organised for this baby must get the hospital bag packed so can see the perineal massage being low on the priorities!

Saying that I am typing this while on all fours on the birthing ball for optimal position to move the baby from B2B, it's not all bad!