Babies due in November 2016 #5

[FuzzyOwl]

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Hello all. Just checking in from (very) sunny St Ives! I managed to get sunburn yesterday, what a plonker! 25 weeks today! All of a sudden it feels like this pregnancy is flying by although I'm sure I'll be eating my words in a couple of months time when the discomfort really kicks in!!!

Super jealous!!! I'd love to be by a beach or even just a pool right now. Not enjoying the heat at all!! Tempted to just get into a cold bath....

Feeling very hot. Normally love the heat but have struggled today. 3 days at work this week then 6 weeks off!

24 weeks this week and suddenly realised we need to get organised! Second time round so not got so much to buy but do have a room to decorate.

Smells that will be lovely with the pink muff! It's all the little accessories that really allow you to make it your own and the donkey will be fantastic too! Defo agree the liner is more practical!

Stripy - I bet you felt a huge relief the pram is a huge part of the organisation I would be doing the same! Seems like a really good deal too you got! Will be. Huge weight of your mind :)

Bobcat I'm struggling with humidity at the moment which is hard to believe when you live in Scotland! It's mostly through the night or when I'm in the office at work! Carry a pocket fan around but you can imagine the looks I get lol

Also wanted to ask... Is anyone else struggling to find decent maternity clothes? Being a first timer I thought this bit would be a breeze but found nothing in the shops so reverted to online but I'm finding everything is either not long enough and fairly tight or like an 8 man tent! I have ordered a few things from GAP maternity online In the sale with 60% off then a further 25 but wondered if anyone else has any suggestions or tips?

I lice in a first floor flat so need a pram that is light and very easily folded. Any suggestions?

I got loads of my maternity clothes from my sister-in-law, they're mainly from h&m mama and topshop maternity. They are still loose on me but I guess that's a good thing since we're only gonna get bigger. :)

That's true Stripy! I just can't seem to find the right medium it's either a tent or the complete opposite!

Helena it really depends on your budget but would recommend the bugaboo bee size wise as narrower than most prams and folds down to a fantastic size.

gingernut I've bought pretty much all of my maternity stuff on eBay! It's not easy to find really nice stuff though I agree!

Ginger, I have found New Look maternity jeggings quite good, and am mostly surviving on elastic waisted midi skirts hoiked up over bump to under boobs, with a white T-shirt tucked in/tied in a knot. Jessgjngs I wear with a very flowy top and bump band so as to not expose myself, or with a tight vest and cardi. I have a few empire waist dresses which are fab also and think I should be able to wear until birth. I am hunting eBay for Asos dress I like as they seem reasonable, no where else really seems to have styles I like.

Helena a City Mini would probably suit you quite well though not sure if they're suitable from birth. Very light, nippy, decent basket and one handed compact fold. We are buying one of those/similar for travelling. I think we'll end up with a Mamas and Papas armadillo flip as they're a little cheaper, but no one handed folding.

Ginger I'm a Seraphine convert. Was an 8-10 pre-preggo and go for their small stuff. They have frequent sales, including at the moment. Have got some lovely maternity tops which double up as nursing tops. Can't recommend their knot dresses highly enough- great to dress up or down, and there are long/short sleeves.

I have found GAP stuff to be pretty enormous. Although I was going to return one tent-like dress when it arrived at work about 2 months ago. A male colleague whose wife just gave birth advised me to keep it. Now it fits a little big big but room for 3 months of growth! Good shout, Richard!!

Also bought an Isabella Oliver top which was three times the price of my cheapo new look/h&m ones, but is three times as nice! Figure if I want several kiddos then the odd investment piece makes sense.

Maternity Pjs from asos and a maternity hoody have also recently changed my life.

I ordered a Mamas&Papas 'aviator butterfly' toy from Boots today whilst doing an order. My first proper baby purchase! Cos every child needs an aviator butterfly, obvs.

Morning! Hi Ginger not sure if it's your thing but I was delighted when I discovered I could still buy my beloved Topshop skinny jeans in a maternity fit! I'd definitely check them out although the online range is better than the in store selection usually... I've had swollen feet the last day or so... Attractive! I'm hoping its to do with the heat and am elevating them as much as possible to try and alleviate the swelling.

latinata I'm going to have to look up aviator butterflies now!
I got a couple of dresses from Isabella Oliver which are lovely but very pricey. They do have a sale on though. Otherwise I'm living in a black jersey skirt from topshop maternity, and wearing my normal tops over a long vest to cover the midriff gap! I'm not sure how much longer I'll last with that combination.
I think I'll be getting grey melange for the donkey too...

Re pushchairs in first floor flat, we had a cameleon and it was actually great. Wheels and seat pop off easily and we hung the frame on the back of a cupboard door. The big bonus over the bee was that I could bump the pram down the stairs and pull it back up with DD inside, because the back wheels are big and suspension is better. I tried it with my friend's bee and couldn't manage. Same on the tube, can easily lengthen the handle and bump down any steps you come across. It depends on how you plan to negotiate the steps but id say don't discount a larger pram out of hand.
(I'm glad we're going to ground floor now though!!)

We are going grey melange with the chameleon too, love the quilted inside.

I bought my first pair of maternity jeans yesterday - the hairband trick on my normal ones finally no longer works at 23+1. I ordered a few pairs from next but didn't like any of them but turns out my local H&M has a decent - albeit rammed full - maternity section instore. I'm usually a 14 on bottom but had to buy a 20 in maternity jeans, I was so upset until my DH pointed out that I had H&M jeans on to go shopping in and they were a 14! Bloody random sizes and hormones don't mix.

I hope everyone is doing ok? I've had a nice chilled weekend and I'm off work this week. So looking forward to lots of "me time" mixed in with prepping the house for her arrival.

Maternity clothing is SO awful! I've bought and returned so much stuff, I can't tell you. I'm quite 'fashiony' (trying not to make myself sound awful here!) normally so was happy to invest in basically a whole new wardrobe of maternity stuff but to be honest, it's been impossible!

I've got a pair of Topshop Jamie jeans in maternity fit and although I love them and they look great, they're under the bump and fall down constantly. So that's not ideal. I got a couple more pairs of jeans from New Look which don't look as nice but are very comfy and much cheaper at £17.99 a pair.

ASOS is hit and miss - I've got some nice sundresses (which I'll hopefully finally be able to wear this week) and a couple of cami tops which are good with jeans. I also got a maternity maxi skirt which i wear with stretchy vests tucked in.

I found most of my regular clothes were out from about 14 weeks as I like high-waisted stuff and my rib cage has been massive from the beginning!

Also, H&M are the absolute worst for sizing. I bought a shift-style, loose fitting dress from their normal range a few weeks ago - I'm usually a 12, so bought a 16 in hopes that it'd fit over the bump. It's very baggy on the bump but tight on my hips! Go figure!

Maternity clothes are the pitts and it's getting worse as at least two good shops in my area have closed down recently. I have managed to get a small capsule wardrobe together. Mostly eBay, h&m, top shop and Fara Kids. I did however get some brilliant non maternity dresses from Cos which are the very linch pin of my current "look" and accommodate the bump very well. Primark also have some jeggiings in lovely colours (red, navy,khaki, black, pale pink, blue and grey) with really high waists which come up nice and high on the bump, I just bought them a size bigger size.

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Sorry don't know what happened there.

Gosh it is hot (at least down south) isn't it? I just found a fantastic M&S beach cover up dress in my wardrobe - it's triangular & very stretchy - very much to be recommended (and they are still in the shops).

Coppergrey - thanks for the fashion advice - I agree maternity stuff is pretty dull - very dull colours & patterns. I've had the most success on eBay as there is so much to choose from & it's pretty cheap. Am v glad I'm pregnant in the summer not the winter (although would rather have had a summer baby - but you can't have everything).

25 weeks tomorrow & feeling pretty big - but fairly good too. This is my first and probably my only pregnancy (I'm 51) so I am determined to enjoy it if it kills me!! Actually I think I've got away pretty lightly & don't have any bad symptoms apart from getting breathless after exertion. I shocked some people the other day by saying that being pregnant was a bit like having a degenerative disease - things you can do today you might not be able to do tomorrow . . . .

Wow. Was just beginning to enjoy being pregnant but I've been hit by a serious wave of exhaustion today. It's been like going back to the first few weeks and I've spent the whole day in bed. Has anyone else has this?

On maternity clothes, I've got some great seraphine and Jojomamanbebe stuff from ebay. Really good quality and the second hand prices have been great.

Stretched, I had that last time and it turned out to be low iron - keep an on eye on it and ask to get tested if you are still seriously knackered.

Stretched, my tiredness comes and goes as well. The heat def doesn't help, but I think it's normal for everyone to feel a bit lazy when it's this hot.

My lower back is beginning to really bother me. It's not too bad, but I do feel it. Is it too soon to blame it on the pregnancy? :/

Thanks Thurlow. I had a test 3 weeks ago but I might ask for a repeat.

Stripy - I've definitely had lower back pain, especially when I've walked a lot. I'm blaming it on pregnancy as I've never had this before.

Yes Corrine, very warm! Lovely though. Definitely helping my waistline as have been far too warm to eat much the past few days!

Bit worried I'm getting sick. My throat feels constricted and is really dry and sore, and I'm so lethargic. Going to try and get an emergency appointment tomorrow, no other cold symptoms so worried it's strep throat of course I could just be a bit run down due to stress, but best to double check with GP I suppose?

Booked in for a cervical length scan on Friday when I'll be 23+6. I'm absolutely terrified of my cervix giving out, even though I have no risk factors, so just want the reassurance before we set off on that horrid flight to Australia. I've been having pelvic pressure on an off since 17ish weeks so of course I'm convinced something terrible is happening but then I wonder if things are fine, but not within 'normal' range, but not something they would consider treating, that'll cause more stress

I was just the same. Pelvic pain low level cold which ramps up periodically the ENTIRE duration of pregnancy. Having the odd private scan now and again for peace of mind and all is ok apart from low placenta. I listen for peace of mind with a Doppler. Have less energy too. Saw my doctor and she said it's just pregnancy enjoy it. Am 23 weeks.