Thread #9 - TTC#1 grads thread - it's the final countdown

[PotatosMum]

Welcome to thread 9 of TTC#1 grads. Warning this thread moves fast!

Time is passing and our first few grads are nearly ready to pop! Nesting is in full swing and everyone is in awe of Bunch's epic organisation.

Anyone is welcome to join the journey regardless of stage, no TMI is TMI, no question is too silly, we're all in it together so just pop in and say hello

Team P - 8
Team B - 8
Team V - 7

August
11 Mor (Team Vanilla)
13 Bunch (Team Blue)
16 New (Team Vanilla)
27 Potato (Team Pink)
30 Pink (Team Pink)

September
1 Shelb (Team Pink)
2 Taz (Team Blue)
4 Nev (Team Blue)
8 DrWhy
12 Danni (Team Blue)
14 Soda (Team Vanilla)
28 Leonie (Team Blue)
29 Laurenrl (Team Pink)

October
3 Lisa (Team Vanilla)
6 Irregular (Team Pink)
8 Miley (Team Vanilla)
12 Indi (Team Pink)
13 Co5mo (Team Blue)
15 Planet (Team Pink)
23 Lillian (Team Pink)
26 Lara (Team Blue)
30 First

November
19 Canters (Team Blue)
20 Jam
25 Audrey (Stark) (Team Vanilla)
29 Elle

December
12 Feef

January 17
4 May
13 Ni (Team Vanilla)

February 17
15 Evergreen

Thanks guys, glad I'm not the only one experiencing it! It's all a bit first trimestery...

Went and sat on the sofa cataloguing baby clothes to cheer myself up, which definitely worked

Great news about your oh Leonie

Thanks!

Anyone else suffering with insomnia?

Still awake... 😯

I'm awake too

Morning all, how are you all today?

So, I've been awake since about 3:30am not impressed. I think I must have over done it yesterday as I've had BH on and off all night. Bloody things are the work of the devil!
Also made me freak out that it could be the start of labour. I'm sure it's not but it would be just my luck so close to moving and OHs worse nightmare!

Great news Leonie,

I bought a Tripp trapp on eBay for a steal but it's the older model so can't attach the newborn bit. It's not useable until Pip can sit unaided. Oh well, for £25 I don't care!

Potato get back on your fig rolls. BH are getting so much more obvious now aren't they. Try changing your activity, if they continue to ramp up its action stations. Like you said it's probably you've just over done it but best make sure.

Second night in a row of dreaming of being in labour fun times. DH has decided Pip needs to wait the week aswell as he wants one week just us in the house as we haven't had that for the last 3 weeks.

Eggs benedict ahoy, oh my I'm excited!!

Morning ladies

Great news about your OH's job Leonie.

Loving that high chair. I didn't realise you could get ones you use from newborn either.

I've also had a crappy nights sleep. Up about 5 times to go to the toilet and just can't get comfy at night at the minute. 35+6 today and feeling ready for baby to come sooner rather than later. Well, once we've hit 37 weeks anyway.

Fingers crossed mini Potato stays put until you've moved Potato, and that likewise Pip stays put for another week for your OH Bunch!!

All okay Potato?

Morning all and to potato and leonie with the crappy sleep

I'm 28w today so officially T3! I feel huge but I'm sure this bump will only get bigger. I've started to discover crusty goodness on the nipples. Any tips on how to clean it? It doesn't come off in the shower so my first attempt was (sorry gross) picking the bits when dry. ended up with a little bleed but oddly no pain so not trying that again! then I tried with a wet cotton bud after its softened after a shower and it seems to work better. Any tips?

Someone in the October thread had their waters break early so now I'm in a bit of a panic to buy more baby bits and get my hospital bag ready sooner rather than later just in case.

Which bottles/breast bump set did people go with? The Avent and MaM seem to be the popular choice.

We're going to go with a bedside sleeping cot for the first 6 months before getting a full cot bed. Deciding between the Chicco and the Snuzpod.

We have the avent bottles, pump and steriliser with the tommee tippee express and go pouches and warmer lillian. Probably slightly over prepared but it's just incase I can't breastfeed for some reason I at least have the bottle set! Plus we got it for better than half price.

potato how are you doing??

Good news about OHs job Leonie!!

Went to get measured for some new bras yesterday and have gone from a 32D to a 34F already... bought a 36F on the advice of the lady because apparently in your last months your ribcage expands. She reckons there's enough growing room for them to see me through until milk comes in so I'm happy with that! 2 for £30 at mothercare. Daft question... saw dummies for newborns yesterday, I didn't think they had dummies! Not sure wether to get some or not

Bunch I definitely think I just need to get back on the fig rolls. I think half of it is that I have started taking iron supplements and now I get poop pain that I can't always identify as poop pain until I poop
But yeh, the practice contractions are now really annoying, irregular, but there's a lot more of them and Potato's movements mostly range from uncomfortable to "ouch! Stop kneeing whatever you're kneeing"

We shall have to have a, no labour allowed support group for the rest of the week lol... But it's slightly exciting that you keep having dreams about it

Pink I think last week was when sleep and getting comfortable became really difficult for me. Hope it improves for you though.

Lillian welcome to the joys of T3.

I haven't had any boob crustyness, I've decided my boobs know they're not going to be used so aren't bothering.

I know a lot of people do use the bedside cots but my health visitor was really against them so I'm glad I've got a normal Moses basket.

Scary that someone due in October had their waters break. Do you know if all was ok in the end?

Miley I'm going to try to abstain from dummy's all together OH doesn't mind them. I think they're a bit gross and one of my friends who used them for about a month then got rid of them said that it got so the baby wouldn't sleep or stay quiet without one so it was better to go without.

So, we've packed just about everything we can (including the lampshades) and the flat now looks like a tip with boxes everywhere I just hope nothing happens to our completion date now

I'm going absolutely nuts with house work at the minute. I've just had a breakdown because we had 3 flies in the house and I was hysterically crying that we had an infestation think OH is going to have me sectioned! Been to asda to stock up on cleaning supplies as we're quickly running out. It seems I'm unable to sit and relax because there's always something to do... done my last load of baby's washing this morning so I have it all ironed and put away, plus the bedding washed and on the cot bed even though it won't be used for at least 6 months and will need washed again before baby actually uses it God help me when I'm on maternity leave. Please tell me I haven't gone mad!!

Yeah I was told to try not to bother with them so I think I'll steer clear for now! Thanks potato glad packing is going well!!!

With everyone on the crappy sleep. I was awake 4-7am this morning, miraculously fell back asleep for half an hour and then was up.

Lillian - congrats on T3. I've got a tommee tippee starter set. I'm not getting a breast pump yet as want to make sure I can breast feed before investing.

Miley - you don't sound insane! I'd say you're nesting and its normal

Pink - totally with you on it scary being August tomorrow. I'll be able to say 'baby will be here by next month' - eek!

Bunch - amazing your dad is home, must be lovely to have him back safe.

Potato - good work on the packing. I've been on iron supplements for weeks and it's really destroyed my ability to poo! It's awful!

I don't think I've had any practice contractions yet at 33+4. When did people start getting them?

Packing my hospital bag today so feeling quite productive!

Oh miley - I started off as a 32 boob measurement and I'm now a 36 as well. Wasn't expecting to expand so much at the rib cage!

Lillian - yes to the crusty nippleage! I also couldn't find a way to sort it so now I just ignore it. Such lovely perks.....

I hadn't sorted out breast bumps and bottles yet, so thanks for people giving their recommendations.

Sorry for everyone having bad sleep x

Thanks Lisa and potato, I think we are going to put in an offer tomorrow! We're very lucky in that we don't have to sell our flat we're going to rent and the sellers are moving to Cyprus so no chain there either so hopefully our offer will be accepted.

I've had a lot of runny eggs the past two days bunch probably would have before anyway but couldn't face them!

Jealous of your energy miley I do one or two things and I'm floored.

Do many people follow the month groups? I had to stop reading it I found it too stressful as no one really knew what was going on!! I prefer the mix of this group

Lilian, we also got the Tommee Tippe bottle starter set. I'm planning on combination feeding (breast and bottle - either expressed milk or formula) if possible, but am going to wait until baby arrives before buying a breast pump just in case she doesn't take. They are so expensive!

If we do get one it will be the Medela one which they sell in Mamas and Papas and and Mothercare. If baby doesn't take to breastfeeding at all we are going to get the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine.

Feefs, exciting about the house! If all goes to plan will you be moving far from when you are now?

potato, glad you are all packed now! Bet it's been tiring getting everything sorted.

Miley, sounds like you are nesting I've gone from a 32DD to a 34F, although that all happened at quite an early stage and I haven't grown for a while. I need to go and get measured for some nursing bras though. Were they any good at Mothercare?

I think I've only had one lot of Braxton Hicks so far, nothing else.

I don't follow the month threads. Do you know if everything turned out OK for the October lady?

Just thinking Audrey hasn't been around for a while either? Hope she is ok.

Miley I've not bought any dummies yet but I will for emergency use. I've read that they reduce SIDS risk as well.

Not sure about bottles - I was reading about all this in Holly Willoughby's book. I didn't know they did different teats with different flows so I appear to have a lot to learn. I've just got steriliser tablets but she recommend a microwave steamer so I'll look into that. Hoping to be able to express after a while for DH to do a feed about 11 so I can go to bed early and be ready for the night feeds. Going to leave buying a pump until after baby is here but need to get some bottles, a brush, formula and dispenser soon. I want to breastfeed but Holly Willoughby emphasises how you need to feel happy and relaxed to do it, and sometimes using formula can help if you're stressed out and worn out. She suggests expressing that feed instead to keep milk supply up.

Congrats on T3 Lillian!

I was reading that not everyone feels BH contractions so I wouldn't worry too much if you haven't noticed any Soda.

Loving that everyone is getting prepared. I struggled to decide which bottles to go for so plumped for the Advent starter set as it doesn't have too much on it I think I won't use. Had a heavy discount on it too.

Great news on house moving. Decorating the nursery stage here hasn't gone so well. Putting 6 lengths of wallpaper on the wall has taken all day and included one major and one minor strop from DH and me going out for an extra roll of paper. Love how eager he was to get the paper up but in his haste he cut it wrong and now thinks he's stupid

Hi ladies! Will have a proper catch up later on. Had my first baby shower today (I sound really spoilt but I'm having one the end of August aswell back at home in Liverpool). It was lovely, the baby was well and truly spoilt and I have enough cake in my house to keep us going for a year! I now feel a bit sick after eating so much sugar and I'm thinking of ways to distribute the cake through neighbours/friends/colleagues.
Hope you've all had a nice day!

Miley you've obviously got the nesting bug. Go with it, when it leaves you you'll turn into a couch potato.

Soda I started feeling the practice contractions around 30 weeks I think.

Feef I had a look into the month group when I first got my BFP but there were several people in one go who miscarried and I found it quite stressful. I too preferred the mixed group we have

Exciting about your offer. Fingers crossed its accepted

Lillian I've got the Tommy Tippy starter set and perfect prep machine. No breast pump as planning to bottle feed.

Cosmo men are a pain in the bum when it comes to DIY. They get excited about it, think they're great at it, then get board of it or get stroppy if it doesn't go perfectly to plan

Saw mum today. She's doing so much better, she was asking me all sorts of questions because she said she was remembering things but couldn't work out if she dreamed them or if they were real and she was finding it a little stressful.

I am here, got 4 dogs so it's been mayhem just having a catch up.

Hope babies stay put for a week or so bunch and potato

Lovely gifts indi awww

Aww miley and soda

Head is firmly up my arse this week, confused and knackered. My dsis^dh said it's like talking to a stoned person!

Ridiculous question, but what changing mats have people got? I'm obsessing about them.

Not far pink we live in the city now (Glasgow) and will move to an area around 15 drive out, better schools etc!

Presents look fab indi hope you had a lovely day.

Thanks potato glad your mum was having a good day, hope it wasn't too stressful for you.

I'm also weirdly obsessed with changing mats Audrey every time I see one I want to buy it?!? Makes no sense