December 2016 - Thread 5! 20 week scans and wriggly babies

[DartmoorDoughnut]

Thought I'd start a new thread before thread 4 fills up

I don't have one particular midwife, it's different one every appointment so we have the option to call the hospital - that's all. Same in all my pregnancies. Having one personal assigned midwife would be lovely though!

Same as firawla - different midwife every time and we have the midwife telephone line when there is someone there 24/7 to talk to, but she isn't "my" midwife. I did speak to someone yesterday who just suggested I drink something cold and sweet, and I'm reluctant to have sugar now I've stopped it, but I shocked my system with a can of Fanta and I did get some faint movement in response. I wonder now - there must be a direct correlation between having cut out sugar entirely and having reduced movement. I then went to a musical in the evening and got quite a thudding response from that, and then a couple of little pops this morning, so I am reassured, - and thanks for all the comments about movement maybe not being so regular at this stage. I'm definitely going to ring them again in a week or so if I continue to get these long lulls in movement.

Hi Bigfam thanks for the info about the bags, picked up one as I've been on the market for a hospital bag for a while.
Has anyone else got a bit mad and bought EVERYTHING already? I haven't been able to help myself, the baby's wardrobe is already pretty full. I have my baby shower in October and my OH keeps saying to hold off buying until after the shower or we'll have too much but baby stuff is too cute!
Also is anyone else having a Babyshower?

I purchased the poppy bag too! Thanks bigfam

Not having a baby shower, they're really not for me.

Gosh, it's all go 'round here. Trying to catch up now!

So sorry to hear about your mum bumble, and a holiday sounds like just what you need right now. It must be so hard with the competing feelings, do take good care.

kitkat and popski, hope you're both doing ok, the situations with your dads sound really tough. Hope you get to spend some good quality time with them.

I'm the same as you bella with midwife's number, it's a fab system when it works and was the same with my first pregnancy, when I was on the phone every other day with some minor concern, but I haven't used it yet this time.

Eeek, I've barely bought anything yet Sue, really need to get going! I haven't properly sorted through all DT's old stuff yet, and I think we're inheriting some things from friends too so waiting to see what's there before we get shopping. I'm not sure about a baby shower, I had a little celebration before DTs arrived, but didn't call it a shower, people did bring a few gifts but nothing mega, and we didn't play games or anything. I might do something similar this time but not sure it's the same second time 'round really...

Thanks all for the advice on my decision about NYC! I've spent lots of time looking into insurance etc and we reckon we can make it work, so I'm heading off there for a month in September, very exciting! ...really do need to get organised now! Eeek!

Question: who arranges your baby shower? Do you do it yourself, or does a mate do it like a hen do?

I really don't like the concept of baby showers. They just seem grabby. I'd rather celebrate the baby's arrival when they're safely here. The only one I've been to (managed to avoid any others) is my SIL's and they was arranged by her friend. It seems even more grabby to arrange one for yourself unless you specify no presents.

I think with proper baby showers a friend usually does it.

We didn't really want ours to be quite like that, so arranged a little celebration ourselves and basically invited people over saying "We're expecting DTs soon and might not see you in a while, come over for a drink and a bit of a party!". Lots of people did bring gifts but that really wants the point and we were right... we didn't go out for a while after that! Ours also wasn't all women, which I think most traditional baby showers are... more like a hen do in lots of ways.

*wasn't not wants

I quite like the idea of a baby shower, more the type elodie mentioned than the ones with games. But have never had one!

I'm also not a fan of the 'put a nappy on a watermelon' games.. I think we'll organise something later. We will be moving house in Jan/Feb so we will have more space anyway and we can have a joint house warming/baby warming party.

Heads up if you haven't already done so...

Look for you rlocal "selling in (postcode)" group on Facebook. You can get some brilliant bargains from people passing on / selling their baby stuff.

Since joining mine yesterday I've got a shelving unit for the nursery, a free baby bath, a Ted baker gro-bag for a fiver and a whole bag of neutral newborn stuff for a tenner! I think I'm getting a bit addicted...

But at least I've made £50 from the left over bits of wedding tat that have been lurking under the stairs for over a year

Sounds good Bristol

I love gumtree for baby stuff, definitely one of the best places if you're after a 2nd hand pram. I got my oyster in fantastic condition from there, and after contacting babystyle they've told me that if I'm interested, I can buy the oyster 2 seat unit with any colour pack (which are £70 alone) for £89 all in! (The oyster 2 seat unit is suitable from birth whereas the oyster 1 isn't) so I can sell on my original seat unit and carrycot to go towards it

My sister is organising my baby shower, and I didn't agree to it with the intention of being 'grabby'. A lot of my close friends have had babies in the last year or so meeting up with them for dinner and drinks like we used to has become a lot harder. So the baby shower was a good excuse to get us all together babies/toddlers in tow and just have a catch up and then they can bestow me with all their knowledge as I'm a first time mum advice is invaluable.

That sounds lovely sue, and very sweet of your sister! When is it? You're right that it gets harder to meet up, particularly when the baby is brand new, so it's really nice of everyone to acknowledge that and make an effort to meet up. Sounds like lots of fun, are you having it at your home?

Thanks for the tips bristol and bigfam, going to get bargain hunting soon! I really need to get organised!

Another offer on the chicco next2me if anyone's interested, they're £165 on boots.com but if you enter the promotional code TECHC15 you get 15% off making it £140.25 & you triple advantage card points as well 😃

Ive been to other friends baby showers and they're lovely to just treat the mum to be before baby but I don't think I'll get one as all my close friends live away so it's harder to get together these days. Most of our friends this way are my husbands friends wives and im not close enough to them for them to arrange a baby shower x

That's great advice Bristol
I've had a few scares this pregnancy, and some ongoing concerns so I can't bring myself to buy anything until 3rd trimester. I feel it's tempting fate this time
On the 3rd DD though, so don't really "need" anything but nappies, oh and a perfect prep machine, which didn't exist 3 years ago!

Hi Elodie
It's in early October about 2 months before I'm due and she's organised an afternoon tea at a lovely hotel in town. As a thank you to my guests I'm paying for the afternoon tea for those coming. my sister has arranged activities for all the babies to keep them occupied too which should be nice. It's all really thoughtful actually I'm really looking forward to it she's done a great job-set the bar really high for when I return the favour!

Sounds fab sue! You'll all have a lovely time I'm sure!

I'm home alone this eve, DTs are with their grandparents and DH is out so obviously I'm catching up with housework and preparing for the new baby loafing about on MN!

BigFam if you're a boots family club member it's 10x points!

I'm having a baby shower in early Oct too Sue. I also don't think they're grabby, just a lovely celebration of something really special. I've been to a few and love buying a gift for either the mum-to-be or the baby: after all, if you're going to a baby shower you must be friends with the mum-to-be, and don't we all love to spoil our friends?

My best friend was very keen to organise mine, I didn't say a word, she literally said 'please let me throw you a baby shower'. This is a long-awaited pregnancy after multiple failed IVFs and a miscarriage, so I definitely want to celebrate! Mine will be in a local hall, and those attending won't pay anything, but I don't know any other details as my best friend is keeping all a surprise from me. I can't wait!

I'm sure they can be done really tastefully and you'll have a brill time, they're just not for me. I'd feel uncomfortable with guests feeling obligated to bring presents, especially as it's my second baby and everyone was so generous last time. I've heard of people issuing gift lists like you do with a wedding and it just makes me cringe - hence the 'grabby' comment. Perhaps it's slightly a cultural thing - I know they're popular in the US.

I like buying for others once their baby is here so I know what sex it is, what weight etc and can buy something suitable. My cousin was recently expecting a big baby and ended up giving birth to a 5lb tiddler - most of the clothes she'd been bought in advance was swapped for teeny baby stuff!

I agree quill, but like a few posters above - I'm having a 'no gifts please' baby shower, more a baby gathering. Most of my friends are passed the baby stage so will relish the chance to get together on a Sunday afternoon and chat babies! I am planning to hire a local small hall and ask everyone to bring copious amounts of homemade cake then provide lots of tea!

You're entitled to your opinion quil I simply asked if anyone else was planning on having one- if you don't plan to that's absolutely fine. Adding that you think they're grabbing was in my opinion unnecessary and rather unkind as I had just mentioned I planned to. The same could be said about having a kids (or adult for that matter) birthday party. I would never describe a birthday party as grabby but 'tradition' dictates that as a guest you bring a present- but not every one does. I would never turn someone away because they chose not to bring anything.
But each to their own... Rant over.