Due in March 2017 - thread #4

[NameChange30]

New thread for the March 2017 club!

We have a stats spreadsheet - please add yourself if you're new or update your info if you have a new EDD or a scan date!

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Ohh namechange, I feel your pain. Are you in a position to book yourself a private scan? I know ultrasound direct do them for £39-79ish, if you can afford it I think it'd be well worth it. Completely hear you on the clothes front too. 😘

Also with you on the clothes front. Especially cos this heatwave won't just fuck off! It's September, it should be now acceptable to wear the nice comfy maternity jeans I've bought without baking.

Alpha if you go into a big John Lewis, there's loads to look at and test out, they have weighted bags as well so you can feel what it's like to push a real baby in it.

For years I was convinced I'd buy a Phil and Ted's because I used them at work a lot and to me they felt like a revelation after the Maclaren buggy which I hate. But now in this job they have a bugaboo (nice for walks but a pain to fold as you have to take it apart), and a Baby Jogger City Mini GT. I love the BJCM gt because it has foam filled tyres (no punctures but much smoother than solid plastic tyres), you can push it one handed so easily, you can fold it with one hand and it lies flat. You can get attachments to attach your car seat and there is a carrycot attachment but you don't necessarily need it. Also it fits in the boot of our Peugeot 207. It's such a personal thing tho, why don't you spend some time testing them out in the next few months or even asking people you know if they'd recommend theirs.

Yes Cloey!

Now itching to get into my old maternity jeans as overnight my stomach seems to have trebled in size and now resembles a beach ball! No hiding it now.......
Today's the first day in weeks where I feel almost normal, no headache whatsoever!
Buggy/pram, not bothering getting a new one. Had a Quinny Buzz last time which I got rid of when DD was less than 6 months but it was awful, heavy, a pain to put down and terrible steering. It was replaced with an inexpensive Mamas & Papas system ( Sola City, now discontinued ) for being lovely and light, travel system compatible and the main seat is suitable from birth with a wedge like newborn insert ( barely used the carrycot with #1). What sold it for me was the tightest turning circle from all the buggies we looked at ( and one handed too!)

Now I'm sat waiting for a callback from the screening dept of my maternity hospital, who left a message asking me to call them to clarify a few details........should I be worried? I don't know.......

Cloey ugh so true I am boiling. I got all these lovely autumnal jeans and long sleeved tops. None of my shorts fit anymore!!! (And I haven't shaved my legs in about a week but shhh)

Luckily the pram choice is made for us - SIL & BIL were selling theirs cheap so it made sense!

Also namechange I feel you on the emotional front. I have stopped wearing mascara because I just keep crying!! Poor DH is a tad bewildered

I'm getting to the stage were I'm going to have to buy some maternity clothes, we weren't planning on having anymore so I got rid of them all .

Also going to have to get another crib as I gave that away too!

Still got our pushchair that we bought for DD5 we bought a bumbleride to replace the ten year old urban detour that was looking very tatty after 4 children! So at least we don't need to get another one.

We are looking at getting a multi Mac though as otherwise we'd need to swap the landrover for a minibus!

alpha another vote for a babyjogger city mini (either standard or gt). Compact, folds flat, one handed fold. We have a 2nd hand gt version that we use if we are going away on holiday as the Summit is heavy and I'd be gutted if it got damaged on a plane. There are loads of the standard version on ebay.

But as I said - go with what you want and what suits your lifestyle, not what others push you into!

namechange I look as glamorous as a sack of fucking potatoes today. I'm wearing trousers that I found at the back of the wardrobe that were too big for me and a baggy t shirt. I can't even be happy in the fact I have a bump as you can't see it in these clothes. Unfortunately all my maternity wear is winter stuff and not suitable for this heat.

I'm also having to censor the news as certain stories make me cry. As well as soppy songs on the radio. I've basically made a play list of kick ass songs which is the only way I can get myself psyched up for work.

super, cloey, charly and spaniel, thank you for the kind words and solidarity! Finished work now so I can go home and cry on DH mope to my heart's content...

I can definitely relate NameChange, I got irrationally upset (to the point of crying) about my 12 week scan experience being a disappointment because I didn't get to see the screen or hear the heartbeat for very long. I know I should have just been grateful the baby was ok and I really was, but it's hard when you're just holding on for the next scan/doppler. Hopefully it won't be too much longer til we have kicks to reassure us!

The hot weather is making me extra grumpy as well!

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'll make a mental note to try out the Baby jogger city mini. My friend is due not long before me and has asked if I want to go to the Baby Show in October, I'm tempted to go and try out ALL the prams!

I've googled many times and still don't understand the pram/pushchair/carrier/car seat thing and all the attachments you apparently need!!

Minefield.

I want a pram that I can put a car seat onto. I want it to be flat for a newborn and convert to an angle when they get older. I don't want to have to buy loads of extra bumpf, I want it all in one. How is it not simple!?

I got my nuchal scan results back today and they gave me a 1:449 risk of Downs, so feeling worried. The measurement was only 1.4 so I was hoping for a much better result. I know it's still considered low risk, but it doesn't sound it. I guess it might be my age.The Edwards and Patau came back 1:68,000.

missclarke that should be simple enough. A lie flat with car seat adaptors. Do you already have a car seat? Most prams will have adaptors for the main car seats like maxi cosi and britax

Alpha what's the baby show in October? Anyone going to the mumsnet one in a few weeks?

Becca it's so hard not to worry! Almost 1:500 is low still, although it could be lower. Fingers crossed for you.

At home we've got two 3 door cars. My battered old Nissan Micra and DH has a sporty type thing, totally useless. Bless him, he's looking at trading them in to get a sensible 5 doors so baby manoeuvring is easier.

Nope no idea about car seats either. So you buy a seperate car seat and then get adapters for the pram? Or the pram comes with a car seat that you buy adapters to fit the car?

Buy the car seat separately MissClarke

Charly it's the Baby Show at the London Olympia: thebabyshow.co.uk

Re: prams and car seats - I've been advised by mum friends to find the pram first, then find a car seat that's compatible with it. The pram will come with the required adaptors. But the most popular car seat brands are Maxi Cosi and Britax so I'll keep an eye out for prams that are compatible with those brands.

Charly thank you, I think I'm going to give my midwife a call for a chat about it.

Adaptors make different brands of car seat fit onto your chosen pushchair.

There is a massive amount on choice on the market which makes advice really difficult. You can buy separate or as a package. You can buy prams with integrated adaptors but these usually only fit one brand of car seat (I.e. britax pram britax car seat). Or you buy a separate set of adaptors to make your preferred car seat fit your choice of pushchair.

Then there are car seats that don't come out of car, some that need a base and some that just seat belt in (although they will try and phase the seat belt ones out I think). Too much choice! And that's before even thinking about budget!!!

John lewis is good for gathering information as are the independent baby stores.

Another vote for the baby jogger alpha I don't personally have one but I would have done had I not been needing a double. I've actually bought a baby jogger double second hand because I don't think.I'll always need a double buggy. I have a bugaboo donkey which I absolutely love but I was getting fed up with how heavy it was when it came to taking it in and out of the car and was ready to move onto a lightweight one but then got pregnant. I can't imagine being able to lift it in and out when I'm heavily pregnant. My dd is still in her newborn car seat as she's quite short. It was just a maxicosi cabriofix which you can get attachments for the bugaboo and the baby jogger.

It is hard to decide on which one you want though and most people end up with a more lightweight stroller type as the babies get bigger just for pure ease.

Sorry - car seats and pushchairs became my pet topic on my first pregnancy and I did lots of research into it!

It happens all the way through pregnancy and your child's life. You become an expert on a niche topic for 5 minutes before you have to move onto the next subject e.g.
Breastfeeding vs Formula feeding
Pros and cons of dummy
Alleviating colic
Babywearing
Sleeping through
Sleep regressions
Spoon feeding vs blw
Potty training

I am about to look up techniques to stop my DS stalling at bedtime!!! After the last 2 nights I think I need to become an overnight expert on this particular subject.

What are you ladies thinking about wine? I hadn't touched it since I found out but had a small glass tonight and it honestly has never tasted better.

I know some people stay completely tee total the entire way through pregnancy and others think a glass a week or so isn't really an issue.

Becca the downs's result for one of my twins was 1:795. The nuchal measurement was only 1.9. Still counts as low risk. All my other results were lower risk for both babies but still no way near as low as for my last pregnancy. I think my age (35) has been a big factor this time. It freaked me out at first but since then I've just told myself that it's still classed as low risk and that's that. I wouldn't want any sort of invasive testing unless the risk/circumstances warranted it. I think it just shows the limitations of the screening.

Dozy I've been looking longingly at second hand donkeys. Really I think I need an inline double as we have v narrow pavements round here, but I do worry about one baby being so close to the ground. I also really want both twins to be able to parent face or forward face and there are so few doubles that allow that.