Thread 13. TTC #1 Grads. Some of us still remember that thing called "a full nights sleep" for most, it's a mere memory.

[AudreyBradshaw]

Behold, the wonder of birth! Members from 6 weeks bfp to post-partum wonder Mamas! No question to grotty or minging.

We've come full circle from obsessing about cervical mucus to now obsessing if it's our vagina baby plug going! What larks!

Lots of talk about poo, ours and now babies too! Baby brain is REAL! From morning sickness in the first trimester to the third trimester struggle of getting out of bed ( "walrus-ing"in our house), to actual real babies who are growing so fast! Discussion on the merits of sleepyhead and Ewan the dream sheep.

Sooo many gorgeous babies now! And equally lovely Mummy's! We are amazing! What a year! Can you believe it's been a year since our first tentative TTC thread!? Look how far we've come!

Roll up, literally, in my case, cause I'm practically rotund! for TTC #1 Grads!

Hi ladies

Happy due date audrey! And hurry up baby!! It is totally unacceptable that he/she has kept you waiting 9 hours into your due date already

marmite, if I were you I'd get checked out after a fall, just to be on the safe side. Hope your elbow isn't too sore. Very exciting about the scan this afternoon!

potato, how are things with your OH now?

nev, keeping my fingers crossed that the poonami doesn't come on your drive this morning!

miley, where did you get the bell shaped today Harrison is holding in the picture you posted the other day? It was in his right hand I think. Looking for something similar for E.

Pleased you are making new friends soda.

Re grobags, we got some Mamas and Papas own brand ones which are white and cream so very neutral. They have washed really well too.

Quick question for the mummies about DTD....are you DTD, or wanting to do it, as frequently as before? My drive seems to have taken a nose dive. I'm on a different pill than before so maybe that is contributing

Will have a proper catch up shortly.

Hahahahahahaha fisting a moomin Audrey!! Happy due date, come on baby get a move on

Marmite I fell down a big set of concrete steps when I was 7 months and my ankle was in agony. The maternity ward told me to come straight in to be monitored, even though I hadn't fallen on my bump. I'm sure everything will be fine but maybe give the hospital a call? Hope all goes well at the scan too

Great sleep from bodhi nev! Good luck for when the poonami hits..

So Autumn had a bad colic evening last night. She was crying for a few hours bless her. I'd been out in the day and she was an angel but was only able to give her infacol about 5ish which was obviously too late. Also DH was out for a work dinner and my friend is here so I had to leave her watching a film alone while I walked around my dark bedroom with autumn. Anyway, today will hopefully be a better day, DH goes away tonight until end of the week so hoping if I stay on top of infacol that she'll be ok.

Colic is a bastard.

Hope everyone is doing well!!

Hi all! Sorry I've been so slack on logging on. My little girl is 4 weeks now and today is the first time I've managed to turn my laptop on - it's been such a blur! potato you are amazing I don't know how you manage to do some work/study with a newborn I am completely useless!

Wow I can't believe it's your due date Stardrey!! Hope things move along very very soon

I'm feeling a lot better now after an episiotomy, forceps delivery and third degree tear. Had a follow up appointment to check on my healing and stitches and it's going well with no sign of infection apparently - I am not game on checking with a mirror myself! I have a physio appointment in late December to monitor the 3rd degree healing.

Exclusively BF but haven't managed to express successfully yet - last try gave a measly 20ml . So I'm bloody quite tired because DH can't take over the feeds until I manage to express a decent amount. DH is back at work and I surprised myself at surviving the first day. It's getting easier though

Her sleep and feeding is still erratic - sometimes she gets 3 hours sometimes its 20 minutes! I've also had cluster feeding days which has me sitting and feeding continuously like a moo cow - oh the joys! Looking forward to the 6 week mark when I'm told things will settle (I hope)

Enough about me - time to catch up on the thread now I'm ready to come back to the online world! I'll update our grad list - has there been any news from first and planet? I think I may have missed their announcements.

Hope everyone is well!

Just looked back on the thread - congrats first and canters!!!

Team B - 12 / Team P - 11 / Team V - 7

Graduate Babies
Blue - 11 / Pink - 8

August
Bunch: Atticus 09-Aug @ 39+3 - 8lb 12oz (Blue)
New: Jacob 16-Aug @ 40 (Blue)
Potato: Arya 19-Aug @ 38+6 - 6lb 12oz (Pink)
Leonie: Theodore 25-Aug @ 35+1 (Blue)
Shelb: Evelyn 29-Aug (Pink)
Nev: Bodhi 30-Aug @ 39+1 - 9lb 4oz (Blue)

September
Danni: Mason 01-Sep @ 38+4 - 7lb 1oz (Blue)
Pink: Evelyn 07-Sep @ 41+1 (Pink)
Soda: Alexa 09-Sep @ 39+2 - 6lb 1oz (Pink)
Irregular: Tamsin 11-Sep @ 36+3 - 6lb 2oz (Pink)
Miley: Harrison 12-Sep @ 36+2 - 6lb 6.5oz (Blue)
DrWhy: Edward 14-Sep @ 40+6 - 9lb 6oz (Blue)

October
Lisa: Quinn 01-Oct @ 39+5 - 8lb 7oz (Pink)
Indi: Autumn 05-Oct @ 39 - 7lb 2oz (Pink)
Co5mo: Arthur 13-Oct @ 40 - (Blue)
Lara: BabyLara 17-Oct @ 38+5 - 6lb 13oz (Blue)
Lillian: Michaela 25-Oct @ 40+2 - 6lb 1oz (Pink)

November
First: Ellis 10-Nov @ 40+10 (Blue)
Canters: Rowan 14-Nov @ ? (Blue)

The Waiting Room

October
15 Planet (Team Pink)

November
5 Pyxie (Team Vanilla)
20 Jam
25 Audrey (Stark) (Team Vanilla)
28 Elle (Team Vanilla)

December
12 Feef (Team Vanilla)

January 2017
5 May (Team Pink)
11 Ni (Team Vanilla)

February 2017
15 Evergreen

April 2017
03 Drink
14 Marmite

May 2017
19 LovelyFish

? 2017
Damson
Jan

TBC
11-Aug Mor (Team Vanilla)
2-Sep Taz (Team Blue)
29-Sep Laurenrl (Team Pink)

Lillian great news you're healing well!
I also expressed a tiny amount the first time I tried and it was quite deflating but you have to keep going. I now express twice a day, morning and night and I'm getting decent amounts now. I'd also say try to express at least an hour after you've last fed if you can (I know this is hard when their sleep is so erratic). You will feel like a cow but I get oddly proud of my 'mummy ice cream' stock in the freezer

Glad you are healing well lillian, and love Michaela's name!

I struggled with expressing at first and got really small amounts, but I found it got better as the weeks went on. I express first thing in the morning and then also before bed.

pink it was attached to his playmat, I just took his toys off so I could play with him. It's from mother care though. I'll keep an eye out!

lilllian completely normal - sounds like you're doing an immense job! I can hardly express anything at night but can get 5oz from one boob in the morning! If Harrison doesn't wake for a feed happened twice I have to express because I'm in pain now. It'll come lol at mummy ice cream indi

Out to a shopping centre with little man doing some Christmas shopping and nev Harrison managed to save his massive shit for in the middle of Debenhams...sound effects and all they do love to pick an inconvenient time.

Happy due date audrey!!!! Can't believe it's here already please don't punch me for saying that

Thanks soda do you still pull it over yourself? Feel like I'm asking stupid questions sorry but my mind is constantly buzzing with all these little questions!

Moomin fisting Audrey ha!! I'm alternating between grumpy and okay. Still no real sleeping so I blame it on that. Come on baby!!!!

Hi Lillian you sound like you're doing fab.

Thanks for the tips and reassurance re expressing everyone! I'll try those tips - I think my milk has increased at week 4 so maybe I'll have a bit more success. I think a bit of reassurance and confidence about it will help as I have been quite discouraged the last couple of times i tried. lol at 'mummy ice cream'!

oh dear i feel you on the poonamis... !! madness! I haven't had one in public yet but I'm sure one is in the cards!

I have been swept! Dh looked frightened, i was fine, cervix is soft and short and central. She got two fingers in and tickled the top of babys noggin which apparently is unusual for a first timer, so now I'm all smug over my cervix being a show off too as well as my blood pressure! Getting backache and cramps now but nowt serious!

marmite tell them this afternoon that you've fallen today, better to be safe mate. Hope all goes well.

Thanks everyone! Me and my smug cervix are having a clean up and then a nap and a walk!

audrey congratulations on your favourable cervix! I hope it happens sooooooon!!!

Anyone else got little time/tolerance for people they used to get on quite well with?! namely OHs fucking family I need to let it out here. So BIL wants to visit at 8pm which, as most of you will know, is so close to bedtime when you have a baby that your mood resembles that of lucifer on a particulary troubling menses. They won't visit unless OH is home which quite frankly suits me lovely, and his mum works full time so I understand that she has to take any opportunity she can. Now here's the annoying thing - they can be off all day and not call to come til after 6 because they have to make sure the dogs are sorted (which pisses me off because you can walk the fucking dogs after you've been) and they also book dog training classes and stuff on the only days they can see him. OHs dad doesn't work yet has only seen Harrison a handful of times and all he does when he visits is talk about himself. Not once has he asked how his own grandchild is getting on. OK I know this is a massive ramble - but am I being a dick by saying no one visits after 6.30pm? Even if that's the only time they can come because of fucking dog shows? I have a routine I'd like to stick to (more for me than anything else) and to be honest I'm normally that shattered by 7 that I'd want to stick hot pokers in their eyes after 30 seconds. I dint even like them holding Harrison Embarrassingly though, I'd never be bothered if my family wanted to come as I love them being here mostly but I know I can't have one rule for one and another for the other...

Miley 6.30pm seems reasonable to me. They're just not thinking it's a problem them coming so late and unless you let them know it's not going to get any better. My DH is struggling with not having a weekend day to do anything because of visitors so we're limiting visitors to one day at the weekends.

Audrey all systems go. Let's hope the sweep has worked and you have your little one soon.

Canters/Lillian lovely names X

Potato I've been playing with the Rocker every since you said they tipped. Your child would have to be going some to tip it. I haven't been able to turn it over by rocking it with or without weight in it.

We've been looking at nurseries today. This makes me sad. It's still a long way off but I don't want to go back to work. I was cheered up by our trip to the photographers. That's our parents Christmas presents sorted. And I get my car keys back in the morning. Yay.

lillian - sounds like we had similar experiences. forceps, episiotomy and 3rd degree tear!

Feefs batch cooking came in mega handy. Took about 3 weeks for DH to get bored and start cooking again so I still have a week or so worth in the freezer.

Nev do not call yourself a breastfeeding failure. Tsk tsk. Be kind to yourself and realise how amazing you are. You birthed over a 9lber with no pain relief!!!

Jan I didn't buy anything bottle related until 5weeks pp when I wanted to belprepared for expressing.

Canters love the name Rowan. I've hadAtticus in his sleepyhead in the cot attached to our bed for most of the time (now fully cosleeping though) but for the first couple of weeks he was in between us in it on top of our duvet if that makes sense.

Indi so glad Autumn is feeling better. I think infracol certainly slowed things down for Atticus as that's when he did his mammoth 11days without poo. We're now every day or every other.

Potato im with Miley. No matter the circumstances you have to support each other not drag each other down. Have words.

Sorry to hear you fell marmite. Hope you get sorted and enjoyed the scan.

Stardrey happy due date. It's so weird thinking someone touched bubs' head isn't it. Finngers crossed things start to progress for you soon.

Miley totally with you. And a local mum I've made friends with is the same. We both think once you pop out the grandchild there's some physical shift making you not be able to bear in laws. I'm off to stay with mine for the week on sat eek!!

Welcome back Lillian. Sounds like you had it rough. Hope you're healing well.

Atticus has started sucking his thumb and we've had real tears which are utterly heartbreaking! I've left Atticus 3 times in the last 24 hours with my dad whilst I popped out to the shop. Max 45 mins each time. Felt oddly okay about it- but my parents know A almost as well as DH does.

Hope all Mamas and preggos are doing well xx

Wooo Audrey glad cervix is behaving! Hope things get going!!

I think put the rule in place for all miley for a few weeks and see how it goes? Like co5mo says there you need your own time too or you'll go mad!!

When are you going back co5mo?

I'm hoping not to go back until October Fee but there's a really limited choice of childcare that will work for us as we both have to commute to work a reasonable distance and they book up quickly. One of the nurseries we went to today has already started allocating spaces for next October! The other only opened three weeks ago so isn't too booked up at the moment. I'm going to book A into both so I can choose later. The deposit is less than £100 so I think it's worth the lost deposit.

Lillian A weighed 5lb 13oz. I must have forgot to tell you.

God that's frightening co5mo!! Suppose we will have to think about it sooner rather than later but I understand your upset!

Good to see you back Lillian. Re expressing - I find it difficult if I do it later in the day. The best time for me is first thing - pump on one side and A on the other! Mooooo

Feef yes duvet is on me!

Definitely agree re visitors miley. DH's friend wanted to 'pop by' and meet A after his football practice at 9! I said no...

Co5mo - same here re nurseries. I don't want to think about it but choice is limited and gets booked quickly. I've spoken to a couple of places that are already booked as people reserve places after their 12 week scan!

I'm taking A into the office tomorrow to meet work colleagues so will be dressing her in her cutest outfit and doing my best to shower AND put mascara on

Feef complained to currys and they're crediting me £20 as a good will gesture... I seem to have found my vocation in life, moaning!

Audrey yes to becoming more irrational. I think it's the hormones and lack of sleep.

Marmite I'm not sure what to suggest about your OH but I come from a very hands off family too and it makes me very defensive and anxious when people keep wanting/trying to help me with things I know I can do myself. It's learnt behaviour and not something that can be fixed overnight. Could you not spend time with him while he does stuff on the house? Even if it's just chatting while you hand him screwdrivers etc?

How did the 20week scan go?

Mayo did the health visitor want a cuppa? Mine didn't.

Pink re DTD my drive has dipped dramatically but then I'm always busy and tired.

Indi sorry you're struggling with colic.

Lillian glad you're healing well, it gets easier as baby sleeps more at night and gets into a routine during the day.

Miley not unreasonable at all to say no visitors after 6:30 at all.

Cosmo that's reassuring about the rocker. Does it vibrate too?

I don't seem to be keeping up very well at the moment.

Arya's teeth were plating her up yesterday so I struggled to get much done as she kept crying when I put her down. She sleeps from 9:30pm to 7 am today though so we're off to a good start. I'm hoping she'll go back down until 10 like she usually does so that I can have a shower.

I was contacted by a electrical company yesterday and asked to do reviews for them they're going to send me free stuff and I just have to write about it. Sounds fine to me

F'ing boiler is playing up again. When I plumbed in the dishwasher I discovered that the overflow from the boiler has been leaking into the back of a kitchen cabinet. This happened before when an engineer was here and he said he fixed it. That was obviously a lie! Gits! This is the 3rd time I've had to call them out and 2 of those times have related to something they've messed up previously. It doesn't stop them charging me for it thought! I feel a blog post coming on!!!

Arya was weighed yesterday. She's now 12lb1oz. She's only put on 1lb since last weigh in, is that normal?

Thanks all for the reassurance yesterday, I waited til I went in for my 20 week scan in the afternoon to mention the fall, although didn't realise I wouldn't be seeing a midwife at that appointment. I mentioned it to the sonographer who told me to ring the triage number (at a different hospital in the trust). The person I spoke to said as I hadn't fallen on or banged my bump and hadn't had any bleeding since I shouldn't need the Anti D injection but to take it easy and call them if I did have any bleeding, so think it's all fine. I just got a fright (and a bruised bum and grazed elbow!!) I won't be rushing to avoid being late for work again, I'll just be late!

Scan itself went well, didn't get to see much as they had the bed tipped right down with my head down and my legs up in the air (head rush!) as it was the only way they could get the baby in the right place apparently! Baby was wriggling around all over the place causing all sorts of trouble as they tried to scan the various bits, little monkey! We kept it as a surprise so I'll be team vanilla! All was well, although I've to go back at 32 weeks for another scan as part of the placenta is covering the cervix at the moment. She said it was quite common for it to move between 20 weeks and 32 weeks though, did anyone else have this?

Glad to hear things are healing well for you Lillian

Glad the sweep went well audrey, wohoo for favourable cervix! Hope things get moving soon for you!

Hope visit into the office goes well today Soda and you manage the shower and mascara!!

Thanks Potato yes I think that's exactly how he is, I guess it is understandable and helps when someone else explains it too. He is such a terrible communicator it's hard to know what's going on in his head sometimes! He did skive off work a bit longer yesterday afternoon and we went for tea and cake after the scan which was really nice His mum surprisingly remembered it was 20 week scan yesterday, must have mentioned it ages ago so she's obviously written it down somewhere and got in touch so that was nice.

That's frustrating about the boiler Potato hope you get it sorted soon, and you should refuse to pay again if they've messed up!

I don't think that's unreasonable to say about the visiting times at all Miley, that's ridiculously late they are coming round! They've obviously just not thought about it?

Not heard from Moose in a while, hope all is well? Must be approaching 12 week scan now?

Been up since 2am with a snuffly baby who can't sleep on his back. I cannot human today.

At least I'm getting lots of smiles still!

pink we've done it 7 times in 6 weeks. I just can't be arsed I'm not interested at all. OH tries his hardest bless him but it really puts me off knowing that Harrison is right next to us and also farted his little bum off the whole way through last time I really should make more effort...

I'm not sure what's normal potato but my health visitor told me to expect less gain now he's more active! She was right - he's putting on ~6oz each week rather than 16-18! Which is probably a good thing, because y'know...giant baby and that.

I think I have a giant baby, incidentally. He's doubled his birth weight at 10 weeks and is knocking on for 13lb. Even Harrison is shocked

Miley you'd never know Harrison didn't get a good night sleep! Hope you get a nap in soon.

Marmite glad the scan went well! I think my placenta is at the top, but at least if yours isn't at the front you'll feel movements a little more easily. And an extra scan can be a good bonus - I'd love another peek in right about now.

Potato of course HV didn't want a cup of tea. I'm not a morning person, and was half asleep while she was here. You're doing so well with your blog! And complaining about lacklustre service is a complete art form. I'm rubbish at it (3 years here complaining about my gas supply, got the Ombudsman involved and still managed to muck it up ) I see Mumsnet has a 'review of the month' competition and this month it's reviewing a dishwasher, so you might do well here too! Sorry your boiler is playing up, and hopefully you get it sorted quickly!

Soda I hope the office visit goes well, and you've managed the shower and mascara

Bunch it's so lovely Atticus has a close relationship with your parents. Mine are so far away and it's getting me down that my baby won't have the same. I always need something to stress about, I suppose.

Co5mo nurseries already? Goodness, you're so organised! I'm glad you found a choice, and you can defer the final decision.

Miley the 6:30 cut off for visitors is perfectly reasonable. Can your OH's family not visit on the weekend to find better timing? Or sort the dogs afterwards, and bring dinner for you all to share? I don't understand some families, which unfortunately includes my own OH's.

Stardrey that's fantastic on your smug cervix. I think smug is now my preferred term to favourable. Hope baby doesn't keep you waiting too long!

Lillian it sounds like you're doing amazing! I'm happy to hear you're healing well

Hope you're enjoying the visit with your friend Indi! And I hope Autumn's colic goes away soon.

Nev good tip re grobags vs grosnugs. I have no idea how big baby will be, so perhaps best to hold off for now.

Baby is on her third set of hiccups today, bless. I think she slept through the first two. I'm still amazed at the whole carrying life inside me thing! We have a routine after I get up for a mid-night wee where she wakes up and I have a little conversation with her as she kicks me back to sleep. I woke up with my hand on my bump this morning!

Thanks soda brain has ceased to function.

I'm the same as potato and marmite's DH struggle to let other people help, I wouldn't say my family are "hands off" but independence has always been prized and encouraged my dad's way of trying to raise us to look after ourselves I think. I think compromise is the way forward I know I'm unlikely to change!!

Excellent on more reviews potato can't face complaining at the moment will probably end up crying!

Glad the scan went well marmite.yay team vanilla.

His outfit is very cute miley!!

I'm in the throes of fanny daggers the past few days very uncomfortable now!! Midwife tomorrow but suspect it'll just be the usual checks.

Had a fun night last night being kept awake by constant beeping!! DH eventually found the source, a smoke alarm ran out of batteries in the attic!!

Audrey hope things get going soon for you!

Bunch thank you. I still feel like I was selfish to switch to formula but he is so much happier. And you are right keep forgetting I got 9 and a half lb out with no pain relief haha

Miley can I join the giant baby club? He is now 15lb but is only 75th centile. His body is so long 3-6months clothes struggle to do up.

Bodhi slept till 7.30 this morning! But I was up 12-5 ish with what I think was food poisoning. So so so tired today all I want to do is sleep.

Hope your favourable cervix got the memo stardrey and things get moving soon!

Marmite glad all is ok after the fall - always good to check even just for reassurance.

Miley I'm all for double standard. you can't help who you are glad to see and who you are not can you!

Omg first - we've been through the wars haven't we?! not the straightforward birth I was hoping for. I was one failed push away from an EMCS they had already made me sign the form. Hope you are recovering well too. Got my stitches checked by the midwife today and she said it is all healing well and Michaela and I were discharged today.

Bunch real tears would be the end of me!

Soda I'm scared to try feeding and pumping at the same time because last time I tried pumping just with her in the same room and the sound gets her worked up (the medela one is loud!) how have you got on taking LO on the tube? I've only braved buses so far - the tube can be so hectic it makes me anxious. Might wait until she's had her vaccinations too

Potato Arya is sleeping 9.30pm to 7am?! Omg what a dream!!!

May that's so sweet about your baby conversations. I do miss having little bub in my belly kicking away. Funny thing is her kicking rhythm is still the same now as they were in my belly.

Feef omg fanny daggers are a distant memory to me now but they stopped me in my tracks more than the pain of my stitches!!

Co5mo thinking of nurseries make me sad too - a few in our nct group registered even before birth but I couldn't make myself do it. Felt so guilty thinking of putting her in one and she wasn't even born yet. Suppose I will have register soon though.

Anyone considering a nanny instead of nursery?