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!

Indi I had the same with my nipples. I use nipple shields when I feed her at home and that's worked really well. She's fine with them and my nipples have recovered. I don't use them when I feed her when we're out as they're a bit of a pain with sterilising etc. I got Medela ones from good old Amazon prime - think they were less than a tenner so definitely worth a go!

indi, I also use the Medela nipple shields. They are great. The only think I would say if you use them is try to make sure baby is happy to latch with nipple shields and also without. I used the shields exclusively for too long I think and now E won't match without them. It's not a problem when we are home but it's an extra faff when we are out.

Re baby gyms - we have the Fisher Price Safari one and it's great

www.mothercare.com/baby-playmats-and-gyms/fisher-price-rainforest-deluxe-gym/144390.html#q=fisher+price+gym&start=2

Lillian - baby gym we've got this one - m.johnlewis.com/bright-starts-lights-giggles-activity-gym/p/2729286 She absolutely LOVES the lights and has done from quite early on. I guess it's good because she's still not quite at the stage of grabbing at dangly toys etc so the lights really keep her entertained. She can spend a good 30mins on her mat and cries when I take her away from it!

I've got the babybjorn bouncer which is expensive (a gift!)!but no complaints with it! I would try and get a bouncer or chair with a little toy at the front.

Oh god just found out DH is being made redundant talk about shit timing. An added stress could really do without right now arrggh. Already worried about the amount of pressure DH is putting on himself right now.... Bollocks!!

Love the sound of the living room rearrangement planning May! And a mamma feeding belt sounds like a great idea Lillian!

Hope Audrey and her bouncing boy are doing well and having lots of lovely snuggles

Thanks Lillian! Yes, waiting room for me, 13th of Feb, not 15th but close enough
Not much happening here, 29+2 and bored bored. I have had a cold for 3 weeks and fed up and tired.
Keep reading the thread but my eyes are sore
Congratulations StarAudrey !!!

Thanks soda and pink! Both of those look great I'll check Amazon so I can get it this week! Is your Bjorn bouncer the one that is good for travel and packs flat soda?

Oh no marmite! I hope he will at least get a good payout to tide you over until he finds a new place - that's bad news just before Christmas hope better things are on the cards for him soon!

3 weeks with a cold ever? Poor you esp you can take much cold remedies plus apparently immune systems are lower during pregnancy. Hope it's just a cold and doesn't turn into a flu.

Lillian I had the flu vaccine and I havent had fever, etc, so I think it is a cold but it doesnt go away

We just had an 8 hour sleep! 8 hours! And he is asleep again so I had a shower in peace! I think this is Bodhi's christmas present to us haha.

Hope everyone is well I am very behind on the thread after hen weekend away.. aim to stay up to date as of now

Thanks Lillian yeah its such bad timing. Just waiting to find out if he'll be in the 3 month wave or the 12 month wave the problem is there is going to be a large amount of qualified professionals looking for very similar jobs hitting not that big a job market all at once arrgh. He is the big earner in our household so it's all just a bit shit.

3 weeks of a cold is miserable evergreen hope you feel better soon. I've had blocked nose/congestion every morning for a few weeks now but think it's just another fun pregnancy symptom rather than a cold

Soda Lillian. I always thought the baby bjorn was far too expensive as a bouncer. SIL has gifted hers onto us yesterday and omg it's an amazing bouncer. Atticus loves it and loves the toy bar so much happier with it than the one we have at home. And yes it folds flat

So sorry to hear that Marmite, such hideous timing. Hopefully he gets sorted soon.

Also happy first of December. It's officially Christmas for me now so Atticus' daily outfits can begin

Ha ha bunch Alexa is sporting her Christmas elf outfit today!!

Bunch agree on babybjorn price - I wouldn't have bought it myself but when we've had visitors round with babies and they've used the bouncer the parents have all said how much better it is than their bouncer at home etc. Alexa loves the toy and it means I get a shower every day - good news for everyone frankly Lillian - yes it folds flat and apparently can be used as a child's chair up to aged 2 as well.

Marmite that's awful timing, really sorry to hear that.

Ever sorry about feeling poorly. I think you can still take paracetamol eg lemsip when pregnant but check with pharmacist.

Soda it's good to know I'm not the only one with an insane amount of uti's and to know baby is totally fine.

Potato craft beer? Win!!

Indi maybe lie on your side and have massage pregnancy style? I had one and it still felt amazing!

Marmite so sorry to hear about DH's job, very bad timing. [sad

Scan today, quite excited to see baby again! Makes a nice change from my last scan where I'd suppressed all emotion as I was expecting the worst. Silly me!

Sorry to hear about your OH marmite. I hope something else comes up quickly.

Poor you ever!! Hope it clears up soon. Just be careful with lemsip it's the decongestant they don't want you to take usually phenyl ephedrine or something. If it's just paracetamol and vitamin c fire ahead.

How was your hen weekend nev?

Very cute bunch!!

Enjoy your scan lovely fishy!

Hope it clears up soon ever 3 weeks running is too long

Nev 8 hours is amazing how many weeks is Bodhi now? I almost bought champagne when we managed 5 hours - and it hasn't happened more than once yet!

Marmite let's hope he is in the 12 month wave so he can take his time looking for another job and there is less pressure.

Yay for scan fishy!

Bunch and soda I'm sold on the Bjorn now! Especially if it lasts up to 2 years I think it will be money well spent! My Dsis who is abroad sent some cash to buy M a present so I'll use that looking forward to the Christmas outfits! I need to get some too! Her playmat should be coming today from Amazon let's see how that goes!

Going to try expressing again today - i get a little more everytime but M is still refusing to take the bottle and we've had to throw out my milk each time. Will try to give it to her when she's hungry instead of as a top up next time.

Lillian don't throw it. Freeze it for future use or use in her (or your) bath as it's great for skin.

It last 6 months in freezer Lillian my friend used a lot of it when weaning to mix into food and make more acceptable to baby to begin with.

marmite I'm really sorry to hear that hopefully things will work out ok - I'm sure they will

fishy enjoy your scan! Such a lovely experience I look back on mine so fondly but I was always so nervous for them.

bunch Atticus looks amazing ad always lovely!! How did his fox attire go down? He is the snappiest dresser ever.

nev I can't even tell you how jealous I am! 8 hours sleep and a shower sounds like a dream!

Happy 1st December! I have a little snowman today! Yay for Christmas outfits will catch up later as I have a very unhappy boy today (just realised he's entered his 3rd leap so am hoping it's that rather than yet another illness). Got a 15% off + free delivery voucher from Jojo maman. Don't know if it's a single use thing but it's MUB62 if anyone wants to try it! They have some amazing stuff in at the moment! I particularly love their leggings.

Lillian are you trying to give a bottle or is it OH? Alexa won't take a bottle from me but will from anyone else - I guess she knows there's a better option with me!

Eight hours, Nev?! Go Bodhi, that's amazing! Hope it becomes a regular thing!

Lillian, we've twice had five hours now, but it's usually 3-4. Fingers crossed they both get longer soon!

So sorry, Marmite, that's rotten luck. Hope something else turns up. If he's highly qualified or it's a niche field, definitely recommend looking into a recruitment company who could help him.

We were also gifted the Baby Bjorn bouncer, but Q doesn't actually like it. I think it's because the back is really soft, like sitting/ lying in a hammock. I don't think she likes being suspended in nothing, if that makes sense. She prefers her cheaper, harder-back one. I'm sure she'll get used to it though, and it lasts up to toddler and beyond so it'll be great in the end.

Bunch - looking forward to daily festive outfits from Atticus!

A has been cluster feeding for the last 2 hours. I'm at my SILs and somehow need to get back to MILs in a few hours. Is he going to scream bloody murder?

I also need to pee!!!

Oh feef and bunch you're right I should have been saving my hard earned milk! I cried every time i tipped it I might try some on her baby acne/rash. She has none around her mouth I figure it's because of the milk? I managed 50ml this morning so expressing is slowly getting better - now she just needs to take the bottle!

I hope A settled eventually bunch and you managed to pee before your drive!

soda she screams bloody murder when it's me - like I am trying to ruin her!!! I've never seen her react to anything else like that! So it's always DH now. I will have to try with me not in the room or with DH not holding her but her on a pillow or something. I'm desperate for her to take the bottle just so I can get a break. Maybe she can feel my desperation lol.

I hope so Lisa I felt sooooo refreshed after a 5 hour sleep I could do with more of those I am exhausted!

Just now I tried to nap with her but lately she's started crying out in her sleep - it makes me jump awake only to find her still fast asleep. She could go on like that for a good hour before she is actually awake - not sure whether to pick her up and comfort or feed her I've just been letting her be until she is actually awake - the last time I picked her up she stayed asleep even with my nipple nudging her lip and I eventually just put her back in the cot. Poor thing I hope it's not baby nightmares.

Fuck fuck fuck.
Spent the last 2 days with my SIL and her 1 year old. He's had a really snotty nose and a bit of a cough but otherwise is fine in himself. Today it got worse and he just started whooping.

Fuck.

Bunch - have you had the vaccination yet?

I'm still around, bump is growing. Feeling absolutely exhausted, work is crazy and I don't know how I'm ever going to handover to go on mat leave! No real aches and pains other than mild backache but just feeling absolutely shattered (I know, I know, not the thing to say to a board full of new mums...). Baby seems fine, though - guess that's all that matters