Due in February 2017- Thread #10

[Readyfortwo]

Hope you found it ok ladies!

I got a maternity support belt from eBay and have been using it, so good for walking'

I think I might hire a TENS machine and give it a go

It's a really weird sensation Evergreen but I can see how it could distract you from contractions, the guys in my group turned it up high and their fingers completely curled involuntarily!
Apparently it's just as cheap to buy some machines so long as you check they have a "boost" type button you can hit when having a contraction. Think it's an entirely personal thing!

Hi all, I've already posted twice on the fb page today so spreading my love a bit and going on here! Have many people had un-asked for advice or comments off people? My friend just came over and asked if planned to breastfeed. I said yes and I didn't want to use formula. She just laughed and said 'you're crazy! What if you have a hungry baby? You know you'll be up every two hours!?' I found it to be really rude and unsupportive and frankly not her place to say! I feel like I'm constantly getting annoyed with people at the moment!! I'm probably being over sensitive!!

Oh god advice from bloody everyone!! My male, childless colleague tried to mansplain breastfeeding to me the other day.

SBS I think people give the advice like that because they want others to validate the choices they made. I find it really annoying though. People judge parenting choices as if there was only one right choice for everyone. No one thinks this way about other things in life. We are all individuals and should just figure out what works for us and our families / priorities etc

Omg fenella I hope you punched him!!!

The thing is that my friend doesn't even have kids herself! I honestly don't think she meant to be annoying it even realised that she was being! She also told me about a horror birth she attended as a partner for her friend. Imagine if I was going in for a heart operation in a few weeks, would you tell me a horror story then?? No!!

I think I told him to come back to me and we'd pick up the conversation when he was lactating....

London I totally agree. We were really lucky that DS was an easy baby. A lot of our choices were made as a result of that - if we'd had a different baby we'd undoubtedly be very different parents. I only ever give advice of the 'this is what worked for us' variety, I'd never claim our way is the only / best way.

Incidentally, that baby is two today! Can't believe how quickly the time has gone!

I lost my place again! I find it really tricky to keep up with here and Facebook! Happy birthday to your boy, twocats! Hope he has a nice birthday!

Happy birthday to your wee one twocats 😘

Fanella that's a great response!

Happy birthday baby twocats

SBS it sounds like your friend just doesn't get it. Its weird but getting pregnant has changed my perspective on a lot of things already!

I did baby first aid this weekend which was good. I had zero first aid training (adult or baby) so I'm glad I did it as I was pretty ignorant.

I've just ordered this John Lewis first aid kit.

www.johnlewis.com/littlelife-family-first-aid-kit/p230553303

Does anyone have any experience of it or any recommendations on what we might need to top up? It has most things the NHS recommends for a baby first aid kit but it would be great to hear what other things might be useful to have from the experienced parents!

No advice on anything extra to put in a first aid kit as we've thankfully not had to use ours, but I highly recommend the Red Cross first aid apps. They have an adult one and a child one, and they're really good. We went on an NCT first aid course when DS was about 3 months and found it really useful, although I've forgotten a lot of it now, which is why the app is so handy as it's really good to have clear instructions at your fingertips.

And thanks for the happy birthdays! He was thoroughly spoilt by grandparents this weekend so is a happy little boy!

Twocats my dh downloaded the app before we left the course. I still need to do it. We were on the same course and I agree it was great. I'm sure I'll forget most of it but its one of those things that just having done it, if you have to use it, it will start to come back to you I reckon.

I have done a few first aid courses on adult first aid and did the baby one about a month ago - it was really good. I would get non-latex gloves and replace the latex ones - they aren't recommended due to being such a common allergen. Also, you shouldn't use the antiseptic cream on a baby really. You might also want to add some of those instant ice packs that you can just crumple to activate?

Fanella that's a good point on the latex.

What is your concern about the antiseptic cream. In the NHS's list of items for a baby first aid kit, its listed as something to include. Do you think its just best for older babies?

I had another growth scan yesterday and my daughter is huge. Both very chubby and very tall. My husband is 6ft 3 and I'm 5'9 so no real surprise on the height.

Yesterday I was 30+3 and she had an estimated weight of 1.9 kilos (4.2 lbs). An average baby would be about 3 pounds at this stage

Antiseptic cream is generally a bad idea because when it's been opened and used it's no longer sterile. With a baby you are going to wind up using it maybe once or twice in a year, and in that time it's breeding bacteria busily and can do more harm than good when you go to apply it again.

That's the same reason why if you have salon or similar in your medicine cabinet you need to chuck it out every 3 months, even if you've only used a tiny bit. Individually sealed, alcohol free wipes are a much better bet.

Savlon, not salon!

Hi ladies,
My baby is also huge. I'm 31+2 and baby is estimated to be 4lbs 10oz! Also with very long legs.. I'm 5'4 and partner is about 5'8 so no idea where this has come from!
I've also been diagnosed with polyhydramnios - excess amniotic fluid. Levels are around 26cm currently.. does anyone else have any experience with this?

Fanella that makes sense. The NHS also recommend having Antispetic wipes so I'll just use those instead unless its something that will need repeated cleaning over a few days and its worth opening the tube.

Frankier welcome to the big baby club! I don't have excess amniotic fluid though. What has your doctor said about it?

London Frankier
What had led to you getting these growth scans?
My next and final scan (last one was 20wk) will be at 36 weeks.

I'm considering booking a private one in the next 2/3 weeks just to make sure all okay...