May 2017 #11 Not long to go until the first baby shows!

[PeachIcedT]

It only took us two weeks to fill up the last thread!

Link to previous thread #10:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/2875150-may-2017-10-to-be-prepared-or-not-prepared

Link to the May data sheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KVJO4NGD6JrcGRGQuYnx87mLaadV5ytrP4lDfdqLrUQ/edit#gid=0

I may have peed my boss off today, I was signed off all last week and thought I was coming back today but noticed over the weekend that the dates on the "sick note" includes today, so I am due back tomorrow. Emailed and left voicemail but he hasn't replied

I am moving my maternity leave start dates forward so I will now leave end of April instead of early May, I cannot really afford to move it any further forward as it would mean longer on SMP at the end or using up extra holiday (which is already going to be limited..)

My SPD is still causing me grief, it's not as bad as I have rested over the last week but I am concerned it will flare up again when I am back to work but I cannot keep taking time off sick as it makes me feel like my employer is getting pissed off with me.

So jealous of all you ladies in your last week of work! I'm not finishing until the end of April, but I do have a load of wfh days lined up, including all of next week. Might take the opportunity to start filling the freezer with post-baby dinners while answering emails

@newbieho @PeachIcedT With you on the Spring gardening/baby arrival timing issues! I have a veg patch in my garden, and normally grow all veggies from seed, but bit the bullet this year and ordered a lot of plug plants instead. That being said, I'm planning to grow more than usual as I'm sure I'll be in the garden loads this summer. I just didn't think I'd have the energy to nurture the seedlings through March and April, and I'm glad at this point that I had that foresight! Really excited for the plug plants to arrive in a few weeks.

Our car seat finally arrived, but DH is very apprehensive about installing it. Part of the concern is a bit superstitious, but also he's really nervous about it being done properly. Is anyone aware of a service/ clinic where you can pay to have it installed (we bought it online so don't think Halford's/Mothercare is an option)? Or is it so much easier than the instructions seem to indicate?

We're going to move my bedside table and put cot upto side of bed so I like the idea of a little shelf for light, bits n bobs etc thanks :)

Question about washing reusable nappies. I've been stockpiling Ecover washing liquid, powder, conditioner when I see it on offer for baby's stuff. My friend says they were told not to use it for reusable nappies? Also anyone else use soap nuts? I've used them for our clothes just seeing about babies bits, nappies etc. savage?

Had not given any thought to lights at all. Another thing for the list. At some point we need to set up the crib and see how it works with the bedside table.

Jealous of those finishing work this week. I'm so tired. This is my last week in my current role, I'll be spending the final four weeks on 'projects' and working from home as much as possible!

klane which seat?

badger we used it last time with no issues (I have seen it mentioned that others have had issues though). I think it depends on your water hardness etc. Don't use conditioner/softener with nappies at all. I have used soapnuts in the past but liquid is just so much easier! If you do find your nappies aren't as absorbent as you think they should be you can try a wash with a different detergent to dislodge the old one.

@KLane if it's isofix it's really really easy, look on you tube for videos.... the written instructions make it seem more complicated than it is  Ours has been in the car for weeks because it takes up less space there than in the house 

@MrsJW15 I think it's the thought of several more Mondays, but I also don't have any calls today so don't get to speak to anyone  because I've been handing stuff over to one of my replacements I have less to do. I'm not good when there's no immediate pressure at the best of times 

@teainbed It is a lovely part of the world and we'll miss it when we move south but at least then we'll only have to suffer the A9 when we visit for holidays rather than every time we want to go anywhere

@EsmesBees the lamp I have is a really dull bulb for that reason, so I don't wake DH when I get up (Literally cant see to the door out of our room otherwise)

We're hoping LO will only be in with us for 3 months max though - I'm sure we'll manage

@nursebickypegs make sure you get that rest and look after yourself!

@teainbed I need to catch up on LoD tonight - although I seem to have gone off of Vicky McClure after 'The Replacement'

@RedBlu you do what you need to do with leave and make sure you and baby are looked after before you worry about work and pissing off your boss - they're going to have to manage without while you're off anyway

@KLane - what car seat have you got and are you using an ISOfix base? DH was a little dubious too, but once he had a go and could see all the indicator lights were green he was ok. Like @1004Rise we have had ours in the car for a few weeks now to try and space save.

@MrsJW15 I'm kinda gutted to be finishing work this early tbh. If I lived closer to the office I'd be staying for another 3 weeks at least, but I just cant keep doing 4 hours of commuting everyday ontop of a 40 hour week and sadly there is no capacity for me to WFH with my job

Klane what seat have you got and do you have a base with it? super easy if it's an isofix base I promise.
I'm adding a nightlight to list of things I need, I remember a lot of scrabbling round in the dark last time! Any recommendations? like the idea of one you can dim.
I'm going to wait and do the washing when I start leave after easter, tho we are having some lovely drying days at the moment so knowing my luck it will rain the entire second half of April!

Also - I cant remember who mentioned scratch mits falling off, but I came across this today!

www.scratchsleeves.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=250

@savagehk @1004Rise @raspberryinamelon It's the Kiddy Evo-luna i-size car seat. And it's MASSIVE, sitting in the middle of the dining room (driving me absolutely mad). It is Isofix so maybe it should be more straightforward then? The instructions are hugely intimidating!

In my job we "should" have the ability to WFH however my team only has one "team" laptop which my boss won't let anyone else use and he keeps at home.

I leave the house at 7am for work and it's draining, I would love to be able to WFH on occasion! Sitting at my desk at work really aggravates my SPD.

I am now 32 weeks, so if I leave end of April my "leave" would start at 37 weeks which is earlier than I wanted but I never envisaged pregnancy being this difficult and hard work. I am so tired and emotional!!

I know I need to focus on myself and bump but I am bordering on becoming obsessive about how my employer views me, I was signed off at the beginning with HG for six weeks, had a few days off with sudden sickness, migraines, etc and now this. I just feel crap. I know they cannot "punish" me for time off when pregnant but still.....

@KLane its not a seat I'm familiar with, but I would have a look online and even just have a go and see how you get on first. The instructions made ours sound more daunting than it really was.

@RedBlu I could have written your last two paragraphs! As I say, I really thought I'd work right up as close to my EDD as I could and I hate acknowledging that I can't.

I too was over worried about how my employer and colleagues would view me going off sick if I needed to (pre pregnancy I've only ever taken one day sick in 11 years so feel like I have something to live upto) and I was super worried about how things would be viewed when I decided to bring my leave forward by 3 weeks, but it's come to a point now that I don't care how others view it. (Easier said than done sometimes I know)...

Klane there are videos you can watch on YouTube. But it is easy. We don't have an isofix and it's still fine once you get the hang of it.

Redblu anyone who judges an employee for having needed time off when pregnant is not worth caring about. You need your energy for when the little one is here.

I've reached that stage when bending down is really hard. DD dropped a beloved toy under a bench in a cafe earlier. I actually stood there dithering between leaving it there and dealing with the fall out, or waiting for another customer to turn up to ask for help. Not like me at all.

Just had a call from a health Visitor saying they want to come round for an antenatal visit. Any one else having a similar visit? It must be a new thing as I didn't get one last time.

re scratch mitts, some babygros have them built in, you just flip the sleeve over.

esme I believe this is a new thing since I was last pregnant, my green notes have it in the 'timeline'. I've not heard from the HV yet and I know they are way overstretched in my area, so knowing my luck I'll be in labour when there'll be a knock at the door

teaspoon this was a kids film so agree with savage not the best entertainment for me but fine for toddler to roam around and chat and it was only £3! I think in some places in the uk you can take small babies to a grown up film, perfect if they're sleeping/feeding in the sling but sadly they don't have that here.

raspberry I had to slide down past the Snuzpod to get out of bed which wasn't the easiest after a CS but nice to have DS close to me for feeding. I also moved the bedside table so at the bottom of snuzpod I kept my phone and water bottle. This time I will get DH to put a Phillips Hue bulb in my lamp so I can turn it on with the app on my phone and have it on low red setting so I can see what I'm doing but not interfere with baby's sleep/melatonin production and all that jazz (in theory).

teainbed haven't caught up with Line of Duty yet

Ah see my sickness record is shit anyway. I am the type of person who will catch anything and everything going as my immune system is pretty crap. I also suffer with migraines that completely knock me out.

Never triggered any sickness measures at work but I am the first to admit it is shit which is why I am always on edge when needing time off.

Can't be helped though, especially at the moment.

Esme I met the health visitor this morning although mine was at a local clinic not at my house. It was basically just to introduce herself and let me know the schedule of upcoming visits and gave me info on local breastfeeding support groups etc. There was also loads of questions about whether I'm at risk of domestic violence or if I'm feeling depressed etc. The visit was fine but it seemed like a bit of a waste of their time and a box ticking exercise to be honest!

I've got a scan at 5.30pm to see if the placenta has moved out of the way so I can deliver naturally. Fingers crossed it has

Oh I mentioned scratch mits in that the nurses in hospital kept putting them on DS and he kept taking them off I don't think they're necessary personally as they use their fingers to explore, I just kept his nails short - so much easier when they're tiny.

Just had a growth scan and all fine. Sonographer estimated the weigh at 5.5 pounds. Long legs apparently but abdominal and head circumference exactly the right size and stayed on average growth line which is a relief.

MrsJW, That's a bit insensitive of the in laws... mine decided last December to have New Years away (only about an hour or so from where we live) but New Years Day this year was my DD's first birthday. We sent invites at the beginning of December and told close family in early November we would be having a small early afternoon party. Then they claimed they couldn't come to the party because they couldn't leave their dogs for a few hours.... DH was very annoyed. They did end up coming. Not sure how their dogs managed to be alone for four hours?!
I have a feeling this may happen every year. We had a lot of people ask why we couldn't do it on a different day... I was quite annoyed. They also refused to visit us on Christmas Day, everyone had to go to them... (They have 3 children who each have children)
I'm going to stop ranting now!! Sorry all! x

Esme - we have a visit booked. They wanted to come next week but I put them off until I'm on Mat leave. They told me it was new in our area that every mother gets a visit no matter which number baby they are having.

You'll all be pleased to hear my DD has chicken pox! I'm enjoying being in my pjs! Although she hates me putting lotion or cream on them and is very snotty and coughing loads. They don't seem to bother her unless I'm attending to them though.

I had a mw appt this morning. (Boo that I had to get dressed!) I'm apparently 2cm bigger than the 'guidance' - the 'rules' are up to 3cm either way, but she's sending me for a growth scan next week anyway, and has brought my next appt forward to discuss the scan, and apparently my pee results! My sciatica (self diagnosed) was playing up this morning and I mentioned I'd been to a Physio's so maybe she's paying attention to me now! BP was normal today too, which I was pretty shocked at!
Although as much as I'm now totally fed up of the aches and increasing pains I'm pretty confident baby is normal and ok!

Ohh... that's a long post - sorry!

Just had 31 week check and all bang on track. She's head down and it's her bottom that keeps poking out at the moment. Heard her heartbeat again and cried. I'm totally in love.

Head down is good news!

klane we have same car seat !! It is easy to fix in. Feel free to message me.
You clip it onto the isofix bars in car then the arm bit just extends to the floor and green indicates correct position. The one thing they showed us is to make sure the slider part is right up to seat back and then when the handle goes back into lie flat position the seat gets even more snug towards the back seat so it doesn't rattle.

Does everyone have someone at work or a friend who ONLY wants to talk about pregnancy and babies to you? Like you cannot somehow now even have a non baby or pregnancy related conversation?