May 2017 #12

[savagehk]

Hi all! No imagination for a name but it was getting tight!

Aaah you're not alone rustler, I'm gonna miss her wriggling around inside me too :) I'm doing 10 hour days so I'm generally pretty tired after work so prob not best time to meet up but would be great once I'm on mat leave?
I'm used to handling babies (22 yrs as a nanny) although I haven't looked after babies for a few years now, I mainly look after older kids. However, I am under no illusion that it will be anything like work!! It's gonna be a whole different ball game

I'm kind of scared about the responses I'm going to get, but here goes...

My dog, out of the blue, just tried to bite me. It's completely freaked me out and now I can't sleep worrying about the dog and the baby.

He's had a history of aggression but only outside and when trying to take things from his mouth but over the last 4 years, before I was pregnant, he'd only snapped at me once. Since I've been pregnant we've had a couple of "outdoors" incidents but today he was just at the top of the stairs without anything even in his mouth. I'm hoping (not sure if that's the right word) it's cos I smell different or something because I'm pregnant but am now just so worried. I've used a behaviourist in the past who helped get his behaviour under control and have already emailed them to ask for them to revisit him as it's 5 years since they saw him. I'll also get him booked in at the vets to rule out a new medical cause.

Just kind of freaking out here.

badger glad baby is back dancing.

barnes that sounds scary, I'm sorry I am not a dog person but what you're doing sounds sensible. I would be cautious about dog + baby but as I say I've never had one, hope your behaviourist can give some good advice.

Jealous of all the ice cream talk. My Easter sugar overload special is a couple of scoops of vanilla then a handful of mini eggs which get semi frozen 😍

@Barnes79 how old is the pup? I truly believe that maybe it's because you smell different, act different or bought something different into the home is why he snapped at you. I've got two cats, one is a kitten and obsessed with me at the moment. The other is a cat and is "my" cat as she is my baby, she always comes to mummy... except at the moment she won't and has scratched me a couple of times. It's really upset me, but I think it's because she knows I'm pregnant.

My parents had a small cairn terrier when mum was pregnant with me, and he would bark and "snap" at mum during her pregnancy. When I was born he wouldn't come near me at all. They have a cairn terrier now (not the same one!) and when he last saw me, he just barked and barked. Normally he's obsessed with me!

I think you're doing right getting the behaviourist opinion, as you can never be too careful with pets. I trust all animals, & I trust my cats but... I don't trust them 100%.

Barnes I'm sure he's just picking up on subtle differences but definitely worth getting it checked. If he doesn't seem himself/relaxed do you have family who could look after him when baby first comes home, so you could introduce them gradually and he can still have some space away from the changes?

barnes that sounds tough. Behaviourist & vet sounds a good idea. What sort of dog is he?

Essentially, you'd never leave the baby & dog alone together, whatever his behaviour was like. Making him feel as included as possible when baby comes home (treats, fuss etc) is important, but also recognising the need for him to be seperated at times (maybe a stairgate?). Not sure how big he is or what would work.

To be honest, I really don't think you can predict how a dog will react to a baby. My best friend has a terrier who can be quite jealous, and once bit me! I was really quite worried when she had her 1st baby 2 yrs ago, but she has been wonderful with him. Obviously they've never been left alone etc.

It may well be because you seem / smell different & he doesn't know why.

@Barnes79 it'll be because you look, smell, act different. It will have been something silly like he didn't realise it was you and got a fright with you coming up the stairs. Important thing today is not to treat him any differently than you do normally, if you need to tell him off do if you want to fuss him do. You're doing the right thing with the behaviourist and the vet, you have the advantage that the behaviourist knows him already. Easy to say I know, but try not to freak out too much, even without this happening you were never going to leave him alone with the baby so there wouldn't be an opportunity for anything bad to happen, that hasn't changed. to help you get over the fright.

Congratulations Rise!!

Badger loads of new mum friends have recommended Happiest Baby on the Block. I've just got a copy off Amazon.

NurseBickyPegs I've also been contemplating the sleepyhead since the reviews seem to be so good. I think we might wait to see if bub is a bad sleeper before we get it though.

TickyBoo waxing! I too would have thought it would be painful. I've had them before but thought that extra blood flow would make it extra sensitive...Hmm i might have to look into this as the blind shaving just does not work out!!

Raspberry and NurseBickyPegs love hearing about all the pre-baby pampering! I desperately need at least a haircut before, and would love a pedi as i can barely reach my toes but trying to fit it in while still working!!!

Savage we got a Bababing bouncer, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that most seem to have and moves with baby's movement. Figured if baby was calm and awake it was a place to put him to sit and chill.

Teaspoon and Yellow yeah i think the engagement seems to be more or less constant, i feel it more when I'm walking a lot, but bubs hasnt really too much like all the way to the left or right like before. My bump has been pretty low to start so the constant need to pee is much worse than before! No idea how enagaged he is but another question to ask at my midwife appointment next week!

So as I've mentioned before I've had three GTTs all normal but as baby's AC was off the chart I was asked to monitor blood sugar levels on my regular diet for a week. Though pretty much most post meal readings were normal, some of my fasting levels were high and they want me to start metformin. Ladies with GD are you on meds and how did it affect you? I'm worried baby will come out hypoglycemic...All this talk of ice cream though

Barnes - I have no advice as no experience of dogs&babies together. Just wanted to say you're not the only one. Our dog has a history of being very possessive over his bed/toys (he is no longer allowed to have his own toys unless we provide them/play with them with him). He had seemed much better and we'd had no snapping or biting for months and then he bit DP last week It was over a filthy stick he'd collected in the garden that he didn't want to let go of to come inside. It was pissing it down and late at night so leaving him out wasn't really an option!!!

We have just been practising his "leave it" commands and making sure he gets some time each day for play. It is very concerning though as seems quite unpredictable. So, to summarise you have my utmost sympathy! Bloody dogs!!!

He would have you believe that butter wouldn't melt....

He is gorgeous mrscroc!

Barnes I don't have a dog, but my parents had a jack Russell cross with a history of biting when DD was born. I was extremely cautious and I basically did not put her down unless the dog was out of the room and the door was closed. Obviously, it's very different in your own house, so think about whether you need stair gates up now to physically separate them, and get a decent sling so you can keep the baby close round the house.

Shini think mine has moved down too. I went to the post office yesterday (10 Min walk) and then to nursery (another 10 mins) and then home. Involved 2 toilet stops!

Tiny bit worried this morning as we've had a note from nursery about hand, foot and mouth going round, and DD has woken up with a few spots round her mouth (no other signs though). Then I looked on the NHS pages and it said it's very infectious and can affect the pregnancy in the last few weeks. Really hoping she's not ill, plus I could do without the worry of it affecting the new one.

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice.

I was aware my dog and LO could never be alone together and have already researched extra high baby gates so there could be a room upstairs and one downstairs where baby could be left (upstairs in a crib and downstairs in a travel cot) so there would be almost double the barrier for the dog to get past. He's a miniature golden doodle, so about small collie size so shouldn't be able to jump the high baby gates.

I had started using a "baby sounds" CD yesterday from the book "How to tell your dog you're pregnant" as I was trying to get him prepared for all the noises, so don't know if that stressed him out at all - but I'll have to persevere with that too. His "leave" isn't the best, especially outside, but it has improved slowly over the years - he's now 6 years old.

I'll dig out the original behaviourist report and power on with basic training. I've been gradually introducing baby things to get him used to them - the crib has been in our room for a week and the pram was built last weekend. I guess it's best to get him past the stressed phase before baby arrives...

He also looks like butter wouldn't melt, and people who meet him never believe he's got the angry side unless they see it first hand. He is great with my niece and nephews although they do stress him out a bit.

@ShiniBerry I've had diagnosed GD since 26 weeks. I'm still diet controlled at 33+2. When I had my 28 week growth scan the sonographer panicked about babies size but I'm only measuring a week ahead and my OH is almost a foot taller than me, diabetic midwife and community midwife were not concerned neither was the consultant.
What range of results have they told you you need to aim for? I'm 6 for fasting and 8 for post. I now test one day before meals, one day after then I have a day off testing. I generally know now when my sugars are high/low and what to do to sort them without testing - usually mine are too low so I eat.

Barnes that's the poodle side. Growing up we had a poodle and he was gorgeous but if he had something and you wanted it off him woah you had to be careful - they are snappy ! You sound like you're doing all the right things. My friend uses the high stair gates for her Weimaraner.

Oh he is gorgeous too Barnes! Sounds like you are on it.

A further Google tells me it is very unlikely that I'll catch hand, foot and mouth and even more unlikely it will mean any more than a light dose for the newborn. So panic over. Bloody hormones!

@Barnes79 he's gorgeous!! you're definitely doing all the right things. I thought that book was really useful, read all the way through, download the sounds etc ready to play them to our two. Got the pram out the box to let them sniff/investigate - zero reaction, played the sounds nothing from either of them til the squeaky toy one. Came to the conclusion that we have really laid back dogs that couldn't care less.... but we are talking about a golden retriever that will sit under the workbench when DH is cutting wood with some power tool waiting for the off cut to drop so she can run off and chew it.... And a Labrador that is motivated only by food (surprise)

@ShiniBerry I have also seen a bababing bouncer from John Lewis which I like and I don't need any other function than it just bouncing.
I did also see another one that I liked which only had a vibrating function but can't remember the brand. It's on my JL wish list as I didn't want to lose track of it. It was only £33 which is still reasonable imho. I find the choice of basic bouncers very limited to be honest!

I can sympathise with the worries over dogs - my family dog of 10 years is a bit of a troubled soul, and although brilliant with people she knows, and the most affectionate & characterful dog in the world, does suffer from fear aggression although has never actually bitten. We've had 3 different dog trainers over the earlier years (she was a rescue and we were home no. 3 at 8 months...!) and they all deemed her untrainable and under advice of the vet she isn't allowed out the house (luckily we have a big garden!) as life outside her bubble just overwhelms her and brings out her worst side. My partner and I were saving for a house and didn't want to rent, but I simply couldn't bare the idea of putting her to sleep so we're moving out next week! Although she is the bain of my life (no holidays as can't put her in kennels, no friends over etc.) I absolutely adore her and could never bring myself to part with her whilst she leads such a happy (albeit unconventional) life with my mum! Pic of her last week playing with a lemon...!

barnes no advice but your plan sounds very sensible! I don't have any dog experience apart from my ILs massive yard dogs which are never allowed near children ever.

shini what are your fasting numbers? It all sounds a bit suspicious. I'm not GD (but am T1) but the main point of tight blood sugar control at this stage is to avoid newborn hypoglycaemia so it makes sense to get it under control.

I'm so fed up with my clothes! Basically have one pair of jeans and one pair of leggings that fit. At 36+3 I'm not about to go out and buy anything more now. But it would be nice to have more than two options!

We're planning on going to the baby and toddler show tomorrow, has anyone else been and got any tips on which stands we should make sure we visit??

God me too tea. I have one pair of leggings and jeans too, and would love some summer dresses. Especially now the weather is getting warmer. But no point buying any more maternity clothes now.

Especially since I've just spent all my money on lovely summer clothes for the toddler . I have a Scandinavian baby clothes problem...

@EsmesBees @teainbed perhaps a couple of nursing summer dresses then you can use them after?

Good morning!

Oh barnes that's stressful. You're doing the right thing getting the dog behaviourist on board again though, at least you can get some insight and find a way forward.
It's hard though as they are part of the family. X

mrscroc butter definitely wouldn't melt!! Don't know what you're talking about ;)

shini I love that bouncer! No garish colours, good price and the name reminds me of the Sopranos!!

esme and tea is there anything you could buy that would work post pregnancy too? For example at the nct sale I picked up some under bump shorts, light cotton under bump trousers, mat/ bf summer top and gorgeous white shirt that can all be used before and after whilst I'm still tubby! I wanna be comfy... and stylish... oh wait, I can't seem to get that quite right!

I'm still giggling as yesterday I met up with friend who had given me some mat clothes "recognise this outfit?" I said. She looked confused "I recognise the top but never had any black trousers?" After much discussion we realised they were pj's she's given me! I'd been wearing them as normal trousers out and about. I shall continue, they're comfy!!