August 2018 #5

[peterpanwendy]

As we enter month 5 of our pregnancies we need a 5th thread!

Good luck to everyone having their 20 week scan this/next week :)

I got one with the pram but it’s at my dads and I’m not sure if the mat came with it :s
Will double check tho when I next see him

You don't need one with sides as you'll typically be using a public changing table which will have sides and sometimes also a strap. Or just on the floor which baby can't roll off anyway. The changing mat is just to add a bit of padding and make it slightly more hygienic than being the same surface hundreds of other baby bums have touched.

Oh okay, never been inside a mummy and baby changing space lol so have no idea what’s provided outside the home

Have a look next time you're in town. If you're obviously pregnant I'm sure nobody will think it's odd! :)

You also never take a hand off them even if there are sides, just in case :)

I used the change the baby on my knee when I’d got used to it. Only for wet nappies though, smelly ones required Wipe clean surfaces haha

Has anyone got a varicose vein on their vagina? I know it’s tmi but it got purple blues bumps just inside the left lip of my
Vagina, and I got worried and read up on it and google says it’s probably varicose veins where blood is pooling inside the vein. It looks horrendous and feel like crying when I see it.

@Gem173 I got a skiphop pronto changing mat, my sister had one and it was so good, she used it all the time.

I don't have a varicose vein (I've not actually looked!) but I hear it's very normal and so try not to let it upset you! I'm sure someone on the Facebook group grumbled about it the other week!

@Gem173 varicose veins are very common. I can't sympathise unfortunately because I haven't been able to see down there in a good few weeks now 😂 x

Not have I @peterpanwendy😂 but i decided to take a look using a mirror and what I found was not pretty! I haven’t got any veins or stretch marks anywhere yet so I thought my downstairs might look alright let’s just say I was shocked to see that it looks the opposite of alright. My poor body, I hope it goes back to normal after birth!

After looking at my changing bag that come free with my pram, I felt like I’d want a better one, so have been researching like loads of changing bags and have found/bought the Babymel Robyn Convertible backpack. However I’m not sure what colour to buy?! My prams Black, so it’s either the black one or the white with navy straps.

Which colour ladies?

Ooh I like the white with navy!! They’re gorgeous.

Sorry about your downstairs gem. I’ve not had the pleasure of that particular pregnancy side effect yet, but it’s on the long list of things that they don’t tell you about before you have a baby!!

@Gem173 love that bag, think I prefer the black x

@Gem173 couldnt tell you whats happening down there as another one here that can just see bump when i look down 😂

Defo the black one its lovely! X

Has anyone bought baby size hangers? Mothercare want £10 for 5 hangers 😫. Anywhere more reasonable selling them? X

@NikkiL123 I got some in ikea they were a couple of ££ for 5 or 6. Still seems like a lot for something so small! X

@peterpanwendy thank u, are they wooden or plastic? I couldn't believe mothercare's price! X

I bought the black one :)
And @NikkiL123 I bought these from amazon! Loads of them, they are plastic and are nice and smooth! And cheaper than those in shops! One lot of 36 has been enough as most of my clothes are folded, I’ve only hung up my nice pieces and the coats etc

ilauke 36 Pack White Plastic Nursery Hangers Nonslip Baby Coat Hangers Space Saving Tubular Hangers for Kids Children Clothes www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071Z3LJJW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vKYcBb6PN1K74?tag=mumsnetforum-21

@NikkiL123 they are white wood :)

I can only find these online which I do have, but I have some white ones too, can't remember where I got them! X

www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/childrens-ikea-products/children-3-7/small-storage/hänga-childrens-coat-hanger-natural-art-60178769/

Gem I’m getting the babymel robyn too. From what I’ve read the black picks up lots of fluff. Having seen them in store the stripy one made my eyes go funny too cos the stripes are pretty narrow! I’m going for the tweed one for these reasons! I had a babymel Cara last time and it was fab I just want a backpack style one now.

I was intending to go with my Pink Lining Yummy Mummy bag again this time but those babymel ones are gorgeous!! Now I don’t know

Ladies, does anyone know about weekly payments we get when on maternity leave? I've worked out my SMP is the £145 a week but is there anything else we are entitled to or does it depend on household income etc? X

@StrawberryLemonade I will have to make sure I don’t put it down in fluffy areas! Haha and I got it because not only is my pram black but all my clothes etc are dark, and I didn’t think the white bag would suit any of my clothes! 😂 and I’m not sure @NikkiL123 I think it all depends on income etc, use EntitledTo website to see what you could be entitled too. But you need your income and hours you will be working etc. So best to base it on when you go back to work if you are changing hours etc. I know we get child benefit which is £80 a month.

@Gem173 thank you, it's so confusing cos google also says we will be taxed on SMP but not sure how that works when surely should be under the NI threshold? 🤷🏼‍♀️ x