The March-ers 2019 - #7

[Angelmiracle]

Welcome to no.7 mamas 😄

Check in 👣🤰🏽🍼

Thread 6

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/3379197-The-March-ers-2019-6

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever @Sictransitgloria my original plan was annual leave from week 38 and then mat leave starts on my due date. But I'm now thinking annual leave from week 35 for a few reasons.

1. My work day is 12 hours long including commute
2. Work is currently very quiet at the minute and my cover starts in January to learn the ropes and I'm genuinely not convinced there is work enough for the pair of us
3. We've been getting our house renovated so living back at my mums so I'd quite like a few weeks to move house in peace and get everything sorted rather than cramming it into two weeks with no time to relax.

In regard to crib/Moses. We bought the SnuzPod months ago at the baby show because of a discount. Loads of my friends have had it and all swore by it

I would say start your Mat leave as late as you can as you will want it the other end.
If there isn't enough work @whatalearningcurve then how about asking if you can do some work from home or maybe only go in 2 or 3 days a week using your annual leave? Would make the commute and day length easier but equally not waste your weeks of Mat leave.

@SquirtlesMumAgain trust me - tried the working from home thing. Got told "it's not what we do". The shortened weeks might be worth it through. Mat leave will still be starting on my due date and either way I've got enough annual leave to stay off till Jan 2020 (only get 9 months because of stat pay)

My plan was mat leave 4 days before EDD and a/leave to take 4 weeks off before but doing short weeks at start of March may be tempting if pelvis holds up!

@whatalearningcurve I've got a similar working day/commute to you (oh the joys of London) and will be wfh one day a week from the start of Jan. I've got a few appointments and AL booked so won't be doing a full week in work until Feb and then may wfh an extra day from that point onwards. Depends how I feel but I'm keen to not start mat leave (or use loads of holiday immediately before it's born) as I want it for later.

We've just bought a Chico Next to Me dream crib. We didn't like the snooze pod ones when we looked at them as it felt too bulky.. or is that the point? I genuinely don't see us carrying it around the house with us. I've been price tracking the next to me crib since June time and we got it when it came half price on Christmas Eve. We were originally planning on getting it second hand but the offer meant it was only £15 more new than the going rate seems to be for second hand ones in our area, and it was the upgraded model model. Do any of the not new mums have one? What are your thoughts on them? All of our friends have described it as a must have...?

I've used AL to give me reduced weeks in Jan then start mat leave at 36 weeks.

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever Our bed is also too high for standard cosleepers like the snuzpod, so I'm thinking about just leaving one side of the cot off and strapping that to our bed instead. Loads of people online have done it, eg. amandamedlin.com/2013/11/diy-co-sleeper-pretty-little-quilt/

I've got 6 more weeks left at work. I'm taking 2 weeks of annual leave from 8th Feb onwards and then officially starting my mat leave at 39 weeks. That's the plan, anyway, hopefully bump will fit in with this. I'm looking forward to finishing now. I love my job but I'm finding it very tiring lately.

I've got horrid kidney and abdomen pain tonight. I felt a bit rubbish when I went to bed but woke up about an hour ago with a lot of discomfort. Had a midwife appointment earlier and urine test was all clear so I'm guessing it's probably nothing major and I've had a drink of water and a wee and the pain is a little better, but I do feel a bit crap. I'm going to head to the OOH GP tomorrow morning if I don't feel better I think. Baby seems to be moving OK, so hopefully nothing too much to be worried about.

@toastfiend sorry you're feeling crappy.

DH's nan has been admitted into hospital with a burst hernia and they won't operate on her as she's too frail. They don't expect her to leave the hospital. DH is going to visit tomorrow but has said that I shouldn't go because he doesn't want me to pick up any bugs. I'd feel awful not going though. You any of you go or do you think he's being wise by saying I shouldn't visit?

Thank you. I've been to the Day Assessment Unit today and saw a consultant. She thinks it's the way the baby is lying blocking urine filtering from my kidney to my bladder which makes the kidney swell and causes the pain and nausea etc. I've had a kidney function blood test to make sure all OK and just got to monitor it now and go back if I feel worse and they might need to put a stent in it it does affect my kidney function. Hopefully shouldn't come to that though!

So sorry to hear about your DH's nan. It's a really hard one with regards to whether to go or not. I think I would go, particularly if you are close to her, but I totally understand both your concerns and it would play on my mind somewhat. If your DH is happy to go alone and you're not especially close to her then I think that changes things somewhat. If I did go I'd be religious about hand washing etc. both before and after I'd visited.

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever Im sorry to hear your news but I think I would go, in my last pregnancy my Grandad was in hospital and I visited I just made sure I washed my hands lots.

@toastfiend poor you that doesn’t sound much fun hope you feel better soon.

I’m shattered we went shopping to exchange some Christmas presents that didn’t fit along with everyone else or so it seemed it was heaving and so so hot in the shops

@wineandchoccy that was brave fighting the shops. Hope you can rest tomorrow!

@assumeitwassomethingclever sorry to hear the news. Definitely go with your gut and if you go just be uber careful about touching and washing.

@toastfiend sounds a bit of a day but glad they have worked out why you were having issues. Hope it doesn't come to anything but at least they are there if you need them.

Hello Ladies!

Finally caught up! Sorry to those of you feeling down or poorly. Here’s me for the past few weeks.

I was working away in the weeks before Christmas, it was hard work. OH didn’t like me being away but he’ll like the money! The third trimester hit me like a ton of bricks. I seemed to get very pregnant all of a sudden. My bump looks huge. As soon as I hit 27 weeks I started getting heart burn and feeling very tired. As soon as I hit 28 weeks it feels like she’s beating me up from the inside. Full on alien belly waves. She likes to do things by the book!

Had my 28 week check up. Measuring exactly where she’s supposed to be although I was convinced she’s massive.

Tried the Dream Genie again with more success so sleep isn’t too bad comparatively. My back has been painful in the mornings, not sure if that’s pregnancy or just my usual cycle of being in my own bed after working away and release of tension.

Christmas was strange without Brie and pate! Had a few small tipples. Literally a thimble here and there. Port Salut is ok I think and a close second to Brie!

I only get annoyed when OH presses or pokes at my belly. Some of my friends/colleagues have gone for touching it but acknowledged they should probably ask.

Finding things like putting on shoes hardly the worth the effort. And I can no longer fit my engagement and wedding rings on my little chippolata fingers. I’ve put them on a chain so I can constantly stress about them falling off and check them every 5 seconds.

Feeling large, weighed myself at my parents and wished I hadn’t. Got a bargain tankini at Mothercare £8! So going to do some ‘swimming’. We picked up a fair few bargains in the sale although it wasn’t very good. Maybe you have to go on actual Boxing Day or they’re holding out until Jan?

MIL found an Icandy apple to pear including carry cot, car seat adapters and foot muff for £300 so that was a bargain.

Currently trying to find a replacement mattress for a Chicco next to me as my friend is giving us hers. Hard to know what’s safe/official.

Need to do my tax return and sort out my maternity allowance. I have only 3 days work in Jan so I reckon the sooner I start MA the better!

Here’s a couple of questions. Do you rate Gro bags and what tog for March/April (assuming her head won’t fall out) and when will you pack your hospital bags?!

Oh and had a two hour nap today. That never happens!

@Gronk27 loved gro bags I preferred the proper brand as they washed and dried better and if you can get the ones that zip all the way round instead of just up the front it makes changing nappies easier.
TK maxx always have good offers on them as well. I had a mixture of togs but mainly had 2/2.5 tog.
Supermarket ones/own brand ones are ok but I found them mostly fleecy/velour and some can’t be tumble dried so take ages to dry.

I had some good grobag equivalents from Sainsburys (that tumbled) but as @wineandchoccy said you need to be very aware about materials and washing instructions!
Also be careful as most babies won't fit in them really early on - their site is really good for info on that though.

I think baby had to be over 9lbs to use a sleeping bag? But double check that because I can't remember for sure.
We bought bags from www.slumbersac.co.uk when they were on sale but never had official gro bags so I can't compare. We never had any issues with them and the packaging would say which tog should be used in what temperature and also what baby should wear underneath, which was really good to know

I've bought a couple of Grobags and swaddle zip ups (forgotten their actual name!) in the boots sale. MIL also got us a supermarket sleeping bag so it'll be interesting to see the difference.

Woke up today with the worst cold! More than likely thanks to the woman who coughed in my face in Sainsbury's. So unfortunately won't be going to see DH's nan today. Hoping she pulls through or I get better soon. I wouldn't say we're especially close as we only see her maybe once every other month but I'm incredibly fond of her.

@assumeitwassomethingclever poor you and how annoying. I hope both of you feel better. My Nan has recently had hostial visits so can sympathise, fortunately she recovered. Sending good thoughts.

@jenfur I’ve read that as long as their head can’t pass through the gap they’re fine. I imagine that’s when they’re a certain weight anyway!

I was gifted a Mamas and Papas Dreampod for DS he loved it. But didn't use these until 8 weeks old or more.

What are you all doing for a changing/nappy bag? Tote bag, rucksack?

So disappointed Boots don't do their free one any more. Had to throw out the one from DS.

@Angelmiracle Aldi have a baby event I think from the 7th Jan and they have a ruck sack changing bag that looks good which I was thinking of getting if I use the sling.
I did buy a new normal changing bag but with holding dd (3) hand plus baby I think a ruck sack one may be better

We have walked along Blackpool sea front today I have developed a waddle and feel like a head/bum/arms who knows is very low I’m lying on the sofa now but can’t get comfortable

@Wineandchoccy I'm completely with you on not being able to get comfy! I'm currently laying on the sofa as well. Mines really high up this evening and is firmly kicking me in the ribs. First time I've felt any movement above the belly button!

Definitely rucksack is the way forward. I have one I (rarely) use with DS, but think I will need a bigger one for DD and DS so might keep an eye out at the Aldi one!

This is the Aldi bag - Baby Change Backpack at £17.99 - less than half the price of its designer benchmark Baba Bing Mani, which will set you back £49.99.