Due February 2019: here come the babies!

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New thread ladies. 2 gorgeous bundles have already arrived...

I got a nice Moses basket with stand from ASDA for about £40 IIRC.

I went to doctors today to ask about a lump in my breast and I'm being referred for a breast ultrasound. Hoping it's just hormonal/pregnancy related but I don't really need the added anxiety at this time I've been quite weepy today and anxious. It feels like my sort of healthy anxiety about giving birth has been overtaken now by worrying about this lump

@Celebelly sorry to hear this. I'm sure it's just a hormonal thing but good that they are dealing with it so quickly. Fingers crossed you get the all clear soon

@AliceRR comes with a stand

I am getting a visit from the health visitor tomorrow morning. I got one with my first too. Mine sent me a few letters and rang and left me vms so seemed very keen to come.

This is my second and I didn’t BF with my first and he’s totally healthy. He’s 6 now and as some of you have said, when at school you cannot tell between the BF and FF. I didn’t BF last time because there wasn’t enough support, hospital wanted baby to feed and as I was struggling to get the hang of BD, they pushed me to just give him a bottle so they could discharge us. This time I want to try and BF for a couple or weeks at least. I’m going to speak to health visitor tomorrow, I’ve read it helps your body recover quicker and also lots of positives for baby, if I can’t though I’ll be happy to FF the same as last time.

My sister BF my nephew and still does now (he’s 2), I will deffo not be doing it for that long. She said once you have the hang of it it’s so much easier not having to worry about sterilising and making enough as your body learns to make what they need so will give it a go and hopefully I manage it for a couple of months. It does kinda gross me out the thought of us producing milk lol.

Did I see there is a fb page for this group? Will someone send me the link if so. X

@Celebelly - that must be such a worry, I'm sure it'll all be fine but best to get checked out to put your mind at ease.

My health visitor left it up to me whether I wanted an appointment or not, she said it was because it's my second. I said I didn't mind either way so she's coming next Friday. X

I will be EBF. I’m not comfortable with the idea of giving my newborn formula - it’s a personal decision. Personally, it’s best for me and for baby, plus I cannot be dealing with the faff of bottles and want to feed on demand.

For those who are first timers I really would encourage you to at least try, you may be surprised.

@celebelly hope you’re ok!

I weighed myself today too! I’ve put on 3 stone 😳😳😳😳 but it all comes off. I put on 5. FIVE! With DD but a lot was fluid. I don’t look like I’ve put on 3 stone... but I do have a very big bump 😂

@Surprisedmom thank you. I did that last time but totally forgot about it!

I breast fed for 18 months last time. The first four weeks were hard going but honestly the thought of getting up in the middle of the night to sort bottles out when a baby is screaming sounds much more stressful. Happy to answer any questions about it if that would be useful. I have a lot of friends who BF too.

I'll also be trying to bf this time. I'm just aware of how little support there is for people who choose or have to formula feed after not managing to bf last time. I beat myself up enough about it and didn't need other people to do that for me. It's a very personal choice and neither option is easy (for different reasons). There are many benefits to bf and your milk adjusts in composition to what your baby needs but it's simply not true to say that ff babies will have lots of health issues. There is some evidence to show that bf has protective qualities for the baby but sample sizes in this research tend to be small which mean small differences are magnified. I'll take my statistician/health analyst hat off now. Whatever choice you make in how you feed your baby you should feel supported in that (unless you choose to feed them vodka). That's important for your health, your partner's/family's health and your baby's health. I didn't appreciate until later how much my feelings about feeding affected dh, especially because dd wouldn't come near me if I tried to bf her so we'd both be crying.

Agree @avoidingmarking I did 15 months and although we had a tough start (baby in NICU tube fed etc) was fine within a week of establishing feeding. Can honestly say it was super straightforward from then on the usual things aside.

The FB page is secret so can't send a link, but if you PM me with the email address you have registered on FB and I can get you added :)

Health visitor just came out to talk to us about any concerns we might have, mentioned safe sleeping and talked about feeding and safety in the home.

Welcome @mummymummymummummum

@detachablehoof I didn't bf for long with dd and would like to for longer this time so I'm gonna be open to the idea of combination feeding, and just not put pressure on myself. I won't be having anymore so want to enjoy the newborn days as much as possible. After researching formula I've settled on HiPP organic milk, seems to have good reviews, and Mam bottles seem to be very popular. I just read up on those and divulged from there. Also, you can buy little starter kits of formula which are handy for hospital as the milk is already in a disposable bottle with sterile teat on ready to just use.

I'm going to Aldi in the morning to check out the Moses basket and other bits, I think I'll get one of those for downstairs.

@Celebelly I went to the breast clinic at around 18wks due to finding a lump. Mine turned out to be a hormonal cyst.

I was so nervous but was refered and appointment with in the week. Spent the whole day there. They where well versed with pregnant women and the consultant said that it is very very very common to get hormonal cysts lumps and bumps in pregnancy. So fingers crossed you will be worrying for nothing and all is fine

They wont mammogram you whilst you are pregnant. But they had a good feel and marked me with ink where they felt lumps. Then gave me an ultrasound. And a biopsy. Which is like a thick needle. And they numb you 1st.

Then couple hours waiting around then spoke to a nurse about my results.

Imagine be a simular proceedure for you. I had no idea what to exspect but felt confident they where through.

Good luck

@Notquiteagandt Thanks so much. That's really reassuring! Glad everything was OK with you x

We have a name! Not very original but we have named him after my dad Harry :) hope all you lovely ladies are doing well!

Im so happy with the support from my hospital regarding breast feeding. Iv been feeding him from me for 5/10 minutes and then topping him up with milk iv expressed using the hospitals Medela (what a great gadget)!

Congratulations @Babynum2 glad you've had support! Nothing wrong with traditional names!

Congratulations @babynum2 he’s beautiful and well done on the feeding! Enjoy!!

@Celebelly hope all is OK, I know it’s easy to say but right now it could be lots of innocuous things and getting really worried won’t change what it is. Maybe try to distract yourself somehow if at all possible?

I’ve been awake since 5ish. Spent ages trying to will myself back to sleep, but at least the sleep I got was pretty unbroken so don’t feel that bad. Midwife today, DH is coming to this one for the first time since the first so that’s nice. I dread to think how much I weigh now, bump seems huge. Think I’m approximately 90% ankle water 😂

@Babynum2 - he's gorgeous, love the name too! Lovely to see you're both doing OK.

My bump, just as the top, was really sore yesterday in just one place! Is baby elbowing me or something lol. Anyone else's little ones seem really high still? I'd expected I'd have 'dropped' by now but maybe it doesn't happen as soon when your second? (I'm 36+4) xx

Hello Harry 😍 he seems so alert way he is looking up at you. I bet your dad is honored to be his namesake.

Oh no sorry celebelly that's worrying and the last thing you need during pregnancy! It's good that it's being looked at though, fingers crossed it's all fine.

since2016 glad its not just me! Everyone else seems to have gained less than 2 stone! At least yours is way way less than with DD, mine is about the same as with DS I think, so I expect to have put on close to 3 by the time the baby is here. Although actually I guess it might be less as I don't think we put on loads in the final weeks, it's the baby who does. We shall see! I just hope it all comes off easily like last time, I've heard it's much harder with your second.

I don't think I look like I've put on 2.5 stone either, but maybe I do

@lookingforadvice123 I was SO swollen last time! My mum is adamant I don’t look like I’ve put on that much (and she’s pretty brutal) but I do look like I’m full term 😂 people keep asking me slightly worriedly how far I have to go... hoping BF helps get it off again. I’ll defintely be more careful about what I eat this time!

Congratulations @Babynum2, what a beautiful baby. He is so alert!

Thanks to all those who've shared their positive thoughts on FF. Very helpful.

My son has decided that he doesn't fancy going anywhere today (he's getting a cold I think) so I'm in for the day. Why on earth isn't there anyone who can bring me a sandwich (I've been up early) - I am massively hankering for a lovely bacon sandwich!! Send help!!! X

@detachablehoof - at the end of the day the choice is yours. I will defo be ff my lo and did with my son and absolutely no issues with him (he's a lovely strong boy). Ultimately, do what works for you and your family xx

@Lookingforadvice123 I've not even weighed myself as I know it will be awful!

I suffered from eating issues and 2 years ago vowed to never weigh myself again and I've been so much happier. Luckily my midwife weighs me and doesn't tell me the results, writes them in my notes and covers them for me! Sounds so silly but I love her for it.

I don't think my baby will be that much longer really. 34 weeks now and starting to feel quite drained and heavy like I did a couple of weeks before DD was born, all in the same pattern.