Still blooming and getting bigger

[littleoldme]

Decided we were getting to full. Hope this works.

Hi all - it's too nice a day to clean!!!! well, that's my excuse We're going to set the paddling pool up for DS and just have a slobby day. DH has just gone to the shop to get stuff to make moroccan lamb tagine he saw on Saturday Kitchen (sounds yummy) so hopefully I'll have an even more relaxed day than I thought! bargain!

Loopy - hope you have a fab time in Cornwall & that the weather holds for you.

Zoke - FWIW the mates I have who didn't BF seem to have suffered as much (if not more) with pain from engorgement than those of us with sore nips did. Do you get your contact lenses from the opticians BTW? I am v shortsighted too & wear dailies (but spex for emergencies like the middle of the night) You can get lenses that you wear for a month constantly then chuck (couldn't get on with them myself) but they may be an option for you if you didn't want spex

RGPargy - Blimey it really brings it closer when you say how many weeks left at work you have! I'm self employed (from home) but haven't done much since DS so my only count down is when I can apply for mat benfit!!

I've bought a Pram today!!! Icandy apple - it seems to be the only one that is built for tall people. I'm 5ft 11 and Dh is 6ft 4.

And we got a car seat, cot and mattress. Along with a new chest of drawers (which took 2hours to build) the nursery now looks like a proper baby's bedroom

DSD helped put all the baby things in the drawers and helped to choose the stuff we bought. She seems very excited at the prospect of a little half sister (helped take her mind off the cat I think). Needless to say DSS couldn't give a monkeys about any of it but then again he is nearly 13

awww bless, silkcushion, that's great! Good to know that DSD is getting excited. That's a comfort at least. Dont worry about DSS, like you say - he's 13 and it wont be cool at all to be excited about his baby sister!!

lovely sikly, starting to get real now isn't it

pixiefish, I have a copy of the CD you can e-mail me your address to [email protected].

Silky - you sound like you've had a fun weekend. I feel like we're missing our on all that as this will be our second and we have all that stuff already, but we do have to get a bed for our DD so that the baby can have the cot!

ZoKe - I'm a big advocate of bf; bf my dd until she was 14 months. I wouldn't say I loved every minute of it but once I'd got through the first week or so it definitely got easier, and I'm just too intrinsically lazy to faff with bottles! I went to a class beforehand, and our maternity hsopital has a support group too. Good luck with it, and remember you'll find loads of support on MN.

I took my mum and sister to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang last night. It was fantastic and little one was jumping around throughout all the big numbers. It's one of my favourite films and the stage version didn't disappoint. When we were directed to our seats the usher also showed me where the nearest toilets were 'you'll probably need them'! It was the first time in ages I felt a bit glam, I wore a black dress I bought in Blooming Marvellous last time around which fits so nicely. So different from my daily 'looking after toddler' clothes!

I have a problem with my internet, and every message I have tried to post here has caused my Internet to crash
I have brought my cot (from eBay) and have lots of bargains too from Boots.com, they currently have 20% off all baby items, so got an electric breast pump for £22 and a pack of 6 bottles for £8 (though I don't plan to bottlefeed, but sometimes DH likes to do a feed)

Hello all. we are back from a very sunny weekend visiting freinds in London. It was hot. Thank goodness for magicool eh.

Sounds like everyone is accumulating lots of baby stuff. My mum is bringing lots of clothes up from form sister's house as she already has a DS and is expecting another - people have given loads of stuff so she's decided to share with me.

Zoke - thanks for the SPD link. I'm still waiting for my 'emergency' physio appt. I'm going to ring the hosp this pm and be assertive.

Silk - nursery ready already - now that is organised.

Purple- hope your tagine was tasty. It's one of my faves. How ever much you make there's never any leftovers.

hia Sparkly- have had a look and can't find the electric breast pump for £22 in Boots. do you have a link? The only one I can find for that price is the manual one

Hi all.

How was yesterday's weather for everyone?

I am obviously assuming it was scorching for everyone else too! After 2 cold baths and putting my feet up all evening, I STILL feel hot! (and today is cooler - so far).

How do you cope with hot weather? Any tips?

Hi all

Easywriter - weather here was indeed scorchio. I must admit I was worse on Sat than yesterday. I felt quite ill by the evening. I keep waking up boiluinig as well which is a PITA. sticking my feet into cool water seemed to help though.

Pixiefish - I've got a manual Whittlestone (Boots) breast pump you can have for P&P if you want.I didn't get on with it as I got it whilst away when I'd forgotten to pack my medela (which the best as far as I'm concerned)

Littleoldme - the tagine was delicious! I'm really lucky as DH enjoys cooking. Going to get him to make a load so I can freeze it for after LO arrives.

Sparkly - Well done on your e-bay bargains! I had an internet problem too recently. I put it down to everyone being on broadband and it overloading. Hope yours sorts itself out soon too - soo annoying isn't it.

Jetgirl - Sound like a fab night. It really gives you a boost to glam up doesn't it I love the confidence that comes with just knowing I'm not covered in snot smears & food
)
Silkcushion - blimey you are organised!! (and tall!) - I thought it was only us shorties that had a problem with pram height. glad you found one that fits.

off to get some washing out - apparently it's going to pour with rain later
have a good one all x

Thanks purplepants- i have an avent breastpump (actually have 2 of them lol as the valve has gone in one) so am ok on the manual ones, just thought if I could get an electric one for £22 I'd go for it. Thanks for tyour very kind offer though xx

Oh and for those of you with scorching weather. Tis crapola here- rain, wind, cold. You'd think it was wintyer rather than August

Zoke - thanks so much for the link - off to read it now and have just made a GP appt to see if he'll refer me to a physio - not waiting around for my midwife! Hope your appt comes soon littleoldme - so much for 'emergency' appt eh?

I feel all behind - everyone's getting baby stuff and DH is still painting the spare room to move dd into it! Mind you, a lovely friend just gave us a heap of boys babygros and stuff - she is a star! She also gave us a baby heart listener monitor thingy but I couldn't find the heartbeat last night Lots of kicks though Anyone else any experience of these contraptions that strap round your belly?

Bearus - it sounds a bit like the ones you get monitored with in hospital - I can remember being monitored to make sure the baby was moving enough & they had to faff around for ages to keep the thing near his heart as he kept wriggling!!

BTW if anyone else fancies having a free manual breastpump (just P&P)then let me know. The reason I didn't get on with it was that DS was a very strong sucker (1/2 pint in 30 seconds!!) & I think my boobs got used to the force ( I had to have my medela on full suction or it wouldn't work) so I didn't have much success with it. It may work if you use it from the start though.

no sign of the rain yet - wall to wall blue sky still more washing to go out......

theres clouds looming here tho....

can anyone give me a bit of advice on the weeks following the birth? optimistic first timer here who is thinking nothing of travelling from london to dorset 2 weeks after due date for a weekend in a hotel, because of a good friends wedding... I think, how bad can it be? but theres apparently a 2nd time mum who has pulled out based on being due a month before the wedding. im wondering if she knows something i dont!!

and I dont want the bride to book one of the prime hotel rooms for us where the reception is being held in case i end up crying off and it couldve gone to someone else so i kinda need ot make up my mind at this point without prior experience.

so could already-mums tell me if im being loopy or if its reasonable to expect to be up to such a mission 1 to 3 weeks after birth? will have partner with me, and am planning to BF too..

ta lovelies!
revelx

Hmmm personally revel, i wouldn't risk it. You'll still be getting into a routine (if at all!) and you'll be tired as hell. But then saying that, i'm just a coward!!

On the same kind of thing, i've been asked to DJ at about Christmas time, which will be about 3-4 weeks after LO is due and although i said yes at first (this was yesterday), i think i'm going to say no now i think the trip up to Barnsley from Kent will be too much, plus leaving baby so soon wouldn't be on really, unless we get a hotel and DP stays behind to look after baby, but that wouldn't be any fun for either of us coz i'll be in a club on my own and he'd be stuck in a hotel on his own! A big fat NO is the answer for me!

It's up to you tho revel, but really i am expecting nothing more than to be a bleary-eyed wreck for the first couple of months at least! I have a DS who's 17 so i'm not strictly a first timer, but it's been a while since i was with a newborn.....

revel - I'd be inclined to say no too (what if you go over your dates - it could be only days after you deliver?) I felt like superwoman for the first week or so after the birth but then the lack of sleep kicked in and I was like a zombie for the next few months (but then I am probably a lot older than you and can't do late nights/alcohol anyway now ) Sorry hon but you did ask

[www.acpwh.org.uk/docs/ACPWH-PGP_Pat.pdf]]Bearus I found this info really helpful. Also there's lots of good stuff on the pelvic partnership website. A word of advice thuogh: I stopped doing too much research on line as I found lots of scary stories I'd rather not have read.

Your Mw sounds V unhelpful. According to Mw freind it is ok to co-codamol. My MW also suggested Cura Heat patches. They apply constant heat to sore areas and are v soothing. Boots sell them.

I've been chasing my TWO urgent referrals all day. The hosp haven't seen them, my MW is on hols and the obsetric physio people have so far failed to call me back. I'm sore, frustrated and very, very upset.

Revelyell -It's a tricky one isn't it because you don't know how you are going to feel, how Bf is going to go and all that stuff.

Sorry Bearus. That was supposed to be falshy link but it didn't quite work.

That of course should have been flashy!!! Must proofread

Pixie, the breast pump was on special in store, was reduced to £27, and then another 20% off. If you can't find one in a nearby store then I could pick up one for you

Thanks for the offer sparkly. I'll go have a look at the nearest boots

Hi all. Yup, lovely blue skies here too - though have resorted to working on laptop in just a big t-shirt as soooo hot !

Have had a v productive couple of days - yesterday got moses basket (with cuuuute cream broderie anglaise dressings !) and rocking stand, some toys and teethers, baby sling, safety gates, cot/bed sheets and travel blinds and today, lots of practical things like nappies, wipes, nappy cream, room/bath thermometer, pads, breast pads and cream and some more baby clothes...phew !!
BIG THANKS to sparklygothkat for the 20% off at Boots info, 'coz saved a bundle !
Som am pretty much done now - even packed hospital bag, in case have to transfer from home when the time comes ! Roll on 3 months time....

RG - how did the weekend go - get everything done you wanted to ? Had great time with family (tho' didn't mention HB just yet ! Am coward !) and they're re-decorating and have been clearing out loft (e.g., passing my old things to us for our loft !), so spent an interesting and faintly embarrassing couple of hours re-reading my teen diaries....!!
Managed to avoid gardening - too hot !

purplepants - hope you had a good weekend. Yes, contact lenses are from opticians, but can't have disposables simply 'coz eyes are v bad (both -10.5 and astigmatic, so bad I qualify for free eye exams and money off spex !), but thanks for your suggestion. Have bought some really funky purply metallic framed ones (purse sooo empty after the past couple of days !), which hide the lens thickness pretty well, so am hoping will get on OK.

jetgirl - thanks for the BF support - have a hunch am going to be needing it ! Chitty sounds like a great night, btw !

littleoldme and bearus - no worries - how are you getting on with appts now ? Sounds like you've had a horrid day trying to sort it littleoldme.

revelyell - as a first-timer, I'm in no position to offer advice, but if it helps, went to a wedding recently and a guest had taken along her 6 week old baby. (I take on board that 6 weeks may be v different to 2 !) They were both fine (had lots of help on hand) and as ceremony was at 3pm and then celebrations ran straight on from that, they stayed for the meal and a bit of the reception and stayed in the hotel where it was held too. Didn't hear a peep out of baby Jocelyn, except when we all gave 3 cheers during the photos !
(I wouldn't be brave enough myself - Xmas is 6 weeks after due date and am simply ordering food & everything online and then family are coming over to prep, cook etc so we can stay at home !!)

Quick question - we've made the decision to use disposable nappies, but is one of those Tommy Tippee nappy wrapper thingies that comes with two stages of cassettes a vital thing, or will we be OK with scented nappy sacks and a lidded nappy pail that you'd usually soak terry nappies in, please ? Not a big trip to empty pail into outside bin - just wondering about practicality indoors and smells ....! Ta.