August 2021 - Heading into the second trimester

[BertieBotts]

Old thread was about to fill up again

I will try to get to the car seat/pram Qs in a bit...

@wimbler - EDD 29 July, having a surprise! 💛
@Champson - EDD 22 August (but really June/July), TBC 💛💛💛
@Jessicapebbles - EDD 5 August (but having C-section at 39 weeks, so really July) 💛
@smurf123 - EDD 5 August (but likely to be July) 💛
@WhatEvenIsSleep EDD 2 August, TBC 💛
@Smushty14 - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Rattyclife - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Biscuitcat - EDD 10 August, having a surprise! 💛
@runnergirl123 - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@PurplePansy05 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@BananaHammock23 - EDD 13 August, surprise 💛
@MrsB2019x - EDD 13 August, TBC 💛
@Magik01 - EDD 13 August, TBC 💛
@Carefree1 - EDD 15 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@DressyGerbera - EDD 15 August, surprise 💛
@lucyrp - EDD 16 August, undecided 💛
@BertieBotts - EDD 16 August, want to know! 💛
@Whatshouldbemyusername - EDD 16 August, TBC 💛
@WolfMother326 - EDD 17 August, surprise 💛
@Smallbean27 - EDD 19 August, surprise 💛
@WatermelonKisses - EDD 20 August, surprise 💛
@alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@Millymay13 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Notinthestarsigns - EDD 23 August, TBC 💛
@northernsquirrel- EDD 31 August, surprise 💛

Wow I've missed out on so much chat! Hope you're all doing ok. I feel so much brighter after the announcement. It's a shame it's just that little bit too late to get a foreign holiday in before the baby is due!

Re bras - I have a couple of M&S nursing bras and I've gone up from a 36DD to a 38E. They're sooo comfy, especially as my boobs have been agony lately!

The maternity pay stuff makes me so anxious. I'm self-employed so will only get stat mat pay which won't cover our mortgage/bills. My partner lost her job in Feb 2020 and her industry won't be back on track until June 😬 just got to hope it all works out. I've got some savings (for tax!) that I'll have to break into if necessary and beg HMRC not to sue me! I'm thinking I'll probably be able to take 6 weeks off if DP doesn't sort out work, then she can have the baby. That means I'll lose out on breastfeeding which I was hoping to do, but needs must!

@Whatshouldbemyusername we have the uppababy vista and love it. It's easy to use and I love the way it looks. the basket is HUGE - i can fit a big shop in there! We went to john lewis and did the nursery appointment service with our first and played with lots of prams. I was convinced I would want the fox but it was a bit tricky to fold but I think that's because it was very new at the time and the sales lady didn't really know how it worked. our age gap will be 2yrs & 7 months and I wasn't sure if we would use it as a double but having been out with a friend who has two kids and the eldest is that age, I see a double will be vital!

@wimbler thank you so much! That’s great. I am leaning towards the uppababy however I read reviews that when baby 2 is born it means bassinet goes at the bottom toddler goes at the top and then it can become abit wobbly. Do you think that will be an issue?

Also how long can you use it for? X

@Whatshouldbemyusername I think that's a common thing with most tandem buggies though, unfortunately you lose the storage but I think with some you can buy an extra large bag to attach either off the handle or to the side xx

I have a pregnancy vitamins question! I still have loads of folic acid left can I keep taking? I'm still taking Vit D but is there anything else I should be taking?

I should have said tandem meaning carrycot +stroller combo. I also read quite a few reviews that those that still have storage left at the bottom become difficult to access anyway because of the carrycot, or thr bag drops and drags on the floor as you walk as the weight spreads differently, so just something to consider (I've had the same thoughts as you @Whatshouldbemyusername) xx

@BananaHammock23 welcome back - glad the announcement went well :)

Your maternity leave situation sounds so stressful, I'm sorry you have to deal with that. I am also in a situation where I can only get either SMP or MA, depending on if I start another contract between now and baby arriving. Been saving and DH's job is ok, but it's a bit nervewracking in the current economy to be taking time off without having another job lined up. I hope you're able to stay home as long as possible, but good that your partner can be with the baby in the worst case scenario! Have you thought about pumping to continue BF? Is your job something you could do WFH for a while?

@PurplePansy05 so much to consider isn’t it?x

Ok now going to car seats I like the cybex Sirona i-size and the joie 360 spin group 0+/1. I was looking to get a car seat that I can use from birth to atleast 3 years and these two so far look great.

Does anyone have any experience using either of the two and any preferences?x

Not the Sirona from birth. The inserts are not reclined enough in it IMO.

Joie spin 360 is brilliant, I have that one, although I've only put another person's newborn in it, not mine. I'm considering upgrading DS2 to a Britax Advansafix when the baby is born so that I can use it for the newborn period instead of our Cybex Aton, which I felt gave a poor neck position.

Review/article of the spin seats is nearly done, just doing some finishing touches :)

[quote Whatshouldbemyusername]@wimbler thank you so much! That’s great. I am leaning towards the uppababy however I read reviews that when baby 2 is born it means bassinet goes at the bottom toddler goes at the top and then it can become abit wobbly. Do you think that will be an issue?

Also how long can you use it for? X[/quote]
not sure as I haven't used it as a double but it's a sturdy bit of kit. I'd probably be wary of overloading the handlebars in case it tipped over but that's the case with any pram.

My daughter is 26 months and she's in no danger of outgrowing it. The hood slides up and down as they get taller too. We used the bassinet with her until she was about 5 months old I think. She could have stayed in it longer but she was nosy and liked sitting in the toddler seat.

The sample of Mixed Up is out - that's the book about combination feeding that I want to get when it comes out. The author has put a link on her page. You can read the introduction and chapter titles.

drive.google.com/file/d/1SqWkKiOUhZSpMITJsNkvVaZ3uGK4eQRr/view?fbclid=IwAR01eoV2rSIIMgLcbeTeM6iNz0Y7p6_PjJHbXQ6XilqApgFYvxeQNX72RWg

@PurplePansy05

I should have said tandem meaning carrycot +stroller combo. I also read quite a few reviews that those that still have storage left at the bottom become difficult to access anyway because of the carrycot, or thr bag drops and drags on the floor as you walk as the weight spreads differently, so just something to consider (I've had the same thoughts as you *@Whatshouldbemyusername*) xx

I don't think this would be the case with the vista. This website shows the config you would use and the basket is still easily accessible. sorry-about-the-mess.co.uk/uppababy-vista-double-newborn-toddler/ The footrest on the toddler seat folds up and down too so you can move it to access anything if it's in the way. I've never had an issue with the basket dragging on the floor and I've really pushed it to it's limits. Think a big shop with bottles of wine water, washing powder etc. Pushing it home was hard work but it holds up really well. The basket is so roomy I never really need to hang anything off the handle. Shops should be open in plenty of time to look at them in person though!

When did your sickness stop, I'm 13 + 5 and is still raging.

Never been this bad at work before, cant have an ice lolly or my apple juice ice cubes I don't fancy any of the food I had with me, I may just need to buy something carby from canteen!!!

Also not sure if this screen shot from a journalist I follow on IG is any use to you all, states that currently there is no change to third trimester advice in any stage of lockdown easing.

@BertieBotts Thanks so much for that! I'm definitely interested in combi feeding this time round. BFing went smoothly with my first but she started refusing a bottle after we got lazy offering it to her. Meant I couldn't be away from her for more than 4 hours until she was 7 months old. We realised my breastmilk didn't store well (high lipase). Tried with formula and she accepted almost straight away at 7 months. Not sure I'll bother with the faff of pumping this time

Anyone looked at Jane Groowy & nest?
Hideously expensive - but does look like you may be able to get away with one car seat?

@HopefulB

Anyone looked at Jane Groowy & nest? Hideously expensive - but does look like you may be able to get away with one car seat?

looks a little gimmicky to me - it's essentially two car seats by my intepretation. Not sure what the benefit of stacking two car seats used at different stages would be. Perhaps I am interpreting it wrong though from the video. I'd say you'd be better with a base that can be used for two stages of seat. Joie do one that is suitable from birth to 12 for £200 although you can't clip it onto the buggy and it doesn't spin but if that's not a problem it looks like a great option.

That Jané is a new one for me - I'll have to read up about it :)

Two stacking seats isn't a new concept, Klippan have had one like that for a number of years and Recaro. I am writing about the Recaro one in my blog post so you can have a look.

Actually that's completely right @wimbler, I've got an image of Vista in my head confused with a different tandem. You retain some of the basket in Vista from what I can see, and itsa big one to begin with, isn't it. That's a bonus! Is there a way of having the carrycot on top though with a stroller lower down, does anyone know? xx

@PurplePansy05 I found this article that helps answer those questions x

www.littlebabygear.com/best-stroller-growing-family/

@Whatshouldbemyusername the only thing that puts me off Vista is that you can't see the baby in the carrycot well if the stroller seat is above it and I couldn't find an option of putting them other way round. That's just me being picky though, it's a banging buggy, let's be honest, the reviews say it all.

I am also looking at iCandy Orange now, any experience, anyone? xx

Thanks @BertieBotts, I’m so excited
For your blog! Is the Recaro the zero elite? I think I looked at that too

The benefit of stacking them is usually that you can have a more lightweight infant carrier because it doesn't need as much strength built into it - it takes the strength from the shell of the bigger seat.

Wow it's pricey though! The infant portion also only lasts until 65cm. They reckon that's 10 months - yes if your child is on the 0.4th centile (ie, incredibly small for their age!) It would be outgrown by the majority of children somewhere between 3-6 months old, which is very, very short lived for an infant carrier.

Other than that it looks OK, but I am never really a fan of those all stages in one seats.

Yes Recaro Zero.1 elite or Salia elite. I would probably get it finished if I didn't have a toddler running around demanding things and trying to eat marbles :o

@PurplePansy05 that’s my concern too. I didn’t know about the icandy orange. I’ve just looked at it. That looks good too! Will watch some YouTube videos on this later this evening as a “wind down” from work. X

I have over 30 baby related tabs open on my iPhone from everything to my body to the baby essential purchases. Even when reading other stuff all the ads are now baby related. Same on YouTube. Obsessed much?!🤣🤣🤣