Aug 2021 - 2nd Trimester continues

[Alittlexmasmagic]

Hi everyone, another thread begins & things are getting real now 😄 x

Joining the insomnia club this evening 😒

Had the whooping cough vaccine today, felt fine earlier but have barely slept and have a temp of 38.3 ☹️ Took some paracetamol 20 mins ago so hope it kicks in soon. Anyone else have side effects after their jab?

On the plus side, we saw our beautiful girl today and she is still a girl! She’s perfect. Has a bit of a chubby tummy though apparently 😂

Had an absolutely awful sleep last night, don't think it helped it was still 10 degrees until god knows what time in the middle of the night and our cat was being so annoying. Had to shut her out so we could have the windows open but then she kept waking us up scratching at the door 😩😩

I also couldn't sleep last night. I'm usually a really good sleeper and can sleep for England, this is hormones right?

I mean at 3-4 months, supply is established, so physiologically in terms of BF it would not be harmful or upset anything.

The problems you would have might be:

You'll need to express every few hours for comfort otherwise you'll risk blocked ducts/an infection which can be nasty. That might take away from enjoying the weekend. You might also still be quite leaky and need loads of breast pads. If your friends have kids and have breastfed then this might be fine, if they all haven't then it could be embarrassing.

Not all babies will take a bottle and it doesn't seem to be based on whether they've had one previously or not - that's about the age some just decide they are rejecting it. Others are absolutely fine even if they've never had one before! It's unfortunately not something you can predict. I'd say it's more likely your baby will take a bottle than won't, but it's not a tiny minority who won't - probably 10-20% at a guess?

It can be hard to express enough for several feeds for a full day or more - you'd need to start a couple of weeks in advance which is veering into establishing milk supply territory. Or you could give formula for that day/weekend, but again that can be something people feel funny about doing.

Emotional impact ie just being away from the baby. It might feel too soon.

@PurplePansy05 thank you my darling ♥️♥️

@MrsB2019x lush news. Congratulations. Chubby babies are totally adorable haha 😛♥️ also joining you, @lucyrp and @LyraShaeLilly in the insomnia club. Sleep is a commodity at this point. I've got a hectic day today but can't wait for the long weekend just to sleeeeep!

Does anyone have 20 week scans next week? Mine is on 7th 😃x

I have a banging headache today. Work and builder nightmares continue which stresses me out, plus I'm physically not great atm. I'm still not really feeling him move, I don't know if he's rearranged himself? I'm trying to stay calm, 21 weeks today, I'm telling myself it's too early for a pattern but in my head I am so worried when he has quiet days! I'm struggling to concentrate because it's at the back of my head somewhere. I feel I've been pushing myself at every front in the last 2 weeks juggling too much whilst trying not to be stressed and I'm just tired.

John Lewis annoyed me beyond belief, my local store stopped doing nursery appointments in store full stop. Ffs. I'm not doing a 100 mile return trip to try out a pram! I'm so annoyed - hormones, sorry! So I booked us in with a local supplier, sod JL 😡 I was so looking forward to going there though!

On a better note, sale alert: this time Mamas & Papas if anyone is interested, all things baby happening now xx 💐

But I should add - the in store appointments in England are now available to book online with JL, so get in there girls 😘 xx

Cute scan @Whatshouldbemyusername, and another one next week - lucky lady!

Weirdly my sleep (although massively disturbed by on going shed robbery paranoia & baby bladder) seems to be recording better quality! And my heart rate variability ratio which is meant to be a measure of stress is really low. I’m getting a little anxious though that my temp has dropped right off (I know I shouldn’t even be looking!). 10 more days to next scan.

@biscuitcat, I’m sure some people have done it, and maybe you’d like the time out, but it’s hard to know how you’d feel this far out. I think a lot depends on the group and plans for the hen do. The ideal would be if you didn’t have to commit at this stage and could attend for as much/little as you felt like on the day, without putting any pressure on you or affecting the bride to be’s celebrations! (From a FTM but one who’s been to a lot of different hen do’s!)

Aww @PurplePansy05, sorry you’re not feeling good - definitely make the most of the 4 day weekend and have a rest. I was really headachy in my last week at work, definitely think it was baby’s way of trying to tell me to slow down.

Thanks @HopefulB I think you're right, I'm trying to do too much on restricted energy levels.

Question, would any of you be able to make a suggestion re clothes needed for when the little ones are born? I know we've already started talking about it earlier, but I'm more do thinking along the lines of a reasonable bullet point list, for example:

• short sleeve bodysuits x?
• long sleeve bodysuits x?
• sleepsuits (and do they need to be long sleeves and full legs) x?
• hats x?
• socks x?
• mittens x?
• cardigans x?
• joggers x?
• muslin cloths x?
• bibs x? (are any needed at the beginning?)
• blankets x? (and cotton only?)

(I am not including any cute sets or smarter/occasion clothes in this which may be gifted/each one of us will pick as they wish - the above is basics only)

In my head he will only need the above for the first 3 months till the end of October or so, someone please give me a head wobble if my thinking isn't right???

But I don't know how much to buy of each and also how to split between Newborn, 0-1months and 0-3 months?

Any tips will be super welcome! I'm planning to buy for the 3-6 stage and later after he's born so will leave this aside for now, and they will be winter clothes anyway, so again a different cup of tea! xx

Obvs no personal experience, so interested in response to @PurplePansy05 question.

I’ve been looking at:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/what-you-will-need-for-your-baby/

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thebump.com/a/checklist-baby-essentials/amp

www.bounty.com/pregnancy-and-birth/baby-essentials

Yes that NHS website is helpful @HopefulB. I guess I am asking in more detail (eg re sleeve lenghts, legs coverage etc) and for a slightly longer period than literally the very first weeks, based on everyone's prior practical experience or considerations as FTMs. I'm sure we all have or will have some thoughts on this. I don't want to overspend or end up not having enough because DS has vomited/pooped through everything I bought, or for example he's too cold or too hot! xx

with things needed for baby it depends on how much washing you want to do!
I had a December baby last time and she lived in long or short sleeved vests under long sleeve footed onesies. I think we had about 10 vests and 15 babygros by time time we'd been given some once she was born and my mum went mad in jojo maman buying pink stuff.
Ours was in newborn size until 4-6 weeks so it was worth buying for us (she was 6lb 10 at birth and breech so very scrunched up). we did buy the same amount in 0-3 months as well which she was in until she was closer to 5 months but she's petite. depends how big your baby is! They can always wear bigger clothes but you wouldn't want to squish them into small clothes.

I would say:
Short sleeve bodysuits = 10-15 (bought in packs of 5-7 usually?!). given that its summer and they will probably be living in those. I was getting through 2 at least per day.
footed long sleeve onesies - 10 (could wear on their own if it's not a heat wave)
hats x 3 ( cotton ones - will need one for hospital that gets mucky straight after birth)
socks = I never bothered as she was always in footed pjs but I ahve a pack of 5 newborn ones.
Mittens - we never bothered or had any but her sleepsuits and long sleeve vests had turnover mittens on the sleeves which we used. Mittens just fall off
Cardigans - x 3 for going out in pram
joggers - 4 pairs we didn't use leggings until she was 4-6 weeks old but she lived in them after that
Muslin cloths - as many as you can get your hands on no such thing as too many!
bibs - we didnt use these until the teething drooling started at about 4 months.
blankets - 2 celluar ones for layering up.

Would also add to your list that I see as "essential":
muslin swaddles x2
night time swaddle/sleeping bag - we used these from birth as soon as we got home from the hospital.

I'm also going to throw these in the mix. They aren't a necessary at all but I found them helpful, especially when nappy changes and night feeds were so frequent. Poppers aren't a huge problem but it's one less thing to worry about in a sleep deprived state.

I found this at John Lewis & Partners. What do you think?  https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-baby-organic-cotton-bunny-bundler-white-0-3-months/p1713650?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&sshare=jlappioss_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

@Alittlexmasmagic yes i've heard the nighties are great - we never used them with our first.

A lot of people say make sure you buy onesies with zips rather than poppers but honestly I never found the popper ones difficult. After the 20th night change I could do them with my eyes closed! Also the zippered ones are so much more expensive and not really worth it in my opinion.

That's super helpful @wimbler, exactly what I needed as a good point of reference, thank you! 💐

@Alittlexmasmagic I didn't know such things existed!! 😳 Wow.

Now, question about going out and sleeping: blankets. I assume those for taking the baby out in a carrycot are not the same that the baby will be using for overnight sleeps?

What sort of blankets in your experience will be best for overnight sleep and for the carrycot? Is it worth getting some warm fleece ones for going out say in Sep/Oct?

I think I will end up having him in footed cotton pjs overnight, unless we have a total heatwave. So for overnight I had cotton blankets in mind - good/bad idea?

Also things like comforters and buggy suits for going out. I see them everywhere. Do you find they are actually useful?

I thought I'm not going to buy him any shoes until he actually stands up on his own two feet and starts walking. Am I being a cheapskate/unrealistic here?

I'm also baffled about whether a summer baby needs sun protection, like an SPF cream before going out? xx

Hands down think these are the best thing since sliced bread for UK weather & car seats.
morrck.com/
Easy to cover without waking baby. Can't fall off and get caught in pram wheels. Love it!x

To answer your other questions @PurplePansy05

As an ex-Clark's fitter I concur that shoes aren't necessary until walking is established. The more contact baby's feet have with the floor the better. You might find that they want to put their feet down and wet weather makes it not ideal, in which case you can get soft soles shoes which are ideal. We had some Bobux leather slippers which were brilliant.

Realistically our babies won't see strong sunshine until they're 6 months old, when they might be a bit more mobile. At this point you'll better be able to judge whether suncream is needed or a good coverall.

I had a pramsuit for most age ranges. They're good if baby will be in a carrier or in a bassinet. Wriggly babies can't wriggle out of them.

I used sleeping bags with DS with bundlers so easy to tailor temperature to night coverage needed. That doesn't make blankets a bad idea at all but I can't advise on them, sorry x

@PurplePansy05 you're so organised!!

Yep, @Daffodil21, always am. You can probably guess who normally sorts out the entire household, DH is a lot more...not sure what the right word is, he's very laid back aka horizontal so I have a lot to sort out usually and being organised is the only way to go.

I'm taking notes here @Alittlexmasmagic, thank you 😘 Yes totally forgot about sleeping bags, thank you for reminding me - all of my friends unanimously said they're much better. I think it's also part of SIDS advice now as they can't wriggle out of them and suffocate easily.

Various websites say 4 cot mattress covers needed from early on - isn't this a tad excessive? xx

@PurplePansy05an just unzip when you are inside or if it gets hot. my winter baby lived in them when we went out but we should need one until the weather gets much colder - useless for a summer baby so i would wait until the weather turns to buy one as you don't know what size they will need. They shouldn't be worn in the car seat though as they can prevent the straps from being adequately tight and the baby can easily overheat. Same goes for coats when they are older.

We had a snooze shade which are amazing and definitely an essential for summer and for naps out in the pram. They're UV protective and allow for ventilation whilst keeping the pram dark to help promote sleeping.

oh not sure what happened there! it deleted the first bit of my post! I was basically saying that a celluar blanket pretty much covered all our blanket needs. they're really breathable but warm as they trap the air. You can layer them to make it warmer too. We used them in the pram, car seat and at night when it was cold. At night ours slept in a swaddle style sleeping bag from birth so we only used a blanket when it was cold.

A pram suit is great which is where I got up to!

I've just noticed that my bump feels quite hard - is this normal??

Sorry for panic! Just got out of the shower and noticed it! But a quick good days it's normal - should have just done that in the first place!!

*google