Aug 2021 - half way there!

[HopefulB]

@wimbler - EDD 29 July, surprise 💛
@Champson - EDD 22 August (but really June/July), TBC 💖💖💖
@coffeeandrainbows1- EDD 4 August (but most likely July), Boy 💙
@Jessicapebbles - EDD 5 August (but having C-section at 39 weeks, so really July), Girl 💖
@Smurf123 - EDD 5 August (but likely to be July) 💛
@WhatEvenIsSleep - EDD 2 August, Boy 💙
@Smushty14 - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Rattyclife - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Dia12 - EDD 8 August, Girl 💖
@Biscuitcat - EDD 10 August, surprise 💛
@ElonaWise - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@Runnergirl123 - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@PurplePansy05 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@Srtdr - EDD 12 August, surprise 💛
@Daffodil21 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@Inmypjsagain - EDD ???, Boy 💙
@BananaHammock23 - EDD 13 August, surprise 💛
@MrsB2019x - EDD 13 August, Girl 💖
@Magik01 - EDD 13 August, Boy 💙
@Carefree1 - EDD 15 August, Girl 💖
@DressyGerbera - EDD 15 August, surprise 💛
@lucyrp - EDD 16 August, undecided 💛
@BertieBotts - EDD 16 August, want to know! 💛
@WolfMother326 - EDD 17 August, surprise 💛
@Caz1226 - EDD 17 August, Boy 💙
@Lille4 - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@Redskinsucks - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@RockyRockyRoad - EDD 18 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@Smallbean27 - EDD 19 August, surprise 💛
@WatermelonKisses - EDD 20 August, surprise 💛
@Alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@Millymay13 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Whatshouldbemyusername - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@LottSE20 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Notinthestarsigns - EDD 23 August, TBC 💛
@LaceyMermaid - EDD 24 August, TBC 💛
@Fran919 - EDD 25 August, surprise 💛
@northernsquirrel - EDD 26 August, surprise 💛
@LyraShaeLilly - EDD 27 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, TBC 💛
@diamante11 - EDD 29 August, Girl 💖
@HopefulB - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛
@CountryGirl84 - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛

Oh let us know how you get on. I'm tempted to try popping out to the shops again tomorrow. It wasn't as chaotic as I was expecting.

I've heard really good things about the Egg but I don't think it is sold in Germany so I haven't seen one IRL.

I've ordered myself a maternity/babywearing sweater. Determined to get some mileage out of the sling this winter! I didn't use it much last time as it was too cold. I have only got a maternity raincoat, but thinking I can layer it up.

Had anyone else looked at/have experience of the cybex Eezy s twist 2 + (what a name!!)

Looks like it may tick all of my boxes, but I don’t think the store I have an appt with has it in stock, so may have to book a JL appt. too!

It's flimsier than it looks. It's a really nice idea and the spin feature is really fun, but I don't think it would be good as a main buggy in practice. The seat is also absolutely miniscule! My 2yo wouldn't fit in it I don't think.

OK actually, maybe retract that - I don't think the one I have experience of is the 2+

I really trust this channel for their reviews and experience, have a look what they say about it :) They don't sell pushchairs so aren't sales motivated like a lot of others.

Oh no that isn't right either :o

God I hate Cybex and their millions of models with almost identical names. Just give your products distinctive names!!

That's not the 2, it's the original Eezy S Twist. I really wanted to like it. Love the idea but I think in reality it would only work up to about 18 months, which kind of defeats the point of most of it. With a shallow seat (as he explains) what you find is that their bum slips forwards all the time and it feels like they're just hanging on the crotch strap which looks so uncomfortable to me.

Also because the seat is small, it's not very cocoony for newborns and I think you'll find over that first winter it won't seem protective/warm enough.

If you like the parent/world facing option in a smaller buggy I would look at Cybex Balios S Lux.

The Maxi Cosi pushchairs are also very much worth looking at in this sector. I really like them - I think they are my favourite over the Cybex models actually.

@Magik01 @PurplePansy05 yeah i don't think I'll accrue hol while on maternity leave because my contract will come to an end next month, so I'll technically be unemployed through maternity leave 😱

@Dia12 we watched this one: and this one:

We took the plunge yesterday and ordered carrycot/push chair, car seat, mattress, the 'cat proof' crib for downstairs, a video monitor and a few other bits. We actually watched the videos AFTER we ordered 😂

Good morning ladies,

How are we all doing?xxx

I've been MIA again. Sooo much been happening. I moved homes end of last month - starting a new job tomorrow (departmental transfer within civil service) and - this week my partner and I ELOPED to gibraltar and now I'm a married woman 👰🏽‍♀️❤️. We wanted to do it here but coz of covid there's been such a backlog so earliest would have been sept/Oct and with baby being due in August we wanted to do it before baby comes. We will do a reception next year with friends and family. All the same the wedding was sooo romantic, personal and intimate. Sooo many good things happening. My heart is full of gratitude ♥️

No personal experience but FWIW the Egg looks really nice IRL! I saw someone strolling with it last weekend, it was a blue-ish colour, very nice on the eye (I know that's a completely impractical comment, but it caught my eye 🤣) xx

Wow @Whatshouldbemyusername - massive congratulations!!!!!!

Amazing @Whatshouldbemyusername!! Congratulations!! You must be over the moon 🥰 I love happy news like that

All the pushchair talk is making me so jealous - I know we're very lucky to have been given a second hand one in good nick, but it's making me realise that a lot of the reason I'm a little bit disappointed is that I really wanted to buy it myself and have all the fun of choosing! I'm hoping I won't mind so much when baby arrives (or that I make a fun but not sensible decision to just get one anyway...)

@Magik01 it's so natural to be conflicted about something so new like the vaccine. One of the things pushed me towards having it while pregnant is a read a couple of studies which showed that babies born to mothers who got the vaccine in pregnancy had antibodies themselves - but then babies are hardly affected anyway, so while for me it was a big factor, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be for everyone. It reminds me of what Emily Oster says in her book, where we all make different decisions with the same information based on other things in our lives, so having lots of info is good but it's still totally fine for people to come to different conclusions

Aw massive congratulations @Whatshouldbemyusername, sounds absolutely romantic and idyllic.....wishing you an amazing marriage x

Thanks for sharing the videos @Daffodil21, really useful. Well done on your baby haul, sounds like you got the bulk of the items out of the way.
Be prepared for the gazillion cardboard boxes to recycle!

Which reminds me, I need to nag DH into clearing out some junk today. He keeps promising to do it but never gets around to it and I'm beginning to panic.

Hi ladies - wondering if I can join your group, even though we are halfway there or more already? I'm 19+4, due 8th September but will have an c section late August. I've already got two little girls, 6 and almost 4, and I've put off joining a group this time because of two early miscarriages and then a 13 week miscarriage last summer. Fingers crossed this time all is going well x

Wonderful news @Whatshouldbemyusername x

Welcome @SK28 there are many of us here who can relate. 🤞 everything goes well for you x

@Whatshouldbemyusername Congratulations! That sounds amazing. I wish my partner was as willing as yours to do something like that. We're not married and I don't think he would even consider a civil partnership. It does make me upset sometimes especially with a baby coming as I'm giving her my name rather than his as I refuse to be the only person with a different name.

@biscuitcat I'm getting all second hand things too and thought I was OK with it. But it does sound like I'm missing out a bit with choosing things. I'll get to choose the cot though for when she's a bit older.

Re the vaccine, I think I would be another wary of getting it while pregnant. Though the way it's going I probably won't be offered it until after August anyway. Happily get it after though.

Welcome @SK28 and sorry to hear about your miscarriage troubles.

Welcome @SK28 you are in good company here. Unfortunately lots of us here can relate.

@biscuitcat @Ready2020 I found the pram and car seat choosing a bit of a pain tbh!!

I feel the same about the vaccine - I definitely don't want it during pregnancy (I'm not high risk so hopefully shouldn't need it) but I would like it during breast feeding as I think it can pass on some immunity to them. The vaccine programme is slow here so I don't even think I'll be offered it before august!

@Ready2020 @biscuitcat I'm buying most stuff second hand too don't worry girls! I already have DS so obvs using most from before but buying pram, bouncer, nursery furniture etc second hand

Right, buggy, car seat, base and a couple of sleeping bags bought! Phew. Big relief. I had a 15% off at JL which took out £240 out of our total. Still expensive but I'm planning to keep everything for DC2 and then sell so that's ok. I bought most of his clothes second hand as you know and they're immaculate. Also upcycling a couple of pieces of furniture and reusing other we already have. It's a no brainer to me if things are in good condition. In reality only the car seat and things like mattresses etc. should be brand new. xx

@Daffodil21 @biscuitcat @Dia12 @alittlexmasmagic @Ready2020 thank you ladies. To be honest it's been magical and I feel so good! Xx

@Ready2020 I do understand as that's what I wanted to. Personal choice but we did want baby to be born after wedding so we had to do it this way. It's nice that your baby is going to have your name though xx

Oh congratulations @Whatshouldbemyusername, that's so romantic 😍💐 Just seen your update. I wish we had eloped, we had a lovely wedding, but in hindsight I think that would have been my preference! xx

I think I'm in the minority in that I'm really keen to get the vaccine. Have been offered (then refused) it already so I was pleased to see the update. Will wait until I'm safely in 3rd trimester and then book again. My local centre seems mainly AZ orientated so might have to travel to get a Phizer or Moderna x

@Whatshouldbemyusername, Congratulations! That sounds very exciting one of the first things OH dad asked us was what will surname be!

@alittlexmasmagic, I definitely want the vaccine (and will have it as soon as the balance of risks shifts for me/baby), at the moment I’m not prepared to swap a small risk that is out of my control (effect on baby) for a slightly bigger risk that is within my control (my ability to stop myself being exposed to the virus) - but I’m in a privileged position to be wfh with no pressure to return, a large garden & open space where I live that means I can meet people outdoors safely, access to lateral flow and PCR testing via work, deliveries from local greengrocer & milkman. That’s why i think it’s very much a personal choice about when you have the vaccine. I’m also very grateful to everyone that has it as every vaccinated person is potentially less likely to transmit the virus so benefits the whole population.

Thanks as ever @BertieBotts for your amazing insight. I definitely want to ‘feel’ the buggy’s before buying!

Well I've learnt something new today, instead of cot bumpers which are now not recommended even though I used one with DS you can get cot bumper bars which actually look very cute!