Due in June 2008: bring on the bumps! (and that's before Christmas meals!)

[aberdeenhiker]

The last message I posted seems to have filled up the old thread so I thought I'd start a new one.

Since bump size was our last topic, I thought this might do for a thread title.

no not once. hand on heart. We used a safety rail like I said. 1 of them managed to fall out a couple of times, God only knows how, but we'd put cushions & pillows under just in case and we'd got a low bed anyway, so it wasn't a problem, and then they train themselves to sleep away from the adge. tbh I found having them in a normal single so much easier, esp for holidays, not having to deal with crap sub standard hotel travel cots or lugging own about. Never had a problem with nocturnal wanderings, thanks goodness

Upside - I remember calamine lotion being a godsend when I burnt myself after my first use of a sunbed. I worked in a pub and spent the 2 hours bewteen lunch and evening shifts at home in my bikini skathered in calamine.

Calebsmum - I didn't do co-sleeping and can't see me doing it this time. I fell asleep feeding Ellen a couple of times and all was well but its not something that appeals to me. CAn see why others like it though. I am starting to look out for a phil and teds cos we'll need a buggy for two and go walking a lot. I'm liking all the positive comments about them!I have 3 buggies already though and only 1 child......told DH I wouldn;t be selling any of the current ones yet. They are all used for differnt purposes so I will just be a buggy hoarder until I can bear to part with any.

Deb - I have a tomy freestyle sling/front carrier - it was a present so I didn't choose it but got on well enough with it.

Nettie - I didn;t have a travel system cos I use the bus during the day, only used car seat at weekends when dh and the car were about. Tomy carrier was great. you could get something like a mcclaren techno that lies flat so is good for newborns but is also zippy, easy to manoevre(sp) and I think quite lightweight. Oh, just read you are thinking about a zapp - good idea!! I didn't think of that.

Paro - Few of my friends had quinny buzz and it is great how easily it folds down. It wasn't right for me cos I didn;t want to have a car seat, chassis and carrycot when we went anywhere in the car.

Oooh I am excited thinking about baby things! Part of me wants a boy so its different but obv have lots of girl stuff already.

Interested in those of you who said you moved younger babes to beds ready for new arrivals, I was thinking 18 months was too early to move Ellen and have arranged to borrow a cot but would need to buy a new mattress. Maybe the money woudl be better spent on a toddler bed and bed guard.

Had my first day working from home today and quite enojoyed it. Long may it continue

ds1 was 23 months when ds2 arrived. About a month or so before he had started throwing himself over his normal cot bars despite being in a sleeping bag. We were due to move 3 days before my due date so didn't have time to get him settled into a big boys bed before baby so I put him in the travel cot which he couldn't get out of. Then we moved, I had ds2 we set up his new bedroom with bed in it, kept him in the cot for a couple more days then straight in the bed. No problems but we bought bunk beds and only built the top one so there were wooden bars down the side anyway. Then put a stairgate at the top of the stairs . That was it. They have to get used to sleeping away from the edge like Ernest said.

When ds2 was 4 he had to stay in hospital and I slept on the floor next to his big hospital bed - middle of the night he rolled off right on top of me!!

in my experience, of 3, 18 months is fine, honest. But if you did borrow a cot, I wouldn't waste your money on a new mattress, unless you know the one with the cot is particularly shit. 1stly 18 months isn't a new born to worry over like that, but also, I thought the advice to get a new mattress was discounted any way? I mean, when babies have to go into hospital, fr example, they're using the same mattress thousands of other kids have before. I still have the original mattress on my cot, and it's been in constant use since August 1999. It still seems in excellent condition.

But if I were you, I'd be brave and go for the new bed, otherwise it's just introducing another potentially unsettling change into the pot. Mine were fine younger than that

aahh we have mice in our kitchen! Got pest control coming out tomorrow to deal with it but not how I wanted to start the New Year!

Debs I live smack bang in the middle of the UK! Do have a 3 wheeler pushchair with pneumatic tyres though, would recommend it to anyone and it only cost me £25 from eBay! One of the ladies at toddler group has offered me her ring sling which is great and am hoping DS will be able to cope with a buggy board.

Makecakes, that's a serious bump you've got! I've got a slight bump but don't think you can really tell, seems strange to think am nearly half way through the pregnancy now!

estt - EDD 27th May (1 ds 19 months)
goingfor3 - EDD 29th May (2 dds, 3 and 6, mc july)
flosspot/makecakesnotwar - EDD 29tt May (1st baby, mc June 07)
katyjo - EDD 29th May ( 1 ds 20 months)
systemsaddict - EDD 31st May (1 ds 1YO)
lazylou - EDD 31st May (1 DD 3.9/ MC September 04)
laughinglil - EDD 1st June (3YO twins)
nh101 - EDD 1st June (it's twins!, no other DCs, MC Mar 07)
Trix11 - EDD 1st June (DS and DD)
Tizzwizz - EDD 5th June (MC June)
emotionalwreck - EDD 5th June
aberdeenhiker - EDD 5th June (DS, June 06)
Josey - EDD 5th June(DS8, DD2)
Kif - EDD early June (DC3)
Calebsmum - EDD 6th June (DC2)
supperwoman - EDD 6th June (DC2)
nettiehay - EDD 6th/7th June (first baby)
Lucy0608 - EDD 6th June (1st Baby)
Debinaustria - EDD 7th June (2 ds's 7 and 5)
mellymel - EDD 7th June (DS 14 months)
ChinaSurprise - EDD 8th June (1st baby)
dylansluckymum - EDD 9th June (1DS 18 mos)
paromapu - EDD 11th June (first baby)
tassisssss - EDD 13th June (ds aged 4, dd 15 mths)
Deese20 -EDD 14th June (1st Baby)
Jules43 - EDD 15th June (1st baby)
sybilvimes - EDD 16th June (2 dc)
GardenAngel4 EDD 17th June (DD 7months)
Josie57 - EDD 18th June (ds1 13 months, mc sep 07)
LittleMy34 - EDD 18th June (DS1 18mos)
hedgehog1979 - EDD 18th June (first baby)
babyalfie - EDD 20th June (got 3 DC - 16, 14 & 7)
ernest - EDD 20th June (got 3 dc - 8, 6 & 3)
ktpie - EDD 20th June (first baby)
poppy34 - EDD 20th June
HeyBaby07 - EDD 21st June (First Baby)
Hoggle - EDD 21st June (First Baby)
needahand - EDD 21st June (DC2)
Upsidedowncake - EDD 22nd June (1DS 23m, ep Aug 07)
august26bride - 22nd June (First Baby)
SugarSpiceandAllThingsNice - EDD 23rd June (DS 4 yrs)
sophiewd - 27th June (DD 22 months)
Gemzooks - EDD???
capricornqueen - EDD 30th June (DD 2yrs)
Kittyjimjams -EDD 30th June (2 MC)

Afternoon all,

I'm surrounded by dog sht at the moment. DD stepped in some last night ands as it was dark I didn't realsie that the poo was practically on our door step. I had to clean the downstairs floors and her shoes last night. DP left a note for me this morning saying that the poo was right outside so I had to clean that up before the school run and the vomit it induced! On the way I saw my next door neighbour and told her that I haven't been able to open my back windows since the week before christmas due to the overpowering smell of the piles of dog poo she has in her very small back garden - she told me someone is comming to clean it in 2 weeks 2* weeks, I said again I can't have any windows open at the back of the house and she again said two weeks! I got really peed off and called enviromental health who put me thorugh to their housing officer as they are council tennans, she didn't sound suprised(neighbours on the other side of them always complaining about them) and said they have no excuse and she is visiting them today any way so will mention it to them as there should be any dog poo in the garden at all!!!! It just makes me feel so sick!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not surrounded by poo but mud that the notorious D-O-G (as DH refers to her)has been tracking in. Beginning to wonder if my house will ever be clean again. Just had quote for spring clean from Merry Maids...drum roll ......£255 QUID.....never going to happen! But have to do something as we are off to Israel tomorrow for a wedding, the house looks like a hurricane has been through it and I have house viewings booked all weekend.

Think I am just feeling low generally. Actually sat in Waitrose Car Park in tears this am. Our cash buyer for the house has pulled out so I had to tell the people we are buying from that we are no longer the safe bet they thought. They have put their house back on the market, understandably, and we have to try and sell ours. For the FOURTH time. I am beginning to wonder if we will ever move. In the meantime I can make no plans for the baby's arrival...I can't buy furniture or make curtains or paint murals. I am fucking fed up and constantly in tears. Do you think you can get pre-natal depression? I really do sound spoiled...sorry

On a more positive note because we are going to Israel on Thursday (a wedding) I had to get a check-up so got to hear whumping heartbeat of Pip today...always a thrill. Bizarrely although airlines let you fly until 30-something weeks, our insurance company will only let me fly until 27 weeks. So this really will be my last trip until I am a mumma.

And have just ordered a t-shirt from nappyhead that says "I ate all the pies" in honour of le bump....suspect it will annoy MIL so everyone's a winner!

Hi guys,

g43 that's disgusting, I hope they get it sorted out.

I have a ds who is 21 months so also thinking about moving him into a bed and moving him to a new room before bubs comes. We have the bed but not planning to do it for a few months, dh is taking me to london for my 30th in feb and didn't want to unsettle ds before we go, he's a ggod sleeper at the mo - touch wood.

I spent this morning looking at nurseries etc, how complicated is it! I thought I might pop him in nursery for a few hours a week before dc2 comes, but seem to have to do a minimum of 10 hours a week, which is quite alot fanancially as well, so think I might just leave it.

Starting to feel alot more movement now, got a good big kick when I was prodding my stomach the other night, poor little thing. Next appt is 15th Jan, can't wait to hear the heartbeat again.
xxx

crikey, there's been a lot of posts in just 24 hours! Ernest thanks for the warnings about bugaboo - i do appreciate your feedback. The Bee doesn't need to be taken apart to fold down and doesn't have a carry cot at all (it goes completely flat and has a little 'nest' you can insert to keep newborns snuggled and supported)so I am still going to go ahead with it. I tried out lots of others in various stores and this was def the lightest, most compact and easiest for me to manage. Make sure you tell me 'I told you so' if I'm complaining in a couple of years about my toddler growing out of it!

Am now feeling very excited as we've booked 20 week scan (not for a few weeks though). Not available on the NHS here so have to get it done privately , however that asid, DH has done a complete u-turn and said he'd quite like to know gender. I was keen in first place, but wasn't too fussed if we didn't but now it's all a bit exciting.

Nice to read all the chat about what to buy/not to buy... being a first timer its v useful to pick up tips from more experienced mums!

Having got the pram sorted, we're now focusing on the cotbed (thank god for parents and PIL's). When back from holiday in a couple of weeks we'll probably get a bit more serious about shopping. Read all the moses basket chat with interest. Space in our bedroom is very limited so will need to go for moses basket I think and hope we're not too paranoid to put the baby in own nursery early-ish.

Couple of questions - we'll be using real nappies but probably use disposables for the first few weeks while we get the hang of everything else. Any suggestions about how many nappies we might be likely to go through. Also, any tips on wipes, cotton wool (balls or pleats) also welcome as I want to start picking some bits and pieces up at the supermarket with the weekly shop.

Sorry to hear about your mice calebsmum - those wee buggers can get everywhere. We had them in a previous place of work and the pest control chap said they can get through any hole you can get a biro lid through. Apparantly they can dislocate their neck or something. Eeeek. Hope you get rid of them soon.

Goingfor3 - the dog poo in your neighbours garden sounds disgusting! Good on you for reporting them. Thankfully its not the summer!

Oh dear, this is v long post - sorry for rambling on!

aw, makecakesnot war - sorry to hear you are having a rubbish day! Such a shame about the house.

I hope you have a lovely time in Israel to take your mind off everything.

That reminds me - I'd better check travel insurance and pg cover for upcoming holiday!!

DP and I discussed the moses basket issue last night and (surprise surprise) he agrees with me! If MIL is going to spend £65 on a moses basket, we will ask her to spend £70 on a crib instead, and then give her the option of purchasing the bedding, so she can still get her fix of Winnie-the-pooh cuteness. It's a win-win situation. All I have to do now, is get DP to call his mother to tell him our decision!

We are also going to be using reuseable nappies (my next topic of research once I've decided on the pushchair/car seat thing!). We will more than likely use disposables when we go away - just for ease of use. But how to know which reuseables to buy? I don't want to order a whole heap and find out they are crap - can you 'try before you buy'? Although this is a good idea - it means we will also have to use disposables at the beginning, as we won't have any baby to try them out on before ours arrives. Unfortunately a close friend who is due in April is using the terry's that were used on her as a baby (and her father's moses basket and her grandmother's cot!) so won't be any good for advice with the shaped ones which I was planning on using. I was hoiping she would be my test case!

makecake, I'm sorry you are having such a crappy day. You are not spoilt sounding at all just understandabley upset and because you are hormonal everything feels worse that it is( I nearly cried when I was talking to the housing officer and that was minor compared to a house falling through). Have a fab time in Israel, a break sounds like something you really need right now.

gr1973 - I'm also going to use cloth nappies and also use disposable for the first couple of weeks, especially as I may have to stay in hospital for a few nights. I was going to get 2 packs of Moltex nappies and hope by the time they are finished I will feel like using my cloth nappies. As for wipes etc I get whatever is BOGOF as I'm not that fussed about which brand I use.

makecake, I'm sorry you are having such a crappy day. You are not spoilt sounding at all just understandabley upset and because you are hormonal everything feels worse that it is( I nearly cried when I was talking to the housing officer and that was minor compared to a house falling through). Have a fab time in Israel, a break sounds like something you really need right now.

gr1973 - I'm also going to use cloth nappies and also use disposable for the first couple of weeks, especially as I may have to stay in hospital for a few nights. I was going to get 2 packs of Moltex nappies and hope by the time they are finished I will feel like using my cloth nappies. As for wipes etc I get whatever is BOGOF as I'm not that fussed about which brand I use.

nettiehay my council gave me a free loan of a variety of nappies for a week. It may be worth checking this out. I didn't start using cloth until DD2 was 10 months but with her I used prefolds and motherease one size. One of my friends gave me about 12 motherease sandy's in the small size which I will use on the new baby and I also bought some new prefolds as I used my old ones as wash clothes, I still have my motherease one size but they may be a bit big on a newborn. Motherease wraps were by far the best ones I used.

makecakesnotwar so sorry about your house. The UK system is just so stupid. I don't understand why it isn't changed. Here, once you agree and sign (right at the start of the process) both sides are committed and can't back out. I remember selling our last house and the stress for the whole time (months) was horriffic. So big hugs from me

gr3, bloody hell. I felt sick reading your post. How some people live just beggars belief. poor you.
gr1973, I always just used cotton wool pleats for new borns, Can't really remember when I switched to wipes, but certainly not at the beginning. In bath just plain water, no chemicals or bath products. Nappies, can't really remember how many I used. I read that should wet soak nappies in water with a few drops of tea tree oil. What a bloody palava! after, oh, 2.5 kids I either worked out or read it was a needless extra, unbelievably disgusting and hideous job, wringing out all those shotty smelly soaking wet nappies, and just kept 'em (dry) in a bucket till I bunged 'em (usually every other day) in the machine. There are web sites that help you work it out. I think you're looking at changing nappies about 7 times a day or something, and it would depend on how you'd dry them, cos line drying will take a while so you'd need more than if just bunging them in the dryer.

hth

Hi everyone, not been on here for a while, we went away visiting relatives over christmas and I am just getting the swing of being back in my normal routine (sadly that means back at work!).

Goingfor3 your neighbours sound awful, shouldn't have a dog if they can't clean up after it.

Makecakes sorry to hear about your house, hopefully you will find another buyer soon, you never know one of the viewings at the weekend might be the one. We have just put our house on the market and actually had an offer accepted on the house we want at the weekend, not actually had any viewings yet and trying not to stress about selling ours but it has put the pressure on a bit. Keep telling myself if it is meant to be then it will work out but I would like to get in and settled before the baby comes!

I've just been for my midwife appointment and we heard the heartbeat and heard it kicking which was great, now waiting to start feeling the kicks!

Nappies: I'd start with two packs of newborn sized ones. I use the Nature Care ones and really like them - they don't smell as much as the others. I probably went through 8 a day in the early days - much less now. I've just noticed that ASDA have their own brand of eco-disposables (no chlorine bleach!) - has anyone tried them?

Instead of cotton wool, I liked cotton makeup remover pads - they didn't have the same tendancy to leave fluff all over DS's boy bits...

For those interested in trying reusables, I'd highly recommend not using them for the first week. The first few poos contain meconium and it is the nastiest tar-like substance! It's hard enough to get off their bums, let alone out of a nappy.

That being said, I was one of three our of 6 of us in my prenatal class who all bought reusable nappies and said we were definitely going to use them. All three of us tried, and all three of us sold them on ebay after. I found it too much work, but then my DS had bowel movements up to 5x a day. Another friend did start using reusables later but she only lasted five months before her DP made her switch back to disposables as their flat was completely covered all the time with drying nappies. I have a ton of respect for anyone who makes a go of cloth nappies!

Make cake, sorry you are having a horrid time. Moving house is meant to be one of the most stressful times in your life, and it's awful the way nowadays, it's more stressful planning to move than actually getting somewhere new! Have a lovely time at the wedding.

Goingfor3 - sorry about the dog poo. THat's awful. I hope it gets sorted soon.

Re wipes, at the hospital when ds1 was born, I tried to be all ecological and ended up going through an enture roll of cotton wool over three days! So have used wipes ever since then. Any brand - like others, whichever is BOGOF (great acronym!)

Just realised that I have no plans to go abroad this year at all. We cannot have that. Need to book a holiday for September once the baby is born and has a passport!

Both my DD's used to go for days without pooing and then have mega poos which couldn't be contained by any nappy! If this baby is going to poo a few times a day I may reconsider!

nettiehay - i used the 'nappy lady' (you'll find on google). They have a tailored questionnaire to help assess your cloth nappy needs, it's impartial with no pressure or obligation to buy from them. A friend of mine who was a 1st time mum used them and is still happy with their advice 2 years later. They can also advise on quantities etc. Also the 'real nappy network' (can google them too) should throw up any loan schemes, incentive schemes etc in your area.

Thanks for the feedback on wet vs dry pailing ernest - this is something I've been thinking about.

Was thinking more how many disposable nappies likely to go through in an average week before we go on to cloth?

G43 - I've also had motherease wraps recommended to me by quite a few people!

oh, also just to say - if anyone ever moves to scotland the house buying system is completely different. It's not without its own traumas (offers over system in a desirable area is a nightmare) but once you've agreed to buy you're pretty much tied in. We never have chains etc.

goingfor3 My friend's DD who used reusables for 5 months had the same poo pattern - one massive one every few days that always got out and messed up clothing. Horrible, but I do think it made reusables easier. I was cleaning poo off pretty much every nappy and they did stink but I can count the number of times we had a leak on one hand...

and hugs to makecakesnotwar - that sounds like such a stressful time! - up here in Scotland the system is different, basically a closed bid auction, but once the offer has been accepted, neither party can pull out without penalty. It definitely makes the process less stressful! We're originally from Canada and the system there is even easier for buying - I'm not sure why it has to be so complicated! Anyways, while there definitely is such a thing as prenatal depression (more common than postnatal actually) I think with all the stress you're dealing with you're allowed to be down!

gr1973, that's the proper term, couldn't remember. DO NOT wet pail. It really stinky too, much worse than dry pailing.

in a week, well if average 7 changes, you're looking at 49 nappies.

Thanks for the tips gr1973 - I have just completed the online questionnaire for the Nappy Lady. Hopefully they will be able to give me some advice too.

Poor makecakes - your house situation sounds awful! Although we are not in a position to buy yet, we are hoping to once the baby has arrived and we are able sort out our finances once child care has been taken into account - I'm not looking forward to it, as we hear about these sorts of horror stories from friends.... but we can't rent for the rest of our lives! I'm sure it isn't as complicated in Australia (where I'm from) as it is in England, but I left there as young, single, twentysomething, so buying a house wasn't exactly top of my priority or knowledge list!