Due May 05 part 3

[myermay]

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Had to add my bit to this thread. Been following it, as am due on 17th May with 2nd. Cannot tell you the sex as a number of posters on MN know me personally and would like to keep it a secret.

Just wanted to say that I really sympathise with those who are saying how much they hate being pg and that this will be their last. Loved being pg with DS, despite very, very bad morning sickness. This time, just fed up with being tired, feeling nauseaous, not being able to drink, eat what I like, dodgy tastebuds, heartburn. I WANT MY BODY BACK.

IF, i have another, I shall adopt.

Hello poshpaws, welcome to the club...

SamCattie, I have chronic back pain in pg too. I have already started using my TENS machine which is brilliant. Could you hire or borrow one to try it out?

Hi Logic
Thanks for the tip I might see if I can buy one as it seems to be getting worse by the day.
Does anyone seem to be having crazy dreams? I keep having horrible ones, and they're the type that when you wake up you think they're real for a coulpe of mins??

Hi ladies, and welcome Poshpaws.

Samcattie - I've had a few vivid (but not disturbing) dreams too. A quick Google shows that it's not uncommon. Tis is from Babycenter (the US one)..

"Dreams are like funhouse mirrors that reflect your emotional state. Since pregnancy can feel like an emotional roller coaster, don't be surprised if your dreams become more vivid and crazy than usual. Dreams also become more vivid during pregnancy because of increased progesterone and increased awakenings from dream-filled REM (rapid eye movement) sleep."

Joy! I've just woken up from 10 1/2 hours sleep. Have slept a lot better this last couple of nights - so grateful to my GP for giving me this time to catch up!

A quick question about sleeping positions:- I've struggled a bit with giving up sleeping on my front/back. Now I'm (just about) managing to get confortable on my side though I find it easier to sleep on my right side. I've read it's better to sleep on the left side - does anyone know if it really matters?

vicstervic, I find the right better too - and that thing aboiut the left is surely just there to give us one more thing to worry about while we lay awake at night! I have two tiny cushions (c. 25 cm square) which I use, one under the bump and one between my knees. I find them better than a pillow, cos that is just extra angst during the night too!

Trust me to be different! I feel sleeping on my left is a lot easier.

Just spent my lunch hour reading back the whole of this thread!! A few people said about what you should and shouldn't buy - I do need help being a first timer! Clothes, bedding, etc I am ok on but I wondered what sort of toiletries for the baby you need. I have bought a box to go with the baby bath, but then read somewhere that you don't use lotions, etc straight away on baby. So what is the best things to stock up on>

Hi everyone hope I can join you!
I'm a first timer - due (obviously) 29 May! Had 20 week scan this morning and everything is "perfect" according to sonographer - I'm so relieved. Couldn't tell the sex though as the baby had its legs crossed the whole time - suppose its natures way of stopping me spending money too soon.
Interested in ideas about travel systems - DP has his heart set on three wheeled one and it seemed to make sense til now! Anyway nice to find you and will continue picking brains as time goes on!
Thanks x :-)

I never used a sing lotion on dd until she got eczema at about 20 months. We just used a j&j bath soap (good for hair and body) and baby wipes for the nappies. Oh, and always have nappy cream on hand. Sudocreme (sp?) is good. And when it gets bad, metanium (sp?) is great. And, in the summer, you will need some baby sunscreen. And I think that covers what we've actually used. I STILL have a changing table full of bottles that I never needed for baby. Although, I've decided that baby oil is a nice touch on MY legs after shaving.

I never found a need for extra sensitive anything. And I'm still not quite sure what one does with baby powder.

And, speaking of the changing table, we like our nappy wrapper. It doesn't eliminate the stink in the room, but it does help to reduce it.

Hmmm.... what else? oh, never can have too many muslin cloths. They have many many uses.

Welcome Holly! That's my due date too. Where are you? I'm going to Queen Charlotte in London (but hoping for a caesarean a week ahead of the due date).

Travel systems... well, to be honest, I'm not sure they are worth the price. I think they are very handy for about 2 - 3 months. Then, I would opt for a lightway MacLaren variety. So, for some 8 - 12 weeks of use, I can't really justify a £200 - £400 purchase. I do recall liking the car seat that snaps into the pram/pushchair. But, apart from that they are just too big and cumbersome to run around with.

Also, if you do get one, I recommend never taking it in a plane. When dd1 was 3 months we took our M&P Pliko to Chicago, and United bent the frame. It was never the same again, so I never used it again.

Since your question was perhaps more about 3 wheelers than travel systems, I should add that we now have a mac 3 which I bought to go running with. I was good for running, but it's a pain in the malls because the back wheels are too wide for some doorways. If you go with a 3 wheeler I would suggest getting one with a fairly narrow span of the back wheels. The phil and ted one is nice (though a bit pricey), but it has no hand brake which killed it for me.

Hi everyone! Welcome to poshpaws & Holly!

As another 1st timer I am really enjoying readng everyone's advice. It's useful to know about the lotions and potions, and a Nappy Wrapper was one of our 1st puchases - it was half price at Tesco back in November!

As for sleeping positions... I recently had resuscitation training at work (I work for NHS) and learnt the reason for pregnant women having to lie on their left side - I learnt in relation to putting a pregnant woman in the recovery position, but it's still relevant. On the right side of our bellies there is a vein that returns blood to the heart. If you lie on your right, the weight of the baby/uterus can cause the vein to be squashed which can make you feel faint. I don't think it is as important now as in the later stages of pregnancy. I really hope this doesn't alarm any of you - I don't know how likely it is to cause a problem, but I thought I would share the info with you anyway.

I'm going through a dilemma about pushchairs/travel systems at the moment, so I was pleased to see them mentioned. I've seen a couple of travel systems I like made by Bebe Confort, but I am so reluctant to spend hundreds of pounds on something which I will only use for a few months. I know that after a few months I will probably use a Maclaren Techno XT buggy or equivalent. My main dilemma is about what to do for the 1st few months. I am losing sleep over this - I am always awful at making decisions and now I'm pregnant it's even worse! I know that some buggies (like the XT) say 'suitable from birth' but I don't think I'd want to put a tiny baby in one of them. If it was winter and I could bundle baby up in cosy toes etc. I don't think it would be quite so bad. At the moment I'm swaying towards spending the money on a comfy (but relatively lightweight & manouvreable) travel system for baby even if it is just for a few months and just saying blow the expense. Don'tget me wrong, we don't have money to throw away, but surely it isn't worth losing so much sleep over??? Help!

Sorry this is so long...

maymum, we got a Mamas and Papas Pliko travel system (car seat and pushchair) which we used from birth. We never actually used the two together, but we used both a lot. We are still using the pushchair, and will use it for no.2. It is an umbrella pushchair and is portable and manouvrable. We bought a Maclarens buggy when ds was 1 just cos it's lighter and easier to take on holiday, but if we've got lots of shopping or it's cold, we use the old one anyway. If I was a first timer again, I would definitely get a proper pushchair, I would definitely not get a carry cot (don't think I ever would have used it) but I wouldn't bother about the car seat fitting into the pushchair.

Lotions - we never bought any but were given loads and pressies, and they all remained unopened 2 years later. Just what do you use talc etc. for? Ds was very late and so had scaly skin, but they recommend you use olive oil for that - and it really works. So I'll just get in a small bottle of olive oil this time.

Hi all - thanks for suggestions on pushchairs - am definitely leaning against getting whole system just for few months. Uwila I am in South Wales - strange as it sounds its really nice to see someone due same day makes it seem closer somehow!

Maymum - I was told by the midwife that it was lying flat on your back that caused pressure on the vena cava (sp??) late in pregnancy and could cause you to feel faint - I really hope it isn't bad to liue on your left because I can't lie on my right due to a whiplash injury. Arggh. Hopefully just one more unnecessary worry!

I work for social services and see so many pregnant women who seem to go out of their way to do the 'wrong' thing and pop out perfect (health wise) babies by the dozen so I keep telling myself at the very least babies are resilient little things and such things as sleeping on the wrong side or wearing an underwired bra every so often will be OK!!

Another question - as we won't know the sex of the baby what do u recommend we buy in terms of clothing as everything seems to be pimk or blue! How much do we need for a summer baby initially?? Thanks

Oops - I mean I can't lie on my left!

Thanks for all the advice on what lotions and potions to get. I went into Sainsbury's the other day and was flabbergasted at how many they actually sell! Body mist, talc, oil, etc! What do you do with them all??? But reading what you had all put, I have now written a sensible list and left out useless things such as talc, etc!!

Holly: just buy several packets of plain white vests and sleepsuits from Tesco or similar. At first you won't need anything else (cos newborns are soooo cute in white and anyway in the first few weeks you don't really differentiate between day and night!), and people will give you clothes as gifts. When you do want clothes, go out and get them - you will be so bored stuck indoors with a newborn that you will be desperate for a genuine excuse to go to the shops!

Hi Holly and Poshpaws, its nice to have more people joining us. I'm a first timer too, but luckily have a niece (4) and nephew (1) and lots of friends with little children and lots of advice. My sister found that baby lotion actually dried out both her childrens skin and that they were much better off without it. I've also talked to a few people about three wheelers as this is what we're getting. I was advised that fixed wheel is better if you will use it mainly off road but swivel is much better around town, we've compromised and got a swivel wheel which can be fixed, I will mainly use it in town, but with two dogs it will also be used on the beach and across fields. Being short (5ft2)as many of us seem to be on the due in may thread , I was advised by short friend that adjustable handle heights are much better too.
We've put a deposit on a mamas and papas sport, we've looked at a few and this seemed to suit us as its quite compact and lightweight for a three-wheeler, has a fix in car seat (which I think I will use as I have to park my car in a nearby road) cost £235 for pushchair and car seat. Of course I haven't used it yet so it might not be any good, but it does everything that I was told to look for, and second hand advice might be useful.
I've been suffering with a bit of back pain too, I've discovered this is made worse by sitting at a desk as it got alot better when I was on leave and off sick over Christmas. I've now fiound out that I can go to aqua-natal classes as part of the ante-natal care that we are allowed time off from work to go to. Thought this might be useful info for others who work and have back pain and aches as aqua-natal is supposed to help alot, looking forward to starting next week - will be a bonus that it will be in work's time, although I couldn't go if it wasn't as the session is Friday mornings. I hope it helps anyway.

hello - can i get some advice from any of you that already have kiddies? I'm pondering what kind of cot/cotbed/crib/mosesbasket I should get...
Is it worth getting a mosesbasket? They seems pretty expensive for something that won't be used for that long and are they ok for a baby to sleep in for longer periods or should it just be for a short time?
If getting a cot, should I get a cot with a dropdown side? is there an advantage to this?

I'm so confuzzed! I think my brain might explode if I start thinking about pushchairs/travel systemes/car seats!!!

Any advice would be really appreciated!

Thanks for the welcome, guys.

RB, I used a moses basket (2nd hand from sis with new matress) for about 8 weeks. Fine for DS, but a lot of MN's didn't use them. Then we moved him to a cotbed in which has has been ever since (obviously it is a bed now that he is 3 and not a cot).

Will use the same method for baby2, with new matress for cotbed as now the rules have changed and you do not need to change moses basket matresses if they are ok.

BTW,for those looking at travel systems, I got my Graco one brand new, half price at Toys R Us -reduced for £220 ot £100.

I had to get a new one as DS had a 2nd hand one (again from my sis )

LittleB I may take up aqua aerobics as that sounds good and should help with my back.
Thought I would share this with you all as I couldn't believe it. I work full time in an office and so sitting down all day, my back really hurts. I asked for an Orthopedic chair as a few women who were pregnant here used that to help them. It can't be found so I asked for them to order me a new one. £500 it costs, which really is irrelevant to me, especially working for a large company like I do. Rather than spend £500 on a chair which obviously would be used again, they have asked for a man to come in (that they use regualarly for building work) and check to see if my normal chair is ok for me to use???
Though that was quite funny and wanted to share with you all!!!!!

Ah cots and bed and moses baskets...

Well, I like the moses basket because it can follow me round the house during the day. I ALWAYS have the baby sleep in a lighted room during the day, and in his/her bedroom in the dark at night. I think it helps a great deal to teach them the difference between night and day. As for the cot / cot bed, I would n't bother spending much on all the accessories. A Baby does not need a pillow. A duvet should not be used until a month old. I found it best to use a fitted sheet and a grow bag. I love gro bags. They stay on all night long and keep bub nice and warm. If they get peed on or puked in in the middle of the night, it is much easier to change the gro bad than it is to change the bedding.

As for cot bumpers, they are not necessary, but they are cute so get one if you like it but not because you think it will benefit bub. The mobile is nice, but it isn't very portable. We have a Baby Tad that funtions as a mobile. He travels with us so she can go to sleep to the same familiar sign.

Another sleep trickk is to get a scented toy and keep it in the cot. Baby will learn to associate this smell with sleep. It helps to get them off to sleep when you are still struggling for some zzzzzzzz of your own.

Oh, and if you give them a dummy to go to sleep, it will help them fall asleep, but you will most certainly find yourself getting up at 3am to find it for him.

So sorry, duvet should not be used until a YEAR old. This is because they can get too hot, wiggle down, and suffocate.

Morning May Mums-to-be!!!

Can anyone help me with what I should put in my letter to my employers about my Maternity Leave?!? I'm due 27-05 and not really sure when to leave either! I do have quite a hectic job and have sort of thought about leaving at the end of April. Any ideas would be great!!

Had my 20 wk scan on Wed and Sonographer said everything looks great! What a relief. Found out we've got a lovely little bouncing baby boy!! (95% sure anyway). Had to talk to the midwife about the fact I've got a raised HCG level of 3.43. Does anyone have any info on this?? Why, etc, or where I can get any info from?? I've got to have a couple of extra scans to keep an eye on babys growth etc. But just wondered if there was anything I could do to help or if anything I've done could've caused this. Always think of questions when I leave the hospital!!

Hope everyone's doing well in this biting cold!!

Thanks for all your advice... it really makes a difference.

Has anyone seen the 'global bedside cot'? DH and I really like the idea of it because we can put it next to our bed if we want to, but it is also just fine as a stand alone cot and has a one-handed dropside. It isn't much more money than a standard cot, costs about £140, and we like the look of it too, so we might go for it. Any opinions?

I finally got some relief from my headaches, neck pain, back pain etc. when I went to the chiropractor this week. My appointment was well overdue and in his words, my spine was in a 'bit of a mess'! He's a really good chiropractor and treatment always makes a lot of difference to me. It's a bit more difficult for him now I'm pregnant and I can't lie on my tummy, but he still managed to do the treatments in the end.