Due March 2008 - for our early arrivals and the loooooong 3rd trimesters

[merryberry]

Hello all.

Hi all,
comiserations to all of you not enjoying buns in ovens! . Only weeks to go now so keep your chins up.

I have to say I took the 'oh its a natural thing and will be fine approach last time' but unfortunately nature didn't see it that way. I think that is certainly true if you have a vaginal delivery or planned c section, however, for me the shock and trauma of my EMCS meant that my milk did not arrive for 7 days and my midwives didn't advise me that I needed to feed 2-3 hourly during the day to establish my supply, so by the time I had milk dd was ravenous and fed around the clock!!! I ended up exhausted and gave up after 5-6 weeks.
This time I am taking the approach that if baby chooses not to feed 2-3 hourly I will wake baby to do so! I will express from early on and freeze it to help cope with growth spurts.

argh, i'm 33 wks and don't have leaky boobs yet, should i be worried?
Still haven't got a clue what to buy re steriliser/bottles if i want to express, is there much difference apart from cosmetics?

looking forward to a day off tomorrow - very tempted to go shopping but i know i'll only ache after a quick walk. Took me 2 hours going round asda this morning! The lodger and my DH have almost finished the painting, i may go and finish off the bits i can see they've missed as i want to arrange things in there tomorrow to distract me from shopping....

Preggers - the girls are lovely, get some pink photos up asap!

Hi, hope you don't mind me popping my head in here briefly. I wanted to say hi to Merryberry and the others that remember me. I started the March thread with Merry and the gang but sadly miscarried, but now I am pg again, and since to my last two lovely children arrived early, I have a due date in April but an expectation of a March baby still!!!!. I just wanted to say that I can empathise with Merry and FMN and others here about finding this pg a bit tougher that previous ones, and already feel like this one is fighting his way out. Sorry for the brief intrusion here ladies.

Also congrats to preggersagain on bringing home your two beautiful daughters.

fitnforty, i expressed with an avent pump with both my boys. 1st time i thought i was just crap at using it and 2nd time i couldn't get to grips with it all and its fiddly and it leaked. So this time i have bought a tommee tippee closer to nature one, only 3 parts and flexible suction cup part so will actaully fit many different size women(in theory!)

hello rainbow! that's great news, cheered me up no end. we'll maybe see you on a post natal thread then? are you going for home or hossie birth this time? we've had three early arrivals so far, magic heh?

Hello Rainbowdays, I saw you on the April thread and was so happy that you got pg again so soon. If you can squeeze yourself into March, even better and we'd love to have you here chatting to us again.

FnF - I don't think there's much difference between sterilisers. Bottles are another story, I only tired Avent and Tommee Tippee but loved my Avents. Can't remember what I didn't like about the Tommee Tippee though. I reckon all bottles work fine, but there are some special anti-colic bottles like Dr Brown if your little one has a lot of colic trouble. My friend whose LO really suffered with normal bottles swears by them but luckily DD didn't have much colic so Avent were great for her.

I'm also a big fan of mixed breast/bottle feeding. DD was mostly breast fed to 5 months, but she had a bottle every evening before bed. Her appetite was highest then, and my supply was lowest. So I expressed during the day to make up a big bottle for bed time. If I couldn't express for whatever reason, she got formula. Worked really well for us. Boob, bottle, mummy milk, formula.... it was all the same to her!! As long as it was food!

A friend of mine whose newest arrival is 6 months has combined breast and bottle from the start cos he's just such a hungry boy. Some people seem to have this "all or nothing, one or the other only" attitude but it really can work to mix and match, and can be more convenient too. Even if you don't want to use formula, it can be a good idea to get baby used to a bottle. Makes it easier when you stop bf-ing, and also allows you to take a night off and leave baby with a babysitter and a bottle of expressed milk.

I had avent bottles which worked well for dd.
I also tried an avent hand pump but was useless and only managed to get 3-4oz after 6 wks. The one I have now is a medela mini electric which could probably get me 3oz now!! I definately say get an electric pump and don't waste money on a manual one.

I used the avent steam steriliser, quick and easy and keeps bottles tidy.

Oh, preggers that photo is too precious. And they're in my favourite colour - green! So sweet.

Have gone out to try and get a handle on shopping from my list. I have lost the will to live. Kings Road was packed yesterday and I shlepped around like a zombie waiting for people to give me seats on train/bus. What is with people?

Today went to big Mothercare in Kew. No staff, and not one of the things I had from my website list was in stock. I pretty much gave up and decided to shop online. Much better from the comfort of your own PJ's. I guess it didn't help that I had low blood sugar (or rude blood sugar as I like to call it). Anyhoo, the internet is my new best friend.

Will take all bfeeding advice, ladies, so keep it coming. It's so good to hear from the experienced mums. Am hoping to rent a pump and have formula on hand so that I'm prepared. Figure if I rent a pump at first can then buy one that I have tried, at least. I like the idea of mixing and matching feeding, but not sure how I will cope in the first few weeks.

So please that I've finally engaged a post-natal doula, who will hopefully be able to help a bit with feeding. I know I will find her immensely helpful, as I have no family nearby (or MIL, sadly), or in the country, for that matter!

JFLY I know what you mean about no family close by. My mum and MIL both 5 hours away.

For BFeeding just be prepared for growth spurts at 3 and 6 weeks. They make you feel like you have gone backwards and that your supply is going down when in reality the baby is just feeding more to satisfy growing more and increases the supply by suckling more. I gave up because of this. If I had been expressing I would have coped better.

Hi all -
My pregnancy woes continue. I now have piles... Should have kept my big fat mouth shut!! Funny thing is, I still feel quite upbeat as I'm now just laughing at myself for how my experience of pregnancy has gone so rapidly downhill in 24 hours...

JFly - We're living parallel lives. I was in Kew Mothercare on Friday and they didn't have what I wanted and then I also had an almost fight over a seat on the tube today. Got on and there was one seat free but some guy had his suitcase in front of it and his rucksack on it. I said "Please can I sit down?" and he said "Well if you can tell me where to put my bags you can". Given this was Picc Line which has extra luggage space cos it goes to/from Heathrow, I was a bit so just pointed the space out and said "over there". He said "No way. I'm not putting my bags there" and DH at this point stepped in to point out that I was pregnant. So he finally grudgingly moved his bags! Even if I wasn't pregnant then why on earth does he think his bags have more right to a seat than a paying passenger? Grrrr!

On the positive side today, we have decorated the nursery. Went for all white in the end but created a border with some really cool stickers of trains, planes etc. that are in really bright colours. It looks very classy

HQ glad you came out of the water clossit about your piles! That is about my only pregnancy woe but was too embarrassed to admit it!!

Morning all.

Sorry to hear about pregnancy woes. I managed to escape getting piles during my last preganancy but ended up with them after the birth. So, swings and roundabouts, I guess.

I can second mixed feeding from early days also. My dd was exclusively breast fed and beacuse I left it so long to give her a bottle, we really struggled. It helped us if someone other than me gave her the bottle as she would just root around my chesticles looking for her favoured supply route. Another thing I found helpful in the early days was having the newborn on a pillow or cushion as it really helps your arms and elevates them slightly. Plus, I got through tubes of Kamillosan this stuff last time. It really helped those nipples.
Right, off to do a few errands and hopefully spend the afternoon in bed. Had the worst night's sleep last night. And although I'm lovng being pregnant, this time is definitely harder. Don't know if it's beacuse it's a boy this time, or I'm nearly 8 years older or soemthing else but gosh, it's a struggle at times. Still, all good really.
Have a great day, all of you.Oh, and congratulations to Rainbowdays too, I was Marjoram back in the day. I'm ever so pleased for you.

JFLy and Holidays Queen - I was in that very same Mothercare on Sunday!

Glad to hear the comments on Avent as I have the IQ pump and sterliser etc. I ahve also bought the Kamilosan to pack in my hospital bag.

Fitnforty - I'm nearly 33 weeks and no leakages yet either, well not from my boobs!

I'm glad everyone else is a little tired - I've just been for a 10 minute nap in the loo at work!

Preggers Your girls are gorgeous! I even showed them to DH.

I tried Mothercare online, but they had nothing in stock I wanted. Which is a great shame, as with discount codes they are slightly cheaper than in shops, plus I would not have to drag myself, well only to the car really. Am lazy. Another 3 weeks of getting into the office seem quite a tall order.

Please, do not even mention sitting down on tube, metro, trins, etc. I am becoming more and more assertive (i.e. mad).

Fitnforty I have not started to lactate yet either, but finally my boobs grew a little bit. Still only cup B mind.

Will have to do something with backache, because I am fed up with it now. Was turning and tossing for at least an hour last night. LO enjoyed it though, keep trying to convince me to play with him [deeply in love emoticon]

Morning ladies. Oh, it's afternoon already! How time flies!!

Just wanted to ask a couple of things. Is anyone else suffering from night sweats? I'm still a bit under the weather from cough and cold, so not sure if it is just that or whether it is pg related. But I have been sweating like a pig, and last night was horrific! sweat trickling between my boobs, knickers soaked with sweat by the time I get up in the morning. I really ming! I also seem to be getting sweatty palms a lot. Am I a freak or does this sound familiar to anyone?

Also, haven't done a MN search or anything yet as thought I would ask in here if anyone knows about raspberry leaf tea/capsules? When can I start taking them?

Morning all

Preggers - the girls are beautiful!

Seems like everyone was in Mothercare at the weekend (not the Kew one for me though). They didn't have what I wanted, so they had to order online! - also did a big shop at Babies R Us - matresses (cot bed and moses basket), sheets, blankets etc. - managed to get a huge discount with some offers they had on for the day (25% off bedding and money off vouchers!. )Also won 3 swaddle blankets on ebay so feeling a bit better. Now need to take stock on what got/what still need to get.

Sorry to hear about others with piles/backache and lack of sleep. I'm aparantly snoring like a good 'un! (not lactating yet tho). My LO seems to be flipper at the mo - fidgeting all day Sat and Sun (and so far today) and getting into crazy positions that have me going ooh, aaarrgh every now and then making dp laugh!

where does the time go? I'm half way through my day off already
Still, have finished dabbing a bit more paint on the spots the boys missed in the nursery. Got a bit of white to touch up on the ceiling where DH got a couple of big blue blobs, but other than that am dying to get on with getting the furniture set up in there. Feel very frustrated at not being able to lift heavy stuff without pulling muscles in very sore places!

Thanks for the tips on BF/sterilisers, I was thinking of the medela swing and then the lansinoh bottles/freezer bags, was also looking at boots own brand steam steriliser as it seems to fit a wide range of bottles and bits - any opinions? I tried searching in the B/F thread but it's a minefield in there

As for piles, pah, get yourself IBS HAve suffered for years and can thoroughly recommend hypnobirthing as a great way of relaxing that passage enough to have it all slide out without straining

i have the swing pump and it is great- but i am getting an avent hand pump as well as the swing is quite noisy and is scaring the girls if i am feeding one and pumping from the other side!

I'm with you all on shopping woes. Mothercare store on Oxford St. has NOTHING useful in it. Catalogue looks good, but you then have to pay £4.95 for delivery. Is there any way around this (like ordering something to pick up in store?)? It just seems ridiculous otherwise (for the £12.99 bouncy chair I want to buy)!

In Canada, we use receiving blankets instead of muslins, plus you can use them for swaddling too. They're basically square sheets of brushed cotton. Does anyone know where I can buy them here? Mom is sending me some, but I might try to make a lot of them if I can find somewhere that sells cheap brushed cotton.

I feel like I'm going to tip forwards now when I walk... and sitting down/getting up is so much more an ordeal than it was 2 weeks ago. Yikes! 8 weeks still to go!

I thought raspberry leaf was from about 34 weeks?? Another thing to add to my list!

Hi e14 - I saw something called a receiving blanket in Peter Jones yesterday when looking at the bedding. I don't know if it is what you wanted but it has the right name! However I think a receiving blanket here might be more a nice blanket that you use to bring the baby home in, use at a christening etc. rather than the sort of everyday things that a muslin is used for.

Thanks HQ- was it more than £2? Then definitely not what I'm looking for! They get used for wiping up messes, covering yourself when you are feeding, draping over your shoulder to catch messes, etc...but are big enough to wrap baby in too. Will keep looking.

hi everyone, spent the weekend in the lakes at my friends house which was lovely. saw my friends 8 mth old and another friends 4 mth old so got a bit of practice in! unfortunatly my dog developed a problem with its feet and started chewing and licking them which resulted in lots of blood [urghh] took her to vets today and the poor thing has a severe ifection in her claws which is making them itch! if the pills dont work she has to have all her claws removed!!so shes now walking round the house with one of those giant collers on knocking stuff over. have to somehow get her into the bath tonoght to wash them which will be interesting

e14 - it was definitely too posh for that! I think muslins are really what is available here for that sort of thing. Maybe go to John Lewis and look in haberdashery to see if they have any fabrics that are what you're looking for.

Oh, ladies, I'm sure kamillosan is lovely but for me, Lasinoh cream is the only way to go! Happy nipples all round. And you don't need to wipe it off before feeds either.

Definitely get some kind of nipple cream, though, and use it from the first feed - don't wait for cracks and then start.

In other news.... I've been doing a distance learning proofreading course for the psat year - my cunning plan for working from home once the new arrival is settled. And I'm currently putting together the pages of my final assignment for posting!! YAY!!! So exciting to finally be finished! If I could drink, I'd be popping a bottle of bubbly to celebrate but orange juice and soda will have to do instead. And some choccie too, of course.

e14 - isn't there a big Mothercare on the North Circular in Edmonton - I don't know how easy it is for you to get there, though.

I feel like I need a crane to get me out of bed now.