Due April 2008 - for our third and final trimester, give us our extra 200 kcals!

[EllieG]

Here we are!

I've always said I'd like 4 kids (maybe because I have 3 brothers). I love big families. however, I'm 32 so I won't be able to leave much time between them. Perganncy is ok for me. The first three months were hell and sore hips and legs when I sleep are a real pain but compared to some people I'd say that's not too bad...

See thats interesting Molly - i am one of 3 sisters and before i was pg with Millie felt llike 1 of everything was missing - shoes, plate, etc. now i feel much more complete now there will be 3, although i secretly hanker after 4 of my own. Thing is, we always have to consider Zac when baby making....me and DH nearly split up over me wanting another baby last time - took me a good 18mths to persuade him and to be able to stop contraception; i just dont think he will want another, but sometimes he says lets see, so who knows?!?

Whats everyone doing today? Its jsut me and Reilly today; am going to treat him to burger and chips for lunch and a new magazine.

I had to have a course of pessaries earlier in pg, the midwife told me to insert them using my finger rather than the applicator cos it's softer and wouldn't push the pessary into my cervix too hard! Worked a treat.

ooh thanks Knitter i was a bit worried about using that....

Ladies, how many sets of sheets for the Moses basket do you think I need to start off with? Do you think two fitted and two flat is enough? (I also have 2 fitted and 2 flat for the cot later). That should be enough to start with, shouldn't it? I can buy more if needs be... I also have the gro bags although I think babies need to be swaddled at the beginning....

Do you get special sheets for moses baskets? I am so clueless!

Molly, I printed off your list yesterday so thanks again for that! I am starting to panic as I have nothing ready, except for some cute outfits for when she is 6 months old! She'll have to sleep in a drawer if I don't get things ready soon.

I assume if I use a grobag I don't need a top sheet in addition to that?

For years my dh didn't want kids and just wanted to enjoy living abroad, now he says he wants three but will compromise on two. Ahem, I think I have something to do with the decision too! He thinks I will change my mind and have a second but I am not keen at the moment. I never wanted to be an older mother and that's what puts me off really.

One reason I'm not sure about a third is that pregnancy was OK for me at 32, but is proving to be more of an issue now at 35 with the SPD and GD and just generally being more knackered. I do wonder whether I'll be up to doing it again at (say) 38 or not... [decrepit old fogey emoticon].

I think for the moses basket and cot the fitted sheets would be a different size. I don't think it really matters for the flat sheets. You don't even need flat sheets if you have the gro bag but then I thought babies were supposed to be swaddled in sheets and blankets for the first couple of months and then put in gro bags (?)

Sorry i haven't posted for a while, been reading avidly though.

In TK Maxx they have gro bags for half price (£10 ish). Though it did say on the back of one that you shouldn't use one for the first six weeks?

I have managed to get some sheets for the cot from Asda, but am struggling to get some blankets for a reasonable price. Does anyone know of anywhere?

PAL, I can se what you mean. If I want 4 I'm probably looking at the next one when I'm 34, (maybe 18 month after this one, means getting pregnant again next January!) then one when I'm 26 and one when I'm 38. I guess I will be pretty knackered after that and I will also need liposuction

36 I meant and not 26 (if only, sigh)

I don't think I can get fitted sheets for my crib as is weird size - had to get mattress made to fit. Are you allowed to use not fitted ones?

Annieroo, I was in matalan yesterday and they have cot & moses basket sized sheets, and cellular blankets. I didn't look how much the blankets are but I got 2 flannelette moses basket/pram sized sheets for £3, but they have an offer to get 2 packs for £4. They're £4.99 for 2 in mothercare, so I'd imagine the blankets are cheaper too?

Can't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to use flat sheets on your crib, as the edges will be tucked right underneath. Might be worth trying fitted ones though as they're stretchy. I got some moses basket sized ones for my quinny carry cot mattress, and was concerned that they might be too small and make the mattress banana shaped, but have been convinced by a couple of people that they'll be fine.

I'll be 36 on Thursday

I just ordered a grobag on www.bumpto3.com as they have some on sale and you get an extra 10% off through mumsnet.

is there any reason to actually have a 'changing' bag or are you just as well with a normal bag?? I seem to have loads of rucksacs and wondered about just using one of them.......

I've just ordered one of these, a peerie one. One of my best friends has one and loves it1 And only £18 too.

A normal bag will be fine. A "changing" bag is handy as you know where everything is but an organised rucksack will do fine. The changing bags that incorporate a changing mat so that you just open the bag up and there's a mat in the middle with everything you need off to the sides and you can pop baby in the middle on the mat are useful, but they aren't essential.

Thanks Knitter, hadn't thought of going there.

Sheds, I don't think you need an actual changing bag. I wasn't going to get one but DH went a bit nuts while in the USA and got me one. They are handy though, with the insulated pockets for the bottles, changing mat and mine even came with a bib and a shoulder throw. I'd say see how you get on with the rucksack first.

Can't believe anyone is thinking of the next baby!! I've already spoken to the doctor, and will (hopefully) be sterilised when LO is six weeks...I don't trust vasectomies (i know of too many that haven't worked). And by the time this one is born, I will have two more DCs than I ever wanted! That's the one good thing about this pregnancy - it's my last!!

P&L is right - the changing bags that come with an in-built mat are handy (for those emergencies when you need to change LO on the floor of somewhere horrible), but I suppose you could make a mat quite easily and put it in a normal bag.

I haven't sorted out anything yet for LO - just hoping that I stored all DD's stuff away properly.

TBH we didn't have a changing mat with ds's 2 and 3, even though ds3 is still in nappies (NAS lady going to look into getting them for free- yay- next size up £1 a nappy ), but I have bought one for this baby- not sure why LOL! I guess with two in nappies i figured I may as well (and it's cute- not sure i'd have bothered otherwise!).

Had a terrible night with ds1 last night but I think in some ways that was good as I looked ytired etc for support lady, whereas i normally look as if I am coping fine and therefore end up as nobodies priority. Even managed to shock ds1 into his own bed by collapsing interars on phone to DH- not one of my prouder moments but hey, it was midnight, had been up since early hours and well, hormones LOL!.

Hope you are ok peachy?

I like my changing bag; the mats are handy and the different pockets.

I got 4 fitted moses basket sheets (pink, natch) in jersey material for the moses basket/carrycot.

Not getting her a cot until she has grown out of basket; will then buy cot set & sheets.

I only got 4 sheets because im quite on top of washing & have a tumble drier - if you dont i would get more - they shed their hair on them, be sick and maybe poo leaks out on them and you don't wanna be caught short in the night!! I also got moses basket size blankets.

I dont want any more babies past 25, thanks! well i started at 17 and dont wanna do it forever!! (says scorpio who will hassle DH for babies probably until she is well into the menopause)!!!!

Peachy you must be knackered. Someone tried to break into our bedroom [ground floor] the other night and I haven't been sleeping very well since, must say, but ds thankfully sleeping soundly.
Ds [3] has been sleeping in our bed ever since he was about 3 months [after 3 months of no sleep for either of us] so he hasn't used the cot mattress much. Do I need to get a new one for the new baby? I mean it has had a few accidents on it in the early months [nappies leaking pee etc] and has gathered a bit of dust but not sure if i really need to get a new one. That is if the new baby is going to actually agree to sleep in it...