Due December 08 - time to start blooming and glowing.

[JamInMyWellies]

New thread lovely ladies

Hiya all!

Finally got round to posting on this one .
Welcome to the newbies too .

I'm another one who struggles to find decent maternity bras. M & S go up to my size but the maternity bras didn't fit as well as my usual ones in the same size .

I didn't bother buying a change bag-if you join the Boots Mother & Baby club they normally send a voucher to get a free change bag when you buy a packet of Huggies nappies. The one I got when the twins were born was certainly plenty big enough and I think the current bag is quite nice too.

I can't decide if I've been feeling movements yet (16 weeks),but there's definitely something going on in there as it changes at different times during the day.

dear all - to add to the clothes/bra debate: my friend lives in new york and has encouraged me to buy one of these - she has a bella band, but that make is hard to find here so this seems to be similar: bando band

i bought one white, one black and they arrived yesterday and are brilliant - means i can still wear pre-preg trousers even if they lie low or have to be worn with the buttons/zip open. also covers up the space between the bottom of my pre-preg tops and the tops of my pre-preg trousers. makes me feel way more comfortable.

i suspect top shop may do a really cheap version for £5 - mine cost more because i was too keen to get them.

also had my first person get up for me on the tube yesterday, so maybe i do have a proper bump under all the flab. hurrah!

Waiting girl - Topshop do indeed do it for £5. I would urge everyone to invest as it was far and away the best bit of kit I bought for either pg. It means you can put an elastic band on the top button of your jeans (a hairband is good) and then cover the gap. I was in normal clothes til 7 1/2 months thanks to this. And, once you've had the baby, if you BF it covers up the tummy. I was always far more self conscious about the wobbling tum than the random boob action.

Bras - so long as your cup is big enough so the wire is on your chest rather than your boob, that is supposed to be fine. I am still in nursing bras (even though DD gave up about 6 weeks ago) and they are great. I'm gong to invest in some good ones as my boobs don't seem to increase much, being huge already.

Thanks for all the kind words. Feeling much more chipper today.

H & M also do those bands-I think mine was £9.99 for a twin pack of one white and one black.

apols me again - am supposed to be writing my 12,000 dissertation to finish my MA and am finding the internet and MN a much more tempting option... it has to be in mid-september, so there is much more time for procrastinating...

i have just discovered my 4th cold sore of this pregnacy. anyone else had this?

snorris and chutney - am feeling stupid now for spending so much money on my bands. oh well, serves me right for being so impatient.

Morning all, and welcome to the new joiners (not that I've been on much myself).

I was feeling my two move over the last couple of weeks (I think it's normal to feel mvt earlier with twins and on second pregnancies) but now it's almost stopped. I'm trying not to worry, I feel like I've done enough of that to last the whole pregnancy already.

Blummin' maternity bras - has anyone noticed the sizing being different in every brand (no different from normal bras, I suppose)? I'm in the middle of trying to sort out an order with bras 4 mums (which is quite embarassing when delivered at work when they emblazon the packaging), and vary from a 32FF to a 34J. So the bras just keep arriving then going back again. I should just give up...

Someone gave me a bump band, they are very comforting and I can see they would be great for covering up the belly when bf'ing. I know exactly what you mean chutneymary about the wobbly belly being so much more of an issue than exposed wabs.

good morning all Mahoosive ladies and those of us who are Norkally challenged. I just remembered i wore maternity bras and feeding bras all the way through and i had a breast abcess from a dodgy milk duct when DS was 5 weeks so there it is proof that there is no need to ditch the sexy underwire types for the matronly (or leapard dotted) maternity types.

i love those band things my mum sent me 2 from australia and no one had seen them here (3 years ago) but i'm sure i had seen something similar in shops but they obviously weren't letting people know about them. I used to go to Arsenal matches in my Arsenal ladies shirt stretched over my belly and the band covering up that last bit between the shirt and my jeans. (had those low preg jeans that stretch at the do up bit).

They actually have better ones here now as mine tend to roll up a bit at the back as it is the same width all the way round i think now they are a bit wider at the front.

bird if the movement hasn't stopped completely thats alright i think and also at this stage, i think we can feel some but not all movement so they may well be moving and you can't feel it. maybe their playing statues with each other.

Morning all,

re change bags. We got this for our twins and it's still going strong. I found it really useful to have a separate baby bag. The bottle carriers were really useful for keeping bottles upright. The separate little changing mat was really useful as I get a bit germ-phobic around grimy public babychange tables.

And the waterproof lining is really useful as I've spent the last three years chucking scrunched up leaked on babygros, wee'd-on trousers, old juice cartons and the like in it.

Even wrapped up in plastic bags these things still seem to smell and I'd worry about staining and not being able to wash a normal bag. I just chuck this one in the wash.

I also got a black version as I felt sorry for poor DH if he had to cart around a floral Cath Kidston type number. The Kipling can be suitably manly and discreet for the dads to carry!

www.ebags.co.uk/kipling/new_baby_bag_l/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=62425

Am so impressed with those of you still in normal trousers with a little bit of help from bands etc. I am firmly in stretchy maternity trousers at 16 weeks, but I guess that's due to the twins last time around!

Gettingbigger the amount of movement with my twins varied hugely. I remember feeling a bit and then nothing for a while, so try not to worry too much. It is difficult, I do remember, when you're worrying over two babies at once! My 20 week scan I was trembling beforehand at the thought of having everything checked twice!

I'm in normal non-wired bras but really should drag myself to the shops and get remeasured.

Chutney glad you're feeling more chipper.

Going through a very hungry phase again!

Did anyone see the depressing article in the Times about how if you eat junk food and sweet things in pregnancy your baby develops a craving for fat and sugar? Cheerful stuff eh!

Hatty, I saw that. I decided everything in moderation so I reckon 1 apple easily cancels out 3 iced buns

Hello everyone,

Well the bra I order yesterday has arrived! How's that for service?! It has nursingbra.co.uk on the envelope - similar to gettingbiggerbird's experience, no discreet packing here either.

The bra is really soft but not particularly supportive for the big boobed (I got the silky one with the moulded bits in). Much better than any I've tried though. Not a mono-boob in sight! Good for relaxing in and perhaps for later in pregnancy (I hope so anyway!).

I saw that article on the BBC website hatty. It is just something else to make us worried about. My nanna had a craving for the dirty potatoes (she sucked them ) when she was expecting my mum and she's not addicted to soil!

Glad you are feeling a bit better chutney

Keep the changing bag tips coming! Us first-timers need all the tips we can get. I had a look at a Cath Kidson one hatty and then realised that DH would not carry a pretty floral bag about with him!

Morning all (been in a bit of a meeting, so tied up this morning and haven't had a chance to natter)!

Went to Sainsburys last night and was shocked by how strong my pains were low down on right hand side. I had to go and sit down. Poor DH was panicking as we were doing a massive shop for a bbq tonight (20 people). We had 2 enormous trollies full as he insisted on buying 24 bottles of wine. God alone knows why as everyone is bringing a bottle and it's not like we're both cracking through the wine at the moment! Anyway, got me out of having to do any bag packing and all seems to be fine today. It was such sharp pain, though. Is that normal? first time round for me, so I have no idea about htat sort of thing. Much worse than the dull ache I had for a lot of yesterday. Am not really worrying, but can't help thinking about it! If you know what I mean.

Also, did anyone have a maternity nurse/is having one? And are they worth the money?

Thanks v much!

whats a maternity nurse is that like a Doula. We had our DS at The Birth Center in south London very expensive but well worth it, had 2 midwives to myself all the way through and was all good, but as my family is all in Australia i had no one there who was kind of i don't know like a mother or sister. I think a doula would have been helpful for that as i really felt like i didn't know what i was doing.

as far as the food goes, i was so good with DS ate loads of fruit & veg and as i am veggie didnt eat any mac donalds or burger king or what ever, anyway now DS looks at me like i'm mental if i wave a piece of fruit in his direction and i have to hide vegetables in his food. He also thinks pork sausages are the best thing in the world.

beans it's probably fine but you could always give your MW or GP a call to check.

A maternity nurse is someone who generally comes to your house after the baby is born they offer 24hr care. Normally they pretty much have complete autonomy over the baby settling it into a routine bringing the baby to your when it needs feeding. TBH they generally only work if you are going to formula feed very sort of Claire Verity/ Gina Ford esque (does the "esque" cover MN for legal liable dont want to get all embroiled in that one) Also vv expensive.

A doula is generally someone who is there with you at the birth. They help guide you through everything that is going on. They also can offer great help on breastfeeding and quite often come to your home after the baby is born to help with generqal household things.

I had a doula last time round sort of accidentely my NCT teacher had told us she doula'd for free as she felt it was great experience in giving her extra knowledge in her teaching. We asked her to help us but she was already booked up for someone else. Unfortuntley I had a vv long labour back to back. By day 2 my partner was struggling and called doula for some advice she offered to come down and help us. Absoloute godsend I nearly had an em CS but with her advice and support I carried on and eventually gave birth naturally. She also after I was struggling with BF saw us and diagnosed DS tongue tie. Sadly we have now moved too far away for her to do it again so this time we are on our own aarrgghh.

Blimey that was epic.

Crikey. I met a maternity nurse on Tuesday and she was just lovely - and helps with breastfeeding etc. not there at birth, but said she could come and help with settling etc once baby has arrived. I quite like the idea of it, as I have such a terror of breast feeding. I know it's weedy and selfish, but just the thought of something sucking on my nipple fills me with repulsion! (poor DH - haha!) so she said she would help me out with that, but wouldn't press it if I was really struggling, which was comforting.

I'm quite keen, but DH is not. Frankly, I kind of think it's down to me as I'm the one who has to deal with it all when he's gone back to work, but maybe I'm being an old cow about it. thing is, I've saved up the money to pay for it myself, so he wouldn't have to worry. but think he's fretting that he'll be left out. but I think she really gets him involved and will show him how things are done etc as well. Causing a few strains between us at the moment. not what I need!

Oh wow, I'd love to see Dolly Parton, but can't I'm afraid!

Dear All

I'm so glad I've found this site, as it's a real bonus. I'm off on holiday this weekend, so won't speak to you for a bit! Have a great week and hope all scans/hospital appointments etc go well.

Thanks for your help

Beans

oh that doula thing sounds good.

Beans is was exactly the same. I'm a peadiatric nurse and we often had little babies in who were breastfeeding or whose mums might be expressing and i would walk in on them n the room and i just thought it was horrid and there is no way i would do it. But while pregnant i started coming around the idea of it being best and all that so i should at least give it a go. then with the support of my amazing midwives straight after the birth and in the days that followed DS and i picked it up and i have to say i really enjoyed it. DS exclusively BF until 10months (he had issues with solids def a boob boy) and then at12 months dropped to 2-3 times a day only night and morning and then at 18mths just once a day then just before he turned 2 he decided that he wanted a beaker oof cows milk before bed instead of mummys mook mook . I def put it down to the great assistance i had from the girls, i felt confortable with it from the beginning, they made it very stress free and natural feeling, so i would def recommend this lad if she will help you BF. I am such a convert now i am just about to start a BF helpers course and would like to eventually go onto be a BF counsellor.

btw jamin well done on manaing that labour.

my DH just reminded me that my SIL (his S) had a lady who i think was a trained MW stay overnight for the 1st month, i can't quite remember but i think it was £1200mth but that sounds a bit cheap. My SIS tried BF but her MW immediately post op (she had a CS) weren't very helpful and would give the baby formula if my SIL was asleep. As a result she had trouble establishing feeding and wanted to give up . The maternity nurse was lovely and would get her to feed a little when she arrived at 7pm then let her go to bed and attend the baby overnight, then would get my SIL to feed in the morning. In the end the baby mostly bottle fed and she gave up after the month but still feels happy that she was able to at least give him some of her milk for that month. In the end it takes 6weeks to really establish a feeding pattern, but she wasn't to know that the feeding she was doing was not that much but as she had PND it did give her some sense of pride in what was otherwise a bit of a dark and difficult time for her and that made the lady well worth it i think.

for me i don't think i would want a MN but man i would love a full time cleaner.

I had a maternity nurse with my DS, she is a sort of friend of the family as looked after my sister after she had her three babies in Zimbabwe, and she since moved over here. I had her from the end of week two as DH was going away on a work trip and I wasn't sure I'd cope alone. She was fantastic, helped with BF'ing, but did formula feeding at night so that I could get a decents nights sleep. She also did housework, ironing etc. Helped with bathing, winding and settling and was generally a great comfort. Only had her for a wekk and have been debating whether to have her this time around. I think she cost about £500 for the week.