Due DECEMBER 2008 - just over a hundred shopping days to Baby

[LadyThompson]

New thread, people, unless someone else has started one...

I wouldn't leave it too long to try a bottle. We had a nightmare getting DD to take one as we left it a bit too long. So with DS tried a bottle at about 3 weeks and it worked OK-he would switch between breast and bottle no problem. With DD I used a manual pump for expressing but it was a lot of effort for not much gain (i.e 1 or 2oz milk which she would then refuse to drink)Hardly bothered with DS and if we were going out or something just gave him formula.

Also found bouncy chair really useful.

Beans33-nothing wrong with looking forward to labour. Giving birth has to be the most exciting event to take place in my life!!

Just been chatting to my sister who has begun her first maternity leave (she is a teacher so lucky her just goes back for a day in Sept and gets paid all summer, with baby due end Sept). Felt very jealous that she can lie on the sofa reading a book and have relaxing long baths, while I am knee deep in washing, latest nits infestation (had been doing the rounds at school so we have been given it as a lovely summer holiday gift), noisy children and general mess. Of course I love my children, but feel very wistful for that first relaxing/exciting maternity leave.

Just adding hospital

MrsMattie due 28/11 DC#2
snowwombat due 30/11 DC#1
badkitty due 01/12 DC#1
twinkle183 due 01/12 DC#3
pwcbird due 01/12 DC#2
rosmerta due 02/12 DC#2
RawChocolate due 02/12 DC#3
Flumpybumpy due 02/12 DC#3
theyoungvisiter due 03/12 DC#2
Modernlove due 03/12 DC#1
cc21 due 03/12 DC#2
DonnyLass due 03/12 DC#2
LadyThompson due 03/12 DD#1 St Mary's, London
goneundergroundtillfamilyknow due 04/12 DC#3
Verso due 04/12 DC#2
Hanni22anni due 04/12 DC#2
BrightShinySun due 05/12 DC#2
Nolda due 05/12 DC#2 Princess Anne, Southampton
mibbes due 06/12 DC#1 Stirling Royal
majormoo due 06/12 DC#3 Royal Sussex Brighton
pixsix due 07/12 DC#1 St Thomas', London
elenamaesmummy due 07/12 DC#2
jenduck due 07/12 DC#1
Beans33 due 07/12 DC#1 St Thomas' London
poisondwarf due 08/12 DC#2 Homerton, London
toratora due 08/12 DC#3
Mina30 due 08/12 DC#2
lal07 due 08/12 DC#2
jumpjockey due 08/12 DC#1
JamInMyWellies due 09/12 DC#2 St Johns, Chelmsford
ChutneyMary due 10/12 DC#3
Artichokes due 10/12 DC#2
hiccymapops due 11/12 DC#2
Bisou due 12/12 DC#1
fishnchips due 12/12 DC#3
Jackstini due 12/12 DC#2
kayzisexpecting due 12/12 DC#2
Alliebongo due 13/12 DC#3
KutilPutil due 13/12 DC#2
cococat due 14/12 DC#1
pootleflump due 14/12 DC#2
Katie3677 due 14/12 DC#2
monkeydops due 15/12 DC#2
Veggiemummy due 1512 DC#2 Homebirth in Derby
bunnysgirl due 16/12 DC#2
Kmp1 due 17/12 DC#1 Queen Charlottes London
chinchi due 17/12 DC#2 Calderdale Royal, Halifax
IceCube due 18/12 DC#1 Homebirth in Cheshire
snorris due 18/12 DC#5
SummerLightning 18/12 DC#1 Addenbrookes Cambridge
moaningminnie2020 due 20/12 DC#2
reban due 20/12 DC#4
hotmama due 21/12 DC#3
RhinestoneCowgirl/MaeWest due 21/12 DC#
abbymeg due 21/12 DC#2
waitinggirl 21/12/ DC#1 - Whittington, London
georgiepig due 22/12 DC#2
NineUnlikelyTales due 22/12 DC#2
hattyyellow due 22/12 DC#3
Indith due 24/12 DC#2
Turniphead1 due 24/12 DC#3- St John & Elizabeth's, North London
zoejeanne due 24/12 DC#1, Scarborough
Missmama due 25/12 DC#3
Disenchanted due 25/12 DC#3
kitkat9 due 25/12 DC#3
Annagt due 25/12 DC#1
strikey due 25/12 DC#2
GettingBiggerBird due 25/12 DC's#2&3 Homerton, London
purplepansy due 25/12 DC#3
PinguRocks due 25/12 DC#1 St Thomas' London
Jollybear due 26/12 DC#1
tm2 due 26/12 DC#1
GordontheGopher due 26/12 DC#2
Twiga/okaythen due 26/12 DC#3
LitterBug due 26/12 DC#3
Olipop due 27/12 DC#2 (one DS already age 2 1/2) - West Middlesex Hospital London
simmo14 due 27/12 DC#2
rowergirl due 27/12 DC#2
feb due 28/12 DC#2
babblington due 29/12 DC#3
EffiePerine due 30/12 DC2 Homerton, London
march29 due 31/12 DC2
JezzaJ9 due 08/12/08 Hope, Manchester

p.s sorry to bring the nits up again but they are just so ANNOYING

alwaya get a new mattress for each baby as the fire retardent mixes with baby puke and saliva etc that goes into mattress and can cause a funny combination that can cause cotdeath in subsequent children.

Do not express for 1st 6 weeks as you and baby need to establish a good feeding pattern and it mixes everything up if you express your body can't work out whats going on and doesn't know when and what to produce (i.e. how much fore & hond milk) Daddy can find plenty of other ways to bond, including lots of cuddles and chatting.

i'm still reading through posts but needed to pop that in as i knew i would forget by the time i finished reading as i always do. You ladies have been busy this arvo.

missmama they told you to stop BFing why?

Beans good on you for looking forward to it, and of course you should you get to do something amazing and you get to meet you baby. Even if the birth ends up a C-section you still see what your body has just grown over the last 12months, very cool and don't let anyone tell you otherwise or try to scare you about the birth and labour. With your attitude you will are halfway to having the birth you want, but you will get people trying to scare you and usually they are people who had a normal birth but for some reason like to scare mums-to-be.

indith i was trying to work out what cottage pie paint must look like then realised you meant you dropped your cottage pie, i am so dim today, hope you didnt burn yourself.

I have terribe wind pain and veggiebaby is making it very difficult to pass so in much discomfort when lying in bed. This baby has made a bed of my lower bowel.

majormoo did you get my post re Hedrin saved my sanity and my families hair as was close to shaving all our hair off, and DH & I both have long hair.

Majormoo - for nits, the best things I have found for me and DD1 (long, very curly blonde hair, really hard to comb and brush) are the nitty gritty comb and john frieda frizz ease. Gets it all sorted in an hour or so, without any pain. We put Cinderella on the DVD (but any other DVD would also work ) and comb away, dipping the comb in a pint of water to get the blighters out. Every day / every other day for a week should do it. You have my sympathies.

Shopping for babies - such cute clothes (esp in places like Monsoon), but DON'T go too mad at this stage. A bit mad is fine, but I bought loads of rubbish for DD1 which still has labels on 3 years later. Things to avoid, IME, include:

• any clothes which aren't babygros or vests
• anything which fastens at the back
• anything which is tight over the head (vests are made so the head gap is huge - but babies hate tight things going over them)
• anything which isn't machine washable

Best buy IMO is a rainhat for you. You can't push a buggy and carry an umbrella!

Feeding - I BF both of mine, so have limited experience of bottles etc but I would say if you are planning to BF then don't buy bottles, formula etc "just in case" as you may crack sooner than you'd like if it's not easy at first and there is some in the house! There will still be shops open once the baby is here (and you can get bottles in places like Tesco as well as formula) so you can always send DP out to buy some if you decide you want to feed.

As for expressing, I would hold off buying the pimp for the same reason. As Veggie says, it's not ideal to express much at the very beginning if your baby is feeding ok as you can send your supply into overdrive and get very sore. If you decide BF is not for you you then have a pump which you can't use and have to resell. I had a medela mini electric which is great but so loud I had to put the subtitles on the telly! I also rented a double pump which was brilliant if you are going to do a lot of pumping (I pumped and froze for DD2 when I went back to work).

I never sterilised anything for DD2 (she had EBM from time to time from about 6 weeks) - just put it in the dishwasher - and she has never had an upset tummy. My steriliser from DD1 is currently gathering dust, so if any of the London ladies would like it, I'll bring it for you to the next meet up.

Moses basket - DD1 was huge (nearly 10lb) and in the Mosey for about 10 minutes as she hated it. DD2 loved it and was in til about 4 months. I'd borrow one if possible (but get a new mattress) but if money was tight then I'd not bother and spend the cash on a cot. They'll be in that for ages (til about 2 1/2) so it's money well spent.

I know what you mean about envying someone on ML. I had a week with DD1 and, er, 3 days with DD2 so I am very jealous of those who have a few weeks of sofa time. It's different too when you have another child, as you don't languish in the same way. With DD1 I would practically be able to recite what was happening each week to the baby. With DC3, I can barely remember how many weeks I am! Still the 2 DDs are lovely (esp now they are asleep!)

Hope everyone is OK. Beans, look forward to your labour as a positive attitude really helps. Plus, however it turns out, you get a lovely baby at the end. How fabby is that.

Think when it comes to expressing you just have to go with the flow a bit. I had to express in the first wk or so as DS was tongue tie and the pain of having him on my boobs was just too much so would feed from boob then give that boob a rest and do the next feed as an express. TBH he never had any problem bt nipple and bottle.

zoejeanne waving to lady giving birth at Scarborough! I had my DD there 10 years ago (I'm from Scarb)

I had my scan today, and thankfully all is well. I had the most unresponsive ultrasound technician though who said maybe twenty words the entire time she was scanning me, which was quite frustrating. She finished with "it looks like a boy" then switched the machine off. So, I'm assuming that means there's a good chance it's a boy... or a very masculine girl .

I'm curious about elective c-sections. I'm asking for one at the start of September and I'm wondering whether I will meet resistance or not. Can anyone else tell me what experience they've had? I noticed flumpybumpy has a date for an elective - was it difficult to organise? (The reason for wanting one this time is a pretty bad experience with DD resulting in emergency c-section. She was also HUGE - 10lbs 12oz.)

hi all, been doing another class observation today so haven't been on all day & you've all been really chatty!

I've tried to remember everything but pg brain has definitely kicked in!

I remember with ds someone suggested to us that any new clothes we get need to be washed first before the baby wears them, of course then ds was too big for most of it and we couldn't take them back. So don't take any clothes out of the wrapping until you know they fit!

Anyway, I think everyone's ok apart from more nits! I'll do better next time I promise!

Oh Veggemum lots of reasons and no reason at all
From about 6 weeks DS2 was under 2 paediatricians he had chronic eczema and slow weight gain (according to them!)
He was born on the 75th percentile for length and 50th for weight by about 10 weeks he was around the 3rd for weight but had maintained 75 for length. We had a standing 2 week appointment at the hospital and I was seeing the dietitian as well, to make sure that my milk had enough nutrients in it. Writing it all down it sounds quite bad I suppose but he was a perfectly normal baby.
In the end I started to say that I knew they thought I was starving him because I was fat so I must be eating all his food. I am 5ft1 and at the time about 14 stone I think. I made DH have time off work to come with me a couple of times he is 6ft and just over 8 stone. They took one look at him and said DS is just taking after his Dad.
But when I started weaning he did not put on weight quickly enough for them and I was told I was not doing him any good by continuing to breastfeed.
He is now nearly 8 and one of the tallest and skinniest in his class (he wears pants aged 3/4 ) and you would not believe how much the boy eats.

Ooops can you tell it still winds me up

But now I am older and wiser (honest) and they are not going to push me about this time

Abbey i'm surprised they haven't asked you if you would like one already. I know of only 1 hospital that actively insists on trying for a vaginal birth after a c-section. I have a friend who is 32 weeks and her DS1 was delivered by c-section and she wants to try for a natural birth and the Doctors haven't been very encouraging, her midwives have been fine wit it but she got the impression that if she said she wanted a c-section that would be it, it would be booked and sorted. Are you having your baby at St Thomas'?

Just adding my hospital while I think about it.

MrsMattie due 28/11 DC#2
snowwombat due 30/11 DC#1
badkitty due 01/12 DC#1
twinkle183 due 01/12 DC#3
pwcbird due 01/12 DC#2
rosmerta due 02/12 DC#2
RawChocolate due 02/12 DC#3
Flumpybumpy due 02/12 DC#3
theyoungvisiter due 03/12 DC#2
Modernlove due 03/12 DC#1
cc21 due 03/12 DC#2
DonnyLass due 03/12 DC#2
LadyThompson due 03/12 DD#1 St Mary's, London
goneundergroundtillfamilyknow due 04/12 DC#3
Verso due 04/12 DC#2
Hanni22anni due 04/12 DC#2
BrightShinySun due 05/12 DC#2
Nolda due 05/12 DC#2 Princess Anne, Southampton
mibbes due 06/12 DC#1 Stirling Royal
majormoo due 06/12 DC#3 Royal Sussex Brighton
pixsix due 07/12 DC#1 St Thomas', London
elenamaesmummy due 07/12 DC#2
jenduck due 07/12 DC#1
Beans33 due 07/12 DC#1 St Thomas' London
poisondwarf due 08/12 DC#2 Homerton, London
toratora due 08/12 DC#3
Mina30 due 08/12 DC#2
lal07 due 08/12 DC#2
jumpjockey due 08/12 DC#1
JamInMyWellies due 09/12 DC#2 St Johns, Chelmsford
ChutneyMary due 10/12 DC#3
Artichokes due 10/12 DC#2
hiccymapops due 11/12 DC#2
Bisou due 12/12 DC#1
fishnchips due 12/12 DC#3
Jackstini due 12/12 DC#2
kayzisexpecting due 12/12 DC#2
Alliebongo due 13/12 DC#3
KutilPutil due 13/12 DC#2
cococat due 14/12 DC#1
pootleflump due 14/12 DC#2
Katie3677 due 14/12 DC#2
monkeydops due 15/12 DC#2
Veggiemummy due 1512 DC#2 Homebirth in Derby
bunnysgirl due 16/12 DC#2
Kmp1 due 17/12 DC#1 Queen Charlottes London
chinchi due 17/12 DC#2 Calderdale Royal, Halifax
IceCube due 18/12 DC#1 Homebirth in Cheshire
snorris due 18/12 DC#5
SummerLightning 18/12 DC#1 Addenbrookes Cambridge
moaningminnie2020 due 20/12 DC#2
reban due 20/12 DC#4
hotmama due 21/12 DC#3
RhinestoneCowgirl/MaeWest due 21/12 DC#
abbymeg due 21/12 DC#2
waitinggirl 21/12/ DC#1 - Whittington, London
georgiepig due 22/12 DC#2
NineUnlikelyTales due 22/12 DC#2
hattyyellow due 22/12 DC#3
Indith due 24/12 DC#2
Turniphead1 due 24/12 DC#3- St John & Elizabeth's, North London
zoejeanne due 24/12 DC#1, Scarborough
Missmama due 25/12 DC#3 Birmingham Heartlands
Disenchanted due 25/12 DC#3
kitkat9 due 25/12 DC#3
Annagt due 25/12 DC#1
strikey due 25/12 DC#2
GettingBiggerBird due 25/12 DC's#2&3 Homerton, London
purplepansy due 25/12 DC#3
PinguRocks due 25/12 DC#1 St Thomas' London
Jollybear due 26/12 DC#1
tm2 due 26/12 DC#1
GordontheGopher due 26/12 DC#2
Twiga/okaythen due 26/12 DC#3
LitterBug due 26/12 DC#3
Olipop due 27/12 DC#2 (one DS already age 2 1/2) - West Middlesex Hospital London
simmo14 due 27/12 DC#2
rowergirl due 27/12 DC#2
feb due 28/12 DC#2
babblington due 29/12 DC#3
EffiePerine due 30/12 DC2 Homerton, London
march29 due 31/12 DC2
JezzaJ9 due 08/12/08 Hope, Manchester

missmama you poor thing do you know i had the exact same stuff going on with DS but with no interference, when the HV did start mentioning she was a little concerned about his lack of weight gain at 8months (he basically put on next to nothing from 7-9months) i just stopped going everything else was progressing beautifully height was good development was amazing and as i worked in a child health dept i just weighed him each time i popped in for a visit. He is now 3 and bigger than all the kids his age. So them butting their noses in made no diff to yours if mine turned out the same.

oh missmama thats awful . My DS was a slow weight gainer as well I just didnt take him to be weighed. he is now a vv healthy 14mth old check out my profile.

It always amazes me how health professionals expect children to develop at exactly the same rates, as though there's a specific line to follow! HV tried to tell me that ds was underweight for his height (he was v long but skinny) but by then I was a lot more confident with him & knew he was doing fine! Like you veggie I stopped going to the HV.

abbeymeg I asked for a c/s at an early consultant visit because DD's birth and my subsequent recovery were grim to say the least. My consultant didn't quibble about it at all - but then he knew I was under a consultant and a physiotherapist for six months after DD's birth and that the urogynaecological consultant had previously recommended a c/s next time round. I don't have a date yet - and probably won't get one for some time - but I am hugely relieved to know I won't have to risk the same kind of damage again. I agree with Veggie that you will probably find it no trouble to arrange at all. I hope so, anyway.

thanks for the advice on shoes i have Havianas, i'm currently wearing my Teva sandals which are usually really comfortable but i have fairly flat feet and now with all that Relaxin on board they are needing more support. I think i need to get some shoes that i can put an inner sole in. I have a podiatry appointment next tuesday to get a supportive innersole.

I was quite happy to ignore the HV as he was my second but was not brave enough to miss the consultants appointments

I do remember having a big argument with the HV because the dietitian at the hospital had taught me how to make mashed potato with a pint of double cream and a pound of butter to try and force calories into him. Yum
HV tried to tell me it was not allowed and tried to almost shout me down over it at clinic. I had to decide that day which one I was going to listen too.

hello all - back from the massive family gathering in north wales where all was fine, apart from Aunty Judy (who reminds me of Lily Savage) looking at me for ages and then telling me there was sadness in my eyes, as if she were a fortune teller. i was tempted to punch her, but thought that wouldn't be politic. everyone asked if i could feel it move, which is only fuelling my paranoia - my bump is HUGE, but i can't feel anything and scan is on wed - fingers crossed.

i rate birkenstocks for shoes, but then again i am half german - i've got a lovely couple of pairs with diamante buckles. i live in them over the summer.

thx for all the tips re: what to buy - have started a list, although will wait until after wed before i get more into it.

oh missmama that is a nightmare i have to say i work closely with HV's and there are some very good ones but so many crap ones. My HV for DS kept giving advice that conflicted with the advice she had given the previous visit, and often conflicted with what i knew to be right.

oh yeah Birkenstocks they would be a more supportive open shoe.

waiting you should have just punch her and then said 'aaahhhh thats sorted out the sadness i feel much better now'

Rosemerta how did that paper go that you were writing on BF/FF?

Morning all, how are you today?

Thanks for all the dos and don'ts of what to buy yesterday - I've written a long list, about equally long for both the dos and the don'ts!

Hi abbeymeg (waves back) - are you still living in Scarborough or have you moved now?

beans someone I work with told me she enjoyed giving birth, and I looked at her like she was mad! But she told me that going through every contraction and push and heave brought her a bit nearer to being a mum, which she wanted more than anything, so she knew the end goal would be a million times better than the pain. Adding this to the comments on here, I think I'm almost looking forward to it as well now (but still apprehensive!)

Have a good day all

Z.x

just wanted to know if there is anyone, anyone out there who still can't feel movement?