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Due Nov 2008 - Explosion Risks, Names Dilemmas and Baby shopping Galore!

993 replies

LadyBuzz · 03/09/2008 11:52

New thread ladies

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ruthosaurus · 17/09/2008 13:11

Daisy, I can't spit in her tea as the bwitch keeps the lid on her cauldron padlocked . Have massive case of tearful rage going on today and blaming hormones and lack of sleep as nothing else is wrong but I CANNOT GET COMFORTABLE AT NIGHT and it is driving me mad [scream!].

Poor old DH stayed in yesterday to sand the floor and take delivery of the new wardrobes, went to his own GP to report his own lack of sleep, poor thing, took the sander back and then came to ante-natal with me, after which he bought us both pizza. And what did he get from his DW? Hormonal attitude and sulking because my pillows are all lumpy and the duvet's too hot (which to be fair I did admit to, but still...) ..

Antenatal was ace - we were 10 mins late but the mw was lovely and we didn't have to a) sit on the floor on beanbags and practice breathing b) do an icebreaker or c) watch a video of someone else giving birth. The mw is called Maria and is Spanish and is really into giving dramatic interpretations of what women in different stages of labour sound like, for the benefit of the birth partners in the room - oohs and arrghs and swearing - it was amazing. She kept saying things like "and this is where she calls you an idiot and says you're never coming near her again and she may scratch you a bit, so wear long sleeves". I didn't get much info from session that I can't get from you ladies or books but it was hilarious. Plus, I liked her take on contractions "It's supposed to hurt otherwise you'd have the baby in the middle of Tesco - pop!" and "if your waters break while you're eating a lovely icecream, check the puddle and if they're clear, finish the icecream and call me; if not, finish the icecream and just come straight to the hospital". I love that woman and want her to deliver my baby!

Hugs to all who are also having a crap day - what's the mantra again?

ruthosaurus · 17/09/2008 13:30

Hugs especially to you, Pinkali - bet you anything your sister is putting on a front for your mum and sobs wretchedly as soon as she leaves...

Plus, I dunno about anyone else, but I have never understood why parents so enjoy telling their children just how well their siblings are doing because it always makes you think "compared to me, eh, mum?". Or am I just a sad, bitter low achiever compared to my amazing thin Paris-dwelling high-flying media career younger sister (who has also just got back from a holiday in Tanzania)? I love her to bits, it's just the dad updates I have come to know and dread. I bet she hates hearing about me too, come to think about it.

Tell your sis to choose a name for your niece already or you'll give the baby a nickname and it will STICK and her child will be forever known as Poohead or Snotface or something equally grownup.

You will cope, and admirably, too, hon - I'm scared too but we can do it [hugs]. I really hate panicking/crying in the bath or shower - the water makes it so much worse for some reason.

DH will feed the animals, or your mum will feed him to them. Or I might.

Sharon13 · 17/09/2008 13:40

Hi All & Welcome to anyone new....sorry I've not been on in over a week so feel like I have missed so much!!

V-cusions - I bought one from babyworld and its great for propping me up in sofa, didnt like it for sleeping and am hoping will be useful when baby arrives otherwise might be one of those waste of money items.

Started NCT classes - some people seemed so organised and knowledgeable and others (me) were just coasting along thinking that we had ages before the baby arrives and is only beginning to realise that its in about 9weeks all going well . Oh well, I am getting there slowly but only thanks to the asda baby event where I stocked up on loads of stuff. But how do you know what you will need, what is the best thing to buy etc - is all so confusing for us first timers. My thought now is just to go with the flow....

Did buy manual breast pump as would like to do mix of breast and bottle as much to get DH involved in feeding - can you start to mix both as early as possible or should I wait a bit. My friend only did breast and is now struggling to get baby to take bottle?

Anyway, lack of sleep is not doing my baby brain much good this week so work is being added hassle but only 4 weeks till I stop and then it will all start to feel very real and close

Take care all and I will try to check in more often.

PInkyminkyohnooo · 17/09/2008 13:44

Hello all
sorry to hear of your suffering, Oblomov, hope you get some good treatment soon.

MM hand expressing was quite easy. I never got any blocked ducts or mastitits or anything, and fed DS exclusively on breastmilk- which given the problems we had I feel quite proud of really. I Just think I'd had enough of being hooked up to machines after a month, which could be why I didn't like another electric pump.

Idid get mastitis when I was bfeeding DD, however, but only the once, well it went away fro a bit then came back but I think it was the same bout of it, IYSWIM.

When I said it was hard, it wasn't physically hard to do, it was just the 2 and then 3 hourly routine of it that was hard. DS was actually sleeping through but I still had to get up in the night to express!

Dozymare · 17/09/2008 14:21

I agree with the pumping, definately better to do it in the morning as there is definately an excess of milk - i found it hard to do at night as had been on the go all day long and that is when my supply was generally lower....I guess it depends on what sort of feeding routine you are in though?????

Pinkali our DS2 was nameless for 5 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had a name picked out all ready to go (Jasper) and when DS2 came along he just wasn't a Jasper!!! We then spent days to-ing and froing before settling on a name!! It is quite common I believe!!!!

Off for a bike ride with ds's now!

PInkyminkyohnooo · 17/09/2008 14:34

I found that at about 3am I made the most milk for DS. But I was exclusivley expressing at that point. Morning is certainly a god time to do it if you are expressing enough for just one bottle a day or somesuch.

Have a nice bike ride, DM.

ceebee74 · 17/09/2008 14:38

Will catch up in a bit - but to all those worrying about what size clothes to take to hospital, just thought I would tell you about my colleague....she had a little boy last Wednesday who was 10lb 4oz and is already in 3-6 months clothes so imagine all those newborn/0-3 months clothes that will be wasted

hanaflower · 17/09/2008 14:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ruthosaurus · 17/09/2008 14:56

Bike ride? [we're not worthy, we're not worthy]. I'm in awe of Dozy's energy levels and general fitness!

PInkyminkyohnooo · 17/09/2008 14:57

haha HANA I'm just stubborn. Common sense would prolly have told me to just stop and FF, but I had decided to BF, and since all my other birth plan type things had gone tits up (bad pun) I dug my heels in over that one!

I think you are right, personally. YOu can alsways pop to tesco or wherever for a pump if you feel like trying it at some point, or if you end up needing to for some reason- e.g. my friend had to have her appendix out not long afetr her baby was born, so needed to express a bit to keep supply going.
I think DH missed doing the bottles with DD as he had done it with DS, but as you say, there is plenty of other stuff to do, and he definitely bonded with DD.

PInkyminkyohnooo · 17/09/2008 15:03

I think DM is actually training her sons as rickshaw drivers- I am just tryin not to think of the idea she is actually riding a bike.

ceebee you just never know what size these babies will be,I guess! DS was in newborn for about 5mins, DD for a couple of months..but..10lb 4oz

ruthosaurus · 17/09/2008 15:28

I know, Pinky, my pelvis is twanging in sympathy...

Anyone got any changing mat advice? I ahve a large-ish chest of drawers with the top at the right height for putting a changing mat on, and the baby's room is titchy so I'm not getting a changing table, but I have a wonky knee so can't kneel on the floor to change. Therefore [gets to point] does anyone have any views on a good safe changing thingy? I have seen a few online but wondered what other people had done/already bought.

MerryMarigold · 17/09/2008 15:37

Pinkali, siblings (especially sisters) can be your best friends and also a terrible burden! It's particularly hard when it's just 2 of you. I'm still convinced aged 35 that my mum and dad love my sister more, and think she is a nicer person than me (well, let's face it, she is!). Like, saurus, my YOUNGER got married first and works abroad - first in China and now in Abu Dhabi, living the ex pat lifetstyle. She goes on very exotic holidays at least 3x per year, their 'main' one this year was Peru, but they go to India 'for Eid' and Jordan 'for Easter' etc. My Dad's Christmas 'newsletters' are full of all their wonderful, exciting news. Except for the year he put his foot in it and told the entire world that my sister wanted a baby and her husband did not. But she's still yuckily nice enough to cut short her holidays to come and help me out with my ds or fly to England for 4 days because I was really ill! God, I love her!!

saurus, the midwife sounds fantastic! Very funny. But you may suddenly want someone really sweet and sympathetic when you are sobbing/ shouting: "I thought there was supposed to be a break between contractions!" and she says, "Well, my dear, that's what it feels like or you might be tempted to have the baby at afternoon tea in the Cadogan!"

Pinky, am gonna see how the boobs go and the twins sleep. If they sleep through the night, not only will I be like a cheshire cat, but will def get up to express. If they are up 4-5x like ds then I will be expressing in morning! Like dozy, I had less when I went to bed, also ds seemed to be on a feeding frenzy from 7pm onwards. But these ones have a routine, oh yes, I will not be swayed! (You just can't demand feed with a toddler and twins), though I will for first 2-3 weeks while dh is on paternity.

Dozy, these bike rides are doin me head in! I was debating if I felt up to driving ds to the park!

PInkyminkyohnooo · 17/09/2008 15:39

I think choco found a mat with a harness on it, not sure where.
I just use the wedge shaped ones on my changing table, (I have an Ikea chest of drawersm one) they do help hold the baby in place.

You can get a wooden bit to go on top of drawers, from the usual baby places.I'm guessing you may have to screw it down. Not much help, I'm afriad.

MerryMarigold · 17/09/2008 15:46

Yeah that wedge shaped one looks good, BabyDan do one. I had a changing table but the only thing to stop the baby rolling off was the side of the mat anyway. However, the mat was held in place and didn't move around...I think it'll be fine till your baby gets wriggly, when it is better to do them on the floor/ bed (sitting not kneeling). Some people manage to change babies on their lap! Not a skill I ever aquired.

Oblomov · 17/09/2008 15:52

Changing Mats - I have a rumble tuff one. mat
I actually did order it from the US, and the p&p was reasonable - about $9. I got the mat and it has straps, so you can strap baby in.
I know you can get them form the Uk, on e-bay, aswell, I am sure.

But with all honesty, baby rolling off mat, i.e. you never leave baby unattended, is not really a concern for most people - so not sure that a wedge changing mat is REALLY a neccessity.

PInkyminkyohnooo · 17/09/2008 15:58

the wedge ones are good not because of a safety thing particularly, but because they reduce wriggling considerably.My first mat wasn't a wedge but my friend had one and after I used it a few times I decided to get one. They are no more expensive than a decent flat one, I don't think. Got mine from m/care.

ruthosaurus · 17/09/2008 16:03

My comp is going nuts - just had a really long and involved reply typed out and the machine et it. Nuts.

Gist was - nah, midwife was cool, if eccentric! She did warn about pain as well, just a bit natural childbirth. Ta for mat advice - will have a look. My sister hasn't got married yet, but she does have a hunky French boyfriend...

Got to go, helping DH with more sanding tonight. Married life, eh?

Oblomov · 17/09/2008 16:04

Am also in awe of Dozy and her bike riding. Does she do any other riding - ohh err missus - no seriously - where does the woman get the energy from ?

Did I miss a convo about sex ? How did that happen ? It is normally me that starts them
Talking of which.... dh having lovely time. Made love twice. Then tried for 3rd time, but no, dry as a bone. Is this normal ? Wierd.

ruthosaurus · 17/09/2008 16:10

Dunno, caught a ref to a sex conversation and was gutted to have missed the opportunity for a good cackle.

The sex thing - hmm. It's bad enough trying to turn over in bed. Plus, DH keeps reading things in magazines at the supermarket that say things like "your libido will increase when you are pregnany" - stop telling him that!. Whose side are they on? I just wish he'd channel the energy into something more productive or, as he (jokingly) puts it, I've got what I want from him now, apart from the decorating.

Obs, was that 3 times in 1 night? Not surprised you were dry . Where do you get the energy from?

hanaflower · 17/09/2008 16:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PInkyminkyohnooo · 17/09/2008 16:25

It's not just where DM gets the energy from, it's where does she get to corodination/balance from? I'm quite certain that if I did actually manage to get on my bike,I'd fall off the other side.

rutho my dh is convinced I only want him for cenceiving babies and getting diy done. I do think that if a really wanted all the jobs doing I would have to hire someone.
Since this is our last baby we shall have to wait and see. I think my libido is fairly normal at the mo but I have noo energy.

oblomov are you feeling any better this afternoon?

Dozymare · 17/09/2008 16:26

am back!!!!!!!!!!! I am not riding either a bike or my DH (BUT OBS way way to much info BTW )

My boys have the most enormous amount of energy - they need excercising and feeding at very regular intervals (just like dogs!) and to be perfectly honest, I feel so much better for the fresh air and the walk. We collected some conkers and now DS1 is in the process of "strengthening" them in vinegar in preparation for a match (although knowing PC school, bet it's not allowed!)

Can't remember who was asking about changingtables but if space is an issue (as it is for us with this baby) I have got a cot top changer www.mothercare.com/gp/product/B000JDWCO0/sr=1-2/qid=1221665155/ref=sr_1_2/203-7461767-0176721?ie=UTF 8&mcb=core 2nd hand and will be using a shelf with baskets for storage of nappies etc

Dozymare · 17/09/2008 16:32

can i tell you a name i dreamt my DD was called.........whisper....

Tallulah!!

DH thinks I am losing the plot but I absolutely love it! Like Lula and Tally for an older teenager/woman...

Please straighten me out if I am going to burden my poor DD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PInkyminkyohnooo · 17/09/2008 16:37

your ears must have been burning, DM!

I was going to say, regarding storgage basket thingies I bought a load of those jute storage baskets from b marvellous for DD's room and they have been really good- for baby stuff and toys, you can get loads in and so far the childrren have not destroyed them (as they have a number of wicker baskets).

hana bless you DH! He is very keen!I just hope he's not like that when you go into labour!