Due May 2009. Bring On The Second Trimester!!! Woo!! Hoo!!

[divedaisy]

Here you go gals! Over to you all now!

morning.
still talking buggies?
i didn't want to buy a double buggy either but had no choice as I have to do one half the dog-walking duties and dd1 isn't old enough to walk so far. We got the Phil&Teds from ebay and must admit I loved it when dd2 was a baby and could lay flat in the cocoon in back.

Now that both dd's are toddlers, it's so heavy! i'd love to use the maclaren and have dd1 use the buggy board but she's a bit possessive over the maclaren and won't let dd2 ride in it. i've got to solve that one soon.

really, i must get to work. hope all are well today.

Morning all

Just caught up with the pram talk... I totally agree with dandy & frazzle i'm so glad we did get the bugaboo chameleon and although DH was dubious of the price at the time.. he now says it's one of the best decisions 'we' made. He too loves great design too.

spangle when I fell in love with it we had a peugeot 206. I was determined to get it in the boot so I could get it and actually it wasn't that bad... All I had to do after collapsing it was take of one of the big wheels... which pops on and off with a spring clip. Easy peasy. When we were using the basinette top bit I also had to remove the boot shelf as i needed a touch more height room. later when converted as a normal toddler pram with the seat part instead of the basinette, it all fit in the boot with the shelf on... but it did fill the boot completely. We just changed our car this year (now there'll be 2) so boot space isn't so tight.

I'm also going to use my sling & like llareggub i'm not going down the double buggy route. I will get a buggy board for DS to stand on when next LO is in the bugaboo basinette set up. Might look into getting a second seat frame attachment so I can haver both the basinette and the seat ready to go depending on what we're up to .

sorry... my bad typing serves me right for not reading it back before posting! got a 20 mile trip up to john lewis's to do as my mum needs to take back her faulty electric blanket. So rushing round trying to get DS ready... he wants to go in his vest but I'm trying to explain it's too cold!

llareggub I really want a Fiat 500! Only passed my test 18m ago so currently on a 10 yr old Ford Ka (plastic bumpers, great for when I misjudge parking against the wall ). But a Fiat 500 is next on the list. Will have to see how baby impacts on finances first though!

Thanks for all the advice girls! Will read up after hospital visit (heart scan).

must dash... good luck spangle with scan xoxox

Hello there

Interested to read the great buggy debate. We had a Mamas & Papas travel system first time round and I thought it was great - still use the pushchair bit now DD is 2.

Unfortunately I don't think my back is up to the sling option so will probably go for a double buggy for DD2. Momino we're thinking about Phil & Teds - anyone have any other recommendations?

Spangle hope your scan went ok?

We're off swimming now!

HI i'm expecting in May - Due date 18th.

Scans and bloods are find - weight off my mind.

Don't suppose anyone knows what the NHS antenatal classes are like in Kingston and whether there are any active birth classes you can recommend.

Morning ladies!

I had a private 4d scan yesterday while I was in England & we were told the baby's sex... (Only as they don't routinely tell you at the 20wk scan where we live)

I was amazed at how clear some of the pictures were, if I can figure out how to do it I will put some on here if any of you are interested to see.

I have my first appointment with my consultant tomorrow morning (I'm 16weeks this week) & feeling a bit nervous.. Ds's birth was traumatic to say the least & hate that he might brush my fears under the carpet & tell me to just get on with it
My midwife has said that I may be offered an elective cs but that scares me to as I have no idea what happens, recovery time etc but DS had so many complication & was in special care for over a week & I was also sick & started to bleed out a few times.

Sorry to ramble on!! nerves are getting to me.

Welcome MERMAID

Can't speak for Kingston but when I had DD (in Croydon) the NHS antenatal course was very short (about 2 hours) so we also did NCT classes, which were excellent and a great way to meet people. If you're keen on an active birth then you'll probably like the NCT philosophy which is very anti-intervention.

You can find classes here:

www.nationalchildbirthtrust.com/in-your-area/course-finder

MissyK hope everything goes ok with your consultants appointment and remember it's not up to the doctor - it's up to you! Also worth bearing in mind that whatever they say tomorrow you've got months to change your/their mind!

Thanks EmmalinaC I know you're right, just don't want to get off on the wrong foot with him as I have no other choice of consultant so need to make sure I don't come away hating him or with him thinking I'm a right pita! Dh can't come with me due to work commitments that can't be changed

Morning all!

I'm planning to start off slinging too. Carried DD a lot of the time when she was small (and still do now, but a bit less regularly - especially now I'm expanding). DH is less convinced about this plan, but I've suggested we give it a go and if it's a disaster then we can consider double buggies or a buggy board.

For the first timers - you need to work out what your priorities are for a pram. Ours were: flat and comfortable for baby, folds up small ish (small house and nowhere to store a bulky pram), substantial enough for a lot of walking (I don't drive). We ended up with a Silver Cross 3D and actually it was pretty good. I loved it in proper pram mode, perhaps slightly less so as a pushchair. The shopping basket is rubbish, and as DD got bigger I really began to notice the weight, especially as we live at the top of a hill! When she was about 15 months we got a Silver Cross Pop - it seems a bit more substantial than some of the umbrella buggies but a lot lighter than the 3D.

spangle I love the Fiat 500 but in all honesty it is not practical with 2 children! We're OK at the moment as DS doesn't use a buggy, but when number 2 comes I'll be swapping with DH who is driving an estate at the moment. There'll be plenty of room for buggies etc in that!

Apart from that, I'm very happy with it. It hardly uses any petrol at all, and of course, being so small, it'll fit anywhere.

agooboo used doppler for 1st time last nite. Found heartbeat but baby was a bit active so kept moving around at have to find it - will be easier to fing a constant heartbeat when baby is bigger.

Would recommend.

Hired it from ebay co. based in Newport, Wales. Think they we're called dopplerhire.co.uk

Off to docs this afternoon to report headaches. MW said they might not be able to do anything but to see them anyway. Might mention the heartburn too - c if I can get some gavison on prescription

frazzledoldbag thanks for the concern regarding headaches.
I'm off to the docs this afternoon. Will post how I get on. Don't hold out much hope for a miracle cure tho.

I also used my doppler (well, the one my friend lent me) last night for the first time in ages. Had to chase the LO all over the place - the hearbeat was moving from about an inch to the left of my tummy button to about two inches to the right (only a bit lower down). I was quite surprised at how much I was having to 'chase' it! Think it was having a mad half hour before bed. Heart rate was about 162 bpm. Is that a boy or girl then? [asks those with old-wife-tales experience]
It also sounded like a train. My 2 girls sounded like horses hooves. Hmmmmm whatever does THAT mean?

EmmalinaC - I know a friend who loves her Phil and Teds double.
I also have 2 friends who have (I'm sure its called Urban Detour- will check). It's pretty light to push, (defintely lighter and easier to manouvre than the Phil and Teds or so I've found when pushing them both), it's a side by side three wheeler double buggy and the seats go down flat so suitable for a new born. Quite chunky but fits through 99% of doorways. I think Mothercare do a similar looking one. There's also another one which looks similar to those but I think is called 'Mountain Buggy' - but that really is horrendously expensive - I think about £800 new (although I have seen vg condition ones on ebay for £250 or less) - was having a nosy as was vaguely toying with the idea of whether to get a cheap second hand double buggy in case DD2 who will be 2.5yrs when this baby is born freaks out and refuses to use the buggy board I'm intending to get her for the Bugaboo. Think will wait and see though.

Any sling recommendations ladies - I've never really had one before, but quite fancy one of those wrappy looking ones for wearing around the house so I can get on with some work (ha ha) and snuggle with the baby at the same time?

Am off to check ebay for my Amby - see if anyone has outbid me - they had better not have done!!!!

looby - hope the doc can help. Headaches are just dreadful and paracetamol is pretty useless (well, for me anyway). Hope all is well. x

Wow - you ladies have been busy... I've been trying to spend time with dad and so exhausted.. Quicky question - when symptoms start subsiding will boobs stop hurting as much?

I've had a few appointments and stuff with hospital and been a bit down since i heard jools news. We were the same date so I guess its given me a bit of a shock.. I've bene feeling a little sore on my lower ab as well..

Such turmoil is pregnancy!

Sweetbroody hope your dad is doing ok. And yes, your boobs should start to settle down soon - they don't ususally stay sore throughout pregnancy.

Well, I'm still 'winning' on the Amby. No-one else is allowed to bid against me though, or I'll go in a big huff! 4 more days to go though.........

Thank you - is it to soon to start looking at buggies at 12 weeks I'm exactly 12 weeks today... bring on the end of the first Trimester.

Missy was it worth doing at 16 weeks? the 4D scan? I am concerned that my next scan wont be until 2nd week of Jan so was thinking of getting on in week 16.

How soon do Doplers work? Would I be able to hear plum at 12 weeks?

sweetbroody I can send you some pictures if you'd like. Just put your email address and I'll send them straight over!

I could hear this one at 12 weeks with a doppler, took some doing to begin with as it kept hiding but was so good when we first heard the little heart beating away.