July 2009 Part III

[Mij]

Hope no-one minds me kicking this one off - 39 pages seemed a bit unmanageable!

Had 20 week scan today. Tiddler unco-operative to start with (although not as bad as DD was - took 3 goes to see everything) and it looks like most of the bits are in the right places. Decided right at the very last minute not to find out the sex. Realised that, if DD thinks she's going to have a sister, that nothing, not even photographic evidence, will change her mind anyway. So stuck with the 'don't ask don't tell' as per first time around and will just have to wait to sort out all the sodding clothes 'til we know what we've got.

Although... What do gonads look like on a scan?! Got a very good look at the hips from underneath, so to speak, and thought I saw two little bright spots, but that could be the sitting bones of course. Anyone tell me what the crown jewels look like on a scan?!

Hi all, on the pram issue am slighlty to admit I have bought 2 already.
In my defence they were both ebay bargins,
Number one is a jane twin 2 with twon car sats which clip in and seats suitable from birth, which will be excellent on the school run or when just popping out.
The second is a double pram which dd2 is already in love with and has claimed it for her dolls
Pics on profile

Morning ladies...I have been up since 6:30am thanks to my lovely DC's. And DD is on the floor throwing a tantrum. I just love this toddler stage. NOT.

Phoenix I 2nd Princess recommendation of the Phil and Teds. It is a bit heavy BUT you get used to it (and get those mom strong arms) and it is slim enough to get through most small aisles, even at newsagents. If you get the carrycot attachment even better. I used it constantly when going to other people's houses to keep her safely asleep and away from prying toddlers. I am definitely using mine again. It is quite pricey but I have used it for nearly 2yrs so great investment.

Welcome Jenny!

Morning all,

Welcome and congrats Jenny

morning everyone -

my sister had a Phil and Teds for her two boys who are 19 months apart. i always thought it looked like the baby was shoved in the shopping trolly and when they were toddlers the one in the back was constantly being told not to touch the wheels. always made me very nervous as i had visions of trapped fingers!

DH and i went for a chinese last night and it was yum.

we went to a show after but the seat was so hard i was in agony the whole of the second part. anyone else got this inflamation of the coexix?

also, does anyone know about wheatie bags? m-in-l was going to get me one to ease pain but then someone said it has lavender in and apparently that can induce labour?

what do people think of Harry for a boy. is it too popular? i really like it and it goes well with DS's name but slightly put off with it being so high in bounty list of names. other option is Toby.

on the big baby theme - DS was 9lb 5. i'm only 5'2" and really want a c section this time. i know its a major op but i am terrified of getting a 10 pounder this time! the only thing they have said so far is that they will send me for a growth scan after 30 weeks to check on size.

You can get plain wheat bags. I got 1 and it said if you want the lavender scent put a few drops of lavender oil on it. I didn't have lavendar oil so put tea tree oil on it

I've just booked tickets to the baby show in Birmingham for May. I've always wanted to go to one and now i am. Has anyone been to one? Do you get loads of bargains?

Hi Jenny, welcome! I am also having my first baby this July and live in SW15...

Exciting times!

I have signed up for the NCT antenatal classes that start in Fulham on 28th April- are you signed up to any?

hunny - there seem to be still quite a few bad reviews on the icandy cherry but it looks like the perfect pram for me... I went into the big mothercare yesterday on oxford street here in London but they don't stock the icandys. They had one called excursion which looked good (mothercare's own). Also like the look of the bebeconfort Loola... Oh we'll get there in the end.

Happy Sunday!

EvieBear - I just 'registered interest' for a couple of them. Not sure how early or late I should have them; the whole midwife/classes system is new to me, coming from Greece originally. Back there all appointments are with a obstretician or gynaecologist, there's no such thing as 'midwife' and certainly no classes .

Will be going to Cupcake on 10/3 for the Speed Bumps event. I went to see what's on offer but it sounded pretty expensive and I don't think it's worth it...

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Went to Mothercare in Richmond yesterday to test some of the buggies. Got really frustrated by some!!
Think the Bugaboo Bee ticks the right boxes (very light and easy fold, you can fold without removing anything).

Has anyone in here used the BUGABOO BEE and would you recommend over Quinny Buzz?

Hi All,

I've bought a 3rd hand Phil & Teds (clearly they last) and am using it already, out other 2 buggies are hand-me-downs and cover light weight & car seat options so this one is our muddy buggy at the moment - After shoving a maclaren about the place it is great to push and getting across our allotment site is easy (well would be if I wasn't carrying a rake and a spade too).

I love washable nappies and am certain they have saved us a fortune, I wash them at 60 on a quick cycle and dry them on the line/raditors. I inherited my sister's which had been through 2 boys and I think she got some ebay bargains with them (folk buying them and not liking them etc.) We used bambino mio pre-folds for the first 2 sizes and now dd is in fuzzy buns which I find great for the wriggly to put on and mobile toddler stage.

Hi all,

We are thinking Phil&Teds too so it's good to read that they are not too bad. I can't imagine having one of those massive doubles, they look so hard to get around!

Good luck for all those with scans this week esp Belgrano Do you think it would be crazy for us to spend £200 on a private 20 week scan? I am sooooo dying to see bubbs again, my next scan isn't til 28 weeks. It seems like an age ago we last saw him /her.

Glassofred you children are beautiful! And well done on the ebay bargains! I must have a peek on there...

Just adding a vote for washable nappies! I loved mine. DD has grown out of them now and is almost potty trained but they were fab and TBH I washed them with the rest of our stuff, often on 40 degrees (as long as no poo) and it was fine. And no nappy rash so here's a shout for washables!
Thanks to everyone who thought of me for the scan. Crossed fingers for Thursday.

V interested to read about washable nappy success stories. When pregnant with both DS and DD I flirted with the idea but begrudgingly decided against because I
a) read so many nasty bottom rash horror stories; and
b) was going back to work after both and was nervous about the nursery's reaction (cr*p, wimpish excuse I know).

Now that I'm a full time SAHM (and clearly have nothing better to do than wash nappies ), I've been seriously considering re-usables. So any reccomendations for the best/most convenient/least likely to leak washable nappies please??

Has anyone else become addicted to the Home & Health channel, Portland Babies etc. type programmes yet?? I was glued to these when on mat. leave with my first 2. Thought, being older and wiser, that I'd grown out of it this time, but alas, only 5 months in and I'm hooked!

or recommendations even. Bad TV habit is clearly affecting my brain..

I watch Home and Health when ds is at pre-school and nearly every programme that's on i've seen before but i still watch them

I tried washable nappies when ds was 11mth old but my mum and dh didn't like them and i ended up giving up on them too. I was thinking about using all in ones this time because they are easier to use (well more like disposables) than flat ones but not fully decided yet.

(Those of you who don't have a clue about washables, i can recommend a mumsnetter called Flamesparrow. She is nappy obsessed and has started a nappy business. She has a website (Google Bumfluff nappies) or start a thread in nappies asking for her. Even if you don't buy from her she will tell you all you need to know.)

I used shaped bamboo nappies before not flat .

I used Bamboozles by Tots Bots with Motherease airflow wraps. They were v v good and honestly never a scrap of nappy rash, just a perfect, kissably smooth bottom all the way through (but interestingly DD gets a rash if I ever use Pampers, Huggies etc, so there you go!).
I had reservations about all in one washables because I thought they must take ages to dry (I'm no expert though!). At least with seperates you can spread them out and extend the tongue bit to dry - the tongue folds between the baby's legs to absorb the wee. Like an extra built in booster.
If you decide it's too much hassle I also recommend the Naturebabies eco-disposables which we used out and about (white packet with green leaf motif on the pack and the nappies). They are environmentally friendlier than Pampers etc, gave no rashes and were perfectly absorbent/ poo catching etc.

Thanks you two. I'm going to check out the Bumfluff website now.

I had some Bamboozles and some Wambamboos, i think they were called at the time but now called Bambinex. 3 Motherease Airflow wraps and 1 Tots Bots fleece wrap. I dried mine in the drier mostly. Ds didn't have any nappy rash probs but he never has with disposables either. My friend uses the Eco ones on her dd and she does suffer with a sore bottom sometimes. It depends on the little ones skin i think.

Morning all and welcome to the newbies

Aches and pains question today. During the day I'm usually not feeling anything (except newb junior having a good wander round my midsection - suspect she is exploring the far reaches of planet uterus ) if I wake up during the night though I usually have either quite a strong cramp or an ache one side or the other - if I turn over the ache moves sides. After (middle of the night = worrying time) keeping getting scared there's something wrong, is this just the normal feel of things growing?

If so I will bu*ger off and count my blessings that it does it at night!

Thanks

morning everyone -

i dont seem to have the Discovery Health channels anymore on Sky.we changed packages when we moved home so i havent seen any programmes this time. probably a good thing though as i got addicted last time and spent whole mornings crying. i'm ok until they hand the baby to the mum and then i'm a gonner! found myself really sobbing at an episode of ER the other week when the new chief lost her little boy. also welled up reading that emma's diary thing yesterday! i blame the hormones!

does anyone remember a fab documentary that was on channel 4 about four years ago. it was a really detailed look at the unborn baby in the womb. i remember watching it when i was expecting DS. would love to see it again.

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Eviebear I think the bad reviews of the Icandy Cherry are on the old model, most retailers stopped stocking it at one point because they were getting lots being returned but then Icandy fixed the problems and now it's supposed to be fab. If u look at the reviews on MN under 'pushcairs - from birth' it comes out top with a rating of 9.3!

The Excursion doesn't look bad, I looked at it at myself but the seat unit looks quite small to me and I like the prams with a seperate carry cot.
I've read some really good reviews on the Mothercare Trenton Deluxe, it's really cheap but gets really good ratings and has won Which pushchair of the year 3 years running.

QueenFee - I'm a bit of a sling geek. I do demos at local baby groups and have about 9, of different designs that I've found better for certain baby size or for particular jobs. Kari-me or other stretchy wrap for newborns - so cuddly and you can keep it on all day and just pop babe in and out, and keep them warm and dry under your coat or jumper. Woven wrap (like a Didymos) for great back carries and a pouch for 4-6months and beyond, for 'quick nips' or in and out of the car days - folds down very small, can live in the changing bag. DD hated being cradled in a sling so couldn't use a pouch until she was sitting up, but other newborns would love it. Then a mei tai and an ergo for toddler back carries and a particularly beautiful ring sling for special occasions (ha! like what?!) that I got in a brilliant swap on thebabywearer.com.

TMI perhaps..?

Washable nappies - we were lucky to be loaned a couple of different sorts and also bought samples of others to try out. Found Motherease Sandies bril for tiny ones (DD had very skinny legs and nothing else got a good fit) with Motherease wraps (I found tots bots bamboozles nappies great but the wraps were crap, quite frankly). Then moved onto Motherease one-size when she finally got a bit of podge on at around 8 months, and I could make the blardy things fit around her legs.

We didn't have any drying facilities to start with and we borrowed an all-in-one which didn't dry for 3 days, even on the radiator. I also found they leaked a bit around the legs (only by osmosis - the way they fitted meant a bit of the inside would end up in contact with clothes).

We never had a poo leak with washables - highly recommend them, and once you get into your stride it really isn't much work - you just get used to putting on, lets say, one extra wash every 24-36 hours to start with, and then when changing (and pooing) is less frequent you just bung the wee-only ones in with whatever else you're doing. And if you use washable wipes they can go in too so you're saving loads of waste and cash. Never got nappy rash. Can also recommend Weleda nappy cream.

When we did use disposables, we alternated naturebaby and moltex as the sizing was so different. Preferred the latter but they were way too big for the first three months or so.

I'm getting loads of tightenings and everything feels very low. Starting to register a modicom of concern - I'm sure it's too early for Braxton Hicks. Anyone else?

Also think I've got an anterior placenta, as i had a skate through my notes last night to find out how big DC2 is looking (small to average, like DD I think). Does anyone know if this makes any difference to anything? It also says 'but clear of the OS'. I guessing that's a good thing! Not seeing midwife for another couple of weeks.