Due August 2009 - Does My Bump Look Big In This????

[kitkatqueen]

Hello everybody Here is the shiny new thread, hope you found it ok!!

Welcome mama2leah

Heinz - hope you're feeling better today.

Well we had a lovely weekend in Chester. Sat: looked round shops, then went on sightseeing bus cos my hips were killing me, went for a meal - think it was the best meal out we've ever had . Sun: went to zoo (bit wet) and we hired a wheelchair and dh pushed me all the way round to save my hips . Felt a right idiot sat in the chair with a chester zoo green plastic poncho on (no raincoat that fits me at the mo).

Hi Ladies,

Hope you are all well and bumps are blooming nicely. just curious, im 27 weeks today and im starting to get really uncomforfatable at night, i try my best to lie on either my right or left side but find i wake up aching, if im this uncomfortable now what the hell will i be like in a few weeks? are any of of you uncomfortable this early on?

Thanks for all your essential lists - really helped me to start to list what I need to buy....

Thanks for the lists everyone! Very helpful in compiling my own. Am quite lucky as I have two friends who are donating a lot of stuff, so I think a lot of it is covered without me spending a ton (which I can't afford anyway). One friend is an older mum

crafty, I love the Chester Zoo! I'd need a wheelchair to go at this point, so glad it's a possibility. All DH would have to do is wheel me to the otters and I could sit there all day.

In case anyone is interested, here's what I've acquired so far in baby items:

Off Ebay, all used
-Amby Nature's Nest Hammock
-Moses Basket (needs new mattress & sheets)
-Quinny Buzz + Dreami Carrycot

From friends
-Cot (will use after hammock, or if hammock doesn't work)
-Changing table
-Baby Bjorn carrier
-Kari Me sling
-Baby Bjorn Babysitter Bouncer
-Clothes (but not newborn size)

PILs gave us £200 for a carseat, so I think we'll be going with the Maxi-Cosi with Isofix base, plus getting a set of adapters to attach it to the Quinny.

We have a rocking chair in the house (left by previous owners) which may come in handy---I kind of just see myself feeding in bed if upstairs and on the sofa if downstairs though.

Researched loads of reusables nappies, got a recommendation from the Nappy Lady, and plan on using the Council's heavily discounted starter pack to acquire nappy bucket and assorted things. They have a free month with a nappy delivery/washing service, so might use that as well. Plan on disposables for first weeks though, as I've heard the first poos are something you really don't want to be scraping!

I think I've got most of the big items covered/thought about now, so guess I can start acquiring the stuff like muslins, cotton wool, etc. Time to start trawling Boots/Sainsburys/Asda/Tesco for deals and freebies.

Yank - it was free to hire too. You paid a £10 deposit which you got back at the end and they just ask for a donation as a thank you. We pondered whether we should just say "keep the £10" (wondered if they kinda expect people to do that iykwim) but in the end we gave £5 and the guy seemed to think that was v generous.

kitkatqueen, OMG you have my sympathy truly you do. I was having a chat with DS2 (10) about bikes only at the weekend and he asked me 'If Dad hadn't had his accident, would he still be riding now?' I said yes he would. When I first agreed to 'letting' him learn to ride then buying a bike I was hoping it was something he would just get out of his system. He became more and more passionate about it as time went by. I would feel sick every time he went out on it.

I almost feel a warped sense of relief that he can't ride anymore, and although left with a paralysed arm, he's still with us, which given he hit the armico barrier at 70mph, we're VERY thankful for.

sorry kkq, I'm REALLY not helping much here am I! Riding is something that some people just HAVE to do, IYSWIM. DH often says that nothing compares to the exhilaration of speeding off on a motorbike. I think your idea of a bright yellow jacket is a fantastic idea. Also, I'm a very strong advocate for excellent biking gear. Tell him not to cut back anywhere. Get proper leathers, with knee protectors and if poss get a back protector. This was the only thing DH didn't have and I do wonder if it might have saved him from his brachial plexus injury. He also had a really good helmet which I think saved his life. We've still got it upstairs and its got some scary scratches on the visor and temple area. If he hadn't been wearing the proper gear his injuries would have been far wider spread, ie his legs would have been injured too. HTH!

yank, great investment you've made there for an Amby Natures Nest, we had one for DD and they're pure genius!!! We sold it on ebay though before this LO decided it was coming!!!!

I've been really suffering over the weekend and despite DH now entering his 17th week of unemployment he's put his foot down and insisted we pay for me to see an Osteopath. SO I'm booked in for thsi afternoon. Have heard lots about this chap and apparently he's VERY alternative!! BUT works. I'll report back once I've seen him. My appointment's at 2pm

I've also got a VBAC appointment on Thursday. Has anyone else who's going for on had theirs yet?

Hope everyone else is doing well. xx

Heinzsight, are you any better today? My physio always hurts me, then it gets better. I've been sat at work with the blinds closed and a wheat bag down my pants at work today after my physio appointment! She said it would be 'tender' . Glad I'm at work though, all I can hear is the buzzing of the PC, and it's lovely to sit and stuff chocolate in quiet!

Quest for this week is to get some bumgenius nappies sent to my uncle in the US so that my other uncle can bring them home with him after his holiday. They are much cheaper over there, and DP is dead set on them. I am almost there, after having a look and feel of them.

DP got his CRB check back so he'll probably be working from next week. This means we have to fit in a nice lunch and a shopping trip... with three more medical appointments and me feeling a bit buggered! I'm at the stage where I wake four hours after taking my paracetamol... I'm going to ask my MW for DRUGS!!!!

Hello there ladies. Just wondering if I can squeeze in?! I am expecting 2nd baby on August 6th - don't know if it's boy or girl so will be nice surprise. I already have one DD aged 2.5. Feeling a wee bit knackered!

valz - yup, have been uncomfortable for some time now at night (am 30 weeks). I have a long banana-shaped beanbag pillow (often sold as breastfeeding pillows) which I kind of cuddle and rest top leg on. I've discovered I can flip it over to other side in my sleep, but still wake up with aching hips if I haven't had enough exercise in the day. BUT - I do read this thread and talk to friends in real life and realise how lucky I am not to have SPD.

Heinz - got my VBAC apptmt on 8th June. Good luck with yours!

Heinzsight, I was really impressed with all the testimonials re: the nature's nest, and it has such fantastic resale value, I figured I wouldn't be losing out if it doesn't work for us.

kitkat, my XH used to ride a 600cc maxi scooter, and I was forever panicking when he didn't show up on time (which was nearly every time). I still worry about him, was pleased to hear from ex-MIL that he doesn't ride it much anymore!

valz, I am also really uncomfortable at night with the SPD. Flipping over is agony, as is getting in and out of bed in middle of night for a wee. The memory foam mattress in our spare room helps a lot. Wish we could afford to buy a king size one for main bedroom. Have only slept in there once lately, and hips were soooo much worse in the morning.

My first pair of maternity jeans arrived in the post just a few minutes ago!! They are extremely comfortable, I want to wear them forever. (Am sure that feeling will go away soon). They are Old Navy brand from the U.S., and come in size XXL which seems to fit me perfectly (am about a UK 22). DH thinks they look really good.

Hawkmoth, I can't believe I hadn't thought of getting reusable nappies in the U.S., am definitely going to look into that! My dad runs a mailing/shipping place so I sometimes get stuff sent directly to his store and then he bundles everything up in one big package for me. My mom is going nuts buying baby stuff, so they could probably send it all together.

Hi everyone, hope youare all well!!

I've been feeling really cr*p and dizzy over the past couple of weeks, but that seems to have disappeared which is a bit of a relief as I thought I was going to feel like that for my entire pregnancy.

I was just wondering when everyone is finishing up from work?

I'm still not sure yet due to the redundancy situation so it'll either be in 6 weeks or 2 weeks, depending on how negotiations go this faternoon with HR wrt redundancy payments!!!!!

Can't belive how quickly this pregnancy is going!!

Hello all,

hi trixy - I've been feeling dizzy in the morning too.

Sorry to hear about the aches and pains everyone's getting. I def feel like I've hit the heavy uncomfortable stage (28 wks!) and tbh can't wait to get to the end now. Not very happy bunny at work as sitting on office chair seems the worse. Rib pain and bottom pain! I am so fidgety and keep getting up and down.

kitkat - sympathy re scooter. Dh rides a push bike to work and that's bad enough. He goes along the river and nearly got mobbed by some youths the other week. He had to pedal away v. quickly.

Hello gorgeous - I'm due on the 6th as well. There's a few of us that day!

PS gorgeous my dd is 2.5 too - born beginning Nov 06. How is your little one understanding the imminent arrival of a sibling?

Hi all - sorry to hear about painful hips and pelvis'. Just had DD 's 3rd birthday party on Saturday - great fun had by all - house a bombsite but quickly tidied up.
Anyone planning using slings? If so which one - am researching on internet but too much choice. When are folk planning going on mat leave? I am hoping to finish in July at 36 weeks not 39 like last time! Hoping to do some gardening and lunching before LO arrives.
Hope the sun is shining on you!

re slings: Somebody on the 40+ thread pointed me in the direction of Freedom Slings. They're lovely and really good value. See what you think. I'm planning on acquiring 2!

I am more excited about getting to use my new sling than anything else! Well, y'know, apart from actually meeting new baby.

I too was bewildered by choice fruity but opted for a Kari-Me in the end which is extremely similar to all the other stretchy wrap type things. But I chose that one because a friend recommended it and it comes in the most delicious teal colour.

I am also planning on getting hold of an Ergo for both me and dh to use (he wouldn't use the KariMe).

Mat leave keeps getting extended - I am self-employed and had a date sort of in mind of 30th June but then someone offered me a nice little job that I could just fit in so I took it but it puts me back a week into july so will be about 37-8 weeks (will pay for Ergo though!). I did turn down a dream project though because it was just too much of a squeeze to fit it in which I was a bit sad about. But being self-employed does mean I've slowed things down considerably now and am not working so many hours at the moment which is lovely.

I'm getting a sling. Had a lovely pouch sling last time but it's gone AWOL. This time I can't decide as it needs to be easy and even for me, and secure enough for DP to feel comfortable using it.

Well I had my Osteopath appointment. I have to confess to being VERY freaked out!!!! I sat down and told him I was expecting my fourth and that I was experiencing sacroiliac joint pain. He told me that he knew what the problem was by simply shaking my hand!!! This was the bit that REALLY got me, he said 'you're very hypermobile' HOW DID HE KNOW THAT FROM SHAKING MY HAND??????????? OMG!!

Anyway, he put loads of really heavy magnetic weights on me, wrapped them all around me, then he bent me all over the place. He's obviously very used to treating pregnant women as he wasn't at all phased by my bump and was bending me right over forwards and all sorts.

I do feel a lot better, still in pain, but I haven't been yelping like I was previously. He said to phone him on Thursday to say how I was and if not better to come back and he'd treat me again for free.

Hawkmoth, thanks for asking after me Re Bumgenius, I've just switched DD to them, I ordered 20 during real nappy week. They are fab and really easy to use. The only problem I'm having at the moment is DD has a really bad nappy rash. I've switched washing liquid from Persil Non Bio to SurCare. On closer inspection it seems Persil non bio has perfume in it. I've switched back to disposables temporarily to that I can use nappy rash ointments for her.

thanks for info re slings - will check out that website. I had a baby bjorn active for dd which we all got on fine with but just fancy a sling as they look easier to use when you have an active 3 year old to keep up with.

Cairns I have also just had a growth scan and am 'big' for dates. I am measuring up 2 weeks ahead of my dates although they did say that later scans have a higher margin of error so not to worry too much about it. I am not surprised though as DP is 6ft4 and my family are tall people too.

My measurements were recorded in my notes so it maybe worth checking your notes. It also said baby is 2lb 15oz, so, if I estimate an average weight gain of .5lb/week it could be 9lbs at due date. I have another growth scan at the end of june so it will be interesting to see how things progress. I'm not overly worried as I may just be having a little growth spurt. No wonder everyone is surprised when I say I have another 3 months to go .

Thanks to everyone for posting info on what is/isnt useful too.

Hi again, thanks for welcoming me to your group!

TaleofTwoCities - my little girl was born October 06. At the moment she seems quite excited about a new baby coming, not sure if that will change when a real live wailing infant turns up though! She talks a lot about what she's going to show the baby, seems to think of he/she as hers. I'm intrigued and a little nervous thinking about it! How is your DD reacting so far?

For everyone who is suffering aches and pains - I am too! Much worse in 2nd pregnancy. Couldn't sleep at all last night for lower back pain and aching hips. Feel like I can't talk about it too much for fear of constantly moaning.....
Heinzsight - let us know how the osteopath works out, might very well need something like that myself. Sounds like it was an experience!

Fruitymum -I'm going to use the babasling. I had a Babybjorn last time which was really not a sling, more of a "babycarrier". Decided I wanted proper cosy sling this time, but shied away from the wrap slings as I don't want to wear a huge piece of material all the time. Also.....I'm totally inept when it comes to tying things. I reckon I'd have an awful time trying to tie on a wrap sling on my own. So the babasling is a lovely hammock sling for the baby but has buckles etc. and seems very easy to take on and off.

I feel HUGE by the way. Old ladies keep saying "not long now dear"! It's so embarassing to tell them I have another 12 weeks to go..........

hello

lots of chatter here, i'll have to try harder to keep up.

Georgousnes- my heat pack is working wonders on my back and shoulder pain at the moment, within 5 mins of wearing my back is like new, have you tried this yet?

Michaela- how is nathan? hope he is improving more and more.

can't believe next week I will be on the single decible countdown -9 weeks to go.

would love to type a nice long message but i have an octapus next to me (ds) pushing every button and pulling every cord possible

catch up soon hello big bumps

Heinz

Theres nothing you can say that I haven't already thought I have had a pretty pants day all round.
ok so this morning dp left the house on the motorbike at 6.30am. I got up with the kids at 7 and switched on the radio. Big accident on dps route, entire road closed. they were saying vehicles not cars... couldn't get hold of dp until 1.15pm. It wasn't him, he was fine, he had gone through before the accident had happened. I didn't even tell him what had happened. By the time he got home tonite (late)I was in a complete state. And he finally realised that the amount of stress its going to give me outweighs him actually coming home. I feel majorly guilty because I know he wants to ride it, and he has got all the gear, we were both in the trade so its the best, but I just can't face him doing 3 hrs a day on the bike. I also feel like i'm being stupid considering some of the things i've gotten up to on a bike in the past, but I can't help it. We had a really long talk tonite and we have agreed that we will aim to move near to his job after the baby is born and in the mean time he will come back as often as he can. Its going to be a massive upheaval and i'm worried about my girls. Sorry to off-load on here.

gorgeous If you don't have the babasling yet do consider the celeb sling the baba is lovely, but has a weight limit lower than the celeb, the celeb is just as comfy and adjustable ( if you get a padded one )and will last longer, I have had both and just sold my babasling on ebay. Just my opinion tho

Heinz, your dp is right, theres nothing that compares to jumping bridges on a big one either

Oh and just in case u r thinking the osteopath is psychic if u r hypermobile your fingers hyper-extend when u shake hands

Oh btw I made my ring sling myself during last pregnancy and still have the pattern...

All you would need from memory is a pair of welded metal curtain rings, 2 metres of cotton material and strong thread. Oh and a small bag of soft toy stuffing.

works out v cheap