Due Feb 2010 part 2: the second trimester

[CaractacusPotty]

Not sure I am any more qualified, frankly, but hey ho!!

Fingers crossed that it improves Clappedout. On the positive side, you get to see your baby every four weeks

I have been so totally overwhelmed by the range of travel options available that when my friend said I could have her old buggy I said yes straight away, didn't even ask what it is, saves me making a decision! Now I have to decide what reusable nappies to buy. My mum is telling me just to get Terries but there are so many to choose from now... Ah well, plenty of time to pore over reviews I suppose (when I should be working)...

fiziwizzle - I used washable nappies for both my boys - IMO it is really hard to do so for first 6 weeks or so - give yourself a break and use biodisposables for the newborn. You will then have more idea what you are looking for!

I used the ones where the pants were separate as they don't always need washing. I was happy with this system.

But I was the only one of my gang who stuck with it (although it's more in vogue now). I had a lot of resistance to it at the day nursery where DS1 went.

Everyone I know who bought the washables pre birth gave up on them almost straight away. They are expensive too... (although round here you can get a grant for them)

ps lucky you to get a set of wheels. Can't believe how much money they are!!!

I got a moses basket thing given at the weekend which was a lovely surprise. I never had one before.
All I need to buy is a new mattrass for it.

I am actually starting to believe that this baby will really be OK and arrive. 24 weeks today so about 14 hopefully...

Afternoon ladies.

Keeping fingers crossed for you too clappedout Fizi I reckon I'm with MO2 om the re-usables, my Mother keeps banging on about terry nappies too (next she'll be insisting that I have a twin tub to boil them in too... ) but I reckon I'm going to leave it at least a few weeks so I can get used to BFing and the whole general parental can of worms! Saw the struggles that bezzie mate had with the re-usables, they can be a bit tricky! Told my Mum that this is my plan and she was like, "when you're a Mum you just get on with things - you're just taking the line of least resistance"... Why not I say!!

LO has been kicking and wriggling like mad over the past 24 hours - so cute, I love it!

Clappedout - sounds like a whole load of extra stress. I hope it improves for you.

Fiziwizzle - my friend is lending me her double buggy so don't have to worry about that.
I'm a big fan of the terry squares, been using them since DS was a couple of weeks old and they have saved us a fortune. I think a lot of people are put off by the idea of buckets of wet smelly nappies everywhere but I dry pail mine with a net bag in the bucket so it's just a case of lifting it out and chucking it in the washing machine when it gets full, plus they dry really quickly. I use disposables when we go out for the day or on holiday and find them more of a hassle (baby wipes are next to useless!) and they smell much worse IMO.

Hi everyone. Just back from my scan.

Everything looks as it should do with the baby, but the placenta is a bit low so I am getting recalled for another scan at 36weeks to see if it moved any.

How typical would that be eh? this one will probably present head down in my bicornuate uterus, and then the placenta will be low so I will end up with a CS.

And we found out that it's another boy. Although she wouldn't say for sure, she showed us the thigh bones and pointed out the two wee bollocklets (technical term ) between the legs, so it's not like she could have mistaken cord for a willy or anything. I would be delighted either way, but this means I don't have to buy any clothes or longer term, move house!!!

Congratulations on your boy mawbroon, and here's hoping that your placenta moves up (I don't know much about it but I have read somewhere that they tend to?).

Thanks for the advice all re nappies. I had been thinking, do I want to be washing nappies on day 2 after giving birth?! So maybe I'll invest in some bio's for the first couple of weeks and then I'm thinking I'll just plump for the terries, life is too short surely to spend so long thinking about nappies... And mum can show me exactly what to do with those

I would recommend using disposables for the first few weeks fizi. You will have enough on your plate!

I used Moltex for ds for the first wee while, but found them too expensive, then started using nature baby which was much easier to come by, and around the same price as Pampers etc.

I did use terries for ds for quite a long time, but when he was 11 months, I started childminding 50 odd hours a week, and the cloth nappies were one of the things that I couldn't keep up with.

Sorry, I've lost track of the thread! Hopeless. Will try and do better...

Scan today, all fine. Probably decided on car as well this afternoon.

Absolutely knackered. Still getting some nausea most days, though better than it was. Ribs definitely starting to hurt. Pregnancy-induced insomnia kicked in. Belly seems just vast. I'm a right ray of sunshine, all in all!

Before I forget - mawbroon, hope the party goes well and happy birthday ds1!!!

Sorry for boring post.

oo... excited.. posty just been and delivered my £7 tesco pj's... cheaper to buy tescos and post to nz than buy here... anyway - i got these cos first time round with dd i had a couple of m&s nighties as seem obligatory for hosp... don't usually do nighties, am more of a t-shirt and DH's pj bottoms kind of a gal usually... so spent my 3 days in hosp feeling urgh, and even less like my usual self cos was fannying about in a bloody nightie and worrying that you know, stuff would be seeping and yeuch... anyway... to hell with it, i've got some cheap as chips black cotton button up pj's size 18 (to cope with getting over bump/deflated balloon and breastfeeding) and already feel much better about having to spend time at the hosp... how sad am i

and what an incredibly long sentence and boring post... sorry, but i was quite chuffed!!

tis DD's 3rd birthday next month and cos she's into hungry caterpillar at hte mo i've been working out how to do a cake... anyway, decided on cupcakes and coloured icing, and she's just said she just wants a big round one with candles... so there we go! i can't help heaving a sigh of relief and hoping that she doesn't change her mind!!

ps DH's pj bottoms have holes in, and t-shirts aren't great for b/feeding - hence the new pj's, otherwise i wouldn't be bothering!!

guess we're all at least half-way or over now? blimey! and someone else has just said only 72 sleeps til christmas?!?! it'll fly in - hopefully!

I feel your pain re the cake!! Try and keep her on the round one with icing if you can!

My project tonight is making a Lothian bus in no 37/47 colours for ds's party tomorrow. hardly an easy one for a complete novice with no artistic talent! I wish I had never agreed to it...

Great news on the scan 2happy, glad everything went OK!

Good luck with the cake Mawbroon - looks like you've set yourself a challenge there - yikes! Little suggestion for a cheat - I know it's not really the same but, if you have an Asda near you, you could always get them to put a photo of the bus on to a sponge cake for you...?!

Has anyone really started to think about their hospital bag yet (stoofadoof seems to be getting organised!)?! Was having a catch up with my friend last night and she was quizzing me about whether I'd sorted anything, what i was planning to wear for the birth etc, etc... I'm 23 weeks today and hoping not to go into labour for a while yet!! Or am I just burying my head in the sand?!

Hello everyone,

I keep losing track of the thread too. Clappedout, sorry to hear your stressful, hope it improves, and it will be reassuring to have monthly scans. I have the second part of my 22 week scan tonight (as the sonographer couldn't see her face last time).

24 weeks today! Haven't bought a thing yet. DH wants to wait until the January sales but I really don't fancy waddling around shops bumping into crowds of people at that stage.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Oops - stressful news I meant to say.

Hospital bags , last time I carted tons of stuff to hospital that I didn't use. Poor DH had to carry it all. Going to try and cut it down this time. Best thing I took was a packet of glucose tablets, I couldn't keep anything but them down during labour and don't think I would have got through it without them.

Shiregirl - that is a very long day, when do you start your maternity leave? I bet you can't wait.

Mawbroon and Stoofadoof - good luck with the cake making!

Thanks ktpie, my friend mentioned those glucose tabelts too - and bottled waater seeing as the maternity unit ran out of water jugs while she was there, leaving her with nothing to drink . I'm actually keeping my fingers crossed that I can have a home birth, but I was always a good Girl Guide... be prepared and all that...! I think my pregnancy book has a hospital bag "shopping list" so maybe I'l start there then get you guys to help me vet it!!

Hmm good idea for Christmas - one of those little suitcases on wheels things which I can also use as a hospital bag. The only things we have are an enomrous suitcase and rucksacks, so for both births have wandered in looking like I'm about to go hillwalking (well part from the huge belly!). Excellent - I can never come up with present ideas!!

Hi all

Another one who keeps losing track of the thread - life is so busy!

Good to read all your news, and sending those with complicated scan news very positive thoughts.

It's good to hear about your plans for hospital bags, it's true that starting to think about it now might be a good plan what with Christmas and all that. In fact I bought some PJs in the sale last week and also got some Arnica tablets for the bag - no idea if they work but took them last time so will take them again this time. Must start to sort through stuff in the attic too, to check what needs replacing (via the Christmas list perhaps).

Everyone feeling as tired out as me?!

Yes me! I am so tired and lots of things are becoming an effort. Bending down, getting up etc I feel like an old woman.

Am very impressed with those of you who use/are planning to use reusable nappies. I tried to raise dd as I believe nature intended as much as possible ie bf, blw, co-sleeping etc but the lure of the disposable nappy was too much for me. Also very impressed with those thinking about hospital bags. Hadn't even crossed my mind yet, but I guess by the law of averages a couple of us will probably have our babies early so I must give it some thought. I agree that a bit of high sugar food is one of the most important things to put in. Probably more useful than the bag of make up and hair dryer I had in my bag.

We have just promised to take dd swimming tomorrow. I cannot imagine how bad I will look in my costume. Two people (dp being one of them) have told me this week that I still don't really look preg yet. Just fat. Lucky old me.

Hope everyone has a nice relaxing weekend, particularly you shiregirl that is one heck of a long week you have. watercress hope you are enjoying your Diwali celebrations. The fireworks have just started around here.

Hello ladies
Love keeping up with all your posts, but by the time I've read thru, it's usually late and I'm too pooped to add anything of use or amusement.
I've spent the last 3 days in bed with a stinking cold, chewing on garlic cloves, downing gallons of lemon ginger & honey, and coughing up alien life forms. So that's nice.
Anyhoo, seems there's an air of excitement in the camp with talk of hospital bags and getting things together... I'm 23+3 and haven't considered packing yet. But, I have bought an ingenious towling covered bath bouncer thingy from Tesco for a fiver. AND I am going to my first ever NCT sale today!!! I've heard I might need to take a flask and sleeping bag to join the queue ! Anyone got any tips? Taking a list, a budget, and my mum.
Happy Diwali to those celebrating by the way.
Happy Halfway to one and all.
xxT4xx

Can I ask stupid question? Are people packing their hospital bags or just buying stuff to put in them? 'Cos I'd not even thought about it yet .

Can't you just give birth in a hospital gown? What are arnica tabs for? Oooh [wringing hands emoticon].

Glad I'm not the only one who can't keep up, work is just so tiring at the moment [yawn]

I'm aiming for a home birth too FluffyCoo, the maternity unit is about 25 miles from the hospital and my house is only about 10 so it would be quicker to transfer in an emergency. I suppose I should have a back up hospital bag incase...

Clappedout and Mawbroon, Fingers crossed that things improve for you both.

I'm really hoping I'm not going to be one of the early ones, we're moving before Christmas (ideally beginning December) into the house we're renovating at the moment. This means I rarely see DH as he goes there straight from work and I'm asleep when he gets home. Still it's coming on and we'll soon be at the making it look good stage... I'm on admin duties now so telephone calls and calling builders/plumbers/sparkies is about as exciting as it gets

Hoping to get a pram/buggy at the NCT sale next week, or is it next week, I can barely remember my name some days. Eeek the nappy debate, my head says re-usables are the way to go but I think as a first timer I'll do the disposable for the first few weeks and then see.

I feel huge at the moment, it's so wierd not being able to shave my legs easily or bend down to pick up stuff off the floor. My pal who's on baby No.2 reminded me I'm going to get a lot bigger Mind you I'm still feeling pretty chuffed at making it to Aqua Natal for the first time this week, I slept so well after it.

Hope everyone gets well soon from their colds, nausea and other yuccy things, speaking of which, we were going to go an visit friends last night but they have suspected swine flu so we cancelled. The jab is going to be here in the UK soon according to the news, anyone else thought what to do?

Angela, Arnica is a homeopathic remedy, it's good for reducing bruising and swelling. Good for anyone with 'Jeremy Kyles'!

Take care everyone
Sunnybump x

Ooh, hadn't thought about Arnica in any other context than post-natal fanjo carnage... may well help with the old Jeremys, good call sunnybump! It's also nice to know that I'm not the only first timer thinking about home birth - i too am only 10 mins away from my hospital - my family haven't been that impressed though to be honest - what sort of reactions have you been getting?

Angela, I'm not so much packing my bag as just wondering what the heck needs to go in there - I downloaded a "helpful" list from t'internet yesterday and frankly I've been away on camping trips where I've needed less stuff... am I really likely to use an MP3 player or massage oil?!

For any of you ladies that are feeling mahoosive and like all over your internal organs have been vacuum-packed, I cannot recommend yoga enough!!! I am a total convert! Learned some great poses for "opening up my rib cage" last night - bliss! Practically floated out of my class!!

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!

x

I had Arnica cos my friend told me to have it! Yep it was for the post-natal carnage and as I had a brill v quick labour I needed it [is there an emoticon for sharp intake of breath?]

AngelaCarleen - The PJs are definitely NOT to give birth in, no chance! Last time I stripped the bottom half of my clothes off within a couple of minutes of being in the labour ward (no shame) and didn't have time to get rid of all the top half, so gave birth in the pool with a maternity bra and a too-small white vest top on! Dear me no, the pyjams are for after - I had an old nighty and a purpose-bought-too-big-man's-polo-shirt-from-Peacocks last time and felt that I wanted a trousery bottom half.

But no none of these things will make it into any bag for at least a few weeks yet; I am just trying to spread the cost what with Christmas and many family birthdays on the horizon. Which reminds me, how did Cakefest go?

Happy Diwali and happy weekends all