October 2005 Chatterboxes - nr. 4!

[SusiS]

there you go ...

evening! had a very nice weekend; spent most of it outside with ds
i finally got to clear out his new-to-be room and can start on ripping everything off and decorating; then the same with his old room for little miss

re scan: don't think it's a problem to take both men to the scan! they are really nice normally

hmmm, had a look at that buggy - the double one - and quite like it actually
also we just recently talked about it that we might get away with not getting a double one! that is if ds keeps learning to walk as quickly as he's done over the last 2 weeks! - maybe just a seat-to-go will do? don't know yet ...

oh, and i am 24 weeks today
bump is growing and growing! and i am having big troubles sleeping at nights - getting through the day like a zombie but still the energy has sort of come back iykwim
and lots of kicking !!!!!

hope everyone's allright though

Glad you're all doing well I feel so fat too and I'm only 21 weeks! Does anyone feel strange at the thought that we've been pregnant for nearly half a year?!

I just played the 'cry' sound effect from this website and Theo pursed his lips gave a massive gasp and went 'oooohh' as if someone was hurting his ears... it could be a rude awakening in a few months time for this little man! (Literally)

Best of luck for tomorrow Hester! I'll be thinking of you (mine's not until 4pm!)

For those of you who have already had a baby, what gadget/doohickey would you not bother getting that you got last time because you never used it or it didn't work? And similarly is there anything that you didn't get that you want to try this time?

Don't get a stand with a bath in it - they wreck your back and my bubs hated it!

Do get a breastpump, an Avent manual one is fine, you never know when you might need it if you're planning on breastfeeding. Take it into hospital too in case the midwives are the dreaded cup feeding ones!

Definite YES to swingy and buzzy chairs, but borrow one first if you can to make sure your baby likes it. Our dd loved both hers - good job as we'd already bought them, and two of my friends who since have had very 'clingy' babies who didn't like bring put down have borrowed our stuff and said it was a godsend for them.

NO to nappy wrapper-bucket thingies. Didn't have one myself but know loads of people who did and said they were a waste of money.

NO to cot matching sets. Duvets and cot-bumpers are a no-no anyway; you'll end up having to change them all quite often and so your dreams of your bub's room looking like the John Lewis catalogue will be very short-lived. Get lots of stretchy cot sheets, a couple of blankies and stick the bub in a sleeping bag - much easier all round.

YES to muslins for sicking and burping up on after feeds. Bibs are too fiddly for newborns, IMHO.

BTW have been an absolute PIG this afty. After dropping dd at nurserycam back here and ate a plate of nachos with all the trimmings and TWO (count them) fresh cream scones. Feel hideous now. That's a sick icon, not envy!

I found a sponge that's in the shape of the baby (from M Care I think) was great, as it gave a bit of extra security while they are in the bath. Yes breastpump always a good one but wouldn't bother buying one until you were sure that BF is for you. A cot top changer, basically a board that fits over a standard cot was invaluable, particularly after a CSection, when you can't bend down easily. Microwave steriliser bags were fab as they took shorter amount of time for sterilising dummies and other snaller items (could fit breast pump in easily) DEFINITELY need something stronger than cotton wool and water to remove meconium poo whilst in hospital (the midwives just stood there watching and laughing at my unsuccessful attempts ) Always said that we would try one of those swinging chairs as my friends was the only one that would keep DD quiet when she had colic....not sure what to do though, might just leave this one to cry!!!!! Oh I forgot I'm having the non-crying, sleep through the night variety this time!!

Another no vote to nappy wrapper thing.
And a yes vote to muslin squares but I used face flannels.

I should definately get muslins... my friend still uses them for her toddler as nose wipers I got away with not using them last time though...

Cot bumpers are useless says my DH (it's true for our wriggler)

I agree with BM and Moomin - we got a nappy wrapper thing and it was a waste of space. And the baby bath was completely back breaking. I am going to try the tummy tub one this time, it looks like a much better idea. And you can never have too many buckets IMO .

We had a swing but ds never liked it and it took up half the living room. My niece liked it though.

• another no-vote to nappy wrapper thingy! - i use a normal bin with lid instead! (big one )

- first few months i bathed ds in the sink! then i put a plastic bath into big bath (one he was half sitting/half leaning back) - was just easier than holding him! - when he finally could sit up a bath seat! - yes to muslins!!!!!!!! - my cot bumpers are still unused - set up a 'nappy changing area' on both floors (if you have more floors) - deff a high one esp. if you had a ceserean! later when he managed to roll off the sofa i changed him on the floor! - never used my bottle warmer!!! microwave is great (just shake well and try before you feed) - didn't do it with ds but might get a plastic cover underneath throw on sofa (they get sick alot the first months!) - and the throw is easily washed - yes to sleeping bag - if you give bottle: get enough to make them all up once! just fill in boiled water and add powder when needed!

can't think of anything else right now

Finally back on line. had a horrid week withou the internet! Thanks for all the advice i'm busy writing it down.............

p.s. scan on friday sooo excited as little one been kicking like crazy and can't wait to see him/her again.

fastasleep & hester, hope your scans go well tomorrow.

Not much happening here, belly has finally popped out this week and I am getting my first proper kicks, quite a strange feeling, but nice

Hope everyone is well and blooming

oooh, belly button popping out. Def the thing I am not looking forward to! DH examins belly button on regular basis and teases me about it! So far, remaining an innie, but suspect its due to the fact that Boo is lying very deep down, according to midwife.

Shattered this morning. Spent yesterday afternoon working on a timetable from now til my due date at work, as to when I'll be in, when I'm taking half day holiday each day to reduce my hours, and when I officially leave! I am leaving it very late, as I want to work as long as possible. But my hours will only be 10:30 - 3:15 Mon to Fri, with an hours lunch as well, so hopefully it wont be too much.

Actually I think the nappy wrapper bins are great for hiding the smell, definitely get one of those. Also the baby baths which are shaped like a deck chair are brilliant (John Lewis I think) - my dd is only just out of it at 9 1/2 months - even though she's a monster!

Anyone else feel faint at times? Just started to and I'm almost 22 weeks, didn't last time?

Tew - im sure we are having the same pg!! i feel really weird sometimes and jsut have to lie down. mainly in the evenings or late afternoon. if i lie down for half an hour and get up slowly im fine - i think a lot of it is to do with low blood pressure!

Hope you're not, as I was told I've got too much water round the uterus, which put me in a flat spin, as my dd tried to come at 32 weeks, so don't want to go through that again!

Seeing private consultant tomorrow for a second opinion, so fingers crossed all fine!

How are you feeling after your appendicitis?

I felt faint and giddy with last pg and went to docs......she said it could be iron levels (mine was sightly low) It passed after a couple of weeks though. Haven't had it this time as yet!?!? It's just my hayfever that's getting me down!

fine after surgery now - still a bit achey when the babe decided to play bouncy castle on the side, but on the whole i feel a ton better than i did before!

will bump up my scan picture for all you lot that havent seen it!

Oooh I feel really dizzy at random times too, have done since about 8 weeks, I got my iron checked and all that and it's fine... my blood pressure is like 90/50 though and although the nurses think that's great I'm sure I'm not meant to be that low! I often stand up and flump straight back over, or go white as a sheet when standing up and feel like the room's spinning and then I feel all sick - it's unpleasant!

Glad you're feeling ok after all that scary surgery JM looks like my boy/girl positioning theory is right eh! Who would've thunk it

I'm so nervous today I think the hormones are getting to me...argh... what if she has kidneys like my DS... I don't want to have to take another of my tiny babies down to theatre and see all those tubes (not that it was that bad!) I'm just being a worry-wort! Scan's not till 4!! Argh!

Thanks for all the good tips on what to get and what not to get - determined not to go overboard!

Not sleeping at all lately - can't remember the last time had a good sleep - feel like a zombie. And having very strange dreams when I do fall off for 5 mins - I dreamt the over night that I was sitting in the bath and JJ just popped out - I was running round the house telling everyone to get me to the hospital the baby has come! If it was only that easy - not looking forward to the giving birth part - think I should stop watching desperate midwives!

Anyway on a plus point - booked a hol and off on Sunday to Fueteventura for a week, so guys don't go too mad on the postings next week or it'll take me forever to catch up on everything!

Oh and by the way - the bump is now officially huge - everyone keeps saying to me 'Where on earth did that come from?'

Hope you're all well and good luck to those with scans.

Have fun on holiday! I keep having mad dreams (rather than not sleeping) but I feel like I've not slept in ages! I had a dream about giving birth too and it was all incredibly rose-tinted lol enjoy your bump

Hester am thinking of you today! Hope you're not as nervous as me

fastasleep my blood pressure 90/40 and midwife said that was fine... yes right... can't stand up with out going all black. I feel like my body is running away from me and as the weeks go by i have less and less control over what's happening to it. Very hard as i'm a control freak.

at least got dr's and bloods again next week