Due March 2010 - we're halfway there!

[annamama]

... this is a new thread following on from the last one, welcome oldies & newbies ...

[waves to all]

fab names here- glad to see you're all worrying about the importatnt stuff DH still refusing to commit to 'our name' so have told him if he doesn't like it, he can bloody well chose one that I like more. Violet is lovely, goes with Cecily(DD) and our surname which is a nightmare to work with and I just want to get it sorted (mainly so I can order personalised stuff but don't want to tll DH that!!)

Blueydragon, hope you aren't too disappointed. I was worried that DH would be if we had another girl (no heir and all that) and surprisingly I had mixed emotions about our probable girl.

Becky7000 15 February #4
Smac 25 February #2
pureeandpearls 26 February #2- GIRL
Tigresswoods 1 March #2
DrSkid 1 March #3
Potpourri 1 March #4
onlyanauntie 1 March #1
thegoosedrankwine1 March #2
MissieMoosMummy 1 March #2
cyphercat 2 March #2
Caitni 2 March #1
Horsiemummy 2 March #2
Oscarsmumm 2 March #2
Pipsonhisway 2 March #1
Scarysarah&co 3 March #3- BOY
Donttrythisathome3 March #1
BlueyDragon 4 March #2
TakeLovingChances5 March #1
Dalrymps 5 March #2
Dophus 7 March #3
Twofalls 7 March #2
Carrie2010 7 March #1
BYM 8 March #2
CAFW 9 March #2
ilgb 9 March #2
Sariska 9 March #2
rebeccacad 9 March #1
Summer2008 10 March #1
wilkos 11 March #2
Lemonadegirl 11 March #2
IWCAS 11 March #1
Josie22 12 March #1
Swingsofglory 12 March #2
Iwonka 12 March #1
Scooby26 13 March #1
Vixie123 13 March #1
MrsSnow 13 March #1
Minicooper 14 March #2
slackrunner 14 March #2
Poppyjen 15 March #1
Annamama 15 March #2
Childofthe80s 16 March #1
mmtwgr 16 march #2
Scootergrrrl 17 March #3
Arcadie 17 March #3
SleepWhenImDead 18 March #2
designerbaby 19 March #2
Kay1980 19 March #2
Luckysalem 22 March #2
Veryworriedme 22 March #1
Easydoesit 24 march #2
Rindercella 27 March #2
Fleximum 28 March #3

Have updated Sararh's list.....sure there were more known sexes but couldn't be arsed didn't have time to look....

I'm off the list again! (lol)

I finally made my first purchase for the baby today! A teeny tiny pair of white converse boots. So, yes, I'm clearly worrying about hte important stuff Nevermind I have absolutely nothing, I'm being practical (hello, shoes are important!) and at least my baby will be 'cool' :P

Just perusing the mamas an papas website... Does anyone here have an experience of these new-fangled (well, dunno how new they are really) sleep pods/sleeping bag thingys? I mean, I managed fine with sheets/blankies with my other two, so are they a little faddy or genuinely A Good Idea (particularly, I guess, considering our beans will be arriving in spring when it's still chilly). I suppose they're not really compatible with swaddling?

Sorry Punmpkin but that is an very old list- My due date changed 8 weeks ago!! DOnlt know if this is the newest list but its more up to date.

Becky7000 15 February #4
Smac 25 February #2
DrSkid 22nd February #3
pureeandpearls 26 February #2- Girl
Tigresswoods 2 March #1
Donttrythisathome #1 DD due 1 March
Potpourri 1 March #4
onlyanauntie 1 March #1
369thegoosedrankwine 1 March #2
MissieMoosMummy 1 March #2
cyphercat EDD 2 March #2
Caitni EDD 2 March #1
Horsiemummy 2 March #2
Oscarsmumm 2 March #2
Pipsonhisway 2 March #1
Scarysarah&co-DS-4, DD20m & DS due 3rd March- Boy
BlueyDragon 3 March #2
TakeLovingChances 5 March #1
hecklephone 5 March #2
EmLouT 5 March boy #?
BYM 5 March #2
Dalrymps 6 March #2
Scooby26 6 March #1
Iwonka 6 March #1
Twofalls 7 March #2
Carrie2010 7 March #1
MandaHugNKiss 7 March #3
ilgb 9 March #2
Sariska 9 March #2
rebeccacad 9 March #1
therubyslippers 9 March #1
Summer2010 10 March #1
Anya4 11 March #4
wilkos 11 March #2
Lemonadegirl 11 March #2
PacificDogwood 11 March #4
BulletProofMum 11 March #3
itwascertainlyasurprise 11 March #1
Minicooper 11 March #2
Josie22 12 March #1
Swingsofglory 12 March #2
Vixie123 13 March #1
Walnut8 13 March #1
slackrunner 14 March #2
Poppyjen 15 March #1
Annamama 15 March #2
Retromum 15 March #2
Childofthe80s 16 March #1
mmtwgr 16 March #2
Scootergrrrl 17 March #3
SleepWhenImDead 18 March #2
PixieOnaLeaf 18 March #4&#5
Kay1980 18 March #2
MummyElk 18 March #2
designerbaby 19 March #2
Luckysalem 22 March #2
Veryworriedme 22 March #1
Betterbitofbutter 23 March #2
Easydoesit 24 march #2
Rindercella 24 March #2
Arcadie 26 March #3
Fleximum 2 April #3

Manda- Not having children I can only speak as an informed aunt. My sis has swaddled all her 3 boys until aroubd 5 mths or so and then changed to sleeping bags. She found they would wake themselves up in bags if used any earlier as they obviously don't feel as secure in them.

Taken a day off today. Got no plans other than lounging around. Feel weepy but can't explain why. Damn hormones.....

[wail] I only copied Sarah's......did think it was a bit short

weepy? lounging? Sounds like my day!

Manda- sleeping bags are for after swaddling and I totally loved ours. Means they can't kick covers off and are warm in the night when you have to feed them.....I bought mine from merino kids and they were totally worthy investment. DD in duvets now so will use them for new baby when she's big enough

Mmmm, sleeping on South West trains, Blueydragon.... I'm doing a lot of that at the moment too. Always on the way in (v. early train) and often on the way home too. Must see about getting one of those thingies that entitles you to sit in 1st class if standard is full. Actually, I always - touch wood - get a seat in the mornings but it can sometimes be a bit of a scrum at Waterloo in the evenings.

Sleeping bags: I use gro-bag sleeping bags for my ds (tried and utterly failed to swaddle) and agree that they're fab if you have a wriggle-around-and-kick-off-the-covers kind of child. So fab, in fact, that I am now considering whether to delay the inevitable duvet and shell out for the 18 month - 3 years size grobags. Probably will do so because I can't face adding to the sleep issues that we already have in this house!

Nervously waiting for my 20 week scan next week. It seems like another major milestone to get past. I do want to find out the sex but, actually, haven't a clue if I have a preference. Sometimes I think I'd like another boy because my DS is so gorgeous and because it would be lovely for him to have a brother so close in age....and sometimes I think I'd like a girl because that would negate my worries about not being able to love another boy as much as I do DS1 (which, incidentally, I know is utter rubbish) and also because I do not plan to have a third child and I would like to have a daughter. But, really, the old truism applies: as long as it's healthy I'll feel happy and blessed.

Quick moan: morning sickness is still a problem here. I'm not being sick but the nausea rears its unwelcome head most days. Often it seems that when I'm not eating I'm feeling sick. Is anyone else having this?

Don't know about anyone else but I'm feeling inexplicably grumpy today. Damn those hormones! The sun is shining, I feel well, dd is behaving but everything is just getting under my skin! Especially DH

manda-we used sleeping bags for dd and they're great. Gives u peace of mind on chillier nights cos you know they can't kick off the blankets and get too cold. I don't think we used them straight away, but certainly once she was out of the Moses basket and into the cot

Ok, am slightly ashamed to ask but as a first-timer, can someone tell me about swaddling?!

I know in theory what it is, but what are the benefits, does everyone do it, do I need special equipment?! Argh?

...Goes back to visions of the baby Jesus swaddled in a manger, as this is all she really knows about swaddling...

Rebeccacad I swear by swaddling when your DC is really little. In fact I only stopped swaddling mine when the nights got too warm. For mine it meant that they couldn't thrash their arms around. i remember trying to half swaddle DS when he was about 8 weeks old. Couldn't work out why he wouldn't just go to sleep and sent DH upstairs who found DS lying on his back terrified by these 2 things waving in front of him ( ie his own arms) We went back to wrapping him up tight after that. It just made him and DD feel more secure - kind of like still being cuddled even though they're in bed alone.

Job one: Get a BIIIIIG piece of cloth - pref jersey fabric as it stretchs. Fold so it's a triangle with long flat edge at top and point facing you.

Job two: Lie DC in centre.

Job three: Wrap one of the top corners round and over their arm and tuck under their bottom.

Job Four: Hold other arm down. Wrap other top corner TIGHTLY over it and tuck under the bottom on the other side. You now have a small sausage shaped, armless child who, IME, sleeps a lot better for it.

Job Five: Practise on doll. During the day. When you're not sleep deprived.

Scooby Thanks for saving me the angst.

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to check in as have not been on in ages and see how everyone is doing.

Had my scan this morning - Its a girl - was so suprised as was exoecting another boy. Would have been happy either way. All the checks indicated that all is well.

Cannot believe we are half way there hasn't it gone fast. Thank goodness the sickness has gone.

Hope everyone is feeling well and not suffering too badly with any other symptoms.

Off to catch up on the posts

Thanks Arcadie the over-planner in me feels much better now have added 'swaddling blanket' to my list!

Congrats on the girl Lemonade.

Wow, just got through this new thread! Congrats to all of you who have found out whether they are going to have a "pink" or a "blue" baby .

I am just back from Cumbria, great few days at Centreparcs, mainly going wrinkly sitting in the pool all day .
Sorry, MummyElk, I did not reply to you: interweb at home is still kaputt and WiFi at Whinfell Forest did not work, grrr! After initial withdrawal symptoms, it was actually quite relaxing not to be on-line.... FWIW, I spent a couple of hours at the Spa using a few steam rooms etc, thinking at the time "I'll take it easy, not stay in too long" and really enjoyed it. However, once back at our cottage I could barely stand up and was in bed and asleep by 8pm!! Daddy did a sterling job putting DCs and me to bed ...

Anyway, nothing really new to report here. Bump is growing, I am aware of occasional movements now and am looking forward to detailed scan next week.

Just marking my place so I can find you all again.

hello ladies
i have been loitering in the background reading all your posts for a few weeks! I am due on March 9th with DC 1 and Im off for a scan tomorrow and to find out the sex (followed by SHOPPING!) - Im very excited! its been lovely to be able to follow everyone elses symptoms and stresses, when mine have been matching.
Thankfully the sickness only now returns when Im hungry, the migraines came and floored me for two weeks and have now gone since 18 weeks - yey! and now all i have to worry about is crying at everything .

I got so jealous of all of your babymoons too, so DH and I went to Paris 2 weeks ago and had a fab time.

loving the halloween themes btw

hecklephone I haven't noticed you on this thread before, but hello!

My DH was just reading Mumsnet over my shoulder, and remarked on what a cool music instrument hecklephones are; he is a music nerd..... in fact he is a nerd about many things

Anyway, so I clicked on your name to read your profile and was delighted to see that you are from NI!

I am a NI girl, and still live here Where you from?

Hello - another swaddling then gro-bags fan here. Swaddled dd until she was 7 months - she wouldfall asleep the minute i swaddled her, which was handy. Have loved grobags too - as others have said, can't wriggle out of them in the cold weather.

I bought a beautiful tho outrageously expensive swaddle from happybags - can't remember the name of the product but it was sooooooo beautiful and got a lot a lot of use!

So, here's the post I lovingly wrote last nigth before the internet disappeared (as it does, sporadically here for some unknown reason...) But as it took me a blardy long time to write, i'm going to post it anyway, so there. Even though you've all probably moved on...

Aherm...

Hi all

Sarah - I hope I didn't offend re George Elliot - I think they're both lovely names, but wanted to mention it in case you didn't know (my DH didn't - but then he's foreign so...). I'm probably just jaded from having the p* ripped out of me at school for having the middle name 'Ford'. How the hell it got out I can't remember (it's my second middle name as well) but can very much remember being called "Cortina" "Escort" "Capri" (these were the early 80s) for much of my school career. But George Elliot isn;t anywhere near as bad, and TBH the kind of thugs children who would be likely to give anyone a hard time probably won't be that well read... anyway rambling now.

Re: pregnancy pillows - agree they're invaluable from about this point onwards - not sure you need to fork out on the dream genii one though - I bought one which was just a long sausage shaped pillow, which I bent in and around as and where I needed (which changed BTW, as the weeks went on - so not sure if one that's already in a certain shape is the best plan). Anyway, 'twas much cheaper... bought it from Blooming Marvelous. We called it 'Bob' as it was definitely the third person in our marriage and slept between us in bed!

It was also quite useful in fending off amorous advances from DH - I went RIGHT off all that almost immediately, poor DH. Took a while to get back in the swing afterwards too, what with the 3rd degree tear and all that, and then got pg almost straight away. Same has happened this pg. The poor man must think he's never going to get laid again... . Plus we'd only been married a year when we found out we were pg with dd, and as we hadn't erm, indulged in that particular pleasure beforehand, the poor bloke only got a year, really...

TLC - we have a friend with a 4 month old Elodie - I think it's lovely, but she does spend her life explaining "like melody, without the 'm' and with an 'ie' instead of a 'y'" which she confessed is getting a little tiresome, so you may comfort yourself with that?

Bible not much help with girls' names - the only good ones belong to the naughty ones! All rather unfortunate - we know a Dorcas, and one of my DHs best friend's mother is an Abyshag... Oh dear. But of course you can have 'Grace' 'Hope' 'Charity' 'Faith' and all that, so maybe that makes up for it?

If we have another girl I'm still campaigning hard for Amelie Hope - despite DHs protestations that I can't name our child after my favourite film (why? ).

Oh got a call from the midwives today - apparently my urine test from my last appt. showed I have a UTI (I thought I was just pregnancy uncomfortable and as have been peeing for Britain since about 2 weeks pg I didn't give much thought to that...). So gotta pop in tomorrow for another course of antibiotics.

Bah. Hate the idea of taking medication whilst pg... .

Anyway, gotta finish laundry so DD doesn't have to go to nursery in her PJs tomorrow... She's teething again, poor mite and her bum is red raw, she has a rash all over, has a temp. and has given up eating. Every bleedin' tooth we have this, it's not fair...

Love to all,

db
xx

So, on to more recent stuff:

Swaddling - I fully intended to swaddle DD, bought several special swaddling blankets, only to find that despite a couple of weeks of trying SHE. JUST. WASN'T. HAVING. IT.

Apparently this is not uncommon with large babies - so it might eb worth just investing in one blanket until you find out if it works for you.

(Since we have three, I'll b trying again this time 'round...).

But grobags are fabby fab, not least because it keeps them all toasty when you're getting them out of bed for night feeds etc. when TBH the least disruption possible is the way to go.

Didn't invest in the 2-4year, and now the only times DD wakes up is when she's go herself all uncovered and has freezing feet, poor mite. So glad I used them earlier. Once they're wriggling about it's really good for keeping them warm no matter which way they're facing, or have rolled, or even if, like my daughter their prefered sleeping position is kneeling 'praying to Mecca' stylee with their heads wedged in the corner or the cot.

Oh, and have antibiotics for thr UTI so that'll hopefully go away soon. I'd though the backache, and the pressure in my lower abdomen (like I always need to pee a bit) was just the usual pregnancy fun, but apparently not in this instance ? so that's worth bearing in mind.

Right having an early night as feel knackered and a bit rubbish...

nighty night

db
xx

Thanks Manda for Sky+ advice, yeah it would serve me right to miss those shows... Converse boots sound cute.

Train commuters - I was still commuting during my last pg, it was great to sit in first class! Usually I would go there on my way home even if the train wasn't totally full (yet). The seats are more comfy and more space. Only once the inspector asked me to move.

Sariska - I know what you mean about wanting the other sex because it would be easier to love... I have similar thoughts but I know too it's rubbish! Can't even imagine another girl who is not DD, easier to imagine a boy for some reason. Anyway, I'll be happy either way but slightly would prefer a boy I think! DH has no preference he says.

Lemonade - congrats on the mini lemonadegirl!

Welcome siamese!

DB - don't forget to drink plenty of water and cranberry juice, otherwise you might get UTI again!

I'm another fan of swaddling and gro-bags, they really help the child sleep better. And the parents... I just swaddled using a normal crib sheet but it was a little small and not shaped right so might buy purpose made swaddling blanket this time.

Yes I'm grumpy too! And depressed! And tearful! Felt almost suicidal last night. Shut up, you're in sunny Florida I hear you say... Well that kinda makes it worse, when you're SUPPOSED to be happy but you're not. There are underlying reasons why I'm unhappy, but I think pg hormones might possibly make it worse...(?)

DB- no offence caused about the name George Elliott, its so hard to pick a name that will create no name calling or stigma as the child gets older!!!!! i just like it and thought it well nicely with our surname-
GEORGE ELLIOTT MONAGHAN!!!!i really like Henry too but i already have a Harry and people think its will be odd to have Harry and Henry!!!! sorry i am rambling!!!!

i too love swaddling never did it for DS but he was a great sleeper generally but DD would not sleep unless she was wrapped very tighly!!! will def be doing it again, she was sleeping thru at 5 weeks from being put to bed awake at 7pm, dream feed at 10pm woke again at 7am it was ace!!!! (sarah is praying for this again)

Welcome to all our new members there are lots of us now!!!!

Oh DB- your DH is not alone in the sex derprived camp!!!! all 3 of my pregnancies have made me feel like an over weight beach whale and i am not at all interested!!! poor man!!!!LOL (then again not that bothered when i am not preg!!!! i ahve a friend and her hubby was complaining it was all too much as she was constantly after it !!! is.t it funny how we all differ!!!!

i sat and sorted thru a huge bag of baby clothes last night and now my baby boy has a few hats, baby gro's, vests, lemon and white cardigans, and a few other bits, (i do however have 2 huge bags of girls stuff which i was hoping to use but never mind i am sure my pregnant friends and those with newborns can make good use of it!!!!LOL

hope you all have a fab weekend, we have the car in for an mot later(please dont cost me anything!!!) and a visit from a good family friend whom i have not seen for ages tomorrow so busy here really!!!!

my goodness that was a long post!!

Morning all,

hope everyone is OK at the moment. I have a cold (caught from DH) so am feeling slightly sorry for myself.

I'm another fan of swaddling when they're very small - it seems to soothe them, although you don't need a special blanket at all. I carefully bought one last time round only for DD to end up in the ITU for a bit where the nurses carefully swaddled her in a regular small blanket which I carried on doing at home. Their (and now my method) was:

fold small (crib size) blanket into a triangle shape (if it's square just corner to corner)

put baby in middle with arms tucked by sides - wrap the sides around the baby

hey presto - swaddled!

I agree with Arcadie - give it a go on a doll if you've never done it before.

On another note, I went to the cinema last night and saw 500 days of Summer. Don't know if anyone's seen it - it's quite sweet, bit disappointing at the end... anyway, I got the most amazing massive hormonal rush I got when I was watching the bit about them falling in love! It was just like when you first meet someone new yourself - I know you can empathise with films and stuff but it doesn't normally happen to me like that! I must watch more romantic films while pregnant!! Does anyone else get this or am I just going completely bonkers?

Yup, if your baby is agreeable to it (and most are - after the tight, hugging restriction of the womb, it's comforting to them to not be able to move!) swaddling is a godsend until the baby becomes more aware of their body. Ever see a new born twitch, then throw out it's arms in reflex, then freak out because the movement of the arms either completely wakes them up or as in the a case of arcadie just scares them silly?

DD loved to be swaddled (and in addition to that, liked to have a muslin over her face - odd child!) but DS not so much. Also agree completely that although you can easily spend lots of money on 'specialist' swaddling blankies, it's more than possible to use regular blankies/flat sheets. Infact, I used them - the specialist swadling stuff didn't exsist back then!

DB and swings feel better soon! And anna having suffered from depression on and off for much of my life I know exactly what you're talking about - There were always 'reasons' but in addition my personal circumstances/finances were also terrible adding to the woe. However I lived a live of absolute luxury for two years with an obscenely rich boyfriend (and he completely wiped my debts and I now sit on a fairly substantial lump of savings thanks to him - for instance, when he sold one of his flats in covent garden he just transferred £10,000 into my bank account with no word) yet not one of those days was I happy, and I also really struggled to feel 'grateful' I had this hateful (well, I felt hateful) feeling that he was trying to 'fix me' with money and turned down all sorts of offers from him (that I kick myself over now! ) - it's easy to think that being somewhere amazing or being showered with gifts will make some sort of a difference (and sometimes, fleetingly, it can) but ultimately if you're not feeling top of the pops that feeling follows you where ever you may be. Whether the sun is shining and you can lounge in a pool all day or it's grey and raining and you have a day of housework ahead. DO NOT feel guilt about that. I hope you're feeling better soon too.

And HORMONES! Ha! Aren't they just a fun to add into the mix? swings you may well be bonkers but rushes of overwhelming emotion are completely normal! Just be grateful you're getting the 'falling n love' rush over the 'for fucks sake, I'm gonna rip your head off!' or the 'Oh god, everything seems crap' type I myself seem to get a lot of the 'oh wow, that's beautiful/wonderful '

Oh! And now I have to wash my hair before I leave in half an hour - meeting my best friend in town as she has an appointment to try on wedding dressed. She, in typical fashon being 'different' has booked her wedding for April 1st next year. Although she's quick to mention it's 'after midday, so it's not really april fools'.

It means that I won't be able to be her matron of honour as we always thought because, well, there's too much uncertainty around that time for me! For a start, both my previous pregnancies were induced when I went 2/1 week/s over edd and then I'll be breastfeeding which has always been an intense first few weeks for me. I'm not really that sad though - I'll still attend and be a part of the day (and it was all booked before my news anyway so she wasn't being deliberately obtuse like the sister of... whoever had a sister book her wedding at an inconvienent time despite knowing of your pregnancy). Wahh, I won't even be able to go on the hen holiay which mooted to be miami beach (but more likely to be back to marbella) because I'll be too far along to fly.

Oooh, I love being with people when they try on their wedding dresses! When they find the right one though, I always cry!
Annamama, I hate to think that you feel unhappy - I've had depression too, but when I was a lot younger! My advice would be to go and see somebody about it now, before the baby arrives, because PND on top of depression is not fun. You should definitely see your GP if you were feeling almost suicidal.
Overwhelming emotions are definitely normal! I cried the other day when I saw DD1 in her ballet stuff, because she looked so beautiful, even though she puts it on every day of her life, and has been doing four about six years! I'm not to be trusted!
Have taken MIL shopping this morning, which was nice - she's really lovely, and so excited about the twins! DS was in a really good mood as well, after football, and she bought him a skeleton costume for the Halloween party. I can't wait until next year, when I can dress the twins in matching pumpkin costumes!