Where's the April thread gone??

[Rtuff]

Can someone put a link to it for some reason i cannot find it!!

Stinky no way are you working up to 34 weeks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(slinks away shamefully as been on maternity leave from 28 weeks ).

Put your feet up and pack it up for gawds sake!

Hello all...been having yet another sort out today, and can't help thinking that no matter what I do throughout thre house, I still always seem to have a list of a million other things that need doing!!
I am buying all new mattresses for basket and eventually cot..and with regards to bedding/grobags, I will be using grobags..an absolute godesend for those middle of the night feeds!! But I won't be using them til Jude's around 8 weeks-ish cuz I prefer to keep a baby swaddled for that feeling of 'security' and snugness..an old fashioned girl at heart

yep, babywearer here, have bought a kari-me sling on ebay the other day, I have practiced putting it on with one of my niece's dolly's, was really easy to put on and feels really comfy, mine was brand new and only cost £23, think I got a bargain

Hoops you did get a bargain. I am dropping heavy hints I want one, so may end up with six. I bought a second hand red kite sling and have been carrying my daughters doll around in it (in private, obviously)

Adelaide I would love to! I was hoping to work until 37 weeks, but just not well enough. DH (not so dear today as being an utter tw*t) is a permanent student (well doing a PHD), so my wage is all we get.
NHS is not very generous on the Mat Pay front, and we do not qualify for Working Tax Credit. I will be taking 6 months off, so want to spend as much time with baby. I often think back to when I was dating an obscenely rich fella... and I settled for a penniless student. (I adore him really)

Tweetz - swaddling is great - have you seen those little pod things? They look like socks you stuff the wean in. Very cute.

Hi Tostaky The sick toddler/ nursery problem is one we have been through soooo many times over the past few months. Being at nursery they tend to pick up every bug going and we found that DS2 was sick every 2 weeks which meant one of us had to take the time off work which is very stressful for all concerned. When I go back to work we are going to look into getting a nanny who comes in daily, there is no easy answer though!!!

stinky thats a downer about the mat pay - I do know what you mean though. I'm not employed by the NHS as I work for a locum agency so just get 6 weeks at 90% and then statutory for the rest of the time.

I get paid for my 10 keeping in touch days, but i reckon i'll be back at work part time when the baby is about 8-9 months, then DP will look after them while i'm at work.

Oh, also a massive fan of swaddling here - got a few special swaddle blankets that you just kind of tuck in. Princess you are the most organised expectant Mum on the planet .

I am smiling at the image of all these pregnant women wandering around with dolls in slings .
Quick question for those who're on number 2 or more - does this baby move differently to your first/other babies? DD was always charging about and wriggling, kicking and punching. This bub moves much more slowly, and he hardly ever kicks/punches. His speciality is coming up under my ribs and tickling me which is rather sweet. He also does a weird shivery thing. It's so different to the first time I'm wondering if he's OK or are they all different?

Pillia - yes I was thinking about taking a live-out nanny maybe next year? but theres no easy answer as DP works from home and we have a small flat and needs peace and quiet during the day so the nanny would be able to saty all day at home?
Quite re-assuring to know your DS was ill every two weeks? I was starting to wonder if my DS didn?t have a deficient immune system or something?

Bettymum - this one moves differently. Whereas DS speciality was planting his feet firmly below my right ribs, this one is a gymnast and I feel him moving around, having one little feet in the middle of my belly and then moments later another one in my ribcage etc? I guess it is hios way to tell me that even though he is a boy, he will be different to DS1!! (for some reason im expecting to see DS1 twin coming out of me in April!!!)

Re-sling - I have a stretchy wrap which is great for the first few months and then I have a kary-me for when DS started to get too heavy (around 5-6 months) both are great. I also have a maya ring sling but im not a fan. If you google "slingmeet" you should be able to find a sling meet somewhere near you and try on a few slings from other mums. I did that and I received great advice!

I'm working up to 35+3 as want more time after the birth. Still undecided about how long to take but possibly 9 months-1year if I can convince DH.

Bettymum This one is very different to my DD. Can be quiet for ages then gives enormous horse kicks

rumpleteaser Have you had your scan yet? Did you get to find out if its a boy or girl! hehe. My tummy has gotten waaay hairier, its quite gross, i didnt know it was all thanks to having a boy! I hope it goes afterwards though..! Good luck with your trip back to the UK!

tostaky I keep imagining a twin of ds1 too!

Is everyone using bio oil or similar products? It was mentioned on another thread and made me wonder whether I should be. With ds1 I didn't use anything and I don't really have any noticeable stretch marks even though I put on 3 stone. This time round I am massive but I haven't been using anything as I hate the feel of moisturiser on my skin. I've always been a bit sceptical about whether they actually work or not. What does everyone else think?

Also this is a daft question but when do you get the stretch marks is it when you are pregnant or after the baby is born? I haven't got any yet.

I reckon stertchmarks are mostly genetic, thedollshouse. If you didn't get them first time round, you probably won't get them at all. Stretch mark products are pretty much hope in a jar (my humble opinion only).

I got them with my first, but I didn't get any with subsequent pregnancies. They aren't livid any more, just silvery. But with my eyes shut, my tummy feels like I am wearing ribbed tights. Still, could be worse. I know a lady who got them all over with her first - backs of her knees and everything.

I have a few stretchmarks which go either side of my belly button, turns out this is exactly where my sisters got them too, so I think they are genetic, mine also feel like I have ribbed tights on, they feel quite weird, the way I see it they are a way of telling me mini-hoops is growing so don't really care about what I look like!!

bettymum I did feel a bit daft carrying a doll around in my sling but at least I can get a bit of practice before little buddy comes along!!

Is anyone getting really excited yet? I keep getting little babygrows out of the box and looking at them and giggling like an idiot, tell me I'm not the only crazy lady on here that does that!!

Hope everyone else is doing great, we're nearly there

Dollshouse I have been using Bio-oil but can't say I actually believe it works as I have at least a couple of stretchmarks under my bump. I mainly use it to stop an itchy bump! Palmers Cocoa Butter is really good, cheap and I LOVE the smell of it.
Tostaky I just keep telling myself that it is good for his immune system but I had constant guilt as a working Mum as I loved my job and really miss it (Only been on mat leave a couple of weeks!!!)but missed my boys so much and felt awful on the occasions when I wasn't sure if they were well enough to leave. Is a Childminder an option???

Lol Adelaide...you haven't seen how big my ironing mountain gets haha
I religiously use bio-oil..I got no stretchmarks with dd, and so far have none now, but keep checking and think I see them! I think most people notice them during pregnancy, but some think they've escaped them and then find a few after the birth..I also think if you're gonna get em you will, but when I feel my skin get really tight, I do tend to plaster myself in it :s It does provide me with some relief as well tho x My movements are different as well...and sometimes I think cuz I aam busy with dd, I tend not to focus on each kick or wriggle, which makesme feel neglectful He gets me back by keeping me awake at night hehe x

Morning everyone!

Welcome wizbitwaffle, I know what you mean, 9 weeks left for me! I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy has gone!

DS1 (3) and I sorted out the new nursery yesterday, ds was very sweet getting all his teddies he doesn't want anymore and giving them to his little baby brother! I feel a little more organised now, just have a load of baby clothes to wash now!!

rtuff I'm with you on the can't believe it's gone this quick thought, only 9 weeks left and lots and lots to do, I have loads of baby clothes to wash, stupid question alert, what is the best powder and softener to use? I'm completely clueless

hello to wizbitwaffle welcome to our thread.

Another daft question but are people going to bother with a baby bath or can I just put mini-hoops in the big bath straight away?

Starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by it all now, I start ante-natal classes next thursday, OMG where has the time gone??

hope everyone is doing and feeling great

forgot to add, has anyone else's bump had hiccups? he had then for about 20 minutes yesterday, was really funny to watch my belly button hiccuping!!

Hi wizbitwaffle - my first was 4 weeks early and his nursery was utterly unprepared. No cot up, no clothes ready. You'd do well to get ready now!

I'm not bothering with a baby bath this time hoops, but I'm going to get a new plastic garden trug and use that. Like these ones. Our bath is too big and deep for a little one, to begin with, and I can always use the trug in the garden afterwards.

And yes, mine get hiccups quite regularly. It is a ticklish sensation!

My wee fella/lassie is still transverse. Anyone else? My previous babies have all been head down really early so I'm a bit astonished to have this one lolling around. I'm having to adopt strange postures as per the spinningbabies website and I'm not happy with it!

Hoops for dd I was adamant that I used fairy washing powder and comfort pure only for all her clothes and bedding, I was convinced this was THE best option for her oh so delicate skin, but I just washed all Jude's clothes the other day in my normal surf washing powder, and yellow comfort. I don't think I'm gonna be so particular with Jude over certain things that I was with dd, now I've already had 2 years with her! :s
If he shows sensitivity (I suffer with excema), I will swap back to fairy, but just see how things are. x
Soooooo excited, think I'm going to buy my pushchair on Monday, gonna pop to baby farm tomorrow to find out if it needs ordering in and if there's a waiting list as there is no info on their website, then fingers crossed, Monday I'll have it in!!! xx I really wanted to get a bath on a stand thing this time, as I struggled bathing on the floor with dd, but I just don't hve the budget or the room in my house, so I'm gonna use dd's old baby bath, on the kitchen table, and before long I'm sure I'll be trying to fit everything in my day and will end up bathing Jude in dd's bath at the same time!! Things are really moving along nicely now..getting soooooo excited!! x

Get the bath from mothercare that fits over the top of the normal bath. It's fab. It's a bit pricier than a standard baby bath but cheaper than one on a stand and we used it til DD was almost 8 months.

I always use non-bio Persil anyway cos I'm allergic to almost everything else.

flyby yep another here with tranverse baby, keep getting punches/kicks to the side weird when you can see a pair of feet poking out the side!!

I don't think I'm going to bother with a moses basket, I think they look pretty but don't like them at all, I think I'm just going to use the carry-cot on my pram, I'm getting a Mama's and Papa's Ultima 8 in 1 thing so will use that until he's big enough to go in a cot, anyone else?

I was looking at the tummy tub online earlier, it's like a bucket that you bath the baby in, looks cool but don't know if it will be too fiddly.here

A Fairy non-bio household here mostly because DH has seneitive skin and biological powders give him rashes.
I haven't got a baby bath this time - last time I borrowed SILs. I will probably get a cheap one if I need it, the benefit of them is that you don't waste so much water filling a big bath for a little baby. I'm hoping that most of the time I'll just pop him in with his big sister.
No idea how my bub is lying, don't think I've seen my midwife since November - she left and the new midwife didn't start for a few weeks, so I have my 28 week checkup next week (at 31 weeks). I think he's mostly head down although sometimes I get poked out the sides. Still a long time left for him to move about!
I need to start digging out old babyclothes, an old work colleague had her baby a week or so ago at 32 weeks, eek!