Due May 2010: Where we get a 'bloom' just in time for the christmas mayhem???

[AnAngelWithin]

Morning ladies. Hope you don't mind me starting a new thread! The other one was too big for my computer to manage! lol

01 May - Brightredballoon, 32. #3
02 May - kaystar, 33, #1
03 May - lizzie9442, 23, #4
04 May - ForcesSweetheart, 36, #2
04 May - memorylapse, #5
05 May - Lotus Palm, 31, #1
05 May - Bettymamma #3
06 May - DorotheaPlenticlew, #2
06 May - LuckyC, 35, #1
07 May - Woody31 #1
07 May - hobnobfanatic, 37. #2
08 May - sweetkitty, 34, #4
08 May - Sassles, 30, #1
08 May - TheShopaholic, 33, #2
09 May - Alexw, 37, #2
10 May - Sophie2008, 28, #2 & #3 (Non id twins!)
10 May - Gils, 28, #2
11 May - Itshappenedagain, 25, #2
11 May - sheepgomeep, 32,#4
12 May - pamelat, 31, #2
12 May - Tamuna, 28, #1
12 May - slipperthief, 33, #2
12 May - napa, 31, #2
12 May - Katnkittens 29, #4
12 May - Haribolicious, 36, #2
13 May - Cith, 30, #1
13 May - Wibblela, 36, #1
14 May - Charmbutterfly, 28, #1
14 May - Carikube, 36, #2
14 May - JamesAndTheGiantBanana, 28, #2
14 May - CornishSAMum, 32, #1
14 May - Tinylion #2
15 May - TwentiethCenturyHeffa, 25, #2
16 May - MoggMum, 38, #1
16 May - MinnieMummy, 36, #3
16 May - schipo, 40, #1, [boy]
17 May - newmomma, 31 #2
17 May - LittleOneMum, 36, #2
17 May - First1, 21, #1
17 May - Morph2, 36 #1
18 May - TomlinTowers, 31, #2
18 May - 30ish, 31, #2
19 May - cupcakefairy, 25, #1
19 May - Pigleychez, 28, #2
20 May - LolaAnn, 22, #1
20 May - mmmmmchocolate, 27, #2
20 May - BuongiornoPrincipessa, 29, #1
21 May - Suey2, 39, #2
21 May - Sweetpeasmum, 38, #2
23 May - Swangirl,36 #3
23 May - Mollybob, 37 #3
23 May - RacquelWelsh, 38 #1
24 May - Yorky (started on here as HeadInAWhirl), 31 #3
24 May - Cafuffle 36 #2
24 May - AnAngelWithin #5
25 May - Den26, 26 #1
26 May - Booboomonster 35 #2
26 May - Washersaurus, 33, #3
28 May - Glastochick #1
30 May - tiggsy98 29, #2
31 May - April80 29,#2
31 May - Hollyoaks, 27, #2

I researched pumps and I think the electric ones are the best if you intend to express a lot, mine is really easy to use, I think it is a case of one size fits all, it's a bit freaky the first few times you use it, it kind of pulls your whole nipple in and out weird sensation but then you get amazed that MILK some out my older two DDs used to love watching it!!!

sk do you think i would benefit from an electric one? I did start a separate thread about my worries here

Marquise as far as I know all breastpumps come with standard fitting funnels to go over your boob, they come quite far up your boob not just over the nipple. In saying that, when I phoned Medula for a replacement funnel for my pump I was offered two sizes so perhaps you can buy different sizes but as far as I have seen the actual first purchase of standard pump gives you a standard funnel.
For me, by far the best pump is the Medula Swing electric pump, I had a single version of it and was able to express a lot in about 10 minutes so I didn't see the need for a double pump and I only expressed once a day.
The advice on breastfeeding is to wait until approximately 6wks before introducing a bottle or expressing as this is generally how long it takes for the baby and your milk supply to establish itself. That said, I introduced it sooner and it worked for me.

Shipo I didn't buy the pump/steriliser for a few weeks after my first child was born. Our situation is that I didn't need to leave the baby for a good while and if I popped out I would do so after finishing a feed. However, I then go into a good routine of pumping milk and freezing it so DD had it when I was going to be away (e.g. a full head of highlights takes 4 hours! and was 1 hour drive away). When DH first gave her a bottle I felt like a weight had been lifted as we had a rocky first 9wks of breastfeeding. She then refused a bottle on numerous occasions so I never relied on when I could leave her. With DS I had to express for him as he was in SCBU for 2 wks and although he bfed directly from me for the last bit of that stay I was in the habit of doing it and wanted to keep it up so he usually had a bottle of expressed milk every night whilst I went to bed to get ahead with my sleep!

Twentieth there's such a selection of slings out there, I am no expert at all but when I had DD I was given a Coorie sash type sling? Its a simple piece of fleece and holds the baby similar to if you were holding them in your arms, it was great for DD and DS around the house.

In case anyone wanted to know (!) my favourite best buy for both children was a fisherprice swing. It was fairly low to the ground, I bought it 2nd hand of a mnetter and it swings forward and back. Both DC absolutely loved it, you can use it from birth and folds down so you can take away with you. I preferred it to just lying them on a play mat as we have hard floors and drafty at that so being a bit off the ground with soft padded seat was my preference

Hi everyone
just read your expressing thread anangelwithin and I haven't really got much to add except that I did breast feed and express first time around but I did find the time it took to express quite tedious. I started with handpump and then bought an electric which was much quicker and less tiring (I've got big hands but it's more of a hassle if you have to keep pumping). But my main problem with it was that it took ages - and given that feeding the baby took a while (she would snack for half an hour on and off the whole day, later more like ten minutesm but it seemed constant!) I felt a bit resentful about spending my spare half hour of the whole day pumping! I was thinking that this time I might not bother - but of course will just see how it goes. I think it was the rigid 'contented little baby' pumping routine that I objected to most!
Hope that is helpful for you.

I too am of those buying equipment - we pretty much have everything though am debating on whether to get a double buggy or not (more for constraining purposes as DD will be 2.8 months and happy to walk/ run/ leg it off in the other direction when I'm not looking). Anyone have any experience of this? We live in London so traffic is a problem (in terms of being a danger if she runs out).

As it's another girl I don't even have an excuse to buy clothes. Though will save some money which is great. Need to go through DD's things and wash them etc. Seem to have quite a lot to do and would be happy "nesting" if DD gave me a chance without trying to help etc.

Re slings - heffa was looking at the reviews on mumsnet but still in two minds - I quite liked the baby bjorn we have but wouldn't mind a lighter weight one for summer, though I might be just indulging myself. The wrap around type ones look great but not sure if you're just paying a lot for a piece of fabric & a hippy ideal. Any ideas anyone?

Anyway, hope everyone is ok - sorry to hear about the SPD sufferers - sounds awful. Someone on another thread was saying she could cycle ok with it so maybe that's a way of being more mobile? (sorry if that's stupid advice).

anangelwithin - I have answered your questions on your other thread

slings - I have had a Baby Bjorn, a Coorie and a Closer sling, this time I quite fancy an Ergo with newborn insert to start with haven't researched it yet though

booboomonster - hard one whether or not to get a double with a 2.8yo, I had one with 2.6yo DD3 and it was great for about 6 months, she was a good walker but on days out or rainy days it was nice for her to have somewhere to sit as their wee legs do tire quick and there is nothing worse when you need to get somewhere fast with a very slow walking toddler. DD3 will only be 1.10yo when DS is born so double no 4 it is for me!

brightred pleased to hear you found the Medula Swing successful as I've just bought one!

Interested to hear all you feedback re Slings as I'd like to try one for around the house. Have found this one which isn't too pricey but no idea whether it's any good: See this page

Re pumps - one size does fit all but you can buy attachments to alter them. The Lactaline that I used had a 'big breast' set that you could buy to go with it and I think it had a 'small breast' size as well. My boobs are very large and (sorry for TMI) so is the aureole area so I found that the big breast attachment helped get more milk and was more comfortable. I don't think that's necessary for the majority of people though, and probably only if you actually end up doing a lot of expressing. It is a very weird sensation.

I had to express for every feed and it did get very tedious. I stopped eventually because my supply dried up and I couldn't get it back (no idea why this happened). Whenever DD was sleeping I had to be expressing, which was a bit of a nightmare and meant I didn't get the opportunity to rest. I did love the pump though.

BRB - that kind of sling sounds ideal. The BushBaby is fantastic (we have a second hand BabyBjorn as well) but I'm after something that cradles the baby more for at home.

Re sterilisers - our Tommee Tippee one would probably take most things I think although it came with a couple of bottles anyway so just ended up using those.

re expressing. People's experience does seem to vary and i get the sense that it all depends on how quickly your boobs produce the milk. If your baby feeds quickly, you tend to express quickly too. IME if they do, you spend ages winding them because they've swallowed a lot of air. Therefore if they do feed quickly and you want to share the burden, expressing is likely to be successful. This is not gospel and just my experience.
I had a medela swing which was ace: i went back to work at 4 months so i got a couple medela pump: It only then took 10 minutes max to fully express each boob. At the 4-5 month point when she was taking a litre a day, i could get 200ml from each boob in 5 minutes flat!

In short, i don't think you can predict if it is going to work for you: therefore if money is an issue i would get a cheap manual pump and upgrade to an electric if your milk comes easily.

Hi, I've missed loads but the bits that have stuck in my mind from trying to catch up -
Slings, I too have a coorie sling in gorgeous rainbow fleece, don't know if it'll be a bit warm in summer, and I could only carry DD in it for a while as she was big (9lb9) to start and being on one shoulder I didn't find too comfy, but she did sleep well in it. I LOVE my close carrier, although being a bad mummy I don't actually know where the extra fabric/bag part is as I use it a bit like a double wrap, so easy to get her in and out of, and I've carried DS in it aged 2.7months or so and was impressed at how comfy I was with him. Never been able to feed in a sling though.

Pumps - didn't express much either time, just have an avent hand pump which was adequate for the little use it got. Agree with the theory of pumping regularly to have a stash for afternoons out, but time got in the way. Should have learnt the error of my ways after an overnight in hospital for 'retained products' when DD was 8wks and they wouldn't let her stay with me but the one tine of formula DH bought then lasted her till past 6months!

Buggies - There are 22months between my current 2, and if this one runs to time 18 months between DD and her little sibling so definitely have double. We're lucky as mum got me an old silver cross pram from ebay when DS was born so now he just sits in a seat on top of it, but I also have a side by side 3wheeler double which is SO nice to push. Wondering about a buggy board on either of them as DS will only be 3.4 when baby arrives. Trying to use single and buggy board more to get him used to walking, but he's SO slow!

Question time now - car seats. We have a first stage graco which came with the travel system we got before DS was born, it has a base so is easy to fit into car, but we didn't know until buying next stage car seats that we had isofix and at vauxhall customer 'service' and big thumbs up to lovely lady in kiddicare! Can't fit 3 seats across the middle bench seat of our zafira so DS will be in the boot - he currenty thinks this is a big treat and we're planning to get him a new seat, a kiddy one as back seats don't have isofix option and the leg just gets in the way of his legroom. BUT (getting to the point eventually) you can't slide the middle seat forward for easier access to rear seats when the base is held by seatbelt so I am VERY tempted to get another first stage seat (probably maxi-cosi as we love the priorifix both DC are in currently) which comes with an isofix base. DH can't see why I want to spend so much money on something we already have. Any words of wisdom?

Suey2 - I'd suggest that as well. The electric pumps can be expensive so I'd go for a manual and see if you need/want to upgrade later. One lady I know fed her DD with EBM exclusively for 10 months using a manual pump only As I said, you could always try renting them from a midwife unit or something to see which works for you or if money's an issue for an electric one.

Yorky - my mum told me that you used to be able to get seats to sit on the top of a pram and they sound ideal. I really want to avoid a double buggy (there will be 22 months between my two) but I go out daily to get shopping etc and I'm not sure DD's going to be up to it. She loves walking and is very good, but I'm still worried that it's going to make a trip out a huge faff where a double buggy would be much easier.

I do have a big toddler back carrier which I figured I could try using some of the time,

As far as breast pumps go, I used both the Medela Mini Electric and an Avent hand pump. For me, the main advantage of using the Avent hand pump was that all my bottles were Avent (wide necked) and I liked being able to pump right into the bottle DS would be feeding from (DH tried to give him a bottle once a day.) I got tired of having to have a Medela bottle (narrow necked) cleaned and sterilised to pump into, and then transfer the milk to another cleaned and sterilised bottle. My DS didn't like the Medela teats, the ones he loved were the Mam ones (which fit on the Avent bottles), seemed to be most like breastfeeding - that's another topic altogether! Main point, I would get a pump that your feeding bottles fit directly onto, whether wide or narrow necked.

Early on I found the Medela Mini Electric breast pump better cos like many others I struggled to express in the beginning. As I didn't have the Avent hand held pump in the beginning I'm not sure how I would have done with it. Though it probably would have been fine as I got good suction with the hand pump (as soon as I took the rubber bit out that rests against the breast so I got good strong suction). I found that the Mini Electric was a bit loud in some circumstances (crowded train, trying to be discrete under a muslin in the corner alleviating agonizing engorgement!) and also didn't suck as strong when I used it with batteries instead of plugged into the mains, so I got the Avent and I found that worked great and was easy to clean.

I got the Avent steam steriliser and used it loads for bottles, teats, dummies and breast pumps. When DS was 6 months I relaxed a bit about sterilising and just ran everything through the dishwasher. Will be using the steriliser again with this baby. We'll see for how long!

I know some people feel funny about second-hand goods, especially intimate things like breast pumps, but these are easily washed and sterilised. I bought all of my breast pumps (I ended up getting 2 of the Avent hand held ones so I always had a clean one at the ready) and steriliser from eBay, for bargain prices. I also got a moulded bath seat with suction cups at the bottom, which was fantastic for bathing DS in the tub. Another bargain I got was the baby monitor, I used it especially while out in the garden and DS was napping. brb I agree about the swing, bought one for DS from eBay as well and we used it loads! I can also highly recommend some sort of swing or bouncy chair.

Hello all. Been rather quiet on here today. Have been at home as spent yesterday in labour ward! Had some bleeding but all ok now. Scary day. Hope everyone else well.

alexw sorry to hear about the bleeding hope you o.k?
Went m/w yesterday was disappointed my original m/w has left and the replacement is leaving next week. So I don't know who I've got. Would have been nice to be informed! All o.k though had some bloods taken due to my dizzy spells and feeling knackered all the time.

Got a 3d scan next Sat feeling bit apprehensive as don't know what to expect, hope its not too freaky! Is anyone else having or had one done?

Thanks mad. Am ok now. Had v lazy day on sofa with mn . Scan sounds great. Haven't had one myself but think it would be lovely to have a better glimpse.

It's the weekend, hooray!

Thanks for all the answers to the breast-pump questions, and for not laughing (out loud, anyway) to my question about whether they come in different sizes!

Had a bit of a random antenatal appointment with the GP today (we have shared care between midwife and GP where I live).

My (sorry if TMI) urine tested positive for sugar, and as my mum has type 2 diabetes, the doc was a bit concerned, so did a finger-prick test to check my blood too. But the blood was completely normal (6.1 apparently, which means nothing to me, but GP said was fine). She was a bit confused as to how one reading was high but the other was fine, looked puzzled for a bit, and then said "I don't suppose you've eaten beetroot recently have you?". Odd question, I thought, but said that yes, I had had beetroot at lunchtime yesterday and also the day before. "Ah", she said, "that explains it, beetroot can cause a false positive for sugar on a urine test."

Weird!

She's sending me for a fasting full blood test on Monday morning, just to be on the safe side, but doesn't think it's anything to worry about, as I haven't been feeling tired or lacking in energy or anything, which she would normally expect with diabetes. But the downside is that she told me to avoid sweets, chocolate, biscuits and cake 'til then. Boo.

MDM - was a perfectly reasonable question I had no idea they came in different sizes until I researched it because mine didn't feel big enough. I wish I'd checked before tbh, would have been a lot easier.

Weird about the beetroot thing, I never would have thought that! Hope the test goes well, sure you'll be fine

Alexw - glad you're OK, that must have been quite worrying.

mustbemad - I have had a 3D scan before and it's great not freaky at all

Good evening all.

Yes, v interesting to read about all milk expressing. I've a tool on my shopping list now, but comes way down list after somewhere to live .

I'm so tired this evening I can't believe it. I'm sort of expecting to get really tired again, but thought it wouldn't kick in for a while. Maybe it's just been a very long week...

Alex, very sorry you've had such a traumatic week. Hope you can keep the resting up over the weekend.

MustbeMad, I'm sort of planning a 3D - or is it 4D - scan. DH is very keen at least. I want to leave it as long as possible though because I'm not due for another hospital scan so I guess the later I leave it the more useful it will be for things like finding out which way up baby is

Hi all
just catching up with posts.
Sorry to hear about bleeding alex - hope everythings ok & you can take it easy. Must have been stressful!

Rachel - totally amazed and impressed that you managed to express in public on a train! Wow, I am inspired - I think I would have pathetically got damp! So good for you! Will take note for next time.

Hope everyone gets a good nights sleep x

sorry to hear about the bleeding Alex..glad everything is ok

Ive bought a Tommee Tippee manual breast pump from Asda..it was only ten pounds..with the last two I had the avent one which was fab..when I had DD1 Avent used to be called cannon babysafe..the breast pump they had out at the time looked like an instrument of torture but by god it worked!

I cant beleive that Im just 3 days from the 3rd trimester..and looking at the number of posts on this thread..we will need a new thread in a couple of days!

ML I bought that one too yesterday!!! and i got the voucher out of the sun newpaper for £5 off a £50 spend so got a few other bits too, effectively made the pump £5 haha. Even if I don't use it, or just use it to help when i get too full, it wasn't much money!

My boobs are leaking already

Alex glad you are ok.

pumps- I had the mini medela too ad found it great.

Alex- Glad to hear your ok now. Must of been really scary!

Mustbemad- We had a 4d scan with DD. It was fab Have a keepsake DVD of it and lots of pics. Theres a certain song on the DVD that evertime i hear makes me think of the scan and go all mushy!

The mad dreams have started!- Last night I was escorting some pre teens on a holiday abroad when some mad terrorist group were trying to kidnap the kids. We were all running about the hotel like looneys!.
Night before last was the best one though- DH's Nan was having a baby! Shes 82!! She had it feet first at home in the bath, all 12 lbs of it! Whilst watching my waters broke and the baby just fell out onto the floor! Told DH who was horrified at the thought of his nan giving birth and said it must be a dream if it just dropped out!

DH gave me a lay in this morning after another stressful night argueing with mum again.

aww pigley are you ok? what did your mum say? hope she didn't upset you.

angel..I never get leaky boobs during pregnancy..odd.

some nice news..lady I became great friends with whilst in hospital the other week, had a section on thursday and had a little girl 8lb 6 oz..theyve called her Sophie..she sent me a text on thursday while she was still in recovery!..lol

ah thats nice ML.
I always get leaky boobs, but never this early!!!