10/10 Chats - Over Halfway There

[AbFabT]

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Nymph Ace!

Elsa it was written by a nanny Jo Frost, don't know who she is and it's called 'Confident Baby Care'... I should have known from the title eh?!

I'm tired too, must focus on getting tasks done and then slope off early. Have been trying to shop for smart work clothes in which I don't look v preggers for these meetings on Thurs & Fri.... bah! One last onslaught after work today and that's it.

Hope the appt goes well ABFab

dilly what an odd book. I loved the Penelope Leach book that's recently come out ('the essential first year'), I liked the fact it made it clear that babies come with all different temperaments and likes/ dislikes, so that whilst it gave guidance it never tried to suggest one particular thing would work for everyone. Still probably won't have a clue what I'm doing but I'm liking reading a bit about the first year, partly as it makes me feel really excited

abfab I've been given a lovely big thin scarf by my sister in law which I'm hoping could work, but I am tempted by the idea of something thats specifically designed for breastfeeding. The NCT do breastfeeding meet ups in a cafe in my area, and i'm hoping to go to these and get comfortable breastfeeding. I met up in a cafe with a friend who's not at all the self-conscious type, but she went off to the toilet to feed. I'd rather find a way to be able to feed discretely without hiding in the toilets if possible.

I've been having weird moments of light headedness the last couple of days. I've just had to have a little lie down in the garden as I felt quite funny. Is this something I should be worrying about? Also I went to do my pregnancy fitness training earlier (just gentle stretching exercises) and felt really exhausted afterwards whereas normally just feel energised. I'm hoping its just the heat, but it was a bit demoralising.

tiredfeet- that sound normal- the baby can be pressing on an artery or something- fainting is common too apparently and for the same reason.

Jo Frost is Supernanny- rather like Gina Ford, a childless child expert. To be fair, she sees a lot of women on the brink with their children so she's probably relaying that, but I've never seen her deal with newborns on TV.

My friend bought me a first 12 months book that is encyclopedic but its at home and I cannot remember the name- and its non-judgemental.

Hope your appt goes well AbFabT- a light scarf sounds a good way to go.

Oh Elsa see, you know these things and I had no clue! I did think the name was familiar... Well, she's very 'telly offy', she'd be doling out the smacked legs left right and centre I can tell you!

Yeah, tiredfeet my Mum said this is the classic time for fainting, can't remember why. You need to do things more slowly for a bit (easier said than done!). Might look at Penelope Leach's book...

Hello there,

Just to let you know for those (and me) who were a bit worried about health in pregnancy grant. I've been looking at the budget, health in pregnancy will be abolished from April next year so for those of you who were relying on it for whatever it'll still be there.

Cheers Hermya I was relying on it to pay for blummen NCT classes (partly! I am selling a kidney to make up the difference )

ooh cheers Hermya thats good news about HIP grant, I'm not relying on it as such because I put some savings away for baby costs before we started trying, but it will definitely come in handy and mean the savings stretch a bit further. I think it was right to abolish it but also right for it not to kick in straight away so that people can plan.

That's interesting that this is the classic time for fainting, makes me feel a bit better. I'm trying to take it easy when possible but its frustrating having to stop and rest!

Mines going on resuable nappies for LO, that should set me up quite nicely and I couldn't afford it otherwise.

Is anyone else starting to get a bit off balance? I stood up earlier and nearly toppled backwards. I didn't feel faint, I just misjudged the whole gravity sitaution.

Hello everyone, not been on for ages sorry!

I am so bloody hot in the office today - luckily I'm on my own again so have my shoes kicked off and trying to cool down (a losing battle though!)

Hurrah for HIP staying for us, I have been hiding from most of the budget, too scared to look lol. VAT has gone up to 20%, now theres a surprise

Small bump people - don't worry, I'm sure bump has lots of room, its a mix of body shape, muscle tone, individuals etc. I'm still in my normal trousers with the button undown, mainly due to being broke, but also because I am not tooo huge (thank goodness in this heat!)

Biting bunny - if your dc hadn't accidently hurt it/been feeding it and removed the food etc then female bunnies that are not neutered can get aggressive - they are very territorial (more so than the males) so may be the cause? I'd recommend neutering if it continues.

We are cramming into 2 bedrooms too! family can sleep in the lounge on matresses or in a local b and b - as they come from abroad its going to be an invasion after LO arrives, so I am desperately trying to find a balance between needing there help, and having time to cry/sleep/walk around naked with leaking boobs desperately trying to get BFing established without my (very lovely) MIL being there.

I'm gutted though - ds is finally getting good at sleeping, so just as we cracked it, bump will arrive and I will be knackered for another year or two

Breastfeeding - la leche league are good and balanced. Beware some of the baby books - there are many threads on MN about some "gurus" and from my own experience, I found some books recommmended to me did not help my PND or low esteem - especially ones that think LO will be sleeping through or in a routine at 6 weeks - absolute joke in mine and my friends exeprience, I don't know one person who managed it, and plenty if tears as they felt they had failed!!! C la re By am Cook, Jo Fr ost and G in a F ord get a pasting on here - as shown by the threats of legal action! Each to their own though, GF worked brilliently for one of my friends.

Pinch of salt, and MN mantra " this too shall pass" - I will be chanting it to myself from the very start this time!!

I never bothered over modesty stuff. Just went with lifting top up. Baby covers most of you anyway.

Phew, it's a hot one!!!

Back from M/W: urine and B/P all good, baby wriggling too much to get a good listen to the heartbeat, little scamp, but M/W was happy enough - wriggling was good, so we are happy.
Also got my HIP form to send off (had forgotten all about it! Woo hoo!) and my MATB1 form for work.

Thanks for feedback re modesty in B/F. Maybe I'll just manage with a scarf I've already got. nymph, I am FAR too shy to just lift my top up, so I do think I need something. Also read it was helpful for the baby to stop them getting distracted from external stimulants.

What about those cushion support things for breastfeeding? (e.g. www.amazon.co.uk/Pink-Blue-Floppeze-Nursing-Pillow/dp/B002R6MSI2/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2DYC 3PM6CNQIW&colid=1P8923KDE7HVD - will any old cushion do? Am I getting sucked in with all these special baby things that actually you just don't need?!

Those feeling faint, please take special care. x

I agree nymph - I found when I tried I exposed my self more faffing with it!

I can recommend (for those smaller of nork) to have a support top with pads in under your normal top. so when you feed you lift your normal top up (which covers things from above) and lower the strappy support top to expose nipple, and no stretch marks/jelly belly on show - worked really well for me. Cardigans are also a blessing (doesn't feel it now but we will have winter babies )

I did however flash everyone in the first week or two before ds and I got the hang of it - topless was the way forward, so I could check our latch!!! No shame (but in my own home, NOT in a cafe )

Abfa - so glad it went well!!

I never bothere with a cushion either once I wasup & about. Fed a lot lying down at first after section

AbFab I am getting a breastfeeding pillow - embarassingly called my brest (sic) friend. I've always given myself sore arms and upper back whilst feeding - probably due to poor positioning and latch which I am determined to fix this time. The boppy pillows are good though and good for propping baby up.

Someone on a previous antenatal club mentioned getting a boob tube to wear under a top then just slide down the relevant side when necessary. I had a shawl to cover but it was a faff to be honest.

Tres clever boobage ideas... bet I end up flashing everyone though, I'm very very clumsy and I think I'll just be more worried about dropping the baby!!! My friend swears by a breast feeding pillow. (O god, I was just going to say could you practice with one - yeah, right, in a shop, with a dolly like a totally loony! o dear....)

Am back home now and can laugh HA HA! at my scary book now I know who wrote it what a nelly not to know who she is!

Thank you for the evil bunny advice, we adopted them and "Madonna" the bunny is very territorial and aggressive. So off to the vet we go!

I cant really advise on the breast feeding pillows or tops as I was rubbish at the whole feeding thing!

Dilly PMSL at the dolly in a shop idea!

I dont remember ever having the urge to shake either of my babies, I did get really upset once at DD who would not stop crying so much that I put her in her cot and shut the door for 5 minutes until I had calmed down. I feel bad about that even now! Could easily shake the bunny though (although a little scared of it!)lol

Thanks for the HIP news Hermya I am pleased as mine is allocated for a car seat

hot hot hot!

Abfab good news about the mw appointment

I do love a good pun, ILGH!
How are they any different to a normal pillow though?

Boob Tubes never stayed on me prior to my gaining a lot of extra boobage - I hold out no hope of them staying on now!!!

They have straps so you can fasten it. And it has a pocket for you to put the remote control in. Arf. Here it is.

And don't worry about the boob tube. When your milk comes in, you'll have boobs like zeppelins. Really.

DS3 is much better now. He got oral antibiotics as it was a middle ear infection. Back to normal now - where the funny charming behaviour balances out his less pleasant two year old traits. And he's eating more which is a relief.

LOL! Though my new nursing chair also has pockets for the remote control! :-)

I already have boobs like zeppelins, I'll have you know!!!

Glad your LO is better, bless him. Aw.

UNhooking the bra & rolling down a boob tube seems another step too far for tired brains. Its amazing how often you don't fasten the cup back up

Evening all. Have had traumatic day which ended up with me at the hospital, not my local one as they informed me that they don't have monitors there - I don't believe that for a minute! So had to travel miles it seemed to the referred hospital.

Long and short of it - reduced movement felt last night and then nothing all day plus thought I had uti end of last week as had strange weeing pattern.

MW was nice and we heard heartbeat but says to keep eye on lack of movement. My BP is lowand thinks could be due to heat which explains why I have been feeling faint today. MW did want to scan me but sonographers had already done a bunk for the day. As you can imagine it's been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride of a day today.

Hello!

SilverSky - sorry to hear you have had traumatic day - but I bet you were glad to hear baby heartbeat. Will they be keeping a closer eye on you for a wee while?

I've seem to have developed the "grumps" this week but mostly seem to be reserved for DH and DD - poor things can't do anything right. Didn't even have patience to finish playing a board game with DD as she was driving me mad with guessing what words said - bad mummy I am but she told me she still loves me anyway.

I have been having little sort of dizzy spells and feel a bit spaced out whilst having them if that makes sense. Seems a few of us are experiencing that at mo.

Had a little bit of a panic yesterday as rang GP surgery to enquire when I should next see MW as they not contacted me following my scan. which they said they would do. Receptionist told me there wasn't any MW appointments for about 4 weeks which made me feel a bit . However I managed to track down one of the MWs by phone and when I said how many weeks I was, she said to ring back GP surgery and get myself added on as an extra at the end of the MW appointments, as would need to see them before the next available slot. So sorted that and then remembered it was day I had my DD and friend in tow after school, cue contacting DH to get him to arrange to finish work early so he could watch them, so I can attend MW appointments unhinded by 2 nosy children who would probably want to join in with the prodding and probing of bump by MW!

Anyway hopefully all will go well and I won't have anything to report!

Take care ladies, rest up and don't overdo it - especially those of you not feeling quite right.

Silversky glad to hear the baby was ok. Very scary. I hope you're feeling a bit calmer now.

ILGH that bf pillow looks aces. I'd like to get something along those lines as I'm determined to make it work this time, given better circumstances. I'd rather not have bleeding nipples every time again...sorry newbies, don't be put off, it was a bad situation all round in my case.

Lilmiss you should be proud of yourself for doing the correct thing and walking away from a safely contained baby if you were very upset. It is horrible to feel very stressed or angy with a LO, I know. Hope the bunny calms down - poor DD.

Thank goodness we'll all get the HIP grant. Must start looking at double buggies soon.

Thanks for the blooming marvellous tip, Dilly.

I walked into the playroom today to find DS - in his new cream T-shirt and shorts - with red paint ALL over him, the clothes, some toys and the carpet. That put paid to going for a picnic before work. I have to say though, the paint's claim to be washable was true, thankfully. I didn't realise hecould get the top off the paint bottles, and he's never done it before, so I didn't scold too much, but they will be firmly out of reach from now on!

silversky hope you are feeling recovered now, that sounds like an exhausting and emotionally draining day

floozie that sounds like a proper mess its very lucky the pain was washable!

My sister-in-law is strongly recommending I get a breastfeeding pillow as she found hers so great. That said, she didn't have one originally and was just using a normal cushion, and I'm sure a normal cushion probably works just as well. I guess using a special cushion stops the other ones getting covered in milk etc though? I think DH would ppanic if I got something with a tv remote holder he is definitely one of those men who need to have control of it at all times! (luckily he is quite lovely and never stops me watching something I want to see though)

bionic poor you at developing the grumps. I had this the other week and found it so hard to cope with. I was talking to my MIL about it and she said she always felt she wanted a big badge saying 'pregnant and hormonal please keep clear' written on it, which was exactly how I felt! Hope the grumps ease soon, mine seem to have disappeared at present

DH is taking a day off and we're heading out on a boat to find a beach for a picnic today . At the minute the main way I see him is if I help him with his work, so it will be lovely to have a properly relaxing day together (and very luckily he is not all that interested in football!)

Hi all, hoping everyones getting on ok.

I bought my moses basket the other day which is now in the storage unit while the builders work in the house. Today is my first chance for a lie in and im already awake so not impressed