10/10-sunny days and sleepless nights; third trimester here we come

[nymphadora]

And off we go again

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samthats a bit dumb really, I bet it was a bloke who designed the damn place.

I feel really sorry for my DH, he's just had to talk me out of a well timed freak out over a pack of flipping muslins. I'm now calm but very embarrassed. I think it was one of those 'my baby will be an actual live baby not a bump in 3 months time' arrrrgghh things.

Hello all

We just got back from our holiday in Jersey late this afternoon. It is a really lovely place, with about one of the best beaches in the whole world I think. St Brelades, in case you ever go there. The camping part was a bit wearing after a while because of not being particularly near toilets, so what with DS toilet training and being pregnant I've done a lot of walking back and forth. And DS did have a few tantrums along the way. But despite that, I felt very relaxed when I got home so that's a good sign.

I'm trying to remember all your news. It's three months today till my due date, and tomorrow I'll be 27 weeks. For those of you you who are 31+4 or more - I had a baby by that time - be very afraid ! Sure you will all be fine. It's me I'm worried about.

Piesey your MIL sounds shocking. Is she American, or was it just the wedding was over there? If she is, at least you've got a bloody great ocean between you!

SamB, I've got an ovarian cyst too, about the same size as yours. I've had them previously, when they were bigger and had them both sides. The operation to remove them is very straightforward so try not to worry about it. Have they explained it to you? It can be done by laparascopic surgery, which is basically a small cut in your navel and another on the bikini line to put in a camera in one and a line to blow up your stomach a bit with gas, then a small cut actually over the ovary to remove the cyst. You may be in and out in one day, or certainly only one overnight. My op was a lot more involved because I had loads of endometrial growths to remove as well as the cysts, which were quite complicated at that stage, and was in surgery for four hours, and I still only stayed in one night. Just removing one simple cyst (medical term) should be much simpler. I'll have to have the same thing done too so we can commiserate together. Enjoy your holidays.

Dilly glad you had good hols too.

Meansbeans hello again. It's been a while, hasn't it?

Mamjo, I'm sorry to hear about the GB, but you really haven't done anything wrong. It just strikes randomly. My friend had it, and although she had to watch what she ate - no sugar basically, sorry, but the baby was absolutely fine. You have been very unlucky getting both that and SPD, and I really feel for you after all you've been through getting to the pregnancy stage, but it's not telling you you shouldn't be a mother.

The shopping seems to be coming on for many of you. Now we're back I'm going to get the Moses basket out and assess its state, and get a new mattress if I decide it's fine to use. Otherwise I'll be on the scrounge for one to borrow. That is the good thing about second time round and having lots of friends with at least two - so much equipment about.

I'm in DS's room as he is not sleeping, and keeps crying out for me. Not surprising really, he's been up late every night, and has gone back to having a sleep in the day as a result. He slept for about two hours in the car and then on the sofa on the way back from the airport this afternoon.

Wow, mega long post! Can you tell I've been away???

Mamjo, that should have been GD.

piesey I can't believe how your mil is treating you. Really, I wouldn't invite them over at Christmas- it should be a special time with you and the new LO, not spoilt by pil. Hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday.

floozie Glad you had a good holiday. Fingers crossed this baby doesn't come as early as 31 weeks. I don't think previous pg length has any effect on the next one, so you should be ok. Still it's scary to think how soon some of us will be popping!

Hermya it's funny how even small things can tip the balance between normal us and raging hormonal pg us! I'm trying to keep it all under control for DH, but like you, when I suddenly realise there will be a real live baby (and I still haven't got anything organised), it's very easy to flip!

I'm very happy as I have just discovered that there's a Mamas and Papas in Belfast, so I'm going shopping for some decent clothes on Saturday. I don't know if I will buy baby things there as it may be a bit expensive, but I can get ideas and start to check out buggies. Who knows, I may actually finally get organised!

Hey All - talking of getting organised I was just buying a baby shower present for a friend (from her online gift list - ulp!) and I suppose the list really freaked me out....so...just one question:

I am hoping to BF but should I be buying bottles and a steriliser just in case (and/or for expressed milk)?

I'm sooo dappy....

xx

Piesey sorry your MIL is being so ignorant.

I hope everyone who is feeling crappy start to feel better soon. If not at least we are nearly at the end now and will be meeting all our lovely little babies shortly.

My ds has been really ill this week, had a high temp and been very clingy so not been able to do much which has been frustrating for him and me.
I am 30 weeks today and apart from getting my room ready for the home birth, i need a new bed etc, i have everything i need now, i dont even need any clothes.
I am very excited and abit nervous now. Must remeber to get my TENS machine as i keep forgetting about it.

Dilly- if you breast feed you aren't likely to be expressing for bottles for a while. I also refuse to buy anything in advance as I plan not to need it. If you are worried about sending dh for bottles etc just note which you want & send him with a list. If you need to express early on you are more likely to use a cup rather than bottles as it's easier for breast fed babies to take.

Cheers Nymph! What a top answer! There is so much I don't know...

Like...can we use gro-bags (or equivalent) from birth? Was just in Germany where sheets/blankets are no longer recommended but I thought you couldn't use gro-bags until 3 months and I can't find any guidance on it....

good questions dilly I have been wondering whether I need to get bottles etc in advance, I was hoping not too in the hope they won't be needed, but didn't know if it would be frowned upon to have no bottles in at all, so thank you for your answer nymph

also good question about the gro-bags, I have been debating whether to get the gro-bag type things or sheets and blankets, but I really like the idea of the gro-bags. Why are sheets/ blankets no longer recommended in germany? Shows how things vary across countries!

Hi tiredfeet I have no idea, we were just in a baby shop cooing over things and that's what we were told which I was sure was contradictory to what we're told here.

Nymph I should also say DH has done all this before so knows much more than I do

Also - reusable nappies - how are we feeling about the Nappy Lady? I have taken on board to get velcro rather than popper fastenings (if Toby is half as wriggly when he's born as he is now I'll be lucky if I ever get any nappies on him at all!) and been looking at MN reviews... I know you've posted about favourites before but I'm a slow learner

I have some popper nappies to compare but I prefer the Velcro ones no doubts.

The gro-bags are suitable to use from a certain weight, rather than age, so it says on the packet of the one I have bought- I am slowly realising how little I know!! Haven't even started looking at the nappies yet.

Is my birthday today and DH has just gone to work and won't be back till after 10pm he did take me out for a nice lunch before he went though so going to spend some time with my friends for the rest of the day.

TMI here but woke up in a wet patch from my boobs leaking is this normal?

Happy birthday Sam12!!! Hope you have a lovely day with your friends.

Thanks for the tip about gro-bags

Yes, leaking is normal, you can get breast pads to put in your bra to soak it up. Exciting really, innit?

Happy birthday Sam12! Yep I agree, leaky boobs normal!

Mamjo- with the hip and the GD you must be feeling pants. I believe GD is quite common and is not anything to do with what you've done. x x x

Piesey- your MIL sounds very weird and in denial, what a cow.

I went to kiddicare this afternoon and bought an Amby nest! Eeek!

you lot have got me thinking properly about bedding now! pregnancy feels like one endless shopping spree sometimes (not that I've bought tons, but I seem to spend ages planning what I will buy). How many gro-bags would you get / are you getting? I was thinking I will need 2/3 minimum? And are you getting the 2.5 tog kind? I'm assuming as its and October baby I should get the thickest? would I need to get blankets too? Sorry, lots of questions, but these are definitely ones my mum can't answer as they weren't around in her day!

happy birthday sam12 I hope you had a lovely day! yep leaky boobs here too from time to time.

hope everyone has a lovely weekend

Happy Birthday Sam!!

Tired I know what you mean, who knew babies needed so much crap.

Elsa Oooooo sounds nice.

Mamjo Sorry about the GD.

Dilly I like the velcro ones, but have gotten some with poppers to try out.

Spent over 8 hours in traffic in what should have been a 4 hour journey. I can't believe how bad it got, at one point we drove past four accidents within a few miles of each other.

Re the grobags/sleeping bags, they are fab. However, I was under the impression they were not suitable for very, very young babies. I didn't use any with DS until he was about 6/7 months but that was just because it hadn't occurred to me and then took a while to buy (like everything!). Maybe as Sam said it is weight rather than age that matters. I was told to use a sheet and no more than two cellular cotton blankets (maybe folded? Can't remember) when DS was discharged from hospital, but then he was only just 5lbs and more at risk of SIDS because of prematurity so I was paranoid about him overheating. This was in February and it was snowing btw! We had central heating but no double glazing. Tiredfeet I would recommend getting some cotton blankets and a few sheets even if you do get sleeping bags, maybe to use right at the beginning, but certainly if the baby falls asleep somewhere and you just want to cover them as they are. Oh also, grobags are expensive as you may have noticed. There are lots of alternatives. I got quite a few from the Dreambag both for DS and as presents. Also, 2/3 minimum definitely! Between spit-up, sick and leaky nappies, at least one will always be in the wash!

No grobags last time round but I'm another looking to use this time , probably from a couple of months. I like the little cellular blankets though.

When I was chatting to a friend on the phone about shopping for the baby she particularly mentioned that she hadn't liked or used the grobags that she had bought. Can't remember for what reason. She's had two babies in the last four years. If anyone has had a better experience it would be good to know.

I've started to look at our baby purchases list and have realised that I've hardly bought anything . I should really get on with it as once I go back to school I won't have time. I would like to be 'ready' by the end of August. I have loads of lists, just none of the things on them have been bought! We are thinking of getting an iCandy Cherry - has anyone else got one?

Floozie thanks for your comments about cysts. I have been worried about it. I am reassured that I can have it treated privatly as it is covered in our health insurance, but I've never had any kind of surgery before and I'm a little scared.

Someone commented on bottles and breastfeeding earlier. With DD#1 I had a breast pump and bottles in the house prior to her birth. When breast feeding got tough and I was exhausted I sent exDP out for formula. Although it saved me at that time, it started an emotional rollercoaster. Once I had used formula once my not yet established supply diminished and soon after that I was bottle feeding exclusively. I felt terrible and wished that I had persevered even though it was hard. With DD#2 I ditched all bottles and resolved to work through the difficulties. I found out much more about breastfeeding and really worked at it. It was tough and there were problems, but having made it though the first six weeks or so it turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of early parenthood. It was definately worth it. I'm not going to get any bottles until later on this time to avoid the temptation in moments of tiredness! What is everyone else planning to do - breast or bottle?

Haven't done much name checking, hope everyone is well, is it horribly humid where any of you are? Hideous here...SB x

We got the free changing bag from boots today ( had to buy pack of pampers but will need some disposables for hospital anyway) so so far shopping wise baby has a cot , 27 pampers & 2 reuseables and achanging bag.

Going to look at prams again on Weds so we may order that then.

SamB- I'm breastfeeding again. Majorly regret giving up with dd2 but between the not being able to feed from day 3-8 & me being ill & xh being a bastard I wasn't in much of a commitment position. Hated making up bottles & I think you are advised not to do them in advance now which is even more a PITA. Am hoping this baby is as easy as dd1 was to feed although that may be too optimistic

Nymph I'm glad your baby has as little as mine . We have bought clothes, a crib with bedding, a monitor and some disposables for the first few days. I intend to use reusables but am confused by the whole thing. I am determined to work at breatfeeding this time. Knowing that it will be tough helps I think, I'm not under any illusions that it will be plain sailing. Do you know anything about third labours after a long break like ours? Do we go back to it being like the first time? ... actually I think that you are having a section, is that right? If so it won't really matter to you!

I'm having a section yes!

SamB I feel the same as you about bfing. I don't want bottles around as last time I had to do both because of terrible probs trying to establish bf with ds prem in hospital. If the birth timing goes better with LO then I so want to make it work. I have actually got old bottles up in the loft but they are staying there! At least I feel more prepared this time for how hard it can be so I'm hoping this will put me in a better position. This has just reminded me to put Lansinoh on my shopping list actually. I'm jealous of those who have leaky boobs - still paranoid about milk not coming in properly again.

Thanks all for helpful advice, esp about bfing SamB123 it's wierd to be thinking about it as a first time Mum as people keep telling me how difficult it is, and I still think...ok, well, I still want to do it! Come to think of it, most of pregnancy & presumably childrearing is like that isn't it?!

Dilly bf can be difficult at the beginning but by no means impossible. It probably helps to know what the pitfalls might be so that you know that when these things happen to you it's totally normal. With DD#1 I had a really close friend who just wasn't remotely interested in bfing at all. She bottlefed from day one and her dd slept all night every night. I found this really tough when I was shattered and she tried hard to convince me to give up. I think her daughter was rather an exception than a rule although bottle fed babies do tend to go longer between feeds.

Floozie With my other pregnancies I leaked colostrum but can't remember when from. Nothing going on here yet though, so maybe it was later. I don't think that it's an issue - even if we never do in pregancy we will still be able to breastfeed.

I seem to think that with DD1 I fed her everytime she wimpered - as recommended by midwives, health visitors etc. at the time. I found that all quite tough and wondered if it was the only way. If I remember rightly with DD2 I was a bit more confident and right from the start I fed at regular intervals. Maybe every two hours initially and then I extended the time as she got older. In between feeds I 'entertained' her more to distract her from crying. It's probably not the recommended way to do it, but for us this really worked. She got into a routine and was hungry when she fed so she took more milk, my supply was established quickly and she grew well. The successes and failures might be more about the kind of babies that they were, and the kind of person that I am, I don't know. In the end I fed DD2 for 11 months until she wasn't interested any more!

It's funny drumming up all these memories, DD1 starts secondary school in September and DD2 has just made us all lunch !