Getting ready for baby challenge

[TheresAlwaysTimeForTea]

Hi all, we are planning on TTC in the new year. Before that I want to get a bit healthier lose three stone and generally be in the best shape possible to get pregnant and run around after a baby. Is anyone else in the same boat? Would you be up for a little thread to keep us all on track? Planning on doing a dry January as a kick start and then will be dragging my arse to the gym after Christmas as well. Very open to suggestion and ideas to shift the bulge. Would be good to have a few buddies though. Anyone fancy joining in?

I have been told/read that Oyster ! I guess i will have to grin & bear it for the early weeks at least, then move on to formula.

Sometimes i read BF posts on here & feel guilty by being absolutely horrified of BFing. The whole idea of it totally stresses me out and make me feel a bit sick No idea why something so natural makes me feel like that though.

It freaks me out too pony. I would genuinely feel like a cow. My friend has been breastfeeding and my SIL and I think fair play to them but it seems so hard and very isolating If you aren't comfortable in public (which I wouldn't be). I'll be much happier with bottles and then DH can help at night. I have no interest in expressing either. I know that makes me sound awful but I'm just being honest. It's not very popular in Northern Ireland (where I'm from) so I guess I've never really gotten comfortable with the idea.

Hello everyone, been away for a day a wow that's a lot of posts to get through!
Well done to everyone who weighed in a lost weight, steps in the right direction. I'm 3lb down today which I'm pretty pleased about as only started on Thursday.

30 day shred is good. Prepare yourself for level 2 as it's quite a jump in intensity from level 1. It works though - lost inches when I did it. Might try find the DVD and give it another go!

I'm sitting on the fence with BF. I am open to trying it but if it's not for me I won't beat myself up about moving to formula or combination of both.

It would be difficult to sell my wedding dress since I'm such a short ass, but I love the idea of having it made in to a baby blanket. Will definitely be checking that website out.

JB the blankets look beautiful on the website, I'm really keen too.

Breastfeeding is such a personal choice. My sister struggled as her baby had a tongue-tie (although we didn't know that at the start so she just felt overwhelming and didn't know why it wasn't working) but is glad she persevered. Other people I know just went straight into formula feeding and that definitely made some routines easier and gave more flexibility. I would like to try but definitely won't give myself a hard time if I can't!

I have a lot to lose, sadly...

I think I'd like to breast feed but I'm on a medication for a heart condition so I think that's going to exclude me. I'm seeing a geneticist later this month to discuss my options re baby and genetic heart problems. The more I think about everything the more it seems that TTC should be years in the future....!!

awhhh Nick don't give up! I have a genetic issue too (Not heart related) but I got the all clear from the doctor and so will you! They might need to just change your tablets around and watch you closely.

Yeah I am not stressing aboout the BF either... I am kind of like I will try it for the first few weeks but I will have formula ready to go for when we need it. I would be the first in both of our families to make the decision to BF, maybe this is why it means a little more to me.

How far have people got with their baby budgets? I am trying to work out almost like a wedding budget what we would need and how much it would cost but I find myself getting side-tracked.

The wedding dress blanket is a nice idea... but my dress was a very heavy embroidered silk (almost like curtains) so I am not sure it would look great.

confused I just started this month saving for my maternity leave now so that the drop in income won't hurt quite so much.
As for budgeting for baby, I haven't looked yet to see what kind of budget we will need for pram, car seat, nursey etc but I have a rough idea how much they are. Childcare costs terrify me!! So we will just be on proper saving mode from now until we are lucky enough to have a baby.

Oh Nick I guess all you can do is go the appointment and then make an informed decision from there. Doesn't mean it will be a major issue and at least you know what you'll be dealing with. Really hope it goes well.

Haven't started a proper baby budget but have been downloaded my work maternity policy (work in NHS) to see financially how viable working part time would be. Fortunately I should be able to drop a couple of days but it will be really tight. What sort of things are you including confused? How much detail. Sounds like a good idea.

*downloading

We have a savings plan that we're going to stick to right up until my maternity pay drops so ideally will be able to cover all baby costs and the drop in salary until I go back to work. We are saving for a house so I don't want to not save while I'm off so the idea is that the baby savings (whatever's left of them after pram/cot etc) tops goes towards house.

It makes me feel better being organized.

My DM is currently looking for a house to buy, that we will rent from her at a significantly reduced rental value - this will help us so much!

Plus we are going to do Shared Leave as i earn more. i then hope that both of us will be able to drop to 0.8 FTE to reduce childcare costs, I'm sure i will be able to, but not sure DP will. If he can't then i will have to reduce to 0.6 FTE until school which will be a struggle but paying less on rent will lift a massive weight.

We have savings for baby stuff, namely in the massive deposit we currently have on our rental property.

I'm determined not to over-buy stuff though! & not worried about second hand nursery furniture & hand me down clothes from family

We spanked all our money on wedding/honeymoon so will save up throughout this year to cover some of the downfall in my earnings! (So jel of the 7k baby fund confused !)

Childcare will hopefully work quite well as my parents will do a day, MIL will do a day & DH works shifts so can do a couple of days! I work for myself so will schedule work round the childcare!

It's SO life changing!!

Red we are in the same situation, I earn over twice what DH does; we are going to do six months leave each, then both drop to 4 days a week. Baby will go to nursery the remaining 3 days a week as we don't have family close enough.

Grumpy we have the same with family, DP's mum works full time, my parents also work full time. (My mum wouldn't do childcare for me anyway! She says she has 'done her time' )

Going to part time will be hard for both of us career wise but I'm a firm believer in work life balance and we've done ok until now so can afford it just pride gets in the way, especially for DH

I think I'd go spare if my mum was the nanny though she's a neurotic micro manager

Red yeah same, DH mum works (and is lovely actually I wouldn't mind her doing a day or two a week but it's not practical with 2 hour drive and her work) and my mum yeah well she's retired but lives even further away and annoys me too much

I am going to join in if I can.
I have a DS who is 2yr6m. I came off the pill 3 cycles ago, and am currently cycle 2 of TTC #2, CD8. I need to lose about 4stone which is my target although aiming to lose 2 stone before I get to a gaining weight stage of pregnancy. I had undiagnosed gestational diabetes in my last pregnancy which caused a fair few problems, my CS recovery was long partially weight related, so keen to shift some weight. I do slimming world which works well for me. I got to 1 stone just before Christmas, then put 5lb on after a 3weeks Christmas binge.
You would think wanting to be pregnant and lighter was enough of a reason to be 100% on plan... doesn't seem to help though

Well first day back to work was a shock to the system but glad it's out of the way..... Homework time now!
I found the childcare easier when DS was younger, well more expensive obviously but less guilt, as soon as school comes life just gets so busy and I feel bad I can't pick up from school etc! I'm hoping to get a new job while I'm expecting, I'm on a waiting list so could be called anytime, decided not to put life on hold over a job though and carry on as if I'll be in my current position. Either way I'll get six months leave!
Lippie I'm sure u are worried about your appointment but hopefully it will be positive and put your mind at ease.
We are in rental but it's not expensive and is the nicest place I have ever lived in a great area so I'm happy here for now.
Back to healthy eating today and my stomach didn't know what hit it!
Welcome Mummy, don't be too hard on yourself you've done great work and Christmas is impossible, January is a good weight loss month because everyone is in the zone!
A few in tww and actively trying now could have first BFP of the group soon!

Hi Mummy don't beat yourself up I feel the same about the weight issue and the TTC is not much motivation, but being honest on here really helps and the ladies who are losing weight are very inspirational to see.

So baby plans!! I have made a spreadsheet of all the things I would like for baby ready for when we actually make it... I have broken it down into sections so I can see how much each bit costs so we can save individually... I would like to start buying stuff straight away but DH doesn't share the same enthusiasm as we have not even properly started TTC yet

I am also a lady who is the larger earner in the household and so the bulk of my savings are going to pay the deficit from Maternity pay (hopefully) I am also hoping that MIL will have DC whilst she has my nephew for one day and that my parents would help out maybe 1 or 2 days a week which would be perfect for when I need to go back to work.

Well done to those who have lost the weight! You have motivated me to actually do a fast rather than give in like I did last week.
The costs worry me a bit and like HbH we spent all our savings on honeymoon and wedding so really need to work on that as well. I like the idea of a spread sheet. The range of spend is massive. There is a guradian article that says people spend between £1600 and £7000 in the first year excluding child care! Definitely helps if you have family to take some of the load as childcare is the biggest expense

Childcare is so freaking expensive. We pay £780 a month for DD to do 3 full days at nursery. Our reason for delaying ttc is because we need her to be turning 3 when I return to work so that we get some free hours.
It's hard but all so, so worth it. I've been broody for a 2nd since DD was about 4 months.

I'm doing a fast day today after a slightly excessive weekend. Just black coffee and water so far. Chicken with courgette noodles for dinner.

That's 3 full days a week obviously.

My dad told me once that nobody can ever afford to have children but they still do it anyways and everything is fine and I guess there is some truth to it! But yeah childcare is insane, it's basically working to cover it for alot of people!

You say childcare is expensive, it does feel it, but I pay £5.50ph... I am trusting her to cAre for my child, provide an environment for him to grow and thrive, as well as deal with his tears and tantrums.. all for £5.50ph. Compare it to your hourly rate, I'm sure it's no where near some of your hourly rates, it's less than a third of mine.