Preparing to TTC in 2022

[WingingIt09]

DH has agreed to starting to TTC baby #3 in April/May. We already have a 2 daughters (age 4 and 2). I'm so excited to start trying! I think it's going to be a long wait until we can start actively trying!

Starting to think about things to do to help prepare my body. I'm currently on the progesterone only pill so thinking of when to stop it. I have 5 days left in this packet and then one packet left after that in my current prescription. Don't know whether to stop when I finishes this packet or at the end of Jan after my next packet. Any experiences of how long it takes cycle to regulate after the pill?

I need to try and eat healthier as I've been so bad recently with Christmas but I'm a healthy weight so not too worried there. Also ordered some TTC vitamins which I remember from previous pregnancies is good to take 3 months before TTC.

Anything else I could do? Is there anyone else who will be starting to try later in the year and so excited that you're already on here 🙈?

I’ve got one more generic women’s vitamin left and then I’m cracking out the conception ones.

I have a couple of unisex bits and lots of girls clothes left from DD, I don’t plan on looking at clothes until after we find out the sex.

I have been occasionally researching prams and once we move I might be tempted to start buying bigger items if we have a garage to store.

@Cheekypeach

Period is due a week today, can’t wait to get it out the way now so we can start trying. Just need to really double down on my blood sugars in the meantime 🤞🏻 What are your projected next testing dates ladies?

Test date will be 6th March ish!

I can completely understand where you're coming from @vasectomyreversalhopeful

@hippeeprincess I've already chosen my pram for each gender 😂 and I'd love to say we won't buy anything until we find out but I know I won't last that long. ..even though we plan to find out at 16 weeks

What prams have you chosen @Dreamingof3?

Glad I'm not the only one doing online window shopping!
Trying to come up witha budget for baby purchases so I can plan my savings for maternity but I have gone down many many scroll holes looking at prams, travel systems, different moses baskets and cots. It's all so complicated and a bit overwhelming!

For those who have had a baby before, how much do you think you would spend if you had to buy for baby 1 now? Might try and get some things 2nd hand

@LucyLoopyLu we were pretty broke when I was pregnant with DS1, so we really didn't spend a lot at all. I think I got a Moses basket off marketplace for £15 (which I never used) and a cot off marketplace for another £15 (just had to buy a mattress). Got given a travel system/pram so used that for naps but didn't really use it other than that! Found a sling to be more useful. Clothes wise I bought very cheap bundles off Facebook marketplace. Car seat I'd say was the main cost, we did manage to get an infant seat off a friend but the car seats they're in now cost a few hundred each 😰

@LucyLoopyLu I would budget around £1k all in. I wouldn’t buy a Moses basket again - they outgrow them within weeks! The only thing you need new for safety reasons is the cot mattress, car seat and bottles if you use them.

Thanks both, wow you were quick to reply!

Interesting about the moses basket. Our bedroom is not the best layout for somewhere for baby to sleep, a cot would have to go on my husband's side of the bed unless we switched sides as I am so close to the window. Very soon to be thinking about these things since not even technically TTC yet 🤣 so I guess I will just chill out for now

We spent very little as we had little lucy. A friend gave us a crib which lasted until DS could move into the cot on his own room which was great. We just bought a new mattress for it. Play mats, pram cot etc were second hand. Parents bought us a changing table and baby carrier. Clothes were from Sainsburys in their regular sales.

Car seat was the main expense as I wouldn't get it second hand and I also wanted a Swedish one as they were the safest at the time.

@lucyloopylu I agree with the others about a moses basket. We never had one with our second just had her in the cot in our room.

Its probably worth making a list of what you'll want/need and then working out which ones you'll want to get brand new and which you're happy to get second hand. There are some real bargains for second hand things!

These are the ones I like...although realistically both could be used for either gender

Hi ladies
Hoping it's ok to hop on here and join,
Will be starting TTC end of April and I'm already really impatient 😂 could do with some people to stop me totally losing all sanity - this week I ordered opk's to get a handle on my ovulation Over the next 2 months prior to starting 😂

Hi @tropicana1!

I've used opks this cycle and not trying til may so you're in good company 😂

I also agree on the Moses basket. I won’t even bother trying with the next one. I stressed so much about her sleeping in one and she never did. People used to tell me to put a warm water bottle in to make it more comfortable before she laid down but it made no difference and she was awake by the time it had warmed up 😂

I got a huge bundle of clothes on Facebook market place for 35 quid which covered right up until 3 months. I still do bundles now they are brilliant and save landfill.

We spent about £400 on a travel system, and got given a cot. Next time I will skip the travel system car seat and go straight for a 5 point harness one from birth. Most of DDs naps were car, pram, sleepyhead, swing or on me. Never a Moses 😂

If you are using bottles I would recommend MAM as they are more breastfeeding compatible and sterilise in the microwave, it was a godsend.

Going to buy some folic acid in Mondays shop… feels a bit real!!

I also use opks every cycle now, it’s a habit!

Thanks so much for all the advice!

Welcome @tropicana1 ! As you can see I'm already worrying about buying prams and cots, and not trying till April, so I think you're pretty safe with your OPKs 🤣

Agree with mam! Absolute game changer just putting them individually in the microwave to sterilise.

And with the carseat. Our travel system came with the small seat and we only used it to take her out of the hospital and then used a fixed 5 pint harness one....we have the joie every stage for both of our girls now as they last years

I've been looking at bits too! 🤦🏻‍♀️ I really like the look of the ickle bubba eclipse. They have a deal on for the travel system & it comes with a 360 car seat too which I think would be easier. Probably get a next to me crib for the bedroom, we don't have much space. Still waiting on my 1st proper AF after coming off the pill but have been POAS & today the line finally started getting darker so fingers crossed things are happening. Can't wait to get AF over & done with & start trying. x

I'm honestly tempted to just get a double mattress for the floor in the spare room at this stage for me and baby to share 😅 and see how we go. I've got a cot bed, toddler bed and a travel cot that could all be suitable but won't fit next to the bed. And our youngest has started creeping into our bed in the night so think we might have to divide and conquer bed sharing with various children 😂 we'll see. I also said I'd never cosleep but my other two have loved floorbeds (without me) so not sure if I want to bother buying a small cot for our room for a short time.

Love that so many of us are doing some early online window shopping!

For those of us aiming for 2023 babies, the last boxing day sales had Snuzpod at 20% off at John Lewis, and both Natural Baby Store and Mamas&Papas had 20% off Bugaboo.

I've just spent the afternoon with a tape measure planning the nursery (currently DH's home office - he's getting moved into the spare room). For a child that won't use it until at least August 2023. I need a new hobby...

@Amber17 that's good, I would definitely like a next to me of some sort

My plan is to put money aside and then hopefully end of this year/start of next can pick anything we need up in the sales

Yes I think I’ll go for a Next to Me - it wouldn’t fit my last bed but I have a new one now 🤞🏻

I want a next to me if possible.

I'll be looking at a next to me of some sort and I'm hoping I'll get a hand me down, if not I'll be getting second hand, moses baskets are useless imo.
I saved and bought some IKEA vouchers from a grant which I needed to spend and we'll either spend it when we move or use it for a cot etc.
I already have a car seat which goes from newborn, if we have a second car then we'll potentially get a car seat carrier compatible with the pram/travel system which I also plan/hope to get second hand.
I didn't spend a lot with either of my dc so far , my MIL bought the travel system as a gift for DC1, DP's bought cot and nursery furniture (exp from John Lewis because that's what my Dad wanted) and it lasted them both and was in excellent when I sold it after 8 years of continuous use. I got most other things second hand and even less with DC2. I sold things to get the next items i.e. sold the travel system to get a stroller and got a second hand pram for DC2 and sold it after a few months as I ended up hating it. I used a sling much much more, I already have a few but plan on an stretchy wrap/caboo if it's easier for DP to work out.
You can really set things up on quite a small budget, I think the only absolute musts are new mattresses and car seats. You also don't need everything at once/at the start.
I would regularly save supermarket vouchers as and when you shop for buying nappies and maybe formula when you're low on funds at the end of mat leave.

Welcome @Tropicana1!

@LucyLoopyLu I wanted everything new for #1 and in hindsight I'd have got a lot more secondhand to save money! There's a good second hand market for baby stuff.
I have a silver cross pioneer travel system and absolutely love it! Have used with both my girls and only recently put it back in the attic to store for #3, my 2 year old was still fitting in it no problems, just wanted the boot space back so swapped to the buggy.

Car seat wise we had the silver cross baby one with my first but I didn't like it. Second time round we bought a Britax romper baby safe, which was great. Maxi cosi were also a close contender when we did our research. You can get adapters to put those on most prams. I'd highly recommend checking out the Facebook group car seat advice UK before buying any car seat to get an idea of best safety wise!

In terms of my other best buys:

• Next to me crib a definite, as others said don't bother with a Moses basket. We used the carry cot on the pram downstairs. Just put it on the floor/on the table.
• Morrck baby car seat blanket - honestly one of my best purchases.
• Baby sling/carrier. We had a stretchy wrap and then an ergo baby 360. Got on better with the ergo baby as baby got bigger. Great for getting things done when baby won't be put down. Check out your local sling library to see which one works for you before buying!