Second, third, fourth or more timers due in December

[sevendwarves]

is anyone else feeling a little left out by the first-timers due in December thread? This will be my second DC (DS will be 3.5). I think I'm due on 15th December.

Hi ladies, how is everyone feeling this week? i go from feeling great, not feeling too bulky yet, to feeling like a giant house and in terrible pain sleeping. It's also hit me that 10 more weeks of pregnancy sounds like forever yet only 8 weeks or so left in the office sounds like no time at all. Yes, it sounds crazy but I think I am really going to miss work (I did last time). I'm trying to help my boss hire someone for our team and won't even be here to see if they're any good!

seven - how did the xmas shopping go? you are very organised. I think I will be relying on the internet for any gifts this year! I've given it no thought at all, beyond knowing that my mother is arriving to visit Dec. 20 and will take sole responsibility for making a lovely xmas meal! That's the idea at least.

has anyone had any recent appointments? I'm going for a private, "well being" scan tomorrow. It's actually a 3D scan but I'm more interested in the growth measurements and making sure everything is going ok than trying to get an idea of what baby looks like (we had one with my son around the same time and he was already pretty cramped in there and looked kind of scary!)

Xmas shopping went fine, got it all done but still need to buy wrapping paper. I'm only trying to be organised as DS was a month early, meaning she could arrive in November. Also with my PE I was exhausted for the last couple of weeks last time, so from 33 weeks.

I've got my 30 week appointment tomorrow, can't believe I'm 3/4 of the way there already.

Good luck with the scan goodnight, hope everyone else is ok.

Hi all,

I know I'm a bit late but do you mind if I join you? I'm due with my 3rd on boxing day.

hi becci welcome!

soooo pushchairs - what to do? DS is only just 2 and doesn't walk with much direction or purpose. nursery is a good 20 min walk away for me (uphill) and he will still go for one day a week while i'm on mat leave.

am thinking a phil and teds currently on the basis that pretty much everyone i know who has two children in need of a pushchair have either got one straightaway or got a different one and then bought a phil and teds. just wondering what everyone else was going to do?

stressing me out a bit

Hi becci.

hawthers it's not very original but I bought a phil & teds around 3 months ago and I love it. DS is 3 but still uses the pushchair if we're going much further than the park or local shop. I like the fact that in a couple of years time when he's 5 and doesn't go in there and the baby is 2 and still using the pushchair I can use it as a single. I don't think doubles are good value unless you have twins or a very small age gap tbh. I just wish I'd saved money and bought it the first time!

thanks seven just thought that it made a bit more sense to get something that could be used as a single as well. plus there is a possibility of a third mini hawthers in which case it def makes sense to get one

That's the other reason we went for one! Any idea how big an age gap you want? Providing all goes well with the birth (if it's traumatic I may not obviously want more) I'd like to be pregnant again within a year.

wow that is quick - i'm full of admiration. erm not too sure - we'll have just over 2 years btw DS and new bean. so i guess see how that goes and then decide. not too sure how work would take it if i came back pg after DC2 though. i guess in my head i'm thinking 2 years again so at least DC2 will ahve some communication skills to keep the tantrums to a minimum bearable level!

Just googled Phil and Ted as had no idea what it was... have seen a few of these out and about but am quite at the cost. There is just no way we can afford one of these, let alone the extra buggy bit for new lo. Plus, from the looks of it you have to get most of the accessories as extras which bumps it up a lot.. Wouldn't have minded one of these first time round maybe as then getting the double bit would've been doable but we can't really splash again..

We're also lucky in that DD is a bit of a mover and whilst we bung her in the buggy if we've got to got round the shops or something, she is pretty energetic and can manage most distances... with DH being at home as well, we can always take her little trike thing if it's likely to be too far for her?

You're all brave to be talking more DC before the current one arrives although must admit, I want three as a minimum! I know DH would as well (he had a dream where we had four and said it was one of the happiest dreams he's ever had ) but can only imagine the disapproval I would get from my family... we're not in the best place financially and live in a bit of a pit but we scrape by without being beholden to the state and it's no-one's decision but ours at the end of the day.. however, am going to see how I get on with two first as all my close friends have decided to stop there as are just plain exhausted! But then I think, get it all over and done with quickly - and I'm no spring chicken!!

Have a midwife check in the morning and am going to ask her something pretty so might as well ask you all as well (far TMI alert!!)... I think my pelvic floor must be shot away as I am finding the need for Tena lady as I progress through this pregnancy! I am hoping it is just wee and from the smell (YUK!) it is but am just worried it could be amniotic fluid... apparently quite easy to check for but not sure if my mw can do it then and there? We are in a full on teaching area so bound to be a student present as well - ah well, it's all a learning curve for them, isn't it

Right - after baring my soul a little too much, think am going to go and drown my sorrows in a nice big fat decaf tea (oh, do I miss the full fat jobby!)... anyone else missing anything or have you decided you're far enough along now to sort of not worry so much anymore?

p.s. goodnight, how'd the scan go?

skilbo you can get phil and teds with all the double accessories on eBay for more like £280 - still a lot, but not as ridiculous! DD is a bit older, will be 2.9 in December, so we're going to try the buggy board route first. I'm thinking about getting a micro scooter as well.

I'd like 4 kids, but tbh I'm quite tempted to adopt the next two, I'm not sure I want to be pregnant 4 times!

Skillbo, I don't think there is any reason you can't have some nice caffeinated cups of tea. the official allowance is up to 200mg a day and I think that is something like 4-5 cups of tea. My baby is going to come out gasping for an espresso because I have a double-shot latte every single day, and sometimes a cup of tea and a diet coke on top of that! That still keeps me around the 200mg allowance.

I also eat sushi at least once a week, which some people frown upon, but I really crave it and the NHS factsheet says that's fine too. (since it must be frozen first to kill bacteria).

I hope you get some help with your incontinence (sorry to put a name on it!). I think your best bet is to religiously do your pelvic floor exercises herein.

thanks for asking after my scan - it all went really well. Baby is definitely a girl and she is measuring totally normal for 30 weeks. Was slightly alarmed though when the sonographer suggested she should come out at 8.5 lbs, based soley on the rule of thumb she'll gain half a pound a week over the next 10 weeks, and is estimated at 3lbs 4oz now. My son was more like 7.5lbs and he did not exactly come shooting out of me (forceps, etc.).

Frankly I am more and more leaning toward a caesarian if the consultant I'm seeing in two weeks feels it is indeed appropriate (she said before it might be). On top of my earlier problems (difficult delivery, internal scarring that had to be fixed with surgery) I have the most outrageous veins in my vulva that bulge out and make it hurt to pee much less have a baby.

So now who's sharing TMI? :)

anyway, the scan was lovely, we got some nice 3D views of baby, she looks quite peaceful in there.

On the buggy front, we are sort of buggy cheapskates, having only ever gotten a Maclaren that can be used from birth and planning to stick with it now. DS will be almost 3.5 and so his buggy days are somewhat numbered. We may try a buggy board, not sure.

If I had to, i would get a Phil & Teds, having had a Maclaren side by side for a little while for our nanny share. I only used it a couple of times when friends' children were over but it felt a bit unwieldy and we've since sold it since it wasn't being used.

whoo, all this brave talk of having 3 children! well i'm far too old and generally infertile to consider that and have to admit I thank my lucky stars every day that I am never going to have to go through pregnancy ever again.

skillbo I'm drinking normal tea but I only have a couple of cups a day, I'm not missing much except pate.

I had a mw appointment on Wednesday. Blood pressure and wee both fine so I'm doing better than last time. She said by bump is measuring 28 weeks rather than 30 but my growth scan was fine at 28 weeks so I'm not too concerned.

Brave talk of having 3 children?!?! Er, that'll be me in 12 weeks time...

I had 23 months between my DDs and a Phil&teds e3 was FAB for the first 18 months of having two children. Bought a bundle new from kiddicare for £300 (yes, I know, but it had the whole doubles kit/cocoon/panniers/covers/sunshade for that). After that I sold it to a friend who had her number 3 on the way, Made £100 back so the whole thing was a £200 cost for a top buggy. Only downer was it was huge to fold down into the car, so very much a walking about type buggy.

This time I'm going for a Maclaren Techno- our 6 year old Maclaren techno (all
I ever used for DD1) is finally on its last legs due to years of use. I don't get the whole obsession with travel systems (why keep the baby in a car seat for hours?) and mum-facing prams (the baby is SO mucj quieter when any wailing is directed away from you!!)

And how I wish I could drink normal tea.... ROll on delivery and being able to drink it again! (have tried every conceivable sort and it's not gonna happen til baby's out!)

hello ... anyone else feeling gi-normous yet? Baby seemed to undergo some massive growth spurt yesterday between lunch and dinner. I smugly started the day in my non-maternity skinny jeans I've been congratulating myself on fitting into and by tea time it was like they'd shrunk three sizes and I was squeezing out like a sausage.

i'm also definitely feeling the strain this week and have been far more likely to think "bus" instead of "nice brisk walk" to get anywhere not within sight!

I'm seeing the midwife later on for a regular check, I guess it's the 32 week one though I don't hit that until Sunday.

Got a call from them Tuesday that I'm apparently anemic - iron level is 10 - so need to pop pills.

aethelfleda - we have friends with three children coming to visit us this weekend. They always seem to have it all fully under control so are quite inspiring, though we are definitely not going down that road ourselves!

Thanks goodnight for the reassurance! I'm banking on the fact that DDs arr older (6 and 4) to make things a little easier...

For anyone who's a-buggy buying, Mothercare have a 20% off sale at the mo, plus there is a ridiculously twee mag they sell at the till called "gurgle" (who thinks up these things?!?!?!) which costs £2 but has a £10-off-any-buggy-over-£120-in-Mothercare voucher in the back. Just sayin', as it got my £200 rrp maclaren techno down to a bargain-tastic £152....

sounds like a good tip. I'm feeling a bit guilty for baby that our Mclaren Four Seasons (a few-years-old limited edition version of the Techno) is so beat up and filthy! I'll give everything a good wash but it's never going to be pristine. Still, I can't bear to buy another buggy at this stage.

Evening all ladies!

Worked out yesterday only have 6 and a bit weeks left at work - that's come round quick so HOORAY... am kind of counting down already which I really shouldn't but am feeling very a bit larger this time round - my belly button even popped out yesterday (though seems to be back in today) which it never did with DD.

I have been offered a buggy board from a friend for free so think we'll just go for that and if it doesn't work, poor DD will have to get used to walking! As said before though, she's pretty good and will be 30 months by the time DS appears (fingers crossed!)

Aethelfleda - I am kind of jealous you're up to No3 so not a dig at all - I'm just concerned that two will finish me off... lovely gap as well really as the others will want to help out (or at least be able to amuse themselves...maybe!)

I do sometimes hit the caffeine (love a full sugar Coke once in a blue moon) but to be honest, I don't miss it that much.. and insomnia kicks in a little at the mo so don't want it too late at night. It's the cheese I miss more - and prawns, golly I miss prawns and I never used to want them that much... in the run up to conceiving this time though I must have had prawns for lunch about three times a week - oh, yummy! Again, I think we're probably all at the stage where it's probably not as much of an issue but I figure there's not that much time left - I can gorge once he's here!

Anyways - am off to cruise AIBU (like every night), there's something just so compelling!

Hope everyone else is feeling in the pink! (or blue!! )

mmm, i love prawns and have been having them loads. I also have this insane need for almost daily crayfish sandwiches or salads. seems to be fine though as long as it's all well cooked. (NHS says)
speaking of food I'm starving today - most of my good intentions have gone out the window lately.
I am starting to count down too to birth. It looks like I'm having a caesarian (consultant advice given on Monday and we'll make a final decision at 36 weeks) so that would mean I could be giving birth in as little as six weeks! (will be 39 weeks). whoo hoo!!
my belly button has sort of popped too, and i've got the line running above it this time around. they say i'm still measuring 2 weeks behind with the tape measure but those measurements are pretty useless, I'd say!

well DS has nearly done a week in his big bed (but still in a sleeping bag). he hasn't got out once but we've got a bed guard so i'm not too surprised. he seems to really ike it and only had one disturbed night when he woke several times saying his knee was sore. no idea what could cause it but after a couple of awakenings and some calpol he pretty much slept for the rest of the night.

am feeling huge! i've never been this pg before so its pretty exciting seeing the baby move (perhaps i should go and join the first timers for the rest of the pg as i've no idea what to expect for the remaining 8 weeks!)

dreaming of pate and salami and smoked salmon oh and a glass of champagne.... right that is my christmas day menu sorted then!

Hee hee hawthers, I've gone beyond dreaminh and have done a fantasty-treat-shop with Ocado, saved in a shopping list entitled "Post-Baby!" when I'm back from hospital I'm clicking that mouse button for an orgy of cheese, pate and crackers! (never use ocado usually as it's far pricier than Aldi/sainsbury's, but I figure i'm allowed a treat. They have truffle-infused Camenbert, after all....

And 5 weeks of work to go til mat leave (who's counting..?)

i am! 4 weeks left (although i'm taking a days holiday in the middleof my last week for an nct class so that basically writes off that week so its only 3weeks or 15 days left in teh office. thank god - i'm done!

good plan re fantasy list - will be doing the same this week

I need pate! DH asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I told him I'd be happy to just have pate and stilton. And I'm having one glass of wine on Christmas day whether I've had her or not.

me too - shush don't tell the fun police

Allo.... Anyone in? I'm wondering if any of you with DD3 already can reccommend a good car that takes 3 childseats? We looked at VW passats but the length is enooooormous as they seem to have about a ten foot bonnet....

Have to get something soonish as the skoda fabia we have only fits 3 childen if DH cycles behind or goes in the trailer :)