Fantastic 40+ Mums To Be

[10000fireflies]

A lovely shiney new thread for us to keep chatting on.

Glad you're home Midget.

great news midget! hope you get some decent rest today, you must be so fed up with all the uncertainty.

All the talk about bum and boob weight has really made me laugh - as I actually ate a whole pack of chocoleibnitz yesterday, I think I may start to pile on the lbs pretty soon ... heading out for coffee and cake in a minute, which I'm sure will help too :)

Anyone thinking of going straight for cot bypassing moses basket, or is this a terrible idea? Can babies use sleeping bags from birth, or do they have to be older? I would love to do co-sleeping, but worry about how the logistics would work. I got my head out of the sand and tried to research car seats yesterday and gave myself a headache - I might just take our car to John Lewis and tell them to just decide for us...

Midget, very relieved for you that contractions have stopped. Take it easy.
Seaside, I have never used moses basket, baby went straight from bump to cot bed and it worked well. Re sleeping bag, if baby is big enough, you can use the very first size of sleeping bag straight away. The neck hole should be small enough for baby not to go under. With DS1, I could use it from 1 week. But with Anastasia, I am using a blanket as she is smaller than her brother. Here are the food for thoughts !

Seaside, in the carseat section of MN you can find useful advice too. I am considering getting one that can stay rearfacing for a long time until 4 yo as it seems safer than the front facing ones. It is just a matter of physics and dynamics. It isnot apb with a brand or another. I have not decided yet which one to buy because I don't have a car yet butwhen this is sorted I will probably do so. There is a thread called 'do you want yourbaby to be 5 times safer?' on MN thatdeals with the RF FF options. sorry I can't link as writing with one hand only.

thanks hpbp :)

Bytheseaside, we've been given a moses basket and stand so I'm going to use them first, plus I can't fit the big cot into my room for the first few months (DP and I have separate bedrooms, I know it's weird but works for us ). But if I could fit it in, I probably would bypass the Moses. Hpbp, I love the name Anastasia, so beautiful .

Can I ask if any of you have developed piles in your pregnancy? I appear to have developed one I think . Never did with DS so I'm not sure what the best treatment is, and if they're all safe to use?
Went into town with DS yesterday and again had to drag him out of Mothercare, after letting him buy a small cuddly white giraffe for Rosa, and watching him inspect all the pushchairs with his hand on his chin like the Ponderers from Vic & Bob showing my age. Off to the cinema to see the new Ice Age film with DS later. The film time clashes with lunchtime so I've promised he can have crisps and Ben & Jerry's for lunch terrible mother. Midget, hope you're OK this morning.

midget glad you're better - the medics will be delighted to see you getting through it!

on the sleeping side, my friend had a hammock. i couldn't really get my head round it until i saw it - it's basically like one of those floor lights that curve over your head and have a ball on the end, except it's lower and on the end is a little hammock for a little wee one.

it is The Cutest Thing.

yes, i'm EVEN thinner if you take off my double chin and my chubby fingers.

Not relaxing here, just whiling away the days until.....etc. Have been taking vit b6 and MS is better. i feel ambivalent about that but it was really awful MS. So feeling better on most levels.

xxx

knottyhair yes ive been sporting a fair set of piles for a while now, even with using Anusol which the midwife said was the best thing to use

I have one pile courtesy of DD2. Anusol helps but it is not too bad tbh. I am guessing it will become more troublesome over the next few weeks.

ah somewhere - a little hammock! Can't say I've considered that option!

knotty perhaps I can borrow your ds to help me buy my baby stuff? he clearly has more of a clue than I do ... I've avoided piles, but have had a lovely fissure on and off since early-days constipation - I think the issues can be similar, and my advice now you've got them is to keep everything soft with lots of water, dried apricots and lactulose, and try to rise above the indignities ;)

VQ I liked your love-and-candles analogy

After a pm of reading up, I'm currently leaning towards one of the one-sided baby-bay type cribs (not too small though, and hopefully not as expensive) as I like the idea of nearly-co-sleeping and easier nighttime breastfeeding, especially if I have a cs. Or maybe I could take the side off a normal cot and somehow strap it to the bed! Mind you, I think you have to have the baby's feet at the bottom end, don't you, so with a big cot, I'd be having to haul her up to the top for every feed, so perhaps that's not the most clever plan. Then for downstairs daytime naps, I figure we could just use a pram? Does this sound reasonable? My issue with moses baskets is that baskety things make me sneeze - I'd never be able to sleep in one (!) and I'm guessing that the baby may have the same allergies. Thanks to everyone for your advice - I'm such a no-clue novice at this stuff, it really helps to know what you have all done.

Have you seen the price of those hammock things?!?

You can buy co-sleeping nests that go in the bed between you and DP. They are not too expensive. Sorry cannot do links.

With a normal cot it would be difficult getting the mattress levels exactly right.

hi all. 9 weeks and enduring the nausea... waiting for 12 week respite. Re the hammock issue, we had one and it was GREAT - Amby hammock and we'll be re-using it this tiome too. Got to go - tea to force down...

Thanks everyone for the advice about the old farmers . Doesn't seem too bad, the cream does seem to be helping. bytheseaside, perhaps I'll hire DS out by the hour! Mrs Wooster, you poor thing, it is rotten. Hope you start to feel better over the next few weeks.

Just ordered some maternity leggings from JojoMamanBebe, might as well use the time for something seeing as I've been up since 6 with DS and his friend. I can definitely feel a lunchtime nap coming on. Off to make a bacon sandwich, white bread, brown sauce....

oh yeah bacon!
i've been having a bit of a craving for charcuterie

really into my rice crackers. also my soup.

have big plans for some tinned spaghetti.

Oooh with you on the charcuterie!! Actually ordered our pushchair today - just went for a Mothercare jobby but I like it! Also bought another set of maternity pyjamas (soooooo comfy), and rather randomly 6 bottles clearly I'm committed to breastfeeding. Also a ridiculous amount of plastic storage drawers in order to prepare to move DS's equally ridiculous amount of Lego upstairs to his bedroom. What a lovely job for tomorrow. Am being very virtuous this evening to make up for last night's steak pie and am cooking salmon with lentils, cannellini beans and a coriander dressing. Could be in for a windy one....

mrswooster the nausea is awful. i am probably going to have to turn down a freelance job because of it.
i've been taking vit b6 and it's helped a bit.

hello ladies, not been on for ages, what with school hols and being away and stuff. This weekend we got all the baby stuff out of the loft, and it seems to have survived, which is good. all pram and car seat covers washed, and have started on the baby clothes! they are so small and cute! Just need to clear a room for baby stuff, get a chest of drawers, buy a new car, and possibly a new house. sorted then... ha! Have now told everyone at work, as bump so large was unavoidable. have got MatB1 form so need to decide when to go off on leave. No cravings yet, but eating rather a lot of crunchies. Must compensate with more fruit...

discovered last week that my delightful MIL told my DS1 (nearly 8y) that I was too old to be having babies. She is such a cowbag. This is the same person who, when being told we were expecting again, said 'i didn't go back to work to pay for you to have children'. Ah no, MIL, that's why we work, you weirdo. totally doolally, can't think how she is related to DH, who is generally quite nice.

hope that everyone is well and dandy and that bumps are progressing nicely!
anyone bothering with NHS antenatal classes? I can't decide - feeling so tired in evenings anyway.

hello all - hello kmr281 glad it's all going well apart from your MIL. She sounds nuts.

Re crunchies, one blessing for me is i can't abide sweet things during PG. this doesn't stop me from piling on weight though. Your prob eating one crunchie to my 30000 crackers.

i was actually sick yesterday but today feel much better. usual ambivalence about that. i was suprised that actually vomiting made me feel loads better.

hi krm - good to see you back. What an annoying mil though - makes me feel very grateful for my elderly, tactful one.

somewhere you have my sympathy with the horrible sickness - hope it settles for you soon :(

Well, I think I've decided about a pushchair and sleeping arrangements - its going to be the new baby jogger versa & carry cot and a baby-bay (or cheap imitation). Phew! what a relief to have (provisionally) made two whole decisions Thanks for your help, ladies :)

The baby's kicks have had me yelping this morning - she is so hyperactive! Is this normal? I haven't even had any sugar yet.

Hi ladies
Sorry missing in action again no excuses just been lazy !!!!

Yeh !!!!!!I have started my mat leave last week and still not use to getting up and not having to go to work!!! All my work colleagues think I am nuts and should be layin till lunch I still wake up at the same time. Been at the same job for 20 years so hard habit to break but learning. I dont care what happens now I have left just wake up and start doing stuff. Mainly cleaning which I love to do and sorting things. Nursery is now show room ready, and nursery place booked and paid for.Jjust waiting for Dylan to make an appearance ( pain free would be groovy ). Still crapping my pants about the birth and now breast feeding. Watched some dvds on the subject and keep thinking should I take a class on how to or wait till the midwife shows me what to do????

Partner is loving having me at home, its like a 50's house wife who swears alot. Bless his cotton socks he use to text me all day at work to check I was ok, he is only concern is now that I dont fall down the stairs or need to ring his ma and pa for them to take me to the hospital and I spend the whole time swearing at them to driving fecking faster. My only concern is my biscuit jar is dangerously low by the end of the day but he ho. I have read loads of books on babycare first time mums and lord knows what. I am going to give myself a break this week.

I went for a walk to the shop earlier and we have a hill to climb and lord I thought I might have had to call a taxi just to take me up it holy shit that was hard work. 7 months ago I use to run up it and not be out of breath. I went swimming the other day and just spent the whole time floating along.
Health wise I have had no real problems, just endless trips to the loo and sore hips when I sleep. Plus the size of a large whale with size 5 feet, amazed I can stand up.
Baby sure zaps your energy supplies
Midget - glad you are home honey, hope you got those feet well and truly up.
Welcome to all the new ladies
I have my last scan next week on Tuesday so hopefully I will get a picture last time He was not playing ball.
Fjord - Whens your next scan ?

Welcome back LRM. Please come and organise me? Bloody ages before mat leave and house is a shit tip. Yours, Midge

Hourah LRM, happy for you, enjoy mat leave.

Don't worry for childbirth. Trust your instincts. I know, lots have been said but for me what worked was :

• Induction so stress free about When to go to hospital, ok contractions were stronger straight away than letting nature do its job but again no stress
• light epidural so that I can feel baby engaging and myself pushing, did not have forceps nor ventouse.

Breast feeding. The best advice ever I had from a MW: when waiting for milk to come, decide each day how many formula bottles you give Dylan out of the average 6/8 feeds, let DP give the bottle while you express, that way you stimulate your breast, baby Dylan gets food, and when your milk supply is steady, drop the bottles. The expressing aims to stimulate lactation, not to get milk out. It is as if you are placing an order with your brain and breast so that within 2 days, your milk supply is enough. Every one will be then happy and stress free. I wish some one had told me that when I had DS1.

Anastasia is one month old tomorrow. I can't believe how quick it went.

Great advice HPBP! I think I will have to cut out and keep as forget anything useful at the moment...

Was just thinking about you this afternoon LRM - you do sound really organised. And it only seems like yesterday you made that first post to start this thread!

Midget - glad you are ok after your hospital scare recently. I need organising too as have managed to make washing machine leak tonight and discovered last week that there is 13k worth of bills that I forgot to pay (I am self employed and the paperwork seems to have gone to hell in a handcart these last few months). Have also forgotten to attend speed awareness course and today forgot to take security pass, diary, purse and makeup to work.

Got back at midnight last night after a 4 day trip up north for Dad's funeral - it was a mixture of sadness and also anger at the way immediate family were treated (stepfamily stayed at dad's house, blood relatives had to stay at hotel, plus no mention of my dad having any children during the service, and reading/graveside duties mostly done by stepfamily!). Never mind - it is over now and later this week I have two big events to look forward to - 20 week scan on Thursday and am 41 on Friday!

Baby is jumping around quite a lot now and have noticed that she is generally quiet when I am in the car (have spent quite a lot of time of late on the road) and then starts moving the minute the car stops! Am wondering if I will end up driving around late at night with a screaming baby in the car in an effort to get her to go to sleep?

hello all - lrm your post made me smile - a swearing 50s housewife. pregnancy is so wierd - it drags you back into the eternal feminine but at the same time you remain modern.

midget no nesting instinct then?

Eagleray that is terrible and smallminded but yes, look to the future. that's interesting about the car - i am sure the pram will have the same effect though.

AFM I'm just whiling away the time. have turned down some freelance work cause of my MS which is not great but better to say no than say yes and then not do it well.

xx