Pregnant (IVF) Worriers/Warriors Part 4

[Buzzybee123]

Hi everyone,

This thread is for all you incessant worriers out there, not necessarily limited to IVF-ers, although I get the feeling the people who have had trouble TTC are more prone to worrying than others!

Hello all. Am feeling a bit meh after yesterday's appointment. All is well with the baby and she's a huge 6lb10ish already at 35+4 ( take that stupid GP) but most definitely breech and a kind of breech that can't be delivered via the fanjo (not that I'd risk that anyway). They're going to scan me again in about a week's time, but a c section is now looking likely. They've also told me that if she does move, they'll book me in for an induction at 41 weeks cos of the blood flow issues I had earlier and I'd also need to be induced if my waters break before then cos of the GBS. Adios lovely birthing centre :(

I know none of these are major things, but there seem to be a lot of small problems, which seems bloody unfair seeing the shitty time we had getting pregnant in the first place.

Has anyone else had a c section? Any tips? Do they give you any kind of anti anxiety drugs? I have a morbid fear of operations, not helped by the fact I had a major bleed during EC in our first ivf.

dildals are your t shirts all filed by colour yet?!

fairy I love the idea of baby cinema. I imagine all these babies watching art house movies, with a glass of vino.

buzz that's ace that Barry's talking about batch cooking. You have him well trained :) I think bringing forward mat leave is a good idea. I've found work combined with the commute hard going over the last few weeks.

keep wow what an amazing birth! Thank you for sharing. So fast for a first timer. You must share a pic of kip when you have a mo. My friend recommended femme pads for lady bits post birth. They're ice packs with gauze over them and good for the soreness apparently. Mothercare sell them. Hope that the jaundice is subsiding and that it's ok being in the hospital.

crisps ignore the breast feeding Stasi! I hate how people who can't BF or have a natural birth are made to feel shit. Btw I HAVE to know where your mum sources your real uggs from? My sister lives in Oz and so far has failed to find me any cheap ones. That's ace that the twins are such a good size. They obviously love their maize :)

beetle 17 weeks already?! Wow

onion can't believe you're back to your pre baby weight already. I stopped weighing myself when I got to the 3rd trimester as it was too depressing! Is ringlett fully recovered now?

shazz hope the pestering about shazzlet has subsided a bit.

Oh gin so sorry you might not get the birth you had hoped for. Have never had a c section but have had load of abdominal surgery...I find that if you have really minimal movement for the first 24 hours afterwards then the following days are much easier and more comfortable. hippy head on peppermint tea with a bit of sugar in is also amazing for abdominal pains and helps the painkillers to make their way around.

My bf had a cs for her second child and was up and about doing the usual mum things the next day...carrying baby, changing nappies and showering etc. My hosp also said that the stay in time for cs is only three days now assuming everything goes well. I am also a bleeder so a bit worried about that but I hope that if they know in advance then they can have a bit more control? I have a hiGh risk of cs too so despite not really wanting it just try to keep telling myself that at least with a section there isn't the opportunity for babies to get tired and distressed, I'd rather have a scheduled one than an emergency. Not a clue where the mother gets the uggs from, she lives in Sydney and I think she gets them in the sale at the end of the season. Either that or she lies to me about how much they cost...I am a non labelly frugal dougal and she lives in a six bedroomed house with a pool right by the beach and has no concept of money, bless her...

dildals your mum sounds ace. I hope she does the tin cupboards and wardrobes while she's at it. I love a good bit of tidying...I have someone coming round to my house to clean the carpets today and am very very unreasonably excited...

Hello Ladies

Sorry for radio silence. Am feeling very low this week which is a shame as I have enjoyed being pregnant for the past few months and I'm sad that the last week or so is full of me being anxious, stressed and crying most of the time. I feel like I'm not really doing anything. Just hanging around the flat not achieving very much. Not that I know what I should be achieving. People keep telling me to make the most of these last few days but how? Now I feel like I'm failing to 'have a good time' and I'm going to regret it somehow. Anyway, I'm wallowing I'm afraid so I'll concentrate on joining in on the conversation and that will take my mind off it all.

Gin, I'm sorry that your plans might have to be changed. Do you have some ideas to try to turn the Ginster? There is plenty of anecdotal evidence for various tricks to 'spin' a breech baby. Hypnotherapy, acupuncture and reflexology might all help as might some old wives tales. I know it is easier said that done but it could be worth a try before you give up hope? Good that Ginster is growing well though. Only 1 more day at work.

Dildals, Is Bella still on her growth spurt? It sounds very positive and good news that she is getting big and strong. A colour co-ordinated and organised wardrobe is heavenly. I usually do put my phone to silent at night but if MrS is having a late night in the studio I leave it on just in case.

Onion The raspberry leaf tea is actually ok and I don't like fruit teas as a rule. The MW said that I can drink up to 3 cups a day and apparently it is good to drink from 37-38 weeks as it can help tone the uterus and makes for more efficient surges. (thank goodness Keep didn't drink any .) So for all you pre-38 weekers, get some in! How is Ringlet? DD1 sounds so funny and highly creative. Good Ebay bargain hunting. I keep watching things and then forgetting to bid on them.

Keep amazing birth story. Wow, I wish you could share the secret to your success. I guess everyone is different and although it was abit of a shock to you it sounds like it was a marvellous experience. Good job that you opted to stay at the hospital and not go home. I'm not having any Braxton Hicks. In fact I think that I've only had them a couple of times. I hope that you and Kip don't have to stay in hospital long. HaHa as the chicken korma poo. I'm trying to 'go dark' but as Onion said, that rouses more suspicion and questions. I have to relax and ignore it all.

Beetle I don't think I realised that you live in SA. I'm very proud that we stretch far and wide. I've changed my pillow/sleeping configuration many times over the past few months. In the end I didn't buy a pregnancy pillow and have made do with ordinary pillows and cushions. Although actually I forgot, I have been lent a little wedge type pillow. Congrats on being 17 weeks tomorrow. how time flies!

Crisps Good tip re lavender oil in the bath for healing. I've got some oils for the birth. Do you just put a couple of drops in neat? You dont need a carrier oil do you for the bath? Your DD1 also sounds incredibly sweet and creative. If we have to have an induction then we can't be at home. It will be straight to the birthing centre bypassing even the home from home I think. I've looked at Lucy's Attic before. How she manages to mother 3 children, make all that stuff AND write about it is beyond me! Good news about your scan and that the twinnies are growing well. Sweet that your consultant did a dance. The sickness has probably kept your weight down hasn't it? I put on all my weight in the 2nd trimester and have been the same for weeks but have suddenly put on 2kg in the last 2 weeks. don't feel guilty about bfing. As Dildals said, you are nurturing these 2 babies right now.

Buzzy So good that Bazza is getting into it all. It is great to have his support. Is he still having to work away from home? Good for him to be planning the cooking and cleaning ahead of time. I've been filling the freezer also and it is definitely worth doing. I hope that work is ok for the rest of the week. Can you get signed off early? You have had such a difficult time of it. It would be nice for you to be able to rest and slow down for the last couple of months.

Fairy, Gravity was ok (I think that Sweetie also asked me about it) but not worth the £26odd that it cost me for the 2 tickets though. I'm thinking of going to the cinema with a friend and her 5 month old tomorrow morning. Just to get out of the house. Glad you got to the bottom of your bfing problem. Are there any tips on how to cope with the dip?

Noks hope you are feeling better. only 1 more day to go for you as well.

Hello to everyone else. I hope that you are all enjoying your weeks.

Well I might go and wash up the lunch things. At least I'll feel like I've done something today. DP didn't leave for the studio until after lunch so he will be late tonight. At least I can watch Scandal in peace. This is the last painting for this exhibition so he won't have to do anymore once he finishes this and he should do that by the weekend.

Oh one more thing, we are currently planning the Christmas trip. My parents are going to come and get us before Christmas and then we are planning to get the train to the Northern Badlands for New year. I reckon all in all we will be at mine for about 10 days and up North for maybe the same. I'm starting to worry that this will be too much time away from home with a baby that is barely a month old and too much time managing well meaning parents, in-laws and SILs' dishing out advice. Are pre-birth jitters making me over anxious and stressed and worrying about nothing? What say you wise women who have already experienced the panic wonder of being a first time mum?

Dear shazza so sorry you are feeling low. It is horrible, but you know it will pass. Try to be easy on yourself, there is nothing you need to be 'achieving' at the moment apart from looking after yourself. I know that it is difficult to enjoy yourself when you feel so low, but I can only recommend that you make sure that you factor into your day anything that you know from experience can lift your spirits a bit. Music? Dancing (possibly unrealistic right now, but maybe worth a try)? Laughter may feel alien, but seriously, try to watch some good comedy as it can be so therapeutic.

I don't have the experience of being a first time mum yet, but Re your Christmas trip, I might try to delay decision making until your baby is born. Can you leave it open so that if it feels like a good idea you can go, and if not you can stay at home? X

Ohshazza so sorry to hear ou are down. I think the waiting is hard because it isn't dissimilar to the 2ww (remember that?!?!), it feels a bit pointless and frustrating, especially when all the fucktard well-wishers stick their beaks in. Distraction has to be the key, I used to go down to the hairdressers for a blow dry, do a bit of cross stitch etc. Hope it passes soon. Yep lavender oil straight into the bath, no carrier oil needed unless you wantd to put it directly on your skin which ai don't think is a good idea. Do you have any orange oil? It is great for mood lifting and relaxation so if you do maybe whack a bit of that in your bath (or your lounge based maizesnacking hot tub) for the next few days...even just the smell of cut oranges and lemons works too apparently. I don't have a cauldron or anything but a few years back I had some reiki and aromatherapy massage and acupuncture and am now a total convert, when I can afford it. Ps re: induction....very few people actually end up needing it so keep the faith!

With regard to the big northern tour...its very personal but I know I didn't want to leave DD when she was born and had a really primal urge to nest at home for those first few weeks...not in an antisocial way, just that we had waited so long for her that I kind of wanted to be in my house with her rather than trekking around. I do have some friends who are the total opposite however and it depends on what you are envisaging of motherhood I think. Although you will be with shazzlet, if you are moving around a lot then sleeplessnes plus overfussing might be irritating if it is for ten days rather than, say four or five. Who are you staying with and how relaxed do you feel in their homes? If you can just chill out and relax then you will be fine...if you feel like you are imposing or don't have a lot of space for shazzlet then you may be a bit stressed if you are a bit stroppy and uptight with your rellies like I am

Hello Motor and Crisps

Thanks for the messages. I'm ok. I think that those bloody hormones are at play again.

Good idea re distraction. I've got a happy playlist Motor. It is impossible to cry when you are dancing around the bedroom to Dancing Queen! Tomorrow I'm going to a baby film screening at the cinema with a friend and her baby. Then by the weekend DP will be finished and we can plan some nice things to do together. Deep down I know you are right and it will pass.

Crisps, I definitely have hippy leanings . I've got Clary Sage, Lavender, Jasmine and Sweet Orange oils lined up for the birth. Stupidly I hadn't thought about putting the Orange on now. I got it to lift spirits as well! I'll do it now. I know that it is early days re induction, we have another couple of weeks yet. Thanks for the advice re the Northern tour. Usually I like being at the in-laws. They are very kind, have a beautiful house and it's quiet and particularly lovely at Christmas. However, at my parents I will be more in control, able to tell my family that I need space (although this will offend them!) and if I really want to we can come home easily but at the in-laws, I will have to rely on DP to field this for me and although he says he will be sensitive to mine and Shazlett's needs, I'm not convinced that when push comes to shove he will be able to stand up to his mother step in. I do tend to get uptight in these situations and end up feeling stressed out by all the people. I think that you are right in that we will have to play it by ear and see how we feel. We had a long chat about it today so hopefully he gets it. I feel bad though because obviously he wants to see his family as well.

Anyway, thanks again. I feel abit better now. I'll have an early night as DP will be late anyway.

gin what a pain about the breech. You could try scrubbing floors. But seriously, I opted for a section this time after a traumatic vaginal delivery and it was far and away the best thing for me. It was a bit unpleasant when they were putting the spinal in and all the rummaging around to get the baby out was odd, but overall it felt calm and all the staff were extremely reassuring. There is no pain of contractions to go through, no long labour meaning you're exhausted by the time the baby is born, and most important for me there was little chance of fetal distress. The recovery is tough, two weeks until I felt I could move around vaguely normally but I was the same after a vaginal delivery with episiotomy. If I had another baby it would be elective section without a moment of doubt. From what others have said my recovery seemed longer than most, with a lot of people being up and about a lot sooner. I'd say it was far less scary than a vaginal delivery but I would say that as I've never had a positive vaginal delivery. If you want any specific questions answered then just ask.

shazza it's a bit like new year when you feel you should be enjoying yourself so you can't. I just used to lie on the couch watching back to back episodes of Come Dine With Me. Or stay in bed all day reading romances or dozing. Do whatever feels least challenging. It's an odd limbo time and I don't think you have to have anything to show for it if you know what I mean.

About the trips, it's going to be an individual thing as crisps said but I know I felt much the same about wanting to nest at home with the baby for at least the first couple of months. I would leave things open and see how you feel. Ten day stays are better than two day ones though as at least you can settle in for a good length of time. If people are going to annoy you though can you ensure privacy for the three of you in each location? A room to retreat to etc.? I could happily stay with my parents as I can be rude to them and I know they'd leave me alone anyway but I'd find inlaws more tricky.

Funeral today and all went well. DD1 has inherited a bag of her late great grandma's costume jewelry. At dinner time we all had to wear necklaces and clip on earrings. (DH looked particularly special.) She is delighted with this hoard and now looks like a miniature Mr T. My feet are killing me from opting to wear heels, I am so glad to be in bed.

Cross posted shazz. You and the baby come first this Christmas and that's not unreasonable! I hope you feel better for talking about it though.

Hello
Gin what a little madam being the wrong way round! If it reassures you at all, I know two people who have had sections recently and they recovered quickly and very well, with their undercarriages perfectly intact. But at 35 weeks there is still time for her to turn- my friend swore by moxibustion which is a bit 'woo' but there you go.
Shazz sorry you are feeling down petal. I'm sure it's a combo of hormones, the crap weather and the fact it seems to be constantly dark these days. Oh, and the endless litany of 'is shazlett here yet' texts. Do you fancy meeting up for a coffee next week sometime? My turn to venture to Streatham? Xxx

shazza big hugs, Barry has just got a 6 month contract in West London, he hasn't mentioned i'm pregnant to them yet. I could finish a week earlier but I found it hard being tired at home and quite isolated so need to try and last 5 weeks, I'll see how I feel in a couple of weeks.

In our NCT class we looked at visitors in the first few weeks etc, we talked about our safe island, our support boat and the sharks, your SIL is jaws, if you are not comfortable with spending that amount of time away then don't, there will be plenty of time to go up north, you need to put yourself and your new little family first, stuff the rest they can wait.

gin sorry you feel meh, like others have said, on all fours or sitting on the big ball

shazz, I'm glad you've found the happy playlist. Filling your home with uplifting scents and music while planning something to do at the weekend sounds perfect. And shazlett will arrive when good and ready.

gin, I'm sorry your baby is being uncooperative and your plans for birth might have to change. As others have said, friends have had good recoveries from planned c-sections so every reason to be positive if that's how things work out. And the ginster has time still to turn. This might be a bit woo but hypnotherapy apparently gets good results, I think clinical trials have demonstrated success rates turning breech babies of 80%, and there are no risks attached to trying it so it might be worth attempting?

onion, hope you are allowed to get some proper rest tonight, it must have been a difficult day, glad you all got through it OK.

buzzy, cross-posted, that's good news on the contract close to home :-)

Shazza so sorry to hear you are feeling down in the dumps. Happy playlist sounds like just the thing. I agree with what everyone else has said about taking it easy over Christmas and enjoy this very special time with Shazlette rather than traipsing around the country.
I am already dreading the visitors to our house over Christmas, I am sure people will be thinking "we are off work & school, lets go see the Sweeties and twins" NO!!! I am not sure when we will be home but it could be literally the week before Christmas. I am not sure I will be up for visitors and have already been dropping hints when we see people. I just hope people ring or text before just turning up.

Gin I am the opposite to you, I actually WANT a c-section and they won't let me have one, our Trust don't support ELCS without medical need. One of my twins has turned from both head down and is now breach but it is the wrong twin!! I am going back on Monday for another scan to see how they are positioned and discuss mode of delivery, again.

Buzzy great news on Barry getting a new contract. How are you feeling these days?

Onion glad the funeral went as well as these things can go. DD1 sounds a real little magpie, loving her getting you all dressed up in the costume jewellery.

I have been busy in my first week of mat leave but have felt a bit down in the dumps too. I even had a panic attack in the beauty salon, this is my first since being pregnant. I am not sure if I now have more time to think and stress about things but may have a few weeks to go yet. Shazza and Crisps what essential oils do you suggest? I am going to see what my reflexologist says next week too as she practices in flower essences and other complimentary treatments.

Morning all

I'm out and about already and feeling much better for it. It's a lovely sunny day and being out is better than being cooped up all day.

Thanks for the kind messages. You have all confirmed what I suspected re Xmas. We are going to book the tickets cause they are cheap at the moment and we haven't lostuxh if we decide not to go. It would be a 2 location trip so not too bad but both would be busy in terms of people and visitors. Im quite a homebody at the best of times let alone post birth. So we shall see.

Sweetie I'm sorry you still haven't persuaded them for a elcs. The oils I was recommended are: clary sage to augment and assist surges (contractions), orange to uplift mood, jasmine to assist with delivery of placenta and lavender/camomile for relaxation. Only use orange before the birth though. Although my reflexologist said now that I'm post 40 weeks I'm ok to use all of them. Still abit scared of clary sage though! I hear you re visitors. I've also briefed DP about fielding those as well. Everyone should call beforehand. Buzzy was right about managing them. Are you ok after the panic attack? That's worrying. Have you had one before?

Onion I'm glad yesterday was ok. Lovely that dd1 is happy with her loot. I hope your poor feet got some rest last night.

Buzzy great news about Barry's contract. Heehee about SIL bring jaws I can handle my Olds and SIL from hell. It's the inlaws I don't want to offend.

Well I'm off to baby cinema. I hope I don't have to pay for shazlett. Technically s/he isn't taking much space.

I am definitely a bit woo, should really name change to crispwoo...
Re the oils sweetie I love orange for positivity (nice to have on in the house) and lavender is good for healing but I do hate its smell. Can you get to a health store to have a sniff and a play? I actually quite like black pepper and sandalwood, ,mits a bit heavy and a thick and more of a base note but I quite like dark reflective scents. Will have to invest in some clary sage if it helps things alot...one of mine is breech too but I keep being 'reassured' that it can just be manually turned or pulled out by its feet, lovely. Re visitors I recommend LYING...i.e. ' oh sorry, we already have visitors that day, perhaps next week?'

shazza i forgot about the sister in jaws, how present will she be when you are up north? We are just off j27of the m1 if you need some respite :-). Plus DH became very protective as soon as dd was born and I bet the same will apply to mr shazz. And i fully recommend the geordie shore box set for distraction!

buzzy good news on the work contract

onion glad the funeral was ok, its sweet that dd loved the jewellery. My husband spends many a night with a head full of hair clips dancing to high school musical, what a daddy hero.

Thanks ladies, I am going to get some of the orange oil. Do I use it neat on an oil burner?

Shazza hope you enjoy the movie. Unfortunately I have suffered from panic attacks on & off for years. This was the first one I have had in about a year. It took me a bit by surprise but I feel better today.

Sweetie put a couple of drops of oil in water on the top of the burner and make sure it doesn't burn dry. Well I guess it depends on what burner you have. I have a little tea light one. But you can't take those to hospital. Then you would have to get an electric one.

Crisps I LOVE 'sister in jaws'! You and buzzy have come up with a brilliant name there. Sadly she is my bros wife so will be judging me at my parents with DNs 1&2. Northern SIL is earth mother and DP considers her the oracle of mothering. So that's a different kind of problem. At least she is nice though.

Fantastic image of mr crisps. I bet you didn't imagine he'd be doing that when you met all those years ago.

Watched the butler. It was good. The baby screenings are funny. After a while you zone out from all the noise and crying. It was really sweet. Im really glad i went. The foyer of the ritzy was like a car park with buggies 5 deep!

Shazlett is moving around well today. A lady in morleys just asked me when I'm due and when I told her I'm over she exclaimed 'good God what in earth are you doing out?' Oh dear I didn't realise that I'm confined to the house from now on

On and sweets glad you are feeling better after your attack. That's not a nice thing to happen.

gin I'm really sorry that a natural birth at the MLU is looking unlikely. I had a CS with DS but it was emergency with a spinal block and so very unlike what you would be having. However I do know that lots of people manage to have calm, happy planned CS. You can ask to have music playing, time alone with the baby when delivered, plan a meal back on the ward when you recover etc. I would have thought that if you have anxiety about operations then they could give you a shot of pethidine along with the epidural so you can relax a bit. A bleed during EC? that must have been awful, I have never heard of that happening.

Pangolina had a weigh in with the midwife this morning (our discharge appt) and is 8lb 12 oz, up from 7lb 3 oz at birth. So all is going well with her feeding, which is nice. She's still smaller than what her brother was at birth though which is amazing. So far (and I hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying this) she's a lot calmer and easier than DS was as well. Certainly DH and I feel a lot more rested and relaxed than we did the first time round.

shazza will you be at home between 10 day visits? It does sound like rather a lot with a newborn but it really depends how comfortable you are in your surroundings. What will you do about sleeping? Will you just co-sleep while you're there? The only advice I would have is don't be afraid to offend anyone by retiring to your bedroom whenever the baby needs to nap and stay there with him or her.

buzzy that's great news re your DH's contract. I wish my DH could get six months somewhere, that would set us up nicely. He just got another 2 weeks in London though so that is something.

I want this orange oil. It's sounds lovely!

Im reading but too tired to reply properly. But boo to panic attacks, hurrah to calm chubby babies and local contracts.

Morning all

Thanks fairy we won't get to go home between visits but I would definitely go for a nap if need be. One good thing is that I'd be waited on in both places. Obviously I would usually help a lot but I'm sure that this wouldn't be expected of me this time round. I can imagine that DP would also get away with not doing much. Especially at his folks.

Such good news that pangolina is putting on weight. Do you think that she is quieter cause she is a girl or maybe you and DH are just more confident cause she is your 2nd and you are experts now?

Onion I had the orange oil burning last night. It was nice. The oil is about £5 but my burner only cost £1.50. You can often find them at charity shops.

Well shazlett has woken up. I felt a wriggle. I'm going to get up now and do my yoga. Today is our DD according to my dates. So I class this as unofficial 40 weeks.

Have a good weekend. X

Fairy just noticed I didn't answer re sleeping. We would have to co sleep cause I don't want to put shazlett into a travel cot alone and they don't have Moses baskets. Not sure about daytime naps though. I guess they would be on me or in the sling.

hi everyone - sorry not to check in with you all but just wanted to let you know how things are going. Our little girl is just gorgeous. But she's been a bit jaundiced, which is really common, but they said she was just on the borderline and so on Tuesday night we went back to the hospital for phototherapy (she had to lie on a blue light all night except when feeding. This was quite hard for me as my milk had just come in and i had to leave dh and my mum. Anyway, the levels went down overnight and we went home the following evening. Probably because of the jaundice she had been a bit lethargic, so not eating enough, which makes her jaundiced etc. So after she's fed I am now expressing and we are giving her a top up feed of breastmilk via syringe. This seems to be working and she's putting on weight again faster now and is less jaundiced. So it's been a lovely amazing incredible week but also a bit worrying. I know how common jaundice is, but still... Unfortunatley there's not much sunlight around at the moment, which doesn't help..

So my mum has gone home today after the good MW visit, so it's just us now. Eek.

And just for the record - here are my potential tops to start off labour. Friday last week - newborn snuggles and two cups of raspberry leaf tea. Saturday - one cup of raspberry leaf and a long car journey. Hot bath and there you go!

gin sorry it looks like your labour won't be the one you want, but just think about how you can take control of the CS situation - you can have music, DH can cut the cord etc. You never know, she could still turn (or is the Lady not for turning ;) )

shaz i forgot they put you forward on dates. If i'd not been IVF i'd have been put at +6 day at my 12 week scan, so she'd have been born at 38 weeks exactly. Good luck sweetheart, and I'm thinking of you.

That's annoying Keep. Both mine were jaundiced but it was sunny when they were born so that and feeding was enough. Syringe is a good idea. I was syringing ready brek into ringlet the other day! I should add syringe to the Baby Essential list. Good luck being Just You - you'll be grand!

shaz good idea about charity shops. I hope you have a relaxing day and don't fret about dates. Can you check how easy bedsharing will be before you go? Ideally you want the bed against a wall. There's a lot to be said for being waited on for three weeks, that would certainly tempt me.

Hope everyone else is ok. I'm visiting my sister and this being waited on a bit myself.

shazza if you have a pram where the baby can lie flat then he or she can nap in that. I just asked because if you are cosleeping make sure the bed is big enough. Or you could bring a basket with you? We didn't think enough about this when going away with DS when he was a baby and ended up with some sleepless holidays.

I imagine our experience with DD is different partly because her nature is calmer than DS but also because we ware way more chilled than we were first time round. It took me ages to recover from the CS with DS so that didn't help either. I don't think it's because she's a girl although I have read that firstborn boys are the most demanding babies. Don't imagine that's v scientific though.