Mums-to-be (2)

[Enid]

Joe1, Tetley, Ouch and the other October Mums to be, how are you all?

Joe1 - well done on winning the baby carrier!!

Hi Enid, thanks I am chuffed to bits at winning. We keep looking at carriers but have never got round to buying one, cant wait to get it.

Im feeling quite good at the moment, not sickness and not overly tired. Im still getting the odd exhausted day if I dont get enough sleep the night before but other than that good. Im getting uncomfortable in my tummy sometimes, probably all the stretching. Starting to feel baby more now. My bump is growing slowly and not huge yet but starting to get in the way when I bend down.

How are you feeling?

Itchy hot boobs, itchy hot boobs, itchy hot boobs

Oh Debster its horrible isnt it and you always get that urge when you are out and about.

I know I just want to rip my bra off and give them a good scratching all the time! I also really hate feeling like a trussed up chicken wearing a maternity bra. I wish I didn't have to wear one but my boobs are so tender that I have to. I bought the M&S maternity bras (£20 for a pack of 2) and I think they're useless. They keep riding up at the back as though the cups can't support the weight of my boobs. How crap is that. Does anyone have any better suggestions? Is it worth buying nursing bras now? (I'm only 18 weeks pregnant)

I was tempted by this one, although it doesn't come in black and I hate white bras!
maternity bra

My boobs have grown hugely but aren't hot and itchy - yet! All my trousers are now very uncomfortable but I am trying to put off buying maternity wear...my bump is A LOT bigger than it was with dd, sigh, those post-baby stomach muscles...

Hi Debster, not pregnant but just sticking my nose in while poking around mumsnet, but... I bought maternity bras because I thought it was a waste of money buying pregnancy bras AND maternity bras if I had to have the hideous non-underwired monsters at all. I have used all the sizes I bought as I expanded while breastfeeding and going down in size again. If your bra is riding up at the back, it's not because of the weight of your breasts, but because your back size is too big - ie you're wearing a 36 when you should be wearing a 34. You need a smaller back size and bigger cup size. Before I had my son I was measured and was stunned to realise I was a 32DD instead of a 34C. I bought all new bras and they didn't ride up anymore. Sadly, my 32DD days are long gone...

You might find something suitable from MAVA BRAS . As well as buying by mail some areas have agents who can help fit you properly. HTH

Debster, unfortunately your breasts will probably get bigger and bigger and bigger so it is probably too early to buy nursing bras. But as aloha said, you do end up using all the different sizes as you start to wean your baby and your breasts get progressively smaller. Also, save them all for the next time you get pregnant (i'm on my second time). Enid, i'm 20 weeks into my second pregnancy and still haven't ever bought maternitywear (waste of money,i think, i'd rather spend it on baby clothes). I just go to work inthe same old sweats every day. (so far my boss hasn't complained)

Debster, I am 36 wks pg and suppose I have been lucky in that I have not experience a huge difference in breast size, although at 34F that has been a relief more than anything. I have been wearing a Shock Absorber sports bra with no underwire. They do different firmnesses (?) some that give you big cone like boobs, like Madonna (fell about laughing when I tried that one on) but I opted for a slightly more relaxed one and have definately found it preferable to the maternity bras I tried during my last pregnancy.

I recently ordered (although sent them back as they did not offer enough support) bras from the Active Birth Centre. They claim to be designed to see you through maternity and b/feeding apparently the back and the cup size will stretch with you as needs be. The bra had a really nice drop cup for feeding and there was nothing that would cut into the breast and give you problems. They are also mostly cotton, may help with the "itchy hot boobs" . Perhaps these would be worth a try (I also didn't think they were terribly attractive but that rarely seems to come into it when designers are making maternity/feeding bras).

Wow, demented, not long to go now! Getting excited yet?

A friend has just lent me a whole batch of maternity wear and my sister brought me a bunch of trousers this weekend (she is a costumier - but contemporary you understand, I'm not going to be wearing Elizabethan hose) with elasticated waists so I've got plenty to choose from now. Still managing to get away with most of my 'normal' clothes so far...

18 weeks now and baby kicking away, especially when I'm on mumsnet! Which has been a lot recently as I am supposed to be working and can't help refreshing the active discussions between jobs...

Feeling much better generally, eating little and often and drinking plenty of water.

Just wanted to say thanks for advice on bras especially the bit about if they ride up your back - couldn't understand what was happening to me and noticed I was developing a hump on my back trying to cope with the uncomfortable feeling. Although on 2nd pregnancy (21 weeks today) seem to be getting bigger everywhere this time and not all previous maternity wear fitting me - slightly worried I may become housebound before much longer. My 18 mth keeps shouting "boobies" when in the supermarket trolley at tesco's because she can't see anything else.

Enid, I get the odd wave of excitement but mostly I am just completely fed up at the moment. I know it is daft but it still seems so far away I haven't even finished packing my hospital bags and haven't even started packing DS' bag. I don't know if it is just a second time round thing!

Glad to hear you are feeling better now, I think it took me until about 18/19 wks this time round to shake off the sickness and tiredness (maybe a second time round thing too). Lovely to feel all those little kicks as well! Look after yourself.

Enid glad you are feeling better. My sickness sort of gradually disappeared a few weeks ago and along came more energy which is lovely. Im getting loads of kicks, this little one is more active than ds was, I think I will have bruised insides as it gets older.

Demented it will soon come round, but it does seem like you are waiting forever. I think other peoples comments make it worse, 'havnt you had it yet'. Have a good rest while you can.

Maternity bra info here for those that might need it, and I PROMISE after the comments on the First Direct thread that there is no element of self-interest here.
To celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Week, a website called Mothersbliss is offering 15% off the Bravado bras. I thought this seemed quite a bargain. The offer expires tomorrow, apparently.
Mothersbliss
Hope you are all keeping well.

Joe1, the are you still here comments started at 36 weeks. I tried not to be rude to people as I don't suppose everyone is going about with my due date tatooed on their wrists but it does exactly help. Nevermind, I'm feeling a bit more positive, my DH was out of a job for a couple of weeks, and we were also changing our car in the middle of it all and it was all going a bit pear shaped. I feel this week however that with DH working again and the car problem sorted out I can concentrate on the baby again!

Hope everyone is feeling well this week!

Demented Im feeling Knackered.

To all mums-to-be with toddlers - what are you doing about buggies/pushchairs? I really don't want to buy anything new, do you think I'll realistically cope with a sling for the first few months? I've currently got a three-wheeler (supposed to be from 6 months but surely with lots of padding etc I could use it from 3?) and a Maclaren daytripper that I probably wouldnt want to use before 6 months. Dd will be 2 + 10 by then, so I'm hoping she'll walk or use a buggyboard (we very rarely use the buggy anymore as it is).

Tempted to buy a new buggy that is lighter than the three-wheeler (brilliant for walks straight from the house, crap at going in the car to the shops) but more supportive than the Daytripper. Any thoughts?

I am feeling much better by the way - a friend gave me a big bag of maternity clothes so I've given in, and am currently wearing a pair of Blooming Marvellous chinos - god, they're comfortable!!

20 week scan tomorrow afternoon, fingers crossed.

Hi Enid, glad your feeling better. Maternity clothes are so comfy.

Ive had a bad weekend off to the docs later today for a check over. Been extremeley washed out ad having dizzy spells, midwife came out and says blood pressure has dropped but might have inner ear infection, lovely not again. So have been resting and being looked after by dh and all.

Im not buying another pram, going to get a board for ds to stand on. He hardly uses his prams, have an all terrain and buggy, so when he does for first few months will use sling. The pram has a car seat so can use from birth. Then of course I have my backpack that I won, havnt received it yet though.

You are so lucky to get a 20 week scan, we only get one at 16 weeks and thats it.

Still thinking about buggies. Haven't used the pushchair recently but then I've been cutting back on my walking as I wear my legs out but have been cycling. When we do go out for walks ds is in his tricycle so I'm not sure how he would take to a pushchair again.

I've been offered a tandem to borrow for the first few weeks and am still supposed to go and look at bike carriages that act as pushchairs but think you can only put a baby seat in from 6 months.

I thought the double 3 wheeler from Mothercare is pretty reasonable at £200 and gives a smooth ride. If you are used to a 3 wheeler I think a four wheeler feels strange.

MaloMum I dont know how old ds is, but have you thought about a buggy board? My friend has one and would be lost without it. Her dd will happily walk but tires easily so can just hop on buggy board.

Enid, we're planning on using a buggy board as well. We have bought it and attached it to the pram chassis to let DS have a go, he thought it was great fun, hope the novelty doesn't wear off!

Malmomum, I am assuming the three wheeler from Mothercare is the Urban Detour one, we have the single version of this (£79 with fixed wheel) and it is great, really sturdy, have seen the double one and it looks really good too. The only thing to watch is that it fits in the boot of your car, they are a bit bulky although fold neater than the real three wheelers. The only thing is we cannot use the buggy board with the three wheeler as there is not enough space between the handle and the hood of the buggy to allow DS to stand but we weren't really planning on using it for the baby for a while.

Joe1 sorry to hear you are not feeling so good, hope things pick up for you again soon, make sure and get plenty of rest!

Joe, sorry to hear you are feeling so low. I felt b**y awful last week, really dizzy and tired, thought it was my already non-existent blood pressure playing up but then developed a very impressive cold on Saturday, so I think it was that building up. I feel better now its 'come out' so to speak.

I've also had an acupuncture session which seems to have perked me up a bit - she said I had 'stagnant chi' - ooh er, and should keep active and eat lots of spices! Mmmm, am a bit sceptical but it certainly cleared my headaches and made my back a lot better.

Hope you feel better and you haven't got an ear infection - let us know what the doctor says, love enid x

We too are contemplating a buggy board, ds will be 2yrs 5 months. He walks well but is a curious & hyper chap who runs off! So that is our concern (seee other thread!) He also still very much likes his afternoon nap so that a consideration too. I've seen the buggy boards that clip & they stand on but I've also seen one that is a sort of two-step one...big bit at top, smaller foot rest at bottom so he could sit facing away from pram,(facing me pushing it) or stand up facing the pram. Anyone else know what I'm talking about and more importantly where they are sold....???

Thanks, feeling better as the day is going on, if I dont do too much. Had a sleep with ds which I think has helped. Dh still wants me to go for an 'MOT', as he puts it, at the docs. I have been doing an awful lot the last few weeks, finishing at one place and starting a new venture so wondering if I have burnout. I am the type to keep going and going, and with developing low blood pressure (had normal last time but had to have iron tablets, bloods say these not needed this time) my body has just said enough is enough and rest for a bit.

Is anybody finding second pregnancy so much harder than the first, is it mainly because we have a toddler to look after too (ds is 20 months and a real boy)? Are you irritable too? Or is that just cause we are so tired.

Joe1 I totally agree, I'm finding 2nd pregnancy so much more harder than the last! Even taking away all my medical complications I am just finding it sooooo exhausting, I think is is because I have a toddler about this time as last time I could put my feet up & relax whenever I wanted but I don't get that luxury this time round (as you too can imagine!). I also think that 1st time round it was the 'not knowing' element & the 1st felt adreline & excitement of impending motherhood that made us more adapt to coping, don't get me wrong still excited etc but think the 1st time of the unknow had its benefits...