Due April 2021

[BoJingle]

Is around who's due in April 2021? How are you feeling?

I was in a thread on here in early pregnancy, dropped off when I joined the buddies Facebook group, I'm still in it but its not really for me.... I miss having a place to go to chat pregnancy though.

@MsHedgehog I'm still debating the downstairs sleeping situation too! We have a Next To Me but a lot of people have recommended the Tiny Love 3 in 1 Rocker Napper for downstairs but I'm unsure as it's quite pricey! Let me know what you decide please 😊

I'm just planning on using the carrycot for the pram for downstairs living room sleeps. Though we have a dog so need to keep it off the floor somehow - haven't worked that bit out yet...

Night sleeping for first six months am looking at maxi cosi iora but not bought anything yet...keep hoping sales might improve in Jan but probably wishful thinking!

I've got a Moses basket and stand for daytime sleeping - wanted something easy enough to move from room to room (or you the garden) and raised up away from the dog.

@Ttwinksy I'm planning to do the same with nappies - some eco disposables for the early days then testing out different reusables. I haven't done any research yet - are there any brands you're leaning towards?

Hi ladies, HNY!

Can definitely recommend the bugaboo cameleon, ours is 3.5yrs old and still being used, still looks good as new.

Invest in a sling for country walks, much easier than any buggy.

As for sleep we are going to get a next to me for upstairs, and use our old moses basket with new mattress etc for downstairs. Hated the moses basket in the bedroom as was pretty but impractical for night feeds as lifting her in and out woke her up and I couldn't feed her whilst she was in it. Im hoping a next to me will be easier!

Also, my top tip would be to get a bed set up in any second bedroom/study if you can. It can be a lifesaver if you're doing all the night feeds and relying on DH to get up early in the AM with baby to give you some much needed rest. DH was in the spare room for at least 6m when we had our first and it worked brilliantly for us; I was breastfeeding so he couldn't help much in the night anyway, and with him out of the bed I could safely cosleep. Then he'd take over in the morning having woken up feeling rested and I could catch up on some undisturbed sleep.

Does anyone have any good sling recommendations? We definitely want one as we do a lot of country walks, but there's so many out there and unsure whats good/bad

The babybjorn one is a great carrier, and has been properly tested and designed to ensure baby's legs are positioned correctly so as not to damage them. Other cheaper carriers haven't had the benefit of this. Ideal for walks and the like. It also lasted us well. And I'll be using the same again for baby no.2.

For home, i got great use out of a bit stretchy sling that you can wrap around yourself.

Those of you with dogs (or other pets)...have any of you noticed any sudden recent changes in their behaviour towards you? We have a lab who is normally really cuddly, spends all her time on the sofa, particularly if we're on it. But in the last few days she's started getting off the sofa when I sit down and takes herself off into another room all evening. Don't know whether maybe she's not feeling well...or if she's suddenly clocked that I'm pregnant and is avoiding me like the plague?! She's still obsessed with dp and if he goes upstairs she follows him rather than stay with me. Trying not to take it personally .

Hoping it’s ok to join, sorry I’m a bit late! FTM here and due on April 23rd. I’m on the FB group but much more used to being on here as I was on the fertility treatment thread too. 24 + 1 today and just starting to get myself organised and looking at things I need to buy 😂! x

I used a connecta carrier with DD from newborn up until 2. The only reason I stopped using is is my back can't handle it since pregnant but I loved it from first use to last. I have ordered a close caboo for new baby though because whilst I fully intend on reusing the connecta, I wanted to try something different aswell. Close caboo was well recommended but I haven't used it myself yet. Tying wraps seems too complicated for me so this was a good compromise.

Welcome @StayingPositive8. I'm on Facebook too although it seems to have quietened a little since the creation of WhatsApp groups (I'm not in). I feel so unorganised but I just have no motivation to get prepared.

@OneStepOneStumble I bough an ergo baby carrier in the black friday sale. My sister loved hers. Can use it from newborn as well. £150 but got it for £100

@MsHedgehog Im planning on using the pram carrycot. Plan is to use walks to make baby fall asleep.

Also want one of those soft fabric slings for first few weeks, hoping I can borrow off somebody 🤭

Re sleeping, going to put the next to me in the spare bedroom with me and let OH sleep in main bedroom ☺️

I've been looking a lot at baby carriers and slings the past few days, never thought I'd be someone to 'wear' my baby in the house but it seems way easier to get things done! I've found a sling library based by me though so may wait and try some from there as I've seen mixed reviews of so many and I want a stretchy wrap for in the house and a carrier for dog walks so unless I find one with a really good deal I think I'll wait...

@firsttimemomtobex I was really dismissive of baby wearing first time around, I didn't think it was for me. 3 weeks in, OH had been back to work and I couldn't do anything as I couldn't put the baby down, my connecta was ordered on next day delivery. We used it all the time! No sling library near me but I hear they're really great!

I’ve ordered a k’tan sling, and a lillebaby, because it has lumbar support (may return for an ergo baby)

@BoJingle this is what I'm thinking, my partner will only get 2 weeks paternity and a week holiday he's saved so once he goes back to work I think I may need one! I didn't think there would be a sling library in my area so was pleasantly surprised when I found one online! Haven't heard of the Connecta so will have a look into it thankyou ☺

We’re getting a nuna cudl carrier as it will be much easier getting around the city than with a pram. Expensive but luckily in laws want to buy it! Thinking of getting a sling for round the house too. Hopefully our local sling library will be up and running again soon.

Has anyone thought about breast pumps yet? I’m hoping to breastfeed at least for a few months but am loathe to buy an expensive pump in case I have issues with it and it becomes pointless. They seem like a total minefield to me I’ve no idea where to start. Lots of rave reviews about the elvie one but I can’t really afford it unless it’s going to change my life. Lots of good offers on eBay but I don’t know if it’s ok to buy a second hand pump?

@LuckyFlash

We’re getting a nuna cudl carrier as it will be much easier getting around the city than with a pram. Expensive but luckily in laws want to buy it! Thinking of getting a sling for round the house too. Hopefully our local sling library will be up and running again soon.

Has anyone thought about breast pumps yet? I’m hoping to breastfeed at least for a few months but am loathe to buy an expensive pump in case I have issues with it and it becomes pointless. They seem like a total minefield to me I’ve no idea where to start. Lots of rave reviews about the elvie one but I can’t really afford it unless it’s going to change my life. Lots of good offers on eBay but I don’t know if it’s ok to buy a second hand pump?

Just bought an Elvie. Price makes me sick, but re sale value is good if I hate it. As a closed system I think second hand is okay.

Unlike the medals swing:

dispellingbreastfeedingmyths.wordpress.com/2011/08/13/why-you-shouldnt-buy-sell-or-borrow-a-second-hand-medela-swing-pump/

Definitely buy a closed system pump. I bought an ardo for my first baby. Great, but annoying to be plugged in. I'll go for the elvie this time around if baby doesn't want to bf. Last time we did a combination of bf and expressed milk feeding for 9m. Worth waiting until baby is born, imo, as you may not need a pump.

@UnicornAndSparkles

Definitely buy a closed system pump. I bought an ardo for my first baby. Great, but annoying to be plugged in. I'll go for the elvie this time around if baby doesn't want to bf. Last time we did a combination of bf and expressed milk feeding for 9m. Worth waiting until baby is born, imo, as you may not need a pump.

The "elvie pump group unofficial" and "elvie pump tips/support" on Fb are helpful

Hi everyone - I’m due 8th April but worried my baby isn’t moving very much. I didn’t feel any kicks until much later as my placenta is across the top. I called triage yesterday and went into the hospital - they checked heart rate and everything is fine but haven’t felt him much today at all. Is it normal to not feel much movement at almost 27 weeks? Wish he’d kick a bit more so I knew all was well!

@LGrave I am 26w with my second and have a low lying posterior placenta, so its not the way and incidentally exactly where it was last time in my first pg yet I hardly feel this baby compared to my last, its so odd. I just try to tell myself it's a different baby, some are less active but it does play on your mind doesn't it.

@LGrave have you started to get any sort of pattern with movement? I messaged my midwife about this yesterday because I was having a bit of a wobble about movement and she said at this stage it’s still very much a positional thing.

@BoJingle - yes it really does! That is interesting to hear that your baby doesn't move as much as your first. This is my first so I have nothing to compare it to except friends who are pregnant and they have really active babies!

@Rh8781 - no not really. I'm trying to find a pattern but I just don't think there is one. A week or so ago I felt a lot more kicks and they are a lot less frequent and noticeable now. When should a pattern become obvious?

Happy New Year everyone. Hope you all managed some rest over the festive period!

Just catching up on messages and saw some on breast pumps. If you're not sure if you need lne/want to invest, it's worth checking out your local early years centres. They often have closed system pumps that they will lend out, you just have to pay a small fee for the sterile new plastic bits that actually attach to you. I think it cost me about £10 and let me try out pumping before I bought my own. But I was able to keep it as long as I needed it.

@LGrave it’s suggested to start trying to recognise a pattern from 28 weeks, although I have read a few threads on here of women who weren’t able to identify a pattern so it’s not uncommon. It may just be something that happens over the next couple of weeks.
Do you have time in the day to sit quietly for an hour or so to try to feel for movement? I’ve started setting my alarm a little earlier in the morning so I can lie quietly for a bit and feel him moving. Otherwise Im busy all day and I don’t feel like I have a chance.

Also, as my midwife keeps reminding me, they’re still very small and can easily hide away or face the opposite direction so even if they’re moving around you won’t feel it.

Re breast pumps I think my plan is to buy a haakaa now, so at least I've got something I can use to collect from the other breast during feeds - they're so cheap and people seem to rave about them. If post birth I then find I'm needing to pump a lot I might invest in an elvie. Just can't quite bring myself to fork out for it now with the risk it might not get used. Crazy prices. So for now will just do some homework on electric pumps I think. What a minefield...