Due December 2022 thread 3

[AG96]

Starting a new thread due to last one being full. Such a valuable place to share our journey! Not going to tag anyone in case they don't want to be tagged.

Marching towards or in the beginning of the second trimester!

@stuntbubbles Sorry to hear you're still feeling very ill. Hope your scan goes well and you enjoy seeing baby x

Has anyone looked at any prams/travel systems? Think I'm going to go this weekend and have a look at some. Not going to get anything yet but wanting to have a look at how heavy things are, how they fold down, how they feel to push etc. Never pushed a pram in my life so no clue what to look for! I only have a vw polo so needs to fit in a smaller size boot

@AG96 I have a Silver Cross Pioneer with larger wheels and it's rubbish 😂. Not good for off roading (or even on roading!) despite its claims. I think you pay for the name Silver Cross, not necessarily the quality!! Bugaboo tend to be much sturdier. My daughter is 21 months now and I think we gave up on the travel system when she turned 1 and I use our stroller now 95% of the time.

I need to get a double pram but just looking for something cheap and cheerful this time 😂.

Thanks, @AG96! After being berated for a too-full bladder at last week’s scan, this week it wasn’t full enough But I think pure dehydration from yesterday’s vom fest: the midwife taking my bloods had a helluva time locating a vein, had to try about three and the first time she managed, nothing came out!

But the baby has grown and was wriggling away, new official due date of New Year’s Eve - so Christmas Eve if I have another section! And an anterior placenta apparently, so no early kicks for me.

Pram-wise we have the BabyZen Yo-yo which is TINY and lightweight so great for small car boots, narrow hallways, folding up on the train, navigating on the bus or crowded cafes, but DD did grow out of both the newborn attachment and the pram relatively quickly, and there’s not a lot of room underneath for shopping or kit.

@Chanel05 Yeah the silver cross stuff is absolutely gorgeous but you have confirmed the things I've read online. I also don't want to spend loads of money. Probably £600 max but would prefer to be closer to £400 for the whole travel system thing.

I will look into bugaboo thank you 😊 I'm not opposed to looking for a secondhand bargain (obviously not with car seat)

@stuntbubbles I know the blood test pain so feel for you! Its so rare they get mine first time, I have no veins even when not dehydrated. Think it's because my eczema makes my skin all gross. So glad to hear baby was wriggling away and sounds like the best Christmas present!

Will look into that pram as I would be into something lightweight and compact. As I've said earlier, small house so not much storage. Thank you 😊

@Chanel05 where abouts are you? I have an old double buggy that has 2 seats and a carry cot with it. Don't need it anymore as got a double pushchair now DS is sitting up unaided. DD still won't be walking everywhere (especially if we're out for a long time) so baby will be in the sling to start with).

@AG96 we had a look in John Lewis but the prices were horrific so we’re keeping our eye on Facebook marketplace.

Just got the crib for £30 secondhand. And I got a load of maternity dresses for a couple of £ each secondhand too 😆 bargain hunter!

We got a SilverCross second hand (not the car seat, we got a Joie 360 which she's still in at 2y 4m and we've loved it! We used our pram 3 times and have only ever used our carrier other than that 😄 apparently I hate prams. My daughter calls them trolleys 😂

If anyone is looking at carriers/ slings there is a great Facebook group called Babywearing UK. My carrier has lasted from when she was tiny and is still going with her on my back!

I'm in Essex! Where are you? I'm looking second hand to be honest!

@DogsAndGin Gotta love a bargain! I've been keeping an eye on Facebook marketplace but have no idea which to look out for or which I want. Looking forward to seeing some in person this weekend. Hopefully I can make a choice and snap up a bargain somewhere 😂 we might be getting a crib from my auntie, it's been used for every baby in the family for nearly 40 years but also we love the Ikea Myllra crib so not sure yet

@lovest thank you for the recommendation! Just seen a silver cross on FB locally so might have to snap it up!

Does anyone know yet when they plan to start maternity leave? Do people normally have a week or two off before the due date?

It feels too early yet to think about it but the notification of mat leave form I have to fill in for work asks for mat leave start date. Obviously subject to change if baby appears earlier than expected!

@Nutella99 my due date is the 5th and plan on finishing at the beginning of November. Either 4/11/22 or 11/11/22. If I was still working in an office environment I'd probably try for 2 weeks before but I'm in a factory and no idea how I'll carry on when I'm big. The back ache now is awful, I sit at a bench and make electronics

@Nutella99 I just booked mine! Baby due 31 Dec and our office closes over Christmas new year anyway, so I’m taking two weeks annual leave ahead of that and finishing on 8 December when I’ll be around 36 weeks, but my actually maternity leave starting gun won’t start til due date/baby makes an appearance.

Last time I definitely was finding it tough by 36 weeks and couldn’t have gone beyond 38. I recommend using annual leave first rather than maternity leave – you want your mat leave to start as late as possible to go on as long as possible, if that makes sense!

This time I’ll be doing 39 weeks then tagging annual leave on the end for a “handover period” during DP’s takeover, as he’s doing 39-52 weeks. Thankfully I only work 3 days and the Christmas timing means I’ll only be back at work about 6 weeks, part time, between finishing maternity and having a break again! Already dreading going back and I haven’t even left 😂 Had an informal HR chat about it all today and she started talking about KIT days and I just said “I’ll stop you there, there’ll be none of that.”

@stuntbubbles will they book you in for a section on Christmas Eve? I know they don't do past the 23rd here but that might vary from place to place!

I'm going to the Next outlet store next week to see if I can pick up some cute bits for the nursery 😍Excited to start shopping...!

Can someone talk to me about car seats? I tried to research them but the baby brain has been no help.

I want something highly rated, with an isofix or seatbelt option to install (so I can take it out of my car and give it to my mam if she's minding my boy). I hear Joie were the best but then my friend's one can't be taken out of the car, so that's no good to me. I was looking at full travel systems from other brands, but then was told that the car seats in them are not thoroughly safety tested (brands like Cosatto and Infababy). It's a minefield! Can anyone just tell me what ones are good to buy? This has been trying to learn a new language while being permanently hungover!

@Nutella99 this is my second baby and I stay at home with my toddler now but when I went on mat leave I started it at exactly 39 weeks and went into labour at 40+1. A week really was enough time for me and I was very aware that first babies are often overdue!

My friend went off a number of weeks earlier and went to 42 weeks! She was going stir crazy.

I'm due on the 7th of December, and I think I'm going to try and hold out until the 28th of November, provided I can WFH.

@LolaJ87 Don’t know, tbh! And we’re moving house so switching trusts halfway through which will be a faff. I suppose it all depends on whether they’d rather do a section earlier than 39 weeks, or risk getting closer to 40 and me going into labour and having to have a rush job. I didn’t consider any of this when TTC because… I was deep in the madness of TTC!

Baby is due 3rd December, I’ll be finishing at October half term (18th Oct) and using my holidays to then hopefully start mat leave when baby arrives. Our holiday year runs September - August so I’ll use my whole allowance with a view to returning (if I decide to come back to this job, which is looking unlikely right now) for the start of the new school year.

@stuntbubbles I think they will do it from 38 weeks! Sure you have LOADS of time to figure it out / ask what the policy is. I think they prefer to discharge people before Christmas day where possible. My friend had a December baby by c-section last year so that's where I'm getting my info from 😁

@LolaJ87 if you’re on Facebook I’d really recommend joining the Car Seat Advice UK group, I’ve always found their information really helpful. Personally I’ve never used isofix past the infant carrier stage for DS, as long as the seat is fitted correctly installing with the seatbelt is just as safe as isofix. We’ll be getting a new infant carrier with isofix base (one of the Maxi Cosi ones) and then using the Joie Stages we already have from DS once they’ve grown out of the infant carrier. We also have the Axkid Move which will be used in DH’s van once baby is big enough.

@StarveInn I did join that group as it was recommended elsewhere - but my post in the group wasn't approved and it seems to be under a new admin recently? I had a good read through the recent posts in the group but found it hard to know what age groups people were asking about because sometimes just the model name or length of the baby in centimetres was used and it was just.... 😳

@StarveInn sorry I should have said thanks so much for your advice as well😁

We had a silver cross pioneer with 2 of mine, don’t rate it. Had an icandy with my eldest and loved that. No idea what I’ll go for this time going to have a look about. Always bought new but going to go second hand this time as you can pick them up in good condition for half the price. I already have a double pram too it’s a maxi cosi Dana for2 which I’ve found good so will use that this time too.

Car seats I’ve always gone for maxi cosi as the baby one as they fit on most travel systems till they outgrow that as it’s useful when they’re asleep and your nipping in and out the car to pop on the chassis of the pram. Then I’ve got one that spins for my youngest atm and 2 cybex ones for my older 2.

I’m due 28th December but they plan to section at 38weeks this time as it’ll be my 4th (and last) section and I had complications last time so I’m more high risk than I have been before so will probably go off on Mat leave beginning of December and take the full year with annual leave tagged on the start and end.

I wish I didn’t feel pregnant sometimes ha I look like a baby hippo 👀

@LolaJ87 we've only had Joies but I absolutely hate the care s'est minefield so I feel your pain! We have a Joie 360 which has been amazing but it's isofix and not one you'd want for taking in and out of the car. We also have another Joie stages I think? That one is just seatbelt but not sure if it's from new born as we got it later so worth checking. I think we'll just stick with Joie forever now lol as they've been great, not too expensive and I think well safety checked. Sorry that's all the info I have! But Joie is a good brand which isn't crazy expensive and lots of different seats for different needs I think.

I would direct you to one of the car seat Facebook groups but it might not help, I hate them 😂 but they are there if you think you might find them helpful. You can search posts to see if others have asked similar questions. I think Car Seat Advice UK is one of them! You'll find one, don't worry.

Maybe worth getting one for your car that's more permanent but easy for you and then another one for your mums car that is easier to take out?

Wow sorry that was long!