Due October 2023 - thread 7

[Soda123x]

Hi guys. Another new thread here.
Baby #2 for us. Currently 17wk5. Baby due 24th Oct.
20 week scan on 9th June - planning to not finder out sex. We didn't with our 1st and loved the excitement of not knowing. We literally bought a pack of 6 white babygrows to take to the hospital and then when our DS was born we got loads of boys clothes from family & friends as gifts.
This worked well for us as I felt he did wear everything more than once.
My sis who found out she was having a little girl bought loads of clothes herself and then all the gifts from family too. She felt as though alot of it was wasted either only worn once if at all. Some stuff still had tags on when she took it to the charity shop xx

@Ss32 what's the red book?

I think I am in the market for a new breast pump, I got my old one out and it's covered in these little black flecks, don't know what they are but it's been through the dishwasher twice and they won't come off.

I've more disposable income than I did last time so thinking of getting a more expensive one. Might be worth it if it makes the experience more pleasant!

@OrionNebula me too! Last time round I had a plug in one and hated been tied down while pumping. I did buy a Pipetta hands free in which was ok but quite hit and miss.

I can’t quite stretch to the original Elvie, but am looking at the Elvie stride.

Interested if anyone else has used any really good hands free ones you can just pop in and get on with things.

@OrionNebula oh and red book I guess is the one you record babies stats in like weight, length and their firsts. I don’t think I got mine until I had actually given birth before!

@BeaKind I've been looking at the Elvie and the stride today it can't really work out which would be better

Red book must be a UK thing, don't think they give us anything like that in Ireland.

Was just looking at the Elvie ones, they are pricey but might be worth it. I'm also struggling to figure out the difference between the regular one and the stride, other than price...

Ah yes sorry, the red book is an England thing, not sure about the whole of the UK. Everyone has one and records the baby’s jabs, weight, height etc. I know last time mine came at about 34-36 weeks, seems really early this time!

Im also wanting a hands free pump but the prices make my eyes water! They all seem to have really mixed reviews too so it’s hard to know what’s best! I wasn’t great at pumping last time but really want to try more this time round

@OrionNebula I saw this on Amazon about the Elvie's. I haven't used an Elvie but they look good, I didn't get on with my electric pump last time and ended up using a manual pump. I'm guessing the technology has changed though

What's the difference between Elvie Pump and Elvie Stride?
Elvie Pump is our most advanced breast pump. It provides Elvie's most sophisticated in-bra smart pumping technology. It's smaller, quieter and smarter than Elvie Stride. Being totally tube free, Elvie Pump is the option for ultimate discretion. It offers mums game-changing freedom to move and feel confident pumping anywhere.Elvie Stride offers mums discreet pumping, hands-free movement and smart app features. It also has hospital grade performance. Unlike Elvie Pump, there is a small Hub which sits outside of the bra. This can be clipped to a belt or clothing to keep your hands and body free to move.

@kingfisher168 @Saturnsmoon
I had 11 hours sleep last night thanks to you ladies .... honestly. Thank you for your advice. Only woke up once with sore hips and managed to reposition!
I bought the momcozy m5 pumps after comparison videos on YouTube against Elvie. They were on prime so saved £50!

Thanks @Koalawhala I think if I do drop that much on a breast pump I may as well go for the slightly more expensive one. I do like the idea of it being hands-free.

@katherine123x So glad to hear it helped and you got a good nights sleep!

@Ss32 we also have the red book in Scotland.

but I don’t think they give you it until your baby is born. I’m not sure.

Thanks for the tip on the momcozy breast pump @katherine123x ! I haven't properly researched breast pumps yet but on first glance that sounds like a great option against the more pricey and well-known Elvie. FTM so I might hold off ordering before baby is actually here and I get a sense of whether bf works for us. I really want to bf but I've heard so many different experiences, you never know

I took two breastfeeding classes so far and the advice was to search for options (what pump for what scenario), compile links and once you see what you need, order after the baby is born. I think I'll go with this advice so I don't buy items I won't need. I will buy one bottle just in case so I have something handy in the hospital already should I not be able to breastfeed at all.

Had a 4d scan this morning. Totally worth it in case anyone is on the fence!

@katherine123x ahh fab! I have one booked for when I’m 28 weeks! How far along are you? When I saw him in 4D for a split second at 26 weeks he looked very scary & alien like 😂 x

Is anyone else struggling with intimacy? My sex drive is a lot lower now, but recently my husband turns me down every time I try.
He's so thoughtful, caring and loving in every other way, but it's so hard not to feel rejected - and fat- when this happens.
Part of me is thinking, 'is this it for a while?' But the idea of going for months and months without that closeness is awful.

@Needtobuildabridge my sex drive is still high but finding the energy to be ‘on’ when my partner gets home from work is much harder, especially the bigger I get. His sex driver is lower since pregnancy, I think seeing your wife be knackered, groan about heartburn and be tearful doesn’t exactly inflame the loins-he’s incredibly caring but I don’t think that would work for me either to be fair (plus I think a lot of men spend the pregnancy worrying about their partner and money etc so the stress doesn’t help)! so we make time for non sexual intimacy with no pressure for it to escalate and that’s naturally helped a lot. Babymoon has also been a winner for romance and us time away from the stress of home and work, and I now take ten mins every morning when we get up where I get rid of the pregnancy pillow so we can just cuddle and be close and all of that has led to more sex without scheduling. Hope that helps!

Has anyone started thinking about childcare yet or is it too early? I'm not sure how crazy waiting lists are 🙈 I'm not taking the full mat leave year off so very conscious that by this time next year we'll have to have found a solution

@LaVitesse2022 yes we have, not sure if it differs in each area of the country but I was warned by multiple friends look at nursery and get baby's name down before they are born! I am planning to take the full year so looking at nursery's from October 2024 and none of them have batted an eye lid as us looking now and said they will register him before he's here. Feels very odd but I will be happy to have something sorted.

Oh that's good to hear, @Sagittarius25 I thought I was getting too ahead of myself but seems like it's sensible to start thinking about this sooner rather than later. I'd prefer a childminder for the first year or so I think, so I'll probably need to start getting in touch. Tricky thing is we'll eventually move after baby turns one so that complicates search as don't know exactly where we'll be moving to yet

@Needtobuildabridge my sex drive was high during the second trimester but has reduced now. Having the baby kicking while doing the deed is weird, I think next time we do something is closer to the due date to induce labour!! 😁

@LaVitesse2022 I have looked at the websites of near by nurseries but not seeing any yet. I'll wait for for the beginning of 2024. I refuse seeing nurseries before baby is here! I will need a place in September, which is the beginning of academic year, and easier than needing a place earlier/in the middle of the year.

I wanted to book in for June 2024 but ours has no space until September 2024! I booked it from 16 weeks, I think it’s very dependant on your area

I'm struggling with the sexual side of intimacy as she is moving so constantly and it sort of snaps me out of the mood when I can feel her, if that makes sense?

Perhaps I'll get used to it but if not, I'm not going to put pressure on myself or do anything I'm not comfortable with.

My partner is great and happy with whatever feels good for both of us, so no pressure from him either way. As it should be!

@katherine123x ah great, got mine on Wednesday, really excited about it now!

As far as childcare goes, I am taking the full year this time and have had baby down at 2 nurseries since I was 9 weeks pregnant! Sounds mental I know but I'm in Ireland (Dublin) and that's the way it is here. One place I asked at around that time was already fully booked for 2023 and 2024!

I meant when I saw him for a split second at 16 weeks here - not 26!!