Due January 2024, Part 7!

[RG9895]

Thought better make a new one!

I'm feeling huge since I hit 24 weeks! Even everyone at work said I look like I've grown over the weekend. Also noticed movements are getting much stronger and I felt a kick way above my belly button a couple of days ago so he's definitely moved up/got bigger I think!! Also getting a lot more aches and pains in my pelvis and tummy muscles.

We've got a pram, car seat and bedside crib sorted. Am I missing any big essentials? I know feeding stuff and clothes. Can't help but think I'm missing something obvious. 😅

I’m in the same boat re deciding whether to get formula as I intend to breastfeed if I can.

My thought was to take a few of the ready prepped bottles of formula to the hospital just in case I struggle but I don’t want to be tempted to give up at the first hurdle if it’s not straightforward.

Also planning to breastfeed for the first 6 months here with expressing so DH can do some night feeds. Think we'll just pack some of the ready made formula in hospital bag just incase.
Whilst we're on the topic - does anyone have any electric or manual recommendations?

@Flossiepot I’m thinking the same as you. My friend has been using an electric pump she got from amazon, I’ll try to find the link. I’m definitely going to get a Haakaa one as well!

Just looked for the link but they’re currently unavailable - she said it was cheap and has worked really well though!

I’m also feeling bigger now but it’s funny how people perceive how big/small you are so differently. Saw my auntie on the weekend who said she thought I’d be bigger. Then someone at work today said “God you’re just getting bigger and bigger by the day” 🙃

Oooh perfect @sashastuck I'll get that saved to look into. I was hoping to get away with the £30 elvie manual one but reading online I'm not sure how well it would work using on its own 🙈
Everything is so bloody expensive!!

I had a haakaa last time and regularly caught 2oz from my other boob each feed!

Is the Haakaa a manual one?

@sashastuck yeah i keep getting told i'm looking so neat for how far along i am, but some days I feel massive! Looking at the pics online and in the fb group i think i'm just average!

I'm getting a Hakka as well for catching let down, and at the mo my friend is giving me a manual and a single electric tommy tipee pump that she didn't use, so i'll try those for a bit, though those amazon hands free ones seem a great idea and if i need to express more i'll probably give one of those a try as well!

The momcozy is always highly recommended on TikTok. I have no experience though. Some women can’t express, it literally doesn’t work for them.
Also, just on the Hakaa front. It takes let down only, so not fatty milk, so the milk you get from it shouldn’t be used to replace a breastfeed. Also known to cause an oversupply as uses suction to stimulate, they aren’t like shells which purely catch.
my friend is using her Hakaa to get rid of the foremilk as baby isn’t feeding long enough to get the fattier milk, but only once a day as has a huge supply already.

in primark at the moment they have Long sleeve pjs in varying colours with button down shirt, I’ve just got some for post baby in hospital bag. £15 for a set.

Just want to echo what @Mummyme87 has said regarding milk. And recommend milkmakingmama on IG https://instagram.com/milkmakingmama - really informative and easy to digest posts.

I so need to get to primark, wanna get my Undies from there too for my bags

@Kalodin I bought some big knickers today just for now 😝

Hahaha I've got enough for now @Mummyme87 😂 wanna get even more!

@Mummyme87 @Kalodin i'm loving the maternity knickers, they are so comfy! I wish i could wear them all the time, i love high up leggings/knickers... none of this low down nonsense!

Good tip re primark i'll need to get some as well! my sister is up in a few weeks so maybe we can shop.... and thanks for that link @Kalodin i've followed, useful to have pages like that, as there's so much information out there!

Big knickers for the win @suz2285

my friend/colleague has an insta page which is mainly re infant feeding/norms etc but also a bit around sleep norms. Olivialactationconsultant or something like that

I love her content, so helpful and down to earth. Unfortunately I didn't find it until I had already stopped breastfeeding my first, a lot earlier than I wanted. I feel better prepared this time round so am hoping I can breastfeed for longer.

Literally just seen this online if it applies to anyone!

I'm planning to breast feed. Really struggled last time and ended up expressing for 6 months with a manual pump (fully dont recommend as I ended up with rsi in both thumbs) my parents have bought me an electric pump this time as a back up as my supply never truly built up so ds had a formula feed at least once a day.

We've been given so much clothing (a lot is stuff ds had and I've passed on and couins/friends have passed back, so had a few tears while washing that) took ds shopping at the weekend to buy his baby brother some clothes from him... not surprising dinosaurs and zoo animals 🤣

Had all my gap scan appointments through yesterday. My 28 week apt is followed by a consultant session too. I'm actually on a school trip that day, anyone got any experience with how accommodating units are for those instances?

Not sure who it was that asked, but I used tescos pads after birth and they were really good.

Also feeling absolutely huge. Plus am ravenous the entire time. I eat, and then within half an hour I feel weak and lightheaded and desperate for food again. Anyone else having similar experiences?

I'm planning on breast feeding and pumping as DH would love to be a part of it.

I kind of feel like we went too early buying things and we are due our nursery furniture delivery this weekend!!! 🫣🫣

Got my 25 week midwife appointment tomorrow morning. Anyone else just suffer mildly with appointment anxiety? I'm not too worried but I know tomorrow I'll be fretting about my BP and urine and everything 🤣

Anybody had a pin prick veiney type red rash on their breasts?

Great news on the 24 week milestone @Redpanda21 hope the stitch continues to be strong 💪🏻
I still can’t believe I’m 26 weeks on Friday. Midwife went well, heard heartbeat and everything is absolutely fine so that’s a relief

Got a few packs of the pads @Mummyme87 as they are half price at the moment.

Well our baba won’t have her own nursery unfortunately, we are in a 4 bed house but have a 18 year old daughter and 16 year old son and then our nearly 3 year old and his room probably won’t be big enough to share. So we have a kind of dressing room off our bedroom, it has a window and leads to the en-suite, I’m going to have the cot in there and get some prints for the wall.
Im getting a silver cross pushchair off Facebook. Going to get a tutti bambino next to me as our chicco one is probably worse for wear from use and moving. I’ve got a Moses basket for downstairs and a bath support and I’ve got enough clothes for the first 3 if not more months so really I don’t think I need that much. I breastfed all of mine and I’m still letting my ds nurse before bed so not going to buy any bottles etc as it’s just a waste of money. Was way more organised with my ds but it was lockdown so trying to not feel bad

I@Dannic2018 I just bought another pack of the boots pads, have been half price for a while so just get a pack every now and then. Lao really rate the tutti bambini cosleeper.

i have a cot that I got my ikea but my boys never really slept in it. Won’t bother setting it up this time. My youngest more or less went from cosleeper to toddler

@Dannic2018 not myself with a stitch x

My next to me and the proper cot were only used as a bed guard as DD coslept 😂 i’ll set the next to me up again but I’m secretly hoping for another baby that won’t sleep in a cot as I just love the closeness. I love once they get to 6ish months and they wake you up with their warm little hands on your face. Toddler still does it now on the odd night I end up in with her during the night but it’s less cute when it is immediately followed by demands for breakfast 🙄

@PartRadish glad to hear stitch is holding. Hopefully it will do it's job for many more weeks.

I think I've most bigger stuff ready for him. Only thing im struggling to find is a mattress for the cot. Mattresses that say they are for 60x120 cot are too small. Was thinking of getting a small co sleeper but got a crib that can be turned into co sleeper so it's handy, well if i can sort the mattress out.
Hoping to get most of the clothes for him on my trip to ireland soon.
Im surprised the nesting hasn't hit me yet but i think it's because im worrying about the long trip, then wedding and to sort the house out so we could move back.