Page 9 | March 2024 second trimester onwards

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Thwam · 30/11/2023 18:03

@gentlemum you absolutely did the right thing and should never have been made to feel like that. At my last appointment with my midwife (22 weeks) she said that anything unusual at all from now on with the movements then to get in contact and get checked out. You know your baby! Don’t let this put you off getting checked again if you think something isn’t right.

Ellora610 · 30/11/2023 18:29

@gentlemum I agree with the others, follow your gut and don't let anyone make you feel like you're making a fuss! It's so unfair that you didn't get the reassurance you needed last time, hopefully the next visit will be better. Glad movements have returned to normal 💜
I wonder if we live in the same Trust area though... I've had similar experiences. I know the NHS is struggling but care, compassion and reassurance cost nothing ☹️ x

Thwam · 02/12/2023 07:41

It is really lovely now we are visibly pregnant getting smiles from strangers. I’m really enjoying the second trimester!

Retrogamer · 03/12/2023 18:25

Has anyone made a decision about when to take maternity leave? I want to leave at 36 weeks. I work on my feet and a lot of bending and stretching is involved. Not able to work sat down. I work 4 days a week but by the third day I am in so much pain by the end of my shift, I can barely walk and getting 'tightenings' if I overdo it. I never had with with my son and tbh I'm feeling quite a failure for not being able to keep up this time round.
I'm musing the idea of leaving a bit earlier. I have until the 15th to decide what to do, currently 23 weeks.
On a positive note, it's so nice feeling movements now.

SJ456 · 03/12/2023 18:48

Retrogamer · 03/12/2023 18:25

Has anyone made a decision about when to take maternity leave? I want to leave at 36 weeks. I work on my feet and a lot of bending and stretching is involved. Not able to work sat down. I work 4 days a week but by the third day I am in so much pain by the end of my shift, I can barely walk and getting 'tightenings' if I overdo it. I never had with with my son and tbh I'm feeling quite a failure for not being able to keep up this time round.
I'm musing the idea of leaving a bit earlier. I have until the 15th to decide what to do, currently 23 weeks.
On a positive note, it's so nice feeling movements now.

I am going at 38 weeks but have 2 weeks of annual leave saved up so technically from 36 week! I’m the same as you and very on my feet and struggle doing my week (still first time as my first).

Have you got any annual leave to make your working weeks shorter?

Retrogamer · 03/12/2023 19:09

@SJ456 that sounds like a good plan!

I wish I could take some leave beforehand but I don't have any left. I'll see how this week or so goes before the qualifying deadline.

SJ456 · 03/12/2023 19:49

Retrogamer · 03/12/2023 19:09

@SJ456 that sounds like a good plan!

I wish I could take some leave beforehand but I don't have any left. I'll see how this week or so goes before the qualifying deadline.

Could your work accommodate working from home a little instead? I spoke to my HR and used my pregnancy risk assessment to get 1 day a week wfh which really has helped

it’s so difficult when you haven’t got the leave etc (we work weekends so get days back to use in the week and I saved these up to help reduce my working week once 30 weeks)

easier said than done but try and take it easy! If you need to take from 36 weeks then please do so :)

Retrogamer · 03/12/2023 20:44

@SJ456 ah, I work in retail so wfh isn't possible. I will however ask if I can maybe be assigned less mobile tasks. I think that might be the way forward 🤞

Thwam · 04/12/2023 09:15

Sorry to change the topic, but we are stuck with which car seat to get! We’ve decided on maxi cosi, but not sure which one. I like the pebble 360 pro, but for the same price you could get the one that does newborn to 4yo. The compromise being you can’t lift the baby out of the car in the car seat. What have other people decided?

KatY9876 · 04/12/2023 11:36

@Thwam we have bought the maxi cosi 360 pebble pro. For us we liked the slide function of car seat so I don't need to lean in the car and felt we wanted to be able to move her without disturbing too much and being able to get her out the cold quickly.

Puddle13 · 04/12/2023 12:25

@Thwam we were between the maxi cosi pebble and the cybex cloud T. we decided to get the Cybex cloud T. It is on the which best buy and has great safety ratings. It has additional side safety in the seat and whilst it doesn’t have the additional slide function that the maxi does (which I really liked), it does still have 360 spin. Also I liked the fact that it had a higher age range (0-24 months) and you can attach it to the pram which a newborn to 4 car seat can’t. I know the ages ranges depend on the size of your child but neither me or my husband are tall so I’m not concerned that the baby will outgrow the car seat quickly.

glasspaw · 04/12/2023 13:10

We have a cyber cloud z from our first and it’s brilliant. The T is the upgraded version I think. The rotate function has been so helpful.

Psmama22 · 04/12/2023 17:35

I have the pebble 360 from my first baby and I can only say the ability to life them out and put the car seat on the buggy was a godsend for nipping into the shop etc and keeping them asleep! We got the Joie 360 from 12 months which is also brilliant

Allaboard209 · 04/12/2023 18:33

Also got the Pebble 360 Pro, and speaking to the shop expert, the safety features on it are all inbuilt, so you don't have to worry about forgetting to open up the extra tabs like on the Cybex T. Both are great options for newborns and prevent the neck slump issues that more up right car seats can have at an early age. Also liked that can plug the pebble 360 onto the pram, so it pretty much works like a Doona in that the baby doesn't need to be disturbed from the car seat if asleep for quick trips.

LeopardLover · 04/12/2023 21:55

I have the pebble... Not 360! I wish I had this 😭 hoping to win a 360 version, they are so convenient!

Thwam · 05/12/2023 07:31

Thank you everyone! I think we’ll go for the pebble 360! We had a look at the cybex too, but I agree @Allaboard209 that I didn’t like that you had to pull out the side safety. I have lots of friends with the cybex though who love it. We went to a John Lewis appointment and they were very clear that they were all as safe as each other it just depends on the features that you like.

SJ456 · 07/12/2023 17:14

Hi

How did people decide on prams/travel systems and car seats? There are just so many to chose from!

Puddle13 · 07/12/2023 17:32

We decided on the Nuna Triv, but didn’t get a nuna car seat with it. The bassinet adaptors also let you stick whatever car seat you want on to the pram.

We went with the Triv because it more compact than other big prams and I live in London. A lot of my husband’s friends who have kids recommended it.

KatY9876 · 07/12/2023 20:18

@SJ456 if you have a John Lewis near you, you can book a appointment to view prams and car seats and get some advice. They also give you a voucher 10% off if spending over £1000. Or 15% off if over £1500. We found it very useful. X

Hopefulhoney6 · 09/12/2023 21:03

We did the same with John Lewis - meant the Uppa baby vista + cybex T 360 was £1100 all in which was good.

My sister had the pebble 360 and her baby hated it, but I think that was just because he had reflux. She stopped using it at 4 months (he was also very big and felt quite squished in it!!) and then went straight to the Pearl 360. So the pebble got limited use, because up to 4/6 weeks they’re only allowed in the car seat for 30 minutes at a time (if you follow the rules!). Although she did say the carry handle on the pebble was useful for leaving hospital and occasional trips to the shops etc in the early days). she lives in London so doesn’t drive that many places…..!).

Thwam · 10/12/2023 07:15

We also did the John Lewis appointment. Useful if you have a rough idea of what you’d like first. You are also not committed to buying from them. We will get the uppa baby vista and maxi cosi 360 pro. Most of my friends have the vista so I have used it out and about.

LeopardLover · 10/12/2023 10:40

@SJ456 Recommendations and research 🤓 I've had a fair few prams because this is baby #2 and I love prams ha ha. I've gone for the Bugaboo Dragonfly this time because I live in a city and the streets are narrow. If I had a bigger car and wider streets I'd get the Bugaboo Fox. I also have the Silver Cross Wave but it's just so big and bulky (but I preferred it to the Ocarro).

Psmama22 · 10/12/2023 18:11

My sister had the Uppababy Vista 2 and I loved how easy it was to push and how big the basket was so it was the only one I considered really! Two years on and delighted with it.

Caroline88Cici · 12/12/2023 23:25

Got my birthing ball pumped up at last, got a BabyGo one with the book. 26 weeks today, I plan to exercise with it throughout my third trimester, hopefully use it in labour, and post-partum recovery afterwards.

This is my first. Did any of you use a birthing ball in previous pregnancies? If so did your hospital let you take it and use it while in labour?

glasspaw · 13/12/2023 07:07

Most hospitals actually have them so it’s not necessary to take yours (they aren’t the easiest to transport!) but I used it loads in third trimester and planned to use it in early labour (that didn’t work out though because I ended up getting admitted at 36 weeks).

check with your midwife team about the facilities at your chosen birth place. For me I know both the hospital and birth centre have them locally but if they didn’t I’d have taken it :)