First Time Mom's - Due March/April 2013

[linzylou]

I'm sitting at my second 3-hr GTT (which is actually going really well) so this response will be short but a few quick things:

Alex, I'm so relieved that you liked your class. Mine starts Monday and I'm mostly excited but a little nervous so that was encouraging.

Laura, I would definitely recommend an exercise ball. I have one and love it!! It makes my hips and back feel so much better.

I'll write a better response when I'm back at home on my computer.

 

[doggylover]

alex for all the furniture! Can't wait to see it all up and looking lovely! I'm glad your nct class went well, and lol at the whale music comment!! glad there was none of that. I hadn't even thought about how hard it must be for you being a neonatal nurse (I'm not sure if that's the right term?) and thinking about your own labour. So I'm glad that it was able to relieve some of your worries and fears in that respect as well. Sounds like a good session all round! Well apart from the after effects of your dreams and trying to pull dh's head off! the poor mine! Mine would never let me live that down! Generally my mum and I get on great, but I am starting to worry that when the baby comes my views on things might be a lot different than she thinks. Just a couple of bits and bobs she's mentioned (casually in relation to totally other people/things) recently have made me wonder...

laura apparently all bosses are idiots lol! I'm so sorry you are having so much pain. Definitely speak to yur midwife ASAP, as I know they can give you a type of belt thing to wear to try and relieve the pain. And there is me moaning about my slightly sore back when you are hopping around trying to kick your shoes off (sorry, that bit did make me laugh!) and in agony. I wish I could suggest something to help...long baths maybe? Nice and tepid of course damn pregnancy! And yep the my3 is apparently also made by quinny - it's basically an own brand version of the buzz! So me (being the cheapskate that I am!) went for it as they are so similar, but the my3 is much cheaper!

hayley nope you are definitely not panicking or over-reacting about not having had a c section discussion yet. I would phone them ASAP, even if its just to get the ball rolling and put the idea in their minds and, more importantly, in your notes! I think I use the pregnancy excuse too often and dh has become immune for things like "get me a drink. I'm pregnant" so dh will still give me no sympathy about my back!

lauren your work situation sounds like a total pain. At least all I had to do was Facebook a few people I know and tell them if they want my job to send a CV to the school, and get a few numbers. Luckily teaching is so generic that as long as I get someone in the same subject (geography) it'll take me less than a day to sort them out with what's happening. Whereas it sounds like your situation is a total nightmare. I totally agree that you shouldn't even think about training anyone, or helping out, after you start maternity. You've offered to sort it, that's been rejected, unfortunately your poor colleague is going to suffer because of it. What a mess...

Afm, so glad it's Friday (even though, yes, I only worked two days this week!) no idea how I'm going to make it through the next 9 weeks! If the next 45 days drag like today did I will be begging them to let me go sooner!!!

 

[LiverpoolLass]

Lauren & Alex - I'm going to the baby and toddler show too! I can't not, given that its just down the road! I'm quite excited!!

Alex - I'm glad your class went well! And I have been talking about the same fears with my cousin who is visiting from Gibraltar atm - she has no kids and we were talking about me becoming a Mummy, I didn't mean to but all these thoughts just came pouring out of me about how terrified I am that I'll turn into a dull "Mummy" type who never talks or thinks about anything non-child related and that I'll stop having anything in common with my non-Mummy friends!!
I felt better after talking to her about it too... the old BT ads were right, its definitely good to talk! hehe.

Sarah - Thanks! I called the midwife today and chased it up. She said its because the consultant has been off for the holidays basically since the middle of december! So she said I should be getting an appointment through within the next week or so. *fingers crossed*

Laura - Aww, well I hope you enjoy it. Do share your pics with us! I'm dying to see what baby looks like at this stage! (I made the mistake of google imaging it once - won't be doing THAT again in a hurry.)

 

[doggylover]

Oh so sorry to disturb the consultant from their huge holiday, probably rolling round in all the insane money they make glad to hear the wheels are in motion!

 

[LiverpoolLass]

Oh so sorry to disturb the consultant from their huge holiday, probably rolling round in all the insane money they make glad to hear the wheels are in motion!

Lmao!! My thoughts exactly

 

[I Love Lucy]

Sarah, I would be so annoyed if my mother continued to buy me disposable diapers after I have told her I'm using cloth. I would seriously donate them somewhere and then tell my mom that's what I did with them. Maybe she would get the hint then? SIL gave me some formula even though I'm breastfeeding (I think she did this because it's not the brand of formula she used and doesn't want it sitting at her house) and I intend to donate that myself. Sure breastfeeding might not work out and I may need formual but I don't want to have formula sitting around my house as if it's not going to work out. Someone will get use out of it, it's just not going to be me.

My DH is similar to yours with the massage. Usually he rubs so hard that it hurts so I basically ask him to stop since he's not helping anything or if he isn't hurting me he repeatedly asks me if he had massaged long enough. I think he purposely makes giving me a massage unenjoyable so that I won't ask him to do it.

Lindsey I plan to set up the glider and dresser on the same wall and basically use the dresser top as an end table. Then on the other wall I plan to have a bookcase for books and other storage and the crib/changer next to that. This will make more sense once I have pictures. The painting should be done Sunday so once my vacuum arrives (I ordered a Dyson since my other cheapo vacuum decided to stop working) I'll get the room cleaned up and start putting stuff together so y'all will have a better idea of what I'm talking about.

As for the breastpump, I found the one I mentioned for $119 on Amazon so not bad at all. It was also recommended to me by a few ladies on here who said it is just as good as the Medela but way better priced. I'm planning to order my pump next week so I'll have it. I'm excited to mess around with it.

Glad your GTT is going much better today. Hopefully your results come back normal too.

Lauren we seem to be having the same kind of pains. Mainly just pain in my hips like round ligament pain and sometimes pains right below my bump. I don't think I've had any BH though.

Alex so glad your first NCT class went so well.

at your dream. I remember one night I was trying to get my DH out of bed because I wanted him to go exercise. I'm assuming I was dreaming about my own exercise routine. I don't know how my DH functions on the little sleep he does manage to get.

What all arrived for you today? My baby's dresser arrived this morning and I have the rest of my cloth diaper stuff + plus a few things for me coming.

 

[doggylover]

Oh Brittany yet again I'm jealous of your cloth stash! What are you getting today? I really, seriously, need to order some wraps soon! I have some preloved but they are in pretty rubbish shape. I'm also debating whether or not I need to buy some newborn (I only have size 1s at the minute) so you never know, all those disposables my mum is buying might come in handy if baby is tiny (Not that he/she will be. I'm expecting a brute)
Interesting to read the set up for your nursery - I had planned to put my feeding chair in one corner, and just reading yours made me realise I won't have anything next to it to set things (like a glass of water etc) onto, so I may have to rethink and reshuffle a little bit. I obviously never discussed my furniture placement with DH as he asked me something last week, and I couldn't understand why he thought we would put the cot in that location! Turns out I had it all planned in my head but forgot to share!

So my hospital gives out DVDs instead of doing a hospital tour. One is one pain relief, and the other is showing you round the place. The pain relief one has scared me witless!! All these women telling HORRIR STORIES basically. They all said "this worked well for me...and this didn't" but their stories of what didn't work all conflicted, so one woman is saying she hated the epidural, another is saying it's a godsend and gas and air is the devil...how am I supposed to know what is going to work for me!?

Has anyone actually written their birth plan yet? I'm thinking mine will be along the lines of
(If possible)
- Stay at home during early stages and use TENS and bath/shower
- At hospital try and stay as active as possible and continue with TENS for as long as I can
- Gas and air when needed
- If needed remifentinal (sp?)
- If needed epidural
- If needed C-section

I'd prefer to steer clear of the last 3 but my pain threshold is low, and you never know what might happen. I'm not too worried about labour at the minute, the only thing that DOES worry me is the lack of knowing what's going to happen. I'm a big planner, and I very much need to know the schedule. This is the ultimate in NOT knowing!

I did read the following in a pregnancy book which I'm hoping I can use as my mantra during labour:
"If you go for a run, or lift a heavy box, your muscles will not work beyond their limit. They will ache and you will feel pain, but the muscles will stop this before damage is done, and you are pushed beyond what you can handle. Labour is the same. The muscles during contractions will work hard, and push you to your limit - but your body knows what it can handle, and it will never push you further than that. Your muscles will stop before damage is done, and you are pushed beyond what you can handle."

A nice thought...let's see how that works in practice when I'm screaming for the epidural!

 

[I Love Lucy]

Sarah, I ordered 6 prefold diapers, 3 more of the Kissaluvs fitted diapers, 2 diaper covers, and some Earth Mama Angel Baby Organic Heartburn tea and Peaceful Mama tea for myself. I'm officially finished with my cloth diaper stash with the exception of the diaper sprayer, disposable liners, and wet bags which my SIL has asked to give as a gift. I put everything that I have in spoiler tags if you want to see. Some of the diapers are for when Aiden is older so I won't be using everything right away. I have about 25 diapers that will start out at 5-6 lbs (I'm guessing Aiden will be 6-7 lbs based on what DH and I weighed when we were born) which should be plenty for doing laundry every other day. I really can't wait until Aiden is here so I can actually use this stuff.

Spoiler

3 Grovia Newborn AIO Cloth Diapers (5-12 lbs)
7 Kissaluvs Cotton Fleece Fitted Diaper (5-15 lbs)
3 Sweet Pea Indian Cotton Prefolds (6-10 lbs)
3 Grovia Prefolds (Size 1)
2 OsoCozy AIO cloth diapers (6-18 lbs)
4 Thirsties Duo AIO snap cloth diapers (6-18 lbs)
3 Rumparooz OS Pocket diaper (6-35 lbs)
4 bumGenius OS Pocket diaper (7-35 lbs)
3 Happy Heiny's OS Pocket Diaper (8-35 lbs)
1 Blueberry OS Pocket Diaper (8-35 lbs)
1 KaWaii Baby OS pocket diaper (8-36 lbs){I got this one free with one of my orders}
2 FuzziBunz OS Pocket Diaper (10-35 lbs)
2 Bumkins AIO cloth diaper (10-35 lbs)
1 Sweet Pea Newborn Diaper Cover (6-12 lbs)
1 Capri Diaper Cover (6-16 lbs)
1 Thirsties Duo Wrap Diaper Cover (6-18 lbs)
1 Blueberry MINI Coveralls Diaper Cover (6-18 lbs)
2 Organic Cotton Doublers
2 Hemp Babies Diaper Doublers
2 Diaper Snappies

I'm also like you with having the nursery all planned out in my head. I tried to walk around the nursery with DH and pointed out where I was wanting to put everything so he knew what I was thinking.

I'm sorry about the DVDs you got from the hospital making it all confusing. I guess it's true what they say about every woman being different. I guess all you can do is try to go with your birth plan (I have not started mine but I know my hospital has this very detailed Q&A form pertaining to labor and delivery that I need to fill out when I pre-register) but have an open mind at the same time that you might need more to help with the pain or that you might not be able to have a vaginal delivery, etc. It seems like you're on the right track with your birth plan as accepting those things as possibilities.

 

[MrsHippo]

Alex that story really made me laugh....I can just picture it happening haha

I have thought about a birthing plan although I don't particuarly have one. The only things I really want to put in mine is that I want a water birth (if available on d.day), I want to be in control and if I want pain relief I will ask for it as and when I want it. I don't want to walk in with a list of things I want to take. I seem to have a chilled back kind of attitude towards it - as in, baby will come out how it wants to, no planning is going to change what happens. Its like the weather lol, completely out of our hands. I do want to try and make it as comfortable as possible though. I hate the idea of sitting on a bed in a little room. Like they said on one born every minute the other night, squatting is the best and most natural position. They also said women should try and move around as much as possible.

I can't wait to see everyone's finished nurseries )

We got all our clothes out today to see how much we had and in what sizes, then went out to buy a load of basic bits - vests, bibs, little hats, socks, babygrows, tights and a couple of other things. Just need to buy a few more cardigans in different sizes and I want to buy a couple of little outfits as all she seems to have are sleep suits. Once I have them we will be finished for clothes While we were there (Asda) I looked at the tommee tippee closer to nature bottles, they are the ones I am planning on buying, in Asda the 6 pack was 25 pounds but found them on amazon prime currently for 10.39 instead of 25.99!!! Thats a massive saving!! So will definately be buying from there instead.

I am sad to hear a couple of you are having problems with your mums. I feel your fustration though, especially with the nappy thing. I think its very rude. Almost like she is telling you 'you have this plan in your head but I know you won't stick to it' or its something that she doesn't agree with. End of the day, we are all adults now and we make our own decisions - especially when it comes to OUR babies. My mum hasn't caused any problems at all for me, in fact, she has been really good. She is great for advice but doesn't tell me how to do something or what I should or shouldn't be doing.

Here is my most recent photo I was getting ready a couple of days ago, walked past the mirror and thought OMG is that really me haha!!

 

[doggylover]

Lauren, that's exactly how I feel - like my mum is saying I won't stick to using cloth. It definitely annoys me and makes me more determined than ever that it WILL work for us! Lovely bump picture! And I know what you mean, sometimes it's hard to believe we have these big bumps! The other day I looked down and was properly startled as I somehow managed to forget I was pregnant! Glad you are getting a good saving on the bottles. Asda are pretty good for baby clothes I think, they have a be selection of the basics at a great price. Oh I love little baby tights! I'm sure everything you got for her is so cute! I love looking at my baby stuff, it just seems so small!

Brittany, just whoa at your cloth stash! I really love the patterns of the Grovia nappies, they are high on my list of things to order for when baby is a bit older (I've decided not to order all my nappies now, and wait until baby is almost out of the ones I have before starting to find new brands for us) I love the woodland pattern for the grovia. you seem to have a lot of brands that I haven't heard of as well, I'm looking to see if we can get them here in the UK but some of them don't seem to have UK stockists which is annoying.

We all seem to have a similar view on our labour - we know what we would like, but we all know that anything could happen! I heard that first time mums tend to go in with their birth plan and then get very upset when they can't stick to it, so I think for us having that open mind will definitely mean that we are more accepting of anything that happens during labour.

 

[Laura91]

Hi ladies Just popping in to say that I had my 3D scan today, all pictures and a quick update is in my journal (link in siggy!) come over and take a peak! Didn't wanna overload with pictures in here as there are quite a few ! xx

 

[doggylover]

Oh Laura that last picture when she is smiling is amazing!!! The 4D photos are incredible! They are so clear (it freaks me out how that all works!) and it's wonderful news that she is developing so well! Her measurements are great, just think you might get to meet her a little earlier than you had thought!

And amazing that you get to go back again next week! I can't wait to see how much she's changed and grown in a week!

 

[I Love Lucy]

Sarah, I basically ordered a few from all the main diaper brands we have here. Just from looking at the diapers, I really think the Thirsties, Grovia and Kissaluvs fitted diapers are going to be my favorites but I won't know until I can actually start using them if they'll continue to be my favorites. Most of the others (except the prefolds) I don't see myself getting to use until Aiden is probably 10 lbs. Even though some of the OS diapers say they work at 7-8 lbs they still look awfully large so imagine I would have problems with leaking.

I also think it's funny you mentioned loving the woodland pattern for the Grovia diaper because that is one I ordered. I found a buy 2 get 1 free deal on the grovia diapers so I ended up with the woodland pattern, the bicycles pattern, and the robots pattern.

 

[I Love Lucy]

Laura, I love the pictures you shared in your journal. Especially the one of her smiling. I almost want to go and have another 3D scan done around 35 weeks just because Aiden would be so much more developed then what he was at my 20 week scan but not quite sure DH will go for it since he'll be starting the slow months at work and we'll have to buy all the rest of our baby gear at that point.

 

[LiverpoolLass]

Awww Laura so cute!!! Love the smiling picture! And so cool you'll get to go back next week for more!
Did they do the dvd today or next week?

 

[MrsHippo]

The photos are amazing Laura, I can't wait for mine next sunday Its a shame you couldn't get everything in the one day but on the other hand, you get to see her again

My mum made me think, we were talking about how far along I was...then she said ''I had Ellie at 32 weeks'' :O DON'T tell me that!!! Ellie did have complications so had to come out via c-section but its quite scary to know that she came out at 32 weeks. She is now a healthy 12 year old

I have noticed this week that bean has developed a routine. I was worrying that her movements were so irregular I wouldn't know if anything was wrong. But what I have found is that she wakes up about 7:30am, I think its strange how its pretty much the same time every morning. I get up around that time when I go to work but she still wakes up at that time if I am still in bed. She wakes me up!! Then I will feel her throughout the day, more so after I have eaten. Then she goes to sleep about 11pm and I don't feel anything all night until the morning again even if I wake up to go to the toilet ect. Bless her lets hope she keeps that routine hehe

 

[doggylover]

I also think it's funny you mentioned loving the woodland pattern for the Grovia diaper because that is one I ordered. I found a buy 2 get 1 free deal on the grovia diapers so I ended up with the woodland pattern, the bicycles pattern, and the robots pattern.

I agree that some OS nappies look massive, and probably bulky on a newborn, but it sounds like you'll have lots to get you through until then. I love all those patterns you bought ^^! The main reason I don't want to buy too many now is that I love some of the gender specific patterns, especially from grovia and Charlie banana, so I want to wait to know which sort to get for later on. The thirsties patterns are so cute too, I love the owl print!

Lauren, sounds like your little lady is very regular! Hopefully that continues when she arrives, making things a bit easier. I haven't managed to establish any major routine yet. I know baby is most active in the evening and that's about it! Like you, I'm worried I won't then notice reduced movements, so it's great that you can now keep a good eye on what she is doing in there. And fingers crossed we all go a bit longer than 32 weeks I'm sure at least one of us will go a little early, but hopefully longer than that!

 

[Laura91]

Thanks ladies

ILoveLucy - The place where I went said you're best going between 28-32 weeks as there's still enough fluid around baby to get good pictures - you can still get good ones after this but they're more squished up.. Just a thought incase you do want to get another one done

LiverpoolLass - We got a DVD with 13 minutes footage on, i've gotta get my dad to play around with it and convert it so I can put it on Youtube and then i'll put the link on here for you We get another DVD and more pictures next week - I can't wait!

He said that she's weighing about 3lbs already Has anyone else had any weight measurements done? I'm a little worried because all her measurements and her weight are pointing towards 29w
I suppose she'll come when she comes - DoggyLover, looks like I could be in for a monster baby after all ! xx

 

[Laura91]

Oh also, he said that even though she's 3lb (ish), her skin is still slightly wrinkled.. So he's hoping that by next week she'll have put a little chub on

 

[doggylover]

Laura I wouldn't worry that she is measuring a little big at all - that just hopefully means you'll get to meet her a little sooner than expected!! And I bet when she arrives she's actually really petite and all the worrying about a monster is for nothing! (I am hoping that happens with me!)

Bought a breast pump yesterday, along with a little pair of leggings and a pram suit. March/April are so unreliable that it could either be roasting...or freezing! I don't want baby to freeze if our weather plays up (or does it's normal thing!!) I also brought my car seat and loads of borrowed baby stuff from my SIL back to our house, so we are filling up different parts of the house with baby bits!