Less than 12 weeks pregnant club! Part 4!!

teaandcakeordeath

Peonie, what is the green book? I only got given a file that they write in whenever I take it- obviously I haven't remembered to take it to either of my scans as my brain is now mush! Fingers crossed I [STRIKE]find[/STRIKE] remember it next week for the consultant. Must impress her as she gets to decide about a home birth...

I've gone and done it- i've bought my pram. Got this one
http://www.mothercare.com/Joie-Chrome-Pushchair---Jade/650677,default,pd.html#q=Joie . It's £230 for the pram, cot and car seat and the car seat base is either £40 (belted) or £100 (isofix). Mum has offered to buy isofix base so it's the cheapest one I've found with everything I need/ want and i figured out how to collapse it ALL BY MYSELF! Seriously- why do you have to be a mensa member to work some of these prams? Pushed it round for a while and played with it. It made me all excited. Can't quite believe I've found myself in the situation where I need to have a pram! Feel like the luckiest woman alive!

My OH is thinking about being a SAHD. It's fine by me. I don't think I could SAH myself but he will have a steep learning curve! He can't even work the washing machine- it drives me mad! The baby may have dirty clothes but I know he'll dote on it. I'm lucky in that I get NHS mat leave, it's one of the only job perks I have! Still, until our pay department get back to me I have no idea if i'll take 9,10,11 or 12 months off.

I was playing on the tax benefits calculator the other night and we would be better off financially (by about £7k a year!) if both of us worked part time. It's crazy really. Don't think my workplace would be able to accomodate me working part time though. Will have to see- there's a woman just come back from mat leave who has put a pt request in and they're trying to recruit for it now. If she manages to get a part-time partner then maybe I could as my job is higher pay so should in theory be a bit more attractive to people!

Lemon_Tree

teaandcakeordeath wrote: »

Peonie, what is the green book? I only got given a file that they write in whenever I take it- obviously I haven't remembered to take it to either of my scans as my brain is now mush! Fingers crossed I [STRIKE]find[/STRIKE] remember it next week for the consultant. Must impress her as she gets to decide about a home birth...

I've gone and done it- i've bought my pram. Got this one
http://www.mothercare.com/Joie-Chrome-Pushchair---Jade/650677,default,pd.html#q=Joie . It's £230 for the pram, cot and car seat and the car seat base is either £40 (belted) or £100 (isofix). Mum has offered to buy isofix base so it's the cheapest one I've found with everything I need/ want and i figured out how to collapse it ALL BY MYSELF! Seriously- why do you have to be a mensa member to work some of these prams? Pushed it round for a while and played with it. It made me all excited. Can't quite believe I've found myself in the situation where I need to have a pram! Feel like the luckiest woman alive!

My OH is thinking about being a SAHD. It's fine by me. I don't think I could SAH myself but he will have a steep learning curve! He can't even work the washing machine- it drives me mad! The baby may have dirty clothes but I know he'll dote on it. I'm lucky in that I get NHS mat leave, it's one of the only job perks I have! Still, until our pay department get back to me I have no idea if i'll take 9,10,11 or 12 months off.

I was playing on the tax benefits calculator the other night and we would be better off financially (by about £7k a year!) if both of us worked part time. It's crazy really. Don't think my workplace would be able to accomodate me working part time though. Will have to see- there's a woman just come back from mat leave who has put a pt request in and they're trying to recruit for it now. If she manages to get a part-time partner then maybe I could as my job is higher pay so should in theory be a bit more attractive to people!

we've got the same system!!! what colour did you go for? we went for the green. We've gone for the belted system though because it could end up in one of 4 cars if it goes somewhere with either my mum or sister, and my only experience of isofix was where the mother couldn't figure out how to remove it so an adult ended up perched on the car seat.
My OH is really happy about being a SAHD with a bit of part time work, he can work the washer but only if I remind him the laundry needs to be done, so we could end up with a baby with no clothes at times lol.

Peonie

Daisie, well done on the scan, have you jumped forward by much?

How much time did you spend looking looking at the systems before you chose one? We know what we want but feel the need to play with some others before buying.

I went to a local shopping park yesterday, I bought a very nice tote (from TK M4xx) for work that fits my pregnancy notes (Tea, this is what I've been given: http://www.preg.info/PregnancyNotes/ViewThePages.aspx scroll to the bottom to see a tiny image). I asked if they have maternity wear and they do not - grrrr. Nor did N3xt have any in store - grrrrrrrr. I do not want to have to buy everything on line.

But I did see a nice weekend style bag that would have been a good changing bag. If it had a shoulder strap Mr P would happily have carried it around.

Argh, I started to read my pregnancy notes booklet and it mentions whooping cough which my friend at work has and coughed all over me in the last week. It's highly infectious! Quick call to mum, no I was not immunised against it as a child and it probably would not matter as it would have left my system by now. A phonecall to the NHS direct and spoke to a nurse. I don't have any symptoms but it could be the incubation stage. Friend has had antibiotics but says they have not worked but also said she's no-longer infectious. While webmd says infection continues throughout the illness. I know I should not worry but I am. I'm bothered about getting it and it affecting mini P. The website mainly seems concerned about whooping cough in later pregnancy and in newborns. I need to relax. I can't do anything about it if I have it now. I need to stay away from her until she's better. But I still plan on seeing a doctor on Monday.

teaandcakeordeath

Lemon, we went for green too. I don't want to know what we're having so it's pretty unisex- may end up giving in to peer pressure though! Part of me thinks I should go for isofix for safety (mamas and papas woman put fear of god into me!) but the skint person budget we have says belted...

Peonie, bigger h&m and new look shops have mat clothes. I prefer trying stuff on first too as i'm somewhat curvy in places so it's nicer to see if they flatter you before melting down into a hissy fit at home when they look awful! We looked at a load of different style prams first to find out what was available, what they did and what features we did and din't like. Then we mooched around for a bit online and reading reviews. Played with a load of prams in shops, mooched again as we ummed and ahhed. The things we decided we wanted in a pram were:
1. Cheap- i really didn't want to spend over £300- i couldn't afford to and I really didn't see the value in paying so much. A woman I work with paid £1000 which is more than my car is worth! :eek:
2. Lightweight- i have a rubbish spine and din't want it to cripple me. Also wanted the changeable bits to be light, some car seats we picked up were really heavy without a baby- I have an old clio 3 door car and no spare money to upgrade, I didn't want to have to lift an overly heavy weight in an already awkward position.
3. Easy to use- some of them were really difficult to figure out how to work. We decided that if we couldn't work it out without being shown then it was stupidly designed and un-necessarily complicated!
4. Able to collapse it all as one or separately. Because boot space is restricted I needed a base I could chuck in the boot and a seat that could go in a footwell.
5. Wanted it to have car seat, pushchair and carrycot included. Also wanted it to have a compatible seat base- most seat failures are caused by seat belts being incorrectly used to secure seat so wanted to try and avoid the risk.
6. Sturdy with wheels that come off for collapsing if needed/ easy cleaning (so if rolled through poo or something can take wheels off to soak them). Also moulded wheels- didn't want to have to carry a wheel pump around with me just incase! One of the prams we looked at in kiddicare (concord neo) was awful, the chassis was so rickety and wobbly and the seats just seemed precariously attached, reckon the baby would wobble all it's teeth out in it!
7. Height adjustible handles, i'm quite tall, my OH is 6ft, my brothers (who are fighting over days out uncle rights) are 6"4 & 6"6... Wanted a basket for storage underneath too.
8. Didn't want to have to buy adapters to be able to fit it together- just wanted it to have minimal moving parts so less to forget/ break.

There's probably more that i've forgotten but these were the most important things and the one we got for half price ticked all the boxes.

Don't blame you for wanting to see the doctor. Fingers crossed you don't get it.

Lara44

Just wanted to delurk and post ((((hugs)))) for Ttc39 and to say I'm thinking about you. I felt very worried this time round too. The only thing that made me feel better was the days going by, as I knew the risk was getting less and less. It is a shame to have this extra bit of worry, but it's just for a limited time. After 12 weeks I was able to enjoy the pregnancy and since movement at 18 weeks or so I've felt really excited :j Crossing all fingers and toes for straightforward pregnancies for all of us.

Teaandcake we have gone the second hand route too (except pram like you). We got some great bargains on stuff that looks really pristine Also we have been given loads that we weren't expecting so good to keep that in mind if you've got friends or family with kids. We got offered moses basket and play mat etc. but I had already bought some.

lilmissreading

Oh cripes we've not looked at anything like that. I am far too terrified at 10+6 in case I buy stuff and don't get to use it. Surprised how superstitious I feel.

I was advised to consider a double buggy - even if you don't want/have another, the extra space is good for shopping, bags etc.

I've only got 2 friends with kids and in my generation of siblings and cousins, I am the oldest by 6 years at the least, while the youngest is something like 18 years younger than me and still at school herself! Not feeling v hopeful although one friend has kindly lent me her books and some yoga DVDs which is nice.

Nice to hear about other main breadwinners x

Peonie

lilmissreading wrote: »

I will go to the ball! Apparently she is flat chested so I feel my advantage will be my boobs so will do my self confidence a world of good.

Your comment made me ponder over the last day - not in a bad way but I thought I would share my thoughts. As a teenager I was a B cup that's changed to a DD as I've got older and changed bra makes. I was always more than happy with what I had and I've never been envious of anyone with a large chest but more thought what a pain it must be. You see, I grew up in a family with large breasted women on my mum's side that had back aches and hated the fit of clothes. My mum had a reduction around 20 years ago and my sister would love to have the operation as soon as she can afford it. I was always told how lucky I was to take after the other side of the family.

lilmissreading

Peonie wrote: »

Your comment made me ponder over the last day - not in a bad way but I thought I would share my thoughts. As a teenager I was a B cup that's changed to a DD as I've got older and changed bra makes. I was always more than happy with what I had and I've never been envious of anyone with a large chest but more thought what a pain it must be. You see, I grew up in a family with large breasted women on my mum's side that had back aches and hated the fit of clothes. My mum had a reduction around 20 years ago and my sister would love to have the operation as soon as she can afford it. I was always told how lucky I was to take after the other side of the family.

We're talking a relatively small achievement. They were D before and I suspect they have snuck up to an E. One of DH's compliments (not the only one) is that there is more woman to love with me, in particular the chest area. I suppose I am aware at the wedding, I may well only know DH, possibly one or 2 other couples, suspect I will be tired and dull (more so than usual) so no good relying on personality to win friends and influence people. Have a fear of fat feet (they are wide to begin with) and ugly shoes (relieved by post with link to pretty flat shoes). Nice cleavage was most obvious thing I could think of to cheer myself up! Such are the ridiculous things that float through my mind in times of low self esteem. I do understand what you mean about the point where your chest can become too much as it were. While I would never run without the right support, they do not give me back ache and I could sleep on my front pre pregnancy.

Lemon_Tree

lilmissreading wrote: »

Oh cripes we've not looked at anything like that. I am far too terrified at 10+6 in case I buy stuff and don't get to use it. Surprised how superstitious I feel.

I was advised to consider a double buggy - even if you don't want/have another, the extra space is good for shopping, bags etc.

I've only got 2 friends with kids and in my generation of siblings and cousins, I am the oldest by 6 years at the least, while the youngest is something like 18 years younger than me and still at school herself! Not feeling v hopeful although one friend has kindly lent me her books and some yoga DVDs which is nice.

Nice to hear about other main breadwinners x

Hi, I've always considered that I would never have children right from being about 16, in my grandma's, mum's and my generation people have either had lots or none (if that makes sense). My sister ended up with 4 so obviously I'd have none, add into that a monthly system which was never monthly, suspected pcos and heaven know's what else and I was clearly told about 15-20 years ago I would not have them. I put this pregnancy down to 3 things - taking out the bath when we gutted out bathroom so we have a lovely double shower (which will now have to come out and a bath put back in), losing 12 stone and getting a puppy instead of a baby.

lilmissreading

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

Hi, I've always considered that I would never have children right from being about 16, in my grandma's, mum's and my generation people have either had lots or none (if that makes sense). My sister ended up with 4 so obviously I'd have none, add into that a monthly system which was never monthly, suspected pcos and heaven know's what else and I was clearly told about 15-20 years ago I would not have them. I put this pregnancy down to 3 things - taking out the bath when we gutted out bathroom so we have a lovely double shower (which will now have to come out and a bath put back in), losing 12 stone and getting a puppy instead of a baby.

Three amazing achievements! DH grew up with only showers, while we had baths as little 'uns and showers as we got older. It's funny the beliefs that come about. I've always had a massively irregular cycle and the reason for the big gaps between me and my siblings (me, a sibling 6 years later and a youngest 6 years after the middle) was due to mc and infertility issues. I therefore assumed it would be difficult for me to get pregnant (not much evidence for that) but more that it would be difficult to carry to term. Suppose when I write it out it's not surprising I'm superstitious about that. Anyhoo it is what it is and no amount of worrying will change it. I'm a very lucky sausage and making my own problems.

Also big BIG thanks to whoever reminded me about liquorice. I like eating it anyway and it has certainly helped without giving tmi!