Some news...

[Katster]

Lol, I'm not like some keen cleaner or anything like that but four weeks is a long time to leave the bathroom, especially when its already been about two since i last did it. Plus, I had no clue of anything being wrong with my BP, that's the scary bit for me - if my foot hadn't swelled I would still be carrying on regardless and would still have been in work this week!

[bunique]

How you feeling Kat?

I took delivery of some TotsBots reusables yesterday and they are soooo cute!

[bunique]

I promise not to post pictures

[Katster]

Yep, feeling much better and all blood pressure checks coming back at 120/80 so its under control. I'm a bit worried that it means I may not be allowed in the birthing centre but I wont know for sure until the hospital appointment and even then they might change their mind. I always said I was happy doing whatever they consider safest for me and baba and if my crazy BP means no pool then so be it.

My reusables also arrived and I love them all. Thinking I will just get a bunch of cheap white ones for every day purposes, there really doesn't seem to be much difference although I appreciate I wont really know that until we start putting them to use. How come they make you cringe Barry? Are they any worse than disposables? They all get filled with shit. Do landfill sites make you cringe? Ever seen a seagull feasting on a disposable nappy of shit, cos I have! Mmmmmm, yummy.

[bunique]

I hate the feel of a soggy disposable too, and I'm reliably informed reusables hold it all in better. I've been offered some bum genius and wonderoos, and some more tots bots. There's a big Little Lamb sale starting at the weekend Kat if you still need any bits. I have absolutely no fucking clue what I'm doing with the nappies though!

[bunique]

The newer microfibre ones are almost dry straight out of the wash

[bunique]

And reusables are so pretty!

[Katster]

They are both to be filled with shit.

For me it was an environmental choice - i will be maiden drying inside my small flat - it ain't going to be easy.

Its also a financial decision, though the initial cost of reusables seems steep, ive seen how quickly people get through even boxes of disposables. Eek.

Each to their own I just don't see how reusables are minging but disposables aren't. They are both rank.

[bunique]

Honestly, a breastfed baby's poo is fairly inoffensive after the first couple of days and up until weaning. After that it's the worst!

[feral chile]

I read with interest how much nappies have changed. Disposables back in the pre modern era when I had mine were really harsh on the baby's skin, they were just cotton wool I think, and I presume they're that gel stuff now that whisks everything away from the skin?

Terry nappies were also awful, they had no barrier if you didn't use plastic pants with them, so they also caused sore bums if you weren't careful, and everything would get soggy and smelling of wee if you didn't use plastic pants.. The skin couldn't breathe with either.

We used to leave ours without as much as possible.

Edited September 18, 2014 by feral chile

[Katster]

They have both vastly improved, thank goodness. We will use disposables at times but we mostly want to use the reusables.

I am also beginning to change my mind about breastfeeding. I was planning on expressing so we could share the job/bonding but hopeful if I can manage it its going to save us a whole load of hassle of sterilising bottles and should make days out etc much easier. I am at least going to try.

[bunique]

I can honestly say it didn't hurt at all (and I know how lucky that makes me) - so would say the opposite to Barry and seek advice if it is painful or at the first sign of problems, especially if breastfeeding is important to you. But go to a lactation consultant, they are likely to know far more than anyone else you come into contact with - save this link for future reference http://www.lcgb.org/consultants_local.html

And buy lots of Lansinoh and use it religiously!

[bunique]

Neither of them ever tried to latch on? I have a picture of our daughter as a newborn trying to feed off the end of her dad's nose. Like a limpet.

[Katster]

Cheers for the info. I suppose its like everything else baby/parent related - you just have to figure it out, try and hope to do your best?! Dan will be doing the waterbabies/puddleducks thing to begin with - so that will be his lovely bonding time

[bunique]

I think I would add "and ask for help" but it's very personal. I fed my first for over 2 years so getting feeding established with the next one is pretty much top of my to-do list and I'll call in reinforcements at the first sign of trouble! Other friends have made the decision to formula feed from the outset and that's worked great for them too!

[Katster]

We have registered baba at Puddleducks

Ready to start whenever we are...

[bunique]

37 weeks now Kat? How's the BP holding up?

[Katster]

I haven't had it checked since Friday, they are letting me off the hook slightly as it had behaved up until then, back at midwife tomorrow for general check-up so we will see. With being off work and the weather cooling down a lot all of the swelling in my ankles has calmed down which is a good sign. I guess I'd just overdone it a bit trying to continue with work plus life so late on. It's been nice having some time to make sure we are 'ready'. We have rearranged stuff like the furniture in the living room (Dan obviously, not me) and I have done jobs I probably won't get round to doing again for a long time. I have also been playing a lot of Skyrim lol, and eating a lot of cake (visitors keep bringing me cake for some reason?!)

[Katster]

How are you doing too Bunique? How many weeks are you? And Ed, his Mrs was slightly ahead of me I think? Maybe his quietness means they had it???

[Katster]

So, as i suspected might happen, my bp is beginning to lean too far towards low now. Typical. I am not at the hospital until Tuesday but the midwife advised to continue taking the labetalol and get in touch if I feel dizzy or woozy before the hospital appointment. I feel ok for now though. Its a funny thing eh, blood pressure?!

[bunique]

Pesky BP! Mine reads consistently normal but I get dizzy when standing too quickly which I'm guessing means it's low at times? No fun, anyway. I'm 24 weeks on Saturday. Big delivery of reusable nappies today! I need a handful of wraps, some reusable liners and some more boosters and I think we're there. They're so cute!

[Katster]

It might, although I have felt like that at times throughout pregnancy too, before all this, so I dunno. I think everyone experiences stuff like that when they stand up too fast?

[bunique]

Mine is the "sit down with your head between your knees" dizzy - but rarely! Was the same last time around. Any plans for your last few weeks of freedom?!

[Katster]

Yeah sounds like it could be low. High is apparently headaches and flashes in front of eyes although I didn't experience any symptoms so it can also go unnoticed. I guess that's why they check it every time.

I've nothing planned for these last few weeks just been having lots of visitors which has been nice as next time I see them I will be mum and no longer able to give them my full attention lol. Ive got my friend calling today with her now month old son who I keep stealing for practices with ha. It's my birthday on 5th Oct - we are booked in for a tour of the birthing centre in the morning and then Dan is taking me for a burger in the afternoon (it kind of became a thing we do after each hospital appointment/scan so we thought it would be nice). I have a huge empty fish tank in my house which I had big plans to fill with marine fish but then went and got pregnant so no longer have the time or money for, so, for my birthday we are going to seek some pretty but easy to care for freshwater fish and get it looking good and at least with some forms of life swimming around in it rather than it just being dumped on the floor and empty. Will give me and baba something relaxing to watch in our first few months together and fish are supposed to be good for decreasing blood pressure too!

[Katster]

38 weeks, and counting. Grrr.