Useful Tips Collected from Friends, Family, Websites & Magazines

  • Borrow story books from the library
  • Take advantage of council schemes and offers such as the Real Nappy Scheme
  • Before buying big baby things, visit voucher codes or Quidco for vouchers/cashback
  • Use adult pillow cases in a moses basket instead if buying baby sheets
  • Don't buy too much, borrow or buy second hand for the things they won't use for very long
  • Visit the NCT sale and browse Ebay for bargains
  • When they're old enough, make salt dough instead of buying playdough
  • Make your own toys - anything that makes a noise or they can climb into seems to work
  • Join the toy library

Friday, 19 March 2010

First Proper Kick!!!

I felt my first proper kick yesterday (18th March) at 20 weeks, I could feel it on the outside too and it made me jump. So amazing. Now I know what this feels like I have been having some movements from about week 16, I was expecting to feel a 'popping' feeling as people had told me this is what it feels like, but it was more of a twitchy feeling.

We had the 20 week scan this week too. We weren't able to find out the gender as the baby was in the wrong position but very pleased that everything seems to be good. We were marvelling at the fact the baby's thigh bone is 3cm long! The scan pics did not seem to be as good as the 13 week scan but not long now until we can meet our baby in real life.

Getting organised and got some more reusable nappies from Ebay, almost got a big enough newborn stash now :-)

X

Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Half way there!

I'm half way there now and looking forward to having another scan next week. I THINK I can feel the baby moving but not really sure for definite. I feel what seems to be twitching in my tummy - I've never had it before so can only think it might be little one having a stretch and a wriggle.

I now have a virtual 'bump buddy' on the Babycentre forum, she already has 2 other children, with her 2nd she used Hypnobirthing which is something I have been reading a lot about recently. Not knowing what to expect from birth I feel that a bit of preparation and relaxation techniques is a positive thing. Hypnobirthing is a form of self hypnosis to put you in a relaxed state during labour. I once tried a hypnosis CD and ended up having the best nights sleep of my life so I am definitely looking forward to trying it. Will try the CDs/downloads first and go from there. I love being in the water so my first choice would be a water birth using the hypnobirthing techniques - watch this space to find out how I'm getting on with it! I'm posting a link below to a fantastic blog (I'm VERY jealous of how good it looks) written by a Hypnomummy, Dany. I now plan to explore Dany's blog more as I'm like a sponge when it comes to this subject at the moment... I think it's taking up all of my thinking space :-) Having not found a suitable class near me as yet, Dany's new home study package sounds ideal, there is a competition to win one of these packs (details on the blog link) so I might be lucky and win one! Keeping my fingers crossed:

http://tums2mums.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentines-competition.html

I've also started building up a collection of reuseable nappies, they are ridiculously cute and I cannot wait until I can start using them. I have started putting all of the baby things I've been given or have collected into a baby box, I've had some gorgeous baby gifts so far including some little knitted cardigans which I love and our student who stays with us has given us some tiny little socks - it's strange to think there will be little feet in them in the near future, they are gorgeous!

So with the weeks flying by and things feeling more real by the day it's fair to say we are more than a little excited. I'm hoping we will get to hear the heartbeat again at the scan next week and maybe even get another picture!

Soon I'll have to start posting bump pictures as well xx