Pregnancy and Baby Advice Thread: From Conception to Birth, and Beyond!

[Cai]

Ladies...what do Braxton Hicks feel like? And when did you first start feeling them? I've had "tightenings" in the bottom of my uterus - not painful at all - just feels tight, and when I put my hands on my bump its sooooo hard! I've had it a few times but just assumed it was baby sticking its bum in the air or something, until I read that you can have mild B.H from 16 weeks. X so was just wondering if this could be B.H or just baby moving? Xx

I only had BHs late on from about 37 weeks. They felt like period cramps which lasted a short time. Sometimes at the bottom of my bump and sometimes bump and back...
When I was induced and felt what 'real labour pains' felt like they were v similar but the strength of the pain and length was different xx

 

[PrincessPeach]

I've not had anything yet, which I know is useless to you because I can't answer your question! But I didn't wanna read and run. I've heard you can have them early on too. I've all on getting a bloody kick today, never mind anything else xx

Yeah that's the thing it's really hard to tell?! I thought I'd "know" but I've often got a strange/tense feeling in my bump and when I feel for myself it's really hard - I just assumed it was baby maybe rolling over or something. Then I just thought "ooh...could be BH!"

Hope you get your kick xx

 

[PrincessPeach]

I only had BHs late on from about 37 weeks. They felt like period cramps which lasted a short time. Sometimes at the bottom of my bump and sometimes bump and back...
When I was induced and felt what 'real labour pains' felt like they were v similar but the strength of the pain and length was different xx

Ohhh ok... So maybe it isn't that then..maybe it is just baby rolling over x I know it can differ and isn't painful all the time, I was just curious just in case the feelings I'm getting was my uterus tensing x

 

[missy1978]

I have had what I was told were BH from about 26 weeks on, only found out what they were at 29 weeks when I had one while I was on the monitor in PAU. My whole bump goes absolutely rock solid, proper takes your breath away! It doesn't hurt but is pretty uncomfortable, if I'm walking I have to stop. They don't last long though fortunately xxx

 

[Kim26]

Re: Pregnancy and Baby Advice Thread: Brands, Feeding, Nursery, Bathing, Everything!

Can't say I've had any tightenings yet but one of my friends did have them from quite early....I think 24/25 weeks. So could well be bh's or could be baby moving. As long as there's no pain and they aren't happening frequently I think you are fine

 

[Dubchick81]

Ladies...what do Braxton Hicks feel like? And when did you first start feeling them?

I've had "tightenings" in the bottom of my uterus - not painful at all - just feels tight, and when I put my hands on my bump its sooooo hard!

I've had it a few times but just assumed it was baby sticking its bum in the air or something, until I read that you can have mild B.H from 16 weeks. X so was just wondering if this could be B.H or just baby moving? Xx

Braxton hicks start from prob before u even get yer bfp!! U shouldn't feel them til really late in the preg. When I was having that a couple weeks ago mw said its just the uterus stretching.

 

[missy1978]

Braxton hicks start from prob before u even get yer bfp!! U shouldn't feel them til really late in the preg. When I was having that a couple weeks ago mw said its just the uterus stretching.

You do get less of the pulling/stretching feelings as you go along, at least I anyway. I had period cramps and pulling feelings for a long time, way before I started feeling BH. The BH are relatively recent for me but some people do feel them earlier than others. Some people never get them at all. Then again I would never have known what they were if I hadn't had it explained to me that time. Chalk it up to being another one of those crazy pregnancy things!

 

[sarah_lou1981]

I'm gonna wash all baby's clothes tomorrow but what exactly do I need to wash? I'm gonna do the vests and sleep suits. Do I need to do socks? Hats? Scratch mitts? Aaaargh, I have NO idea!!!

 

[missy1978]

I'm gonna wash all baby's clothes tomorrow but what exactly do I need to wash? I'm gonna do the vests and sleep suits. Do I need to do socks? Hats? Scratch mitts? Aaaargh, I have NO idea!!!

I've done everything which might be at bit ott but wanted to make sure I had it all straight. So hats, mitts, blankets, sheets, everything! Not sure if that is strictly necessary though, might just be me being over cautious. Anything that might be next to baby's skin I've washed pretty much xxx

 

[sarah_lou1981]

I've done everything which might be at bit ott but wanted to make sure I had it all straight. So hats, mitts, blankets, sheets, everything! Not sure if that is strictly necessary though, might just be me being over cautious. Anything that might be next to baby's skin I've washed pretty much xxx

That's what I was thinking. Plus, with me being a bit OCD anyway, I always wash anything material before I use it because you don't know who's been touching it before you. Yuk!! Xxx

 

[Cai]

I've done everything which might be at bit ott but wanted to make sure I had it all straight. So hats, mitts, blankets, sheets, everything! Not sure if that is strictly necessary though, might just be me being over cautious. Anything that might be next to baby's skin I've washed pretty much xxx

I did the same apart from I missed a couple of packs of hats, socks and scratch mits - I have washed the socks since ( he has worn socks twice cos his suits mainly have feet in!)
We did all the bedding, vests, suits, bibs,

I only did the new born and 0-3's just incase he had an allergy or we needed to swap some of the bits.
Since then we have been bought things which (cos I wasn't in charge!) went straight in him and I can tell u hand on heart he actually survived!! Lol. He didn't explode or implode (although I nearly did!) and he still looked cute in them! So don't worry too much if u miss the odd thing

( oh I also washed the curtains is that too much?? Lol) xx

 

[sarah_lou1981]

I did the same apart from I missed a couple of packs of hats, socks and scratch mits - I have washed the socks since ( he has worn socks twice cos his suits mainly have feet in!) We did all the bedding, vests, suits, bibs, I only did the new born and 0-3's just incase he had an allergy or we needed to swap some of the bits. Since then we have been bought things which (cos I wasn't in charge!) went straight in him and I can tell u hand on heart he actually survived!! Lol. He didn't explode or implode (although I nearly did!) and he still looked cute in them! So don't worry too much if u miss the odd thing ( oh I also washed the curtains is that too much?? Lol) xx

I know it'll be fine but I don't like wearing clothes myself until they've been washed. I'm sure Tom would jut stick baby in something straight from the packet, it's just me being daft. I can imagine me also being on the verge of a fit if he did that but I know it won't harm bubs really. I'm only doing up to the 0-3 too. But I'm just gonna do everything, just so I can play with it all and put it all away nearly afterwards instead of in packets

I think I'll probably wash the curtains too. We're bloody nuts!!!xx

 

[Dubchick81]

I'd wash every little thing. Imagine how long they've been sitting in a dusty warehouse somewhere.. Yuck.. But then I wash everything j buy for me before I wear it too so maybe OCD...
I've git that new Savlon washing liquid for baby's clothes to make sure they're proper clean for it

 

[missy1978]

That's my thought, plus new clothes generally have coatings on to make them fold better and look nicer in the shops! All of the new stuff has been washed and obv the second hand stuff has been as well.

I'm sure once he's here and a bit older I'll be less paranoid about it but I want everything clean and gorgeous for when he's brand new <3

 

[sarah_lou1981]

I'd wash every little thing. Imagine how long they've been sitting in a dusty warehouse somewhere.. Yuck.. But then I wash everything j buy for me before I wear it too so maybe OCD... I've git that new Savlon washing liquid for baby's clothes to make sure they're proper clean for it

I need to get some washing liquid tonight once I've picked Tom up then I can get it all done tomorrow. Eee I'm well excited to get it all washed and ready

 

[sarah_lou1981]

That's my thought, plus new clothes generally have coatings on to make them fold better and look nicer in the shops! All of the new stuff has been washed and obv the second hand stuff has been as well. I'm sure once he's here and a bit older I'll be less paranoid about it but I want everything clean and gorgeous for when he's brand new <3

We both have sensitive skin so I'm worried bubs will. I can't even just Johnson's baby wipes on my skin, they dry it out and it goes red and tight. So I've bought Huggies for baby because they're fine for me. X

 

[missy1978]

We both have sensitive skin so I'm worried bubs will. I can't even just Johnson's baby wipes on my skin, they dry it out and it goes red and tight. So I've bought Huggies for baby because they're fine for me. X

Definitely best to be cautious then and get everything washed. One of things I learned working at Lush was how harsh a lot of so-called gentle products actually are so I'm pretty wary of using a lot of the branded baby stuff. Trying to go for natural alternatives but it's hard as we've been bought loads of Johnsons stuff etc as pressies and I don't like to waste...

 

[Dubchick81]

We both have sensitive skin so I'm worried bubs will. I can't even just Johnson's baby wipes on my skin, they dry it out and it goes red and tight. So I've bought Huggies for baby because they're fine for me. X

My skin is the same. Can use very little. Can't use e45. Can't use johnsons. It's a nightmare. And my niece broke out red raw after her first bath her mam used Johnstone baby stuff thinking she'd b ok...

 

[missy1978]

I think they say now you shouldn't us any products on babies until they are at least a couple of weeks old. I have tonnes of baby wipes I've been bought and don't intend on using any of them on baby, at least not to start with! First bath he has with a product in will be a Lush bath! Can't wait to get him started on lovely smellies from a young age x

 

[missy1978]

Hey girls, here's something to look out for that my doctor mentioned this morning - another odd pregnancy side effect! It's especially worth keeping an eye out for if you do a job involving lots of typing or repetitive movements.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_carpal-tunnel-syndrome-during-pregnancy_234.bc

There's this too http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Trigger-finger/Pages/Introduction.aspx which I definitely do have and it really hurts! My finger keeps getting stuck and again this is apparently common in pregnancy and linked to carpal tunnel. Doctor says no point doing anything about it now as I have only 7 weeks left, have finished work and all she could do is give anti-inflammatories which I can't take but if it happens to you definitely go and get checked out as there might be something that could be done earlier on in pregnancy?

Apparently both problems are to do with our lovely friend water retention! Who knew that pregnancy could give you bad hands? xxx