crystal7

I was lucky enough to sleep well until about 37 weeks. I did have the odd night where I would wake up around 2 or 3 and not be able to get back to sleep. This was particularly difficult when I was working- worked until 38 weeks as a primary school teacher. I used a Dream Geni pillow although I still got an aching hip/upper thigh from sleeping on the same side. Towards the end of my pregnancy I started to get hungry around 4am every morning so would creep downstairs to eat banana sandwiches (oddly the same thing has happened a few times since giving birth- I blame breastfeeding.) And then there were the 3+ toilet trips per night...BUT I do look back on those sleepless nights with nostalgia- this year has been so much more sleep deprived and with baby in our room I can't even turn the light on to read!

I had bikini and leg wax at 38 weeks at Therapy, pricey but didn't hurt much. Would recommend! (Although didn't give it a second thought when giving birth). The Breastfeeding Cafe at Peckham Library is great, very lovely and helpful midwives.

This post just gets better! Just remembered a few more things: Bounce baby on an exercise ball (on your knee obviously!). Really calmed my little one during the 'witching hour' (5-6 pm in our house) Even if you're breastfeeding there's loads Daddy can do- winding, nappies, pacing around house with baby so you can have a bath...The other day I overheard someone saying she didn't want to breastfeed because she was worried her partner would feel left out! It's all about delegating. Initially I thought my daughter didn't like swaddling as she'd strugle to escape. I realised we weren't doing it tight enough. Sounds horrid but when she couldn't struggle she seemed to feel more secure and would immediately fall asleep. We swaddled her for 10 weeks.

Hi Heidi I was asked to go for an extra scan because baby's weight had dropped from 50th centile at 12 weeks to 15th at 23. At 28 weeks all seemed fine (she was still on 15th) and the sonographers weren't even sure why I had been asked back! I remember being very worried, especially as one of the sonographers at the 23 week scan started lecturing me about the importance of protein! All was fine and she weighed 7lb 4oz at a week overdue (hardly tiny). Try not to worry (easier said than done I know!). Good luck!

Buy some newborn clothes you don't have to put over baby's head e.g. baby grows, wrap vests A sling is essential for getting any housework done in the early days Be prepared for baby's sleeping habits to constantly change (my little one slept better at 4 weeks than she does at 4 months!) Don't be too scared to go baby groups alone- everyone's always nice and you've got babies to talk about!