Due February 2016

@BabyT - We dont have a private room/ office at work, so I was just thinking the bathroom is probably the best bet?

Hi STK - the Medela Swing is battery as well as electrically operated, just not sure how long the batteries will last... but I guess time will tell I am just more concerned about where I will actually pump at work then the pumping itself...

The online UIF is for employees and employers, but I have heard that if anything is wrong with your paper work they will not let you know and they will simply ignore your application... So if you are 100% sure everything is in order then I suppose you might as well give it a go. Or maybe just go to the department once, make sure everything is in order and use the online facility from the second month onwards.

BumbleBee, in terms of the breastfeeding, I think I will rather get a lactation consultant out to assist me if I have any issues, as reading up on it is one thing, but actually physically being shown how to do it is something completely different and I am more a practical rather than a theoretical type of person

It is just me or is baby's movements becoming more hectic, Karmi is so quite and then suddenly she will move vigorously with bumps coming out on all angles of my stomach - looks complete like a alien movie where the female is about to give birth to some weird creature! And she can carry on like this for quite a while as well - guess she inherited her daddies energy levels Puts a smile on my face every time - almost like she just wants to remind me that she is here as well.

Morning ladies,

@bumbleBee - very cute bump... its amazing how fast our bellies are growing now... I think our babies are going through a growth spurt now

We got a really good specials on baby essentials at the expo over the weekend. We bought a Chelino travel system, 2x piccolo isofix bases and 2x group 1-3 car seats all for R6800.

With regards to UIF a while back I saw that UIF has an online system now, but wasn't sure whether that was just for employers to do their UIF online, or whether is was for us moms to submit forms and claim as well? I think I will give it a go, I really don't want to go to their offices and possibly spend all day there.

With regards to breast pumps what are your ladies opinions on which pump would be best if we needed to pump at work? I suppose a battery operated one? Is the Medela Swing Maxi (double pump) battery operated as well?

@BabyT - I love the idea of a nappy braai (wish we knew about this), we are having a combined shower. This way we include my husband as well

I'm not sure if I've had Braxton Hicks yet - what does it feel like?

@BabyT - glad I'm not the only one who's so optimistic
A few friends have recommended a book - The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. It's a little pricey, but trying to find one second hand.
@BabyT, Glad the Chiro worked for you! I normally see mine a few times a year, but have only seen him once during my pregnancy - seems my desk job was the major culprit - sitting at a desk all day and stretching my arms forward to type and use the computer mouse gave me hectic back and neck pain. But I've been much better since leaving work. If it comes to it I'll go see him again (his wife happens to be due with their second in Feb ) My gynea isn't keen on Chiropractors at all and told me to see a physio instead, but I'll see if it gets bad enough. I trust my Chiro.

The Nappy Braai sounds like a really cool idea!
I asked hubby if he might like one, but he said not to worry, he feels included - but it probably helps that so many of his friends and colleagues already have toddlers and have been dying to have another dad to talk to, so he hasn't felt left out at all. He's also really enjoying the antenatal classes, so sure that helps.
I've been to a couple baby showers where the men braai outside while the ladies have the shower inside, and then everyone has a party together afterwards. Really would have loved to do that, but think our space is a bit too small.

@CarienM, I've been having Braxton Hicks (or Hixton Bracks as we like to call them ) since about 16 weeks, so pretty used to them by now! It doesn't really bother me, except if I'm out and about, like at the mall and it hits mid-walk. Walking about feeling like you're about to pop is pretty uncomfortable.

Totally agree ladies, I once read that the worst thing you can do in your quest to breastfeed is to listen to the the nay-sayers! Totally agree with that. Just a little advice from someone who did try and it worked (fed my son for 7 months), as soon as you realize something is not right, get help, dont wait, there is PLENTY of help out there, really, if you are still in hospital, ask for a lactation consultant to come see you, they are there literally with in an hour (if they are free) and they are so nice and will show you exactly what to do - and they are not squeamish around breasts, they just want to make sure that you have a happy baby/mommy combo. I was lucky in that my husband's aunt is a lactation consultant (she also has 7 children of her own...yes 7!!) and she helped me right from the start, we didnt have any issues (thankfully). Not saying that the mommies who cant feed didnt try, just saying, use the help available to you.

So yes, I am still quite livid with Discovery! But there is nothing I can do about it so I will just suck it up and buy it from Dischem so that I can claim it from my medical savings. Will also just sell my tommee tippee one. It really didnt give me any issues, it just took too long b/c it was a singleton.

Mine has also had hick-ups right above my left and and right hip (seems like he takes turns). He took such a big gulp of fluid the last time we were at the doc she said it was odd that he didnt have hick-ups before then...they started later that same day I do enjoy feeling it, its very cute how they develop.

My Braxton Hicks are also getting more frequent, have you ladies had them much?

Hi BumbleBee - I also felt hiccups for the first time this weekend, and it just put a smile on my face

CarienM - so true that you don't want to live with them but you can't live without Medical aid these days.... Its a absolute disgrace how much money you pay every month and what you actually get in return!! I got myself the Medela double swing about 3 months ago through takealot and it cost me R2900 for the bundle - its expensive but the offer was just too good to pass on. I was also told by know-it-all's that its a lot of money to pay if you are not even sure that you can breastfeed - but I read that only about 1% of moms cant breastfeed, and if I end up being one of the 1% then I will gladly sponsor the pump to someone less fortunate that really needs a pump and that will be fine for me to (but I am really bargaining on being able to breastfeed )

So I ended up missing out and not going to the baby expo... But I decided to rather use my half day on Friday to go to the Chiropractor, as I am having issues with a sore hip and lower back at the moment due to baby growing and mommy not being able to keep up, hahahaha, must say I felt like a new person on Saturday morning after my session on Friday - first time ever going to a Chiro and I was pleasantly surprised!

So this weekend my hubby was telling me that dads really don't get included in pregnancy, think he is feeling a bit left out with everyone making such a big deal about my bump, how I am feeling, my baby shower etc etc. so his sister suggested to me that they have a nappy braai for him on the same day as I have my baby shower and I though this is such a lovely idea, so all of his friend will by coming over for a braai and the entrance fee is a packet of nappies, so the guys don't have to try and do baby shopping as nappies is a pretty specific thing that they need to buy and they have an excuse to have a get together without all the females... So I think this is a absolutely lovely idea to make daddy the centre for at least one day They are doing this as a surprise, so its gonna be extra special for him - and I score a whole lot of free nappies out of the deal

Morning Ladies!

CarienM, I bought the Medela Swing Maxi bundle on Takealot on Friday (it's arriving today!) as I couldn't pass it up either! A friend was upset with me for buying it 'before knowing if I could breastfeed', but it's such a good deal and I told hubby I'm worried the same deal might not come around again - or we will be less likely to want to spend so much money once munchkin is here, and I don't want to be stuck with something cheaper that I hate. As it is I bought it with eBucks which I had been saving specifically for baby things, so it wasn't too painful a purchase. I'd had my eye on the Medela Swing for over a year now as a couple of friends swear by it.

Here's the link if anyone is interested - www.takealot.com/medela-swing-maxi-elect...-bundle/PLID29970169. It was discounted at R3299.00 on Friday, so the discount is becoming less.
Another one that's on special (the electric one sold out in a couple of hours) is this one - www.takealot.com/tommee-tippee-manual-breast-pump/PLID20575201

Regarding the medical savings, I've always found it laughable that they can pick and choose what they cover - it's not like they are actually contributing anything, it is literally coming out of a savings account into which you deposit every month. We've been using our savings only for the big scans and blood tests etc and will let the rest (think we're down to about R2000.00...) carry over to next year for unforeseen expenses. Medical aid is really a joke, but we couldn't manage without it unfortunately. Hopefully our Gap Cover will cover any unforeseen expenses relating to the birth.

Felt hiccups for the first time this morning apparently it'll get annoying, but for now it was really cute!