To try now, wait or not bother?!

There's only 16 mnths between dd1 and ds (not exactly planned lol). It was hard work, twice the number of nappies, more sleepless nites but it really doesn't last long. They are very close and on the whole play nicely together the majority of the time- i have friends with just 1 who complain all the time about their lo's being bored.

Having said that we left 3 years between ds and dd2 and its lovely too- the older 2 love their little sister, love to help me and are also independant enough to go to the toilet etc by themselves so there's not as many stressful moments.

Like other people have said its totally up to you- there's no perfect age gap- all have there advantages and disadvantages. I would say if ur thinking about having another 1 then go for it- dp wanted to settle at just 2 and i agreed but never felt as content as i do now with 3 (and we're definately not having no 4!)

Hope that helps x

How many babies?

Maddi is number 3 and i think thats our family complete, dp thinks 4 would make it a nice even number but he's not the one who has to give birth lol!
I definately feel more contented this time round, think if we had stopped at 2 i'd have always wished i'd had 1 more x x

Maternity Benefits £500!

You are entitled to receive the sure start grant if you are getting child tax credits at a rate higher than the family element, so basically if you get more than ??545 a year for your child tax credits. You can get the forms from your local jobcentre and just need to get your midwife/health visitor to sign the forms to confirm when you had lo, hope that helps x x

my birth story

Hi girls not been on here since Maddi was born but managed to get some peace so wanted to share my birth story.
Maddi was due on the 16th but like her older sister and brother she didn't want to make an appearance on her due date! On the 21st i went for a sweep and from that night onwards i was getting braxton hicks and not feeling great. I eventually started getting regular contractions late afternoon on the 23rd, was determined to stick it out at home for as long as possible but by 8 p.m. had decided i'd better make tracks to hospital (dd and ds were already away to grannies at this point). After the most horrendous car journey, 1 hours driving on country roads with dp helpfully timing my contractions for me (i'm sure everyone i had he said was quicker than the last lol) we arrived at the hospital where the midwife said i was already 7 cm and it felt like my waters would go at anytime!
The hospital was really busy with 2 emergency sections plus me and another woman in the labour ward so to begin with it was mainly just me and dp. After about 3 1/2 hours of contractions my waters still hadn't broken so the midwife offered to break them for me, i was feeling pretty tired at this point and just wanted things over with so decided it was probably for the best. After that things progress pretty quickly, i was soon fully dilated and starting to push! Maddi eventually arrived at 1.53 a.m. on the 24th of October weighing 8lbs 11 1/2 ozs! I unfortunately tore so needed stitches but apart from that it was a pretty straight forward delivery and i only needed gas and air.
So far she's been pretty good, she's getting antibiotics for an eye infection but thats almost cleared up and breast feeding seems to be going well after having a few initial problems (my right nipple became cracked but after using a shield for a few days its healed up fine, i just have to watch her position on my right side). She's still not into a proper routine at night but i'm managing to get a reasonable amount of sleep so can't complain!
Hope everyone is getting on fine and babies are doing well
Jo + Maddi (19 days) x x

OCT Arrivals bringing it over xxx

Hiya add me please
Maddi Ellen was born 24th Oct weighing 8lbs 11 1/2 oz's, thank u x x

for those that arent first timers

God i was pretty relaxed with no 1 anyway but 3rd time round definately eating loads of things they say u shouldn't, had a craving for bacon and brie sandwichs that i just couldn't resist he he!
As Diane says they keep changing there minds anyway besides in other countries women aren't given the same advice and still have perfectly healthy babies.
Its nice to know i'm not the only one being naughty lol.
Jo 40+1 x x

how long ttc no2?

We took 2 mnth with no 1 and then was pregnant with no 2 at 1st go, didn't even have a period after dd (oops), finally no 3 was 2 mnths again. Dp reckons he has super sperm lol!
You're actually most fertile in the couple of mnths after lo is born hence the reason all these quick 2nd babies, tho i'm not sure how long this lasts. Good luck when you do start trying x x

Posistive and negative......

Niki your not quite right in an emergency they give you O -ve blood if they don't have time to check what type you are as this blood can be accepted by all.
Its quite complicated but as princess says its to do with which antibodies your body will produce, if you are A you will produce antibodies against B so it would be fatal to give you type B blood.
If you are rhesus +ve you could be given -ve blood but someone who is rhesus -ve couldn't accept +ve blood as they produce antibodies against the rhesus factor. Go to www.blood.co.uk (run by the national blood service who deal with blood donation etc) they give a better explaination than i ever could lol!
Jo 38+1 x x

double prams????

lol ajmum, great minds think alike! x x

double prams????

Have you thought about using a buggy board? There's only 16mths between dd and ds so i had a double to start with but once dd turned 2 i used a single pushchair and buggy board, u can even get ones that are more like seats (although i've never used this type myself). It was alot easier when out and about than the big double we had and dd used to prefer it to being stuck in the pushchair.
Our double was a big 3-wheeler (similar to the out n about) which i think would have managed a child of 3+ no probs tho.
Hope tha helps x

my birth story