Due Dec 2007 on the wind down?

[suey2]

has this worked?

[thelady]

Wind down indeed!!

More lists coming soon

[thelady]

Things for Mum to think about/stock up on

stock up on basics: washing powder, loo rolls, toothbrush so you don't need to do a big shop soon after the baby arrives
make sure you've got healthy, easy meal options that can be eaten one-handed: rolls and sandwich fillings etc. otherwise you'll end up eating anything within reach!
cook in bulk and freeze stuff for the first few manic weeks

Clothing
aside from the usual stuff
BIG pants (primark, matalan, asda)
lots and lots of cheap pyjamas
primark vests a size bigger instead of maternity T-shirts
get some big pants in case of emergency c-section
Mothercare do some great semi-disposable knickers - you can wash them a few times but they're cheap and you can throw them away after a few wearings.

Feeding
breast pads
Kamilosan / Lansinoh (nipple cream)
Maternity/breastfeeding bra
lots of magazines for when you are up breastfeeding in the night etc
V cushion (great for breast or bottle feeding, and good for your back before when you can't get comfortable)
NCT/La Leche etc. phone numbers
ask the midwife if you can get a lansinoh sample & an incontinence pad for the bed to take away!
glider chair: second hand or ebay
breast pump, steriliser, bottles etc.

Sanitary
lots of always ultra!
OR LOTS of maternity pads - the big, thick old-fashioned type - what I didn't realise is that if you have stitches you need to chnage your pad every time you go to the toilet - you end up needing about a packet a day. Also, the pads are good for cushioning the wound..
Waterproof cover for your bed in case waters break!
Pampers Bedmats - £3 for 7 or something - by the nappies in Tesco

[Ambi]

I hope she doesn't hijack this one too. That's put me in such a bad mood now..

[Ambi]

wow thelady I thought I had everything but the kitchen sink for my lists, but yours are so much better,

[thelady]

No credit due here - I just searched for lists in the past 6 months on mumsnet where folk were asking for advice on what they needed.

The list for the baby is long - clothing, furniture, feeding, out-and-about etc. so I'll wait a bit before deluging you all with that

Then there's the reactions from folk about what not to get - that list is mostly quotes, though, as it seems very personal, so I need to tidy it up a bit more before posting.


I'm ignoring the hijack as best I can: we can always ask for a post to be removed from this list if it really bothers us, can't we?

[Loucee]

Thought I'd post again here as old thread finished!

Morning!

I'm off to the docs today to discuss me not coping at work, I feel like a wimp but am really stressed with a number of issues there and my work station is causing me neck and back ache. Actually I'm REALLY pissed off with my boss but that's a far too long to go into

Thelady - Very impressed with your lists.
Tea tree oil is also very good for stitches, put some drops (and lavender) in a carry oil or in milk then in the bath and wow, very comforting.

congratulations MrsSkidaddle

[MRSskidaddle]

There are lots of good ideas there thelady - the best thing anyone did when we had dd was to bring round two lovely homecooked meals that we just had to heat up. i always do this whenever someone I know has a baby now.

Mattress coverings are also useful when your milk comes in and you are leaking everywhere. I'll never forget having to stand our mattress up to dry and seeing mould stains from my milk which had soaked all the way through our lovely new mattress when dd was about 4 weeks old

[MotherofZ]

loucee - you need to put your health first so don't feel like a wimp. You should have a health and safety check on your workplace area to ensure the way your chair and equipment are is not aggrevating yor condition and if so, it should be put right.

Congratulations MrsSkid!

[suey2]

bright and breezy face on now! enough passion stirring for the day methinks.

off to have coffee with an ex-patient this morning who is about to go back to work after maternity leave. She has a beautiful son called jackomo (what a fab name! she is italian)

then- and sorry girls i am cheating- we are planning to go to peter jones who do a new baby service- you basically have someone go around with you and tell you what you need for the nursery etc, you can order and pay for it and then they will deliver it after we have moved into the new house!

Thelady- thanks for lists- phew! Am i the only one who cannot be arsed with make-up? Or will i really want some to look gorgeous for the 'just born' shots?

[Loucee]

Totally agree MRSskidaddle, I was forever washing my sheets when milk was spraying all over!

Primark have some lovely thick front opening PJs at the moment, I found those great when night feeding as my house always seemed so cold at 1,2,3,4, o'clock etc!

Has anyone been watching "Cook yourself thin"? I'm going to try a couple of the recipes, they looked delicious!

[Loucee]

I didn't bother with makeup either Suey2 but I did wish I'd taken lip balm in, for some reason my hands and lips were always so dry for a few months

[suey2]

good tip, loucee- i have girlfriend who still uses lanosil (sp) for her lips! She says it is the best lip balm ever

[fifisworld]

Just thought id let you know while we've been talking about what to take to hospital etc...Boots have buy 1 get 1 free on maternity pads atm, i got stocked up yesterday.

[suey2]

Will let you know if PJs has any extra suggestions re nursery- now going saturday.
off to see knocked up this pm- god i love weds off!

[mixedmama]

Mornign ladies,

Oh dear, i think it was me who started that conversation about thew DS testing as i was a little upset about how harsh the other thread had been. Am trying to think back but relaly dont think i said anything nasty. Am not going to say anything more as I think that you ladies have covered it. Sorry for putting everyone in that position.

Feel crappy now. That has actually made me cry.

[insywinsyspider]

great list thelady - altho for me I found always ultra just didn't cut it - stick with maternity pads (and if bfeeding change your pad before you feed as your uterus cramps whilst feeding and you bleed more - no one told me that and was stuck with ds latched on feeling horrible)

[thelady]

Great stuff Suey - PJ are meant to be good but not pushy.

Loucee: thanks for the Tea-tree tip, I've added it to the masterlist I'm keeping.

[thelady]

Right folks: brace yourselves. This is the list of Baby Stuff, split into various sections which made sense to me at the time.

put together or try out essentials before you need themNCT nearly new sales are wonderfulAlso Gumtree, Freecycle and Ebayjoin every baby goods club you can: boots, tescos, morrisons, toys r us, formula, babyfood.Keep mementoes in a shoe box and make your own scrapbook

Clothing
Tesco/Sainsbury are better quality than Asda, but Asda run bigger.
H&M do nice stuff
wash half clothes: leave tags on rest so you can take back/sell on ebay
cut legs off too small babygros for summer ? they'll fit for much longer
don't bother with baby shoes until they can walk
Exchange newborn clothes for vouchers to use when they've grown.
Ask for clothing in bigger sizes than NB/0-3
charity shop clothes: boil on cooker with colour run remover to rewhiten
when clothes start looking dingy: tie dye, fabric paint, print iron on transfers on your pc, anything to cover stains
8-12 vests/bodysuits (envelope-neck, short sleeve/sleeveless)
8-12 babygrows (a few newborn, but most 0 ? 3)
socks (for winter babies)
some kind of coat to wrap baby in to go out
cotton hats
baby bundlers- a kind of nightshirt with drawstring at the bottom
slip on/slip off tops and trousers if you want real clothes
ebay clothing bundles!
bibs


Furniture/Bedding/Nursery
paint nursery a neutral colour: then use tester pots and stencils
Cot & mattress:
Blanket x2: (Fleece and cotton ones)
Sheets for cot (put muslin under head of sicky baby to save on sheet washing)
(Old sheets cut in half work well for cot and pram sheets)
cot bumper stuff if you fancy
mobile (Tiny Love musical cot mobile recommended)
Moses basket & mattress:
pillow cases as bottom sheets (use one you've slept on to help them settle)
swaddle blanket
bouncy chair for baby (cheap sort with bendy wire frame that bounces when baby moves)
Mamas and Papas rocking chairs are expensive but great.
fisher price kick and play chair is fab
Electric Swing Chair (best thing ever for when they are a few months old +)
Play centre
door hanging baby bouncers - very popular from about 3-4 months.
Sleeping Bags x 2 (at about 2 months old when she went into her big cot)

Changing/Nappies/Bathing
Keep an eye out for bogof and stock up before baby arrives

One or two 1st size disposable packs (they grow fast!)
wipe-clean changing mat
Baby wipes
white flannels from Ikea/Tescos for baby wipes
cotton wool
Nappy Rash Cream (Sudocrem and Metanium)
Nappy sacks
tommee tippee nappy wrapper, you only have to empty it once/twice a week and stops all the smells, although the refills can be a bit pricey. We get through about one a month.
Changing station (only essential if CS, or use chest of drawers instead)

Some local authorities do grants for reusable nappies - you need proof of purchase.
trial pack of 6 different reusable nappies
tots bots, non-aplix, with a nappy nipper: you can get away with just using size 2 as a birth to potty if you like. motherease rikki wraps are my fav.
only a few nappies in smallest size: they grow v. fast
Polar fleece from fabric shop to make nappy liners
get a big bucket- the bigger the bucket the bigger the gap between washes.

baby bath
bath support/rubber mat for base of bath
The Tigra Bath seat was brilliant
We did buy a M&P bath seat and it was much better than the baby bath.
When DD could sit happily we bought a bath seat from Argos at something like £8
soap/shampoo not needed for first 3 months
towels (4) but use your own not expensive hooded ones
big tub of aqueous cream (moisturiser ? you have to ask for it in Boots, they hide it behind the counter because it is so cheap) for baby after bath
olive oil for baby massage

scissors for cutting nails (or bite if you're worried about cutting baby)
comb/brush if baby has hair

Muslins

Change bag
don't spend 50 quid on a change bag - they're always really heavy and bulky - I gave up on mine after a week. Instead, get a nice big pretty beach bag (plastic hence wipeable), preferably one with at least one pocket with a zip (for purse, keys, mobile etc). Then get a £7.99 folding change set from Blooming Marvellous (other places do similar ones but that's the cheapest I found and it's great).

[mixedmama]

The lady that is awesome. I had made a very basic list so far. being quite anal I have even put check boxes for when i have bought an item and when i have packed it.

[buzzybee]

Mixedmama please don't feel bad. It was actually me who posted the link to the thread. I feel incredibly angry towards eidsvold as I went on the SN part of the site looking for information and support in a time of need (thanks Suey for sticking up for me BTW ), found that thread and suggested you guys look at it as I found it interesting in a scary kind of way - and now she's made MM cry

I hope we can move on from this and continue to take strength from each other. I know for a certain fact that some of the mums who posted to the original thread have gone through the same quandries as me WRT having tests like amnio so I find it quite surprising that they find it so hard to see that there is never one right answer.

I am going on holiday on Saturday so really hope that by the time I get back this exchange will be but a distant memory.

[MotherofZ]

Changing bag - you can get a free one if you join Boots Parenting club and buy pack of Pampers nappies.

[Loucee]

I was trying to ignore the invasion but just wanted to say Mixedmama and Buzzybee don't feel bad, we are here to support each other through our prengnancy journey. We are all adults and have our own opinions, I have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy chatting to you all and never once have I felt anyone has been out of order.

So please don't let it grind you down.

I need to write a big list of things I need to buy so that I can start getting them in, I'm not sure when my maternity leave is going to start now as the Doctor has just signed me off work for 2 wks. I started a thread up about when your work can force you into mat leave but I guess I'll know more in 2 wks when I have to go back and see the Doc.

Hope everyone is having a nice day, I'm off to aquanatal

[mixedmama]

Loucee - sorry youhad to be signed off hun. Did you get an answer to your question? It is horrible if the decision is out of your hands as you know best how you wnat to organise the time.

[mixedmama]

thanks ladies. feel a bit better now. doesnt take much tho to be honest.

i have upset DH by putting DS into bed by 8 pm for the past two nights as i am tryign to get a decent routine going, but of course DH arrives home just after that so is upset DS is asleep which i completely understand, but had to try and explain that when LO gets here we will need that time. He is trying to see if he can get shifts that finish earlier.