Hello everybody. I'm having a lazy day. I was going to cut the grass... but it's raining. What a shame!
H007 I'm thinking that no news is most likely good news, though it's inevitable that you will worry till you get a more definite answer from the mammogram!
Good luck to Pamsco and Buffy with GTTs.
Also good luck to Mr Voodoo! Hope he gets the one he wants... or even gets offered both, so they both feel they should up their offer!
I hated maternity pads. Found then very uncomfy, and was much better off with Always nighttime pads, though did go for the regular ones which have a bit of padding - no ultra in those long ago days! I also hate disposable knickers and found that a selection of old gray tatty pants which I was happy to throw away was much more comfy and finally got me to chuck them out! I needed several nighties (I second the getting them from Primark idea. I bought 5 at £6.50 each that button down). I found that milk leakage tended to make them like cardboard after a few hours. This is because I don't like breast pads . I found that because they are absorbant, they instantly draw the milk out, and then because of the plastic backing I was stuck with soggy pads keeping my nipples wet, no matter how often I changed the pads. This soon led to sore nipples starting to crack. I then ditched them and used very thin single layer seamless maternity bras. I found that if I pressed on my breasts whenever the letdown reflex caused a gush of milk it would stop within seconds, and although the bra would soak through, it was so thin body heat would dry it within minutes and the open weave meant that some air could get to my nipples to stop the rot.
I think we are all different, and will swear by different solutions so all we old timers can do for the newbies is to set out a variety of options so's they can use trial and error to see what works for them. I'd advise getting in at least two types of sanitary/maternity pads to see what works best. You'll be fussier in the first week when swelling is an issue, but happy to use up the not-so-good ones in the following weeks, and whoever said to buy lots is so right! Men always seem to get the wrong ones, and have no idea what is similar if the asked for ones aren't in stock, and we will be bleeding for weeks and getting through a lot of them!
What else? Never really understood what cotton wool balls are for when it comes to nappy changing - far too small to be any use in my view. Although I did use them for cleaning slightly gungy corners of baby's eyes, as you want a clean ball for each swipe so small is fine. I used a squirty can of saline solution meant for contact lens wearers to dampen the balls as it is handy, sterile, and the right amount of salt not to be stingy as plain water would be. I didn't use any nappy wipes (or soap in the bath) as we are allergy prone, and used either a roll of cotton wool I could tear big chunks off, or the large cotton wool squares out of Waitrose (with a picture of the most contented baby ever on the pack!).
Having looked at the opening post in the hospital bag thread, I would recommend buying another toothbrush if necessary, as I wouldn't want to rely on remembering to pack one at the last minute when in labour! I also second the bag #3 idea for a swapover if necessary. I'll be doing that! I think I'll take 2 bags into hospital. One for me, and the change bag for the baby for ease of finding stuff.
I'm huffing and puffing these days. Glad to see I'm not the only one to have put on two stone. Mostly in 1st trimester when I ate continuously, and was only sick twice, so it all stayed down! I'd hoped weight would now remain steady, but it isn't, although it's now only incresing by what it should be for the baby week on week. I was struggling up the second (narrow) set of stairs in my house with legs feeling like lead, and DD2 (who is an Imogen btw Poppet!) who was behind me said " FGS, it's like being stuck behind a tractor!"