November 2012 - nearer the end than the beginning

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1494588-November-2012-nearly-halfway-there

Stats list: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1485512-November-2012-Stats-List

General guide for layers is one more than you.

You may not get an outie. I never have.

Thank you, Valium! You are a champion.

don't worry, someone will be along soon to say I am spouting a load of shite.

There is no right or wrong way. All babies really need is love, warmth and nourishment.

Highly recommend babygros up to a year, layered up with vests and cardis as needed.

Valium I think that sounds about accurate. I don't understand the whole gro bag thing though. When I had ds 13 yrs ago they weren't around. Do you put a cover on top of the gro bag, if not don't their arms get cold, or does it not matter because their arms will come out from under a cover anyway? I definitely agree with All babies really need is love, warmth and nourishment.

Breastfeeding in public was a bit of an issue for me before I did it, but once DD was here, I couldn't have given a rat's arse who saw me doing what. After all, I'd had my legs akimbo with 3 women staring at my bits giving birth to her, so who care's who saw my nipples?!! So, I would just unbutton discretely, get her latched on carefully and nobody saw a thing. Happy to do it wherever, whenever, BUT if I was out 'in public' i.e. a shopping centre or coffee shop, I would either use the baby feeding rooms (some are lovely, like the John Lewis or general Food Court ones at Bluewater) or use my cover up I bought (they have loads on Amazon). This way it was very discrete, although I guess the big cow-print thing did kind of give away what I was doing... At baby groups, at home, at relatives, friends, I just got on with it. After all, its the most natural thing in the world. I do have a friend who spent the first 2 weeks almost of her 2nd DD's life ensconsed upstairs feeding her, despite only really having family and close friends visiting her. So, I guess it goes to show that everybody has their own personal 'limit'.

YellowWellies I didn't say it was an urban myth - just said it was a new one to me. I haven't read anything about that in any of the literature throughout my DD's pregnancy, any of the NHS documentation about SIDs or travelling, or caring for baby, no MW has ever flagged it up before. You are literally the first person to ever mention it. HOWEVER, I am not saying it isn't the case, but perhaps its only really an issue for premmie babies? Afterall, my DD was trying to look around the delivery room minutes after she was born, lifting her head. I also sit directly opposite a big SIDs display about layers, sleeping position etc. when I wait for my MW appointments at the local children's centre, and anything about car seats would have stuck out, because, as I say, I'd NEVER read anything about it before. If you feel its a relevant risk, that's your decision to judge for your baby, I was just saying, I thought it might have been mentioned by a HCP or somebody before now if it was a big risk to most babies...

Gro bags do not work for every baby, but I think they are fab. They come in different togs, and sizes, and you layer up or down according to temp of room. It is recommended not to use blankets on top, but I did when camping. If hot summer, just a vest and 0.5 bag, then in winter a long sleeved vest, baby gro, and 2.5 bag. Babies are safer being cooler, you can check their heat by putting a hand down their back. The genuine gro bags come with a room thermometer and handy chart giving advice re layers.

More expensive than blankets, but they cannot kick them off, or put them over their heads, and nappy changes are easy enough.

I found them to be a great trigger for sleep time, and if you put them in before last feed, they will be all cosy and less likely to wake up when you put them in a cold cot. It makes babies easier to handle for night feeds too, as they stay all wrapped up, and less likely to drop them than in a blanket in your half dazed state.

I got mine off eBay or in charity shops as they are about £25 new. Good idea for gifts if you want, and they sell on well on eBay.

I know detective prefers blankets. And she is a professional baby person.

I have heard a lot about car seat dangers for new born babies, and how heavy thier heads are and how weak their necks are but for the life of me I do not know where i read it all. I am a member of several groups on facebook so maybe i read it there somewhere. I know everyone feels differently about it though. I read something about it being the same for an adult to wear a weighted helmet and sit at an angle ie their necks would be pulled forward unconfortably. I know you are advised not top let new borns sleep over night in a car seat.

I love the grow bags/sleeping bags as they cannot be kicked off. they are pretty expensive though so I keep my eye out for sales!

DS still sleeps in his grobag,, he's 21 months now. Used blankets at first but once big enough switched, as blankets kept coming off, hard to get tucked in and not wake him etc. I think he started associating grobag with time to sleep, now am a bit worried about how to move him into a big boy bed as think he should have a proper duvet then, but not sure how he'll like it! I generally use long sleeve vest and sleep suit if v cold, shorter vest and sleep suit when a bit warmer, and just long sleeve vest or even short if v warm.

So with the gro bags they don't wear anything underneath apart from a vest and nappy.

You can layer up with sleep suits if colder.

When I put mine into bigger bed, I put the duvet on them whilst still in cot so they got used to it in a familiar safe place, then did the move. With summer coming, that would be the ideal time, if we ever get a summer that is.

Thanks for the info

I was planning on grow bagging!!! Seemed easier and safer? Plus Im rubbish with sheets lol!! But never had a baby so don't know. Dont think you can use the grow bags on new borns though?

The grow bags/sleeping bags are different togs (like duvets and regular sleeping bags) so you can use light ones for summer and warmer ones for winter, some come with sleeves I think. I used to just put dd in a nappy and a grow bag in the hot hot summer (we're in Sydney) and now its cold at night she is in a full baby grow and warm sleeping bag and a conforter on top. Sometimes I also layer her up with a vest of it feels freezing. I do try and err on the safe side and alow her to be cool rather than over heat, as I have a fear of her perhaps becoming too hot at night.

I found knowing as much about SIDS recommendations as possible helped me stay calm about it all. The more you know the more you can feel confident you are doing the best thing!

I personally steared clear of anything in the cot, no bumpers and no toys, but of course each to thier own. I never got a cot mobile either as DD was a great sleeper and I worried it would over stimulate her! Every baby is different though and some love them especially if they play a little tune as it can soothe them.

I cannot wait to be 6 months pregnant as I feel I can start to count down then, and really try and picture November and a new baby!!

Well, this is good!

I think we are going to be using a Moses basket at the end of our bed. For daytime naps do I lift the basket down stairs? We are going to be getting an Uppababy Vista pram thing with a carrycot so do you reckon baby could sleep in that during the day?

Ask me anything at all about children between 11 and 18 and I'm a genius!

horselady I'm not too sure but my little dd loved to be swaddled when she was a new born so I swaddled her up in a muslin (it was hot and summer time), I think there are some swaddle-type sleeping bag thingies out there that some people love. A baby sheet or flannelette type baby sheet is also good for swaddling! (tucking their arms in nice and tight so they feel safe and contained. Although some babies love thier arms out!! or just one arm out. It is supposed to stop them doing the 'startle' reflex. Babies are born with loads of different and wierd reflexes, I found it all fascinating. Like the reflex to suckle etc.

Some moses baskets advise that the handles are not suitable for carrying the baby around the house. Wierd! But I'm sure common sense can be used and that moving a moses basket into the lounge is probably fine. I used to put dd in the carry cot part of the pram when I wanted her nearby. Or unclip it gently if she had fallen asleep on a walk!

iheartpasties the whole reflex thing is incredible. At our scan, baby was yawning which I found amazing - there is no air in there but still baby feels the urge to yawn.

I used Moses basket upstairs and pram downstairs initially. I would never carry a baby in a Moses basket or carrycot personally.

Little ones need swaddling. You are taught how to do this in hospital. Once they are happy having their arms out, and so long as they are big enough, they can go in a gro bag. Wish they did adult size ones.

detective hope ur feeling better now and the tightening subsides.

passmethecrisps I'm the same! Squeamish about the potential of my belly button popping out and prudish about breasts feeding in public . I have no issues with other ppl doing it and always been pro it but now the thought of me doing it scares me! Def not breastfeeding in front of parents nor our male friends . Think I will be ok in front of gfs and of course hubby.

Thinking of expressing and mixing breast feeding with bottle feeds. Have any non first timers done this? Was told by my midwife this is fine but should breast feed solely for the first couple of months so baby gets use to breast otherwise baby will get lazy and will only take to bottle.

I think when you are faced with a screaming hungry baby, and you know you are just a boobie away from peace, you will not think twice about whipping one out, no matter where you are and who is there. The feelings you will have for this child will be unbelievable - nothing can prepare you for the strength of emotions. You would die for this little creature, and happily so. Getting over anxieties of whipping a boob out pales onto insignificance.

With mixed feeding it is important to establish feeding first, but also not to leave introduction of bottle too late. You will know when you are both ready, and you can always ask MN for advice. I expressed like a dairy farm with both, and built up a great frozen supply for when I went back to work.

I only ever gave them expressed milk in the bottle in the evening when their need is greater and your supply is lesser, used to express about 10mls off both boobies at start of feed otherwise they would bet shot across the room with the force of the flow, and then get what I could out of them at the end. Never give the bottle yourself as kids are not daft. Bottles are easier for them, always use as slow a teat as you can, and make sure they associate you with the main meals.

Is it worth buying one of the swaddle things?

Not necessary, as you can swaddle with anything, but I did buy a couple of swaddle pods, like jersey socks that you just roll up them, with little pockets for their arms. Soo cute. I will try to find a link...