Jan 2013 part 4: the one where we are closer to the end than the beginning

[PricklyPickle]

Here we go!

Stats: 16 girls, 9 boys, 13 surprises

BuntyCollocks (29) DC2 EDD 28/12/12 She?s a girl!
Pmgkt (33) DC2 EDD 28/12/12 He?s a boy!
Birdies (33) DC2 EDD 30/12/12 She?s a girl!
Pascha (35) DC2 EDD 30/12/12 It?s a surprise!
PricklyPickle (31) DC1 EDD 31/12/12 It's a surprise!
LowLu (31) DC2 EDD 02/1/13
TootieMaroo (32) DC2 EDD 03/1/13
MarasmeAbsolu (31) DC2 EDD 03/01/13 She?s a girl!
Lora1982 (30) DC1 EDD 04/01/13 He?s a boy!
IsSpringSprangedYet (?) DC4 EDD 05/01/13
DollFisher (28) DC1 EDD 05/01/13 She?s a girl!
Allchik (30) DC1 EDD 06/01/13 It?s a surprise!
Pockemuchka DC3 EDD 06/01/13 It?s a surprise!
Happyhow (26) DC1 EDD 07/01/13 It?s a surprise!
EmilieFloge (38) DC? EDD 07/01/13
Complicated24 (44) DC1 EDD 07/01/13 It's a surprise!
Newbie6 (36) DC1 EDD 08/01/13 He?s a boy!
Norfolkinway (25) DC1 EDD 09/01/13
Octanegirl (34) DC1 EDD 09/01/13 He?s a boy!
BumgrapesofWrath (30) DC2 EDD 10/01/13
Kim222 (30) DC1 EDD 11/01/13
Lulabel27 (29) DC2&3 (twins) EDD 11/01/13
CraftyGirly (26) DC1 EDD 11/01/13 She?s a girl!
Cejay8 (32) DC2 EDD 12/01/13 It?s a surprise!
Tinyeyes123 (30) DC1 EDD 13/01/13 She?s a girl!
CreepyCrawly (22) DC1 EDD 13/01/13 She?s a girl!
PixelCarrier (37) DC1 EDD 13/01/13 It?s a surprise!
Shakemyhead (37) DC1 EDD 14/01/13 She's a girl!
Godzookey (35) DC1 EDD 14/01/13 He?s a boy!
PeshwariNaan (33) DC1 EDD 14/01/13
Hormonalhell (40) DC2 EDD 15/01/13 He?s a boy!
DoIgetastickerforthat (36) DC4 EDD 16/01/13 She?s a girl!
Theboutiquemummy (35) DC1 EDD 17/01/13
ChutesTooNarrow (33) DC2 EDD 18/01/13 She?s a girl!
Glorious (28) DC1 EDD 18/01/13
Tugstonia (33) DC1 EDD 18/01/13 It's a surprise!
SpringFlowers (39) DC4 EDD 18/01/13 It?s a surprise!
Eagleray (40) DC1 EDD 18/01/13
13mma (29) DC1 EDD 18/01/13 scan 13/09/12
LetThereBeCupcakes (30) DC1 EDD 20/01/13
Silversixpence (29) DC2 EDD 20/01/13
mulan07 (27) DC1 EDD 20/01/13 He?s a boy!
BadgerFace (34) DC1 EDD 21/01/13 She?s a girl!
PreggoFabulous (30) DC1 EDD 22/01/13 He?s a boy!
Bunny222 (31) DC1 EDD 22/01/13 It?s a surprise!
Bealos (34) DC2 EDD 22/01/13 She?s a girl!
AppleCrumples (??) DC4 EDD 22/01/13 It's a surprise!
Woody2313 (33) DC1 EDD 23/01/13
SigningGirl (?) DC1 EDD 24/01/13
Mrsbugsywugsy (34) DC1 EDD 25/01/13 She's a girl!
SquealyB (29) DC1 EDD 26/01/13 It?s a surprise!
knuckingfackered (39) DC2 EDD 26/1/13
Thinkingpositivethoughts (28) DC1 EDD 26/01/13
MrsMallard (35) DC1 EDD 26/01/13 She?s a girl!
Salt1 (38) DC1 EDD 27/01/13 She?s a girl!
Lilblondepessimist (33) DC4 EDD 28/01/13
MamaMary (31) DC2 EDD 28/01/13 She?s a girl!
Sebsmama (32) DC2 EDD 29/01/13
BionicEmu (26) DC2 EDD 29/01/13
Missymoo (32) DC2 EDD 30/01/13
DiscoDomina (31) DC1 EDD 30/1/13 He's a boy!
Brugmansia (35) DC1 EDD 31/01/13
Mummypud (32) DC3 EDD 31/01/13
PipIsOutNow (27) DC2 EDD 31/01/13 scan 19/09/12

On the subject of nappies it's disposable all the way! There aren't enough hours in the day for anything else! katolla that laundry service sounds great, your right the washing in the early days is a shock and anything that lightens the load is fab, I would have some pampers around just in case as you would b amazed how often they need changing!

I know people choose reuseable nappies for more reasons than just financial but 15 a week sound more than you would spend especially after the first few weeks.

Lots of people who use reusables have disposable nappies for the first meconium poos that have the consistency of tar and then switch after a couple of weeks.

I didn't use reusables mainly because DH was spectacularly unkeen on them so its disposables for me too.

My hospital bag list currently consists of a couple of vests and babygros which need washing to freshen them up after a couple of years in a vacuum bag. Sometime soon I must get round to buying maternity pads, breast pads and other gubbins. And nappies I suppose.

No moses basket here. We borrowed one for DS but he hated it. He spent the first 3 weeks on our chests in the day or in his crib at night. A swinging chair was our godsend that allowed us to both eat dinner at more or less the same time.

Welcome, diecio and pleasenomore

On subject of nappies, we used re-usables with DD but after a year they were done - no longer absorbent. They were supposed to be 'birth to potty'. They were Pop-ins, by CloseParent. Wouldn't recommend them for this reason, even though they are gorgeous and we loved them. I'm a bit hesitant to buy a whole new set of another brand for DD2 since the ones we used didn't last the course.

However, I can honestly say the laundry wasn't that bad - I swear it's no worse than a baby in disposables because disposable nappies tend to leak a lot more, meaning loads of changes of clothes!

You're right, pmgkt you go through so many nappies when they're tiny that I know I will resent using disposables!

Hi

Thanks for your replies, midwife not concerned so just to keep an eye on it and it gets worse or causes pain I have to call back.

X

Welcome diecio and pleasenomore!

It hadn't occurred to me to use anything other than disposable nappies - I expect having a baby to be really hard work and don't want to do anything to make it harder. Plus we live in a small flat and wouldn't have the space to dry them all. Perhaps that's not very environmentally friendly of me.

I'm planning a homebirth, but I wonder if I should pack a hospital bag just in case?

Newbie how are you? I'm sure the bleeding was nothing but it never hurts to get checked out - even if there's a tiny tiny chance that there's a problem.

Tugs how are you now? Don't want to worry you but apparently vomiting can be a symptom of pre-eclampsia so if no one else has it from the food then it is worth getting checked out by the mw.

I had nausea and vomiting on Friday (nausea still persisting) - my pregnancy apps say that because progesterone starts to increase again now, it can herald a return to the queasiness of the first trimester - great

And I know a lot about cloth nappies so ask away! I used Tots Bots fluffles (really quick drying) and Motherease wraps (great fit, no leaking) with ds1. Lots of London boroughs give you a free £50 voucher towards cloth nappies. Worth it! www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk/

I reckon I spent less than £100 on nappies (bought most second hand on ebay) and resold many of them. I can't stand the thought of the landfill disposables take up either. Practically a double decker bus worth for a one baby's use over a few years! The Nappy Lady is ace if you have questions and will work out what the best sort of cloth nappy is for you (for example, what's important? drying time, organic cotton, value, etc). www.thenappylady.co.uk/

I'm planning a home birth too, but guess I should pack a few things just in case.

I my experience they are very stingy with disposable nappies at the hospital and will ask you where your nappies are as they are getting ready for the baby to come out!

I second buying cheap cotton pants instead of disposables!

I had a homebirth with dd and I honestly don't remember packing a bag! Thinking about it though I must have as there is always the possibility of ending up in hospital. in fact I came very close to going into hospital (v long labour placenta then took forever to deliver) which is why I refused to even consider another homebirth!

newbie glad you called and hope all's ok now. Always best to get these things checked.

Thanks bugsy pre eclampsia crossed my mind but my blood pressure's normal so don't think it's that. Am seeing doc thurs and mw fri so will mention it but haven't been sick since last night. Saw my sister yesterday and all her kids are ill so more than likely picked up their bug. Or could be progesterone.

another cloth nappy fan, honestly the washing is no problem.
Previously went for bambinex teddies, sold them as was having no more kids..........

yeah great idea.

so now got little lamb microfibre (very similar to teddies) bout £130 quids worth off ebay for £30 posted, so chuffed, they hardly look used.
The costs and landfill issues are a no brainer,
DD1 potty trained at 22 months and its said cloth nappy kids will often train earlier as they have more feedback from the nappy and obviously as a parent its very motivating to MOVE ON.

I think I'll have to do some research on reusable nappies, like bugsy I always assumed I'd use disposbles up until now.

I had my anti-d injection this evening, they did it in my bum

I've gotta have anti d too.
It was my arm last time.

Last MW appt she said any uterine trauma to go and get a shot, ie a shunt from a trolly in the super market even if no blood.......
Thats freaking me out a bit as I wrestle a 3 year old trying to avoid towel drying every night and various other knocks and kicks throughout your average day with her.
Where to draw the line on uterine trauma.......
I wasnt given such advice last time but also I had a quiet child free existence then so less paranoia ......

Bealos (and anyone else), I've got some cloth nappy questions if that's alright: a fantastically generous friend has just given us the entire contents of her loft including a bag of second-hand nappy stuff. It includes 10 cloth liners, 4 small plastic wraps, 4 medium and 4 large.
How much more stuff will we need to buy?
And do we need to buy the towelling nappy part of the same brand name as the plastic wrap?

Thanks.

I hadn't really thought about nappies other than I would be using disposable ones. Don't think hubby would be keen on reusable ones. Might look into it though.

Ha knuckingfackered I think I may have been watching those Little Lamb nappies. We should coordinate so we're not starting a bidding war against each other for sodding nappies :)

hello dieciocho. From what it sounds like you have the wraps (the outside bit) and then liners which go inside the nappy, so you'll need to actual nappies. This style is called a 'two part' nappy. You can buy shaped ones or flat ones, and in different material e.g. cotton, microfibre (these tend to dry quicker). You can also get 'all in ones' which, I guess, are the most like a disposable. Nappies are held together with velcro, snap buttons or nappy nippas (a step on from the old fashioned pins, these genius things grip the material and hold it together).

You probably need a few more wraps. I tended to do a nappy wash every other day, so I guess you might get through 4-5 nappies a day (can't quite remember?!?). I'd also recommend getting some disposable liners (you can get ones you can flush down the loo with all the yucky stuff on them). Then you pop the dirty nappy (and wrap) into your nappy bucket, lined with a mesh bag. No need for soaking. A few drops of tea tree oil makes everything a bit fresher. Whip the mesh bag out when it's full and straight into the washing machine. Barely any touching of nappies!

The Nappy Lady does a free advice service - you just fill in the form with your needs, what you have already etc. and then she gets back to you with a recommendation (and a discount voucher - but totally no pressure to buy). Can be very helpful.

p.s. no need to buy same brand for wrap and nappy - you can mix and match...

Has anyone started their Xmas shopping yet? Picked up a few bits today for my boys. Ds2 keeps reminding everyone it's his birthday too starting to feel a bit poor!

Also just realised that if this baby decides to arrive a little early (unlikely) then I'll have 2 birthdays and Xmas really close together. The expense!

apple - mine has been finished for about a month

Have just bought this for m niece or nephew, who is due in February, and a Morrck baby hoodie for our DD.

Poor credit card.

Oh bunty I wish! I normally start as soon as dcs go back to school in sept but I just haven't had the energy this time :(

Online shopping is the way forward

Thanks for all the brilliant advice on Moses basket v cot. Also fantastic advice on re-usable nappies so seriously considering that now. Am an avid recycler and I too hate thought of all those nappies going to landfill so it's good to hear such positive stories. You guys know so much. Wonder if I will ever be like that. At moment I feel clueless!

My GP has just signed me off to do a 4 day working week so feel so much less stressed. Can survive on 2 hours sleep a night now I know I can sleep when I want to on Fridays. GP was lovely about it and said I need to conserve energy for birth.

complicated you would be amazed at the stuff you learn I had my first when i was 23 and had never even held a baby! And he's still ok 9 years later! Looking back I really had no idea. You are lucky you have mumsnet!

bunty sadly our finances mean that online shopping is never really an option! Annoying when it would b cheaper if we could (although dp works for tesco so I get as much as I can with his discount) :)

AppleCrumples our family's had a lovely 'rule' recently for Christmas whereby all presents should be either home made, hand made or second hand. I start scouring charity shops now for - yes really! - some really good presents.

That sounds good bealos. Funnily had been thinking of checking out local charity shops, have got some lovely toys there before! Think may get kids to do some projects over half term for family. That has the added benefit of keeping kids busy :)

got some lovely little hats in asda today, they were so cheap I got both pink and blue to go in my hospital bag. I really really wish I knew what I was having, have no patience!