Graduated elderberries - 30+ and looking forward to DC1! (Thread 6)

[HazleNutt]

Oh, looks like I wrote the last post! So new thread here where we will see more berry babies and hopefully loads more graduates as well.

Ah well I suppose because I was in surgery for over an hour straight after the birth I missed out on any photos as poor OH was left on his own holding the baby.

We're off to see the breast feeding specialist today to try to find out what is wrong with my nipple phobic baby. She seemed impressed on the phone that I've managed to express constantly for three weeks though so I don't feel like I'm doing TOO bad a job.

Alex I dont envy you will all that work to cope with. Will be worth it in the end though!!

I wouldn't fret re the name either, I have a feeling they will go with something like George, Henry, Edward, James, Spencer etc. I love Spencer...although the OH hated it. Your baby will be yours, to name as you wish. Although people may assume you copied the royals, you can just tell them to do one.

Thankfully I think Prince Harvey Sebastian is unlikely, even our other shortlist choices, Dexter and Riley are far from royal so we have no worries in that department.

Purple you've done an amazing job!!!

Shhh don't tell my OH or he'll shoot me but I've put a picture of Daddy and his Princess on my profile

That is so cute purple!!

I'm dreading it too mother but DH has assured me he will do everything DIY wise from the nursery to loft extension painting etc. So in theory I shouldn't have to lift a finger, with very little nagging!

Now brave honestly, do you mind that your DHs grandmother has the final say regarding the names? And that you are pretty much limited to George, James and similar?

I was watching something about the name (whilst pretending to be nonchalant and not caught up in the hype at all) and apparently granny is very down to earth behind closed doors so they'll only have to inform, not ask permission. Have to say, if I was naming the future king, I'd def go classic - but then that's my taste in boy's names anyway, ours is a classic!

Aww Purple what a lovely picture. It makes you melt when you see them with their Daddy. I will put up a pic of DH with Elodie straight after birth but it's not as cute as yours.

I hope my expressing goes as well as yours, you must be a master by now!

I am taking Elodie to a BF support group tomorrow as I suspect she may have a slight posterior tongue tie which is manifesting itself as reflux-type symptoms occasionally. I am hoping one of the BF peers there can give me their opinion.

Hazle when were you thinking to first try with a bottle of expressed? I have read conflicting views on it but I was thinking somewhere around 6 weeks. I am hope to start expressing as soon as my steriliser turns up in the hope of building up a stash in the freezer.

A holiday to see your family (and RW) sounds lovely, but yes I don't envy packing for the baby.

Does anyone know where there is a good list of really essential baby stuff online? Have been doing some research and don't want to waste money (for example, was just reading an elbow is as good as a bath thermometer if you're trying not to buy too much) But do I need a thermometer for the baby, to check it's temp as someone on the same link is saying you do need an ear thermometer though? So far I've only bought the monkey toy I bought ages ago and a book called 'I love my daddy' for DH to read to it! Need to do some of the more essential stuff!

cavort I'll try that expressing thing in a few weeks as well, or maybe when it gets a bit cooler here - it will be 37 this weekend and I would just worry if Victor is getting enough to drink.

alex I didn't find any really good ones, as so much of the stuff really depends on the baby as well. There have been so many threads here on MN if you search for "what do you really need for a baby", but even there some people swear that they could not have managed without x item, and others say that that item is totally useless and waste of money..

37 - wow! Thanks hazle I'm tempted to just buy the absolute bare essentials beforehand and then I'm thinking I can always order other stuff online if I decide they would be handy afterwards. When do you need a baby monitor from? Can anyone recommend a reasonable brand that works well?

It's recommended that they sleep in the same room for 6 months, even for daytime naps, so I would think you only need the monitor after that. I haven't unpacked mine yet, so no idea how well it works (second hand and some generic one, so probably not the greatest).

Hazle 37?!!

Alex I don't think very much is essential when you first have the baby. So long as you have eating, sleeping, nappy changing, clothing and transport covered most other items are a luxury. Personally I tried not to go OTT with purchases and have only bought an ear thermometer and sensor mat since she was born.

Alex - our other friend with a newborn popped over today and I asked her about a bath thermometer (was worried i was being a bit PFB saying i used mine!) and she said she also uses hers every time and can't tell the temperature without one. I've bought an ear thermometer too in case of illness as they last years, and the effects of a seriously high temp can be so serious (fitting etc).

Cavort - wrote and posted a whole message about expressing but it seems to have disappeared. In short I've been expressing since day one, as Miles was then fed colostrum through a tube in intensive care. Now I express a bottle each morning which he is given by DP before bed each night, generally after I've been feeding for well over an hour - Miles loves an evening cluster feeding session! I've asked midwives and health visitors and all have said one bottle of expressed a day won't cause nipple confusion, and he is taking both very well. Too many of my friends have had babies that would take a bottle until well after 12 months and I would hate that, so decided to keep up the expressing and bottle routine that was kind of forced on us through circumstances in hospital. Tbh I also like the break if gives me before bed!

Thanks janey have just been in with my neighbour and she says she uses one too - but apparently a very cheap fish tank thermometer will do so she's going to pick me up one of those when she goes to that shop next! I'll get an ear thermometer too. Then am going to try and make a practical list with just a few luxury items

Thanks cavort too, it does sound like it's better to go basic then get anything else post birth to save buying lots that doesn't really get used. I like the idea of a sensor mat, a few people have recommended that - I thought that was for a proper cot when they're left alone rather than Moses basket/newborn? Are you using yours yet?

I'm using ours now. With his breathing issues it's been a godsend too for peace of mind.

Oh only use it at night though not in the day!

Are you using a small one for the Moses basket then? Do you get another one for a cot later on or can you use the same one?

This baby stuff is so cute - the little hooded towels are lovely! Uh oh, I can feel my 'saving money and being practical' attitude going out the window as I browse online!

Did any of you get any advice about when it is ok to go swimming after birth? Dr google is all over the place of course and it's really hot here, but I haven't dared to use the pool yet. Of course, I would not jump into some murky river any time soon, but some sources say it's fine to take baths immediately, so how much dirtier can our own pool be?

oh, alex I find those little hooded towels quite useless and DS certainly prefers a proper big towel - he loves his baths, but not getting out, so the bigger the towel the better.

Also, don't get too many tiny clothes in case yours also decides to grow like mine. I have tons in 1-month size, but those are all too small already.

Found this hazle from NHS, haven't read it all but sounds like baby can go swimming really early on? Well, not actually swimming, might be too early for that!

www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1035.aspx?CategoryID=62&SubCategoryID=63

Cross post thanks - oh so not the ridiculously cute hooded ones but just a soft big one? Better remove that from my online shopping basket! Will be winter for me so I can just get a super soft large one.

ah sorry didn't specify, I was wondering about the mother

Oh sorry! Would that maybe depend on the birth itself and healing?

Sorry one more - is this the nipple cream you were all raving about? www.amazon.co.uk/Lansinoh-40ml-Cream-Nipples-Cracked/dp/B0006JLIFG/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1374597850&sr=1-2&keywords=lanisoh

Agree re towels. Def dont need the hooded ones, although they are v cute. Just any if your existing ones will do (just wash first though!). And all the newborn babygrows are getting too tight on Miles now too - I bought one pack of newborn vests and same for babygrows, def enough (although you have to do lots of washing!)