October 2013 - swollen hands, puffy feet and we all need a decent sleep

[roxvox]

Time to start thread #17!

Spreadsheet here

Oh Heffa that is truly and utterly pants! I hope a new job becomes available very soon.

I have been lucky enough to find my antenatal classes useful both times (probably more so first pregnancy) There probably wasn't any information I couldn't have found in a book, but I'm not sure I'd have found the time to do all that research independently. Also made some lovely friends last time, but the refresher course hasn't been so conducive to making friendships.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow Pink

Doobee - what a lovely gesture from your former pupil. You obviously made a lasting impression on her and should feel very proud

ana my only contribution is that cotton pads/balls you can use for wiping baby's eyes/face with cold water. If they get an eye infection (surely not that early) you're s'posed to use boiled water.

I don't remember the hospital giving me anything.

ana...this is as much as I know...

1. I've only used cotton pads for bum wiping and eye/face wiping (basically anything I'd use cotton wool for)

1. Don't know about stockings. Used my own towels last time (don't know if hospitals would provide them if someone didn't have one)

1. I think you're right

1. That's why I'm packing one - prob won't bother to put it on though!

1. I'd love more detail on this too - are they just added to bath water?

My hospital do supply towels and stockings x

Pink I'll be at the Whitt tomorrow from about 2.30, when is your appointment? Sorry about your wee :(

Yep Pink is right - my DD got a bit of a gunky eye a couple of days after we got home and we were advised to wipe it with cotton wool dipped in cooled, boiled water.

We were told it is quite common as babies can pick up some germs as they travel through the birth canal.

ana as far as I am aware the reason for the cotton wool rather than wipes is because they often recommend just cotton wool and water for the first 2 weeks as baby can have very sentisive skin. I believe the nightie is to give birth in, the Pj Bottoms for when you're walking around and want to cover up a bit. The tea tree oil etc is for use on your lady parts if you tear I think (meant to really help).

I have managed to fit everything for me and baby in one relatively small bag.

Tarlia my bottom number is low 80s so I'll see what they say tomorrow. I'm going to get them to give me some dipping things too.

falcon it sounds like you'll have a lovely meal tonight and that's part of what life's about. It's really admirable what your DP is doing and I hope it works out for you.

pinkforboys have you had these results and a GTT before? Best of luck. I hope you're ok.

At my Sheffield GP they have you really narrow, tall specimen pots that were impossible to wee in. In Manchester they've given me wider ones that work much better. Now that I've changed GP again I'm wondering what will happen. I enjoyed getting a pot at reception instead of having to bring it from home in my handbag so I hope the new GP continues in that tradition.

Very minor issue but it's driving me mad that I can't find my towels from last time. I bought some very expensive bath sheets in a dark purple especially for the job (oh the days when I was earning!) and I'm positive they weren't binned, but they have disappeared off the face of the earth.

Bridget have you moved since your last birth, or put a bunch of boxes in an attic? Sometimes random stuff gets mixed together in boxes. That's all I can think of.

Yes, we've moved - think they're a lost cause tbh as I've looked everywhere I can think of. Never mind....sigh....

Has anyone heard about using lavender instead of tea tree oil after birth? A friend told me that works (you put some milk in the bath as well to help it mix, not just float on top apparently) but I've not seen it as a tip anywhere else! Wondering if it's true, because I already have the lavender but would need to buy tea tree!

pseudo I haven't got an appt- I've got to call and hope they'll deal with me on the phone I don't want to cancel my haircut!. What are you in for?

Bridget blame the pesky house-elves. They've hidden my old M&P nappy stacker too!

Consultant appointment. Have you got to call MDU?

Thank you so much for your lovely messages. We'll be ok, we've been through worse! Thanks for the tips on money saving, I'll be checking out that website too.

Good to see I'm not the only one who hasn't quite got the hospital bag packed! And roxvox thanks it's very helpful to know about the 2 week rule for cotton wool and water, I wasnt sure how long you were supposed to wait before using wipes.

Sorry about your towels bridget :(

sephy I've heard that lavender is good too as it has antibacterial properties. This is my first baby though so no actual experience.

Can I ask, do you need to take some sort of bowl for water for cleaning baby's bum? I'm having a c section so won't be able to run to and from a sink.

pseudo She just said to call the team and see what they say. It doesn't help that my notes seem to hold so little info- my GTT results aren't in there, but I know the consultant said they were fine.

I haven't got any record of baby's hr- have you?

My memory of cleaning baby's bum in hospital was just doing it on the bed. The first poo is the merconium- be warned, it's like tar! I was told (afterwards) to wipe vaseline on baby's bum before first poop so it was easier to get off. I hope I remember this time!

Ana
Cotton pads for bum just like wipes. If I'm honest I used wipes last time. And prob will again. I did however use pads to clean DS skin with. There was no where to give him a bath. So i used cotton pads and a cup of water.

Stockings I have from last time, mw told me to keep them as they are expensive n they throw them away. So thought I'd save the nhs a few ££ by reusing! Lol
Towel I took last time. As I'm a bit fussy. But I don't remember being offered any last time. And I think it's on list mw gave of things to bring. So maybe some hospitals don't provide them.

Bikini top is incase I want to go in water.

Witch hazel £1.19. From home bargain. With this stuff (I've heard ppl keep it in fridge but I didn't) u pour a cap full and put it on your maternity pad. It has a nice cooling effect (even tho not kept in fridge)
Tea tree oil is for bath. Few drops. Heard putting it in milk then putting in bath is good as it breaks up the molecules or something.

Tshirts n yoga pants are for after birth.
I think that is everything.

a lil tip for washing mittens and socks. Get a laundry bag. I use one which is for putting bras in the wash.
Mittens and socks get stuck in machine/other clothes and you loose them so quickly.

I also have never been able to pee in the pot. So have a stack of disposable plastic cups and then pour into sample pot.

Oh and heff that sucks! First bills to sort out are council tax (pay less if only one person works). Gas n elec suppliers. Stop using car as much as poss, dh can walk to get shopping.
Check insurance is on lowest rates.
And when I really wanted cut down I wrote down every penny I spent. Including .50p on a packet of crisp. Makes u more aware of your spending.
Babies do not need alot, shop around to mk sure you get cheapest.

Cross posted there Sephy. Yes I've also heard to use lavender. But kinda like u I have tea tree so not going to buy more oil.
Glad u mentioned putting it in with milk. As when I wrote it I thought "did I make that up" lol. Think I remember that the fat breaks it up.

Clapham - was 3 nights before I could comfortably sleep on my left side again after the WC vaccine - so you're not unusual, don't worry.

Heffa - sorry to hear about DH's job. Fingers crossed he'll find another one soon. In the meantime, I would definitely (if you don't already): try not to have any brand loyalty, buy what's cheapest; double check your house/car insurance and electricity/water and switch to the cheapest tariff every year (like ana, this saved us the most money); Money Saving Expert website is amazing.

Apparently we need to bring cotton wool balls and the little bowls to the hospital (they don't put it on the list given to us in our hospital antenatal class, but if you don't bring them they get a bit grouch and have to scrounge random bowls for you). Also, we have to bring towels. Hence why my bag is rather huge.

I really enjoyed our NHS antenatal classes - as you all say, most of it was nothing I hadn't read, but it sticks in the mind better when it's presented in a fun way. Also, DP definitely learnt a lot!

Thanks ananikifo I will give that a go!

Hope you are ok heffa.

That's a great tip about Vaseline I hope I remember it!!

Thank you GT and everyone. I've been wondering about witch hazel for a while. Having worked in hospitals but not being a nurse I was surprised but unsure by the pressure stocking thing. All our non-maternity surgical patients seem to have the hospital issue ones. And all the mums at my work seem to have used wipes from the beginning with their second babies. I was wondering if you needed cotton for some thing else.

Cross-posted with everyone giving exactly the same advice! (so it must be good advice!)

GT - I also found out (the hard way) that little mittens and socks should be put into a laundry bag!

And I would think those cardboard sick bowls would be ideal for washing bums. I have so much to learn...