December 2013 - waddling slowly onwards

[LadyMedea]

Our new thread!

I'm really regretting that daytime nap now as I'm wide awake. I've just finished the book I was reading so not sure what to do next...

I had a nap too, but I would have really struggled if I didn't! You can't win, at least if you can't sleep, you know you aren't alone!

5am and been awake for an hour! Got woken up by a searing pain in top right side of bump. Felt like I was being burnt from the inside. Ouch.

Hope everyone is sleeping well tonight

I managed to get some good sleep between 4&8am, but that is going to be no help to me when I go back to work tomorrow and need to get up at 6:30!

It is all for a good cause, it is all for a good cause, it is all for a good cause

Right - as we've been talking hospital bags, please peruse the contents of mine and tell me what I'm missing - I'll be having a CS, even if labour starts early -

Button-front nightshirt
2 pairs pyjama bottoms
2 stretchy bras
2 vest tops
Light dressing gown
Slippers
Breast pads
Maternity pads
Huge comfy granny pants
Wash bag with shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hairbrush, toothbrush/paste, facial wipes, toner, moisturiser, paracetamol, codeine, enough of my regular meds to last 5 nights.

I'm not packing baby's bag until 35 weeks as before then he'll more than likely go into NICU for a bit and will neither need nor fit into the clothes and nappies I've got!

I need to put together a 'grab and go' makeup bag.

Don't know whether to change the nightshirt for a bigger one, I can get it on now, I know I'm going to get bigger but it's for after the birth so my belly should've shrunk enough to get it on, right?

feather not necessarily by that much and CS mothers often experience bloating and trapped wind. Are the pj bottoms nice and high and very loose?

I feel like I've been hit by a bus. :( Baby seems to be fairly relaxed at night, apart from wedging herself into uncomfortable positions, so I can't blame her!

They are, yes, there's plenty of room in them now and if I buy any bigger they'll be so big as to be useless by about day 3! I hope I've got the 'big but not TOO big' balance right!

And I have maternity yoga trousers as a standby just in case.

featherbag deodorant & nipple cream and closer to the time don't forget some snacks like cereal bars etc

Ooh ta, forgot it bought deodorant to go in but haven't bought cream yet! Do I remember someone saying Amazon have good deals? Or was it Boots?

Featherbag if you know you could be in for a few days (especially if having a CS) then stuff like book/magazines/kindle and chargers etc. I find that no matter how exhausted I am I find it really hard to sleep in hospital and if I don't have something to distract me time goes by at a snails pace.

Also as I read on here somewhere, vaseline on babys bum makes it MUCH easier to get that horrible meconium off!

feather throw-away paper pants are a good idea- you may only use 2 or 3 but the first few hours/day will be pretty messy - unless you just want to wear old pants that you'll throw away after.

I didn't bother with makeup but then first time only my mum visited us then we were out the next day, second time didn't get any visits as it was so short and I didn't care what I looked like!

I should have packed a spare pair of shoes -lol! As I gave birth fully clothed outside all my clothes got ruined including my shoes and went in a big hospital disposal bag to be incinerated. I had to wear those horrid blue plastic bags on my feet that they pull over shoes as I had nothing to wear!

I'm in such a bad mood- sorry for rant but whenever DH and I argue it's 99% of the time about money. Yesterday I went out for the day with old uni friends- something we do only once a year. He said enjoy it, treat yourself (with some of our weekly money) if you like. So I did- had a lovely day, only spent £20 on myself and bought a shirt in the sale for DS1. Today he has a go at me for spending money 'all the time'. I mean WTF. Now I feel so bloody guilty- I hardly ever buy stuff for myself, I felt guilty doing it anyway but thought it would be nice to have a treat esp as DH is going away on business for a week next week and I'll be looking after the kids. It's not like I went ona massive shopping spree. It really upsets me that one minute he says something like that the next he has a go. Now I feel like taking the bloody stuff back just so I don't look like the bad person spending all our money.

I don't spend a lot, I always try and look out for bargains and cook food frugally and when I occasionally buy something for myself I get shit for it. God, I really can't wait to get a job (which won't be till baby is at least 6 months old) just so I can say I'm contributing and not being a leach on our finances......

sorry rant over, just so frustrated about it....

I bought 15 pairs of multipack granny pants to wear and throw rather than endure paper pants! And iPad and charger will be on the 'grab on the way out of the door' list to ward off boredom. Haven't given much thought to coming home outfit but there'll be plenty of time to get DH to fetch stuff for me.

I bought a 5 pack of granny pants from primark a size up, just don't do what I did the first time and buy white ones, not a good idea! DP was dispatched very quickly to buy black ones to replace them and I think I ended up wearing them them for a good few weeks after DD was born - so much comfier than regular pants!

Also sling a couple of carrier bags or nappy sacks to put dirty clothes in.

Erm, I've just realised my bump's dropped, it looks and feels very low!! I did have a shelf under my boobs leading to a big round belly, but now it kind of slopes! There's no baby right under my ribs! Anyone else get this?

Oh mum, that's rubbish :(
Really not something you need to be dealing with at the moment on top of everything else! Try not to let your DH make you feel too bad though, you're being as careful as you can and not doing anything wrong.

Sorry I haven't been on here for a while (it didn't seem like that long until I realised how many posts I had to catch up on!)
Been busy trying to force myself to do a bit of freelance work this week, which is not easy when I can't seem to concentrate on anything that's not baby-related! On the plus side though, got a letter from the tax man yesterday offering me a £500 tax rebate! Been having a lot of fun daydreaming about all the nice baby things I can buy with it

Seem to be in the same boat as everyone that's feeling hot and struggling to sleep at the moment - woke up around 4/5am nearly every day this week feeling achy and uncomfortable.
And the one night I managed to get a decent sleep, I woke up early because I'd left my contact lenses in and they were making my eyes hurt!
P-brain strikes again!

Really can't wait to start packing my hospital bag (how sad am I?!)
I've only just hit 28 weeks though so it still feels a bit early to be making a start on it...
For those who have done it before, is there anything that's absolutely essential to take? Or anything that's really useless and not worth bothering with at all?!

Feather, how about a towel for you and possibly a flannel? Are you planning to bf? If not some hospitals request you bring your own milk (I believe mine does)
Amazon had Lansinoh cream for £6.66 and pads for 3.33 when purchased as an add on with something else, like the nappies Stom linked, so a good saving if you were planning on ordering something else anyway.

My hospital list is so long the midwives are going to think I'm moving in! I'd post it but you'll all laugh at me

mum, I can see why you are upset and frustrated, I would be too. Does he even realise how he's contradicting himself?

I will get round to posting the freebie links when I have access to a computer later I promise.

I am planning to bf but might get an SMA starter pack with bottles just in case.

Will add a towel, thanks!

mum that's horrible, money always causes arguments. Don't feel guilty, especially if you've bought something for DS.

feather mine has dropped I was really round from the boobs down and now it's all compact around the tum. Feels as though I've shrunk!!

Morning all

Sister and baby OK at the min. Fingers crossed it stays that way for them!

Havent started my bag yet to be honest, but am only just over 28 weeks too so no big rush I don't think. Just taking the bare necessaties in with me. Hate hospitals and anything I do take in will go on a hot wash as soon as I get home, or straight in the bin! Will buy a couple of cheap nighties, a new pair of slippers and am taking my old dressing gown as it has seen better days and can be binned lol. Will chuck a pair of cropped mat leggings in as PJ bottoms, a pair of normal mat leggings and top to come home in and half a dozen pair of big knickers. I'm wearing bfing bras already so will try and go in with a black one on to give birth in (along with a vest top that can be binned) and chuck a clean one in my bag. Will also get a bag of mini toiletries ready, a towel and flannel and a little bag for baby.

Baby will have towel, vests, babygro's, hats and a couple of blankets. His coat will sit in car seat ready to be put on just to come home in. Though he will be coming straight from hosp to car which DP will have to bring around so may not even bother with coat as its not like he will get cold wrapped up in a blanket. Will see. Have a big fluffy pram suit but that may be too warm for car, so may just do a cardigan over the top.

Not panicing yet. Intend to stay at home as long as poss so will have plenty of time to start shoving stuff in. And if its a rush and I forget something can always get sister (who has a key) to dig it out for me and bring up.

My bump keeps changing shape too. My shelf gone, bump more pointy and lower down now too. Can breath a bit better though and I don't think he's sat on my bladder as much as I don't keep thinking I need a wee, and a few drips coming out lol.

Lovely day here. Me and DD just been up to ponies, given them a good brush and a pamper and dug their winter rugs and stuff out. Am lucky in that they live on my best friends yard so she does them for me twice a day and I only have to go up when I want to. Which is nice over winter lol. But its been lovely this morning just having pony cuddles and snogs! They are both very gentle around my bump too and Ros, the girl pony who has had a foal herself blows on it through her nose and snuffles it with her nose. Very, very cute! Just hope this baby likes ponies as much as DD otherwise me and DD will be going to ponies at a weekend and DP and baby will be off doing football or whatever he decides he likes!

Only thing about boys around ponies is they tend to be braver than little girls. So whilst DD at 9 is happy to tootle around on them, boys tend to want to jump and gallop which am not sure if my nerves will take. And can see my ponies being a bit dischuffed if they have to actually do any hard work lol.

Hello everyone!

frouby so glad your sis and baby are okay. Must have been terrifying for everyone involved.

mum that's pretty harsh of your DH. Perhaps he is just stressed, which I know isn't an excuse, but it does do strange things to people.

I have just got home from London after DP did his half marathon. He ran 13 miles in 22 degree heat the mental bastard! Raised £400 for charity doing it though, and I got free posh m&s sandwiches while I waited for him to finish. Bump really does not like the underground though. As soon as I got into the stations it went crazy kicking and didn't stop till I was above ground. No idea what was making it go so mental, perhaps the air pressure? I also seem to now get travel sickness too which is fun! I wanted to sleep on the way there and back but every time I closed my eyes for more than 5 minutes it felt like the car was spinning and I was nearly sick. So weird.

Hope you've all had brilliant weekends.

So pleased your sister's doing well Frouby! Well, I made myself paranoid about the nightshirt not fitting so I took it back and got one 2 sizes bigger, that'll DEFINITELY fit! They also had a different patterned one half price so know have 2, feel better now.

I have bought two swimming tents from figleaves with the intention of sending one back. I just hope it is just one I send back and not both :(

I am going back to work tomorrow after two weeks off sick and I am a little nervous. At the moment I am exhausted after a couple of hours out of the house, let alone the 12 hours I face tomorrow! but we shall see. I would say, early night and a good night's sleep, but that isn't going to happen! not unless a miracle hits. I am aiming for 5 hours and that should be enough.

I hope your weekends have had some good moments that make you smile, you have made up with loved ones, sick are getting better and your babies are sending you all their love through kicks and headbutts :)