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Original poster

February 2014 - We've got big bumps and we cannot lie...

999 replies

DawnOfTheDee · 29/11/2013 19:44

You other mothers can't deny,
When a girl walks in with an ever expanding waist
And a round thing in your face
You....'d better give her some cake....

etc, etc,

New thread! Enjoy!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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LovesToBake · 11/12/2013 12:00

Tiny that list of bedding sounds spot on - it will certainly be sufficient to get you going in the first couple of weeks and if you find you need anything else, you can always buy extra bits. Your washing machine will no doubt be on every day as well which helps! We're using a Moses basket initially (so no bumper) but will have a bumper in the cotbed that we hope to move the baby into around 8-12 weeks. There is a fair bit of advice against using bumpers these days but I think you just have to be logical about it, see what's right for your baby and what you're comfortable with. My DS was (and still is) obsessed with having soft things around his face when he sleeps. So even now he will often squish himself up next to the bumper with a comforter or a couple of teddies over his face as well! But when they're tiny they can't move or roll in their cot so can't see why it would be a problem as long as the bumper is really secure and tucked down between the mattress and side of cot.

Re. breast pads - I would say you'll definitely need to wear night time nursing bras partly so you can secure a breast pad in place and partly as with the massive boobs you get when your milk comes in, it will feel more comfortable. So I would say you'll probably get through at least 2 pairs of pads in 24hrs at the beginning, maybe more depending on supply/leakage.

laura0007 · 11/12/2013 12:01

Lol marzi! You guys know me so well! Grin

Julietee · 11/12/2013 12:06

Tiny The reason I read for bumpers being bad is that they can push themselves up against the bumpers and suffocate. Which is why you see baskets/ cots with cloth sides advertising that the material used is breathable.

EeyoreIsh · 11/12/2013 12:07

marzi I'll be achey then, soon to be replaced by bouncy in a few days I hope Grin

tiny that's pretty much what I've ordered for bedding. Does anyone use waterproof sheets under normal sheets?

misskatamari · 11/12/2013 12:16

Oooh what are the flannel sheets for? Are they for on top of baby? I haven't got any of those yet - but did just buy a couple more fitted sheets from home bargains Grin.

For those who have done this before - Is it best to maybe get one nursing bra in prior to having baby or is it okay to get more? How massive do your boobs go? And do they stay that big for a while (hence needing a bigger bra) or do they go huge then go down quite quickly?

I don't want to buy loads of bras that will end up not fitting me, but also want to be prepared as I imagine the last thing I'll want to do with a new born (and potentially explosive boobs!) is go and buy bras.

tinypolkadot · 11/12/2013 12:43

I bought a mattress protector eeyorish which is waterproof, but that's for the cot bed - just wondering if I need to get another one for when I need to wash it.

Misskat the flannel sheets are a mistake on my part Confused I think I thought they were fitted and ordered the wrong ones, but i'm going to keep them as they should be ok for layering and I can always tuck them into the mattress as a bottom sheet if I need to.

Interested in bra advice too...

lastnightopenedmyeyes · 11/12/2013 13:22

Before having DS I didn't leak milk once. A tiny bit of bright orange colostrum at 34 weeks but nothing to wear pads for. When my actual milk came in on day 3 all that changed, and for the first few months I was literally going through around 10 pairs of pads a day. I tried all kinds of washables but they just couldn't cope with the leakage. Typically the only ones that worked were the most expensive ones, Lansinoh. Hmm

Needless to say I've stocked up in preparation. No leakage at all yet so I'm expecting the same thing as last time.

LovesToBake · 11/12/2013 13:27

I'd second the recommendation for Lansinoh breast pads - they were the only ones that worked for me too. They're almost like nappies in the way that they store the leakage in little sealed off areas so you stay dry, unlike the cheaper ones that just leave you with a soggy pad on your leaking boob. I'm probably in denial about how many I got through in those early weeks/months - 2 pairs per day is probably what it settled to a few months down the line, and at that stage I found the washables worked well.

lastnightopenedmyeyes · 11/12/2013 14:01

Yes that sounds the same as me lovestobake Wink

misskatamari · 11/12/2013 14:15

Gosh we're positively glamourous now aren't we - post birth were gonna be sat around in giant pants, maternity pads and breast pads, leaking everywhere!

EeyoreIsh · 11/12/2013 14:19

And apparently without time to shower!

I was a bit Shock at nct when it was suggested that I prioritise my crying baby over a shower. I was thinking a few minutes wouldn't make that much difference but apparently it can. I am going to be on a really steep learning curve!

LovesToBake · 11/12/2013 14:25

That seems a bit like scaremongering to me eeyorish! I shower and wash my hair every day and that certainly didn't change after I had DS. They sleep loads so even if it's not convenient to have your shower first thing, there will be an opportunity.

misskatamari · 11/12/2013 14:43

I've got plenty of head scarves at the ready just incase Grin or my trusty hat!

Sassy20 · 11/12/2013 15:15

Well that's me finished at work till end 2014 / beginning 2015!!! Grin

lastnightopenedmyeyes · 11/12/2013 15:16

My solution to showering was bouncy chair in the bathroom with me. Sometimes he would be screaming and I'd have a 60 second shower, other times it was fine. Some days I didn't get the chance to even think about showering!

EeyoreIsh · 11/12/2013 15:16

Thanks for the reassurance loves!

Yay, well done sassy Grin

LovesToBake · 11/12/2013 15:36

Congrats Sassy - how does it feel?

LovesToBake · 11/12/2013 15:38

Eeyorish in fact I specifically remember a lovely phase once we were in a bit of a routine (after the first mad few weeks) where I would being DS into bed with me for the first feed of the day (say 7am or something like that) and would feed him lying down for about 30 mins so I could semi-doze. He would always fall asleep straight off the boob and I'd make sure he was safe and cosy in middle of the bed, then slip out for a shower.

Julietee · 11/12/2013 16:13

I think he has been on my bladder all day as I've needed a wee constantly, then hardly anything comes out when I go Blush

Thingymajigs · 11/12/2013 16:16

Of course you have time for a shower. Don't listen to them, it's scaremongering. My eldest was the most demanding baby in the world and I still managed to shower daily. I used to put him in the bouncer next to the bath and let him have a cry so I could see he was ok and could still get on with my shower.
Great to hear some people are starting maternity leave. We are getting close!
I'm wondering if anyone is experiencing period pains. They started today after hearing some bad news, nothing major but a little stressful. Anyway, I'm thinking the stress might be triggering some cramps just wondering if this was normal.

lastnightopenedmyeyes · 11/12/2013 16:22

Thingy I've been suffering with excruciating period pains, I posted on fb about it. Confused

Thingymajigs · 11/12/2013 16:36

I saw a post about backpain. Is that part of cramping too? Perhaps these are just BH contractions without the obvious tightenings? I struggle to remember how they felt in previous pregnancies. Baby seems to be having a party in there so I know he's ok anyway.

lastnightopenedmyeyes · 11/12/2013 16:42

Midwife reckons it's just the pressure of the baby on the uterus/cervix causing my 'period' pains as she's starting to engage. She says 'it's all encouraging'.

jazzcat28 · 11/12/2013 16:42

Re nursing bras, at my NHS bf class yesterday the instructors said if you go to John Lewis/Debenhams/Mothercare/M&S for a specific nursing bra fitting they will measure you then go up 2 cup sizes as that is how much bigger your milk-filled breasts will be! So I am thinking that is a nice shopping trip for me to do in Jan when I've stopped work.

Had GTT today and anti-D. GTT gunk was disgusting. Almost made me throw up. They said if I don't hear from anyone by Monday lunchtime all is ok. Have midwife appt Monday pm and so hopefully she will see the results on the computer. Anti-D was painful. Came straight home and ate cake and had nails done.

Just ordering bedding from Mothercare. Am bamboozled. We are using moses basket then cot. I have 4 moses basket fitted sheets already. So figure I need blankets. But it appears you can get them in moses basket size and cot size. If I get moses basket size surely they will only be used for a few weeks? But if I get cot sized will they be too big for moses basket?

Argh! My red glittery nails for Christmas are cheering me up amid confusion.

Yay for mat leave starting for some of you! Can't wait til I'm off now.

Sassy20 · 11/12/2013 16:45

Lovestobake - not sunk in properly yet. Don't think it will till Monday when is normally be at work.

Re showering I'm another one who had dd in bouncer in bathroom while I bathed or showered. If baby cries for a bit while you have a shower it's fine and let's face it you need showers to wake you up and keep you fresh!