Trinpy I love cloth nappies, and yes, I used them from newborn with DC2. The beauty of using them from newborn is that you don’t need waterproof overs right away, as they wee so little it doesn’t soak through the nappy! So you get to see that lovely fluff on a cute newborn. My biggest piece of advice to anyone buying cloth nappies is to NEVER EVER buy a birth to potty set before trying them on your baby first! All babies come in different shapes and sizes, and so do nappy brands! Different nappy brands sizing will suit different babies. Try to get hold of a couple of different types first, try a nappy hire kit from a nappy agent, and see which type work for you. I have had so many parents say ‘I tried cloth nappies, and they didn’t work’ and I ask what brands they tried, and they give only one brand name! I loved the fluffy Tots Bots, and was going to use them on my son (DC1)but when he was born, he was very long and, bless him, his little willy poked over the top as the rise was too short (btw Tots Bots suit the more cuddly baby best) so I ended up with Motherease as my workhorse nappy for him, as they have a longer rise. Also, you only need to wash at 60 degrees for the first 3 months. After that 40 degrees is enough to sterilise them. Don’t use fabric conditioner on them, as it reduces the absorbency.
Misty9 I love the colours of Bumgenius – they don’t seem to fade!
Churros Oooh yes – muslins are good newborn nappies! Did you use nippas, or just fold them into a wrap?
Vikki so sorry to hear about your dog.
To everyone considering homebirth, I am a real advocate of it, having had CD1 in hospital (via emergency caesarean) and DC2 at home, and it was such a better experience all round, and if your midwife is keen on homebirth AND YOU WANT IT, go for it! I am ‘high risk’ so am not ‘allowed’ to use the birthing unit and am advised ‘very strongly’ against homebirth. So we hired an IM for DC2 to avoid all that negativity at the birth. It looks very much like I am going to be able to have an IM this time too – so I am super, super chuffed! My IM has agreed a payment plan for after April!!! I am feeling very lucky, and it means I am now going to actually get some antenatal care! We would have gone for a doula had this not come about as I hate the way the vulnerability of any birthing woman, and the naivety and inexperience of a first time mother, is completely ignored in the hustle and bustle of an over-stretched NHS environment, and having someone who is not emotionally attached to you, but knows you birth wishes and can speak lucidly for you and your partner is something, I think, is absolutely essential, especially if you are going into hospital! Churros even a doula on her first attendance will be able to offer you that support!
LeeHandy I love this article – to me, it totally shows why birthing animals seem to suffer less than birthing humans: www.pregnancy.com.au/birth-choices/homebirth/out-of-the-laboratory-back-to-the-darkened-room.shtml. That’s why I am avoiding hospital. But for many people, the comfort of knowing medical intervention is local is enough (but do remember that if you go into an emergency situation, you may still be waiting some time, for example the official guidelines for going from the decision by the consultant to have a caesarean section to the operation being performed is 45 minutes). I just think it is a shame that women’s choices are not supported, whatever a woman chooses!
Ladies, please forgive me my strong opinion, I totally respect a woman’s ability to decide for herself, but I am not announcing this to the world at large, so this is really my only sounding board to focus myself on my upcoming birth!
I don’t get on here often, so you don’t have to suffer me much!
Keep well ladies. Look after those bumps and little ones around you!