July 2014 - Here comes the 3rd trimester, hold on to your knickers! Thread 6

[ZingWatermelon]

hope you like the title!

ItsAlways I haven't done a birth plan but am getting anxious about baby coming early or being admitted to.hospital due to BP issues.

Thanks plate thats why I've started cos I want to try and finish shopping this week

Thanks plate we obviously share similar tastes in names! Thanks for posting hospital list looks very similar to mine- including jelly babies, flapjack but also sorren!(dh loves/lives on the stuff!)

pixie we still need cot and moses basket mattress- last 2 bits really, just need to go ahwad and order really not sure why haven't...

mrsc I was thinking the same about thread flying through! Great that so busy- can't wait until June and will be less than a month!

Oh meant to add mrsc hope all is ok with fluid in scans etc

That makes sense maggie - in fact you and plate have inspired me to actually write things down this weekend so we know what's left to get. I think we're basically ok baby stuff wise but it's all the things like nappies and things for hospital that I'm not sure about.

mrsc sorry I missed your post, sounds a bit scary! Hope everything is ok.

ItsAlways its the little things like sheets and nipple cream I keep forgetting and I'm sure DP would cope if he had to get them but I'd feel better knowing we have them. My birth plan is likely to contain things like "be careful moving left leg" rather than anything too interesting anyway!

2 things from our antenatal class to bear in mind:

1. For first timers the cervix is expected to dilate half a centimetre per hour once in established labour (over 4cm) so still might take over 12 hours before the pushing stage (so you might need more food than jelly babies and flapjacks)

2. If you have an epidural you're not allowed to eat so take energy drinks to keep energy levels up and make sure you eat regularly beforehand (don't think "I'll eat once the baby gets here" as it may be a while)

I've read on here women saying you won't have time to read etc but midwife and friends have said to take some sort of 'entertainment' as you could be bored

Thanks all! Best advise re labour i have is just go with the flow, entertainment wise, i had a 30 plus hour labour with dd, have to say i wasn't concentrating on books or anything just my breathing. Food wise they gave me co codomol for beginning made me vomit horrendously so i didn't eat, but i had been told not to have anything heavy and energy drinks. I was very paranoid about pooing the bed. Its actually all i kept talking about to the midwife apparently its very common so i didn't want to have anything heavy just incase the inevitable happened! Hospital bag i have shower bag, roll on deodorant was one i had to remember, sanitary bag (maternity pads, breast pads, nipple cream, maternity pants) for bambino ive got half a packet of nappies, cotton wool balls and pads, sudo (not to be uses according to midwife but experience telling me otherwise) and one thing i would say is i have got antiseptic square wipes for chord, not recommended by midwife at all, just water they say, but with my dd cleaning with water was obviously not cleaning she had an infection had to be put on anti biotics at days old and she was very very poorly because they were too strong. I also got cheap night shirt primark have some for £7, seen some in Tesco too, slippers hair dryer towel 5x vest, bib babygrow, muslins, mits, hat, blanket and cardigan and coming home outfit black maxi dress and sandles, if its not too warm will throw in a cardigan! Wow sorry for the novel!

Thanks MrsC its good to get all the different perspectives on what to take.

How many breast pads, maternity pads, etc?

I got my nightshirt in primark for about £4/5 both dark colours. I was thinking maxi dress and flip flops being the easiest coming home outfit (nice that its the summer).

Re: the entertainment I think its one of those things that if you have it then you don't use it but might miss it if you don't have anything to do. My friend had her first child before smartphones and she said it was horrendously boring so I guess even if you have a smartphone you have something to do!

I guess I arrive at the hospital in clothes and then change into my nightie at some point?

Heh. Just got my copy of the letter the consultant anaesthesiologist sent to the obgyn consultant. She suggests due to my food allergies I'd be best kept away from other patients! She's being uber-cautious and I find it so sweet and so amusing.

We went to Ikea and got everything on my list (cotbed, mattresss and bits) and all the food too. I may have gone slightly overboard but it's such a blasted trek to go there we rarely bother.

Keep the lists coming - they are very helpful!

For those who like me are not very pink, someone recommended H&M and BabyGap. I had a look and I'd have to say I agree - more colour choice + less princessy. Also Polarn O Pyret is good - and often sold in bundles by size on eBay. Very primary colours, fun graphics, pretty durable stuff.

ismarah we're going to get our cotbed from Ikea when we get one (and I'll have to stop by the food...)

Helpful hint..... When your baby is born you will prob religiously do their buns with cotton wool and water. There is no need though, as long as wet wipes are unscented you'll be fine :)

Keep the recommendations coming, this is great!
We've just been for lunch with some mates and their 3 month old, and they've given us an amazing goody bag or nappies, wipes, Lansinoh, maternity pads and... chocolate!

iaboh yes when DS born you could tell the 'already parents' by practicality of gifts-lots of them brought as pack of nappies, infacol, tub of sudocrem or similar along with their actual gift iyswim :)

So DS was up loads last night (think teeth?) and we've had friends here all day who've just left. DH has already fallen asleep on the sofa and we're trying to calm an over-tired over-hyped DS with some cbeebies before bed. I'm about to crash in a heap!

Maxi dress sounds like a great idea for going home outfit-that's the one thing I missed out of my hospital bag with DS so had to instruct DH about what to bring and ended up with quite a random outfit which I then had to face all the family in who had descended on our house before we even got home!

TMI alert I have just taken off my bra and trousers, leaving only a dress and pants. The relief is immense.

I've been writing my hospital bag list and completely forgot about nappy sacks, oops. DS4 was a summer baby and I found bottles of water that had been frozen really nice as it was really hot on the ward.

I finally found a pair of trousers that fit/sit comfortably under the bump & for only £20! theyre linen & plum colour & have a nice jersey sort of stretchy waistband with drawstring. they're "South" on Very website. well pleased I have an alternative to the 2 pairs of now too small topshop skinnies at £40 each. prepregnancy I was a 28" low rise waist fit with a 30" leg, a size 12 in these linens fit.
have started to pack hosp bags;
have a nice new navy bath towel only £4 in asda for after birth shower,
flipflops incase of manky showers & can be used in place of slippers,
have big cheap mat pads from superdrug,
some breastpads incase milk comes early/heavy/leaks,
stretchy jeresy pj bottoms. going home outfit prob dark tracksuit bottoms & a tee as we only live 5mins from hosp. some oat so simple bars incase of hunger in between hosp food/meals. cooling spray. paracetamol.

need some nursing vests - prob h&m ones I've seen,
still need a labour nightie, lanisol (sp), washbag essentials&small mirror/hairbrush. will wash baby stuff and pack it along with water wipes& small pack of nappies & baby nail clippers.
anything else needed?

11th june is last day of work, cant come soon enough, have to train my replacement who is twice my age & huffs like a kid. dont know how im going to get through next 2&half wks spending 8hrs a day sharing a desk with her :(

Ladies hopefully you can help with something that is playing on my mind......

DD was ELCS at 38W I am now 32w I work 26 miles from home and the hospital is in between work and home - when do I start carrying my overnight bag in the car??? Also am going to parents tomorrow for an overnight stay do I need to take anything just in case or am I being paranoid???

Think this stems from a rather horrid dream the other night ... Dreaming I started bleeding ( have had 3 mc's) in the last 2 1/2 yrs - I got up to wee and could have sworn I saw blood in the tissue - I think it was in my mind as nothing since and I have been wearing small pads to keep an eye ..... Am I going mad??

Quite possibly pixie :)

If you're getting nervous there's nothing wrong with making up a bag for the car now. Think you've got a way to go but if it eases your mind go for it.

pixie had similar thoughts as we have come on holiday this week- am 34 weeks. In the end I've bought my notes and maternity mat for bed -really is far too early to think about anything else I've decided. Dh did comment on how full car was with just our stuff let alone all future holidays with baby stuff too! I just d and agreed!

I think I have most bits for hospital bag now just need some pjs,flip flops and would like a black maxi dress to come home in. Will pack bags sometime between next week and going on maternity leave. Love that only have 3 weeks left and loads to do which means will fly by.

mummy hope training goes well and your cover stops huffing. Just keep smiling at them and try not to let it get you frustrated!

ismarah I regularly get home, strip off and sit with my belly out! Just too comfy!

mummy you may need an extra nightie in case you need a catheter after birth. Someone on another thread mentioned dark flannels to dry your bits as they're easier to wash than a whole towel.

Do we get meals while we're in labour provided? I assumed we didn't...

this thread has some handy tips for stuff after birth...

pixie no harm in taking some stuff just in case to make you feel betterif nothing else :)

DP said his parents have offered for us to go visit for a weekend in the next couple of weeks (they're in France) was I mean telling him not to be stupid?

Auntie Maybe a little? I assume you'd drive or take the Eurostar so it might not be that long a journey and relatively comfortable - a nice little break does sound quite nice - and I'm sure he meant it from a good place?

But it depends on how you're feeling and if he understands that. So maybe not BU telling him no, but maybe a little U for not appreciating the spirit of the offer?

We're taking the train to that thurr Lunndon next weekend to catch up with some friends who are moving to Brighton soon. The plan is simple, train in, walk from Waterloo to a Southbank restaurant, meet, eat, walk back, train home. And I'm loving the idea of it (right now) but honestly also questioning whether it's a good idea at all! My inner paranoia is screaming what if something happens! Oh no! Although I believe there are hospitals in London. And France.

Hi Ladies! Sorry have been a bit awol - swamped with work and had another bp scare and more protein in my wee. Thankfully it was only a trace so happy to keep monitoring me but hospital bag is packed and in car just incase! Also on antibiotic for sinus and chest infection so hopefully that will clear it up! We like the name violet so will probably ho with that for bean

ismarah and mummy I had to buy a pair of leggings and jeggings in massive size yesterday and some big jersey dresses to keep me going. Maternity jeans still fit round bum/legs etc but starting to feel a bit tight round my bump. Dear knows what size it will be by the end!!

auntie Im sure as ismarah said it was meant with good intentions. I think sometimes its just hard for people to understand how tired/sore we can get - especially if you have pelvic pain when you walk. Ive always been very active and now I struggle to walk the dog - something my dh and family are finding it hard to understand!

Loving all the hospital lists and maxi dress suggestions - can you breastfeed in a maxi dress?

• doesn't sound mean to me, long journey not fun if yr in discomfort. My dh asked me today if we could go camping 2 to 4 weeks after birth, I was gentle but firm in my no! Honestly a bit worried he has not heard what I'm saying about how tough the first few weeks may be. Camping?! I'm currently bricking it at just the thought of feeding round the clock and learning to change a nappy.

Yes we'd drive and take ferry so about 6/7 hours in the car and however long on the ferry (normally at least 6 hours). I know he meant well really (though he has also suggested going a couple of weeks after birth too... I was nicer about that). I think he forgets that I'm struggling at the moment and that I'm seeing mw every other day.