Due in November - Part 5 - 3rd Trimester here we come.

[FoghornLeghorn]

Morning Girls,

Thought I would start a new thread as someone suggested further down the last one.

Come and join.

Debbsy, how are things today ? Hope you are feeling better.
Tummy Button is starting to poke out a bit, sort of half in and half out, looks very odd.
We brought our buggy yesterday - we have gone for this one , being delivered a week Friday. Can't wait to get it home and have a push.

Not even thought about hospital bag yet. When I was pregnant with DD, I'm sure I already had it packed by now. We had one for labour and one for afterwards which worked quite well, think we will do the same this time.
Carseat - I had to stay in after having DD so DH brought the carseat up to the hospital the next day with him. I think we will put it in the car ready this time though as hoping to be in and out in a flash

Yeah what is the thing about internals, is it something to be afraid of ???? I am getting freaked out too LeBe!

Internals hurt I had no idea how much it would hurt but it did and was very uncomfortable.

Bag - I'm the same as you stacey, I had mine packed by 24 weeks last time but now I've not even thought about it - suppose I should really.

Tens - Brilliant, I would defo recommend. When I had mine on with DD I thought it was crap and kept telling DH there was no point in having it on but when I had to take it off for them to administer the epidural, boy did I realise how good it actually was.
I brought mine too but need to get some new pads for it, I wonder where I get those from ?

Oh meant to ask aswell, can we have a run down on names please - I'd like to know what everyone is thinking of. We have :

Boy - Jude - struggling with middle name as Jude is such a strong name in itself, think we may go with DH's name which is Thomas.
Girl - Casey or Kacey (I prefer C, DH prefers K) with Mae as a middle name.
Think we are pretty much decided on these now, there are others we like but these are our fave's.

Oh dear, something else for me to worry about now - internals. They really dont sound pleasant. Is it when they are checking how dialated you are or what sort of other things??

Ive just rang Toys 'r' us, the lady on sat didnt pass the message on (typical!) but they have said i can swap it for something else and my dad has said he will pay the extra if i want a better one - bless.

FHLH - We have decided on Alfie Jack, we pretty much decided Alfie straight away and i like Jack but it doesnt reallu go with surname so we settled for middle name and it can bre shortened to AJ. I really like Jude tho x

We are having either Jack Christoper or Joshua Christopher.
For a girl I had chosen Lily Grace but will have to put that one in reserve for next time!

Gas and Air makes you feel light headed/drunk apparently you have it when you feel a contraction coming on and keep sucking on the mouth peice until it the pains ease off otherwise it don't work too well ! My midwife says only pack Nappies 6-8 a day, cotton wool, nappy cream and an outfit for baby to go home in and that's all !!! and for us, packed at the top of the bag so that DP can get his hands on it, a flannel or water atomizer, glucose tablets for energy and lip seal or vaseline (apparently lips dry out during labour) Big unflattering knickers that can be thrown away after, 3 pack maternity pads no thin things!, 2-3 nighties, bras, breast pads, wash stuff, dressing gown, slippers and clothes to come home in, change for phone and wheelchair (our are like shooping trollies now!)and personal stereo if you want music and smething to keep you occupied ie book, crossword puzzle pack of cards !!! LOL think thats all she said ! Apparently there is no need to pack the kitchen sink they don't have room, they do have a hairdryer in the rooms my problem is what my hair looks like when its dry it's just a big ball of frizz and desparately requires straighteners ! Cant take them in as they would need to be electrically tested and I'm not buying gas ones !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Debz - i know exactly what you mean, everyone was saying you can have a bath, wash your hair after and i started worrying then cos if i wash my hair and leave it - oh dear!!! I need my straightners ive been trying to grow my hair as long as i can so i can scrape it all back but i can just imagine the first pictures what will my son think when he is older!!

By the way my girl name was goin to be Molly Mae but same as Kaybee it is on the back burner now. I was told our hospital doesnt provide anything so we need to take everything, i was quite impressed that all rooms had tv and cd players!

Just a question about baby monitors, has anyone used the sound and motion type ones? What is a good one to get?

No photo's will be taken of me if I look a mess !!!! I could not bear the thought that for years to come I will look so bad !

As for names we have decided on Ryan Stephen James .... DP went looking for the cheap TENS machine in LLoyds Pharmacy today and they are not suitable for pregnant women those ones are £50 !!! Ebay or tesco hire it is then !

Message withdrawn

I've got a tens machine off ebay so am glad people on here used them last time and thought they were good.

Names - we've decided Isabel Grace for a girl, and James for a boy (not agreed middle name yet)

I've tried packing my labour bag, and it is now 2 bags because I just couldn't fit everything on NJ's list into one bag!

I've not started birth plan as I've not been to parent craft yet so don't feel I really know what all my options are. I didn't realise internals would hurt, mainly because I've had a smear before and that didn't hurt. Maybe I'm being naieve.

Mygirl, DD is an Evie

I had 2 bags too - one for labouring and the other for back on the ward with all the baby bits in.

According to the midwife on Saturday internals are performed at 4 hourly intervals at my hospital and try not to do anymore as they are quite uncomfy but apparently necessary.

Debz - maybe we could sneak those cordless ones in when no ones looking and then pretend we havent got hair like straw (i dont mean to offend im assuming yours is like mine).

Hpoingcat dont worry i didnt know about internals either, I also have tow bags now but i was told this is the best thing, one for you and one for baby and then it isnt such a muddle finding things. As for the classes i found my ideas and views on birth changed completely after going to classes so you are wise to wait

Oh im going to toys r us after work to get my new chair, fingers crossed everyone that this one works!!xx

i don't remember the internals hurting, well certainly nothing compared to labour pains anyway! no worse than a smear test imo..

oh, and photo's after... you won't care what you look like after... they are the most precious memories you can ever capture!!! i have a friend who is always immaculate, when her labour started she put on her makeup.. it had melted by the time he was born!!

my favourite photo that i have by my bedside is a picture taken when ds was a few days old and i think it completely sums up the emotions of the time!! i'm sat their holding ds with a big grin on my face.. loking like a crazy woman with mad frizzy hair, no makeup and still in my pj's... dp satnext to me with mad professor type hair and unshaven.. we look awful, but our faces sum up how happy we were!!

their hidden away though.. the photo's that everyone sees are the professional photo's we had taken when ds was a few weeks old of course!!

Hello everyone

We have had a mega busy weekend (watch out for the loooooong post!!)

Saturday we finished off the painting in the nursery, generally cleared up the house, and went to choose and buy the carpet, Sunday DH put all the skirting boards and door frames in the nursery, and then we got the room ready so I could gloss today (which is where I've been today!) it wants another coat of gloss tomorrow, and then DH should be able to get the carpet in on Saturday and the furniture in on Sunday, so will finally have not only a nursery but my dining room back

Erm... names, we have decided on George for a boy, still can't think of a middle name let alone decide on one. We would have had Maia for a girl.

I have sort of packed my hospital bag, as I have bought things for it I have just shoved them in it, I haven't put any clothes or anything else in, will probably get it sorted after the nursery is done. I will hunt down my list and post it again at the bottom.

I have been suffering a bit recently, I had felt a bit better over the last couple of months, but now I have had enough, I can't seem to stop sweating, and not just a little bit, I mean literally dripping, when everyone else is either just right or warm, my back has been killing me for a few days now, and I have the worst lot of heartburn I have ever had (I do suffer with it when I'm not pregnant as well) have also been feeling quite lightheaded, I am fine whilst I am walking about or stood doing something, but I can't seem to stand up with out leaning/holding onto something if I'm not doing anything, standing waiting for DS to come out of school has been quite scary the last few days! Also got quite bad swelling (I had to take my watch off last night because it had gotten so tight!) I am just generally feeling very heavy, the baby is head down and I can feel the constant presure, then the BH start and I have to try very hard to keep my calm head on and not let myself get carried away thinking I am going into labour! I think all of this is made worse by the fact that I didn't go naturally last itme, I didn't have any BH or anything, so from that point of view, I don't really know what to expect. I feel like I should already know all of it, but I don't.

Anyway more than enough from me! Will go and hunt down my list! xxx

Oh, I also can't remember the internals being awful... was pretty much off my head on pethadine though, that is a big no no this time, no pethadine and no gas and air!!

(It was typed out to pass onto someone else so that is why there are extra notes all over it!)

For Mummy...

• Maternity notes
• Birth plan
• Dressing gown (only a light weight one, labour wards are kept very warm)
• Slippers
• Socks
• Nightshirt (to labour in)
• Second nightshirt/pj's (for after the birth - front opening is easiest if you plan to BF)
• Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, tooth brush/paste, etc. also if you plan to use anything like nipple cream or femme pads)
• Hair band
• Lip balm
• A watch (with a second hand for contractions)
• Magazines, puzzler, books, mp3 player/stereo, anything to help you relax and pass the time!
• Camera (don't forget extra memory/film, batteries)
• Camcorder
• Change for phone and parking
• List of friends and family phone numbers
• Nursing bras (if BF)
• Flash or anti-bacterial wipes (for the shower/bath and anything else that seems mucky)
• Cheap plastic flip flops (for use in the shower)
• Hair brush
• Drinks and snacks (for birthing partner as well!!)
• Breast pads (whether you plan to BF or not)
• Big knickers, the big belly warmers, the papery disposable kind are just awful!! Check out your local market for cheap big pants, and get the biggest size you can find!!)
• Go to Boots or Mothercare - anywhere that does proper maternity pads, they are thicker and longer than normal sanitary towels, my midwife said to use two at once in the beginning and I still had to be careful with them then! Get about 5 packets at the ready, you will need to buy more, but that should see you through the first few days/week!
• Dark coloured towel and flannel
• Going home clothes (You will probably be about the size you were at 6 months when you come home, so maternity clothes will still be needed)
• Bed mats, these aren't really for the bag, more for the car (and handy for in bed), if you look down the aisle in Tesco near the nappies, pampers have bed mats, meant for use as disposable changing mats, they are slightly quilted so will hold liquid, so if you line your mattress and car seat with them, if your waters should break then you won't be trying to clear up rather than concentrating on the labour!!

And for the baby...

• A travel changing mat (or if you buy a changing bag with a mat on it, just take this)
• Wipes and/or cotton wool - check with your hospital, some won't let you use wipes, some won't let you use cotton wool, when I had DS they wouldn't even let me bath him, so check what your hospital policy is.
• Scratch mitts, most babies come out with long nails - the only reason I had to have stitches was because his nails scraped against me!
• Hat
• Socks or booties depending on what clothes you take in, obviously if you only take all in ones with feet in them, then you won't need socks!!
• A good few bibs/muslin cloths, I'd say at least 6 - you can never have enough!!
• Going home outfit - think carefully about this, it needs to be easy to fit the car seat straps around, and in November it will need to be warm!
• Blanket (at least one for the trip home)
• Take a full packet of nappies, you may be home in no more than a few hours after the birth, or due to the time of birth and doctors rounds etc. it could be closer to 36 hours, and new born babies (especially if BF) poo A LOT!!!
• Nappy/barrier cream
• Nappy sacks
• You don't need anything more than sleep suits and all in one type clothes, I will take in 3 vests and 3 sleepsuits for whilst we are actually in hospital, but obviously if you want fully blown outfits then that is up to you!
• Lastly I will be sneaking in some baby lotion this time, as I said, last time they wouldn't let me bath DS, and a two day old baby smelling of where it came from isn't very nice if you get my drift!! So even if I have to put some lotion on him when no one is looking, I will!!! LOL

Don't forget to put the car seat in the car, we actually put the carseat in the boot before I was any where near due last time, just in case!!! LOL Sounds silly now, but you never know when you will need it!!

I don't really know what you would do if you are planning to bottle feed, I guess you would have to ask the maternity unit if they have bottles and formula there, and if not take it in with you.

Also find out visiting times so you can pre-warn family and friends!

Hi, just popping in to see how you all are.

I can't remember internal's being that bad they tend to do them with a gloved finger rather than a spectrum so it's more comfortable, they don;t do them often only to check now and again your dilation. It's funny if you ask them they can tell you if your baby has hair hours before its born

I have been at the hospital today having ds's brain scan done, he screamed the place down but luckily they didn't have to sedate him, they put a post man pat video on for him to watch while they did it. I have to wait untill the end of october for the results!

Im fine, im going to ask to be refered back to the physio i'm getting nightly very vary bad cramp in my legs to the point where i can't walk and am in tears all night where it's so painfull. Apart from that all's fine still getting alot of Braxton Hicks and wiggly movements!

Forgot to add!

Haven't given my hospital bag a second thought!

Names.

Phoebe Skye for a girl
Joey William Nicholass for a boy (long i know!)

sorry iv scared everyone, would like to explain. internals per sey shouldnt be bad but when i was younger i was raped so someone i dont know putting fingers inside me is a little more alarming so i need the drugs, iv never known anyone else that bothered as others have said, the pain of labour is greater. its just the images it conjours for me that is disturbing.

thanks for the labour bag tips NJ i doubt i even have half of that packed and i thought i was doing so well, glad i asked!

well i officially panicked earlier as im sure i had a contraction, exact same pain as i had with my dd. but i only had the one and nothing happened since then so im not that bothered now, was jsut really scary for a while!

well dh is off having dinner out with his uncle so me and dd are home alone, she wasnt best impressed abotu going into bed without a kiss from daddy but i got her there, thank god!

best go, my bum is begining to go numb!

oh but quickly as for names we know its a boy so that makes it easier and he will be Kieran Daniel, the only boys name me and dh have ever agreed on for a boy (since we found out i was pg with dd 2 years ago!) so if it doesnt suit him we'll be stuck!

evening ladies, my word I'm impressed with your being so organised. Not thought about hospital bag at all. Birth plan will be decided about a week before my due date I think, although I need to discuss with Midwife about labour as i want to labour in water for as long as possible this time.

I'm fairly sure I only had 2 internals during my last labour - 1 when I arrived to see how far I was and then 1 much later when I was telling them I needed to push to see where I was. Not painful as such but a little bit uncomfortable.

We've decided on names, Sophie Rose or Sam George, has taken a lot longer than with DS to decide but we've got there in the end.

Right off to do some work have a good evening and speak later.