Pop pop pop We're all about to POP! - July 2014 thread

[ismarah]

Hope you like the title - like inside us, there was no room on the other thread!

Hope all is well Mrsc and good luck Ellie. Although all this is happening it still feels like July is a long way away...!

Like Blue I found lansinoh breast pads the best. Really absorbent (I leaked a lot last time) yet discreet and comfortable.

Can also highly recommend packing a straw. Even though my first labour was pretty quick I wanted to conserve every bit of energy I could and holding a glass was way too much effort (& gave DH something to do!)

ismarah - glad you finally got a understanding consultant. And a date! Eek. It's all starting to happen.

Glad people are recommending the lansinoh breast pads as those are the ones I bought on a whim.

Today I'm hoping to get nighties, dressing gown, possibly a maternity tankini for the birth pool (not sure what else to wear in there and fully appreciate my dignity might go out the window and I might just be starkers, but thought I'd better have something!) and something to wear home - thought the dark maxi dress was a good suggestion.

I also thought I should prob bring a hairdryer in my hospital bag (as my hair takes hours and hours to dry naturally) - is that ridiculous?

Am feeling a bit jealous of all this talk of ice cream and freezing drinks to take to hospital. We don't have a freezer or any space for one in the flat - bit concerned about that with all the advice on stocking up on meals before baby arrives.

Well done Inca straws!!

When in the pool with DS I just lay quietly in between contractions but as I felt the next one start I'd shout GAS at DH to give me the mouthpiece thing and then WATER for a drink when done and a straw in the bottle made life a lot easier :) in fact that whole bit from 7cm to transition wasn't too bad as I braced against the sides of the pool for each contraction and just focused on getting through that one and then resting briefly. Being made to get out of the pool at transition was a whole different experience though

itsalways I spent ages hunting on eBay last time for a tankini to wear in the pool but it didn't make it out of my back - being totally starkers was the way forward and I was so 'in the zone' re birth I didn't really notice or care. Plus wouldve been a real pain to take off at the point they made me get out. Thankfully I have used it for swimming this time since my boobs no longer fit in my mat swimsuit

Back?? Should be bag oops

Straws are on my list too.

Change of clothes for birth partner/dp/dh is in case they get dirty or just in case you're there for a while. There was a story on another thread where a woman spectacularly covered everyone in the room when her waters broke - hoping that's not me!

mummy that's why I'm leaving the dressing gown in the car so dp can nip and get it if needed but despite how warm it was on Thurs a lot of women were walking around in them and slippers.

I am also lacking small baby clothes I realised yesterday which may not be a bad thing as I'm measuring big but if I by some miracle have a small baby dp will need to go buy some stuff!

itsalways I'm not stocking up on frozen food as I'm off most things you would freeze anyway. My friend highly recommended pizza as you can eat it one handed!

Oh and mw also said to pack a towel.

auntiemaggie I've just been warning DH to wear clothes he isn't precious about. This has completely thrown him as he is precious about ALL his clothes (he is SO going to struggle with a sicky poopy baby!).

Straws are on my list. Sports cap bottle and energy powder sachets so can make up bottles of sports drink from the tap rather than carting litres worth of liquid with me. Some smaller bottles of frozen water (doubling as ice pack and refreshing drink. Soft tissues!

wow! amazing suggestions...
I still haven't started packing my hospital bag or started on the nursery and the baby is arriving on the 24th!!! Really started to panic yesterday thinking I am not ready to be a mum. Feel I'm still v immature and clueless and unprepared. On top of that our families live v far away and we will have no help. I'm working till the day before the C section and feel I haven't had any time to get my head around having an actual baby rather than just cope with the pregnancy. I was so excited when we decided to try and wanted to enjoy buying all the things but now it just feels overwhelming. Sorry about the rant....

great news about the ELCS ismarah

Oh ellie how exciting and scary! Hope things move along quick and smoothly for you. All the very best! Yours will be the first baby(or second depending on MrsC)...eeekkk...it has all started to happen now! I am in the Fern war every Monday evening for 2-3 hours . Are they planning t induce you at some point?

Thinking of MrsC and hoping the baby has made an appearance

Another hospital bag thing - mini fan (the one I ordered just turned up - it's a silly kiddy one but effective!).

Inspired now, have just been raiding DH's stash of energy gels, electrolyte powders etc.

ellie are they planning to wait and see or are you really on countdown now? Eek!

coco I have to go to fern ward on Mondays too but in the morning. Didn't think of asking for an evening appointment, that might be easier as DH can bring me although would interfere with bedtimes etc for the boys.

No countdown as baby is still officially prem and DS4 was really poorly when he was born at 35 weeks so they think he is better in than out at the moment. DS4's breathing problems were probably made worse by the section too so they want to give me the best chance of a vbac. Part of me wants to go into labour now and part of me wants some time to calm down and get organised first. The constant leaking is driving me mad though and I'm worried about gushing everywhere on the school run or something. It's a small school so I'll be known as the lady who wet herself until this baby is in secondary . Mind you, it's probably less likely to happen now than it was before my waters broke.

Good luck Ellie!

I did my last bit of shopping on Thursday or so I thought - and then on the way home I suddenly felt like all my lists and shopping and obsessing was lulling me into a false sense of security! Like, I have loads of baby clothes, but are in varying sizes. I think I have enough things for the first 3 months or so but honestly, I'm not sure! And it's not like being a good list maker or a good shopper will make me a better mum. Sadly.

Coco like you my family is all far far away. DH's parents live nearby but have a bit of a jetset lifestyle so are rarely actually around. He's also an only child so there's not really any extended family on his side. We are also basically the last of our friends to have kids so I'm not sure if we'll get any help from them and I'm not counting on any to be honest. This is again one of the reasons why you ladies have been such a life / sanity saver since October!

Gonna spend today packing and do the final sort / big clean of the house, I think. Our grand (hah!) extension plans will now start building in March, we think, assuming we get the planning permission we have been arguing for for 6 months already for no reason we understand. Which on the one hand means we can learn to live with bean and figure life out a bit first, rather than during build, but it will mean very cramped quarters until then. And my parents will stay with us in July as have no excuse but at least after yesterday bean will have arrived, guaranteed.

plate good idea raiding their store of energy stuff! They spend enough money on it! DP was a bit cross when the mw who ran the antenatal class was talking about Lucozade isotonic and how it replaces energy - I don't know why (I stopped listening to him) but apparently she was wrong

coco completely with you feeling overwhelmed and have been having some morbid thoughts. I'm sure once baby is here reality will take over!

Sheets! I still have to get flat sheets! I keep forgetting because I'll have to make a trip to mothercare/kiddicare/etc as nowhere else has them just the fitted ones!

Also does anyone know where to get tea tree oil/lavender oil?

auntiemaggie I'm surprised DH hadn't yet tried to develop a fully worked up nutrition plan for me .

Tea tree oil and that - Holland & Barratts or the like will sort you out.

I want an aromatherapy oil for labour (file that under 'things destined never to leave the hospital bag'). I want one with some clary sage in as that is supposed to be 'good' for labour but you're not supposed use it beforehand. But I want one I can use now (idea being to use it when doing the hypnobirthing thing then you can use the scent as a positive trigger). So might make my own mix without clary sage and just add a couple of drops of it in later on. (Mossy section over!)

Auntie You can get essential oils from Neal's Yard but they'll be expensive. I just bought some as a treat to make up a massage oil with my faves (ylang ylang, neroli and geranium) and was shocked at how much it is for a tiny bottle. Holland & Barrett might do them as well. Not sure if tea tree is recommended in pregnancy.

I've done a couple of 24 hour endurance events recently (before getting up the duff evidently) and found energy gels such as SIS to be useful for getting some sugar into the bloodstream even when knackered and nauseous, also Shot Bloks by Clif, so have put some of them in the bag.

I found out at my consultant appointment yesterday that I have a small umbilical hernia, which must be why my belly button is so tender. Maybe I'm being over-sensitive but the consultant seemed a bit smug to have found something negative in what has been a pretty straightforward pregnancy. I suspect it will be used as evidence against me to submit to induction if we get to 40 weeks... boo hiss. Wondering whether I'll need an operation after the birth.

Wow things are really starting to get going now aren't they - thinking of MrsC and Ellie I hope your little one stays put a bit longer.

Beautiful sunny day here and yet not sure I can face being outside. Normally I'm such a sun worshiper!

PIL came round this morning and dropped off a whole load of bits they had bought for us - nappies, wipes, bath stuff, hooded towels, vests, blankets, sleepsuits and a really cute little outfit set. Also a gorgeous blanket and some cardis my MIL knitted. Think the only thing missing now is some spare sheets (only have two fitted and two flat). We plan to use the sleepyhead to start though so I guess won't need fitted sheets if the baby likes that.

Some great hospital bag ideas, thanks ladies.

Another tip I've had is arnica to help you heal quicker.

Another vote for Lansinoh breast pads (found the others really itchy) and straws are top of my list! Also arnica (tincture and tablets) seemed to help last time. Not that I've actually packed my bag yet

Wishing you well, MrsC

Body Shop also does some oils, as does the mossy section in Boots..

I've just counted the clothes we have for bean first 0-4 months - around 12 babygros and a few other bits. I've no idea if that's enough. Oh well.

Was also going to suggest boots for oils...

So until 11am I got really paranoid as wasn't feeling as much movement (some kicks but not as much as normal) -decided to go to gym and then call midwives... Well ever since then baby has not stopped kicking! That and braxton hicks mean I am lying trying to get comfy!

If weather is nice tomorrow plan on getting all baby stuff washed

Another Boots buyer of oils here. Lavender and tea tree are fab for post birth soothing and healing

Am loving the idea of raiding DHs stash of cliff bars, electrolytes and gels although last time I think I overdosed on Gatorade and felt a bit sick!!

lansinoh only £6.66 when I was in mothercare today
incase anyone is still to get some. was shocked at price as id been putting off spending £10/11 on it in tesco/asda/boots so I got two tubes :)

I bought it off amazon when it was 6.99!

Have bad hayfever today, am I allowed to take hayfever tablets???

I read a story that some woman gave her babies hayfever tablets before flights to make them drowsy/well behaved on plane. not sure I agree thats good parenting/recommended!?

Thanks ladies will look in boots for oils and maybe arnica.

liquid ideally you need to get a prescription from gp

incapinka I volunteered at an event last year that cliff sponsored and ended up drowning in cliff bars!

mummy some sleeping tablets have antihistamine in them as they make you drowsy