It's all balls, bicycles, and babies for the PESH!

[maamalady]

Antenatal fred for BESH graduates

CRESH

Faith - pinky faithlet arrived 14th April 2013
Pinkr - suitably pinky one arrived 25th August 2013
Jethro - blue one arrived 23rd September 2013
Noks - pink one arrived 12th January 2014
Frankel - large pink one arrived 10th March 2014
Merks - pink one landed safe and sound 21st March 2014
Sinky - Stubborn blue one arrived 26th March 2014
Driz - blue one arrived 12th June 2014
Kat - pink one arrived 21st June 2014

PESH

Draf - Expecting a late pink one EDD 19th June
Winks - EDD 26th June
Ginger - Miniginger due 13th August
Dor - A very special pink one expected 18th August
Euro - eager Centime expected to arrive a lot sooner than 28th August
Buggerlugs - Buglet due 20th October
Fankle - ESHlet expected 4th January
Cunty - Minichops expected 7th February

So the June cluster is halfway through laying, and then we're on to the July/August batch! Are we even going to have time for Wimbledon and Le Tour and the World Cup in all this excitement?!

Straws. Sports bottles are all very well, but when you're leaning over it's hard to tilt the bottle enough without hurting your neck. HOTB armed with a bottle of water and a straw made life much easier.

Aside from that, button-front PJs or nightie for breastfeeding and anything else you'd normally put in an overnight bag. And food! Cereal bars and chocolate biscuits for afterwards were amazing. And giant pants and a thin (dark coloured) dressing gown. I felt much more confident/comfortable walking around the ward with my dressing gown on than just in nightclothes.

We were also pleased we batch cooked so it was easy for HOTB to bring me in my tea when I was in overnight - infinitely preferable to the school dinner smells of the hospital food. Although the Chinese lady on my ward was even better provided for - her husband came in with elaborate tea sets and hundreds of tiny china dishes full of deliciousness. We were very jealous and hugely impressed!

And make sure GP knows where you've packed baby clothes and nappies, as it'll likely be him getting baybee dressed the first time. Oh, and we used alcohol-free wipes right from the word go, as cotton wool and water is an ineffective pain in the arse.

Nighties, breast pads, maternity pads, flipflops and mini shampoo for the shower (grim floor), giant pants, hairbrush and bobbles, babygros and vests, nappies, bag of coins for parking, cereal bars and cartons of juice, phone charger, cotton wool or wipes. Cardigan for baby and a going home outfit for you. Tshirt or tankini or bikini top if you're hoping for a water birth, though you might not care. Think that's most of it. You feeling a bit less menkul today bugs?

Even if you prefer pjs, pack one nightie in case you need a catheter and can't wear bottoms.

Going home clothes and car seat can stay in the car until you need them. If your hospital is anything like mine, you'll not have much room so pack as light as you can!

I've just had my 16 week midwife appt and heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time! I'm so happy I could cry

The bad news though is that I'm rhesus negative. Just done a spot of reading up on it and it doesn't sound too worrying, but now I'm terrified of any sort of bleeding or accidentally bashing the bump in case there's internal bleeding. The thought of more blood tests and injections is horrible, but these one's aren't optional! Menkul menkul menkul....

No idea what goes in a hospital bag Bugs, but I'm paying attention and learning!

Don't bother buying Anusol yet. See what happens.

Piles aren't guaranteed (imagining cheesy advert - piles as standard!). I got them a bit, but other than a bit of logistical wiping issues, no probs. I'd leave it out.

As an aside, my hospital gave me pants, mat pads for my whole stay and a pack for home, slippers. Anyone else get that?

Cunty, I'm rhesus neg. there's a few of us on the thread, but can't remember who now. You'll get your jab at 28 weeks (mine was at 31 because Xmas got in the way!). Mine was in my arm, and smarted a bit, but nothing special. And yes, heavy knocks to the belly need reporting +/- extra jab at the time, but they don't mean day to day bumps etc. If baby is positive you'll need a jab after birth, not if not. It's no stress - promise!

Thanks for the reassurance Sinks I'm just such a baby when it comes to injections (always faint and cry, always have done) that it's got me worried. Also, I teach in a really big and overcrowded school and I'm scared that some overenthusiastic pupil might run into me in the corridors or on the playground. I've had a couple of near misses in the past.

Bugs - that woman at work sounds like she needs a good smack in the gob! How is she proposing to tell you from a photo? If she's going on about mystical psychic woo then she'll need an additional smack in the gob. I'd be happy to oblige...

cunty I'm Rhesus negative as well, I've had the jab a few times because of an earlier pregnancy and a few bleeds in this one, plus MiniWink is Rhesus positive so got it again. Apparently when they came round in the hospital to give me it, after all the other pokings and jabbings, I gave them an enormous "oh for FUCKS SAKE" look They aren't the sort that keep hurting, if that's any consolation. I'm remembering the meningitis one when I was 18, I went to work in a clothes shop afterwards and suddenly could barely lift things onto the higher rails my arm was so sore. How are you feeling now anyway? I found that after hearing the heartbeat at 16 weeks I suddenly felt far less anxious.

bugs I got one pile, singular, and it doesn't bother me. Personally wouldn't worry about Anusol. That woman is a tosser.

sinks your hospital is fancy! I got nothing like that given to me.

On the subject of injections, MiniWink has her first set of vaccinations tomorrow (8 weeks already, where does the time go?) She will most likely be fine. I will most likely be a wreck.

Injections already? Blimey! E was fine for her first two lots but the third (16 weeks) caused her to lose her appetite for several days and she cried lots

Apparently the worst ones are the pre-school jabs as they're old enough to understand what's happening

My hospital didn't give me anything, either - I'm v impressed with yours, sinks!

The calf had her first jabs this morning - she was already grumpy so couldn't tell the difference between grumpy cries and jab cries. She has spent most of the day sleeping and feeding, but whenever she's been awake and not feeding, she's been screaming :( Hopefully when she wakes up next time she will be more cheerful, poor little soul.

Cunty I basically wrote the exact same post as you after my 16 week appointment. I'm Rhesus negative too! Apparently it's rare but it seems a few of us lot are. I'm sure it will be fine and nothing to worry about. Once I'd read up on it, I stopped worrying.

Bugs the cheek of some people! How rude and bloody ridiculous. I wish you could get away with telling people to fuck off in the workplace. I frequently tell MG to fuck off when he annoys me...I'm a bit sweary like that. He just laughs and gladly never rises to the bait and swears back at me. I occasionally get a stern telling off though. Does that make me sound like a complete cow?

Anyway, the scan is at 3pm so got to wait all day. At least I can finish work at 2pm. Feeling ok I think. I think I may have felt one or two movements the last couple of days...but I can't be sure. How do you know?!

MG has just booked us a table at our favourite steak restaurant for tomorrow...not until 9pm though . I just know I'll want a medium-rare fillet but will have to suffice with medium-well done. Or does it have to be well done verging on burnt to a crisp? Tempted to indulge in a small glass of red...is that very very bad? Did any of you have the occasional tipple?
Obviously we are hoping for a good scan and mini celebration...fingers crossed

fankle I didn't drink because the taste of alcohol turned my stomach when diffed, not through any moral objection, so have a bit if you fancy it. I would say have your steak how you like it, if you've been there a few times and trust it then why not? Well done steak is shite.

Aww poor grumpy calf draf. We had a screaming day a couple of days ago, they're so bloody draining aren't they.

frank I know, its scary how fast time is going. She isn't a teeny weeny little newborn any more, she's doing mini pushups on her front and can hold her head very well, and does assisted standing very steadily and smiles and tries to reach for toys (and has had what can only be called a temper tantrum when she couldn't reach them) - that's big enough now!

I'm not posh, but my Grandma paid for elocution lessons when I was little so I have no discernible accent. I usually say it gives me confidence and I do well at interview but I found out today I didn't get a job that I've previously done for two years so maybe not....

Oh poo faif, bad luck :(