December 2014 thread 8: turn up the heat - the Christmas turkeys are cooking!

[Peaceloveandbiscuits]

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I was awake from 2:30 til 6am. Not a happy bunny. I really don't need any practice for sleepless nights, a month of lovely looooooonnnggg sleeps to prepare would be lovely!

Harrumph!

In other news proud mummy here as Bear has found the exit route, not engaged it's head yet though. We had our first run-in with the CTG over the weekend and billions of braxton hicks but all back to normal now.

Happy Monday ladies! ... Zzzzzzzzz

First day of maternity leave and trying to motivate myself to do something. However having spent most of yesterday looking after my delicate OH who went out for too long and drank too much on Saturday night (last one pre-baby), I'm feeling like some lazy me time.

I've finally packed my hospital bag...may need to take another bag as well for some extra stuff as last time I really wanted fruit juice after I'd had DS, was sick to death of tea/water!

Everything else is done now, I just need to tidy up and organise where to put everything! When DH gets home from work in going to ask him to move the cot into DS's room and we will have the Moses basket in our room.

On the Christmas planning front I have 3 more presents to buy, cards and gift wrap and then I just need to wrap everything up. Definitely a maternity leave job!

I have DS's birthday party booked and just need to write out the invitations and buy the party bags & fillers. DS's birthday is Christmas Eve, but we're going to have his party at the beginning of January so if the baby is late I won't be hobbling around at a 3 year olds birthday party Another maternity leave job!

Just wondering what nappies everyone is thinking of using? My friend swears by mammia by Aldi, she usually pays a fiver for 88 !!
But other brands-pampers etc seem very expensive in comparison!!
What is anyone else intending to use?
33 wks today

Speaking of hospital bags, my DH is nagging me to sort one. I'm only 33 weeks tomorrow and I'm going to stay with my mum for a week next week as we're getting work done to the house. My mum is 2.5 hours away and if I genuinely thought there was a risk of me going in to labour then I wouldn't be going! What would you ladies do? I have nothing for bag so far...

Day 2 of mat leave and still feeling sick...

Am on Aldi tiny ones for first few weeks then reusables. Am not paying a small fortune every week for poo catchers!

I've bought a pack of Pampers newborn size nappies. With DS I used Pampers and then Huggies, but Huggies aren't on sale in the UK anymore which is a shame. I think Asda's Little Angels are pretty good.

I haven't stocked up on nappies as I will wait and see what size the baby is and nappies can be bought anywhere!

I'd maybe start making a list espa and then you can buy anything you haven't already got? Better to be prepared especially as we seem to be having lots of early babies on the thread :)

Tescos are good for us but it completely depends on the shape of your baby :) My advice would be to start off cheap as you can and see how you do for leaks. Change to another brand if they don't work for you. We ended up swapping unused ones amongst my nct group as different babies got on with different brands. If you go for a more expensive brand buy bulk off amazon and save yourself some cash :)

chip I was planning on getting stuff (or at least a list) this week and next anyway, but just didn't see the point in packing it before I came back from my mum's! Will maybe relent...I can certainly pack for me but poor baby still probably won't have anything!

For those who are washing baby clothes first, are you just washing them in your normal detergent or going to use anything special?

catface!

lucy last time we used huggies when ds was newborn then switched to pampers when he got a bit bigger as we found they were the ones that fit him the best & for us, the only ones that didnt leak. The smaller packs can be expensive - we used to buy bix boxes in bulk at the supermarket baby events & it worked out much cheaper that way. I'm afraid I can't be faffed with all the extra washing that reusables require!

espa - I'd probably take your antenatal notes with you to your mums, just in case. If baby came now (s)he would be too tiny for anything you had packed & would likely be in scbu for a couple of weeks anyway. I reckon you'll be ok!

Re washing - I use non bio for baby's clothes. Bio can irritate their sensitive skin.

Still having lots of twinges & am frankly bloody knackered! Got loads of jobs done this morning so thinking of having a rest for an hour or so before I get tea ready/pick up ds.

Thanks everyone, i think we will have to do trial and error on the nappies!
Just booked a tour of the birthing unit, think its finally sinking in that im actually going to have a baby!

Oh I take my notes everywhere with me anyway these days, been taking them to work for the last month at least just in case haha!

Evening ladies :)

Sorry for lack of personals but can't sit comfortably at computer or ipad for any decent length of time to go through the whole thread since I last posted.

32+1 today and have purchased nursery furniture and started my hospital bag :) on the down side I have horrid back/hip pain making work slow, long and painful! Off to gp tomorrow for some codydramol as paracetamol is barely helping. Till then doing lots of warm baths and gentle heat to ease it off!

My hospital bag is getting there! I've ordered two button-up nighties, slippers and a dressing gown, and I bought a load of miniatures today (feels like I'm going on holiday). Just need to sort the baby and the DH's stuff

Had my hair cut and it is a Frankie from the Saturdays cut, haha! I might have some more lopped off the front because it's a bit impractical, but bloody hell, I look hot

Well done on the hair!

I prefer pjs to nighties but I did get one in Primark which is black and I'd be happy to throw away if necessary. Haven't seen many button front pj tops though that are fairly cheap, an suggestions?

Also, hospital bag lists say to pack nursing bras. My boobs haven't grown since about 20 weeks or so but expecting they will again. The few nursing bras I've tried so far just didn't fit (in same size as current bra) so how do I know what size I'll need once baby is here - surely they will grow again once my milk comes in?

Espa I was advised to get measured for a nursing bra about 2-3 weeks before EDD.

I prefer pyjamas too usually, but no idea what will be going on down there and thought leaving it open to inspection would be a good idea, just in case :'D

espa get fitted for nursing bras a couple of weeks before due date & they will size you up one or two cup sizes to allow for growing room.

I also much prefer pj's but will be taking a button up nightie - def easier for access breastfeeding/down below & also having had a section last time, I couldn't have worn pj bottoms as waistband would have been right on my scar.

peace where did you order yours from? I am struggling to find one thats relatively cheap. I have a M&P one from last time that I can reuse but its sleeveless & very summery & I ideally wanted a long sleeved one that will be warmer at this time of year.

Omama I got mine from Bon Marche because I'm a fatty and nowhere else had a button-up style in my size. They're just nighties, though. One of them has owls on it

Also two for £16. Can't complain!

You're all so well organised. I haven't even started on the hospital bag. Hopefully I'm not tempting fate by being so unprepared

Kusmile I'm only 32 weeks but this is my last proper pay packet before maternity leave, so had to get everything paid for now!

Oh and I'm currently loving something called Genie Bra (or similar) which I picked up in BHS but sounds like one of those JML TV jobbies. It's a cropped top, basically, but does offer support and is very comfortable. Tight enough to hold breast pads. I'm very busty but I'm perfectly comfortable wearing one all day. They come in dress sizes too, so no measuring required. If I can't find a proper nursing bra to fit I might just grab more of these as they're easy enough to lift up and down as required.

Hubby has decided that he's too busy at work to come to the first ante-natal class this afternoon. Kinda want to strangle him as I specifically asked could he come to this one only as it will be most useful to him (labour rather than breast feeding or health visistor chat) but as he was in a grump this morning I have no details on why he can't make it. Been told "take notes" - nope, go online and research like the rest if you're not going to turn up.

Looking, get in touch with your uni or hospital if you can't find a family to observe. I don't think you'll get far on such a huge public forum.