December- The Final Countdown!!!!

[Calmriver]

HI Guys, I am still confused, so please join me on this one.

We going to use disposables but DH has convinced me that waiting til house isn't a building site,baby is a bit older and we have a dryer(OK-slight shame but the weather in south oxfordshire isn't good for drying nappies in Jan!)

LOL at DH stories. Judemum,you're DH sounds just like mine.(I mentioned the sunday nap when I was hormonal didn't I) Lve them really, but "Hello,I'm the pg one!".

First timers don't panic too much about newbies. I didn't hace a clue and had to ask someone (who looked about 15) to show me how to change DH's nappy and now I've got a potty trained 3 year old,as if by magic!

Yeah meant to say first-time mums, dont worry about baths and holding etc - it comes quickly enough.

DD was taken in to special care at 4 days old and had only had 1 bath at hosp after being born, then a really awkward one at home at 3 days old then with the help of nurses in special care.

It was'nt until she had been back home about a week that we realised we had'nt bathed her since Luckily small babies dont do much to get really dirty - and the bits that do get washed when that happens. She was just a bit crusty behind the ears from dribbling milk.

Am much more organised and confident this time round

Another dh petrified of reusables over here. I had bought some really lovely ones to use with ds and they never got used once!!! Dh was such a downer about it and then PND...well, you know how it can go.
This time around, I've decided to give it another try but only after the first month or two. Having the section I'm going to be really kind to myself those first 6 weeks A friend is already saving back some for me that her lo has outgrown.
Re: baths, you know they say you only need to bathe an infant about every 3 days because their skin dries out so easily. And you can only do a kind of wiping around until the cord falls off, so new moms, mark that off your list of things to stress about

Vanilla + new mums- crusty bits behind the ears are one of the signs that your baby might need a bath.
My friends DH refused to let her use the terries (she had already bought) because he thought they would contaminate the washing machine . What a plonker.

LOL! My mom pointed the crusy thing out to me, then it turned out to just be patches of dry skin.

Yeah. I HATED bathing DS. Too scary. Topped and tailed him a lot on his changing mat,on the floor, downstairs(as I was also scared of walking up and downstairs too many times in a sleep depriived state with someone so precious in my arms.) And I prob wasn't even that sleep deprived either. I think it's one of those things who expect to be and you remember it as if you were, but in all honesty,you're tired and in shock and learning loads of new things, but once I started making sure we got out in the fresh air at least once a day, I felt fine(even if I walked a bit funny at first()

Wanted to ask all of you with bigger kids (not the DHs this time) What are you planning to do with them when labour starts (Congrats BTW to all of you with actual dates It would make my situation a lot easier if I could plan!)
I'm thinking of having a bag of over night
,spare clothes,his ready bed,favourite books for DS1 so in an emergency he can be left at any friend who happens to be in and willing. In less of an emergency (ie DS2 turns up near to EDD, we hope his grandparents(ILs) will be about to keep an eye on him as they're visiting for Xmas week. If I go over we may need to go back to plan A again!!! My last labour took ages , but I hear 2nd babs pop out a bit quicker and I think my DH hasn't quite grasped that. There have been mutterings of plenty of time,etc,etc. Think my main question is "how pracical is it for DS1 to come to hospital and for me to labour without DH (turning green and fainting),then for us all to be reunited once I've been hosed down? Anyone had to do that?

Sorry really long post.

OMG, you lot! It just took me ten minutes to fast-read all that! I do like it when we get chattering our heads (fingers??) off though..

AQ, VM, BP and anyone else contemplating reusables - yes, please, egging on and badgering and anything else that might get me through the weird resistance part of me seems to encounter! I have bought a nice little selection (partly based on Nappy Lady recommendations) of fluffy nappies. The ones I like the look of best are the Wambamboos - Flamesparrow sold me on those, on one of the Nappy threads THing is, I look at these nappies, wraps, liners (need a Masters to figure all that stuff out) a bit like I used to look at breast pumps and babygros. With awe, interest, respect, but NO sense that I'm actually going to use them with a real live baby......

And I know I'm going to forget to wash them with half the soap and no conditioner. I KNOW I am.

Jabber, thanks for the Benedryl tip - I have used a mostly-US bb for pregnant women (infertility support group) and had heard about it. DH googled it for me, to find out what its called here - and yes, its the stuff in children's cough and cold remedies. An antihistamine - another one is Piriton, which I have used a 6 year old's dose of for a couple of nights when its got really bad (also fine in pregnancy, but not too near the end when it can make babe sleepy which isn't a good idea if labour sets in..) but I hate the stuff: it does work, though, to some extent.

Today I talked to a pregnant friend who said if you have thrush, however mildly, in your system it can make you itchy all over. And I do itch more after eating sugary stuff - no doubt about it. So I bought some Canesten for those itchy bits, and have eaten strawberries instead of G&Bs so far...and we'll see. Last night was really bad, bump, boobs, tops of legs, elbows, face, feet. No rash at all. If that doesn't help, I'll talk to the OB...just in case of OC.

But I might need handcuffing to stay away from G&B butterscotch that dh bought last night...

Spina, not as long as mine...

I topped and tailed for the first couple of weeks too - it was freezing cold, and dd never seemed to get too dirty or dribbly at the beginning. Wouldn't know it was the same child now

Well, since I'm not actually going into labor (at least, that's the plan!) our situation is a little different. But, grandparents will come stay with ds the night before we leave to go to the hospital. We have to leave the house really, really early, way before anyone gets up. I'm kind of thinking that dh will come home later in the day for a rest and then come back with ds.

Do you have anyone who could come over to distract yours in the early stages of labor and then take your ds to their house when things start heating up?

so how many bags am I planning to pack in the next few weeks exactly?
labour bag
hospital bag
bag for birth partner(DH i guess)
bag for ds1
ready bed bag(ok a cheat)
bag for baby

Elliboo, glad the benadryl is helping some. I would definitely mention it just so the MW has it in your chart. Who knows? She may be able to suggest something even better

spina, I was just thinking of that. Did anyone look at the site I linked about packing bags? It did mention some useful things, err, but memory escapes me just now

I'm doing:
a bag for me with a small "pre" section - things like chapstick for before and after surgery, etc.

Then "post" section - lots of big pants

then the baby's bag.

x-posts. What I'm beginning to worry about is how much time I'll actually have pottering around the house in early stages. I had to go in straight away last time(cos of blood-It was only a show but they kept me in)
If I really do have some time, then I'm sure I can convince the eight year old next door to play football( in the December rain) with DS1.

Not really sure why I'm asking cos obviously I need to look at who I've got friends and neighbours wise, but As a newbie to 2nd labours I'm almost as unsure as I was last time about what to expect. (too many friends who had two hour labours and gave birth 10 mins after reaching hospital!)

Oh yeah - almost forget bag for DD. In case she is farmed out to a friend if I dont go for a HB. But will have to write a list, as everything I would pack she will use everyday (except some clothes). And then I will have to make sure DH understands the list in case I am in no fit state to supervise. Will also have to check it fits in her Little Mermaid suitcase or DH will panic that favourite monkey wont fit or something else.

another x-post. I'm really planning to have one bag (as last time) with like you two sections-laobur-but with less stuff as I didn't use most of it last time and in the big section, lots of big pants and snacks and my baby stuff.

It's the fact I'm packing for another person that I'm fobbing off on someone!!

spinamum, just posted to someone on the Childbirth section asking about childcare...basically, what I saw my bf do was make a list of possible temporary help (neighbours, friends, family) and ask all of them to be on her 'who to phone if I need to' list. That way, she had several people prepared to distract, play with, or take her dd until such a time as her mother could have her to stay - which could have taken several hours, or even a night, to arrange.

Me, I'm hoping that our p/t mothers' help will be around...if its a section, she will be. If not, ????! I also have put my sister, and neice, and a neighbour (dd's godmother) on general phone-able standby....would rather they came to our house, less disruptive for dd who is not quite 3.

Jabber, you have clearly got the hang of the notes thang I will definitely talk to them, itching bad enough to stop me sleeping needs telling about!

...and I guess I should prepare DS1 for being woken up early one morning by daddy saying "we're off on an adventure to visit XXXXX", while mummy is making funny noises and stressing at DH about some random thing.(Actually DS1 is used to the last mummy bit by now)

Thanks Eli. I think that's what I'll do. I totally forgot that ILs will still come but just won't make it within 30mins!!(preg head) So I'm not asking someone to stay with DS1 for whole labour am I?

Now I have to work out how to allow my DS1 some time to meet his brother before everyone in my DH's family crowds into the delivery suite!!!!

Whoops!I've been told in mo uncertain terms that I promised DS some time on cbeebies website and I still haven't delivered!! Catch up later!!!

Wow

Its just taken me all day to catch up!

You are all very good thinking about using re-usable nappies, I have to admit I struggled enough to cope last time with normal ones and all the washing, but we did have a VERY SICKY BABY who was ill and I had severe post natal depression and no tumble dryer so we shall see, if I am coping with everything else I shall have a go!

Though tbh I think I am like most of the dads here on the poo front

Can anyone relink to what to pack lists as I dont want to trawl back through all the chat to find it.

I have lost my list from last time and although I want a Home Birth I have realised it would be sensible to make up some sort of bag just in case!

Oh and on the update front, had my GP antenatal appt today, I have anemia and am now on iron suppliments which would explain my resent desire to keel over all over the shop.

I am also even more HUGE and measure 37 weeks rather than 31 so am off to have another scan and appt with the consultant, not entirely sure what this means, apart from it could be a big baby.....???

Though at least this means I feel less embaressed about having outgrown most of my maternity wear!

WB, this is the site. You link to the list on the right hand side right at the top. There's also a boppy pillow slipcover pattern, which is what I was looking for when I found it.

Good lord, slow down you lot!
Reusables, have no dryer, wasn't planning on buying one as I hate them and no room in house anyway, so it'll have to be easy-drying nappies or more of them I guess. VM, can't say I'm that keen on scraping poo but apparently fleece liners it comes off quite quickly? DP has been sheltered from the nitty gritty, he just looks at the purty wraps and says how cute the baby will look in them. mmmm
I have given no thought to what will happen to ds, other than my mum lives round the corner & has him to stay o'night every week so I guess he'll go there quite happily. I do want DS to meet his brother asap so I hope mum will bring him to hospital.
Those worried about bathing baby, midwife showed dp & I in hospital how to do it, or when they come round for the checks afterwards you could ask. I think practicing putting a nappy on a large soft toy is also v.helpful although of course soft toys don't wriggle or wee in your face One suggestion a friend made before I had ds was to get dp to be in charge of bathing as they can't do much else at that stage. DP still gives DS a bath nearly every night, they have a lovely time & I do the ironing or something on the landing.

Forgot to ask, do they sell those little liners for reusables in the UK?

Jabber, I have stocked up on several types of flushable liners - they seem to be a godsend, particularly as they are one-way. That should cure the fears of DHs worried about scraping poo!