July 2015 - the thread in which bumps really start to appear...

[fattycow]

New thread, ladies!

Here is the stats list:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p3idkH2TaQYAy22I_N73k1_-G6Ezq67lAdhQvDjQkU0/edit?pli=1#gid=0

GotTo, that must have been so cold!

I agree with all the comments about what you first need, plain water only for washing at first, and lots of things for dealing with posseting. I found putting down muslins, or a Terry nappy in the cot or moses basket or over your shoulder a godsend and lots of little bibs. I did use nail clippers because I don't like biting their tiny nails, and both dd s were born with long razor sharp talons! Also, I found baby oil gave them a rash and instead used a little olive oil from the chemist when needed. I didn't get on with sudocrem either, as I found it dragged their delicate skin, I prefer to use a little bepanthen in the early weeks, or even vaseline. My tip would be to put a light layer of vaseline on from when lo is first born as it helps clean the meconium off easier, but I dont think it's official and the midwife might not agree, but it does work. I also had an emergency dummy in, just in case. Dd 1 used me as a dummy at first, she liked to comfort suck. I would definitely say a couple more cardigans, scratch mitts and vests too as poo leaks out quickly, and I would go through several in a day. You won't need many outfits as people kindly buy them as gifts. Personally I prefer babies in baby grows as I think they are comfier, and easier to handle in baby grows, especially for dh and his big hands. You can feel better where the baby is within the clothes if you know what I mean, and just hold them more securely and confidently. A top and tail bowl is a must, and lansinoh if you are breastfeeding feeding.

I love the bump pics! Will see if I can work out how to post one later.

I'm in two minds about the baby bath. We used one with DD as my Dsis gave us one but I found it awkward trying to empty it again (but that might be because ours is really very old! My DNephew is 10!!). But I haven't tried to just use the main bath so maybe it is easier. I'll still dig it out of the loft for this one and decide from there. I may have found it more awkward though as I didn't trust the stand (see age of it above) so used to use it on the floor, which then meant the dog either tried to get in as well, or used to try and drink the bath water

The thing with little baby's fingernails is they are so soft you can actually just peel them off to start with! I was really surprised but it is so easy and I was too scared to go near her with clippers or a pair of scissors so it made it so much easier for the first few months.

glue good tip about the Vaseline and meconium. I was all ready with my tub in my labour bag, but as DD ended up in NICU we didn't actually change any meconium nappies so managed to bypass that one!

The baby baths you get here all have a plug. To empty them, you put a bucket beneath it, pull the plug and once the bucket is full, you put the plug back and empty the bucket. A bucket of water is of course way lighter than a bath and much easier to handle.

Fatty sounds sensible. Wouldn't work for us as we have the baby bath on the floor. I can't actually remember if ours has a plug or not. I remember it is yellow and that's about it! It was only a year ago we used it! My memory is getting really bad!!

Ah I nibble off their little baby nails while breastfeeding, hence the need for no nail clippers! I also pick off the cradle cap. Lovely!

When we had DD1 we were broke & living in a small flat, so we basically didn't buy anything we thought we could get away without - no baby bath, no breast pump, no moses basket, no changing table, no special nappy bin etc etc - so I agree with nature's suggestion of buying the minimum & waiting to see what you think. Don't forget the internet is 24hrs & you can get online at 4am while feeding the baby to order that crucial missing baby nail clippers

We have literally never used a baby bath, right from the start DH has got into the bath with the kids every evening, so he holds the baby. It's a really nice routine. Mind you we don't go in for bathing the baby very much in the early days.

Anyone interested in cloth nappies, btw, we use re-useable wipes (just when at home, I don't bother when out & about although I still use cloth nappies out & about), I just cut up squares of old terries, DH's old boxers etc, & use them with water to clean the bum, then chuck them into the wash with the nappies.

Sophie I spent a fortune on amazon in the middle of the night while breastfeeding DD in the early days! I used to order things I was convinced would make everything easier. Nothing worked!

gotto it's amazing what seems essential in the early hours of the morning! Haha!

Sophie I keep toying with the idea of reusable wipes. I use cloth nappies, but when I've looked into the wipes it all seemed a bit complicated. I've been looking at cheeky wipes, but it looks like you have to soak them, then discard after so long etc. Or maybe I am just not understanding how to use them. I think I would prefer to use reusable (and as I could just bung them in with the nappies no extra washing) but I can't seem to get over how much faff they look. Am I just really complicating it? But then DD is at the MIL all week so not sure I would really get the use out of them (although would with the LO I guess).

Some good tips on baby essentials. I would add that in the early days a clean washing up bowl (or large sink if you have one) does just as well for bathing baby as buying a baby bath.

We were told at our NCT class for DS not to use baby nail clippers for the first few months as it's really easy to accidentally cut little fingers when the nails are so tiny and soft (I'm sure not everyone would agree and some use them with no problems). They told us just to tear / bite them but I couldn't bring myself to do it (have a thing about biting nails), we used tiny nail scissors / sowing scissors as it was easier to see what you were cutting than with clippers I think, you can also just file them with a soft nail file. You do have to do something otherwise they can give themselves some quite nasty scratches as they have little control over their arm movements (DS had to be in scratch mitts constantly for about a month or we would find scratches on his face in the morning).

Sophie how lovely that your DH bathes with the kids, my DH did that a few times with DS when he was a baby and DS loved it, but DH isn't very keen on baths so it didn't last long. Lots of baths can really help soothe a sore / torn undercarriage too so bathing with baby yourself can also be great way to do it in the first few weeks.

At home today with poorly DS so browsing mn for baby name ideas and trying not to fall asleep on the sofa after a very broken night.

Baby baths over here come with a frame, very useful!

Buy what you think you will use. I have a tiny pot of Sudocreme, a tiny pot of Bepanthen and some other tiny pots. That way I can just try and see what works for us, instead of being stuck with a big pot of something I won't even use.

We aren't going to buy nappy bags, as we are going to use cloth.

I had planned on using one of my normal bags as a changing bag, but I found a really pretty one that was dead cheap and has a changing mat in it, so I bought it.

I strongly advice getting things from friends/relatives that you can borrow (or keep if they are done with babies). That way you can see if it is for you and if not, return it to them or throw it out without having spent a fortune. This works especially for 'big' things like a bouncer seat or the baby bath.

I am getting a sink tub for a couple of dollars and doing our bathing in the kitchen sink. It is waist height and if we have a specific tub for it, it is hygenic. The changing mat can go on the counter. My mum did that too as we lived abroad as kids and only had showers, which is our situation here too, no bath.

Nail file for nails too, i used them on babies at the hospital and they worked a treat! No cut fingers (which I have seen) cue having to calm down distraught mother who feels wretched for hurting her baby. I will save the clippers for when the LO is bigger!!

We actually used a baby bath in the bath for quite a while so we didn't have to fill the whole thing. And I have to admit I still use the bath thermometer, which I think might have cost about £2.
I actually found it useful having the emergency formula, I had a c-section and my milk didn't come in until about a day later. dd needed more by that time so that 1 formula feed got us through that time and then we didn't use it again for quite a while.
After a couple of weeks of water and cotton wool, we used water wipes last time and probably will again. They are not cheap but so much easier.

Our 20 week scan is next week so DP and myself have been trying to guess to sex. We tried all different methods and theories last night but still have no clue! What do you guys think?

The not to!

Girl...skull theory

Although I got 2 photos at my 12 wk in ine by skull theory it would be a boy and in the other a girl... So i think the angle of yhe head csn change how it looks too!

Gaaa! Back on computer I cannot type on my phone!! Should read

Although I got 2 photos at my 12 wk in one by skull theory it would be a boy and in the other a girl... So i think the angle of the head can change how it looks too!

I tried the skull theory, in this photo (which is the clearest) the forehead appears flatter whereas it looks more rounded in the other scan photos. Like you said I think it just depends on the angle of the head!

By the skull theory mine looks like a girl from the 12 week scan, and a boy from our private sexing scan in which they confirmed it's a girl

Mister we are going to buy a washing up bowl for bathing the baby :)

I've had my 20 week scan today

Baby was in an akward position lying on her front and the sonographer couldn't get a clear view for some measurements. I had to jump up and down, stretch left to right and then go for a walk and have a sugary drink and a chocolate bar!
Baby finally flipped over and everything was seen and measured.

Confirmed girl also - after three sons I am slightly scared. I have 17yrs experience of boys!!

I agree with fattycow about the formula.

I am not buying anything to do with formula feeding at all.

I didn't with ds3 and bf him until 2yrs. If I had any formula i would have used it and then I know I would have regretted it.

Different strokes for different folks

Sorry haven't been on here for a while but still lurking
Ordered the nursery furniture today!!
20 week scan next Wednesday..sooo excited
Have decided not to get a baby bath just use our own bath..may change my mind as they now seem easier to empty
Hope everyone is well..19+2 today