December - yet another final thread!

[Loulou000]

The last one was getting too long again. There's just no stopping us!

So speaking of Guy Fawlkes Day, how did V for Vendetta play over there? I have to say I liked it so much I bought the dvd

WB, have not seen the bellycasts in our local MC, but then again never really looked for them. Have seen however some rather nice t'shirts with 'I'm a big sister' on them. But for what they were asking for them I thought it would be more fun to get DD a white long sleeved top from H&M and a couple of bottles of fabric paint and we'll make our own

We are going to a friends for a 'quiet' firewark display on Sunday night as one of her DS's hates the loud ones. My poor nervy cat is going to be bald by the time we get to January. I know she's feeling the cold now as she has 3 towels around her in her basket at night and has on a couple of occasions snuck under the duvet beside me and DH. And she is by no means a lap cat.

Lubella, my hearing is like yours with DD, between needing to pee, waking on my back and DD snoring because she has a snuffle I have no sleep. Poor rabbit, can't you bring him/her indoors?

For my first cast I bought a kit, but have since done two for friends. All you need is plaster of paris that is impregnated into a roll of gauze and a small container of Vaseline. Cut the gauze into small pieces before you start, have a bowl of warm water handy and then smear vaseline all over your belly (I did breasts too, I think it makes a better looking cast). Dip the pieces in the water and start plastering! Make sure you get it fairly thick and wait at least a day or two, if not a week before you decorate it.

This is one of those things where you need one or two close friends to help out

Oh, and get at least 3 rolls of plaster/gauze. you don't want to run out!

Well, today I'm 36 weeks and on the final four weeks....can't work out if time is going first or slow at the moment....I reckon I'm going to be at about a week late and to be honest, i'm that scared about it all now that it would be fine by me.

I've still got one week left at work and that's getting hard - nearly fell asleep this afternoon as still in litte office by myself instead of with all my colleagues....

I quite like the idea of a bellycast, but think i'd have to either leave out the boobs or do the mould upside down could never let them be cast in their current state (38GG is not very pert!)..

Hello, hope everyone is feeling ok - one week to go in work and I can't wait. This time next week I will have finished!!!
As never done this before, got some questions about hospital bag stuff - they probably seem v.silly but I haven't a clue!
1)do you have to get maternity pads or will normal night time ones do (i.e.the ones that are longer than normal
2) if you plan to bf, but struggle will the hosp have formula for you, or do you just keep trying?
3) paper knickers or not?
4) do people actually take pillows with them?

Also, is it normal to feel like bub might just fall out he is so low down and heavy? (MW said in right position on monday and am 33 wks tomorrow)
Sorry if these are obvious questions, think I have lots more actually but they'll come to me later!

catkins

1)would strongly recommend maternity pads. you might even have to double up on the 1st day or two.
2) the hospital will have formula but they should help you with bf technique first. Best advice i can give is that the baby doesnt know how to do it either so be prepared to position them onto you and dont listen if a midwife says tickle their chin and they'll find the nipple.
3) not keen myself although have 1 pack for the first day or two.
4) i never did.

hth

Hi Catkins

1. you need those big fat old-fashioned towels. After my last DH bought those thin but extra absorbent long ones (Always?) and m/w chucked them out!

2.Yes, I think most hospitals have formula 3.I bought paper knickers (why? - can't remember now!) for my 1st and didn't use them.

1. I didn't have a pillow for hospital but I guess one of those V shaped ones might be useful.

And yes, it's normal to feel like LO might fall out when walking down the street etc I got quite panicky with no.2!!

catkins
2) my hospital had formula as they fed it to ds without asking me one night Worth remembering though that many first time mums struggle with b/f, it doesn't mean baby is starving & must be topped up with formula (which is what old-fashioned m/w will say...).
3) Hospital will prob. supply paper knickers if you don't have any. I found them quite useful & have bought some this time, but cheap big pants of your own (dark colours!) also good, it's just they have to be taken home to wash. Some paper knickers more comfy than others, buy next size up.
4) I took a v-pillow & it was great for b/f, and propping me up as they never had enough pillows. Comfort thing as much as anything, so taking a smallish fleecy one this time.

VM, I've been looking everywhere for the nightie things with elastic at the bottom (a bit like an old fashioned baby gown). I had a look on Pumpkin Patch and Mothercare websites but can't find them. Help! Boots used to do proper old fashioned gowns, and I put some elastic in the bottom of one of them for DD - it was the best thing.

My mothercare has them in store but usually only when it's getting towards winter - they have lots of stuff in store that never makes it to the website/catalog. think woolies may also do them?? Thought I might buy a newborn grobag this time as I luv em so much but had to wait so long for ds to hit 10lbs last time!

Hi all!
Eli,sorry to hear about your car

I didn't bother with paper knickers, just took old ones.

I found the thickest sannies i could but can't remember if I doubled up or not.

have you seen these

Also have other tempting goodies ...

And while I'm on a roll, my DCs were in these from birth (even though it says 67cm which my DCs certainly weren't at birth, they fitted perfectly)

baby sleeping bags

OK, final message: Petit Bateau also do lovely sleep stuff but they cost an arm and a leg. Nice pressie idea for those who feel generous towards you and cheaper if you have friends in France

babypowder, I love those little gowns with the elastic. Here you can find them at Target and Baby Gap.

Aaah Castles, and I thought I'd finished shopping...those nightie things are gorgeous.

I didn't bother with paper either, just old baggy knickers - and whoever suggested the biggest hugest size of M&S baggy pants for post c-section, thank you: perfect. I got size 20 (normally a 10)

I also took maternity towels, but actually didn't need them - used ordinary night ones, and never doubled up. But then, I've never had heavy periods and I didnt' have heavy postpartum bleeding either - went on a long time, though.

DO take Dettol wipes (or other) if using communal loos/baths in hospital, eye mask and plugs invaluable too! Oh, and I wished I'd taken my mobile phone recharger...texting was my link to the outside world for the best part of a week (unexpected section)...

You used to be able to get those nightgowns with elastic hems at Baby Gap in UK. Worth taking a look ...

Just felt that I had to post, after moaning about being pregnant - lo is wriggling around a lot this morning and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside just thinking about him. I keep trying to remind myself not to wish away these last 4 weeks as I will never get this opportunity again. Dh has said absolutely, positively no more!

Hi All,

Babypowder - am flumoxed as to why Mothercare and Pumpikinpatch websites dont have the sleepsuits (BabyGap USA calls them Bundlers) on. But I found mine in RL when shopping a few weeks ago. Pumpkinpatch are really reasonable too, just £5.99, as opposed to £10.99 for a regular sleepuit. And if I recall Mothercare sold two for £10.99.

Catkins - Strongly suggest you get maternity pads not sanitary towels as the latter absords the flow which makles your undercarriage ache with drawing pains like you would not believe - take it from someone who found out the hardway! Maternity pads are much gentler and just really catch the fallout - putting it nicely. You can find maternity pads in the baby isles not with the sanitary products - if you dont plan to go out for a while after baby arrives you should stock up on several packs.

And by the way all, my drier balls are fab!!! All the clothes they went in with that I would normaly have to iron went straight on hangers as there was not a crease to be seen. I love my drier balls . Was a bit sceptical when first turned the drier on as they made a bit of noise, but as they heat up they soften and the noise disapears. Strongly recommended!

Thanks everyone for great sleepsuit/bodysuit/vest advice. I've just been given a huge load of newborn clothes (from a friend who had a baby shower and was inundated with stuff) and I was trying to sort out stuff for my hospital bag. And as I live in Spain, have UK pregnancy books and a South African midwife, I had heard all sorts of different names for things(babygrows, romper suits etc).Now I know what it all is...and have also realised that what I thought were really tiny socks are actually scratch mits!

Do lots of people have their babies (girls) ears pierced in the UK? Before leaving the hospital? Was with a friend and her 6month old daughter yesterday and a old SPanish couple came up to coo etc and he said 'what a lovely boy' (although she was wearing lots of pink). The woman realised but advised my friend to get her ears pierced asap to avoid future confusion!

Feeling very rough today. Have had dodgy stomach all day but was in panic earlier coz baby hadn't moved since yestarday so I ate loads of sugary stuff. The LO has since moved but I now feel even sicker!

Elibean thanks for your reassurance re the transverse thing - I am so not going to spend anymore time worrying about it now. Vanilla - thanks for your sympathy x I would bring my rabbit in but the Hutch/run is huge and we have no inside space to accommodate...a difficult sitch all round!

As always ladies your advice on necesseties is invaluable, I have saved from buying so much crap I wouldn't need from reading your sagelike words

I must start making notes for my own hospital bag or I'll forget all of these useful suggestions! V.keen on following up the homeopathic remedies - was that you, Castles? Should I just buy ones in boots or order some online - is there a kit for labour/post-birth?
Those nightgowns & sleeping bags are sooo cute. I do remember seeing some of those nightgowns in gap too, must go and see as m/care is not always reliable when it comes to clothes. I just remembered this morning when ironing 30 items of baby clothes (I can't handle more than 30) that their bodysuits are really small for size.
They have a Petit Bateau (and gap) discount store at the York Designer Outlet near me. I think there are other Designer Outlets in the UK, too (I've bought quite a lot of gap stuff as it lasts so well & the stains come out every time!!).
Jabber, I know exactly how you feel. I spent last night panicking utterly about dealing with 2 children & thinking that I really didn't want this one in case my bond with ds1 was broken. Then first thing this morning, bump wakes me up with some wriggles & I just couldn't wait to meet him! I've been reading that book by Rebecca Abrams about going from 1 child to 2, realistic I think based on friends' situations but I feel quite depressed at the thought of my relationship with ds1 changing so much when it's taken me a long time to bond with him due to PND & recurring depression.

This instantly amused child made me cry with laughter-hope he brightens up your Sunday!