July 2015 - into the final trimester we go!

[broodylicious]

Hope this works....

Has anyone else started their antenatal class yet? Our first one was last night.

I already finished my antenatal classes!

We haven't been offered antenatal classes yet. I remember with dd there's some issue and they didn't even start until I was admitted to hospital at 35+6, I had her by csec at 36+6.
I'm happy not to attend anyway, asked oh if he wants to go and he's happy not to.

Has anyone's oh been getting any sympathy pains/cravings.?? Oh thinks he's been getting "kicks" in his belly.

Antenatal classes - first mention of them was at this weeks mw appt (27wks). We won't be going though as we did NCT last time and I'm not sure many second time parents go to these things?

Hospital bags - I didn't take a towel last time and I won't take one this time either. The hospital provided them when I went for a shower and tbh I'd rather get their laundry dirty Worth taking some femfresh wipes in your bag, as well as a facial mist or evian face spray for when you're pushing and on the stifling hot ward afterwards. Also lansinoh cream which you can use as lip balm as well as for your nipples. What about taking a small prepared bottle of formula, just in case anything happens? I know the hospital will provide you with formula but if you've a specific desire to give a certain brand...?

No formula here. I plan on exclusively breastfeeding and I have my own personal breastfeeding professional to support me (she listens to the title 'mum' . Good call on the spray bottle, though! I was thinking about it late last night. The bottle will go into the 'both home and hospital' area of the basket.
DH wondered last night why I was rummaging around his shirt. I settled on one from his work, as it is a nice enough shirt, but he never wears it. So that is now at the absolute bottom of the basket, along with a pair of boxers, a pair of his socks with no holes and a nearly empty deodorant spray.
It feels good to have started!

I plan on ebf too fatty but sometimes things don't always go to plan, so I will be getting some emergency cartons just in case. I hope I won't use them because I very much enjoyed my two year breastfeeding journey with dd.... but I am a realist and with a very demanding toddler hanging around, I know things won't be as straightforward this time.

My NCT classes don't start until I get to 35+2 (mid June) and are for babies due in July and August. A bit worried that it's leaving it quite late but as it's DC1 I'm assuming that lo will be arriving behind schedule.

I've already done daisy birthing classes. Got nct starting in a few weeks and doing hospital ones from 33 weeks.

If anyone plans to buy the angelcare ac401 monitor it's currently on offer reduced from £99.99 to £73 on amazon

I'd check with your hospital as to whether you need a towel or not. Mine don't provide them so you have to take your own.

broody I'm not doing antenatal this time either. Will just practice my hypnobirthing at home from 30 weeks.

zampa, with our NCT classes, the last session was the Wednesday and I have birth on the Monday! V close call but hopefully they've taken all due dates into account and you'll be ok. I did check beforehand if I'd get a refund for not completing the course

They no longer sell those individual cartons here. I remember that they used to have them a few years ago, but they aren't around now. And I'm not going to buy an expensive can of formula just in case. I think it would be too tempting for us to give a bottle when the little one keeps crying one night...

My midwife has not mentioned antenatal classes. Is this something else I will need to prompt her on? I'm 30 weeks.

I have to find my own mat cover at work, I have half of it covered but my ideal candidate for the remainder has just had a better offer (we could only offer a fixed term) so its back to the drawing board with only 6 weeks left! I work in a specialist area so it is really difficult. Sure it will all work out in the end!

Oh I defo won't be buying a big can of formula, literally just the six pre made bottles. If I need to use them, I will, far better than having lo with an empty tummy and it shan't kill them, but if I can help it, it'll be boob all the way until baby says no more.

I was pretty peeved to find out they no longer sell the small cartons with just one feed!

beno, can't believe you have to organise your own cover, that's awful!! Is it a small company? Not that it matters, just such an added stress for you!

zampa I'm the same, I will be 36 weeks when I do my NCT class. If we happen to have the baby early then that will just be too bad (I think the NCT lets you change to a postnatal class if you miss yours because you go into labour early anyway). I'm assuming it's fine, a friend of mine tried to book onto a class and they told her it wasn't appropriate for her, timing-wise, so I wouldn't worry.

I went and checked out a nursery nearby this morning and absolutely hated it. It was perfectly fine, all the kids seemed totally happy, I just had an immediate "no way am I leaving my baby here" gut reaction. It was my first one though so maybe it was just a freakout about having to make what feel like these huge decisions.

charlie, must admit I had the same reaction when I went to view a nursery while I was on maternity leave. It was part of the reason I gave up work became self employed in fact. The nursery was very highly rated by ofsted and parents, it was beautifully clean, very light and airy, the children were happy, staff incredibly friendly and professional...but we decided it just wasn't for us. And so expensive! I know though not everyone has a choice and some ladies have to or want to go back to work so nursery is the only option available. I personally found it very sad that the baby room caters from babies as young as six weeks old (Again, not meaning to sound judgmental there and recognise everyone's circumstances are different).

Over here, maternity leave is so short that you go back at 8 to 10 weeks after baby is born.

beno I think classes get booked up pretty early, you're midwife should really have told u quite a while ago, so if you wanted to do some Id try and find out today if there are any classes available and how to get on them.

Thanks broody, yes I run a small company (downsized ex public sector) so there is no one else to do it. Hey ho, it will all be sorted eventually, but it has been added stress which they don't seem to understand!

Meeska I did think I've probably missed the boat. Not to concerned though as people mostly like to go to them to meet people and we are surrounded by friends with babies who are good sources of advice etc.

I never did any classes myself beno with my other children, you'll be fine if you don't get to do any. Looking after a baby is not rocket science and once you've figured out the first couple of days, baby care is all pretty repetitive after that!
I plan to go to baby groups and things after the little one is here to get out and meet people.

I do agree that most people do NCT to get in touch with other preggos expensive way to make new friends but both dh and I found it invaluable before we had dd as I'd got no idea about labour or birth or any of the choices that were available to me. Just depends on whether you're bothered about that. As meeska says, the actual caring for a baby comes to you naturally so I wouldn't pay for post natal courses myself. Groups afterwards - baby sensory, baby signing, baby yoga/massage etc - were really important to me too because they do help you learn about child development. Again though, all personal opinion/choice.

Thanks broody and Meeska i definitely plan to do lots of groups afterwards as it will be good to meet others with bubbas the same age.

I'm quite relaxed about the birth (no idea why, I think it might be denial!) and just plan to go with what feels right on the day. My body has done something amazing already and will trust that it will continue into delivery. My SIL is a GP so going to ask her any questions when the panic hits, probably when I start mat leave!

I was relaxed about birth too beno - baby calls the shots re when and where and how it'll be delivered after all, so my opinion was that there was no point in worrying about what I could/nt control. It's the bit afterwards I was worried about (no sleep, feeding, visitors etc).

My antenatal class didn't really cover anything about after the birth, just a bit of info on the first week. But that was mostly about you and your body, not about the baby. But I suppose there isn't really a need to discuss the baby, as we all get a postnatal nurse for the first 10 days who will help us along.