April 07 - role call for the hormonally unstable !!

[AndAKaty44InAPearTree]

Thanks Chilli

Re Buying things....

There are definatley "must haves" and "if have extra cash would likes" lol:

For me MUST HAVES (excluding cot, travel system or car seat, bedding, nappies, clothes etc):

BABY
Grobag
Muslin squares (espec if planning to breastfeed)
changing mat
night light
bottles and steriliser (even if b/feeding)
in ear thermometer
infacol!
Sudocreme (godsend and could not live without it)
Bouncy chair
Bath thermometer
Changing Bag
Wipes Wipes wipes and more wipes

WOULD LIKES
Bottle Warmer
Baby Gym
Baby Box so you can carry changing items up and down stairs

ME - hospital: ALL MUST HAVE LOL!
Large Nightie that not bothered about for birth (same one I had for DS)
Nice dressing gown
Nice PJ's
Nice travel size toiletries to make myself feel better
Hair band
Lipsalve (my lips got so dry in hospital last time)
Socks (feet got cold in labour last time...never forget looking at my pink stripy socks as I pushed)
A straw - difficult to sip water lying down
Nice big comfy knickers (sorry but can't do disposable ones)
Many Maternity Pads
Camera
List of phone numbers and change for pay phone
Breast pads
Nice towel
Mini fan

Thats all can think of at mo!
My hospital bag last time was bursting to the seams! lol
x

Good list muminatumiandamini!
Yvie - I probably won't really start really buying until mid to late feb or even march and even then it will only be for something to do (read: an excuse to shop!) but I know lots of people do feel superstitious and get it all last minute. I think I'll balance out the superstition by having the stuff but not having the nursery all laid out
GBBJ - unfortunately we don't have a dishwasher..looks like steriliser is sliding onto the list then..
Cornflake - I definitely want a grobag but a few of my friends have said you can't use them for newborns although I have seen sizes 0-3 months or 0-6mths..?
Nuttygirl - it is reassuring to know there's a few of us first timers on here, isn't it? The rest of you seem so practiced and relaxed about it all!!
Hope I got everyone and sorry to anyone I missed but I've got to dash to the shops now, have a lovely evening all. x

Hi all

My friend gave me a really good tip when I had ds. Keep another changing mat downstairs (I keep mine underneath the settee) and keep nappies, wipes and other essentials in a box/bag that can be kept down the side of settee/chair. Saves having to go upstairs everytime to change a nappy. We still do this now and ds is 20mths old!

Re routine: ds was in a crib with us for about the first 8 wks, but he kept waking himself up, because he liked stretching out so much. We put him in his cotbed one night, in his own room, and he slept from 8pm til 6am. Never looked back Although the hv wasn't very impressed when we told her, and talked about the first 6 months ds being at risk from cotdeath etc. FGS, thats all we needed! Besides, dh had first hand experience of cotdeath, as he found sil little girl at 3mths, and tried to resuscitate her he was only 18 at the time

Is anybody else finding that their boss is acting more "concerned" around them iykwim? Was talking about dates etc today, and he told me that he wasn't happy about me finishing 2 weeks before, and would prefer it if I finished 6 weeks before!!! Told him I would think about it, and would come to some arrangement. I'm in the office on my own most of the time, and his wife went 7 weeks early with their child (with pre-eclampsia) so maybe he's just being a tad cautious

Def agree with everyone that bump is getting bigger by the day. Finding it very heavy as well. Don't know if it was being off work, and not so tired, but how shall I put this, mmm - well, I couldn't get enough of dh He really did think all his Christmases had come at once

This was only meant to be quick note

Take care all

x

26 wks

Maveta - Grobags are like most baby things - they go more on the weight (I think)

enjoy your shopping

Hi all, good to see we're all back to our chatty selves

I'm on no 2 and didn't buy much til after about 28wks first time round. Obviously this time I've still got most things.

For the bean - I need a sterilizer and bottles.I too will use grobags. Last time the ones I bought from Bumpto3 said they shouldn't be used until they weigh 10lbs...having said that I bought some Prem ones and they could be used from 7lbs and I used them from 6lbs.

I still need things for me. I think it depends on the kind of person that you are as to when you do shopping. I had bought most things by 32wks last time although none of it was organised. When I was taken into hospital at 33 wks I hadn't even packed a bag. mum had to sort out all the things I needed maternity pads, knickers, feeding bras etc couldn't trust DH to get it all right DS spent 3 weeks in NICU so I sorted out his room (building the cot etc) once they sent me home.

Can't remember who asked about routines. After DS came out of NICU at 3wks he was in our room in a swinging crib for less than a week. He disturbed me and I disturbed him, so we moved him to his own room at about 4 wks still in his swinging crib. Having said that I had an Angelcare breathing care monitor on him that would have gone off if he had stopped breathing I think that put my mind at rest a little.(I shall be using it again this time even if bean isn't prem.) During the day he slept in a bouncy chair (which laid flat) til about 10wks then the swinging crib upstairs.

Bath time. I did start off using a baby bath on the living room floor, partly because DS was so small at looked lost in the big bath. However I found it was a pain to fill and empty so quickly moved to a seat in the big bath. I used to go in with him a lot. Still do actually.

Wow what a long post. Well done if you made it to the end. xx

Runnyhabbit - totally agree with having changing stuff downstairs as well. My C-section was sore enough at times anyway without going up and down the stairs more than necessary, also I have a tendency to fall down stairs at the best of times.

I'm also feeling a lot bigger. My family are all insisting that I'm bigger now than when I had DS a 34wks Not quite I don't think although DS stopped growing at 28wks so I dont think I'm that far off

Runnyhabbit - also agree with you about the rise in sex drive mine is back with a vengeance

Thanks for all the advice ladies - I now don't feel so pressured to start looking.
Will definitely make use of the lists and all the tips - I'd never even heard of a grobag before!
Maveta and Nuttygirl I didn't even realise you were first timers you seem so organised. But am glad to have the experienced mums on here to pass on all the tips and tricks.

I know what everyone means about feeling bigger. My mum says I'm bigger than she was when she gave birth to me (5 days late!) but I think my bump size varies depending on how much I've eaten and where the baby is. Love it when I catch a glimpse of the bump in a mirror - it gives me butterflies

LO is kicking more aswell...it kicked REALLY hard the other day when DH was cuddling me and it caught DH in the belly!!! He was shocked at how hard the baby can kick!

Yvie - x posted with you. I'm not working so have loads of time to kill...don't know many people round here either so shopping for baby stuff kinda fills my days! (that and MN of course) Also my Mum's really excited and has bought quite a lot of the stuff...she just can't resist it! She bought us the baby bath and a box thing that matched...had to ring her to ask what I do with the box cos I had no idea what it was for (seems it's for changing stuff to be kept in) beginners eh?

Hello everyone, another first-timer here, so miam thanks for the list.
OK, questions!!! I was under the impression that the baby stayed in a moses basket (or whatever) beside your bed for 6 months - is that not the case? Do I definitely need a stand? If not, I'm quite glad as we hope to move before he/she's one and it would seem like a waste of decorating the room and new blinds if it was only used for a month or so.
Are grobags the baby sleeping bag things that look like huge dresses? I bought some from Tesco, sure they were for 0-3 months old, should I not be using them from birth?
I assume infacol is baby calpol? What's sudocreme? (Feel like I should know, but...)
Also, a nappy rash cream was getting a fantastic review here a while ago I think, 'Met-' something??
Right that's it for now, please don't feel you have to answer all of those!
glitterkitty, enjoy your scan tomorrow - are you planning to find out the sex?

Hi all, Grobags are like big dress things Kate - made me laugh. I think they can be used from 7lb's onwards, but you need to check the packaging.
Infacol is stuff that you give baby if he/she suffers with colic. Sudocreme is for nappy rash.

Runny and Ange pmsl at your sexual urges. I am not going to tell dh that as he will expect the same. Sex is the last thing I fancy!

Thanks SOL! So as long as I go on the weight I should be OK?

BTW has anyone else noticed the September 2007 thread? Amazing how time is whizzing by!

Runny - say you'll go 6 weeks before but they have to pay you

Metanium is a nappy cream - kind of like sudocrem - but more natural - both are pretty full on creams for use on nappy rash - wouldn't use on any other part of body - if you want a cream for daily use for dry skin then would recommend E45 or something much gentler. There are loads of bottom balms around which are much gentler and can be used daily - I have one from natalia but have seen them in Neals Yard and Waitrose. I would tend not to buy any baby care product with parabens or lauryl suplphates in as they are pretty harsh chemicals - Johnson & Johnson are non- starters in our house as they make both boys itch due to the parabens etc. Waitrose do a full baby range which are natural and pretty cheap I think.

I didn't use a grobag on mine til they were 10lbs mainly because ds1 was born in July and it was way too hot and ds2 was 10lbs! I would use them from birth if their head can't fit down the neck hole!

Infacol is for colic/wind and can be used from birth - and you can get it on prescription if you ask your doctor - ds2 had colic from 2 days old then it stopped at 8 weeks (thank goodness!) and couldn't have lived without it.

Calpol is infant paracetomal and shouldn't be given before 3 months - they do let them have a bit with their first immunisations though - you can ask for it when you go in - so no need to buy any.

My ds2 was too big for his crib from birth - banged head/arm/legs everytime he moved so had to go straight into his cot (in his room). The SIDS advice is that they should stay in your room to 6 months but it really is up to you - putting a baby in their own room doesn't put them at risk - its just if they are in your room your are more likely to notice their movements/breathing - but as a few have already mentioned - the snuffling and constant noise can keep you awake when they are fast asleep and moving them out is the only way for you to cope then move them. The feet to foot thing is really important as is lying them on their backs though.

Your health visitor will of course make you feel guilty - but that is their job!(my health visitor is great and has common sense - thank goodness!) - but some health visitors will make you feel guilty about everything from bottle/breastfeeding to sleeping, carrying, weaning, weight gain blah blah blah - you just need to feel confident and keep things in perspective and use common sense yourself! We are all here to help aswell and don't we have a lot to say

Hope some of that helps and I don't sound completely mad!

Bristol meet up on 17th at Jump - need to go find the thread and check!

x-post with Sexonslightlypuffylegs!

hellooo!

Back again after spending what feels like days and days seeing people, cooking meals and entertaining. Have been soooo tired. Was in bed 9pm New yrs eve, 7.30pm day before that.

Glad to hear everyone else's bumps are HUGE. Mine is massive and I'm really panicing about another 3months of growing! gulp. It's got quite uncomfortable now. Dh bought me one of those big gym balls for xmas, which helps alot more than I expected!

On the baby things front, we brought all SIL baby clothes home with us today to borrow. There's LOADS and it's saved us so much money. Lots of basics etc. Much more than I expect we'll need. Great.

We're off on hol on friday. Dh works all xmas so we usually have a break early Jan to recover (not to mention it always seems cheaper to go then!)

Anyway, hope that you are all well and enjoyed the seasonal festivities. Starting to take decorations down is so depressing!

On the growbags... can you use them in a moses basket? It seems to me there'd be lots of spare fabric around?

Do hope CD is ok. Have been wondering about her too. Hopefully she's just resting up after a seriously busy xmas.

btw - Katy, haven't seen the sept 07 thread, but that is SCARY! We're really getting near now. Wait till we spot the March POSTnatal thread!

Does anyone know when we enter the 3rd trimester? Surely with these big bumps we qualify some time soon??

couldn't agree more on the keeping a stash of nappies downstairs tip - I've not been that good at it myself with DS but fully intend to be more organised this time round - not that happy about leaving DS to his own devices downstairs whilst I am upstairs doing the baby's bum!

DS went into grobags from around 5 months - he was a summer baby and was swaddled until 16 weeks anyway. I would wait until the babies get here before buying any in case the weather's too warm/you end up swaddling etc etc, the bags can be expensive!

Agree with CFK, HVs are very good at laying on the guilt with a trowel!!! In the end I think most mums instinctively know what's best for THEIR baby and no-one knows their own baby like a mother, iykwim.

Girls..HANDS UP PLEASE..Who is doing their Pelvic Floor exercises and how often???
My bump feels like it has shot out in december and today it feels particularly massive. Just checked and..YUP.. definitely can´t see my pubes anymore. When did THAT happen?!

Happy Feet has taken up residence in my tummy... think he may also be the size of an emporer penguin!

Pelvic floor - yes hmmmmmm errr - when I remember I do them - orgasms do the same job but much more fun and perinneal massage time is creeping up too No sex here though - spd too painful

My mum got me Junior subscription for xmas and the first one arrived today - such a good magazine - although verging slightly on yummy mummy which I will never be because I can't cook, I hate housework and my hair doesn't bounce when I walk Also - can't afford the clothes in the magazine (well could - but wouldn't spend that much money on boys clothes...maybe if had girl things may be different )

Maveta - NO

I've not done ...any... and I really should be....I leak when I cough and sneeze as it is but I just never ever remember to do them and as for my lady garden.....well it was a tad overgrown to say the least but managed to do some gardening at the weekend but don't think I'll be able to do it again as bump is too big ohh the shame!!!

My annoying DH is driving me mad this evening as I have been looking into the cotton reusable nappy thing and he keeps wittering on about how it cannot be cheaper than disposables (he isa Quantity Surveyor and has even sat there and tried to work it out)...it's like he is purposefully trying to wind me up.....I told him that even if it was more expensive in money terms in environmental terms we should try and do our bit and he stomped off in a huff saying if I got reusabe nappies he wouldn't change the baby....GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

sigh and I am quite determined this time to breastfeed longer and already he is talking about getting formula in "just in case". I went mad...told him that I needed support and not undermining before I've even given it a go...

For all the first timers - I totally echo what has been said already re Health Visitors - mine made me feel guilty about EVERYTHING....Its only as time goes on and you gain your own confidence that you realise that Mum (or other like minded Mums really DOES know best. It is very difficult at a time of such emotional upheaval to have someone who barely knows you come round and be critical of what you are doing so listen to what they say, nod and smile politley and if you don't like what they say do your own thing anyway once they are out of the door....isn't that awful! lol
x

Oh and my sex drive was back over Xmas and New Year too so good news re the Orgasm thing - maybe I can say I have done some Pelvic Floor Exercise after all!!

Well that makes me feel better, am going to have to start putting signs around the house ´DO YOUR PVEs!!´ as I DO do them when I remember, I just never remember.

Re. Ladygarden..I get waxed every 6 weeks so that is all under control but I normally trim aswell inbetween and I think that might be getting a bit harder in the near future. Think DH is going to have to do his bit or I´m going to be wearing a fetching mohawk down there this season. LOL!

Feeling very comfy and very preggers right now. Got given a hand me down lazy-boy type armchair (with the leg support that flips up) from my parents and then today mum gave me a little electric blanket that sits snugly in the small of my back to put behind me when I´m sitting in it. Oh the pampering!! I guess once this one arrives I´ll never be spoilt like this again, and certainly won´t have the time to enjoy it next time round so lapping it up while I can! heheheh

Off to watch Operacion Triunfo now (spanish pop idol).. can this evening GET any better? (gee how our ratings of a good evening change, hey?)

Maveta - that is so true - all you first timers ENJOY the rest and the silence [GRIN]

Pregnancy 2nd time in my opinion just isn't the same! lol
x

muminabigtumi - as an ex cloth nappy advisor you can reassure dh that most people spend £900 per child on disps but £150-400 on cloth for life (inc washing costs). I would highly recommend a Lollipop advisor - will come round and talk to you and dh and he can see for himself what they are like - visit www.teamlollipop.co.uk and put in your contact details - your local advisor will get in touch. Much better than internet stuff as you get the touch/feel thing.

Ladygarden? Ladytropicalrainforest more like (includes the sneezy leaks!)

Muminabigtumi - I totally agree pregnancy 2nd time round is nowhere near the same.

Bigbellycornflakekid - Pmsl at Ladytropicalrainforest including the leaks

Also agree about HVs - I think they teach them to be patronising when they are being trained.

Hope CD is ok. So hectic moving house at the best of times never mind being pregnant.