May 2017 #11 Not long to go until the first baby shows!

[PeachIcedT]

It only took us two weeks to fill up the last thread!

Link to previous thread #10:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/2875150-may-2017-10-to-be-prepared-or-not-prepared

Link to the May data sheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KVJO4NGD6JrcGRGQuYnx87mLaadV5ytrP4lDfdqLrUQ/edit#gid=0

@stationaryace I live on the border of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire (yes our house is practically on the A1!) and it's so interesting/scary to see how hospitals are under demand. All the hospitals are an hour away, and we have picked a relatively new one to have our baby. I've been for a few look rounds and it's always half empty, quiet and well staffed because it's a bit "rural". The other 2 hospitals because they are closer and right in the middle of a city, are manic and are only doing inductions at 40+13.

This is the longest I've slept in for AGES, so I'm going to continue snoozing.

Good to know savage thanks... hoping I will be one of the lucky ones then!
DH dropping his parents to airport and I am trying to persuade myself I am not too tired to get up for work... 4 days and counting down!

I have found the amount of advice has really dropped with the second baby too peas. But I did get a cheery 'its over double the work' from a mum in the sand pit yesterday

The amount of bleeding is individual. Mine was only heavy for a few days but went on for weeks and weeks. One of the best things about breastfeeding was the break from periods, but when they did come back they were much more painful and heavy than before.

Not liking the stories about bleeding for weeks and the periods coming back heavier. I always have quite heavy periods anyway and with a painful first day so I'm not looking forward to that. Seriously I'm even contemplating having another one after this even if we said to only have one just so I can postpone this whole shebang of getting periods again ... could someone talk me out of it?

I was advised natracare pads and to order them via Amazon but I'm not very amazon minded so I may have a peek in the big boots in the town and see what they have there. I'd bought some disposable always pants for the first few days, when Morrisons had their baby event.

Not had a good night. Been woken up twice by OH, once when he asked me if I needed more duvet (no thanks I just threw it off me cos I'm boiling) followed by a request to turn over as I was taking up too much space, but I was just comfy! The second time I got elbowed in the back so hard that my only response was to kick back hard! Turns out it didn't wake him up, and he doesn't even remember !!! I'm really bad about being woken up when I'm fast asleep, so this is looking very promising, isn't it! I'm in a right mood...

It's different when it's a baby waking you Rustler!
Although it doesn't seem to mean you still won't be grumpy with Mr. Rustler!

@WishIWasSleeping mr Rustler was full of remorse this morning. Bless him!

I only bleed for a couple of weeks after each if the girls. Maternity pads are recommended over normal pads as they are unsented so don't hide the smell of infection. I used the thick ones for the first week it nice to have something soft to sit in after giving birth. They do thin maternity pads that I moved to after a week or so.

My periods didn't return between dd1 and dd2 and I have only had 10 since dd2 was born so 10 in 5.5 years! The first 2/3 were heavy and then they went back to normal.

I think I must have been tired, went to bed at 9.30 don't remember much after that. Woke up a couple of times because I was too hot but not awake enough to even get up for a pee. Feel almost human again today

I have 2 packs of boots maternity pads, and I have some of my usual always somewhere. Not looking forward to this bleeding for weeks Also going to stock up on dry shampoo... can't see that this miracle of my hair only needing washed once a week will extend past baby being born

Time for a daft question, how do you know to wake up when baby needs you? My normal self goes to sleep and would sleep through an earthquake I'm a bit worried I won't wake up til s/he is screaming the house down

rustler also not an amazon fan, they're online from here www.birthease.co.uk/labour_essentials.shtml if you prefer. Also the intimate wipes were great last time instead of toilet paper for the first few days.

1004 you sleep a lot lighter. And you are tuned into listening for baby. Generally, of course. It's odd how your brain adjusts. On the few days I knew OH was going to take the baby I slept through like a log, but otherwise I was awake at the first whimper.

(the birthease site I linked to also sells the naturacare breast pads, which I've not tried - don't think they existed last time! - but will be trying this time. Failing that, lansinoh are the shizzle)

DH has gone off with the dogs to walk in the Cairngorms today, glorious day and I'm not jealous at all Honest! He weighed his pack and it's about 8kg which is just under what I've put on.... my suggestion of strapping it to his front didn't go down well 

@savagehk that's what I keep getting told, interesting thought that you went into full on log mode when you knew DH was looking after the baby... that's reassuring as well!

Ok so I've decided to bite the bullet today and actually buy things for my hospital bag and also maybe buy a hospital bag... Can I get pretty much what I need from Boots? My SPD has been awful these last few days and I can park directly outside a nice big Boots so hoping to make it easier.

The alertness thing after giving birth is weird. I would sometimes wake for a feed just before she did. I also remember hearing next door's toddler crying through the wall and being wide awake at that too.

I've got HV appointment this morning, which was a bit of box-ticking exercise (@ClaireSunflower have you mentioned it before?) What surprised me is she said 'fed is best' (not forcing any of the options, which seems to be unusual to hear from HV).

She also said there is a plan to scrap children red books from April as all info is online now, but I hardly believe it. Have anyone of you heard it as well? Or is it local Bromley Trust idea?

@BouncingBlueberry I got most of my stuff from boots if it's a big one I think you'll be ok  they're good for all the mini toiletries as well.

@newbieho think that might be a sign of things to come, maybe you're in a pilot area. Lucky you!

Conversely we were staying with a family in Germany when our first was about 6 months old. He usually had no issues sleeping and wasn't usually a crier either. The first night he had a full on meltdown at about midnight, no idea why. We apologised over breakfast the next morning, husband groggily said it's OK, wife didn't have the foggiest what we were talking about, then said "Ah! Yes, but it was not mine"

The light sleeping thing doesn't go either, I have the monitor on the lowest setting and I'm wide awake at the slightest cry (although not always low key chatting that DS does in the morning). DH has to have it on max volume and even then doesn't always wake up straight away!

Bleeding definitely individual. I was prepared for a 2 month bath but it was quite light after a few weeks and lasted 5 altogether. I have heavy periods but my first couple post partum were really light. I wanted them to come back so we could TTC!

Those on third child is it true the after pains are worst second time round? Do I need to brace myself?

Haha that was meant to say 2 month blood bath!

I may have found a new addiction... Tesco hot cross buns with Belgian chocolate and toffee.... I've just eaten 3  In my defence they are best before today so really needed eating..... 

@savagehk that's so bizarre/clever that your ds didn't wake up your friend

lullaby that is true unfortunately about the after pains which I am dreading. They were terrible when breastfeeding my second and third. Paracetamol is your friend!

Are we still restricted to paracetamol as our only painkillers while breastfeeding?

(After pains something else no one warns you about til it's too late )

Hahaha! Colleague who hasn't been in the office for 3 or 4 weeks just said rather loudly as a walked past:

"You're blooming lovely"

"I mean, your bumps in the right place"

"I mean, it's not all round your back and on your face"

I've been having terrible sleep as well, my right hip aches so much it's just impossible to get comfy.

I have two packs of boots pads as well and am thinking of getting 3 packs of natracare as well, wondering if that will be enough? I also picked up some tena lady pants on the recommendation of MNetters because I'm terrified of leaks. I usually swear by tampons and always night pads for the first two days of my period but read that the dri-weave cover can get caught to stitches-ouch!

Ladies with DC random question but did you keep pads on hand for when your water breaks?

Thanks for that link Savage it looks like the nipple cream is cheaper than at boots. My antenatal yoga teacher said arnica is supposed to help get labour moving if it stops.

Is anyone planning on using a tens machine?

On a completely odd note, I've noticed for the past 3-4 weeks that i smell different and couldn't for the life of me figure out why. Even mentioned this to DH who sniffed me and said yeah a little different. Anyhow flashing lightbulb moment yesterday, we realised the smell is actually a milky kind of smell! I hadn't realised you could actually smell milky so far in advance!

teainbed thanks & yikes! I remember having some pain worth my first so good to be warned it might be worse. I will have painkillers (tramadol last time) for first week anyway for CS but will stock up on paracetamol. rise ibuprofen is ok for breastfeeding, I have also had some stronger stuff for tooth pain (Arcoxia) there is a good resource here I emailed Wendy for advice when I had my tooth problem and she was super helpful.

hungarian at your colleague, did he get his foot out of his mouth eventually?