October 2017 #5!

[GimbleInTheWabe]

Hope no one minds me setting up a new thread- we were getting full up on the other one!

Here is the link to the deets sheet, feel free to add or edit your details as you please:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pa8LZMKMLvREYH4kFiNqn1dD7aTb053cT_KHvghwvSM/edit?usp=sharing

Bring on the third trimester aches, midwife appointments and birth plan chat!

Oooo and to add for baby monitors we're just getting one that does sound and room temperature (and only because the only room we have for nursery is north-facing so can get a tad chilly compared to the rest of the house). I bought a second hand Mamas and Papas cot for the nursery from a lovely couple who gave me many pearls of wisdom, including don't get the expensive baby monitors that also have the mats (to monitor breathing??) as apparently after child is 3 months or so they can roll/wriggle off the mat so you'll get an alarm every few minutes and every time you'll run upstairs convinced your child has stopped breathing. (I think what they were trying to convey is that the mats can cause more anxiety than they alleviate!)

mummabubs my dp is of exactly the same opinion about using the carry cot rather than getting a Moses basket! Can sort of see where he is coming from re the saving money side of things, but Moses baskets look so pretty! We are getting a cot second hand off a friend, is it best to put them in that straight away or just keep them in the carry cot?

Oh there is so much I don't know... and don't get me started on cot bedding, what exactly are you supposed to put in them? We have a gro snug/swaddle thing, but are they supposed to have duvets/blankets? Apparently cot bumpers are out due to safety issues?

Think your baby monitor sounds like a plan. Will look into it when we are back from holiday (well, wedding in Ireland, and flight has already been announced as delayed and it's not til this evening, argh).

Good luck with the move boxes!

I breastfed DS with occasional expressed bottles. With sterilisers, I would maybe try one of the disposable ziploc bag microwave ones to start with and decide if you like microwave sterilising (it will be handy for travel anyway). Then, if you do want to use that method, check the size of your microwave too before you buy a more permanent one. We have the Avent one but lots of people say it doesn't fit in some models of microwave. Tip: use clean tongs or clean rubber gloves to take hot steamy bottles/teethers/pumps etc. out as it can make your hand skin really dry over time.

We also had some Milton tablets to sterilise a few things that weren't heat steriliser suitable, like Calpol syringes and medicine spoons (my son needed medication for silent reflux) but didn't bother with a proper container, just used a little lunch box to minimise clutter. in the kitchen. We now use the Milton to get rid of the black or orange slime that squirty bath toys seem to accumulate inside!

I feel like I have loads still to buy & am also confused with all the equipment out there. Think we have the big things covered, nursery coming together. I've decided I rally don't want to breastfeed (is that really bad) but my oh thinks I should. I've bought 6 tomee tippee bottles, a tomee tippee steriliser & brush etc for cleaning them. Does anyone know if you need to take milk & bottles to hospital with you. I was thinking of using sma as that's what my mum used & been around a long time.
Also I'm feeling a bit guilty I've just rang in sick to work saying I had a headache (my boss was concerned about pre eclampsia & babbled on for ages, however I'm just knackered had a rubbish sleep, hips really hurting & couldn't get comfy, so I'm just skiving & having a day at home to rest 🙈 xx

Thanks for the shower well wishes, it was really fun (no rain!) and I had a really fun time, despite my 'D'Sis making lots of rude and unnecessary comments about me (totally not bothered, not me... ).

@ButterflyGem what are your reasons for not BF, if you don't mind me asking? I think I'm going to only buy the sterilising stuff if and when I need it, thank the lord for Amazon prime haha

@boxesoffrogs I think regarding bedding the SIDS advice is to have nothing in with baby at all. So put them in the sleeping bag and that's it. No pillows, toys, duvets, midline, bumpers etc as they are all suffocation risks. I think it changes as they get older and can support thier head but to start with you just need a sleeping bag.

I'm also maybe going to be part of the moving house brigade. Although as it stands we haven't looked in to a mortgage, put DPs flat on the market or put an offer in on the flat we want to buy so with 9 weeks before I'm due I'd say we're def cutting it fine ha.

Butterfly you will definitely need to take your own formula to the hospital if that's what you plan to use; I'm not so clued up re bottles, my hospital provided them when I had to pump colostrum/breast milk for the first few days of DDs life.

Thanks @TheLegendOfBeans I wasn't sure if the hospital provide formula lol.
@GimbleInTheWabe I just don't feel like I'd feel comfortable breadt feeding & would like my husband to have an equal share in feeding etc. I am starting to question this decision though as media etc says breast is best but at the same time I don't want to feel pressurised into BF.
I'm feeling a lot better after not doing much all day but now have the urge to clean he house from top to bottom! xx

Thanks cineraria and gimble for the advice! And good luck to all of you also moving house, we must be bonkers!

butterfly enjoy your day of rest, don't think of it as skiving, more as recuperation!

Just about to set off for the airport, I had an accidental hour nap earlier whilst dp 'popped out for half an hour' to get his hair cut, because you know, wedding pics. Bloody idiot came back two and a half hours later, which meant I had to frantically tidy and clean up flat, pack up dog and send her off to dog sitter, shower, pack etc. Will get there and discover I have only got one shoe or something else ridiculous. Also, staying at his parents for a few nights, which I am a bit wary of, simply because at the moment I just want to be in my own space, so I can have power naps, eat naughty things, and generally not have to be on my best behaviour for the next few days, if you see what I mean...

Oh and I've just discovered that my jeans are still damp. So I will arrive looking all red faced and sweaty, smelling of wet dog, and can't even have a nice relaxing drink, instead of being serene and 'glowing' (still waiting for this pregnancy glow by the way...)

Hope your trip goes well boxes! Your DH does exactly what mine does- decides at the last minute they need a haircut, or when we were about to go on holiday to Greece a few years ago I was manically dashing around sorting out our house/dog when DH comes back from a little walk proudly announcing he's just found a dyson in a skip... he then produced said dyson and started taking it apart on the living room carpet. (We were due to leave for the airport in 30 minutes!!) 🙈

Not sure if this is helpful boxes but I've just asked Mamas and Papas via Facebook if the carrycot can be used as a bed and they've said no, only recommended for "occasional daytime sleeping", not overnight. I had a miniature rant/breakdown as I was told at their parenting event that they were fine to use for sleeping- it's partly why we then ordered a travel bundle! This has also happened with the car seat- one employee told us we'd need to change our bundle as the car seat wasn't safe for my car (at the cost of £100 to us), then another employee the next day said the original would be fine?!? Why is it all so blooming hard???

Obviously the decision is totally yours @ButterflyGem and certainly don't let your DP or anyone pressure you in to either decision. Just to say though DP can also help with feeding if you BF as you can express so he can help during the night and so on. I want to BF as it seems the most quick, convenient and cheapest way to feed my baby. No fussing with weighing out formula and milk, sterilising bottles or making sure you have milk on you when your out and during the night you don't even have to get out of bed to feed! Also it has been proven that it is the best thing nutritionally for your baby and has fantastic long term benefits for baby and you (it's been proven that BF reduces your risk of breast cancer for example).

Anyone else found they are getting rib pain? I hadn't really had any until today (am 31w today) and my ribs are sooo achey! My bras don't fit anymore either which is really annoying!!

Have an awesome holiday @boxesoffrogs! Will it be hot where your going?

@boxes, the advice we were given at our antenatal classes about bedding was either a sleeping bag (of the right tog for the room temperature) or cellular blanket and cotton sheets. They gave me this cardboard room thermometer as a guide for use of blankets (they said if the cellular blanket is folded it counts as 2).

I also found this sleeping bag guide on Pinterest

That's so helpful @doomkittycleo, thanks for sharing! 😊

And @GimbleInTheWabe I bought bra extenders (3 for £5 on Amazon) and they've enabled me to keep wearing the wireless bras I bought back when I was 14 weeks! Might help with the rib pain? X

Ps: what's the latest guidance on swaddling as I have a crazy feeling it's gone from being an approved thing when I had DD (Feb 2016) to a no-no nowadays.

I could be wrong though!

@thelegend there's mixed advice, I think they generally say if you do it, not to do it too tight as it forces the hips into an unnatural position.

I just bought some bra extenders from amazon too, I think pregnant ladies must be their biggest customer group!

Sharing some of what I learned first time around, re bedding: definitely no duvets or pillows. Blankets and sheets are okay (cellular ones are good and can be layered) but do "feet to foot", i.e. put baby's feet at the bottom of the cot/Moses basket so they can't slip down under the covers. Sleeping bags are brilliant but they are only suitable once baby gets to a certain weight, so you will probably need to start with blankets. A lot of the pre made swaddles are designed to be loose around the hips and legs, so we used those. Not all babies like swaddling though!

We got given a second hand plug in steam steriliser, it was massive but actually very useful. If you are expressing then you need to sterilise the breast pump parts as well as the bottles which takes up extra room. But we had a small microwave steriliser too for travelling. Milton tablets are handy for toys but I was less keen on them for bottles, they left a chemical smell.

BF is a very personal decision and I think different things suit different people. I BF DD for two years and she hardly ever gets sick, so hoping to do the same this time. But my friends that formula fed definitely had babies that slept better, so I was quite jealous of them for that! They will have some formula at the hospital but I think they usually recommend to take your own. You can buy pre made bottles which is expensive but easier than faffing about with mixing them when away from home.

Thanks @pingu, that's really helpful

Just finished reassembling this second hand gift from a friend 😍 looks perfect

Hi ladies - new to the group and Mumsnet. Due 31st Oct - Halloween! Would be great is it's on the due day although I know that's unlikely. Getting away far to lightly with this pregnancy thing atm. Haven't decided when to finish work but hoping to work as late as possible Guess it depends how uncomfortable this last trimester is going to be!

Also has anyone been asked to take part in the Respiratory study? It might just be Oxfordshire....

Welcome pompar! What a cool due date. I'm due October 21st and hit my 3rd trimester a few days ago. I find some days I am bursting with energy and other days - like today - I am as flat as a pancake. Everybody is different! Hope you enjoy the group.

What a beautiful gift @doomkittycleo , I love your wall art too!

Welcome @Pomparr . I haven't heard of that study, what is it researching? I have a friend who was asked to take part in a study for "older mothers" and was so offended she said no

Welcome Pompar! My friend's birthday is Halloween, hope you get your baby on due date! I think the research is region-specific, I live in South Wales and have been asked to take part in the PRAM study... think it was something to do with baby's weight but truth be told since signing up at 8 weeks I've forgotten! 🙈

Apologies for missing the second R Pomparr!

Quite jel of all the people with finished nurseries. I still live on a building site with no kitchen, no bathroom, no hot running water and everything we own is in storage. 77 days to go!

In terms of stuff we have been given an icandy strawberry, a car seat, two boppy pillows, a sling, loads of clothes and bought a moses basket in the charity shop for a tenner. We are the last in the family to have a baby so everyone is clearing out their attics for us which is great so totally baby spends so far have been just over £20.

I'm planning on bf'ing so not bought any sterilizing stuff but have purchased a few bottles and some milk bags, sister is giving me a pump so DP can do some feeds. On the bf course I went on they said to make sure the mum does the feeds between midnight and 8am, as this ensures continuity of supply.

Not sure what else we need but I'm sure we'll make it up as we go along....DP has two kids from previous relationship so is pretty confident about baby stuff, which is great as I haven't read a single book.

Welcome @Pomparr! Oooh a Halloween baby! I was thinking the other day actually being a late August baby myself and therefore the youngest at everything ever that October is a great month to be born in.

DP and I off to buy all our baby stuff today, literally everything! Also I've changed my mine regarding buying a sleepyhead as the midwife said that they are a SIDS risk, I was really sold on all the glowing reviews but I feel the risk is too big to take.

Also had my last antenatal class yesterday which was really useful. The MW was talking us through hand expressing and how it can help you go in to labour on time. Apparently you should start at 37w and do it once/twice a day and to keep any colostrum that you express. Def going to give it a go!