August 2018 #5

[peterpanwendy]

As we enter month 5 of our pregnancies we need a 5th thread!

Good luck to everyone having their 20 week scan this/next week :)

@Gem173, glad your maternity pay is on track! I didn’t sleep for 18 months with DC1 (=waking and needing to be settled up to 5-7 times a night), until we sidecarred his cot... I would have sold my kidney if that could have gotten me more sleep! Fully appreciate though the privilege of being able to consider options, plus every baby is different and this one might care less about where he sleeps...

@BeesKnees9, that would be very kind of you, if you could do that!

@sometset, that is useful to know, thank you. Did you keep the side zipped down all the time or only for feeding? Up to two inches of soft material sounds like quite a lot.

@BertieBotts, would that still be safe though once the baby is able to roll?

@peregrine I hope this works! This is the next2me set up next to a divan bed, it’s legs are on the highest setting.

@peregrane, oops sorry typo! It was pretty easy to set up, I tested it next to our normal bed as well which isn’t a divan and it needs a lower setting but still fits nicely. The only thing that would make it better for me is if the bassinet part was more rigid when it is lifted off the legs! I was hoping I would be able to just pop that bit off and put it in the bathroom whilst I showered etc to contain baby but the sides go a bit floppy which is a shame.

Peregrine, BeesKnees9 has probably illustrated it best with the photos. I kept the side down for the whole time we were using the crib. We had it on an angle to help her cope with the reflux for most of the time.

I think so, yes, I always used it like that and it felt fine to me. Why not try it out and see how it feels with DC1? You can always go back to the current arrangement if not. I'll look through my old pics tomorrow and see if I have anything to show you.

Thank you so much for all the responses! @BeesKnees9, the photos are really helpful, thank you for going to the trouble!

Here you go - actually you can see one of the blocks I used was actually a pillow, but the rest of it was towels. I used that from newborn right until he stopped co-sleeping altogether.

Boss has kindly given me the day off on Tuesday as I have my antenatal class from 9:30-11:30am followed by my growth scan at 12:45pm. She said there’s no point in me coming back to work after the scan as I’d only be there for 1-2 hours before home time at 4:30pm. I’m surprised at how nice she’s been to me. I guess she does have a few good bones in her :)

That’s fab @gem123, is this your first antenatal class? I haven’t started mine yet, so would love to hear what other people are doing if they are doing their classes already!

We decided not to do the NCT evening ones because of the cost, so are doing a day long course instead at the maternity unit which is ran by NCT but is free. No idea what to expect but definitely looking forward to it!

Had a fab day yesterday, packed the babies hospital bag and did some more organising of bits and bobs, then today went into town to pick up stuff for my hospital bag. Finally bought some more maternity bras too, they are SO comfortable and roomy I almost wept in the changing room

@Beesknees9 yes it’s my first class, 1 of two classes that the nhs do. I couldn’t afford nct classes so I’m hoping nhs ones will be good!
Glad you are all organised! I agree maternity/ nursing bras are lush but when I’m at home I go without! So nice to just let the ladies loose lol I’ve never had the ladies so big so all this sweating beneath the boob is new to me 😂
I’ve done baby’s hospital bag and half wY through my hospital bag, still some things I’ve yet to buy.
Today I’ve spent the morning packing the baby’s room into boxes! Just got to take the wardrobe down and the curtains and lampshade and voila all set to move it and start again! Photos of baby’s room after I’ve finished piling everything up to move.

How are we all keeping cool today? I've had the paddling pool out today but the stupid thing has got a puncture in it somewhere that I can't find!! So I had to keep pumping it up. I gave up and now we're back inside with the fans on. It was nice while it lasted!

Very nice seeing all your bedside cribs. Definitely food for thought!

I can't wait to get the nursery all sorted now. I'm waiting till I finish work then I can really crack on with it when I'm off.

@emmasmum2013 I just had a cold bath as I don’t have a paddling pool and it was lush! I hate baths and feeling all hot and clammy, but a cold bath is a revelation in this weather 😁 when do you start your maternity leave?

@Emmasmum2013 we went to visit boyfriends parents in norfolk and they have a river in the garden so couldnt resist going for a paddle!!

@Gem173 room looks fab! Are those nappies 0? I have been looking for a large pack like that in size 0 but can only find small bags!

That river looks amazing! I was at the local outdoor pool on Saturday and it was sooo nice.

I have only got nappies in size 2 at the moment, I'm going to pick up a few size 1s but probably will just go straight to size 2 unless he's tiny. Are they the same over there? Here size 1 is 2-5kg and size 2 is 3-6kg, so I can't imagine needing size 0 except for a premature baby.

@BertieBotts I've got about 3 weeks left. Not pig but it feels like eternity

@NikkiL123 a river in their garden?! That's amazing!!!! You'd never get me out of it.

Sorry that was meant to be @BeesKnees9 and say "not long" not pig hahahaha

@NikkiL123 that river looks amazing so scenic! Would be lush on a hot day.
And the nappies are size 1, big pack of 96. I also got 1 smaller pack of size 1 and 2 medium packs of size 2.

In uk size 1 is 2-5kg/ 4-11lbs and size 2 is 3-6kg/ 6-13lb

I have just bought one small pack of size 1, think there's 20 in there? Will buy more if I need to but think I'll end up going straight for size 2 unless she's tiny! I plan on using the mamia ones from Aldi! X

It was a life saver yesterday but they live 2 hours away from us so don't get to go there too often!

I've not got any size 2 nappies but about 200 size 0 and 1 from the baby shower. What lbs is size 2? Xx

@NikkiL123 newborn size 1 is 4-11lb and size 2 is 6-13lb for the ones I've bought/will buy x

The mamia nappies are 24 for 89p! I bought them when they were on offer as well, think I paid about 79p for them.

Am I right in thinking for a 1-2 night stay in hospital we really don't need that many? At the ante natal class I went to the midwife said they only need a change 1-2 times a day for the first couple of days? Think I'll pack a handful and leave the rest in the car!

I'd recommend everyone have a look into the Amazon subscribe and save stuff. I think if you subscribe to them sending you 5 items a month you can get some really really good discounts. And it all just arrives at your door however often you want it. Pampers Nappies, wipes, formula are all on there, as well as things like groceries and toiletries. I think we had subs to all the baby stuff, cat food, shampoo, toothpaste, a few other things... But it was so so worth it. The nappies worked out so cheap after all the discounts (probably around the same price as the Mamia ones). And it was really good to not have to think about it. They just arrived when we needed them.
And if you're getting short you can log on and click on "I need this now" and they'll deliver them next day.

Peterpanwendy, DH did all the nappy changes while he was on paternity leave, but I think you might need more changes for the first few days. The baby won't be drinking much but they have to get all the meconium out of their system, which is a messy business.

I'm going to try my best to stick to reusable (washable) nappies (and wipes!) longer term but have bought a box of biodegradable disposables for the early days from Beaming Baby just for ease. Can't bare the thought of all that plastic going to landfill. My friends have got a sweepstake going though for how long I'll last until I I sack off the washables 😂

How do you wash the washables? I remember my mum mentioning something about having a bucket to wash them in because you can't put them in the washing machine (makes sense) but I've no idea how its done these days.

@Emmasmum2013 you put them in the washing machine. I've got flushable/degradable liners to put in the nappy to catch most of the 'contents' then the nappy just goes in the wash. I've opted for the 2-part system from Bambino Mio, they seem a tad complicated but I'm hoping I'll be able to get into the swing of it. I've never changed a nappy, washable or disposable, so I won't know any different anyway.