September 2019 #7

[easterbuns1]

I get nervous when it's so close to post 999..:

Welcome home craic. Didn't want to bring any sunshine with you, no? Good luck with the furniture building.

I'm swinging between a Kevin-esque "oh my GOD 12 weeks is aaaages" and "holy shit, 10 - 14 weeks is practically tomorrow". There is no middle ground right now. All being well with second interviews this week I think we'll be offering the position early next and I'll push for 1st, latest 8th July start date so I can start doing a proper hand over and stop juggling so much. So having only 2.5 - 3.5 weeks left alone doing my role is quite sobering.

@stormtrooperjulian thank you.

@TheCraicDealer - I feel exactly the same. When we were away last week if anyone asked me how long till I was due I just lied and said another month or so. I can't be doing with the "oooooh, you're huge" gasps if I say another 12 weeks!!

@Fortheloveofscience - don't worry I also only have 1 sleep suit so far for this baby. Although I suppose I have the pram, changing table and cot from DD but who knows where those are since we've moved house! 10 - 12 + weeks will probably fly but is still plenty of time to organise and get everything so don't panic! I'm going to hit the online shopping hard in July and August.

We are still bloody redecorating our house 🤦‍♀️ so not convinced I'm gonna have a bedroom in time

I remembered someone else was redecorating..! I’m renovating a house at mo but can’t fjnd any tradesman so I’m doing a lot of sanding/painting/grouting/tearing up carpets. Not sure if it’s nesting but I’m enjoying the DIY! Otherwise I have a baby box, second hand pram and a few sleep suits and a totally impractical wool outfit I liked that’s sized for a

So the first NCT is done. It was ok actually, I quite enjoyed it. DH hated it as predicted!
Only 5 couples, not sure if there is anyone I will click with though.
The other 4 all want natural births and were gobsmacked that I want the medical option. Tbf though they are all younger and I’m the only consultant led. 2 having boys, 2 surprises and then us with a girl.
We spent a long time on what we want to get out of it, then we went through the stages of labour in a straightforward birth.
Next week we have 2 sessions, one is for everyone and will cover more detail on birth and a women only session.
I am determined to stay open minded!

Loads of decorating needs doing here, i may do odd bits if i can bring myself to do it. I am struggling to keep the place tidy atm though!

My aim is to have everything for baby and for the dc going back to school done by 36 weeks. So 8 weeks tomorrow! I have started ordering bits of dc school uniform already and at 4am i bought my dd a winter coat in the next sale because i couldnt sleep

Baby stuff we need .....

Bottles, steriliser, bottle brush
More bibs
Pram, carseat
Changing bag
Another nappy mat
Bath support
Nappies, formula
Maternity pads, breast pads
Moses basket mattress
Carrier / sling thing

I think thats it. I need to get my moses out of the loft and check its ok actually

@IVEgottheDECAF
My aim is similar to yours - but trying to get my DH to agree is like pulling teeth - he is still firmly in denial and keeps saying it is "too soon". But he can;t explain when will be the "right time".
We are 27 weeks tomorrow and I want to be ready at 36 weeks. He seems to think she is still a work of fiction.

We still need:
Pram, car seat
Changing bag - have identified a few but want to choose pram first
Changing mats - one for upstairs and down in case of c-section
Hospital bag kit including some suitable nightwear for me, maternity pads, breast pads etc
Monitor
More clothes - but am holding off until have clearer idea if she is big or small to gauge what sizes.

Then I'd also like the nursery furniture so I can put everything away properly (not bothered about decorating yet) - but at the very least a changing unit to store the cloth nappies in neat boxes as they are just in a pile on the floor of the spare room. I'm aiming to get one 2nd hand for pennies though. It can then go in the room with me to start with and the nursery later on.

I have a new pram contender - Silver Cross Horizon. Just want to find one to look at now!

megan i love this one www.naturalbabyshower.co.uk/products/silver-cross-horizon-bundle-classic-couture?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlpvn-cPj4gIVlobVCh2k2QfkEAQYASABEgK-3_D_BwE but think i want a proper carrycot

I have been reading but never getting to the end to post! I’m sorry so many of you feel rough. I am in a way only just realising there’s going to be a baby soon, have just got 2 massive work hurdles out the way and currently sitting waiting as part of glucose tolerance test surrounded by other pregnant ladies! And feeling very hungry, think last time I went this long without food was pre section last time!

We haven’t bought anything at all but do have things like Moses basket etc in loft so hoping they are still ok.

To those worrying about decorating, last time we did not have a kitchen and the only sink was upstairs in the bathroom. No nursery either. Tbh most of house still needs doing as this was over 2 years ago and kitchen not actually finished so hoping now got exams etc out the way we can be more focused!!!

Has anyone done an nct refresher course? I didn’t do any antenatal stuff last time, not on purpose, I just didn’t think of it and wasn’t offered any on nhs. However I was a bit crap at making mum friends, went to some classes and friendly but not anyone I could invite round for a cuppa (but state of house probably also played a part) and thinking it would be nice to make friends?

Also moraxella, I do know what you mean re healthcare workers but I had a positive experience - baby was breech and when went for ECV of the 5 ladies there we were the only ones that actually needed it as all other babies had turned, it didn’t work so had to have section. However when I turned up they gave us private room on ward and also asked if I wanted consultant rather than Reg to do it (perks of working their previously!) however I won’t deny I did find it slightly awkward having chat with my old educational supervisor whilst he was cutting into my abdomen!

@IVEgottheDECAF
yes I like that colour - although we don't want the car seat as we are going to get a Joie 360 spin instead I think.

I thought I needed a carrycot but having watched the video I am won over with the baby nest idea as one less thing to fit in the car. But will see what DH thinks.

I've been looking at my list and don't actually have all that much to get-

Changing pad for upstairs
Hauck highchair and bouncer (can pop the seat of the bouncer on the highchair so you can have them with you at the table for dinner- v important in this house!)
Bottles
Car seat base
Cot mattress
Waterproof sheet for pram bassinet
Cot sheets
Thermometer

Most of that isn't essential and can wait a few weeks or months. Everything else I've either bought gradually or am getting a lend of. Need to pay the balance off the pram off though! I've got a few packs of vests and babygrows but haven't gone too mad clothes wise.

The bigger thing is getting rid of the old crappy wardrobe and packaging at the dump (eugh), leaving clothes donations off with a colleague who does charity work, and painting the room before I fill it with stuff. Last time DH and I decorated it nearly ended in divorce so we'll see how that goes

Ooo i will have a look at the video!

If you dont want carseat there is a couture one brand new on ebay under £500!

Pram videos are my addiction @IVEgottheDECAF
I spend far too many hours watching them all, how I've changed!
Gives me a much better idea especially with the ones I can't see in the flesh.

As the chassis, wheels and fold on the Horizon is the same as the Pioneer I think I'd feel safer buying unseen as we really liked the Pioneer in the flesh. The only difference seems to be the 2 in 1 seat vs the traditional seat plus carrycot but the materials etc are the same. Dimensions are practically identical too and we tried the Pioneer in the boot already so know it fits.
DH will probably hate it and then it is back to the drawing board

Luckily DP tends to leave baby related decision making to me! The baby nest does look good.

Horizon weighs in at 11kg, Cosatto Wow is only 8.1 when used with seat unit.....if only i wasnt so weak!

Is that baby nest compatible with other Silver Cross?! May help me fall in love with my Pioneer which we will be reusing (cant stand how bloody bulky the bassinet is!)

DS skipped his nap yesterday and slept through the night last night! Woohoo! He was up early but I'll take that as a win. Hoping it wasn't just a fluke.

I've got most things already, I just need
-changing bag
-twin feeding pillow
-breast pump (going to wait til after birth for this)
-stuff for my hospital bag, maternity pads etc.
Going to get the remaining after pay day next week, then I can get my hospital bags packed in a few weeks time just incase!
I got 3 boxes of DS 0-3 month clothes from the loft and there's so much more than I thought there would be. All neutrals too so just need to sort through and wash. Shouldn't need to buy anything until they are 3-6 month sizes.

Twittle if you watch the video Megan linked to above it shows how the seat of the Horizon works. I am not sure if this is different to with the Pioneer as she talks in the video like it is something different.

Boodles that is not a bad list of things to buy! We mainly have clothes left from dc4 which are 6m+ so have needed to buy everything smaller

Sounds like everyone is getting organised! Big thing for us is working out whether to move DD1 to our spare room before DD2 arrives or not. Although DD1 could stay in her cot in the nursery until March time next year (converts to toddler bed) I’ll need to be in the nursery to nurse and change baby etc and I’m really worried that DD1 will feel like new baby is intruding on her space. So maybe it is best to move DD1 into a new room this summer, get her excited for big bed etc before baby arrives? The slight issue is that we may be moving house at some point soon(ish), so don’t really want to do up a new bedroom for no reason, but then equally we might be staying put!

So other than possible new furniture for DD1s new room, I think we only need to get:
— adapters to convert our Egg stroller to tandem with seat and carrycot (£50 so not terrible)
— carrycot sheets
— Snuzpod sheets
— new sleepyhead cover as last one falling apart
— new parts for my medala swing pump
— few bottles
— want to get one of those cuddledry towels this time - look so cuddly!
— muslins, bibs, nappies
— nice new blanket or two
— new sling (thinking ergobbay 360 omni) - need to eBay our old babybjorn one which we didn’t get on with sadly
— so more newborn and 1 month babygrows and vests

Are any of you planning on getting pramsuits? So difficult to know what the weather will be doing in sept/Oct

Feeling really frustrated with work at the moment, tbf I think I'm just hormonally very angry so everything is pissing me off. Still some issus with horse to be sorted, really stressing me out, but I think we've reached the end of the line, which is heartbreaking 😔 it probably accounts for my foul mood tbf, I can't control or fix everything.

Luckily we've got everything purchased for baby, bar a couple of muslins and maybe some hospital PJs. I've been throwing myself into getting the last few things in order to cope. Literally everything down to nipple shields and cotton wool is set up. Just need to pop a hospital bag together in a month or so and we're good to go.

Thanks for the changing bag recommendations, we've got a lovely one now - the petunia pickle bottom boxy backpack. Looking forward to filling it up and going out with the pram.

So in the past couple of days i have come up in hives on the backs of my hands and my arms. Any ideas ladies?

Re pramsuits i wont be buying one but have a couple from dc4 (oct baby). What i would recommend more than a pramsuit is one of these

tuppenceandcrumble.com/shop/fleece-baby-star-wrap-brights

You can add blankets on top if its really cold and they are safe to use in a carseat which a padded pramsuit is not

I’m getting a star wrap too instead of pramsuit. Looks useful from day 1 and easy to get on/off.

@GemmaJen
So sorry to hear about horse . I know exactly how that feels. I am praying my mare stays sound whilst having all this time off. We have laminitis, hock arthritis and annular ligament syndrome to try and manage so I can return her to work next Spring. Sometimes though it just doesn’t work out the way you want. On top of all those hormones no wonder you are struggling with it x