September 2019 #10.

[Karigan195]

New thread so we can leave #9 as a type of condolence book for little Roy and Twittlebee. Sleep in peace little man

Yes will do 😊

Ooh yes please me too @Dipsy77! I've not even got my matb1 yet so I'm behind you both. Self employed though so a bit different.

Re hospital bag YES to snacks! I'd put in chocolate for sure, and a yogurt pouch or two (the Ella's sort that don't need the fridge) for labour, and a small bottle of pop. Straw and lip balm too (gas and air is really drying. Not tried it but so I hear!). I'm generally starving anyway, so I had lots of things like little bags of nuts and raisins and stuff which were so helpful when I was in for a few days with DC1, and still really useful at home with DC2 who I was only in with for a few hours. Lactulose the hospital provided. I wouldn't bring formula as either the hospital will provide, or it's not a bad plan to stay in until you are up and running feeding, assuming your hospital has decent support (ask local friends). If they are a bit crap then look into other support now (la leche league, separate "breastfeeding cafes", NCT are good places to start) as a crap hospital can make it all much harder.

I've not started packing mine yet either, going on holiday in a couple of weeks so it's my first job when we get back.

@Stroan re weights DC1 is a boy and was a bit over 10lb, DC2 is a girl and was 8.9 I think- titchy for my family! But yeah I'm only bothering with size 0-3m clothes. Really glad to hear you are feeling a bit better re weights. Big babies often have easier starts I reckon- less likely to have mouths too tiny to latch on etc.

@IVEgottheDECAF woot woot re pram!!!!

I would check your hospitals policy re formula if you arent planning on trying to BF. I think all will provide formula if BF fails but if you never intend to try some may be funny.

On my tour of the MLU they said we had to bring formula if planning on FF.

@dustydoorframes that wasn't my experience unfortunately, DD never latched on once. I combi fed with nipple shields/expressing and formula for 7 months, drove myself completely mad. She's absolutely tiny now, so I really feel that she wasn't supposed to be so big at birth. She also dropped through the percentile charts which meant a lot of HV scrutiny for months.

I'm still pretty worried and upset that this one is big but have at least accepted that neither big baby is my fault!

All that said, when I meet a 7/8lb newborn now, I'm terrified of holding them. DD was sturdy!

Pig @Stroan you have had a tough time of it!! I'm so glad you are not blaming yourself!!! Here's to the next scam being super reassuring!

Pig???? I meant "Ouf". But it's pigging rubbish that anyone has to deal with tough stuff with babies.

I’ve got a starter pack of formula, the ready made bottles. Going to stay in the spare bag in car so DH can bring it in only if needed.
Hopefully won’t need it, but was only a few £ and if I don’t use will stick in the food bank or something. Saves any panic at home too as we have no late or 24/7 shopping out here so if BF fails we have something to tide us over. Not buying bottles or anything else though.

Hospital bags packed apart from the things that can’t go in until last minute (charger, etc) including snacks-with the GD I daren’t buy them now or I’ll eat them! If there is an emergency hospital dash then DH can purchase. Also need nursing bras but not buying until 36 weeks.

Clothes wise I have a mix of Newborn, up to 1 month and 0-3, just vests and babygrows. Will leave 0-3 in spare bag in car. Unless growth scans change we are tracking on 50th centile so neither big or small.

The pushchair purchase has had a setback! DH saw an icandy all terrain, we’d ruled it out as too much £ so never checked one out in the flesh but now he wants to look at one. I still think its too many £ but going along with it!!

Some lovely names. I know a few Scottish Ruairidh's of different ages from Edinburgh @Stroan nice classic name. It's customary where we live to put a birth announcement up when the baby is born with the name and sex so the name cut out you have for your wall might be nice for that.
Dc1 was 3,850kg and dc2 was 4kg. This baby is bang on the average line on the growth chart and on Friday they said they estimate it to be a fairly big baby too and she is already quite long. Maybe not 4kg but they can't tell at the moment as the baby starts to grow fat around now and that will mainly determine the birth weight. Like others I am trying to be careful with what I eat.
Weirdly still not craving anything particular but have quite strong aversions especially to salad leaves and some vegetables.

Thanks @challengeyourreality we know a few Ruairidh's, but no-one close. I like it because it's familiar in Scotland but not TOO popular. And still ticks the irish name box!

Oh my close friend has a ruairidh and I think it's lovely.

We've chosen Arthur for our boy.

Love the names that have been chosen! Knobjockey we have chosen Erin for our girl, I really like Remi too so we must have a similar taste in names. We are going to Alex for the boy as it's the only one we could agree on!
I'm going to start my hospital bag today, I've got the essentials, just need to get snacks and some toiletries. For the babies bag I have tiny baby and newborn sizes as no idea what will fit them! My son was unexpectedly 8lb2, chunky considering me and DH are quite petite! So to have 2 babies that could be as small as 4/5lb is terrifying! But equally as terrifying if they are both big aswell!!

How many sleepsuits and vests should I pack initially? (Maybe I’ll leave a few spare packed in the car or house in case I need more)

Hospital lists all look really good - only thing I would suggest packing is deodorant, freshen up wipes etc for your partner as well as spare t shirts - it gets so sweaty in the labour ward!

@Hsunshine
I was told to allow min of 3 changes per day, I’m taking 6 sleepsuits and vests in bag to allow for 2 days (same again in bigger size in car). Unless get booked in for section then will increase quantity to allow for extra days.

@hsunshine I've got three of each

I might just take 3 in upto 10lb and one lot in 0-3

Ooh I love the name Ruairi! We’ve been trying to find an Irish name as my OH is from Ireland I haven’t found any girl names I really like. At the moment, we’ve narrowed it down to either Sophie, Summer or Darcy. And I think I’m just going to have to wait until I see her to choose!

@TheCraicDealer that’s a good list, I’ve taken a screen shot of it as I haven’t even considered what I’d pack yet!

@Dipsy77 - I sent mine same day as you and haven’t had a text or payslips back. Sent it recorded but lost the receipt so can’t check it got there. Something else to chase 🤦‍♀️

Also for anyone looking you can get lactulose over the counter. Also taking own paracetamol and ibuprofen in case.

Does anyone else get very fast baby movements? I get all the normal ones but I also experience very fast successions of movement as if the baby is running or punching very quickly. Hard to describe but just wondered if this is normal?

@Whisky2014 yesss! I woke up this morning to what felt like a marathon going on in my belly! Or maybe a washing machine spinning? I am so sure it's not the case, but what if the baby is claustrophobic and trying to claw its way out 🙈

It is a weird feeling and I don't like it much!
I had a terrible night sleep and at one point when I was awake I felt this madness going on inside me and it crosses my mind..what if they baby is fitting? Is that a thing? I'm sure it's not but god, It's hard not to overthink stuff.

@Whisky2014 I also get that but don't worry about it- I always say to DP that he/she is having a tantrum as they can't get comfy 😀

@boodles101 Erin is a very pretty name! And Alex/ Xander was briefly on our list for a middle name, but DP has bad relations with somebody called Alec, so it went out the window. But I tend to go for shorter/ unusual girls names, and more classic boys names. I like the name Grayson, but DPs surname ends in son so that's a no go, along with all of that sort!

Ok thanks. :)

knobjockey I wanted James for a boy but similar reasons DH didn't like due to someone he knows.
We would have chosen Erin & Alexandra for 2 girls too so we pretty much settled on names as soon as we stepped out of our 20week scan! Only issue now is I told DH he could pick the boy middle name and I'm regretting it big time. He won't tell me what he's thinking or even entertain any of my suggestions as it's 'his choice' but his choices are all horrible🙈