Due March 2008 - for our early arrivals and the loooooong 3rd trimesters

[merryberry]

Hello all.

now imagining prulyqueen being winched along the north circ

e14- I know exactly what you are loking for, and I have never seen them here. I usually get a very big brushed cotton/flannelette flat sheet, quarter and hem it. It's much cheaper.

Gah, Mothercare (puh, puh) isn't doing very well for us, are they? I'm hoping they'll be better online, as most things I've put on my wishlist are in stock currently. Better get ordering! I agree it's annoying to pay postage for one item ginger, but maybe save up a list of things and order all at once?

HQ that is spooky. You are my West London twin! I can't believe your tube experience. Well, I can, actually, and that's the sad part! I would have given that guy a piece of my mind, and in a very LOUD American accent!

So, Medela swing is loud, I gather - loud enough to put you off it? A lot of Mumsnetters seem to recommend the Avent Isis, but I would have thought an electric one would be more efficient. Dunno, my boobs are going to be huge (F cup plus probably) so need something that will cope with the Zepplins (as my DH likes to call them).

As for piles, we are so lucky that we can get them both before and/or after birth. So nice. I'm going to have witchazel pads on hand just in case!

hello there all,

I worked my little ass off today and got loads done at work so feeling much better than after last week's disaster.

tori & HQ please accept my application to join the pile-sufferers support group

I was in Babies R Us this weekend too (not mothercare, the one here is tiny and is just expensive and has almost nothing in it) and I got pretty much all the bedding I want. I haven't been able to find a wool blanket anywhere, just fleece and acrylic . Turns out my Mum did a similar determined scout around for one before I was born. She definitely passed on her fabric fussiness to me.

rainbow glad to hear all it going well with you and you got pregnant again so quickly.

Feedmenow - funnily enough I've been meaning to post about raspberry leaf tea.... I was digging through my kitchen cupboards and came across a box from last time around (somewhat past its sell-by date!!). I know some people find the stuff vile, but I quite enjoyed this one.... it's by Heath and Heather, called raspberry leaf fruit and herbal infusions and comes in a pink box from Holland and Barrett (assuming they still sell it). It's mixed with apple and raspberries too which might be why it's not so nasty.

It says on the box to drink from 35 weeks, so I guess we're nearly ready for it!

Goodness, doesn't the time fly? Remember when we were the new group to the board, and now we're the old timers with only Jan and Feb ahead of us, and 3 babies here already!

skidoodle application accepted! The more the merrier!LOL

Avent Isis come in all varieties of pump- manual, single electric and duo. It is better to have the electric one as I found that I could pump the manual for 30-45 mins and only get 3-4oz out (with repetitive strain injury at the end! The medela mini is quite noisy though, but loads cheaper. I paid £35 for a medela single pump when the avent electrics on ebay were £60-70 for the single electric.

So glad I don't have to use the tube, sympathy to all who do.

turtle Are you still doing the home water birth? Is the pool ok? Have you trial ran inflating it yet?

turtle not doing NCT as I left it too late as I wasn't sure if I was definitely moving back to Epsom or not until fairly late on, by which time they were all booked up! I am doing the NHS ones and also a Baby Basics class with DP at The Portland as I am a little concerned as he has never really held a baby etc.

Pregnancy yoga sounds good, I've been meaning to do something for ages. Where is it? Do you have to book etc?

I find this thread absolutely terrifying half the time as whilst I was good at sorting out all of the big stuff I have no idea what bits n bobs to buy. Help!! I also went to Mothercare at the weekend and just walked around in a daze so it was a complete waste of time.

MMH Which type of bits and bobs? Bedding, feeding, changing, clothes? Might be able to help.

Hi tori...yes, still hoping for a home water birth. Haven't tried inflating it yet as am waiting for electric pump from a friend, but am hoping to give it a trial run soon. Won't be allowed to use it in the next 7 weeks anyway, so am hoping I will have plenty of time to test it! Am slightly concerned that if I put it in the lounge now I wont be wanting it to go away!
I just got some raspberry leaf capsules that say from 32 weeks, but I think I will wait for 34 just in case!
Does anyone else get the feeling that baby is spinning on his head like a breakdancer on their cervix? Not painful, just....ODD.

MMH-the yoga is in Sutton, on Robin Hood Lane and you don't have to book. It's £7 and wed 730. If you want a bit more info www.kevala.co.uk/search/listing.cfm/SpecialismID/1/ID/3973

Hello everyone. I know I hardly ever post but have been reading this thread addictively for months now and its great - funny and sane! I think I must be shy about this whole internet talking thing. Though having said that, can I share what I won't even tell my wonderful DH? I have to broach the subject of (sorry if TMI) - stress incontinence. Anyone else getting it? I've had it for the last couple of weeks, mostly when I cough or laugh but its getting a bit embarrassing. Any tips on what to do?

Huge congratulations on the first three out. Still can't quite believe this is all real and I'm actually going to have a baby in about 7 weeks. I was just getting used to the pregnancy thing...!

All of those bits Tori - I just don't seem to know where to start. I have thus far...

Amby Natures Nest for the first six months
Pushchair
Cot
Carseat
A cute little pink outfit

I'm not sure where to go from here, what are the essential bits and bobs that I need? For example, is a breast pump essential? Is there a book that tells you how to mix feeds? Even if I intend to BF do I still need steriliser etc? Changing units, essential or waste of money?

The yoga looks good turtle, do you have to be particularly fit to do it? I may pop down to that class if I am brave enough and finish work on time!

m27- I think there s only one thing for it...the dreaded pelvic floor exercises. I made DH buy me one of those silly weighted bars to use so that I would feel guilty he'd spent the money, and therefore I use it. They are silly: this thing
I would recommend just doing them when you are on mumsnet...it's more time than you thnk!!!

mmh-it's very gentle, has a great relaxation bit at the end, and for me, at least!!)just the feeling that you have gotten off your backside and done some exercise is a bonus!!

MMH- by the way, if you would like a copy of the Gina Ford book I have an extra copy. Also here if you want a hand making your list and checking it twice.

MMH-The first time you get carried away and buy loads of none essentials.
I used moses basket first few weeks as dd outgrew it.
I would recommend swaddling wraps x3 for first few weeks.
Baby gros for most of the time and 1 new outfit (people buy loads of clothes which are impractical and create loads of extra washing.)
If you want to bf then I recommend breast pump and steriliser and go straight for electric pump. Bottles, teats (1 hole slow flow).
Get Lansinoh nipple cream and use from the beginning at each bf (before and after).
Maternity pads for post partum bleeding.
disposable knickers.
Muslins for catching puke.
I never had a changing unit and would never change a baby anywhere except the floor or baby change facility unit with straps. I saw a baby roll of when a member of nursery staff turned to get a nappy.
I use a mat on the floor. 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs if you are in a house.
Get newborn nappies, wipes, nappy bags, sudocrem for nappy rash.
Infacol for possible colic relief as it happens more at night when it is more difficult to nip to the shop.
Baby chair for in big bath, baby bath takes up lots of space and soon outgrown, try to get second hand.
Baby monitor. I had a camera one linked to the TV downstairs so I could see if dd was crying for attention or was truely distressed. This helped for getting her night routine together because we didn't constantly go into her room so she learned to settle herself, but was never left distressed.
Bedding - work on the principle of 3. wash 1, dry 1, use 1.
so cot sheets and pod sheets. 2 blankets. 3-6mth grobags (or start at 0-3mths if you don't want to swaddle.)
Changing bag with inbuilt mat for equipment whilst out.

Gina Ford contented baby book helped me loads to get a routine so she slept well, but not everyones taste.

1 weeks supply of babygros. 7-10 (asda/tesco as will get ruined due to continual washing!)
7-10 vests as can go through several per day.(same)2 pairs booties. 2-3 hats. snowsuit for bringing home in.
Breast pads.
Nose unblocker from mothercare as lots of new babies get snuffly and can't feed well with colds.

Here's my list for baby at hospital, which is pretty much my list for the first month, apart from volume of things. Embarrasingly, my own list is much longer...

5 times babygrows
Hat, newborn Gap triple roll socks as scratch mittens as they are the only damn thing that stay on. Newborns really can scratch themselves.
Warmer layer of clothes.
Newborn nappies
Muslins
Cotton wool
Swaddling blanket, which also helps cut down scratching.
Wrapping blanket (fancy wool one grandma knitted)
Cuddly toy grandma knitted as I can't help myself...if you have to leave baby with anyone else (eg in nursery or NICU, its nice to give them something that smells of you. So I'm already occasionally sleeping with this toy )
Car seat
Pen and paper (for taking notes and numbers)
Handful of spare plastic bags for chucking and carrying things.
I won't bother with bottles, milk etc as I'll wait and see how we get on. The hospital will have milk in ready made bottles if needed. After that we can get stuff alomost 24/7 in london, so thats's what we'll do.

I use olive oil in the first instance for all things baby skin related, will take it from there if needed.

My extra newborn recommendation is a fleece. you can whack it on the floor in any room and pop baby down flat. highly portable, easily washed if needed.

in fact, we took ds1 to gozo when he was 11 weeks old, and i rolled the fleece up, tied it with a dressing gown belt and kept it over my shoulder as hand luggage. so i could pop him down on any surface to lie flat when waiting for planes, choppers, in restaurants etc, and on otherwise hard surfaces. Plus the hotel cot mattress was dubious, and this made a handy barrier to any lurking germs.

my books recommendations are:

tracy hogg's baby whispering

full of practical tips, slightly less routined than GFs book and a bit more robust in the physical and develomental reasons why certain things work at certain stages.

and damn will have to seek out the really good first months one with bf advice...can't remember off of top of head.

Do you mean a real or synthetic fleece?

Books from me are Jo Ford Supernanny - nice and simple, even covers basics so am passing to DP to read. I have just read Baby Whisperer too and agree it is like a softer version of Gina Ford (who I hated; she made sence but took the joy out of it all for me).

surprisedandexcited - I absolutely agree with you that the Gina book takes all the joy out of it. To be fair to her (got to be careful on Mumsnet ), I think it's because it's poorly written but even more badly edited. The writing isn't great, but then Gina isn't a writer by trade so the editor should really have made it much less obtuse and tried to soften it round the edges a bit. As it is I'm finding it a really difficult read, but probably worth perservering with. We'll be trying her routines but think I'll give Baby Whisperer a read as well as it sounds like a good companion to Gina and a bit more joyful.

Thanks for all the helpful tips on hospital bags!

merry what exactly do you use the olive oil for? I spotted a big bottle in my friend's nursery the other day and meant to ask her what she was using it for but forgot.

Thanks for the lists tori and merryberry!
Feeling better about it all now. Sounds like a few of us are wandering around these useless shops feeling overwhelmed! If anyone spots a pregnant woman looking on the verge of tears in the Mothercare on the North Circular this week, it may very well be me!

I have babygrows and vests coming out my ears- all washed and folded in a little basket(!) but got super-stressed out last night that I have no muslins. Rational, moi?

Also, I am feeling a lot better now because the NCT have released the dates for a course at Canary Wharf at the end of the month! Finally! It's all falling into place... kind of.

Turtle, thanks for the advice about a sheet- may try it if mom can't send them in time.

ok heres my essentials list, have got it fine tuned from having the last 2 and luckily have most of it still knocking around

crib/cot
sheets/blankets/gro bag
changing mat
nappies & cotton wool
monitors
pushchair
changing bag
bottles
steriliser
washing up bowl (for initial baths)/bath support thing
lots of muslin squs

clothes wise ive got
6 vests and 6 sleep suits,
pram suit,
few cardigans
few dresses (from dd2)
hat
mits

cant think of anything else

We got a nice real fleece which hasn't be chemically processed in the clean up. real fleeces are are insecticidal/bacteriacidal etc. Maybe try and buy a welsh one, god knows the farmers need some income!

I've used olive oil for:

• lifting scalp scurf/cradle cap
• as a barrier on a red/sore bottom, after a change and dry. if the skin has broken, i find metanium heals in one application
• for dry skin on limbs
• to help clean stubborn meconium poo off
• for baby massage

xx