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

[merryberry]

Hello all.

anyone know off the top of their head which catelogue has the "travel" blackout blinds you just attach to the windows with suckers? Am going through them all and typically can't find 'em!

Waiting for the midwife to turn up to go over the home birth paperwork/risk assessment stuff. All looks straightforward, just wish she wouldn't say 10am then delay things by 45m, since i've just realised i was supposed to be in a meeting with someone at 10 and forgot all about it!

Ordered the birthing pool last night - was going to get from Hello Baby, but all of their heaters are being serviced and won't be ready in time, so getting from Aquabirth instead. Quite excited to see what they look like assembled, though they're only about 2ft deep which doesn't seem a lot (compared to a jacuzzi/hot tub!)

hi everyone, i have been following the thread but not posted in a while,
dh opened the door to the kiddicare delivery man this morning, oops i hadnt mentioned ordering anything! So bump now has a cot mattress, and dd is out of the cot now (which is hidden away so hopeful she will forget she was ever in it)

I desperately want to take out the babygros and wash them then fold them into piles, am nesting big time, i even have a photo of baby clothes drying on the airer when i washed them when preg with dd! I think i should hold out til feb though.

FLEECES it seems like a nice idea to me, but i'm worried about washing, how do you clean off the babysick? I never used one but have wondered, so if set straight might get one.

Hi Ladies. Welcome to newbbies and welcome home to preggers' LOs. So very cute in green.

Been catching up on all the post and there's so much useful info, my head is swimming.

Had first antenatal class in Greenwich on Tuesday. MW said that baby is considered ready at 37wks, OMG that's three weeks away and he will be 37wks on my bday.

Feedmenow - you mentioned night sweating a few pages back and I am with you there. I feel so hot at night times and sweat like a pig. Charming!

Loved the Earth Mama organic stuff and ordered some bits from a website. If any of you are thinking about getting it have a look around as lot's of site do the products at different prices.

Does anyone know where I can find a nice dirty washing basket for baby. Have looked around but haven't seen anything I liked.

maternity towels - ive never used them after my last two, there the size of bricks and never stick properly. the best ones to use are the huge always night time ones with wings. there really thick but still comfy and the wings are definitly a good idea. id get 2 or 3 packs of those and them some of the more normal sized ones. though sending dh out to get some is always interesting.

muslin squares - ive got about 20 odd, some from dd2 and the a load of little ewe ones which are huge. i am planning on using them as new born nappies though untill little one fits fuzzis.

i havent washed anything yet as im still decorating dd2 &3 s room so have no where to put it. the skirts were all dark blue and i want them white so they need about 10 coats!

hi to all the new people

midwife has been and seems happy with all the arrangements for home birth...except for the fact i have requested not to have the injection to get the afterbirth out quickly (well, actually to allow 30 minute before administering if necessary), and she reckons if i have the waterbirth i have to take the injection due to the water relaxing things too much and making haemorrage more likely. I haven't read this one anywhere else as most of the waterbirth stuff concentrates on whether you are allowed to stay in the water or get out to deliver 3rd stage.
Am sure it will all work out in the end, but PPH is the m/w's big fear so looks like she's happy to go along with everything else except that!

maternity pads. i have 3 packs so far and thats just for my hosp bag (could be in a while) will get more as they are good for the first proper period after birth as well, which can be a bit messy. I haven;t looked if mine have wings, i think i think i had issues with wings last time in that they weren't sticky except where i didn't want them to be stuck iyswim!

Pampers care mats work just as well as dog training mats, in fact they are the same except a different name

tbh i would go with paper knickers. I felt like i could 'breathe' better in them, you can always put proper knickers over the top.

My bag will be packed by weekend, only because i may have to go in early so want to make sure everythign is ready! Otherwise i would leave it until 36 ish weeks personally.

Don't forget the breast pads ladies

spugs - I've been wondering about using muslins as newborn nappies. Do I just fold them like I would a terry (not that I really know how to do that yet but I have some instructions and am practising!) and then pin/nippa them? And then I assume I need a wrap on top? Also is there a particular size of muslin that is suitable (my mum got me a few terries but they are too big for a newborn I think).

yeah fold them the same and then nippa/pin them with a wrap on top. the muslins i got are little ewe ones and are huge (80x80 i think) there made to be used as newborn nappies so are slightly thicker/better quality then the mothercare ones. i got mine online. new borns pee and poo so often that muslins are perfect as they dont stay on for very long though ypu can get terries made from bamboo which are more absorbant but still fairly thin. im going to use a mix of disposables and muslins and see how i get on, i didnt put dd2 into reusables till she was a mth old so it should be interesting

fit, that's really weird, because the birth centre i'm (hopefully) going to says that if you have a waterbirth then there's no point in having the injection because by the time you've sat in the pool for a bit, then heaved yourself out the placenta's pretty much ready to plop out anyway.

'Pampers care mats work just as well as dog training mats, in fact they are the same except a different name '

EXCEPT i bet the dog ones are cheaper! (grr at excess cost attached to all things baby).

fleeces wash in the machine, no prob and mine dries quick. you can get special fleece shampoo but now i just use woolite, TBH.

something i didn't have last time for labour and must remember this time: industrial strength lip balm or vaesline. my lips were knackered by gas and air.

still waiting to find our who the hell is actually doing my antenatal care.

dp and i v. close to taking the plunge and going for independent midwife and homebirth.

really not so keen on homebirth for me, cos of way our house is laid out

You aren't wrong merry! Pampers change mats are £4.78/12 pack at Boots. I'm sure I bought at least 50 puppy pads from pets at home for about £19.99. If I did buy 100, then that's a stonking great deal. Will have to check as they're up in the loft now.
They aren't as luxurious as the baby ones but I'm sure they'll do in a pinch.
I swear I'll stop talking about my damn dogs!

Hello
I've been manic at work so haven't had the chance to read through the threads but am hoping i'll have a bit more time now

How are you all?
(goes off to read)

laughing at pinkmartini< you'll be back from that catch-up read in 2009...with a very long list...

Hi PinkMartini

I think it's safe to say we are okay but in packing mode. My hospital bag is partly packed - including the dreaded Maternity pads and paper knickers.

I see to be fixated on labour since I started my NCT classes last Friday - Breastfeeding one tonight.

All in all I think we are getting prepared (I nearly said ready, but I'm not sure I feel ready just yet).

How are you?

Ha! Funny! Did you see this thread about anessential labour bag item?

On the list I got from the MW it said to take a top and tail bowl. Is that really necessary?

Top and tail bowl - my MW just recomended taking into hospital 2 pots (be they tupperware style things or disposable sort) - she said different shapes for top and tail, so know difference - that way can bin them after and don't need to cart them home with everything else.

You are joking? Bring in your own pots? I bloody hope they show those who need showing (I did with ds1) how to handle your baby in an actual bath.

Also reminds me of those who've mentioned having to reuse urine pots. Talk about the NHS not having a pot to pish in.

[Goes off to weep about rapid declingin state of the health service]

Hi Merryberry - not kidding....health visitor even said to take own sheet and blanket for LO (but leave at bottom of bag) - which really is taking the Pish I think! - am not going to do that! (might slip a swaddle blanket in bag)

I am one of the ones asked to re-use urine pots (I asked "what do you want me to do with that" when the MW handed it back after dipping paper in it the first time and she said take home and wash to use next time!) - think it's on it's 6th use by now!

What will it be next - take own bed!

ooh thats a good tip about those dog mats, they are much cheaper than the pampers mats, i got a list from the midwife for bits that i need for a home birth and the pampers mats are on that, so i shall go to pets at home and have a look at the dog mats

we have a torch and an angle poise lamp, i ahve washed a few bits of baby clothes and have a pack of newborn nappies, a changing mat and some breast pads.

still need to sort everything else tho.

oh my home birth list names a baby bath as an essential for the baby i never washed the boys when they were newborn, just top and tailed them. if the baby really needs a bath then i will stick it in the sink or it can come in the bath with me

my midwife had been giving me the wee pot back to reuse as well, but i just ask at the reception bit at the drs and they give me a new one.

i was quite suprised that i saw the midwife for my 34wk check and now she doesnt want to see me again till 38wks, she had said that once i got to 34wks i would be seen every 2 wks, but apparently as everything is ok, i dont have to see her for 4 wks.

how are people doing on the name front? i think this baby is going to have to wait a bit for a name, we have a few ideas but cant pick something that we really like, so will have to wait and see what bump looks like

I'm so impressed with this thread for its embrace of the puppy mat rather than the baby mat.

Now I have to ask some questions

1. what is a puppy/baby mat?

1. what is topping and tailing?

1. what are these pots you've been advised to bring to hospital?

sorry for being so thick, but today the thread has definitely taken a turn for the incomprehensible for me.

The last time I saw the doctor she washed my wee container and gave it back to me and I thought "oh, how efficient not to be throwing it away each time". Surely it's not a big deal to reuse such things?

Still I'm new to the NHS and still super impressed by it. Friends from down south don't even get their own appointment time unless they go private . You just all show up for the clinic on the given afternoon/morning and wait your turn (usually around 3 hours).

well, to me on the pee pots front: cos no-one i've heard of seems to give advice on cleaning water temperature or avoiding products which may leave contaminants in the pot. just checked my old journal subs and can't see that anyone has done the research, microbiologically or in terms of chem path.

I am having to reuse pee pot as well. Am washing it and putting it through steriliser. Is that mad? Just heard from someone who had a home birth and the midwife (only one turned up) told her she'd(new mum) have to do cleanup herself as she(midwife) was very tired after doing birth solo and was going home. Luckily her sister came as DH was in no fit state (vomiting from amount of blood about.) Apparently the first thing sister saw when she arrived (TMI ALERT) was the placenta left in a bowl on the side in the kitchen. Hasn't put me off having one, but am considering wrapping house in plastic to just scoop it all up to bin it.
On a more positive note am having 4d scan on saturday and cant wait!!

What brilliant advice on hospital bags/new baby practical stuff!!! Especially for us newbies... Things I haven't even thought about - brilliant!!!

I have a question though.... I think I have been having pretty regular Braxton Hicks for the past couple of weeks but recently they have become really frequent not to mention exhausting and I have been getting really nauseous, runny tummy (sorry if TMI ) with racing heart and hot flushes. This happens every time my bump tightens up and I am knackered!!! I finish up for ML next week anyway thank feck cos I can't keep up with all this!!!

Anyone else got any similar symptoms or know what is going on? Thanks for any words of wisdom as usual!!!