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Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

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First-timers this year . . .

723 replies

TJuice · 26/01/2008 10:04

I was just wondering how many are there of us . . .

I am due end of June and love my antenatal thread as there is so much good advice there but thought it may be nice to share a little with others who are new to this whole thing too.

Anyone interested?

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makecakesnotwar · 26/02/2008 20:36

I confess I read all the books to start....but have given them up. Have bought pretty much everything I need, packed my hospital bag and written my birth plan. I plan on spending next 12 weeks or so just enjoying it....but yes, evryone has something to say on birth/pregnancy/baby. I think they forget I have a job, a husband and a brain.

I want to see Juno too.

bitofadramaqueen · 26/02/2008 21:35

Oh I love reading all the books but I'm not as obsessed about them as I was in the beginning. I do get very fed up with people talking to me about baby stuff all the time though - I'm pregnant, I haven't had a lobotomy!!!

Makecakes - LOL at your advanced planning. Though, you've got me thinking about my changing bag...

makecakesnotwar · 27/02/2008 08:23

Changing bags...I want them all DQ...sad, I know about the planning. Anyone spot the first time parent???

bitofadramaqueen · 27/02/2008 08:50

Dont worry makecakes - I'm the same as you! I haven't bought as much as you yet, but I know pretty much everything I'm going to buy. Off to look at a cotbed this morning (do you remember the chat on the June thread about the expensive drawers - well, have sacrificed the drawers but still love the cotbed and am travelling miles and miles to the nearest stockist to check it out in RL).

I have got my eye on several changing bags too - what did you go for in the end?

makecakesnotwar · 27/02/2008 09:46

DQ- traded glamour for expense and got a brown leather petit planet bag. Tis very chic and fits all the baby hospital things in perfectly.

Got two very cute outfits in the post yesterday from my father and his wife...I have a feeling it's only the beginning!

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TJuice · 27/02/2008 11:03

makecakes - you are so organised, lady!

i am crossing things off my masterlist daily. but some of it was more doing up my flat and other things.

haven't done nursery yet, but have lovely stokke cot which will be in our bedroom for 6 months, i think. (that's what they say right?

ordered new mattress from babymattressonline plus fitted cot sheets and that drapey curtain thing that goes over the cot.

made a baby box from an old champage magnum case, that is filled with pointless clothes but i do still need a few things for a sensible layette.

then i still need pram, swing, sling, bath stuff, nappies - SHIT LOADS. I hope i get it done in 4 months . . . .

panic, panic.

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MrsHOP · 27/02/2008 11:41

shit guys, stop it with your organisation - I am starting to think I'm not taking this seriously at all!! I copied a list from an early thread about what things I need - maybe I should start buying stuff.
Looked at the john lewis nursery catalogue last night, they have surprisingly good value white cotton babygrows/sleepsuits etc.

my mum has knitted me a v cool moss green bedjacket, only thing is it would be much nicer as a cardi, looks wicked with jeans...

makecakesnotwar · 27/02/2008 12:36

TJ- yes, i am organised, but i have spent 11 years as a nanny and maternity nurse, so I kind of knew exactly what I wanted...I also wrote a baby checklist for a client years ago so have been thrilled to actually get to use it myself......

MissChika · 27/02/2008 13:17

Aaargh!! All this organisation! I haven't bought a single thing yet - not even one babygrow! I have just been waiting for my second scan though so once I have had that I will be going starting my shopping - woo-hoo!

Is everyone planning on having their baby in with them for the first 6 months? That's what's recommended isn't it?

bitofadramaqueen · 27/02/2008 13:34

hi everyone - just back from a wee lunchtime look at john lewis. Lots of cute things . Restrained myself to a few basic bits and pieces today.

makecakes - good for you going for the glamour bag. I'm definitely thinking along the same lines...

MissChika - they do recommend 6 months, but from what I can gather from people I know, many parents do move the LO to their own room earlier. I'm just going to play it by ear. We dont have room in our room for anything but a moses cot so how long the baby fits in that will probably be the deciding factor!

MissChika · 27/02/2008 13:40

Hi Dramaqueen - yeah one of my friends didn't even have her baby in with them at all when he was born. He went straight into his own room but I think definitely for the first few months the baby will be in with us. Saying that, the nursery probably won't be ready by the time the baby comes anyway as we're so disorganised!

makecakesnotwar · 27/02/2008 16:06

With you DQ- 6 months is a bit long for my liking. Whilst she fits the Moses basket, she can stay, but then she's in her own room...which is right next door so not too far for me to slog inthe middle of the night!

Heffa · 27/02/2008 16:23

Hiya, I'm a first timer as well. Due in July, and very excited! I've been going a bit mad looking at stuff to buy although I can't really get anything before we move house (in April).

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TJuice · 27/02/2008 16:53

welcome heffa!

hey cakes. bit cheeky - but any chance you could share your list? i have been looking on the newborn list thread but there is so much stuff . . . .

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TJuice · 27/02/2008 16:55

sorry, just realised it was for a client. therefore don't worry about it . . .

i have the cot in my room right now, but think 6 months is a long time. although all the cot death safety stuff says 6 months . . .

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makecakesnotwar · 27/02/2008 17:56

Tjuice- have emailed it to you....hope it helps.

MrsHOP · 28/02/2008 13:02

morning, hope all is well.

have decided to keep easter w/e free for decorating/buggy research/general kicking off of project baby - we will have had our scan and will be ready ro ruuuuumble!!!

DH's best mate has just found out he's having a little boy - now DH is convinced we're having a girl as "there's no way we would have the same" - not sure what that means!!

better get back to work, finding it hard today

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tallbirduk · 28/02/2008 14:09

we haven't bought anything, or even decided which room the baby is going to live in!!

Excuse was that we are getting all of our windows replaced, so couldn't do any decorating or anything till then - but got a date for that yesterday, the 2 days before Easter weekend, so that will be great - will really be able to get on with it after that.

How exciting

Kaz1967 · 28/02/2008 19:44

I daren't buy anything for this baby just in case something goes wrong

makecakesnotwar · 29/02/2008 07:59

I know what yo mean Kaz- had a mc last summer (would have been due last week) so we waited until the third scan at 12 weeks before started to buy things (put it all in storage too) as have een getting most things from EBay....then stopped after a couple of weeks. Then waited until 20 week scan but have been buying ever since...mainly to stop myself going mad as we are trying to sell our house ( with the increasing vain hope of moving pre-baby....)but now the nursery is ready, I have to find something else to do...

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TJuice · 29/02/2008 08:04

Kaz, I felt a bit like that too for a while, esp. after I had an mc. But it gets better. And there's plenty of time.

Since its paytime, I have been ebaying and internet shopping a bit and have bought a new mattress and cover, a sling, a swing (Star Lite Swing), some fitted cot sheets and a canopy and some muslins.

How smug am I [wink

Is anyone thinking of getting a playpen? I know that's more of an issue when they crawl, but I kind of just want to get everything. Its that first-timer thing, I guess. I am buying loads second-hand though so I am not going for broke. They have really nice wooden ones made here in Denmark called Baby Dan.

My bump is so strange at the moment - it sort of blows up and then goes back down. I started back at the gym after a 7 month hiatus - maybe its the exercise that stops the bloat or something. (must admit its a really token appearance on the stepper and a couple of machines, before peacing out of there again!)

Another weekend of fixing up the house and no wine or bar-hopping . . .
not complaining but sometimes it doesn't seem very thrilling . . .
on the other hand, sleeping in does sound good right now - I am knackered!

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TJuice · 29/02/2008 08:05

morning cakes!
thanks for the list - v useful.
fingers crossed for your move (or maybe not at this point, how do you feel about it now?)

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carrieHD9 · 29/02/2008 08:40

Morning all!

TJuice, my bump also very odd, it went lopsided yesterday, like a very sad balloon- have been getting used to seeing it in the bath and then suddenly it was a different shape! Baby escaped further up I think, for last night felt it kick properly on the outside- amazing!! Thought about waking boyfriend up so he could feel it too but of course by that time it had stopped...

Kaz, I felt just like you after mc's.. I've still only bought one thing, it all feels like tempting fate, doesn't it? The last time we got really excited and then it didn't work out, felt such a fool. It is getting easier now, how far gone are you?

Kaz1967 · 29/02/2008 16:21

This little one is due a week after my daughter who I lost at 18+4 weeks was. I keep thinking I should be feeling better now, getting my self together and getting over the doubts because I am now past the anniversary of Olga's birth and the gestation she was BUT it took so long to get pregnant for the second time I can't believe it happened despite feeling them move most days now. Hoping the 20 week scan (20 weeks now but it's not until the 12th) will make me feel more settled. Just not used to feeling this out of control LOL

I am buying my self a maternity swimming costume though and the day after my scan I am seeing a doula

makecakesnotwar I am planning a move too to somewhere smaller so I can rid my self of this mortgage and have less to worry about. I have just enough equity in the house to buy something more than a cardboard box

Original poster
TJuice · 02/03/2008 17:09

kaz -so sorry about olga. hope you are doing okay. good luck with the doula.

well, i spent another weekend, doing "nesty" things. well, put up some lamps and a chest of drawers and sorted bedroom out. still haven't done nursery but one step at a time.

i saw Juno and thought it was quite sweet. yes, i suppose it is a bit cavalier about teenage pregnancy but to me it was just a sweet film, not a public service commercial. i actually took my friend's daughter who is a little younger than juno - but quite mature. we had a discussion afterwards about how much more difficult it would be in that situation and its just fiction etc.

then i did a little shopping and bought some topshop maternity jeans. They have to go back - they look VILE. and the seraphine jeans are going back too - they are so awful.
why is it just horrid bootcut lame jeans available for pregnant women? (actually the problem appears to be my thighs, not the jeans or the bump!)

i also bought some other baby-stuff. i am not obsessing but have figured out my budget with maternity pay and think that the more i buy while on full-time pay (plus freelancing extra) the better. so i am trying to do it a bit at a time.

i feel naughty about my eating this weekend though. we didn't cook dinner or eat anything good at all - just takeaways. have to sort that out . . .yet another lifestyle change.

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