Due June - 'I can't remember my own name, let alone where I put the creme eggs...'

[PregnantPenguin]

For those of us with 3 months to go or less....

PP - I took loads of nice toiletries in to hospital with me but didn't use anything other than my toothbrush . After the birth the midwife ran me a bath and put some bubble bath in for me - not sure where this came from but wasn't mine! Then after the bath I was ready to get straight back in bed and cuddle my gorgeous little one. Using my lovely moisturisers, washing my hair etc didn't even cross my mind. I just wanted to get clean and then back out. I didn't bother showering the next morning as I didn't want to leave my ds on his own and I went home after lunch. Needless to say my toiletry bag this time will be much reduced!!!!

I guess things might have been different if I had to stay in for a few days but even then I can't imagine contorting myself to moisturise as standing up and getting to the toilet was enough of a challenge

I'm pretty well organised for our new arrival but we have got most stuff from our ds. As I previously mentioned we moved our ds into his big bed last weekend to free up his cot. My Phil & Ted's doubles seat arrived today - hurrah and I bought some newborn bottle teats yesterday in case we have to bottle feed, oh and a big sponge support for the bath as we threw our old one away once my ds grew out of it. No other purchases to make except for the all important present from little beanie to their big brother! Josie slinks off to polish her halo!

Wow josie I am impressed! You deserve to polish that halo

Katjo at least you have located and started washing the clothes! I haven't and can't bear to look in that big mess which we call our garage. I don't even have any space to put the clothes in to start with so I suspect I should really start clearing up cupboards first.

Right off to try and do some work today...Less than four weeks for my ML. I can't wait

I am sooooooo of all of you who are going off on maternity leave shortly. I start my maternity leave in 9 weeks time it sounds like an absolute age and I really don't know how I am going to keep my motivation up.

you don't need a long maternity leave josie, you are all ready

Re toileteries for hospital, I wouldn't bother really, just toothbrush, a nice showergel (ideally with lavender to help healing) and an all purpose moisturiser. What I would recommend though is to take some homeopathic arnica tablets (for healing) and once you are home take bath with a few essential drops of lavender does wonders for the tearing/stitches. If you breastfeed, the arnica also helps the baby with bruises etc.

Right really off to do some work now

You have all inspired me to write a list, it is scarily long! Have got most of the big things now and was merrily thinking that I would sort the rest out once I am on maternity leave but thinking about it sensibly where I work is very close to the city centre so will be easier to pop to the shops in my lunch hours and start picking up bits and bobs.
Right will get back to my list writing!

I've just stolen most of your lists (and hints and tips)... not nearly as organised as I would like... right I'll be busy tomorrow!!

Oh yes have done the present form babe to DD.

Agree wtih needahand - hopefully you won't be in hospital for long and you really won't be bothered with loads of stuff.

top tip - take some dettox wipes with you - cleaners don't get around much and it's nice to know that things are clean.

Also, don't take anything valuable - tends to go walkies.

There is a thread here with hints and tips too- I gleaned quite a few, though now suspect I will need a caravan of camels to carry everything into the maternity ward with me!!

Excellent 'hints' thread - although I now have several million post-its full of stuff I need to get! Hadn't even got to the whole hospital bag thing yet... but maybe I'd better start packing!

Flip flops for the shower

Agree that you may not want lots of lovely toiletries. If you have a shower the main issues are cleaning the shower before you use it, not dropping your things in a puddle and not getting blood everywhere (sorry, TMI!). So you will pull on your disposable knickers when you are still wet and by that time be feeling panicky about the baby being alone.

dramaqueen - last time, a midwife described my bump as "pendulous" which really offended me!

Well, I have cleared out a drawer for the baby's things. There won't be a dedicated room for the baby for a while - it's currently a bathroom, but hopefully we'll have turned it into a bedroom by Christmas or so. We'll have the builders in when the baby arrives but once they are done we can get on with decorating.

All our baby things are still in storage and given that DH STILL hasn't got my maternity clothes (I can't go to storage - boring but genuine reasons!) I'm not holding out much hope...I've told him I'll write out a list and if he wants to get the things soon, I can deal with measuring/ordering mattresses etc. If he leaves it till last minute he'll have to spend a day trailing around doing it - his choice. I've told him I have 6 weeks left to go (31 weeks today) .

I listened to the hypnotherapy CD last night. It's so relaxing. I've missed quite a few nights as DD has literally not been away from my side and the second I leave her she wakes up. But last night she was much better.

makescakes - what a great thread.... although my list has now grown!!

hi ladies, hope everyone's feeling well. i'm plum tuckered out but we're heading to in-laws for the weekend and am so looking forward to it. i need a break! this pregnancy's been a cakewalk compared to ds in so many ways but now that i'm really getting big and heavy and unwieldy taking care of ds is getting more and more difficult. for once i'm going to be happy to let his nan take over and do as little as possible. have a fab weekend all!! xxx

yes, hope you all have a great weekend - I'm off to get organised!

makescake fab thread. Right that is it, I need to get a move on and start doing things. I might still have 11 weeks ahead of me, then again if I am unludky I might only have 3 left. Come on, give me a kick to get me off my backside.

hello ladies,

I only have a car seat to buy, everything else is ready to go. I also have to get the cot from the loft but I have to clear space in my bedroom first, in order to do that we have to have a sofa removed so we can take the chair downstairs.

My bump was really pointy but has now changed shape completly. Baby was head down and had been since about 20 weeks but the last couple of days has been transverse. I know they can settle into birthing position at about 32 weeks so am hoping that he hasn't decided to stay like this!

Birthing position, goingfor3 don't scare me....although last I knew baby cakes was head down, so I guess that's a start. Flicked through 'Gentle Birth Method' last night (recommended by a friend but gave up on it in aout week 12 when it suggested that I go on a birth diet which involved not eating everything I like- I mean, what's the point of pregnancy if you can't eat nice things??)...it mentioned something about drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea from 34 weeks to 'prepare the body for birth'....where do I get it, what does it taste like and will I like it if I don't drink tea (never have never will..)

Oh and can someone just rip my dog's voicebox out??? Have a bad head, DH is late as osdding usual and I haven't had a nap...god, I'm so grouchy.

Oh Bs, think I have got SPD

That's rubbish for you, Sophie

Makecakes - you can get rasberry leaf tea bags from Holland & Barrett. Or loose tea leaves from places like Neal's Yard and Baldwins, and health shops. I got to quite like it but I'm a big tea drinker. I think most people find it foul.

make cakes - great thread tip. Sophie -poor you.

Rolf -when are you meant to start the raspberry leaf? and are capsules or tea better?

Have any of you not first timers been to NCT or similar? Am booked to go in few weeks time - mainly as think its a great way to meet people (only have one local friend with kids but she is not a first timer). What were pros/cons about it? Also due to fact I'm an idiot I'm likely to miss one of the days (The girls only day ...) -am really worried not so much about missing the learing bit but at missing out on bonding . There is still another full day plus 2 evenings.. Am I being a bit over sensitive here (I've basically got a bit of complex about not being able to get along very easily with the other mums I'm likely to be meet at the class).

First one on today, hobbling but breakfasts to do have a good weekend everyone.

Morning Sophie - that's all you need - SPD, poor you.

Had a lovely lie in this morning, don't know what we're doing today, ski season is drawing to its end so boys and dh might go and I might go shopping with mil.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Hi poppy I started my NCT classes last week - pretty much for the same reasons as you! Was a bit worried it would all be a bit airy fairy with lots of chat about empowerment etc but its been ok so far. I think it really depends on the teacher. DH doesn't think much of ours but I think she's ok. The other people seem nice enough and I've found it fairly useful so far. I guess its a shame that you'll miss one of the days, but I'd just really focus on making an effort to get to know people on the other days. I know that's not always easy though!

I'm a bit apprehensive about making myself make new 'mum' friends but I just keep telling myself it will be good for the LO if I know other people with similar age babies etc.

makecakes - I'm a big drinker of regular tea but hate all the green teas/fruit 'teas' etc so dont find the rasperry leaf tea idea very appealing either!

Sophie- poor you! I can only sympathise as a fellow sufferer nand remind you that there's not too much longer to go, which I know is little consolation as your season starts getting busy.

Morning all- off to investigate the tea- can't be worse than the Chinese shit I took when trying to conceive- it ruined a pan, so was very worried about what it did to my insides!

PP- have emailed list!!