Due May 05 part 5

[logic]

I think it's time for a new thread! The old one was getting huge...

Good morning ladies.

I've just started making a list of things I need to buy.. thought might be fun to share. We've got a lot of the 'kit' having already got a DS but we additionally need:

• New Monitors (Tomy)
• Crib Bed Linen - Mothercare
• Baby Changing Bag (my M&P one is now knackered and has a whole in it now - well used!). Seen a pucka one in John Lewis for £29 with neat compartments and handly thermal bit for bottles.
• Paper pants, Feeding Bras for day and for Bed, a ton of breast pads (you wouldn't believe how many you'll need!)
• Light weight dressing gown (as will be bloody hot in hospital)
• Flip Flops - for hospital
• Teeny tiny newborn nappies (ahhh)
• ickle sleepsuits and babygrows (pink)
• Towel and flannel set (pink!)
• Evian face water spray and lipsil for birth!

Preggars, thought I was all organised with only a few bits and bobs to get. After reading your list I realise I've been in denial and still have loads of things I need to buy.

Well any excuse to do some more shopping

Yep, but I've only got as far as making a list!!

My clever DH made the flat pack wardrobe/tallboy a couple of weeks ago, and I've bought lovely little wooden hangers to put her ickle dresses on.

I've also given away all the boy bits we had for DS baby days to friends and charity (apart from neutral stuff - oh and a the first few dinky baby grows that I couldn't just let go of!).

Having been so thorough cleaning out (was obviously part of nesting) I am bound to have a boy now aren't I...!

Hi all, and welcome to new members, its great to see this thread growing! It's interesting to see what everyone says about names, we don't know what we're having but find it alot easier to think of girls names than boys names. I love some of the names other people have mentioned. We're after names that aren't too unusual but aren't really common either, Megan is our fav for a girl, but not sure about boys, Adam maybe but its very popular!
Thanks for sharing your list Preggars, its useful to know what to get as this is my first. I have bought some cute little baby outfits, a really sweet one from Baby Gap with whales, fish and seagulls on it, and others with brightly coloured animals, its hard as we don't know if its a boy or girl and I think just dressing it in white and cream is a bit boring - so I've hunted around and found cute clothes - I keep looking at them, can't get over how tiny they are!

Thanks Shhhh for the 3D advice - I haven't enquired as yet (just thinking about it) how much does it cost, as that'll be the deciding factor I think!

Preggars - that list you've made is very helpful, I haven't even started my hospital bag list, although it does sound like you need a suitcase not a bag!

Yes, I had quite a big bag for hospital! Was difficult to know what to put in to wear as wasn't sure how much the bump would reduce. Didn't actually give a monkies in the end and opted for track suit. Something to hide the huge super dooper panty liners you need to wear! The glamour of it all

My neighbour was induced last night, no news yet, but I am so excited for them... she could be pushing right now..

mmm I just posted a message and can't see it - dam have to re-type:

Does anyone know about the fetal heartbeat rate per min / gender theory? I've just crashed the June thread and they were saying that a low heartrate is a boy and high is a girl. At my last MW check the heart rate was 133bpm which is low (I think) and I've been told I'm having a girl when I had my scan. I just hope this theory isn't accurate - anyone know?

The heartrate thing isn't accurate, flyingdog! I was told by the midwife that I was having a girl from the heartbeat last time and it was a boy. I believe that the 3D scans at the Create Health clinic are £275. Could be mistaken though.

Last time I took a small suitcase for my stuff and a sports holdall for the baby. Think I might have taken a small labour bag too...

Yep, labour bag a great idea. Poor husband and mum were starving hungry after 11 hours with no hospital tuck shop at night.

I asked the midwife to predict this one using the 'heartrate' theory, and she guessed a boy. The following day we had a scan and the operator said that she was 99.9% sure it was a girl.

Hey, I'll guess we'll see.

I think I've bought everything for the baby now! DS just chose a fantastic changing mat for the baby in mothercare - it has a cool rubber duck design - and one of the ducks quacks if you press it. How cool is that! Oh, I just need the new mattress - but that's on order, so I'm nearly there. Will spend Easter weekend putting the room together ("dressing") and will pack my bags soon.

We haven't bought any newborn clothes - we adored ds in all white all in ones - ds couldn't bear it if he wore colours! So I think we'll be going for the maggot look again!

Flying dog, we had our 3d/4d scan at leeds screening centre (www.leeedsscreeningcentre.co.uk) and it was about £190. This included a scan in 2d & 3d as well the 4d aspect which allowed you to see baby moving. You also got loads (and I mean loads!!) of 3d pictures, a cd with the pictures on (and even more pictures than were printed off) and the dvd/video of the scan.They also checked the basics looked ok with baby.
We went to Leeds as it was the closest 3d/4d centre to us. There are only a few in the country and by the looks of things prices vary by quite a bit. If you decide to have one then it all depends on how far you are prepared to travel and to weigh up costs ie the scan may be miles away and is £190 but may cost you £70 in petrol iykwim. Like I have said before dh & I recommend it 100% and it's allowed us to finally realise that baby is in there!!
Regarding the heatbeat/sex theory, i'm not sure about the beats p/m but I was told if the heart beat sounds like a train=Boy, if it's like a horse=Girl. Not sure how true it is though.

Hi everyone and welcome all new MNers!
Hope everyone is feeling well.
Am very excited about 4D scan tomorrow - we are travelling up to Birmingham tonight. Flyingdog - our scan is at MUMS Clinic and is costing £180. I think its about the cheapest in the country actually as London seems to be £100 more! Anyway I will let everyone know if we find out whether we have a DD or DS on the way asap Also doing NCT weekend this weekend so will report back xx

We really wanted to know the gender of our baby but they couldn't tell from the scan, and we don't have the money for a 3d/4d scan, so I was hoping the heart beat theory might be true. I'd read that below 150 is a boy and above is a girl, and last time it was 130 when it was awake, which is pretty low, well yesterday it was 150, so I guess it varies alot aswell as being wrong sometimes. I guess I'll just have to wait another 9 weeks for the surprise!
Apparently my baby is already getting into the right position, its head has dropped down into my pelvis - which is why my ribs don't ache as much, although its not started to engage yet, its not far from it! Very exciting to think its getting ready, although I hope it doesn't come early as we aren't ready yet !

It's lovely when the baby drops isn't it, littleb? The doctor couldn't tell which way up my baby was yesterday but wrote head-down on my notes anyway. I guess they have to write something!

Is anyone else getting swollen ankles and feet yet?

Hi Logic, It is exciting thinking that its getting ready, I'm sure it'll be up under my ribs again as it gets bigger (I hardly have any space between ribs and pelvis - I'm only 5ft2 and my legs are average length so my middle is very short!), but its good at the moment.
I've had slightly swollen ankles and fingers occaisionally. Major sock marks on my ankles and my rings have been a bit tight, but it seems to come and go, how are yours?
Is it lovely and spring-like where you are? Its beautiful here and has put me in a really good mood, that and the fact that this is my last full time week - for years! After the bank holidays I'm using leave to work 3 or 4 day weeks until my maternity leave start at the end of April. and I don't plan to return to full time work until our child starts school . I know looking after a child is going to be hard work too, but feel it is really time for this change!

My feet are starting to swell up. I remember last time that I had to stop wearing my wedding and engagement rings at about this point but that was during the summer. I also went up a shoe size permanently after ds which is quite normal apparently. Good excuse to buy new shoes anyway.

It is gorgeous here, very spring-like. Spent an hour in the park with ds today for the first time in months. It is nice to be able to do things like that with them. I don't regret staying at home with him.

I didn't know my shoe size could increase! Wouldn't mind having to buy new shoes though - . I'm glad we're not going to be pregnant through the summer, that must have been really uncomfortable, I remeber my poor sister who had her ds in August 2003 she was boiling! It will be lovely to be able to take the baby out for strolls in the park during the summer, I think May is really good timing - luckily!.
I'm looking forward to the break from my career, although I will have to return to work part-time as we'll need the money - I don't suppose Gordon Brown will bring in a years paid maternity leave by May!. But most of all I'm just really excited about becoming a mum

Wow - not logged on in ages and now am feeling a bit behind in the baby preparations compared to some of you organised mums! At 30 weeks, I don't have a name, I haven't even attempted the journey to the loft to dust off the old baby kit and what will be the nursery is currently the junk room with no space for a cot let alone a baby! Still got 8 and a half weeks of work to go and haven't had an antenatal appointment for about six weeks (my area is rubbish) - by this stage with number one we had a beautiful freshly painted nursery, all the gear, were attending NCT classes and I think I had even laundered all the new clothes etc etc. Feel guilty that pre-birth this little one is already playing second fiddle!

Noggermum, this is my first and I still need to decorate the nursery - me and dp are going to do it next weekend, then need to buy furniture, then wash all the tiny clothes etc and there are still a few more things too buy!
Although I'm having regular appointments with my midwife (6 weeks seems a long time, I'm seeing her every 2 weeks now) I haven't had ante-natal classes yet, she mumbled something yesterday about having to organise them before my baby arrived!
I'm sure you will have everything sorted by the time the baby comes along - I wouldn't feel guilty about it.

I'm also only getting ante-natal appointments every 6 weeks - it does seem ages to wait. I'm starting to get the swollen fingers and toes syndrome - horrid, as if we need to feel any more bloated!
I'm also panicing about the nursery and hoping i've thought of everything - I'm trying desperately to sell our leather coach which is stored in the nursery, so I can't even put the cot up - I just want it all done, so I can go in there and get my pre-baby fix. So you're not alone Noggermum.
I'm also looking forward to being off work for 6months but have to go back because of finances - I really envy you mum's that can afford to take longer - I heard the government only intend to bring in the extended maternity pay in 2007!!

DH rang his head office where he works to find out about paternity leave, he is entitled to 2 weeks at £102 for one week and nothing for the other, pretty crap, I thought. Just aswell that he has loads of holiday left. So he will be using that unstead.

Paternity leave is pretty dire for most people. Dh gets 3 days paternity leave at full pay I think. He will have to take 7 days annual leave to top it up to two weeks off.

Im having 2 weekly antenatal with my midwife and hospital consultant, plus monthly scans because the baby is so big.
Luckily im not suffering from swollen ankles or fingers.
Weve got nothing ready for the baby, weve had to start again from scratch because we got rid of every thing. The only thing ive got for my hospital bag so far is breast pads and and sanny towells.I keep telling myself ive got loads of time. Consul;tant thinks ill go early, but I dont think so, I was a week late with all the others.

If the baby is so big, won't they induce you early, missblossom?

I've got 2 weekly appointments now and only just met my actual midwife on Mon as I've been going through the hospital for checks due to high HCG level. She was really lovely and I hope she's on duty when I'm in labour!!

How many of you second timers actually had the midwife you know at the birth?!?

Got most of the stuff but now panicking about what to put in my hospital bag and when to have it packed!! Seemed like ages away but now I'm 30 weeks, arghhh!!

I though statutory parternity leave was 2 weeks at £102?!?

This weather is just making me more excited about having a little baby to enjoy the sunshine with