Due in June '05 - onwards and outwards

[welshmum]

Here we are - Happy Mondays all

me too but at least maternity bras and a lot cheaper than regular ones for me, i normally spend on average £30 on a bra!!

i personally wouldn't buy more than 2, i went from a 38F when PG with DD up to 36G when breast feeding, so it can be difficult to judge, i found my chest (under my boobs)measurement changed a lot over the course of the PG but was back down to a 34 quite quickly afterwards. i bought a couple of bras the day before i had DD (strange sensation waling round moithercare with broken waters!! buying last minute itemss!!!)which did fine until my milk had come in and settled down a bit, when DD was about 2-3weeks old i went out and bought some more.

actually i lie i got as big as a J cup when my milk first came in but that only lasted for 2 days!!

have comdey photo to prove mega boobs!!! DD's head is about half/third of the size of my boob!!

i seem to remember John Lewis being quite good, they measured me the week before dd arrived, added a bit on and told me what to get - and they were right.
Lord knows what size I'll be by then, I started off as a 34E and am now a 38DD

i've never had a sucessfull measuring experience, so i'm a bit sceptical!! i'm also in the lucky position that mothercare is a 5 min car ride away to pop and get bras!

my waters didn't break in mothercare unfourtuneatly, i was just wandering round mothercare with them broken!! i should probably explain in case you weren't around when i told my birth story (probably thread 1!!!). My waters broke at 36+5 days but no contractions, was left to get to 37 weeks and then induced with a syntocin drip, DD then took just 4.5 hours from drip going in my arm to her coming out! Was lucky had an understanding midwife who let me get to 37 weeks otherwise i'd have been on the waking the baby every 3hours to feed her. plus i was totallly not expecting DD to be early so had not finished buying all the stuff for my hospital bag and it was only partly packed!! i remember say to DH i can't be about to have a baby i've not got any muslins or nursing bras!!!!

Hi KVG - There's only 124 calories per pack of MM, I don't think that's too bad. I've just had my 2nd packet . I know my GP said I'd have another scan, but he's suggested stuff like that before that the midwives haven't thought was necessary. He's quite new to the practice and quite young so he's probably just covering himself. I'm not worrying particularly about this. About your waters breaking in Mothercare - unless you do a big gush, how would they know??

Lynny - you are rude! You could in fact give Tea a run for her money

Can someone tell me why they buy maternity bras? I'm just buying regular ones (cheap and cheerful from Tesco) as I get bigger. And they're underwired - is this wrong of me? I can understand nursing bras. I'd rather just buy those nearer the time (but then I won't know what size to get will I until I've had the baby?)

Katz - I'd LOVE to have a look at your comedy boobs photo!

I'd really appreciate a compilation of what she should have in our hospital bags. This is what I have on my list so far:

baby grows
baby wipes
Nappies
Muslin squares
nipple sheilds
breast pump
pjs
slippers
ipod
make up
cleanser
red towel/other towels
bean bag
cosy socks
sports bottle for a drink (lucozade?)
Bottle of water
crisps
bananas
fruit smoothie
sandwiches for me
food for DP
sanitary towels

I've probably missed off loads of stuff...

KVG - I live in southern Germany. There's been snow here since end of Jan solid!

I have no idea of quantities or anything, this being my first KVG. I know what you mean about MEN lol the thong . actually I'll have to add big pants to my list cos I only have silly little knicks. Where do you buy paper knicks from?

Err... I have no hospital bag properly first time. I went in to MW office to check things out and was 4 cm dilated. Said, ok will go home though, and she said no you will not. Baby was in my arms 3.5 hours later... {shock]! Anyhoo, Dh's mum did run to the car to get camera just in time!

Right. But that was on the other side of the pond, where gowns, nappies, pads, disposable knickers, etc were all provided by the hospital... ARE they not provided here???? DO they provide anything?!?!
Won't they even have something to put baby in as it is born???

They must have a hospital grade breast pump if needed, no? I can't imagine why would you need one while in the hospital. Am i not thinking about something?

Wow lua - what a nice shock - 3.5 hours! I'm sure hospitals do provide all the bare essentials - but I do not fancy pacing up and down in an open backed gown. Also, I'm taking my own pump because I might have difficulties feeding and I'd like to try it out while I have the support of the midwives. I'll probably hire a hospital grade one too though. Have you discovered Monster Munch yet?

Afternoon All,

First day back at work. First thing I did was to count how many working days I have to go (39 days, in case you are interested).

Lipstick/Charley, you would think i was having major building work done to my kitchen, but no, this delay was due to MFI being sh*te and my joiner, who refused to work more than 3 hours a week it seemed, due to "prior commitments". Weaning without a kitchen can't have been fun though. Still, its done now, so i'm a happy chappy.

Lynny, so sorry to hear about the car. What a nightmare. I am terrified of doing that with my own car, and I work in the motor industry (sort of). Bless DH for saying all the right things though...

Teabelly . bless your little boy, but how acutely embarrassing

Mrs wed - i get the same reaction when people see my oversized belly as well!

Lipstick, dont know if this has been answered yet, but i know a girl called sorcha. Its pronounced to rhyme with porche (with an extra "a" at the end).

berolina, congrats on the scan!!!

kvg re the bag, i've just bought a normal backpack. I felt mortified in being expected to pay £50 for a maternity bag. Oh, and paper knickers can be bought in mothercare.

Sadly no! I did look for it in the store yesterday, but it didn't jump out at me and didn't want to spend too much time on the chips aisle in case DD got the wrong idea!

Be careful with pumping early on. There are of course many situations when it is needed. But... baby intake the first days is tiny, and if you pump a lot, you can end up engorged.... But I am sure you have read about the laws of provision and demand...

I had a breast reduction in 1988 so sadly I don't think there'll be much chance of becoming engorged. I'm glad to hear baby will only need a tiny amount at first though....

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I read that mums on babies book and they all said to take Flip flops because the floors are so dirty. Specially in the bathroom in the maternity ward because of all the blood

Well I ordered some disposable padded pants from an incontinance site I thought they would do the first little while because those surfboard maternity pads look horrid. Also with the disposable padded pants I have got it looked like minimum leakage - hence less humiliating.... hopefully. Also because if I get any fatter I won't be able to fit my own pants on anymore. Also do the disposable briefs you get from like mother care and boots hold a maternity pad very well?? I'll get some anyway.

I'll be paking my hospital bag soon anyway simply because if anything happens I won't have anyone to come bring me stuff and I want to be prepared for all eventualities. Cos you could go into labour early and it would really annoy me if I was stuck in hospital without anyone to bring me anything.

I'll definately be taking a breast pump because if anything happens they can express milk for the baby. Oh I've already looked out the sleep suits in newborn size and 0-3 months. apprently some babies are too big for the newborn size even when they are new born. I have already bought the More bio friendly disposables for the stay in the hospital because I don't want to have to use the normal brands just cos I wasn't prepared.

I will be taking a camera but only for when I am firmly dressed again and the baby isn't all scummy. is it just me or do other people have objections to midwives taking pictures of you when you aren't fit to be seen with a boob hanging out and a half scummy baby? I just would hate to have a shot of me all indignity showing...

Anyway - hope everyong is well. I'll add to the hospital bag list when I am hope - I have it written out....