Due in June '05 - onwards and outwards

[welshmum]

Here we are - Happy Mondays all

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re hospital bag, wouldn't bother with wipes, take cotton wool instead - much more versatile and the midwives didn't like wipes anyway when I was in. Take some cash, not much, but change for phone, coffee etc in case you are in overnight without dh. Oh and going by the experience of a friend of mine, a change of clothes for dh in case you puke on him. She was not popular... Don't forget your feeding/maternity bra, even if you're going to bottle feed your boobs may go like rocks and you will be v uncomfortable if you don't have a supportive bra. And Kamillosan cream, saviour of nipples.

Hello, btw. Hope everyone is OK - and hi Lynny. Just dropping in briefly, deadline week again so I'm trying to stay off mumsnet in the name of getting some work done.

umm, don't want to upset anyone, but the first couple of days you may find yourself wearing two of those horrific maternity pads at a time... disposable pants definitely worth it. Although after 2 or 3 days I binned the maternity pads and went with super-duper extra size normal ones.

Oh god, I am coming out in a cold sweat thinking about all this again.

Oh no!!!!! You're talking about hospital bags

When they say 'bag', actually they mean, trunk, or at the very least, large samsonite case At least that's what I found I needed for all the shit I was told I would need. No nifty wheely carry-on case, I had a back pack. Be warned!!!!

You definitely need shoes to walk around in Pink ( I cannot go anywhere without my slippers) Err not sure about the blood on the floor??? Sounds gross, I don't remember any, but then I was confined to a bed. There was blood though, I hasten to add.

I didn't bother with those paper knickers, they weren't tight enough to support the pad closely iykwim. Sorry for tmi, but you asked! Just grab some old ones (and buy sexy new ones later ), or cheap ones as Lynny suggested.

I also didn't bother with those awful, breeze block maternity pads. It felt like I was back in 1987 when I got my first period If anyone knows why they are used instead of just regular 'period' sanitary towels, please let me know. Is there a good reason? They're just horrible and bulky and didn't absorb anything. I used normal sanitary towels. Still, there may be a reason not to use normal san towels, so maybe ask a mw or someone.

Pack stuff for yourself as Charley has listed, very important to feel pampered and as gorgeous as is humanely possibly after what you have been through.

Which brings me on to photographs.

This is probably the best tip of all; use black and white film !!!
It is so much more flattering than colour film, I cannot tell you! We had some pics post birth, some colour, some b&w and comparing the two, colour showed up every blemish, spot, line, flush, bag on my face. In b&w I looked like I shoulda been on Vogue... ok not quite, but nearly!!!

Jonah, thanks for the tip re the name, I thought it was as you said, but wasn't sure.

I've heard bad things about MFI kitchens when it comes to fitting. That must have been driving you absolutely crazy!

re mat pads i was told not too wear regular ST's becuase ST's are plastic backed and your neather regions need to breathe after giving birth especially if you have stitches. This is too minimise the risk of infection, also unlike a period you wear them for a lot longer (4-6 weeks is considered normal)and regular ST's can make you very sweety down below. Thats whta my midwfie told me after having DD. nad i have to say it does make sense. I didn't bother with papaer knickers apart from the first pair they were too horible, just wore regular knickers

Ah ha!! Thanks for that Katz. I suspected there was probably a very good reason. Damn, I hated those bloody things. If you'll pardon the pun

I am waiting for my treacle tart to cook

Pink - there is no way anyone will be taking a picture of me until I have proper make up on and hair brushed. I will not have scraggy pale exhausted looking photos of me on the planet. If I still look rough on the photos, but luckily we have a digital and there's always Photoshop! Good tip re the b&w pics Lippy!

Re MFI kitchens; my next door neighbours had a COMPLETE NIGHTMARE with their fitters. They took about 3 months, messed up loads of stuff, ruined their garden, disrespected the house in general etc etc. They now have a stuffed foolscap boxfile documenting their complaints. And they're not pushover-types at all! It does look nice now though....

Lippy - I thought you were going to make that treacle tart yesterday?! You must be slacking

I had a bit of a tummy ache yesterday afternoon Charley so I had a nap instead of making the tart.

Now I am about to tuck in

oh no - it'll still be warm I have nothing puddingy left at all in the house. Might have to have some ready brek.....

OMG that took forever to rea, and I didn't even take notes, so who knows if I'll remember what I wanted to say.

Charley, there are a few things on that list that you will need to hide from midwives, like the nipple shields and the breast pump. As for the ipod, don't expect a phone line. Most hospitals (that I know of) come with a tv/telephone contraption. You can phone out (for an extortionist fee) but no one can phone you. This was a real problem for me since everyone I wanted to call was an overseas call with a super extortionaist fee. So, I cheated on the mobile phone. Stuff em. If they can't give me a proper phone in a room I am paying for, then too bad.

I didn;t get on very well with those Mothercare paper pants. They are very loose and kept riding up. Would have rather just used cotton pants and thrown a few pairs away. After the hospital I used regular always pads (the huge winged extra long ones). I can;t remember how long the bleeding lasted -- a couple of weeks I think. Not sure if that was worse due to ceasarean or if it's the same no matter what kind of delivery.

Might also be a good idea to have to nightgowns for yourself just in case if you soil one, you have back up.

Oh oh oh... and if your DH is like mine, don't let him go through your hospital bag. My DH likes to economise on packing space. I swear he started pulloing things out because he deemed they weren't really needed. Lucky for me I caught him in the act and told him it was my hospital stay and I and ony I will decide what goes with me. "And if you don't put all that back, I'm packing the kitchen sink too!"

Hi Everyone
have been trying hard to keep up, but struggling lately, are we getting EVEN more chatty or is it just me.
My tummy is also catching up, i feel baby has grown dramatically lately even just this afternoon i feel bigger than this morning.

Not much else happening in Oz, i'm still waiting for slightly cool weather
Bye for now

Morning All,

Lipstick - thanks for the B&W photo advice. I'll need all the help I can get.

Katz - 4-6 weeks!!!! I'll have to wear pads for that long!!!!! OMG!!! They are frighful inventions. Necessary, but just plain horrid.

Uwila - that's so funny about your DH's economising .

I was so desparate for a choc fix last night and so reluctant to leave my warm house, that I made some choc brownies from a MN recipe. Cant remember who originally put the link in (thanks, btw), but they were damn good. AND I have loads more downstairs, waiting to be consumed

Morning ladies,

I've been following the 'bag' chat with interest, dh nearly keeled over when I told him the bit about maternity pads and chucking your pants away. What fun he has to come.

Thanks again for the positive vibes for my bro's scan, if I could beg your indulgence for some extra vibes today that'd be great. The scan wasn't conclusive although suggests that it isn't cancer - they have their meeting with the social worker today at 11 to find out if they will be able to proceed with the adoption.

Hi gals

My treacle tart was totally delicious last night, but I couldn't move from the sofa for, ooooooh an hour?! It was the first time I'd made it, next time I think it needs to be more treacle-y, or less breadcrumbes (fewer breadcrumbs ??)

I forgot most people probably have a digital camera We do too, but at the time dd was born we didn't and the b&w thing was very important!

Jonah, yes pads for possibly up to 6 weeks I'm afraid there are some things about pregnancy, labour, post-labour that the books just can't really convey (except, maybe, the 'Best Friends Guide..' series). That's what I found anyway. I mean, I knew I would bleed, but it felt very different when it was actually happening to me, rather than just abstract words in a book. I thank god for my girlfriends who talk very frankly about how they feel about their bodies now as a result of birth and pregnancy.

Trib, Lots and lots of good luck to your brother for the results his scan, let's hope their first thoughts were right.

Hard to say at the mo which way Social Services will go, given the scan hasn't ruled cancer out entirely. Fingers crossed.

My dh is under the illusion that because he's good with animals, he will have no probs with a small baby. (This is despite having never even held one, he's always refused when offered in case he drops it ) Mind you, I am also less-than-convinced by his theory that he'll be well enough to take care of the bub when I go back to work, we can but hope, I reckon.

Damn, almost missed the bag conversation!
I agree with the cheap cotton knickers - I got some really comfy flowery grandma ones from M&S which sadly I still have in the loft, at least didn't keep them in my drawer
I think a small mirror is really handy, and lipstick and perfume, something for holding back your hair too.
I also had a little notebook - handy for jotting down who gave what present and I wrote down a few thoughts about how delicious dd was - didn't want to forget how I felt those first couple of days.

No probs, KVG. He has fibromyalgia (read all about this fun syndrome here ). A side-order of IBS and food intolerances to help matters along. He's on a mega cocktail of painkillers and a careful diet, but so far nothing much is helping. The pain specialist has recommended some gentle daily exercise (prob using a cross-trainer) to try and improve matters but we've been delaying buying one (a) cos they are wickedly expensive and (b) we don't know where we are going to be living. As you can imagine, being on the second floor is not much good for him either, and he tends to sleep for a lot of the day - he does know this won't be an option with the baby however! We have to plan life pretty carefully to avoid him getting too exhausted or stressed - again, not sure how that is going to play itself out when bubs comes along.

I think if he can build up his strength to deal with the job physically, he should be okay. But I would like to be nearer to my family for some ad hoc support - I dunno how much childcare a single salary is going to run to .... hmm, fun times ahead!

Ah, that's a nice idea Welshie.

I didn't take enough baby grows first time round - my lack of nappy-changing experience meant things got messy at times. So I'd recommend taking loads. And lots of change for the phone too. And some trashy magazines to flick through. Lots of stuff to drink. And clothes to go home in (otherwise you could be relying on your DH to bring in something 'suitable' from home).

Tons of positive vibes coming your way Trib.x

Morning girls,

I thought at the end of the last thread I asked you all not to talk too much yesterday! [pouting emoticon]

Had a fab day yesterday, esp after embarrassment of being flashed in church , so raring to go today...ha ha not! Is it just me or are others finding the enthusiasm to work extremely difficult these days??

Trib - lots and lots of good vibes or your brother and sil today, good news about the scan - when will he know more??

Hospital bags, hmmmmm. Agree about not having the paper pants - I had them last time but they just don't fit right and make you feel even more uncomfortable and cumbersome - will definitely just buy some cheepies to throw away this time. Also pack loads of babygrows/vests...if you're anything like me when I changed ds's first few dirty nappies I got the stuff everywhere and managed in less than 24 hrs to go through 4 babygrows!! GREAT tip re the B&W film Lippy...I only had one photo of me holding ds after his birth, and besides the fact that I had my lovely paper pants on full display I came out looking spotty, pasty and flushed all at the same time...not a good look, ha ha ha!

My musts were;

forme_
nighties *2
slippers
cheap/disposable pants
sanitary towels
breast pads
magazines/books
munchies (crisps/biccies/cereal bars)
lots of small change for vending machines & phones
make-up/hairbrush

forbaby_
babygrows (at least 4, ha ha ha!)
vests
nappies * 8
muslins or terry nappy squares

to be honest anything else can be brought in by dh/dp later esp if having an unexpected longer stay. Don't pack too much for the labour room - you'll either forget to use it or have too much going on to remember to use what you brought in! Re the breast pump thing, in the first few days most of what comes out isn't really milk, and bubs will only have a small amount anyway...and if you have probs they tend to use a syringe to capture the fluid (not painful - not inserted anywhere!!) and feed bubs that way so pump would prob be too big and not used. Also re bleeding afterwards I found I was heavy for the first couple of days afterwards, but it very quickly became more of a kind of watered down discharge (like the last day or so of a normal period) for the next few weeks, so don't buy too many packs of mat pads - you can always get more if necessary. Hope that helps abit.

Right onto other things - soooo we have some green fingers in our midst.....please come and sort my garden out!! I have soooo many plants in the garden I've managed to kill it's unreal, the latest being a rather expensive acer tree Think I will just have to make do with lawn and paving...grass seems so much harder to kill than most plants!

Lippy - am very of your treacle tart - love the stuff, esp covered in lashings of custard, yum!

Right better actually go and do some work...well at least for a minute or two until there's another post, he he he!