Due May '09, a Spangle-tastic start, who will be next....anyone, anyone........?

[Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa]

Starting new thread ladies, in honour of Spangle.

Febes I've had that eye twitchy thing in my left eye for nearly two weeks since I took some co-codamol. Don't know if it's linked but UGH it's annoying!

Belgian I am really nauseous too, I actually got up at 2am thinking I was going to barf but I didn't.

It's just DD and I at home today, we have to wait for the health visitor so we can't go out until she's been. Can't remember if she said she was coming at 11 or 2. No difference there, eh? ;)

I'm still feeling crappy today but manageably crappy. I almost killed DH last night because I was so wound up about the possible pre-e that I couldn't appreciate the efforts he was making so I feel really guilty this morning when I've come downstairs and he's absolutely gutted the kitchen, living room and hall. I am a bad wife.

Blotted you are not a bad wife - you are understandably stressed! But try not to worry about the pre-eclampsia. The most important thing is that they spot it and can keep you and your baby safe. I had it last time but it was very mild and although I needed extra monitoring it didn't affect my baby or birth choices.

We watched Sunday's No 1 Ladies Detective Agency on iPlayer last night - I just love it! Might go and make myself a bush tea in Mma Ramotswe's honour...

Sssoooo tired today.

3 days left at work, 11 days till Induction - Oh god it's really going to happen!

Must go into town at lunch time and get some hospital bag things. Might splash out and buy a new bag from Primark to put it all in . They have some in there that are not too big. Bag I was going to put stuff in is quite large and they don't give you much room in hospital do they?

MW said all I need for baby is:
4 vests, 4 babygrows, cotton wool, nappies, 2 cotton hats

do you think this is enough? Have been told I've got to stay in for 48 hrs after birth.

Emma Thanks my love, I'm still hoping that it's just a UTI but if it is pre-e I know that we don't have much choice as to what happens next.

Looby Yeah I think that's enough, maybe include a going home outfit in your bag. Anything else that you need can be brought in

Blotted fingers crossed it's a UTI then. (That is such an odd thing to say!)

I just had a big spend up in boots and used my points up.
So far for my hospital bag I have:
For LO
New born itsy bitsy Nappies
wipes
3 vests
booties
2 baby gros
Going home outfit
2 muslins
2 hats -one blue one girly

For me
Maternity pads
Breast pads
Knickers
Yoga trackies
T-shirt
Cardi
Summer PJs
button down nighty
Toiletries
Homopathy remedies and rescue remedy
flip flops
present for DD

For DD
Change of clothes
PJs
2 ready meal thingys
2 toys
nappies

I think that's all what have I forgotten??

Man I seriously need to get my finger out and pack my bag :s I have NOTHING that we'll need!

Gosh, it's really getting near for some of you now! I've still got a while - end of May. Need to start thinking about my hospital bag though I guess.

I'm really feeling nauseous too - well, it's heartburn I think. I keep burping a lot and feel like I'm going to throw up quite often. Gaviscon helps for a bit but it keeps returning.

I've also got really swollen feet. When I showed my midwife last week, she wasn't worried about them, but it's quite uncomfortable at times. I don't find elevating them helps at all - anyone else?? I'll try support socks again - they didn't seem to make them go down before but maybe I didn't wear them for long enough.

My hands are also a bit swollen - my fingers are normally thin (only part of me that is!) and they're like sausages!

x

Febes and others. I found that wipes, even those that claim to be "sensitive" or "just the same as cotton wool and water" really irritated DD and DSs little behinds, so i would recommend cotton wool (balls, pleats or pads). Might also need nappy sacks, although we may have just shoved used nappies straight in the bin .

Also worth packing some little bibs incase LO decides to bring something back up when least expected, as this might save the need to do a sleepsuit change. I will also be packing dummies to give my nipples a break when LO is just comfort sucking.

Also don't forget snacks, music, mags, camera,...

Oh, and also, I recommend scratch mits (or socks on hands or even better sleepsuits with these built-in) as they may well have long nails and do spend a lot of time with their hands on their face and mine gave themselves some nasty scratches when their hands weren't covered.

MsG when I had swollen feet my MW told me to increase my water intake. I don't know if it worked, but I am less swollen now!

I agree about the cotton wool thing. I'm so scared by the magical household cleaning properties of baby wipes that I really wouldn't want to use them on a newborn.

I'm nesting today. I've cleaned the fridge (yuk!) mopped the floor and now I have my feet up because I'm exhausted. It takes ages to mop the blinking floor, I wish we'd gone for carpet now, as I have to hoover first anyway. Oh, and I've cleaned 8 floor to ceiling windows in our conservatory. I guess I should have saved that to a bit nearer my due date, shouldn't I? I can't decide whether it is going to rain or not so the washing will just have to get wet if it rains because I feel like I deserve a bath.

Amazing really. Five years ago, I'd have spent a day off from work shopping for clothes or at a spa. Now on a DS free day I find myself catching up on household chores. Maybe I'm just getting old!

My maternity cover rang me yesterday to say hello and to ask if I wanted her to send me stuff to keep me updated. I really felt the urge to tell her the truth but thought I should show willing so I thanked her and said that would be very useful. I'm rather embarrassed that I've scarcely given work a thought!

llare lol as I sit here marking bloody coursework I wish I could scarcely give work a thought. Serves me right tho, have had it since December
Ps. yes Mr Singh was my landlord - sorry for not replying sooner but have had email probs on phone!

febes thanks for the list, have my bag open on the bed and am rewarding myself with a little packing everytime I finish one bit of work.

I have a couple of silly first timer questions - how big is your hospital bag supposed to be. Mine is my little trolly-dolly suitcase (about 70cms by 40cms) it is almost stuffed full and I still have PJs, bras and food items to stuff in. As far as babystuff goes, have put all that in my glamourous changebag as I thought it would be good to have babystuff in one place and mine in another. Is this too much???

Also, should I wash all of the baby clothes and stuff I've got before packing it? Its all new what I'm taking to hospital?

Oh yeah, and forget what I said earlier boob leakage started this morning - have been feeling pricky and then noticed two nice little penny sized blobs as I walked past hall mirror. Glad I haven't been out of the house yet

Afternoon ladies.

Ds hasn't climbed out of his window onto the scaffolding yet, so that's going OK for now

I've seen the osteo and acupuncturist this am and I'm feeling much better. The PGP had been really bad this weekend and yesterday. She had a good go and I feel so much better now. They also did some acupuncture for the nausea. Not sure if that's working yet.

re wet wipes I have to agree that I wouldn't use them on newborn skin, not matter what it says on the packet. Pleated cotton wool is the best, because you can get big chunks off for pooye nappies. My ds's eczema started at the same time as I started to use wet wipes and I can't help but think that this was related.

pula nappy sacks don't even exist in Belgium. I'd never heard of them until I came to the UK. I nannied in the US and one of my boys was still in nappies and they didn't have nappy sacks either. So tbh I'm not too bothered about nappy sacks. I only use them when out and about. Otherwise straight into the outside bin. That is until I start my cotton ones when lo is about 1m old. I always wait a month or so, because I can't be bothered to start with it all the minute they're born. I need a month to recover from the pregnancy and birth first.

I'm a redbush tea fan, btw. I think it's best pure. It's quite mild, so no milk or sugar needed. I've been drinking it by the buckets.

I also have a trolly dolly suitcase We call it the ankle biter though. Last time we ended up with that, a racksack and our birthing ball. It was too much because I couldn't carry anything so poor DH was struggling from the car to the hosiptal with all the crap we had packed. So I'm slimming it down to just the suitcase this time and a separate bag for DD. I hope to fit stuff for me and LO in the same bag. I guess it depends how good your DH is at finding extra stuff if you need to stay longer I hope I'll be out after 6 hours but have packed enough for a night or 2 and if it all goes tits up I'll just have to send a list with DH to stock up for me.

I agree about the wipes for new born so I might find some cotton balls instead.

Aaaghhh my left leg is coming loose!! God its agony and i can't stand on it and bloody DP has just buggered off to some stupid bloody meeting in Leeds and left me here. Lotti at nursery and needs collecting in a few hours, aggghhh aggghh, aggghhh

He did run over his lap top tho on the drive which kind of made up for it

Leg seriously painful - right in groin and hip area assume its SPD and rest is the only option??

Spoke to MW about induction etc - she said to take little or no notice of the registrar. They recommend a sweep at term and then again at 41 weeks - no need for cont monitoring if its spont labour. So we agreed to just see what happens in the next few weeks - she is so lovely. They also do sweeps as part of comm service now so no need to trog into hospital either which is brill. Bit nervous about the sweeping issue as they tried with Lotti but I found it bloody hurt (bit fanny phobic tho) mind you I think all has loosened up as when i had to have the speculum exam a few months ago it was infinitely more bearable than any fiddling about there first time round! Bucket fanjo - me?? Never!

Running monkey. Your bag sounds about OK. I've seen much bigger I've got a hold all for all of us. I found I didnt really use the food I had brought in and I notice a lot of mums bring in a big food bag and most of it is still there at the end, so don't bring too much I'd say. If you don't like plain water, definitely take a bottle of squash, because they'll encourage you to drink during labour and you'll get a jug of water, nothing more exciting than that.

My own labour bag:

Me
1 labour nightie
1 pair of post labour pj's
4 pairs of knickers
2 packs of mat towels.
Nursing bra
Going home outfit
toileteries
Bath Towel for myself.

Baby

2 babygros
2 vests
2 hats (I'm a big one on hats, it's the most important thing to pack for labour!)
1 'nice' outfit (for pictures and going home)
1 snowsuit
1 shawl/wrap
nappies (about 10)
cotton wool

Miscelaneous

1 or 2 Muslin squares (versatile and can be used as sheet/bib/burping cloth/...)
A book
Camera
Mobile
Wallet and change

See, my bag is quite minimalist, but I remember from the past that half the stuff on the list came home untouched. If I need more clothes for me or baby I'll get dh to bring it in. But anyway, I wont need to use it, because I'll be having this one at home

Febes I have just read your list and realised what a lot I have forgotten - most importantly a present for DD!

This gives me a perfect excuse to go to Wimbledon this afternoon to buy lots of things I don't really need. Hurrah!

pula I also have never used nappy sacks - I feel guilty enough about using disposable nappies without wrapping them in plastic afterwards.

My hospital bag is fairly large but as I am having a c-section I know I'll probably be in for a few days.

Agree about the cotton wool for teeny bottoms - you'll also need it anyway to top and tail them as well.

Agree about the redbush tea - scrum, can someone pls come and make me a nice big mug of it, with milk tho

Haveto work now - come off dining chair and ball and snuggled into sofa as its so muchless painful here (guess that will be till I have to move...) Also getting big kicks and wallops low down in pelvis - what is he doing exactly??! He's head down do don't know what bit it is thats causing the intakes of breath from me!

Detsy I'm so glad your midwife was reassuring.

I ahd loads of bags last time like Fi or was it Febes so i'm reducing this time to one largish one for me for labour and post birth and a little one for LO things. I'm packing a few babygros tho as Lotti got through these quickly as she was quite sickly/pooey baby from the very beginning (she had reflux till she went on solids) I wanted to take my own birth ball and pillow but its all too much and you don't give a hoot at that stage anyway!!

thanks all, felt a bit like I was packing the world and his wife in my case!

detsy I had this a couple of weeks ago in work, had to hold onto a table. It went in a couple of minutes. I think I had been stood in a wierd position with all my weight on one leg, perhaps if it doesn't calm down a quick MW call would be in order? Anyone who can pick up Lotti for you?

also, another stupid question and this one it particularly spectacular!!! when you say vest, do you mean one of those little short sleeve things with a bit that poppers in the crotch or do you mean literally a vest, ie no popper bit?

One of those little short sleeved ones with poppers!

Running - thank you. Its been like this for a few hours now tho. Seems to be better in flat feet - ie no shoes at all.

No one to pick up Lots so will be a slow hobble and they will have to put her in the car for me at their end and then when we get home, I'll have to seek out a friendly neighbour - Lotti will be super impressed (NOT)

Vests will be the little body suits so with poppers - helps to keep the nappy in place and doesn't ruck up onto very tender skin

Would def wash everything as there may be some production chemicals left in the material - use a mild non bio like Fairy and the white lenor softener.

I haven't packed a bag yet - planning a HB but know I should pack.

Can't honestly remember what I packed for the other 2, I am too old and tired and stupid.

However this time I shall pack:

my pj's and a crappy nightie
many large and horrible pants
a couple of nursing bras
pack maternity towels that are the size of a brick
many breast pads (I am a copious milker and have jet-like letdown so I have been known to to double the pad - I've got right udders me )
toiletries
flip-flops and cleaning product for the bathroom at the hospital (I do remember having to clean the shower before I used it with DD2 )
flapjacks and apricots and babybels for snacking
car magazine for DH (!!!)

Couple babygros and bodysuits
Couple of hats
scratch mitts
pack newborn nappies (will be using resusables but find disposables handy for first couple of days)
cardigan
blanket/shawl
the same swaddle blanket that my other 2 had (made by my mum's friend 11 years ago ) as both DDs were swaddlers

Erm probably forgotten something vital, will check off against Belgian's list, as she is the oracle to whom we all turn .

Thank goodness for having a sane and reasonable and above all LOVELY midwife in our gang.......

Blotted - Glad you're ok. If it makes you feel any better, I ROARED at DH last night for not loading the dishwasher (the bending over gets me), then when he ambled into the kitchen and started loading it, I shouted at him for doing it wrong. And I don't have the worry of poss. PE to worry about, I'm just a grumpy old caaaaaaaaaa.

runningmonkey I knew we'd have had the same landlord! He was so mean to us. There were quite a few houses of his on our street, and he made us share a hoover! Can you believe it? Our house was hideous, really awful but we had no choice because we left it far too late to find 2nd year accommodation.

I've washed all of the baby clothes I have bought for this one, although I didn't get round to it with DS as he arrived before I had the chance! Nothing happened to his skin, it was still lovely and soft.

I didn't take a big bag to hospital. In fact, I really only took an overnight bag with a change of clothes for me and baby, nappies in a carrier bag and toiletries. I sent DH home every evening with washing in a carrier bag to wash and dry before returning the next day. We were able to do this because we live really close to the hospital.