Due March 2010 - just because I'm pregnant at Christmas doesn't mean I'm a taxi driver

[annamama]

... new thread for oldies and newbies due in March! ...

Good I'm glad you clarified - my MIL bought some stuff for DD and I couldn't remember whether it was from Tescos or Asda but seem to remember it was quite small.

Revised list then from large to small:

Next
Tesco
M&S

H&M

Mothercare
Sainsbury's
Asda (?)

Zara
posh stuff!

Can I add to your list of stuff I found INCREDIBLY helpful in the first six months. You certainly don't need it straightaway but if people are asking for present ideas for babyshowers etc might I recommend:

The Bumbo (plus tray) - used with my DCs from about 3/4 months all the way up to a year or so - perfect for starting to wean.

The Baa Baa Blind - portable blackout blinds for spending nights away at people's houses who think that pale chiffon curtains are the beesknees. 4am wakeups with the sun are not my idea of fun.

THe Travelcot - I've got the GRaco Comfifolda which I could still fit DS into aged 3.

THe Totseat - a fabric portable highchair - fits into the change bag and mighty useful again for people whose houses are not kitted out for kiddies. Saves lugging a booster seat round with you. Can be used from when DC can sit up but I think we started using ours at about 8/9 months.

Like I say - none of it necessary for a while yet. Not of it ABSOLUTELY essential by any means but these 4 things made my motherhood an easier experience all round. Especially the Blackouts!

Morning all,

sarah Glad you are finally sorted with Rosie. Can only get better!!

arcadie Pleased you enjoyed your he party- I wouldn't have had the energy or patience to spend a night with drunk women!!

mummyelk Really hope you got back to sleep!!

To all of those of you trying to do some prep - Asda have a baby event starting tomorrow. Cheap nappies/wipes and toiletries plus highchair/travelcot/car seat for £25

Hope you all have a good day. I'm typing from bed, having got up to make DH lunch and sent him off to lateshift. I'm liking this lady of leisure stuff!! Fresh Lasagne to make later!

We had our Labour Course at the hospital yesterday. First of a two parter - tour next time. I can't say I learnt much, having read a few bits in mags etc but DH thought it was quite useful as they talked about pain relief options etc.

Trying not to get too annoyed with DH at the mo - he is desperate for promotion and it has just been advertised. The whole process is long and drawn out and will last from now to 7th April - JOY what could be better timed!! He really deserves it and will do his utmost to get it but I'm worried it will be at the cost of our last few weeks of coupledom and the first weeks of his first child!! I wouldn't mind if the effort he put in related to the outcome but it's one of those where they probably already know who's going to get it and it could all be a complete waste of time!! Poo!! The timing is not his fault but he always is 100% committed to work and now and again I wish he wasn't!

xx

wow brilliant lists!

To add to the clothes one a little (and I second that Next and Tesco clothes are MASSIVE)

Revised list then from large to small:

Next
Tesco
M&S - I would put M&S in the medium range but is that just me?

H&M

Mothercare
Sainsbury's
Asda (?)

Boots
Zara
posh stuff!

Re what you need for your baby list - think swings has included everything that is necessary although would maybe add baby nail clippers.

And to add to arcadie's list of non-essentials which are really useful - I would recommend a changing table/chest of drawers/something which is a comfortable height to change nappies. Of course you can do it on the bed/floor but 12 changes a day and your back really begins to feel it...

One other tip for first timers would be to NOT buy an expensive pushchair/pram before you have your baby. Loads of people I know have bought a really fancy expensive one which has turned out to be too cumbersome and have bought a second cheap Maclaren-type fold up one which they use all the time (saying that we have a Phil & Teds but only because it is a double)

scooby - sympathies re your DH's job - awful timing for you - really hope he gets it as then at least it will all be worth it, and I'm sure he will be able to find lots of time for you and your new baby too. I always secretly want DH not to give his work a second thought for at least a month after a baby is born which I realise may be a tiny bit unreasonable....

Just a quickie - I'd want to add Gap into the 'small and skinny' category (quite handy for my slimline DD, actually - she's out of all her 18-24 months stuff, but too small in every direction for most 2-3 years stuff, but Gap bridged the gap nicely... it's been this way each time we're on the cusp of going up a size...

Oh, and Gap stuff is soooo purty... Never ever buy at full price though - they ALWAYS have sales on... often at 50%off.

My DD was mahoosive when born, and yet she still wore some 'newborn' sized stuff (for about 5 minutes) so worth a getting a coupla baby-gros and vests, but make 'em cheap and white that way you can use them if you ever decide to do this again... .

Right, gotta go since I am working today...

db
xx

Oh, gosh, yes. I second bumbo's (but get one on ebay if you can) and especially Baa Baa Blinds... bloody marvelous especially as babies will be tiny during summer months and WILL wake when it gets light in the morning (so that's 4.30 am then...). You can take 'em with you when you go away. Bloody marvelous.

And someone's already put 'six million muslins' on the list right? I bought twenty four last time, and DH thought it was excessive. It wasn't...

Oh, and don't bother buying too many real 'clothes' outfits... it's hard dressing a tiny one when you're nervous/tired etc. and my DD literally wore babygros permanently until she was about 5 months old. She had some nicer ones for 'going out' though... . But I couldn't face trying to negotiate ickle dresses and trousers TBH. so they never got worn. Maybe I'll be braver this time round and will gets some wear out of them, but somehow I doubt it...

Right. WORK.

db
xx

Can I join, not sure whether Im a march or April as my date 3rd Apr theirs is end of March. Thought Id go with March as its closer

Ive always wondered what these threads are about - my sisters just enlightened me, thought I might need some commiseration with sleepless nights once babys born.

Anyone else due no 4

Hello old-timers and welcome newbies!

Just spent the past few mins catching up with about a week's worth of posts - man, we like to babble don't we?? Been awol the past few days, but don't really know why! Been quite busy I suppose and then in the evenings when I could be MN-ing I usually decide a) it'll be too cold sitting in the hallway at the computer and b) I'm usually already welded to the sofa watching Glee/Heroes/Celeb BB (am I the only one who's a little bit TOO excited about not only a new series of Relocation, but Phil doing Relocations in Oz..? that's lifestyle TV porn for me right there)

I would, of course LOVE to be MN-ing from the comfort of the sofa, except a certain broadband provider who shall not be named (at least until I get to the bottom of the problem) seems to have completely failed to hook me up and send a wireless router I can't tell you how frustrated I got the other day, trying to get through to somebody on the phone, trying about half a dozen different 'customer service' numbers and getting nowhere.

Anyway, quick catch up.

Clingy toddlers - check. My DD seems to want me to sit with her til she falls asleep most nights and was heard yelling 'MUMMMEEEE' at 5am this morning - ouch. I've always been the favourite but she is definitely a bit clingier than usual. They can obviously sense what's coming....

Birth stories - I love a good birth story and actively sought them out before I had DD but I agree it's probably a good idea to confine them to the Post-natal thread - there's some stuff you don't need to hear when birth is imminent!

Books - somebody mentioned books and book groups (ages ago, I know) I'm currently reading the latest Douglas Coupland novel, along with Ina May's book on Childbirth. I thought it was going to be a bit too "earth-mother" and American for me but I'm already getting a lot from it - it's helping me change my perceptions of birth. I think, although I plan to keep an open mind about all possible outcomes, I'll hopefully go into it more aware of what a natural process it is.

Braxton Hicks - getting more frequent and a bit stronger I think. Especially when I walk any distance, after a short while it's like I'm smuggling a large bowling ball up my jumper.

clothes - don't have much to add other than I plan to get a small number of newborn babygros this time, as DD was definitely a bit on the small side for her 0-3's. I think it'll be nice for this one to wear something in her first few days that more or less fits!

Gotta go - I really should be working. In fact feeling a bit swamped with various things to do from work to housework to baby preparations to just mentally getting ready for it all...it's got me a wee bit down in the past week but all to be expected I think. Feeling better today though, and biscuits are definitely helping

I also echo eBay - we bought a lot of our baby paraphenalia there. I also bought a lot of 'designer' baby clothes after getting sick of having the same mothercare/M&S outfits for my DS's.

The quality on miniman and IKKS etc is superb and the clothes are lovely - just not the new prices!

As I lost weight aft the babies I also treated myself to a new eBay wardrobe of clothes. Again couldn't afford to buy nice labels (e.g. Karen and Millen and Coast) new but wanted a little indulgence!

I'm desperate to start nesting and organising my bag but will leave it to 36 weeks. I figure before thent he baby will be a hospital for a littel bit anyway so DH will have to time to prepare!

Hello, ladies,

mumbot, yes, we know we are v lucky to have a healthy DS2. I did not go into premature labour with him, but had placenta praevia and bled several times quite heavily from 25 weeks onwards with him. 31+3 seemed like quite an achievement at the time, but I am in no hurry to repeat the experience - or see any baby of mine go through ITU/SCBU. Much as I felt both his and my treatment was great, it was a bit gruesome...

Blueydragon, good luck with interview - you'll do really well and impress them with your motivation and drive in showing up for it . And hospital bags - 36 weeks is early to pack one, IMO

JasHook, LOL at your experience in Mothercare! Remember, you as a first time expectant mother are there to be fleeced! New babies need next to nothing - at least next to nothing that any of the big shops try to tell you they need. If in doubt, don't get it.
I loathe stuff, in particular plasticky stuff, and stuff they do not need within 5 min, and stuff that is simply fashionable and then you are stuck with it, gah!!

-And breathe-

Re lists - I've got nothing much to add re sizes. Beware Gap and Boden, their baby ranges are smaller than their child ranges ie 12-18 months from Baby Gap with suit long and thin baby, whereas 12-18 months from the children's range are looser (I only ever had chubby Buddhas ).
Also agree there are loads of things that make life easier but are not essential. I think you figure those out as you go along.

And yes, work, cannot take it seriously either, not actual Work (no patient was harmed in the writing of this post ) but the politics of it all , just cannot be bothered with it....

Toddler, well, DS3 came v close to be left in shopping trolley this morning after disastrous tour round.....wait for it....Waitrose with him shouting, wailing, throwing things, trying to jump out of seat (thank goodness for straps!!) etc etc. Cue flustered me trying to make a quick getaway - only to leave my wallet at the checkout . Having carried my shopping and DS3 who had suddenly lost the use of this legs to the car I realised - and traipsed back. Lovely checkout girl had kept my wallet hoping I'd be back, so all's good, but MY GAWD! And then he refused to have a sleep after lunch.
DH is just away with him to get big boys from school, ahhhhh, lovely man!

Right, sorry, rant over, I am sure it is just a phase, this too shall pass, this too shall pass, etc etc.

As you were.

Wow, you are all so knowledgeable!! Thankyou so much! (hadn't even thought about the logistics of: what if BabyHook is either a monster baby/a teeny baby and will the clothes split on/swamp him, but armed with my new lists from you all I can buy with confidence...on eBay, from Asda etc...)

Pacific I hear you on work politics - and BREATHE!! - and am really looking forward to one less thing when I start mat leave in 2 weeks. Apparently, my mother left me in a shopping trolley when I was small. I went up and down in the car park lift twice in that trolley before she managed to get me back.

Do you think we can all get T-shirts with "This too shall pass" printed on?

Just a quick post to share this brilliant cardigan from M&S with you (for us not bubs)

www.marksandspencer.com/Marks-and-Spencer-Stripe-Knitted/dp/B0030JEYYQ?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_11_1&pos=&mnSB rand=core

Its a drapy thing in the 'normal' range that fits in my normal size now and kind of drapes over the bump but will be brilliant for breastfeeding as you can put bub inside
!

To top it all its only £22.

Bugger link didnt work - hmm

product number is T41/2766S

Definietly agree on the totseat and travelcot. Never bothered with blackot curtains (funnil enough always had children that woke early - doh!).

DS2 didn't get on with the bumbo. He has a large bum and I used washable naps. Essentially my big arsed son couldn't fit in it!

I am so so ready to hatch this baby now but also terrified as struggling to cope with the two I have! DH1 came home on Thursdy to find me collapsed in tears with the children running around naked like banshees. It'd been going on half an hour. He then chose this time to have a go at me about bumping the car a couple fo weeks ago.

Nearly need a new thread title...

wasn't a suggestion along the lines of

'Hello baby - goodbye pelvic floor'

bulletproofmum DH1 ?????
What did DH2 say?
just being cheeky I am guessing it's just a typo unless you have some mormon type set up that you haven't revealed to us yet!!!!!

I've not tried blackout blinds, bought a totseat but never used it - meant to ebay it but haven't yet. We have a travelcot that MIL gave us which lives here and I have a second one in Scotland so if I fly up to see my family I don't have to lug it with me as they are not light. I don't recommend the Mothercare own brand one though, my Dad and I fell out big time trying to put it up the first time. There was a lot of swearing and now everyone tries to get out of having to be the one to put it up.
Our bumbo was a gift and I found it really helpful and I bought the tray to go with it. It didn't last too long but for a certain stage it was really useful. I know that my nephew never used his though as he was such a chunker!
We've never had a changing station/changing table either. I keep a change mat on the floor in DD's room and I have a fold up changing mat in a basket of stuff that I keep downstairs where we do most of the changes.
I have also not used a baby monitor. I can understand if you live in a big house but I can easily hear if DD cries I don't need a monitor to tell me!
thumbs up from the smac household for ebay as well. For the first 9 months we were pretty much sorted for clothes then the gifts started to run out and I got a lot of ebay bargains after that.
I'm sure there was more I was going to say but pregnancy amnesia has struck!

PixieOnaLeaf are you expecting twins, I hope Im not but the comments on the size of me... well im not ive had 2 scans it couldn't hide twice.

Lists: Primark and Mackays come up smaller than the rest - had couple of items I hardly wore on mine because when I swopped up to next size they were too small

Blackout blinds are a must for us - though I found the light came round the edges so now I bought 2 black fleece blankets & peg them to the back.. my light sensitive son will now sleep past 5.30am

Bumbo seats, black out blinds, wet wipes warmers - that's what I ment by things that you might like as you go along, but we will all find different things that make our lives easier. So do not think you have to be fully equipped for the entire, say, first year of your baby's life.

Personally, did not like Bumbo (HUGE issue in Germany re NOT sitting up children who cannot sit themselves yet, I am a bit about the fuss however did early weaning in reclined position on bouncy chair type thing) for instance, and I know that lots of my friends swear by it.

I loved:

• lightweight buggy (did not like my big pram, but will use it again for first couple of months..)
• posrtable changing mat (I never had dedicated changing bag but stuck changing mat with 2 nappies, some wipes and nappy bags into any bag, usually backpack to have hands free for escaping toddlers )
• sleeping bags
• waffle blankets for swaddling etc
• yep, 6 million muslin squares - at least! Multi purpose item to mop multitude of bodily fluids (mine and baby's) and solids, privacy, emergency nappy on one memorable occasion
• Robeez leather shoes: they stay on and keep baby socks on (baby socks are useless items of clothing until they have calves - Gap ones are slightly less hopeless)

Oh my, I am boring myself! Just ment to say, new baby just needs food, warmth and love, everything else will follow .

LOL cos many people now are at early weaning especially in a reclined position!

Hello people!

I've not dropped in for a while, as my daughter's rabbit ate the laptop cable!

So what's new? Anyone popped yet?

Bags packed?

itwascertainly... My last pram cost more than my car!

heclephone, clingy toddler? check!

I know! And somehow babies in Germany seem to be doing fine, and babies here are just hunky-dory !

I get a bit impatient with all the categorical advice and take it all with a pinch of salt... BTW, by "early weaning" I ment the start of weaning, DS1 was the youngest at 5 months (cannot remember the weeks), but certainly couldn't sit on his own yet. So according to BLW rules was probably developmentally not ready for weaning yet, although took to it with gusto - why, I'll never now - anybody ever tried plain baby rice??? Never had it in the house again, LOL!

Some other things from me that came in handy:

• Nursing vests that you can wear under normal clothes to breast feed with (lifting top up and vest down)
• Witch hazel neat on maternity pads - heaven
• Tena lady (ahem)

New things I'm trying this time around:

• Pushchair bag hooks for carrying shopping bags
• Shape-wear lingerie
• Height adjustable play pen (with taller baby setting so I can put DS2 somewhere 'safe' for when I need to go to the door / loo etc)

Really didn't get on with:

• Bumbo - DS1 was too big and it squished his tummy
• Grobag Glo Egg thing - had 2 and it recorded stupidly high temperatures - a friend had the same experience

OI PD I take issue at a black out blind being slung in the same "group of uselessness" as a wet wipe warmer!