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Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

July 2010: We’re ready to drop; Not long to go until we pop!

984 replies

DesperateHousewife21 · 08/06/2010 11:00

Possibly our last ante-natal thread ladies!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
DeeLite · 15/06/2010 12:09

Chulita and Wicked Witch - thanks for the advice. I am washing all the little things now - my favourite job so far. I will be gazing lovingly at my washing line all day today.

Norky, here's the list I got off this thread or some other on Mumsnet - can't quite remember:

LABOUR BAG
-Maternity Notes
-Birth Plan in Plastic Wallet
-Big/Old T-Shirt
-Big/Cheap Front Buttoning Nighty
-Big/Cheap Knickers x 3
-Old Socks
-Maternity Pads x 3
-Nursing Bra
-Breast Pads x 3
-Toiletries (Mini: Shampoo, Conditioner, Shower Gel, Moisturiser, Lip Balm, Deodrant, Toothpaste, Hair Brush, Witch Hazel. Also: Toothbrush, Hairties)
-Flipflops
-Big Towel (Burgundy)
-Little Towel (Burgundy)
-Change of Clothes (Nursing Dress)
-Sports Bottle of Water
-Snacks
-Newborn Baby Clothes (1 x Vest, 1 x Sleepsuit with fold over mits)
-0-3 Months Baby Clothes (1 x Vest, 1 x Sleepsuit with fold over mits)
-Baby Hat & Blanket
-Size 1 Nappies x 3
-Size 2 Nappies x 3
-Pack of Baby Wipes
-Pot of Vaseline (For baby's bottom before first nappy/poo!)

OVERNIGHT BAG
-Big/Cheap Front Buttoning Nighty
-Big/Cheap Front Buttoning PJs
-Bed Socks
-Cheap/Big Knickers x 7
-Maternity Pads x 17
-Nursing Bra
-Breast Pads x 17
-Nipple Cream
-Change of Clothes (Baggy Trousers & Nursing T-shirt)
-Newborn Baby Clothes (3 x Vest, 1 x Sleepsuit with fold over mits)
-0-3 Months Baby Clothes (3 x Vest, 1 x Sleepsuit with fold over mits)
-Size 1 Nappies x 17
-Size 2 Nappies x 17
-Pack of Baby Wipes
-Muslin Squares x 3
-iPod, Headphones & Charger
-Light Reading Material
-Notepad & Pen
-Plastic Bags (For dirty clothes)

PARTNER'S BAG
-Copy of Birth Plan in Plastic Wallet
-Change of Clothes (inc. Button Shirt & Undies)
-Water Spray Bottle
-Mini Fan & Spare Batteries
-Mini Pack of Tissues x 4
-Pack of Cleaning Wipes
-Sports Bottle of Water x 3 (2 frozen)
-Snacks x lots
-Box of Chocolates for Midwives (Kept near frozen drinks!)
-Bendy Straws
-Camera & Spare Batteries
-Mobile
-List of Phone Numbers
-Pot of Change for Parking/Phone
-Light Reading Material
-Notepad & Pen
-Plastic Bags (For dirty clothes)

Chulita · 15/06/2010 12:13

norky here's my list if you're interested -

Lightweight dressing gown
2x nighties
1 pack maternity pads
Wash kit
2x water bottles
Nursing bra
1 Newborn nappy
2x newborn vests
2x newborn sleepsuits
Flipflops
Pen & paper
5x knickers
Towel
Hairbands
Lip balm
Nipple cream
Cereal bars
Book for DH
Going home clothes
Birth plan & notes

In the baby bag which will stay in the car til we need it I have a whole pack of nappies, some more vests/sleepsuits and a blanket.

The only thing I haven't got yet is a shirt to labour in - DH doesn't have any old crappy ones so I'm not sure what I'm going to use and I haven't actually put the going home clothes in because I'm wearing them.

anifers you definitely need to be strict, and no running around after visitors. I did too much after DD and I think that contributed to the long recovery. Regardless of how the labour goes, we need time to recover so in this house no one visits unless they do something for us!

Anifersgirl · 15/06/2010 12:15

Woah! Just found out my agent's pregnant. DH pointed out that soon it will be easier to keep track of all of our friends who aren"t pregnant!

Mookymoo · 15/06/2010 12:16

Washing some more things today too...aaah I love it!
A tip someone at work gave me was to buy a pack of baby soaps, and put an unwrapped bar in each drawer of baby's things. I've done this and keep opening the drawers to take a big gulp of the lovely smell now.
God I know I'm sad but am VERY excited about our new little person now!

Anifersgirl · 15/06/2010 12:40

my tips for hospital bag, after my little sojourn on the ante natal ward - pillows - there's never enough and the hospital ones are all flat anyway; sleep mask and ear plugs - I SO wish I'd known about this in advance!

Also, everyone keeps telling me I need to take straws, as you might be in all sorts of odd positions when in labour and it makes drinking much easier.

WickedWitchSouthWest · 15/06/2010 13:15

Hello ladies

Ordered the sofas and they'll be here in 4 weeks, maybe less so dh has to crack on with the decorating!

dh I've got 10 nappies in my bag, a pk of 10 maternity pads (with 2 out on top for immediately post birth! My bag is a work of art I tell you!). I also get achy fanjo, been waking in the night with some pains across my bump but not sure if it's wind lol

norky this is my list, but I have to point out that I am a bit odd I've put our going home clothes in a seperate carrier bag within my big bag, plus baby clothes for immediate post birth in a seperate bag too. My post birth things are on the top. I have a system! Dh has been fully inducted into the system and knows not to rummage in a panic or the whole system will collapse!

ITEM
Labour Bag - ME
vest top & yoga pants to wear to hosp
hospital notes
birth plan
TENS machine
birthing ball
Snacks
Vaseline tin
Music
flannel
bottled water
sweets, i.e jelly babies
lucozade sport
straws
hairband
old nightie
slipper socks

Labour Bag - DH
Phones
Clean T shirt
Clean boxers
Snacks

Post Labour Bag
change for machines
bf pillow (can also use in labour)
Pads (loads)
Brush & Comb
mascara, blusher & concealer
Anti bac hand gel
nightie & light dressing gown
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Shower gel
shampoo & conditioner
haIR towel & bath towel
breastfeeding pillow
cleanser & moisturiser
Aveeno cream
glasses & contacts
Breastpads
lansinoh
nursing bra
clean knickers
shoes/flip flops
leggings, t shirt dress, cardie/wrap for going home

Mini's Bag
Nappies
Nappy sacks
Wipes
muslin squares
Cotton wool balls
babygrow
vests
hat
scratch mitts
shawl/blanket
outfit for going home
pink outfit for going home

DD's overnight bag
blankies & numnum
pyjamas
top to toe wash
Toothbrush & toothpaste
brush and hairbands
knickers
socks
teddy
shoes/flip flops
2 x day outfits
school bag with water bottle

WickedWitchSouthWest · 15/06/2010 13:17

Forgot sorry, am only taking in 2 bags - small bag for labour stuff and everything else in a holdall. DD's overnight stuff will obviously be left at home for my mum!

deelite enjoy your washing line! I had to takew a photo of mine it looked so good

Spirael · 15/06/2010 13:53

Afternoon all! Hope everything is going ok today with everyone. It was gloriously sunny here this morning, so I quickly raced to strip beds and put washing in! Of course by the time the washing machine had finished it was clouded over... But ah well. It's still dry and pretty warm, so I'm sure they'll dry before the end of the day.

Hee, that incredibly long list looks awful familiar, DeeLite. It's mostly what I've actually gone with, now my bags are packed and ready. There were a few minor alterations though that were suggested to me:

Firstly, size 2 nappies are not needed as no newborn will be that size, it's not like taking some bigger clothing apparently. Secondly that more clothing was needed, as babies can go through 6-8 changes in the first day if they dribble and throw up a lot of stuff! Lastly, apparently breast pads are single wrapped. I'd made the assumption they were packaged in pairs (is it just me that thinks that's logical?), but apparently that's not the case.

Still not had my Appletiser delivery yet! Hopefully they'll turn up soon - I'm getting thirsty! I was expecting a few deliveries today to be honest, including the father's day present for my Dad. But not had anything... Not even any regular post!

Is anyone doing anything for their DH/DP for Father's Day, incidentally? I wasn't sure whether to bother or not, especially considering that I didn't get anything for Mother's Day! I might have done some baking or something, but I doubt I'll get chance as my parents are visiting for the weekend. However I am making cinnamon buns on Friday, for Saturday morning, which my DH adores. Maybe those will count, just a day early? I might make some extra.

My MW and HV visits went ok yesterday. The MW has said my house is fine for the homebirth and my BP is still nice and low. Meanwhile the HV is nice, very grandmotherly in a way. She apparently had five cats in the house when her kids were born, so was utterly unworried about my two. However DH and I were both sulky (after she left!) that she didn't want to look around the house, after we spent the last two days making it sparkle! Bah.

One minor issue was brought up though by the MW, in that LO has apparently decided to stop being in a good position and lie oblique instead. MW thinks head down oblique but isn't sure... Apparently if there's still a question about the position at my next appointment I'll need to go for another scan. If still oblique then, it could be ELCS time, apparently!

Been reading up on oblique though and there's still time for LO to shift apparently, as I'm only 34-35 weeks at present. It doesn't start to become a big issue until 36 weeks by all accounts, and even then there's still time for things to naturally resolve. I've checked Spinning Babies and was entertaining my DH yesterday by assuming all kinds of unladylike positions in an effort to shift LO around! Might have worked... I can't feel the same diagonally positioned lumps as yesterday anymore.

Anyone else had any experience with stubborn, oblique babies?? Is it really a case of CS needed? At least if it's considered necessary (but not emergency) then I can go private on my health insurance... Kinda shoots my homebirth plan in the foot, though!

violetbubbles · 15/06/2010 14:25

GlastonburyGoddess - they're going to talk to me about an ELCS tomorrow after the scan. I'm really not keen to have a C Section though as I want to use my hypnobirthing techniques. I'll be opting for the ECV and I'm doing just about everything else I can think of to try and turn baby. Looking into moxibustion, which the MW recommended - did you try that?

Anifersgirl · 15/06/2010 14:27

spireal that's a thought about health insurance- I'll have to check out my work policy! my LO was extended transverse last week, but was cephalic by Friday when I went to MW. However, she's definitely been on the move a lot since then. I think she was transverse over the weekend as my bump totally elongated and she was back to breech this morning - clearly all down one side of my body.

I've got to go in for another scan at 36 weeks (I'm 34+2 now) but the fact that she's a constant wriggle bum means that I'm not bothering to do anything to make her move, as she seems to be happily moving herself about. I think she must still have a fare amount of space in there as I'm pretty tall.

Chulita · 15/06/2010 14:42

spirael I found out today that LO has turned from being OP to being transverse (did it last night - woke up in agony feeling like my ribs were snapping ) I'm also 34-35 weeks and the MW I saw today seemed completely unfazed by the position - said there was plenty of time for it to turn. I've been doing OFP for the last fortnight religiously so that hasn't worked at all I'll be considering moxibustion for sure if it doesn't shift, I'm prepared to do pretty much anything to avoid a cs!

Chulita · 15/06/2010 14:45

Ooh, and babies can turn during labour so all's not lost even if you go full-term!

Spirael · 15/06/2010 14:47

My health insurance from work is through BUPA, if that helps at all Anifers. I gave them a call a few months ago to check what the situation was. Though it partially depends on the level of cover your work have arranged.

In my case, I can't just choose to have an ELCS, but if it's recommended on medical grounds then I just give BUPA a ring and they will arrange the CS for me at a local private hospital at the appropriate time. I have to pay the policy excess, which I believe is £100, but I think it'd probably be worth it to have private care!

The only other thing I'm covered for is that I can claim money back (around £50) if I end up staying overnight in hospital. So if I do end up staying in at the NHS hospital for whatever reason, I can request an amenity room. If one is available, my health insurance will then mostly cover the cost.

My LO has been head down for the past month or so, according to the MW. I'm inclined to agree as I have been getting the big kicks in my ribcage and the scrabbling down below my belly button. I'm hoping the whole oblique thing was just due to a little squirm and that LO will get back to the right position (and stay there!) without too much interference.

I'm pretty much the same timing as you, but in my case I'm short so I guess there's less room for LO to spin!

Spirael · 15/06/2010 14:53

Cross post with you there, Chulita. Sounds like there's a few of us with similar timings and similar issues with our LOs being awkward at staying head down! Good to know your MW didn't seem too worried. Mine wasn't particularly worried, but just raised it as a potential issue if the situation didn't change.

To be honest, I can sympathise a bit with LO. I wouldn't want to be head down for the next five weeks or so either. I got dizzy balancing upside-down off the stairs for thirty seconds last night!

Anyway, apparently birthing ball bouncing can help too. I'll try that later, as it seems less dangerous (and more comfy!) than some of the other techniques.

Gracie123 · 15/06/2010 15:41

Yay! My appletiser arrived! Hope you all get yours soon!

Ladies worrying about packing hospital bag for extended stay, don't. They won't let you dh stay, he has to go home anyway, so I just got him to bring in what we'd need and take home dirty washing everyday. We were there for 10 days and it was all fine. I would say only pack what you'll need for two days and get dh to do swaps.

Also, ime loads of people brought gifts to the hospital and staff get really stroppy about how much stuff you have. You'll want to pack fairly light so you don't get lots of ruts and huffy care. I also got DH to take home gifts everyday so the staff couldn't complain too much -but they still did!

DesperateHousewife21 · 15/06/2010 16:46

Afternoon everyone,

Been shopping with my friend today, got my free changing bag from boots, didnt realise it came with a foldable changing mat too. I think it'll do the job just fine, no need to spend a fortune on a designer one or anything.

My feet ache SO much now though, didnt notice how much I was walking around but now I feel like a cripple when I get up!

Forgot to mention earlier Ive got a mw appointment 2mo and a scan cant wait to see my little baby again.

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memphis83 · 15/06/2010 16:59

i agree with gracie about worrying about extra things, im taking a pack of pads, 10 nappies, no baby wipes as our hospital will bin them if they see them as they make you use cotton wool, i have packed a bag with overnight stay for 1 night 2 nighties for labour, but i have left out in cot extra baby grows, vests, undies, pjs, pads and nappies in case i need to stay in so dh can just grab them, in our hospital if you stay on ward they transfer you there from delivery suite within 2 hours and if it is after or b4 visiting then they give dh about 10 mins with you to settle b4 kicking him out til visiting. all lo's stuff fits in free boots changing bag and all mine is in a small weekender bag as i only plan on staying minimum hours!!
spireal ive bought my dh a daddy to be card for fathers day even though he didnt get me a mothers day card either!!

just had midwife appointment, he is 3/5 engaged which she said means he is ready to go, he wont drop any lower til cervix opens, she couldnt believe how low bump had gone! shes promised if i go over i can have a sweep on 41 weeks exactly as thats earliest midwives are alowed to do it, but she said go home bounce on your ball, have a sex session then eat fresh pineapple after, if he doesnt come after doing these he isnt ready! she said dont buy into anything else as its a waste, so i didnt tell her about my rlt, epo, reflexology app ive booked or my clary sage bath i had (which made me feel strange all night after having it, hope this is a good thing!!)

kapars · 15/06/2010 17:07

desperate What do you need to do to get the free boots bag? Do you ned to be in a Boots club or anything?

DesperateHousewife21 · 15/06/2010 17:18

kapars yeah its the boots parenting club, when you join they send you a load of money off coupons and one of them is buy any pack of pampers nappies and get the changing bag free. In the boots near me the changing bag is on the shelf right by the nappies so you take the bag, nappies and coupon to the till.
You can join online so very easy

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Jojobil · 15/06/2010 19:17

Hello All this talk of hospital bags!

I have exactly two weeks left till my elective c-section. It still feels unreal! I had a scan today and baby is 7.5 pounds already... My hospital bag is packed, baby clothes and sheets washed. Cot and changing table put together. Baby car seat in the car! 14 days and that's it!

Thank God for that, because I walk like a duck and look like a whale, sleep badly at night and could sleep all day. DH is going to look after DD when I am in the hospital and for the first few weeks, when I am back. I got my belly bandit in the post today. I can not think of anything else to do. Just wait!

MyLifeIsChaotic · 15/06/2010 19:53

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WickedWitchSouthWest · 15/06/2010 20:03

jojo another waddler here with 13 days to edd!

Baby is 2 5ths now and must be very low because my undercarriage feels quite, erm, well bulgy for wont of a better word. I wiped earlier and thought I must have a bit of a prolapse or something but it just appears to be a bit low. Erk. S/he has to stay put til Thursday night at least when dh is home!

DD pulled me over by accident earlier, it was really scary for both of us I'd bent down to give her a cuddle and for some reason she decided to grab my neck and try and put her legs around my middle and we just went crashing. Luckily mum was there and distracted her while I had a bit of a moment. I went down on one side (to try and avoid crushing dd) and I can really feel it now

Re the labour bag I had way too much crap last time, this time it's pretty bare, if anything my toiletries bag is where most of the stuff is, but all mini sizes. Oh and the reason I'm taking baby wipes is for the first agonising and stinging wee or poo post delivery. I think with dd I took the moist toilet paper but I've got hundreds of wipes so taking them this time. They're nice and cool to hold against your stitches or worryingly swollen fanjo while you wee. I promise!

Wonderstuff · 15/06/2010 20:13

Gosh loads to catch up on! Just about to start reading through last 2 days

Babes moved earlier and is throwing some v. painful kicks - seems to be lieing across my tummy and kicking at my hip joint and at my back which really hurts.

Last day tomorrow - boy am I glad, dh came home to a sobbing wreck last night - bless him he was great, I went straight to bed, dd doesn't half play up when she knows I'm tired - at one point she bit me and we were both in tears Had a much better day today thankfully and no teaching at all tomorrow - just all the dull paperwork I have been putting off for months

memphis83 · 15/06/2010 20:14

jojo 2 weeks til your elective, wow!!! sounds so real! i wonder if you will be the 1st or if someone will pop b4 you???
ive just been to next to take some clothes for dh back and the lady who served me is due in november, it all of a sudden hit me how close we all are to our babies and i started crying!!! not even sure why i reacted like that as lo is so wanted!

DesperateHousewife21 · 15/06/2010 20:31

mlic its to check where the placenta is to see if its moved up. I have a feeling it has but will still be a bit gutted if it hasnt. Fingers crossed!

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