March 2016 babies - 2 here already, many more yet to come!!!

[Missikat]

Hi ladies, thanks Indom for the suggestion of me starting a new thread. Seeing as Zach and myself have been knocking about on antenatal since November it will be lovely to have you all joining us shortly in the baby, rather than pregnancy conversations! Bring on the March babies!!!!

rhubarb Sadly no, wasn't my suggestion, but I'll happily take credit if no one else will

scared Calais Rose is a gorgeous little girl with an equally lovely name. You sound on top of the world.

Have just packed DS off to bed a bit early, little guy was exhausted after a busy day. DH has promised to be home from his co-worker's leaving drinks by eight, and has already checked his mobile signal works in the pub. I think he's more worried about labour than I am!

fflaux we needed loads of mosses basket sheets with dd, then went over board with cot sheets when she moved into that and needed no where as many. Although she didn't have reflux she seemed to have eyes bigger than her belly for the first few months so had a habbit of bring up lots of milk despite not being windy. Add in the odd explosive or leaking nappy when dh was still getting used to fastening them and it meant we needed lots of sheet changes, blankets tended to stay intact.

Depending on the size and style of mattress muslin squares can be amazing at saving sheets. They wash and dry much quicker too, don't soak up much but more often than not can be just enough with a bit of milky sick or damp clothes. Dd's pramlet didn't have sheets so tended to have a muslin square or blanket for her to lie on to save having to take the whole thing appart to scrub. This time we have a pram with mattress so have brought a couple of extra mossess basket sheets that fit well.

I think a lot of it depends on baby. You probably want at least 3 sheets for the co sleeper; 1 in the wash, 1 drying, 1 in use. If you can easily get sheets that fit from amazon or a superstore you can deploy someone to get them for you if needed. If it would prove more difficult I'd be tempted to get some close to your due date and make sure you know how long you have to return them if you don't need them. We needed more sheets and covers for our bed too in the end!

We never bothered with a cover for the changing mat, a blanket on the top half if doing a fully change as dd was a winter baby or again a good old muslin square. I was and am slightly addicted to muslin squares, counted the ones that were still in good enough conditon to save from dd the other day and still had 25 and have brought more for bump!

Ffaux, I second what Suz says about using a muslin as an extra sick protection over the top of the sheet at the head end. Both my boys have been pukers so I'm regularly changing the muslin. I think I have four sheets total but you could get away with 2 or 3. You wouldn't need more spares for the carrycot part I wouldn't have thought.

Hayley that does sound promising/exciting! Hopefully this baby will decide they want to come much sooner than your first.

It's very exciting that lots of you may be welcoming your babies soon, I can't wait to hear about all the births (love good birth story!)

I'm due 4 March with my first. Keep alternating between being excited and terrified of meeting my baby. We don't know the sex so looking forward to finding out

Hello, nice post-natal thread Missi!

I've been reading this afternoon but I'm a bit behind.

Someone mentioned having difficulty keeping track of who said what when reading on a phone. I've discovered on the app, I can start a reply, and the close and open the 'new post' bit without losing my place or the reply. But it obviously only works when I'm actually constructing a reply. Which I've only just started now. (Sorry!)

Rhu, I mentioned the Always pants (with the massive gusset) but I stole the idea from mn! (As usual!)

And my DH definitely gets all the gory details. In fact, most of my friends, colleagues and acquaintances do! (It's only a body, everyone's got one. I'm a big believer in breaking down taboos by talking about them; periods, mental health, everything).

ffaux, I know you replied earlier too, but I'll have to go back to that in a bit. Re: sheets, I did the same as Suz and lay muslins across the head end for refluxy DS. Much easier to whip off and replace as necessary. And cheaper! (I've bought two sheets for the snuzpod and I think I've got two more crib sized sheets somewhere in the airing cupboard - but I haven't checked they fit).

Congrats for all those starting mat leave!

Exciting that you're having contractions, TheM!

Glad you're discharged, magpie, but you must be feeling so awful. Hope you feel better very soon. I would imagine your baby will be nicely pre-loaded with antibodies to this flu too (esp if you BF) which is, at least, something.

Ah yes, ffaux! I'll have none of this overdue business. I want this one to come at 38 weeks. (And sleep through, and be laid back and smiley and easy). That is how it works, right?! He at least needs to avoid DS's birthday (which will be 40+5).

Looking exciting for you too hayley! Hope it does happen soon.

I've had some 'interesting' gut action, which if I was a few weeks further ahead could be considered a sign, but at the moment is probably just my poor squashed intestines! I've had a couple more BHs today (of course my evening of BHs last night tailed off at bed time) but I think those were mainly because my jeans were a bit tight!

Half term week has put my brain firmly in leave-mode. I don't want to go back! (2 more days, 2 more days).

Hi Panna & Commander and any other de-lurkers!

So who is having a baby tonight?

And Ffaux I have no idea why you'd have something extra over the top of the changing may?! Occasionally if it's cold and DS 1 or 2 is naked maybe is put a towel/muslin over the top just to stop then getting chilly but not as standard.

I'm with Missi, why would you make more washing for yourself! (Especially as the first thing they all do as soon as the nappy is off is wee on the mat!)

Place marking!! Scared your DD is beautiful :)

Feeling v v queasy tonight...eugh.

Place marking!

Scared Calais Rose is beautiful

Huge congrats Scared, she is absolutely scrumptious! How well you coped with the labour and birth considering what a rough pregnancy you had with all the worries going right back to the NT measurements in your early scans. I'm so pleased how happy you sound, it totally is all worth it isn't it?! So pleased to hear she's with you on postnatal ward already.

In regards to your sleep wear question, I put Zach to sleep in a short sleeve vest, sleep suit and knitted cardi with no hat. This is how they dressed him in neonatal in an open cot so I'm carrying on with what they did. He sleeps under a sheet, doubled over cellular blanket and a doubled over soft blanket on top. It seems like a lot when everywhere where term babies are discussed it's all about not overheating them but for littlies with not much fat (Zach is currently 4lb 3oz) it's more vital that they don't get too cold. I've also set my thermostat to 21 degrees day and night in whatever room Zach is in. This is still cooler than neonatal, which was between 23-25 degrees. The community care team said know baby reaches 6lb then you can drop heating to 18 degrees. I hope that helps. At the mo I'm way more concerned about Zach getting too cold rather than the other way round.

Don't worry about feeling like you dong know what you're doing. It's a learning curve for us all and your instincts will make sure you do just the right thing for gorgeous little Calais. Xxx

Thanks for the sheet advice everyone - and great tips re. the muslins! Mum is going to bring over a ton of M&S ones so I feel better prepared now :)

Glad to hear you don't need covers for changing pads either, I keep seeing them everywhere so wasn't sure if they were standard. Actually I forgot I did receive this cover with swaddle arms free at a baby event: www.halosleep.com/halo-swaddlechange-changing-pad-cover/ but not sure if I want it - kind of looks like it would be a lot of hassle and a bit like a straightjacket

Hmm and what about blankets? I thought you weren't supposed to use any but Missi you mention using sheets and blankets? Do you just tuck them in tightly? They don't have cellular blankets here but a friend sent me one, otherwise I was going to try and use grobags etc. Ah it's such a minefield! The temperature in my apartment is really hard to regulate too.

I love the image of Zach all wrapped up warm, bless him!

ooh maybe is queasiness a sign?!

I'm around for a few hours if anyone fancies going into labour overnight and having someone to chat with

Ooh and another lovely friend just sent me a Close Caboo sling, it looks good as new despite being used by 3 babies! Now just need to figure out how on earth it works .........

Ffaux, a friend of mine has a close caboo which as soon as Zach is 5lb (the min weight) she will lend to me. They are great. I do have a stretchy wrap which I love but the caboo is a lot quicker and easier.

I will use grobags when Zach is bigger but as the mo he's too small for the ones I have, or for the Woombie, blankets are fine if they have their feet at bottom of cot and they are tucked in tightly so they can't wriggle underneath. Grobags are much easier tho!

Hello!!

Missi thanks for the new thread

Definitely in the CSC today - not had a wink of sleep mind you I can't work out if I'm having B-H or not I kind of get a tight feeling which doesn't feel like a kick or wriggle?

DM & DF came down yesterday and are going to be here till Thursday, so the baby NEEDS to be here by then. 37+6 today and am in for induction on Monday.

V scared!

Ooh paper how exciting! About being induced on Monday that is, not about being in the csc. I think I must have been in it too as I feel like death this morning, I do remember waking up a few times, and dh is working so I can't even take myself back to bed. Taking ds to the park with a friend and her ds, how hard can that be??

I'm going to go against the grain here and stick up for covering the changing mat. My changing mat is one that has an oilcloth cover and velcro-on towels for the top, rather than being a plastic mat, and I love it. I was the only one of my friends who never had a problem with changing mat wees - it would just kind of soak into the towel, whereas on a plastic mat it seemed to run under the baby and mean a change of clothes. So it didn't create more washing as they were washing clothes while I was washing liners, and I didn't have to get the baby changed.

Morning all!

How exciting about your induction Paper, another baby on the way.
Still no word from pug?

I slept a bit better last night, but still quite poor. Like Maybe been feeling really queezy all day yesterday. MW was excited and thought it could be a sign, but nothing to report yet. Also developed tendinitis and "trigger thumb" in both my thumbs, was initially just a bit sore, bit getting worse and now am struggling to grip/squeeze anything - it's a real pain as you don't realise how much you need your thumbs for!

Hi everyone! I feel like we have moved up to 'big school' being on this thread!

Love the name scared.

I'm finally on maternity leave, yay! Would quite like a week off to get last bits sorted then more than happy for her to arrive.

Calais Rose is just beautiful, congratulations scared!
That sounds painful doc I've not really heard of 'trigger thumb' before, do you know what's caused it?
Bit of csc for me thanks to DD again- I swear she knows things are changing and so is playing up because of it! However, she did go back to sleep until 7.30 and DH has got up and taken her downstairs so I can have a lie in on my first day of leave- result!
How exciting that other babies might be coming along soon! Hopefully not mine yet- it needs to hang on until Thursday at least if possible when I'll be 37 weeks, and I'd like a few days just to relax a bit before things kick off!
Hope everyone has a lovely day (and we get some more babies soon!)

Paper why are you being induced again?

CSC last night. Awake till 4ish, then DH woke me up snoring, and I kept dreaming about my induction. Last time I google "Propess" before bed!!

DH persuaded me to dtd this morning, but now he's working away all weekend, so I'm hoping nothing starts! I'm sure it won't.

So scared I'm going to be a snappy hormonal bitch with the kids today because I've had next to no sleep. This normally happens and it's not fair. Any advice, anyone?!

Oh how did I forget about my itchy feet ALL FUCKING NIGHT! Aaagghhh

Morning,

ffaux that thing does look like a strait jacket! I've just got a standard, wipe-clean mat. I'm planning on using swaddle-pods for him to sleep in (probably with no blanket, our house is v warm already) which unzip from the bottom leaving his arms swaddled.

We used sheets & blankets for DS - tucked in around the edges, but mainly with him "feet-to-foot" so he couldn't wriggle down. Moved onto sleeping bags pretty quickly though.

Sounds like there's more of a cultural difference than I'd imagined.

Oh no Paper. Can you rest up all day?

Oh dear doc! All that evolution into opposable thumbs, all gone! Hope it clears up soon.

That's, er, brave of you Beaut! Sorry to hear about the itchy feet though, that sounds infuriating.

No more babies overnight?

Thanks guys, I think it's due to fluid/swelling (similar to why pregnant women get carpal tunnel). It should go after birth.... COME ON BABY!

Agh just typed a huge reply and lost it! Bloody phone!

beaut bet you can't wait to get rid of those darn itchy feet! Can't imagine how annoying it must be.

doc I haven't heard of trigger thumb either. Is it like carpool tunnel but in your thumbs?

paper how exciting that you will probably be next!!

Has anyone started having birthing nightmares? I had my first last night. The midwife taped my eyes and injected them with something so I couldn't see what eas happening. She kept on injecting me with things and when I wouldn't stop asking questions she knocked me out with another injection. When I woke up (in the dream) they had taken my baby somewhere and no one had noted what he weighed or what time he was born. I was still waiting to see him when I woke up (in real life). Horrible!

Ha "carpool" tunnel. Autocorrect.

Yeh Indom, um, brave

YES hayley my induction dream last night was horrible, though not as horrific as yours sounds