July mothers to be!

[VioletV]

Who's sorted their hospital bags yet? What are putting in yours?

Here is my checklist so far... (Please let me know if I'm missing anything)

Towels body and face
Maternity towels x2
Nappies x36
Camera (charged lol)
Lucozade sweets x4
slippers
nightdress x2
Babys first outfit x1
few vests x3
comfy clothes for me x2
black knickers x5
snacks to eat.

Drinks with straws
magazines for me and my birth partner (incase she gets bored)
box of chocs to say thanks to the nurses.
Baby car seat.

Am I missing anything?

Sorry... but I need more information... cold water? tepid water? warm water? You've made me more terrified than I have been for months, so now you need to tell me EXACTLY what to do with the water!!!!

OhMyGod buttonmoon Weeing in the bath? Can I change my mind please? I NEED a cesarean!!!

I used a jug and just lent back and poured the water over my bits as I peed!! I think it was just tepid water. I would also recommend drinking lots of water - you do not want to become dehydrated and have your wee become stronger!!

Its not really that bad though, its stingy but on a scale of birth/post birth things its def not the worst pain!!

I think I better sign up here too! I'm due at the beginning of July with number 2 and had been procrastinating about my hospital bag (and everything else!). However, I had a MW appointment today and found out baby is head down and 4/5 engaged (which I understand isn't that common this early with a 2nd pregnancy)! She said I better get my bag packed and not to expect to reach my due date! So it's off to Boots tomorrow. And will be stocking up on painkillers after reading about after pains on here! No one had warned me about that! Anyone care to freak me out?! Or have any pearls of wisdom about engagement in 2nd/3rd etc pregnancies? Really am not ready for this one to make an appearance yet!

3become4 the afterpains worsen with each baby i've found, my last one i felt as though i iwas still contracting it was agony for a good 24hrs regular painkillers deffo!

i used warm water but whatever you find 'comfortable' and yes drink loads to make sure urine is as dilute as possible! I wish i'd had mnet and known all these tips when i had dc1 12years ago

button off to find thread right now!

3become4 - I always thought it was quite common for 2nd+ babies to move in and out of being engaged but its 8 years since I was on my 2nd pg so could very easily be wrong on that! I'm on my 4th now (due June 30th according to scan so technically not due in July but by my dates I'm due 2nd July!) and baby was 4/5 a few weeks ago then was just 2/5 Two weeks later, a week after that I'm pretty sure he came out completely but at the moment I reckon he's a full 5/5 in there if not more - its so uncomfortable!!

Eh?! Now you're getting me confused Pesha! I thought the measurement was how much of the head the MW could feel outside/above the pelvis so 5/5 is not engaged and 1/5 is fully engaged. That's what my MW said (I think ) - that the baby is dropping into my pelvis but not fully engaged (thank god!). As for the other thing, she and the powers of google say that 2nd+ babies don't normally engage until labour begins - I think because they have more room to move - but then that theory would also explain the moving in and out thing too... confusing business!

Oh, and are you sure you're not about to go into labour if you were 4/5, then 2/5 and are now really uncomfortable?!

Oh and thanks Nicola - you may consider me freaked out!

Ok now I'm confused!! I'm thinking its engaged v palpable? So i was thinking 4/5 engaged means 4/5 of it is down, 4/5 palpable is 4/5 above pelvis and 1/5 engaged. But I could have just completely made that up I knew all this stuff first and second time round but now have been relying on my memory which is shit at best of times! Also things may have actually changed! Off to read my notes properly now!!

Oh and I do feel kind of like I could be going into labour very soon but trying not to get my hopes up, have never been early before. But I am walking like John Wayne and have quite a lot of pressure 'down below'!

You're right!! I'm not sure if I was being dense or if things have changed but either way I was wrong!

And I also wasn't 2/5 last week I was 1/5! I dispute the 4/5 measurement though as I had noticeably dropped and felt he was more in than that!

I'm getting my hopes up now which is bad as I'm probably still going to be late!!

Er, can someone please explain why you would freeze maternity pads? Does your bits get all hot down there or something?

Oh I forgot to add flip flops for the shower.

Its something our midwife recommended in our antenatal class as to help sooth the area. You have to wrap it in something to not get freezer burn (ouch) and I have even heard putting some tea tree oil on it can be helpful ...

But don't put ANY essential oils where they can directly come into contact with the skin - that would be ouch too!

PrincessJenga I promise you that on the grand scheme of things it's a little stingy, that's all. And after childbirth, what's a bit of wee in a bath between friends?

You know that saying though - 'what happens in stays in '? Childbirth is like that. I don't tell a lot of people I weed in the bath. Only those that need to know. Like you

Sorry Pesha! But it does sound like you could be having a June baby after all! Good luck!

Meanwhile I'm feeling rubbish (and having lots of "loose movements" ). My strategy is to heed my MW's advice to get ready for the little one to make an appearance and therefore jinx myself into 42 weeks of pregnancy!

As for freezing maternity pads as OP said it's supposed to be soothing. I couldn't really be bothered with it last time to be honest though and fished out a(n unused) maternity pad from the freezer about 2 years after giving birth!

Just reading this it's all becomming a bit more real!!! I'm 36 weeks with #3 and haven't really thought about what to pack yet.

I'm starting mat leave in 2 days so will sort out a bag together next week. Thanks for the great ideas on here ladies!

Ah, bless you Button, now I feel almost special but still bloody scared

Jimmychoo is wondering what the forum equivalent of putting your fingers in your ears and pretending can't hear any of this.......I've read it...so it's not dont read it....la la la....

5 weeks 3 days til due date...hospital bag, fanjo douches and vaginal grazing by talons....[keels over]

haha thanks for telling me. I'm not scared... much.

I'm off to the hospital tomorrow to have a blood pressure monitor put on me for 24 hours. Do you think if I ask nicely they'll give a C section so that my baby finally stop kicking me in the ribs and having me up all night?! lol

Oh gosh, im due 1st July and am a bit scared of what happens after the birth too. The first wee, the first poo and i had the chat about what happens with the placenta yesterday at the MW - i didnt realise you had to push that out too!! She said something about an injection that makes it easier but id given up listening by then after all the episiotomy vs tearing talk and decisions about pain relief. I am so clueless!!!

We're moving house next wednesday when i'll be 37+5, hope baby stays in for a bit longer!

Exciting stuff ladies. Ive got my bag half packed (put some rhubarb and custard sweets in today) and im soooooo looking forwards to meeting my little one.

Wolfcub I'm also trying to move house, but it seems on the verge of falling through so I'm also hoping LO stays put for a few more weeks while we work out where he will be living! Luckily I'm not due till the 27th so we have a little longer to get sorted. Good luck x

I have a sweets question.

Where are you guys getting your boiled sweets? Strangely both Tesco and Sainsbury's do not seem to have anything non gummy and the ones I just bought from M&S have some kind of fizzy action that is uncomfortable.

I just want boiled sweets. Its it so hard?

Smile ...

Asda! I got rhubarb and custard, american wine gums, Murray mints and a few more. Think it was 3 for a £1.

OK... number 1 for me too and you guys have just scared the bejeebies out of me ... DH just walked in and asked what was the matter - I think I must have been pulling a bit of a face as I was reading!
7 weeks to go but was just thinking about getting stuff for my bag together so thought this thread might be useful... I've certainly learnt something this evening!

Hey button moon thanks for bringing me round!! The long right angle popping out my side however nearly knocked me back out....am fairly rue bubs has got more limbs than should have!! Am going to attempt hospital bag shop this weekend...attempt I should add. I imagine I will actually spend the time in bed/on sofa/in bed...suppose should make most of that time I have to do that still!

Regarding sweets....my tesco had a great choice of boiled sweets. Assad were all gummy ones but got to love a bit of haribo!

I'm about to download a contraction app....miles more sensible an app than my others... :)