Hi all,
Gosh, have been away for what seems like ages - so many posts to catch up on! Hope you all are doing well, Dozey great news about D-cat, good to hear everyone else's scans etc going well.
Things have been poo with me for the last few days. I had to make an emergency dash to London (about 250 miles away from me) with my elderly mother as we had news that my youngest brother was close to death. He has a long term illness, but the doctors had said he only had days to live. Anyway the last few days have been spent sitting by his bed, willing him to feel better. He won't actually get any better, so my wish is for him to at least be comfortable and peaceful for his remaining days. I had to return home though, work calls and all that, so we are waiting everyday for news. Surprisingly am coping ok, the tiredness was awful after the drive and the stress, but a good chunk of time in bed helped. Unfortunately I am now on night shift for 2 weeks, so am going to exist in a sleep/wake/eat/work pattern for a bit.
The baby doesn't seem to have been affected by my extra stress, moving as much as ever, usually in the evenings. My scan went well, although if anyone else tells me I am difficult to scan because of my size I shall scream!! Yes, I know I am overweight, I really don't need you to comment on it, Miss Sonographer. Oh and the 'scanned with some difficulty due to high BMI' comment you put on my scan reports goes a great way to making me feel better, thanks!
Anyway, rant over... the good news is that my hunch and the local witch's hunch were right, I am indeed having a boy!! He was funny in the scan because everytime they tried to get a view of his face he put up a 'don't photograph me' hand like the celebs do when they are being papped! But when it came to seeing what bits were there, his tackle was so in your face, like he was really proud!! The GPs are really chuffed to be getting a grandson too! And I have succumbed to actually buying a boy outfit, rather than the gender neutral stuff I have so far, which was a real 'aah' moment!
An age ago I said I'd post my baby essentials list, so finally, here it is:
- Sleeping - A cot or cot bed. You can make the cot smaller by putting rolled up blankets in a semi circle under the cot sheet, if baby won't settle with that much space around him, that way there is no need for a moses basket. Having said that, I got given a moses basket, but wouldn't have bothered buying one as they grow out of them so quickly. Worth noting that no matter how cheap the cot is if bought new, all cots have to pass the same BSI safety standards. Oh, and mattresses are dead expensive, but it's important to get a new one!
- Car Travelling - a size/age appropriate baby car seat. The one I have is part of a pram travel system, and it lies flat, which is great as I can use it for a travel 'cot', or leave baby in it if he is asleep on arrival. I have also got a fab group 1-3 (9 month to 12 years) car seat that grows with your child from baby seat to booster seat.
- Carrying - I have a 3rd hand pram travel system - works great, and came up lovely with a wash. Includes the baby car seat, and becomes a pushchair too. I also bought a sling to carry baby for local walks to the shop etc when it's just not worth getting the pram out. The sling I got (there are SO many available!) is ok for babies up to 35lbs.
- Clothes - sleepsuits and vests is about all that's needed for the first 3 months at least, plus you'll probably get loads of outfits bought for baby once he arrives. I have resigned myself to the fact that for at least 12 weeks I shall be like a zombie, so sleepsuits for baby and pyjamas for me will be de rigeur! If I manage to get some day clothes on either of us it'll be a bonus! Plus, they grow so quickly that any cute outfits will be worn maybe once before they outgrow them! On the plus side, this means that my lovely friends who have passed on their baby clothes have given me some barely worn, if at all, outfits!
- Food - I plan on breastfeeding, so hopefully won't need to get bottles etc, but have a load of muslins for burping cloths.
- Bedding - Gro-bags aren't recommended until baby is 8lbs I think, so I have 4 bottom and 4 top sheets and 4 blankets for the cot. Apparently pillow cases work well for moses basket mattresses, or if you are handy with a needle and thread, cut up and edge some single sheets.
- Other stuff - changing bag, changing mat, baby bouncer (I have it on good authority that these are a godsend), nappies (I hope to go the cloth route), cotton wool galore and/or baby wipes.
I hope this helps; I did a LOT of research, and luckily as I have been planning this baby for a very long time, I have been able to wait for good deals etc.
Anyway, that's a mighty long post and more than enough for now!!