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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What did you wish you had got done pre-birth?

54 replies

runtus · 21/03/2006 11:43

Hi guys, I'm 31 weeks tomorrow and just drawing up a list of the things I still have to get organised and done before the little fella decides to make an appearance. I have all the usual suspects down like; wash put away all baby clothes, put up cot and fit bedding etc........

I was just wondering if there are any tips the more exp among us can share to make the first fortnight or so more bearable? I was thinking of making up a batch of dinners and freezing them (easy stuff like shepherds pie)...........and I've just booked a bikini wax for the week before I'm due!

Any other hints and tips???

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

kama · 21/03/2006 15:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Nbg · 21/03/2006 15:19

Getting things set up.

We left everything in wrappers stupidly so when I came home rather than stare at and enjoy our new baby we were ripping our hair out trying to figure out instructions for things.

I had every intention of Breast feeding but that never worked out so we had to get formula on the way home from hospital, we had to set up the steriliser, wash the bottles, sterilise them, make up feeds.
We had one of those nappy bins too which was a nightmare to do and a baby monitor.

I would have also liked to have made or bought some ready meals because both dh and I were totally knackered.

Luckily when I'd had dd and was still in hospital, dh slipped into housewife mode and got all the washing up to date etc.
It's nice just to have those first few days doing nothing but spending time with your baby rather than worry about cooking dinner and doing the chores.

madmarchhare · 21/03/2006 15:22

If you formula feed, use ready made up cartons, it will save a lot of faffing and hassle in the first few days.

Loulou14 · 21/03/2006 16:34

I'm 31 weeks on Friday and you have all just scared the life out of me!

I've bought one thing - and that was today, a really cute baby bouncer that makes sea noises. I keep thinking I'll do it all when I start maternity leave, but that is still over 5 weeks away. We've painted the nursery white as in-laws are coming to stay this wkd and we don't want them to know we know the sex so are planning to finish it the week after. I've been making endless lists of jobs that need doing eg bits of decorating, paperwork, tidying cupboards and have done virtually all of it, just nothing specific for the baby.

I've done loads of research, I know which cot and pram we want but keep putting off buying it, worried it's bad luck I suppose.

When do we start buying? Is it really bad luck to have it all set up before the baby is born or like Nbg says basic common sense?

Runtus - is this your first?

Enid · 21/03/2006 16:37

god I feel knackered just reading this thread

sleep
have a laugh with your dh
sleep more
warn everyone you are going to do nothing for a month after the baby is born and they will all have to look afterthemselves
sleep again
take time off work to watch crap tv and sleep on the sofa

oh and get hair done

TuttiFrutti · 21/03/2006 17:05

Loulou, buy the stuff NOW!!! On some items, you have to wait weeks for delivery. Also, your baby could come early...

Loulou14 · 21/03/2006 17:22

Oh my God! I think I'm now going to go into major panic mode!

Eve2005 · 21/03/2006 17:29

SLEEP

and lots of it, you may never get to spend a whole night under the duvet again! even a well meaning man doesn't seem capable of hearing the baby cry in the early hours so prepare yourself for a couple of years of stumbling around in the dark swearing under your breath. it doesn't end when the night feeds do!

MissChief · 21/03/2006 17:32

go somewhere, anywhere on impulse with your dh - brunch, popping to the pub, last-minute w/e away..

Sparklemagic · 21/03/2006 18:24

I'd agree with the SLEEP thing....consciously enjoy being able to wake up, turn over and go back to sleep...have long long lie in's at the weekend.....

Have relaxing sudays reading the papers in bed....

go to the cinema...

If you possibly can, finish work a couple of weeks early and just have some time to yourself, going shopping, doing a hobby you enjoy. I did this and it was lovely.

All this sort of stuff has to be fitted into the evenings once kids come along, when you are too tired to enjoy it, so make the most of it now!

Also, make a point of consciously enjoying being able to hop in the car or on a bus to go out when you fancy it..cos once baby comes you are completely governed by their feeding timetable, and nap timetable, and by having to take a suitcase of stuff with you when you go......then once the baby stage is over, it doesn't get easier to pop anywhere because you then have a little person with their own opinions and you will need the nogotiating skills of Kofi Annan to effect a short trip to the shop....

Good luck, despite all this, you are about to experience a whole new world and it's wonderful!

Enid · 21/03/2006 19:36

what on earth do you have to wait weeks for delivery of? except the baby obv?

moondog · 21/03/2006 19:38

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Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Enid · 21/03/2006 19:39

thats the nice thing about being pg with 3rd

you already don't do any of those things

moondog · 21/03/2006 19:50

lol Enid
Have always sniggered to myself at how ridiculously low the expectations of most mothers are.

Enid · 21/03/2006 19:51

actually I do manage to do some of those things by having a job then skiving off sick

moondog · 21/03/2006 19:52

That's a thought...

morningpaper · 21/03/2006 19:53

Get a stack of good books and a book rest - I read LOADS while feeding for hours and hours at night

Sparklemagic · 21/03/2006 19:59

ha ha enid! Great days when you are off sick from work, house is quiet and you find yourself feeling...ahem...a little better.....

Angeliz · 21/03/2006 20:05

Appreciated my freedom.

I am happier than ever now with my daughters but when i think of how much time i used to have (working full time always but around that i mean).

Piffle · 21/03/2006 20:12

Not blown my meagre inheritance when my dad died

PrincessPeaHead · 21/03/2006 20:14

get a pedicure. with all that sitting around feeding in the middle of the night/early morning/ whenever, it is nice to admire your pretty toes. conversely it is depressing looking at horny hooves...

Sparklemagic · 21/03/2006 20:14

ooh, ooh, and the other thing is every time you get the chance to go to a nice cafe - GO! Sit for ages with a nice coffee and enjoy chatting and watching the world go by.... this is last chance saloon with this too, because while you will still use Cafe's when baby comes, it will be hurried sips of (cold) coffee in between fiddling about feeding, burping, and walking round the table jiggling baby so that, horror of horrors, they don't CRY loudly and embarrassingly....STRESS!!!!!

Sparklemagic · 21/03/2006 20:15

aaaaagh! I have floating apostrophe disease! Cafes, plural, not Cafe's. Somebody shoot me.

Enid · 21/03/2006 20:16

i have pedicure and hair cut and colour booked for maternity leave

Sparklemagic · 21/03/2006 20:17

should add make the most of your mental abilities now while you are in your prime cos labour and birth seems to have had the bizarre side effect with me, of killing a significant amount of non-renewable brain cells, leaving a sort of 'jelly brain' syndrome.

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