A couple of random and possibly silly questions from a first timer

[missmargot]

I have a few things weighing on my mind that are possibly completely ridiculous and/or common sense and I'm hoping someone can help me.

Firstly, what clothing do I need to buy for a winter baby? All I have bought so far are simple sleep suits as I don't want to be wrestling a newborn into 'proper' clothes, but given it is going to be cold what should I be putting over them? Are lots of layers best? Any particular fabrics?

Secondly, when I'm in hospital having had the baby, is it ok to leave the baby whilst I go and shower, use the toilet etc? I know it's a very random concern but I read on a previous thread elsewhere about 'things women wish they knew before labour' and a woman said she didn't know whether she should or not but didn't actually the answer the question and it's been playing on my mind.

I think that's the end of my silly questions for now but I'm sure there will be more

Heel prick - my DD went nearly purple and screamed, but forgot about it in about 30 seconds.

Re: buying stuff: I listened to Mumsnet and didn't buy hardly anything in 0-3. All my family and friends bought me gifts in 3-6 and 6-9 because they each assumed the others would have filled us up with 0-3. Bit of a nightmare as I had an EMCS in the end which really left me feeling poorly for a few weeks, so I wasn't up for shopping. Hurray for the Internet.

Asda sleepsuits are not 'tackier'! They're not exactly shellsuits :)

Asda baby clothes are great, we have a load of sleepsuits and vests from there and they are comfy and wash well. A baby isn't going to turn it's nose up at a clothing label.

The heel prick test was quite upsetting for my baby because it was really hard to get the blood out of her, but they only needed a tiny bit so it didn't take too long and was forgotten as soon as it was over.

Asda sleepsuits do have stuff like 'mummy's little princess' on them, accept it!!!

Can I weigh in on the asda sleepsuit debate? I bought a pack from there when DS was very small and they didn't fit him. He was so long and skinny he'd poke his feet and legs out between the gaps in the poppers. The vests and day clothes from there are fantastic though.

I really rate Sainsburys for baby clothes too. I've bought all DS2s sleepsuits from there as I loved them for DS1.

I've not bought a single thing with 'mummy's little princess' or the like on it. We were bought some stuff with slogans on from mothercare so there is tacky shit anywhere if you look for it.

Ps I love asda kids' clothes! You just have to be selective.

Absolutely.

I haven't bought anything with princess on it from Asda.

Have to admit, in a reluctant way, that Sainsburys TU baby clothes are nicer, but they come up small. Asda's run large.

Also have never bought anything with 'mummys little blah' on it. Though DP did buy a t shirt from peacocks with 'I'm a genius…just like daddy' on it when I wasn't around. That kind of stuff is everywhere.
recently asda did a baby range around the time of Prince George's birth ('when I grow up I'm going to marry Prince george') that was pretty tasteless and naff.

You already have loads of advice so I will true to be concise!
I would buy cotton vests some with short and some with long sleeves and cotton sleepsuits, depending on shape of advice baby will depend where is best to shop. I would buy a couple of lightweight cotton cardigans (h&m do them but check label as some are poly cotton mix)
Cotton is best as small Babies are not great at regulating temperature.
If going out I would pop hat on, and blanket over babies chest and knees in car seat or buggy/ pushchair. Cute socks are good under baby grows for keeping tiny toes toasty.
At night sleeping bags are good but only once you are sure they won't wriggle head into it, sheets and blankets tucked under arms covering chest and legs are good until they are a bit bigger.
I would suggest you read SIDS guidelines on safe sleeping. Better for a baby to be a little bit chilly than too
hot!

As for hospital question I would keep baby with me as much as possible, but I would have a quick shower when dh arrived for the day. I was in hospital for a while!
Lastly wanted to say I felt exactly the same pre ds arriving. Around 4 weeks on you will feel like a pro!

Thanks for the heel test advice. :)

You should definitely buy boring clothes. Nice cotton babygrows, socks, etc. As someone said, people will buy you dresses, jumpers etc, stuff they think is cute. People don't tent to think John Lewis white underthings are cute and that's what you'll need most of.

Feel for me. I live in the States and got a whole bunch of polyester 'Mommy's little Hunter' 'Mommy's Little Fire Hero' stuff. The intention was sweet but really?! I've been sneaky buying Stone Roses t shirts lol. Oh and a Union Jack onesie with Welsh hat so he can match the cat as Xmas hahaha!

Another thing I'd advise, (through working with post partum mums for years) is get nipple cream, cooling pads for your bum, ice pads (sanitary towels which you stuff crushed ice into), don't wait until you are in agony and have to trust husband to go out and by some miracle actually get the right thing.

The heel prick was fine honestly. It was a bit like a stapler & yes they cried but I fed during it & they were fine 5secs later!

Sleepsuits are what both of mine lived in for an embarrassingly long time. Most recently plain white Morrisons but we've had nice Sainsburys & mothercare patterned ones. I'm not a slogan fan but Asda do plain ones too.

And yes,nipple cream! Wilkinsons own brand is just as good as lansinoh.

Oh & don't wash EVERYTHING before baby arrives because then you can't change it!

Got a good bit of advice from midwife for the heel prick test - put a pair of socks on baby underneath (or over - I found they stayed on better) overnight and in morning leading up to the test. Keeping the feet warm will encourage the blood flow and make the test go much easier. My first I did not do this, her feet were freezing and the midwife practically had to wring the blood out of her foot. It was brutal! For my second it was over in about 30 seconds thanks to the socks

I don't generally like slogan tshirts on babes, but my friend has a baby shop and I spotted the cutest tshirt! It has the AC/DC slogan on the front, bit actually says AB/CD! It really appealed to my sense of humour!

Hospital maternity units are incredibly secure. They're not wards you can just walk into, like the rest of the hospital - they have locked doors. Only certain staff (midwives etc) have pass cards, and everyone else has to ring the buzzer and wait to be admitted. The security is mega-high precisely because they don't want any babies being stolen (when was the last time you heard of this happening?) There won't be anyone on the ward just wandering about who shouldn't be there, so you're fine to leave your baby and go to the loo, make a cup of tea etc. I used to wait for DH to come before having a shower, but that was only in case the baby cried, not because I was worried they'd be stolen.

A couple of other things: postnatal wards are the hottest places on earth. Pack thin pjs or nighties. And don't forget your flip flops for the showers and loos. Every woman on that ward is bleeding heavily. The cleaners do a great job but it's still nice not to be barefoot!