Feeling unprepared :/

[alice93]

I'm 29 weeks, i'm mentally prepared and very excited for this baby :D but I'm not sure if I should be a bit more prepared by now.. We have the pram stored at my parents house - my mum will bring it over when it's needed! The cot is still in its box. I have a changing mat. About 1 or 2 newborn outfits (other clothing is bigger sizes).

I have no nappies, baby bath, baby toiletry products, baby sling. No baby hats, no baby gloves, no baby blanket (my grandma is busy knitting that now I believe!). My DP's mum has got a load of things, but I don't know what, and we won't get it until baby is born as she can't visit until then.
My hospital bag is semi packed.

Should I be doing more, or is it actually fine to wait until 35+ weeks? (considering I'm a full time student, it'd be better to wait until the holidays start!)

Please say people are less prepared than me!

Hi Alice,

I'll be happy to make you feel better. I'm 34+2 and utterly unprepared..

We can't decide on a pram, no clear ideas for a name. Have bought the following:

1. Carseat- decided worst case scenario it's the one thing that'll get us out of hosp
2. 2 x packs of nappies- on offer on Amazon
3. A random selection of clothes- not v practical items like sleep suits- more dungarees and cute dresses. Likely to be of almost no use in the first few months.

That's it! House in disarray- been putting off tidying/ organising til mat leave but day 3 so far and actually watching daytime tv in my pjs is far more appealing.

I'm FAR less organised than you. I hope that makes you feel better!

On a more positive note- I am hoping once the novelty of Phil and holly wear off i will get sorted and having lots to do will mean I won't get bored during next 6 weeks+ of ML.

might get dressed, just a quick nap first

This does make me feel better! :) Thanks Mildred! But it has also taken away my excuse of browsing the internet when I should be starting this essay! :P I think the life of a student is watching daytime tv in pjs - why I am allowed maternity leave from it god knows :')

I'm intrigued by your amazon purchase of nappies.. - I have no clue what a good deal is!!
I guess we got lucky with the pram, we found a good deal of 45% off a top range travel system and snapped it up quickly, even if I was only 22 weeks then :')

I am 29 weeks today and am not nearly organised enough. We are meant to be moving house in the next 7 weeks but haven't exchanged so can't find a rental property til we have sold! Everything is up in the air and have given up and am just going with the flow. Got as far as buying for the hospital bag and filling it with things on the lists from mums net in case of emergency and some clothes for the baby. We have a moses basket and a changing mat and a buggy a good friend else gave us as a handmedown. Can't buy much because we don't have anywhere to put it and will then have to move it!

Working all the way through to the end if possible as well :) I think I have given up on stressing and am currently working on things will happen as/when they happen. We have enough to survive birth and first few days and if there is anything when we get home DH can always go shopping. Can't do much more without a house move done :-/

You will be ok, abandoning panicking and going with the flow is the way forward ;)

It's only been 4 years or so since I graduated so I have slipped very easily back into the life! Planning on resuming my Neighbours habit too soon.. Just need to catch up on what's happened since 2010 won't take long

The nappies- I read on my antenatal thread about this. I've paid £7-8 for big boxes of the smallest sized Pampers.. Works out about 10p a nappy which when I compared to the best supermarket offers seems good. They were 12-14p..

Best of all- they're delivered to your door! I think you can save more money yet if you subscribe and save.. I may do this once baby arrives..

( ooh, just talking about this makes me feel like one of those organised people.. even if its my only acheivement)

Im 31 weeks and haven't even got nappies, wipes, cot Mattress, sheets, blankets.. I haven't even got a bag for hospital.. . Midwife has also said to start writing a birth plan in don't know where to start... And im moving 2 weeks before my due date!.. I'm feeling rather unorganised too...

Dont worry I'm sure it'll all fall into place! X

nannynome I hope you find a house to move into soon :) Good luck! And storm as well :) Me and DP are going to my parents for the winter holidays, but return home (a 5 hour nonstop drive - so clearly longer with breaks) just 5 days before my due date. (Both hospitals are expecting me!)
Mildred My morning routine is: homes under the hammer, that rescue show thing and then the news (I am a politics student after all..). I've got my 9am seminar changed to 1pm, so i get a lie in so I have a chance to let my anti-sickness pills kick in before eating something. :')

I guess if baby comes now, he'll be too small for any of these clothes anyway. Even if he is already measuring quite fat on the fundal chart :)

• stom, sorry not storm!

Don't worry, my baby is due in 12 days and only during the past few weeks have I started to get organised, partly due to my mum having several boxes of nappies delivered to my house (also from the good amazon deal of £5.50 for box of 72 nappies) and my lovely best friend who bought me one of those pre-packed hospital bags and some baby clothes. Bless them both, said they couldn't stand it anymore so they would start getting me prepared themselves! I've added to my bag and it's pretty much all sorted now, I have washed all the unisex stuff I kept from my son and they're all ironed and hung up ready. I have Moses basket, crib and baby bath/toiletries sorted. Hubby and I want to shop for pram and other stuff while he is on paternity. We have the essentials now, some clothes, somewhere to sleep, nappies and changing stuff and my boobs!! Just need bump to arrive now and we'll go out and spoil them I think

Im 34 weeks and have just about packed a very basic hospital bag but have zero equipment eg. moses, cot, changer, car seat, buggy as will wait till go on mat leave in 2 weeks and get it all delivered in 1 day. Think only then will it all feel "real". Feel v unprepared and still getting my head around a real life human/baby may make its arrival 1 day?!

You're fine. Promise. I'm 30 weeks tomorrow with dc2 and although we kept nearly everything from our dd we still need to get some fairly big bits (mattresses, cot etc) though we have just bought our double pushchair so that's a weight off my mind!

Of course it always helps to be as prepared as possible for baby's arrival but just remember that you don't have to have everything ready before they're here. The most important bits are somewhere for baby to sleep, including sheets and blankets, car seat to get baby home from the hospital, some nappies to tide you over (you don't need to stockpile unless there's a really good offer going, cotton wool to clean baby, clothes and a way to feed baby (obviously not an issue if bf). The rest you can get once baby is here if needs be.

Just a quick note on a baby blanket- I'd definitely get more than one as baby will throw up, wee or poo on the one you have and then you're a bit stuck!

FobblyWoof good call on the blanket, that does make complete sense. I shall look for an extra one. Any recommendations on what to get? I've never thought of buying one, I've always assumed that blankets come from my grandma's knitting needles! :') (I will of course get muslim blankets, but I mean the blankets used for general warmth) What's a reasonable price? I swear I only see them for £80 :S but then I've only ever noticed the one on the Ralph Lauren website...which is clearly out of my budget!)

I've been getting most of my stuff from amazon...
I've just been looking at the reviews and then going by what they say really.... I think pampers area till on offer £7 for a box of 70 xx

Op I'm really not much better than you! 27 weeks and so far all I have in the house is a pack of muslin squares, a cute fluffy hat with teddy bear ears and the foot muff for the pram! Pram,cot and car seat are on order but not getting delivered until I'm 36 weeks (Christ knows when we'll get round to actually building them), have the footmuff at home because the colour was discontinued so took it straight from the shop. Not bought any clothes,vests,nappies etc we keep putting it off as we're about to have new double glazing put in and trying to cut down on clutter while its done and my husband works for a major supermarket and from the middle of November to end of december gets double his normal staff discount so will get most of it then from his work - if I go into labour early we are screwed!

You have scared me into half packing my maternity bag, washing my pram and washing all my baby clothes this evening. Hope you are happy. still have no nappies or maternity pads or... Loads of stuff and I am 36 weeks!

Hi, I am due in 4 weeks time, my DH has just started a new job in another city (loads of travelling time) and has yet to ask if he'll be able to take any time off. I have no help organised in the event he'll probably not get any time off, have to have a c section and already have a 2 year old.

I have all the baby things organised, but those really seem like small things compared to the actual practicalities of how I'm going to manage on my own after the baby comes. Panicking slightly would be an understatement.

For those wondering where to buy stuff, I found Asda fantastic - sell everything you need, reasonably priced and will deliver or you can order and collect. I'm going to try their own brand nappies this time too as they are a lot cheaper than the big brands.

Best thing I did was get the baby stuff organised in the middle trimester when I had more energy, as I'm too knackered to even climb the stairs now! Good luck everyone.x

I had first DS with nothing with me except my handbag, he was 5 weeks early and super quick 5 hr labour. I had bits and bobs at home, I only had one other friend with a baby who got my DH sorted with a bag of basics within 24 hrs. We had to stay in and the hospital had tonnes of spare clothes for the baby. By the time we arrived home 10 days later, my parents and parents in law had sorted everything at home, food, baby Moses basket the lot

I'm on baby no 3 but having to start from scratch but bought most essentials at around 20 weeks I've been buying clothes as and when i see things I like, or when shops I like have sales or voucher code offers. Have around 6 baby blankets 3 bought by me, one a gift and two knitted by dh's grandma. Think I may have gone slightly overboard in that respects. muslins (m&s are amazing bright colours, big and good value for money) Just don't have many 0-3 months clothes as i can't find any sleep suits that aren't Fluro pink or covered in kittens...... The few nice packs I found I got in newborn size which will last two weeks at best!

Things like breast pads, maternity pads, etc. I got from boots on a 3 for 2 offer plus the added bonus of points.

Now somewhat drumming my fingers as have nothing much to do besides design and manufacture sleep suits for girls that aren't sprinkled with fairy dust & glitter

I'm with you little cloud.. The girl sleep suits are mostly awful. If not kittens- them stupid phrases like "I love mummy". I've only managed to buy one pack so far- relatively plain from sainsbo's- just plain, striped, stars..

Petit Bateau has nice designs. It's slightly pricey, but the style is great! I could buy everything from there!

I got stuff in the boots 3 for 2 offer, i got the breast pads, which I've been using since week 16 (that's quite early right?!), but they get really sweaty :/ :( I hate them now. Are they all like that do you think? My bras get ruined without them :(

I have the maternity pads, and maternity knickers, not really sure what to do with them :/ I put them in the hospital bag hoping that I'll work it out eventually. I guess you use them afterwards and not before, because then how do you know when is too early to start using them?! I don't want to be wear large maternity pads for 2 weeks solid if baby is late!

I'm in love with the little hats from Asda, a friend had some for her little boy and they are gorgeous!! :) I defo need to be buying online from them!

Alice I've never had by boobs leak pre birth, but you can get washable 100% cotton breast pads which will be breathable rather than the disposable ones.

Yes the pads are post birth. If your water 'go' rather than leak or trickle a pad won't do much! I wore them pre labour but that was because my waters leaked so a slow uncontrollable trickle. That would be worse with contractions! They had to be changed every hour or so!

I got primark full briefs that I can chuck post birth think they are £2.50 for 5. You do bleed a lot and pants do get ruined. Plus you need bigger pants than usual to harbour the giant pads, I've been known to wear two pads at a time.... So glamourous....

Love the petit bateau website never come across it before, I have a lot of older stuff from Zara mini. Love French baby clothes vertbaudet also have some nice bits which I've stocked up on.

Off to google Asda baby hats

*my sorry on I pad

Alice- I started leaking at 20 weeks and started using pads quite early after as so fed up with changing bra all the time!

Initially used boots pads but found them a bit irritating to my skin after a while. Someone on my antenatal thread suggested Lilypadz which are silicony stick on ones that you just wash between uses. Much comfier I found. I got mine from Anazon for £15ish I think.

Are you Dec due date? Come over and join on December antenatal thread.. Lots of friendly support, tips and a good moaning board!

Littlecloud & Mildred - I'm defo going to go have a look for some reusable ones now! I didn't know they did them, but sounds far better than these silly ones. Right now I'm lying in bed with kleenex tissues which are so super soft compared to my annoying bra! :')

I looked at the vertbaudet website - I've not heard of that brand before, and it looks like I'll be making a few purchases from there I think! Petit Bateau is amazing quality, I used to be an au pair, and the mum would buy everything Petit Bateau (she even got me a classic blue/white striped top which I would still be wearing now if my bump wasn't so big!)

I joined the January group yesterday - My due date is 7th jan!