Early Oct babies part 3!

[Treacle81]

Hey girls, just heading to bed but hope all scans went well today and good luck for all the scans 2m (mine inc) I’ll post pic if all ok 🤞🏼🥰xx

@Aquablue1123, sorry but I had to laugh when reading this. Everyone feels the same about this. I'm sure I'll go through exactly the same thing again at some point and this is my 2nd.

Difficult to think of definite things as it depends how you plan on doing things and also how baby takes to things. It also feels like babies need a lot, but the majority of it is to make our lives easier (or feel easier) and depends on your preferences.
Basic things are:
clothes (simple for first 6 months: sleepsuits, vests, etc).
Food (breast/formula/bottles). Transport (carseat, buggy/sling,etc). Bed (moses basket/crib), sheets (a few for dribble/sick)
Nappies: a LOT, cotton wool/wipes, etc
Extra bits: muslins, steriliser (if expressing or formula feeding, can get elec/microwave/bags), hats (tiny heads needs to he kept warm when out), blankets, a mirror for the car is handy so you can see baby when they're in and facing backwards.

I recommend batch cooking as much food as you can before the birth. Buying lots of biscuits and easy to eat stuff. And some lovely bath/shower stuff as a treat for you when you need a bit of time out and to feel good again.

Any questions about anything feel free to ask and I'm happy to give my personal view point. Difficult to think of everything xx

@Spark27 that's a great list. At the moment we only have a tiny freezer and for the past week so or I've been convincing DH we need a spare in the garage so I can batch cook some food for when baby gets here. He's coming round to the idea now, just need to find a cheapish one now.

It was a lifesaver for us for about the first month or so. And I even enjoyed the batch cooking as it satisfied that nesting urge before the baby came

@Spark27 @Lucylou37 haha I know, I've been so busy trying to rest, to keep the baby safe & healthy when I suddenly realized I don't have a clue what I'm doing 🤣.

This list is great, thank you @Spark27! I will start a checklist with things to look into after my 20 week scan.

That's a good idea about food and freezing meals, @BntTowers I've actually just mentioned to my DH about a spare chest freezer as we are spending loads of food during isolation because we are panick buying each time we shop and a lot of it's going to waste.

An advert popped up on my Facebook today for baby clothes and I got butterflies for the first time 😬 🤗, that will be the exciting part; picking out outfits for him 💙 xxx

@spark27 @Aquablue1123 I think it sounds like something we will be doing. Especially when I drop down to working 4 days a week.

I've tried to start looking at cloths but I'm finding a lot of what I like doesn't have any small sizes at the moment. May wait a few months then start.

Do you think antenatal classes will open up later in the summer - I have never held a small baby or even changed a nappy . I don’t think I will know where to start . I’m not that maternal so I don’t know if I will have those instant instincts to know what to do .

Thanks for the essential lists once I hit about 7 months I think I will start buying everything and hopefully shops open up soon. I still don’t feel like there is a baby in me 🤣😂

@HerondaleDucks Happy anniversary, sounds like a lovely reveal!

@Spark27 great list thanks! I always forget about a few bits and bobs for us.

@Aquablue1123 Been having the same "wah" moment. My maternity service have put up an online course for everyone atm since antenatal classes are off - apparently it's 10 hours long ahhh. I also want to get a book but I don't really want a wishy washy one so no idea what to pick.

My left groin cramps are back today, been up half the night. Plan to take the day off and straddle a hot water bottle.

@HerondaleDucks Happy anniversary, sounds like a lovely reveal!

@Spark27 great list thanks! I always forget about a few bits and bobs for us.

@Aquablue1123 Been having the same "wah" moment. My maternity service have put up an online course for everyone atm since antenatal classes are off - apparently it's 10 hours long ahhh. I also want to get a book but I don't really want a wishy washy one so no idea what to pick.

My left groin cramps are back today, been up half the night. Plan to take the day off and straddle a hot water bottle.

@Zaalfruit, I was proper scared of picking DD up at the beginning and scared of breaking her. We had a complicated started and was hospital for a few days and I kind of just let everyone else (DH, nurses) pick her up, change her, etc. I definitely built it up into a big thing in my head. I know it's easy to say, but I recommend not over thinking it and just going with it naturally.

I also remember it took a while for that rush of love feeling to come, and that's completely natural. At the beginning you're tired, sore, wondering what the hell has happened and how you're going to look after a baby, (and terrified of going to the loo!) I remember DH going back to work after a month and me being petrified and crying, but it was all fine. Its hormones, and a massive learning curve x

Breast pads and maternity pads you'll need straight after for you , nappy cream and nappy sacks too - I exclusively breast fed for 6 months but when my boobs were sore at the beginning I used the tommee tippee electric breast pump coz it didn't hurt as much! A few sheets for the crib/Moses basket nappies don't always catch everything!!
After breast feeding we started using formula and the perfect prep machine was a life saver coz when you've got a hungry baby (though she was on solids for some of her meals) it's a nightmare using boiling water to kill impurities in the powder then cooling it down! But you're not supposed to use cold water to top it up it needs to be cooled boiled water it's such a faff!
I think the best highchair when you need it is the simple Ikea one it's cheap and better than all the expensive ones we tried! It is easy to clean too and you can buy an inflatable cushion with it to help the baby sit up! Xx

I feel the same having my first - and I had banked on my Mum being around to help if I needed it, which now might not be possible. I do have friends with babies but I don’t feel I know much from that!

One thing my friend said if you aren’t sure on something when in the hospital ask especially if you aren’t happy with feeding. She didn’t leave until she was happy she could feed. It’s difficult because you would want to go home but equally I’m not sure midwives are coming out as regularly to give help/advice as normal.

I wrote a list but one thing I’ve done from advice from another friend is put a star next to anything I might need but won’t get until after the birth so I know what to order/ask someone to get. I don’t want to waste money on for example a breast pump if I end up not being able to feed. I have heard people say they spent a fortune on things the baby didn’t like/they couldn’t use.

Morning ladies, feeling totally pants this morning so made a coffee and reading all your comments is definitely helping me not feel so alone. Work is good for me as I'm at home but will need to go back at some point.

I slept pants last night and being too harsh on myself for not having a spring in my step this morning.

Me and dp dtd last night tmi sorry but was nice to feel 'normal' given the circumstances

17w today for me though I got the metal taste in my mouth last night which is anew one for me and I thought most women get it in first trimester but not me!

Cant believe there is January 2021 thread already, I feel like we are old timers already!

I really cant wait for all this to be over, I wish we could all do a zoom chat or something with a cuppa to perk us all up! Would anyone be up for that?

That's a good point regarding the feeding @LexiM

Theres a thread on here going about tell me all the good and bad points about after birth. One thing I didnt realise was to stock up on tonnes of pads as to how much you can still bleed afterwards!

Just one thing to bear in mind FTMs breast friend is a skill it doesn't always come naturally and the baby plays a big part - I went to NCT classes and my DD took to feeding straight away -but I was lucky but if you aren't able to breast feed or finding it rough don't beat yourself up!! I had lots off fiends who struggled - a fed baby is a happy baby!! Xxx

@BooMamaBear nappies don't always catch everything!!

@Indigogirl88 I didn’t know about the amount of blood either until the other day! I watched the Positive Birth Company’s video on YouTube from a midwife about postpartum and she said the first day the pad will need changing every half hour to an hour or something, I was horrified haha obviously have a lot to learn! Although it does make sense when you think about what your body has done. The video itself was really helpful though explaining the process for your body, your baby and NHS care post-birth.

Yep, lots of maternity pads and breast pads. We had a jug that we poured boiling water into in the am and let it cool for the formula bottles.
Lansinoh nipple cream is good, and a really good hand cream cos they'll get so dry and sore with constant washing/sterilising of bottles.
A low level lamp/dimmable light is good for night feeds so you dont wake DP (although if your tired and they're happy snoring I recommend accidentally kicking them).

If you're going to use bottles dont buy too many of one type at the beginning cos babies can be fussy. And when it comes to expensive items I really recommend local selling groups. People will have used things like bouncers/chairs, even expensive breast pumps for a few months and then want to sell. And you can sterilising them. I was lucky that my sister gave me a medela pump and it was ace.

Sorry, but advanced warning of a tmi. The day after the birth I really wanted a shower but was quite wobbly. The nurses recommended DH came in with me (we were still in hosp). I remember standing in the shower with blood (seemingly) pouring out and just feeling the most unsexy EVER. But DH was great. He didn't care at all and helped my tidy up and get pads. Sounds corny but I really believe childbirth, and post childbirth experiences made us so much closer.
I think I only bled heavily for a week, then less for a few more. I dont thinking was as bad as I expected it to be.

Although pregnancy has been more uncomfortable 2nd time round so I'm expecting after birth pains and etc to be worse. Boo.

It's when the baby does a poonami just before walk out the door and it goes right up their back that is the worst!!
Baby can get gastro issues if you don't use boiling water to kill impurities in the formula -you can buy pre-made ones which you can just microwave but they're expensive!!
Breast milk is best not equipment needed and is already at the perfect temperature and it's amazing it takes in a small amount of your babies saliva and if the baby needs some antibodies you have it provides them thru breast milk also it the baby need more water it adds more water to it! Xx

Oh crap... I have so much to learn. Very very useful tips today ladies.
I was definitely banking on going to classes to learn some of these things lol.
I'm not phased by anything gross though as my step son is autistic with profound learning difficulties. So I have been doing pad changes and personal care for the last 5 years. He's now in residential school and we miss him a lot, especially as we can't go up and see him right now.

However never done babies, no idea at all. I have to much to learn it's a bit overwhelming. I guess I'm lucky as my dh has been here twice already, albeit 14 and 13 years ago lol.

I would totally be on board with a zoom chat.

Does anyone have any recs on good books to read for ftm?

@HerondaleDucks First Time Parent is really good, read it a few weeks ago on my kindle. Very down to earth and informative. It's from 2010 I think but pretty much of the advice still stands! Learned loads from it.

@otterbaby brill. Thank you!

Yeah, I got First Time Parent too. Found it helpful and not patronising

Parenting tho is one those learn on the job things so don't stress too much you'll pick it up! Xx

My husband is waffling on about how we don’t need all these new techy things for the baby and shops prey on new mothers, I don’t disagree with him on some of it but I wish he would shut up haha!! I haven’t even mentioned anything we could buy 😂

My Mum brought round this cute outfit from M&S today along with some food. She said they’ve opened a small section to include baby clothes this week. Love the paw hands!