Due June 2022 (thread eight)

[Annabell1]

New Thread.

Has anyone started looking at bottle sets & steriliser or warming kits? I’m a bit lost and can’t really figure out what is essential. I’d like to breastfeed but I’m aware that little one might have other ideas or I might not take to it myself. Is anyone able to please advise what I should be looking at purchasing please? I stood in the Boots baby aisle the other night and was a bit overwhelmed by all the different options - there didn’t seem to be much education around what was an essential newborn purchase though. Thank you! 😊

@mrkb - Sorry to hear about your positive test.

@sunflower198 - I’ve got my test next week. I can’t get enough water down my throat at the moment so I’m sure I’m going to test positive. I hope you’re not too sore from the monitoring tests.

@RoseValleyRambles yeah I’m really hoping so. Baby is being active so I’m taking that as a positive there’s nothing wrong, but just went to the loo and I guess the strain made my muscles ache more. Torn on what to do as I hate wasting peoples time but want to make sure the baby is okay.

@RoseValleyRambles we had 3-4 bibs but didn’t really use them much - I found the vomit found its way past them anyway. Also, if she fell asleep feeding, I’d have to take her bib off (they should sleep with them on), at which point she’d wake up and we’d be back to square one. Worth trying though, might be really helpful for some babies!

@Roxystar23 I’d start very basic if you’re thinking you might breastfeed. Anything else can be bought at short notice at the time. We bought:

• a microwave steriliser - cheap, easy to use, can be stored in the microwave; we used it for other things in the end
• a set of 2 small mam anti colic bottles with newborn teats (went for mam because they are also self sterilising in the microwave, but I’ve heard other brands recommended like Dr Brown or Tommee Tippee
• a bottle brush
• a box of ready to use formula, with teats just in case

In the end we were lucky and breastfeeding worked well, so we didn’t use any formula.

We did also buy a Medela breast pump, but I hated using it and found the storing of the milk and sterilising of the bottles too much faff to bother with.

I’d say get some absolute essentials that you won’t regret not using, and if you go with formula it’s very easy to order more at the time.

@RoseValleyRambles ugh, sorry- they shouldn’t sleep with the bib on

@Roxystar23 I have been extensively researching bottles and this is my plan:

1. Attempt exclusive breastfeeding until established and then move to expressing milk through use of hands free bra device such as Frau Pow or similar.

1. Purchase Tommee Tippee closer to nature bottles x 6 and microwave steriliser.

1. If any or all of breastfeeding fails, purchase a Tommee Tippee perfect prep machine on next day delivery.

• I have also begun what I call the "emergency stash". This consists of:

These for my hospital bag (I know they're wasteful but I'm cutting myself some slack.) If I breastfeed perfectly, I will donate them to a Foodbank.

Aptamil 1 First Baby Milk Formula Starter Pack Ready to Use Liquid, from Birth, 6x70 ml https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N8P9ADQ/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttiCXTP6M4ZKSA99PTXDH9K??encoding=UTF8&psc=1

And a box of newborn Aptamil powder.

On the subject of the last two, I am not discussing it with my midwife or telling the midwives at the delivery suite that I'm packing heat in the form of 6 pre-made bottles. I have already hit up against some pushiness from community midwife re: breast is best.
I am planning to breast feed but I am preparing to just feed. Fed is best!

No one will tell me that I can't feed my baby the pre made bottles that I take along, but if they start giving me shit about them while I'm in labour, I'm likely to lose my mind. 🤣

Any pregnancy pillow recommendations?Xx

@PeeAche I had the same Aptamil in my hospital bag the first time, and taking a couple of bottles this time too. I didn't need to use them (in fact never used them), but it was good to know they were there. Didn't tell any midwives I had them - not their business.

Personally I hated expressing but others really got on with it and used it a lot.

Aah! Thank you @EarlGreywithLemon & @PeeAche - I’ve just copied both of your messages into my notes so I can refer back to them plus added an additional note to self about not telling midwife about potential formula that may be smuggled into my hospital bag.

I will begin looking for a Steriliser and a small set of bottles based upon your advice. I think I was just panicking that this poor little baby is going to be looking up at me and wanting to be fed and I wouldn’t have a clue how to go about it.

Thank you both! 😊

Also @peeache - Congrats on selecting a name (it’s such a hard decision!!) and also on the purchase of your little one’s new wheels! Another hard choice!

I am researching, making notes, saving things to my Amazon basket for later... but I am keeping the actual purchasing to a minimum, until I know my baby and my postpartum state.

There is a lot of pressure to buy everything now, but most things are available on next day. And you won't be so, so busy that you or your partner can't find 30 seconds to swipe to buy. 😅
I think it's better to research but hold off actual purchase until you know you need them. Otherwise you end up with a "nursery" (storage room!) piled up to the rafters with white plastic tat, that you aren't going to use.

Something to wear, something to sleep in, something to ride around in, something to shit in, a handful of bottles for emergencies. That's my starter for ten.

Something I am stocking up on early are maternity pads. I do not ever want to be without a maternity pad! I have also bought a tube of nipple cream. I will buy 3 more if I breastfeed and I like the stuff. I got the top sellers for both on Amazon. I bought more maternity pads than I think I will need.

FYI, I got my microwave steriliser second hand for £2.

It angers me so much that midwives are pushy about breastfeeding asif it is there baby. I do feel like every Tom dick and Harry these days feel like they have a right to ask you if you are. I have an auntie that seemed shocked when I said am not but has 3 children she has never breast fed and also a friend who was shocked who has never had a baby 😂😂 I am very much of the opinion fed is best and will do what’s best for me and baby. Am lucky in a sense that my mum is coming in with me so any of that whilst am in labour and she is the type who will just shut that midwife down she has the ability to shut people up with a single look 😂😂😂

@Roxystar23 adding my agreement to the above! I'd recommend getting some of the pre-made stuff in and don't worry about the rest until you see how things pan out. It can take a bit of time to establish breastfeeding so you might want to use a bit of formula alongside in the first few days and then end up boob only. I breastfed to 13 months but managed to hand express when needed so never needed a pump and just had a microwave steriliser. Everyone will be different but definitely worth minimising the amount of stuff you get that you might never use if you can in my opinion!

@Roxystar23 I’m with getting the absolute basics for now as you may not use other things. I’d buy MAM self-sterilising bottles then you don’t need a steriliser. Make sure to start with slow flow teats for newborn. As time goes on you can buy replacement teats with medium flow, then fast flow.

You could get a few cartons of pre-made formula to start, just in case needed in emergency.

If breastfeeding is not established you could go on to purchase more gadgets such as the Tommee tippee perfect prep machine. Also you could then buy tubs of formula powder so you can make it (much cheaper than pre-made).

@PeeAche yes yes yes to lots of maternity pads. I used more of them than I could ever have imagined possible. During the first few days the midwives advised wearing two at a time, and they had to be changed every few hours. The hospital luckily supplied them or my pack would have run out in a day. I also had bleeding for a good 6 weeks after, albeit much less so after a while.

Top tip: do not get out of bed without your pad on ... The midwives, bless them, took it off for me for a few hours to air the stitches, and I forgot all about it and stood up. Cue a literal puddle on the floor, panic as I'd had a PPH and thought it was happening again, midwife summoned at top speed etc. Bless him, the midwife was lovely, he calmed me down and helped me into the shower. Lesson learned though!!

@pregnancydiaries my heart was set on a Bamibi (one of the girls on here recommended it) but I can't find one anywhere and Amazon stopped selling them a few weeks ago 😢

It was multi-use and good value ££.
Baby nest (so no need for a sleepyhead)
Nursing pillow
Sleeping pillow (for us)
And something else, probably less important as I can't remember right now.....
If you find a good one let me know!xxx

Thanks for all the well wishes everyone! I rang the maternity unit this morning as I had a really bad headache and pain under my ribs and they were fantastic. Told me to come in - better to be safe than sorry - and ran me through a suite of tests (blood, urine, blood pressure, oxygen, even a CTG for 45 mins on bump - and a full scan booked for later in the week). I was a bit apprehensive about phoning and wasting everyone's time but they didn't make me feel like that at all - I just had my own little room because of being covid+. If anyone else ends up in a similar position don't worry about phoning up. Luckily everything is fine but they've advised me to keep an eye on things as Covid can make breathing deteriorate quickly, especially with baby up against our lungs!

Also following all these prep lists with interest - haven't bought anything yet but don't want to be caught short without maternity pads - which I for some reason hadn't even thought of needing!

Off to bed now to rest and hopefully recuperate 🤞🏻

@mrkb that’s good to hear! Sounds like a better trust than mine! Called at 10:30 with cramps and a headache, told to wait 3-4 hours to see if they persist. Called 3 and a half hours later and got told take paracetamol and wait another two hours.
😫

Glad to hear all ok @mrkb xx

Hope you get seen soon @Vimto1991, how are the cramps now?xx

@pregnancydiaries feels a bit subsided but I did take painkillers like they suggested. Just feels a bit uncomfortable down there at the moment.
I may just be presuming the worst but my midwife said to call the hospital so I did 😬 they’re just not very proactive or because babies moving, I’m not bleeding and waters haven’t broken they aren’t immediately concerned.

@Vimto1991 glad it's subsided and is responding to paracetamol but if you're still worried I'd just tell them it hasn't helped when you phone back up so that they see you, if it will reassure you xx

@Vimto1991 I'm relieved that you're both okay. Is it possible that it's Braxton Hicks? Mine were very painful. I thought I was dying!

@PeeAche I’m not sure, would it last all day? It’s either like a mild period pain or just a weird pressure (not sure if that’s baby moving to an uncomfortable place). The only thing helping my anxiety is that I’m sure they’d have seen me this morning if they were concerned, and that baby has been moving fine all day today! I’ve had more discharge than normal this week… but thought that was normal, now today with how sick and crap I feel I’m just in panic mode 😅

I don't know if it's the same for everyone but, I've had it 2 or 3 times now. It starts as mild period pains (I literally thought I was imagining them at first) and it grows and grows in intensity. Eventually it culminates in strong muscle spasms that, for me, made my whole tummy go rock hard.
The spasms aren't at regular intervals or consistent in how long they last.
They make me sweat and groan and then they go off. They're worse the day after I've had a busy day.
The baby hardly moves during my episodes (or, at least, I hardly feel her) which I don't like. But as soon as it's over, I feel completely normal again with no lasting aches, and baby merrily resumes her stretching and bladder kicking like nothing ever happened.

And yes, sorry, it lasts most of the day from onset of first mild cramps to the big crescendo.

The first midwife and trainee midwife I saw said it was too early for Braxton Hicks but the consultant said that's nonsense. It's less common to get them before 28 weeks but totally normal and it happens.

@PeeAche oh wow! Thank for you telling me this, I had no idea what they were like!! Thank god your consultant saw sense. :)
I’m just seeing how I get on this evening and if baby stops moving or cramps get worse I may just March down to the hospital without calling 😂