June 2023 Babies ☀️ (thread four)

[firsttimelondonmummy]

Hey all,
We are getting close to full so getting another thread ready 😊

@summerpoolandsun @Kladebs I hate not being able to get out!!! Can't wait for some sunshine ☀️ In fact I'm usually such an active person but the pgp is really limiting too. Ah well we haven't got much longer have we and it will be so worth it.

I mostly feel kicks & movement on my left side and last time midwife checked he was like laying across my stomach (transverse?) does anyone know when they start being head or legs down? Ftm!

@firsttimelondonmummy omg looks so nice the !! I’m deffo jealous . Soak it up !!

Has anyone thought of breast pumps - been seeing the momcosy ones on TikTok a lot.

Does anyone else feel super unprepared or just me ? I think the toddler makes it’s extra hard to be motivated. I need to find a space for the new baby - where to place her clothes and stuff. The toddler has taken over the house !

@Zaalfruit We're going to put a big chest of drawers in our bedroom for baby's clothes and bits. Dd1's room is too small to put one in. At least it'll give me some level of organisation.

@Zaalfruit i feel unprepared. I have stuff, but no idea where its all going.
Current set up is I have a bed at the back of the living room with a couple of small wardrobes next to it.
Think I'm going to have to ditch having a living room, and make it a proper bedroom.
But the thought of moving all the furniture just makes me procrastinate more 🤣

@Zaalfruit I also feel completely unprepared, have brought two outfits but that's it, need everything else! A friend is giving us bedside crib and a bunch of other stuff but won't be giving us that for a while to save space. We also need to redo what will be the nursery and sell the bed in there currently so have no space to put things!

Going to a baby show/fair this weekend which I'm really looking forward to, hopefully we'll be able to narrow down a pram!

I.am feeling quite organised. I think the experience of several friends and family members, all of whom had their babies at 30 weeks has scared me into action. Nursery is more or less done, and I've started getting bits together for my hospital bag.
Mum is busy washing a variety of baby clothes from my sister and I have washed all my recent purchases and put them away.
However I am sure there is something really obvious we have not done.

Yes! I'm feeling so underprepared, not only with buying stuff but with knowing how to look after a baby, although we do have our NCT classes starting at the end of this month so hopefully that will help. I also made a list of everything I need/want to buy but it looks huge! All I've got so far are a pack of new born and 0-3 months vests and some romper suits and a couple of babygrows. I have had a quick look at prams and have some idea which I'd like and we'll hopefully do the mamas and papas buying for baby thing over the Easter weekend and get most of the big stuff then.

Getting a bit stressed about getting baby's room done in time though. Made a start clearing all the junk out but we need new windows in there and they're not being done until the end of April so can't start decorating until then. And then we'll need to get the furniture set up and everything sorted after that. Just really hoping baby doesn't come early!

@Zaalfruit ah thank you we will!

Also I’m a bit of an organisational freak in general and this is my first so I’ve been on overdrive.
I think I had most things by 20 weeks and now we are just adding little bits here and there.
Doubt if we have a second we would be this organised 😂

DH and I have just been comparing calendars and between now and due date we have 1 free weekend per month. DH is working quite a few weekends to bump up the bank account while we can. But does put paid to a mini break before bubs is here and I'm too huge to move!

@DrinkingAllTheGin when we checked our calendar it was similar! How can it be going so fast.

Written the list for our hospital bags:
Baby

• 5x vests
• 3x sleepsuits
• Going home outfit
• Small pack of nappies
• Cotton wool
• Hat
• Baby blanket
• Muslins: small, medium, large (can double as a blanket or swaddle or feeding cover so I figured one of each size was a good idea)
• Car seat

Me

• Pack of maternity pads (they had loads in hospital last time so not worrying too much.)
• Birthing shirt (top tip: if you plan an epidural get one with a back opening, I’m just wearing a regular nightie but will have to switch to a hospital gown if I go for an epidural again)
• Wrap around dress (good for breastfeeding, nicer than wearing PJs on the ward and I had a catheter in for 24 hours last time so couldn’t wear bottoms)
• Outfit to go home in
• Nipple cream!
• Charger
• Knickers, considering disposable this time: any recommendations?
• Food: fruit, nuts, isotonic drink, sparkling water, biscuits (I’m not a fan of post birth hospital toast)
• Jumper (think that’ll depend on the weather)
• Nursing bra
• Charger with long cable.
• Wash bag: toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, hairbrush, moisturiser, lip balm, deodorant. (Last time I took an all in one shower gel / shampoo and regretted it, it’s the little things).
• Flip flops

I took essential oils including clary sage last time but didn’t use them so not sure whether to include them this time. Also considering a tens machine…

I also took “spritz for bits” which despite having a second degree tear never used so again not sure whether to take.

Size wise I’m going for “newborn” and “up to 1 month”.

Have I missed anything obvious?

@PurBal I'll be adding the following in mine:
Premade milk cartons for baby
My sudoku book
My Nintendo switch
Charging cables
Pen and paper
Maternity pads
A wet bag to put all dirty clothing in for DH to take back home
Possibly ear plugs
My good pillow
Change/bank card for hospital shop

I'm preparing for a longer stay as I wasn't prepared last time and had to rely on DH bringing me stuff. He brought me some of his pjs by accident at one point. I won't leave it to chance this time!

Hello, I can't remember the posters who had covid but if you could DM or respond I would really appreciate it. My DP has just tested positive this morning (I've opened up a new thread) and I was just wondering how the posters felt it compared if it was their second time with covid. I'm unvaccinated due to medical reasons and I had Delta in 2021 really badly when I had to take doxycycline for suspected early pneumonia, however, if I catch it again this wouldn't be an option. I know lots of people are saying this current strain is milder.

Also in regards to hospital bags I've bought these to help organise what I have packed. I think you can make your own or get them cheaper than on Amazon.

Aww love this!! Thanks for sharing 🤗

@Dewintergarden Oh love that idea! Realised today I'd need three separate baby bags. 1st for premmie, 2nd for normal baby size, 3rd for if baby comes out size of a toddler 😂Dd1 was tiny baby and we hadn't got any tiny baby clothes so DH made a stop at Asda after she was born and got whatever he could. I want to be prepared this time though. I'll have to label them up ridiculously so DH can find them. Might even have to put signposts around the house he's that useless.

Just realised I need a daddy bag too for DH snacks. He won't think and then bed eat all mine.

@Dewintergarden I made these for myself . I am just labelling up as I go.

@PurBal and @BellaTheDarkOverlord I will
be using your lists as I forgot some stuff already . Last time I forgot to take a towel and I hate using other peoples towels. After giving birth I washed my face to cool myself and came back looking like a drowned rat. I’m going to take dry shampoo this time - I sweated so much last time during birth this time My hair looked so greasy in all the first pics .

Oh just remembered hair turban if I need to wash my hair whilst in there. Also some magazines like Take a break. Love me a bit of those during long waits 😂

I'm making my own using zip bags from amazon and some from a shein delivery.
I've started collating it all in a crate. DH is away next weekend, might start packing some of it then.

What are you packing for a baby coming home outfit? I assumed a sleep suit would be enough? Obs with vest etc.

I mean this time I want to avoid the greasy hair look 😂😂😂

Anyone else unable to sleep last 4am? It’s so boring and tiring waking up at 4am every day . It makes me want to shop .

@DrinkingAllTheGin this time I’m packing two sleep suits as coming home outfits with a short sleeve vests . I’m hoping the weather is more mild - last time I forgot a hat and the hospital wouldn’t let me leave during October 2020 as they said it’s too cold and she will loose a lot of heat . ( 2 coming home outfits as the first time round before I had even left the ward - she did an epic poop and I didn’t know how to fix a nappy)

Is anyone doing a hypnobirthing course? If so, which company have you gone with?

@Zaalfruit the waking up early is awful isn’t it. I scroll on my phone in the hope I’ll get so bored with Instagram that I fall asleep.

I’ve suddenly got massive over the last week or so, none of my clothes fit so I did a huge h&m order - imagine most will go straight back. Really struggling with what to wear for work…

@Dewintergarden so organised, love it! We’ve been clearing our bathroom this morning and found some hotel miniatures I’m going to pack.

@BellaTheDarkOverlord oo wet bag yes! And spare clothes for DH. DS did his first meconium poo down DH just after he was born 😂

@PurBal yes deffo spare clothes for dh!! My husband looked like a bird Shat on him 😂😂😂😂

I've made my own little bags to, just zip up sandwich bags and wrote on them with a sharpie, my hospital bag is all packed now just need the premade milk bottle which I will get closer to the time. I'm also taking dry shampoo as have having wet hair in the hospital. Also I do have pre eclampsia so I might be having her at 36 weeks 😕 but I finished the nursery today and litterally have everything apart from milk so I think I'm sorted

@Hlc86 Sorry for the diagnosis. Hope they are looking after you and monitoring you closely!