IVF pregnancies - Spring 2024 (thread 2)

[thislittlebird]

New thread! Do tag everyone I've missed, I'm off out to see the new Hunger Games so can add more later but need to dash! @CazzyM1983 @KG1244 @countrypunk @Misty84 @ASGIRC @TheBirdintheCave @Summerishere83

@KG1244 oh and another potentially useful thing: Next sleepsuits/baby grows come with built-in scratch mitts, so if you get those there's little need for mitts. My sisters have 12 kids between them, I was always told to gift them Next ones lol

@thislittlebird thank you so much! That’s all really helpful. I think I go through those links over the week and create my super list 😂 I’m just starting to feel like the next few months are going to fly by and there is so much to!

Interesting chat. I also started to think about what I need to buy before the baby comes.

Has anyone bought a pregnancy pillow? I’ve been advised one for sore hips while sleeping. But they have J-shape, long body pillow or u-shapes.

@CollsR I’ve ordered one but didn’t want to spend too much in case I don’t get on with it. I started getting knee pain a few days ago which wasn’t fun, and until we got a new mattress a few days ago I felt like my small bump needed cushioning. So I bought this: https://www.dunelm.com/product/mother-baby-organic-cotton-6ft-pregnancy-support-pillow-1000216389

Went for the straight 6ft one because we only have room for a double bed, I think another shape one that was bigger would struggle to fit in our bed well.

@KG1244 was it you that also had congestion? I’m struggling a lot the last few days with some sort of head cold. Now taken to the olbas oil steam to get some relief.

@CollsR I bought one in the Black Friday sale but haven’t needed it quite yet but think I’m getting there. I have a long sausage one!

@thislittlebird yes just in the morning first thing. Which apparently can happen in pregnancy. Although I swear I could google anything and it would say ‘pregnancy symptom’ 😂

@KG1244 I’ve had it for weeks but I’ve ended up with a full on head cold situation. Finally getting a bit better after spending a couple of days resting and inhaling olbas oil.

Scratch what I said about the pregnancy pillow, they cancelled my order 🤪. Back on the pregnancy pillow hunt I go.

My pregnancy pillow is a Kally Pillow Mini. It's a sort of short sausage, lol. I just use it to prop my knee on when I'm sleeping on my side. Or at least, I will do. I haven't needed it yet thankfully.

@TheBirdintheCave do those ones come with pillow cases? Most don’t seem to which is why I’m struggling to find one. I have eczema and can’t sleep with a lot of fabrics touching me.

@thislittlebird Yep, it's got a washable jersey pillowcase, I think you can buy replacements too :)

https://www.kallysleep.com/shop/all/kally-body-pillow/

It's this one, except a mini version. Not sure if they sell it anymore :(

I’ve got most of the stuff I need as this is baby two for us. When we had baby 1 it was just before lockdown and with a lot of shops closed it was hard to get hold of baby stuff especially nappies. I had 7x sleep suits (with full arms, hand mitts and legs with feet on), 7x baby vests (the ones like a body suit with no arms or legs) I had the ones from H&M which do up across the body at the front as it’s difficult to get anything over a newborns head, three hats - you will need these for hospital, coming home, out with the pram etc. 2x fur lined blankets from tesco, two cellular blankets from john lewis. 2x love to dream newborn swaddles - these were an absolute godsend. If you are going to swaddle then these save messing with blankets. One Baby K’tan stretchy wrap - again a godsend as it’s just two circles of fabric, easy to put on and machine washable. As I had a c section it held the baby on my chest, not near my scar, and meant my hands were free for eating/drinking/toilet. 1x snuzpod with matress, fitted sheets and blankets. We have got another this time so we have one upstairs and one downstairs (we had a Finnish baby box for downstairs last time). 2x changing mats (1 upstairs, 1 downstairs) I like the ikea ones with the really high sides. We had a cot top changing table upstairs and just used the mat on the dining room table downstairs. People wanged to gift us things so we asked for some people to give 0-3m vests and sleepsuits, some 3-6m and others 6-9m. I was lucky to be able to breastfeed so we didn’t need bottles (just got a pack of 6 ready made to take to hospital just in case- they come with teats). 20 or even more muslins. We went through 5 a day at least! And they are good to put under baby’s head in the cot if they spit up a little so you don’t have to change sheets. Don’t get anything like socks or gloves or fancy outfits with tiny buttons, as these are a pain!
We also had a lie flat i size car seat, and a washing machine and tumble dryer.
nappies wise we had pre brought about 6 packs of first size from Aldi. Used disposables for about 2 months then used reusables until she potty trained. I’m so glad we did as we are quite rural and ‘popping out’ to get nappies took several hours, plus with covid there were restrictions due to panic buying.
this time I am also investing in two seraphine skjn to skin tops from facebook/vinted as then you can wear normal zip up hoody over them. I am also getting some C section support pants for after the birth, which I didn’t know existed last time. And a few pairs of button up PJs for the hospital.
I hope that helps people wondering what to get. I’d say don’t go overboard on the newborn and 0-3m stuff as they grow quickly!
If you are buyinv a pram/pushchair check you can fold it and put it in your car/onto bus/tube one handed. Don’t bother with a baby bath, they are an absolute pain to fill and empty. Just use the bathroom sink! Also if you have a C section bending over the bath or to change a nappy is hell on earth!

@PollywithaP This is so helpful. Thank you!! Do you think you still need little hats with a May baby?

@thislittlebird wish you better. It’s definitely the joy of a lowered immune system. Take it easy xx

@KG1244 yes definitely at the hospital and to come home. Newborns lose heat very quickly!

Yeah I was going to say a few hats but not tons?

@PollywithaP glad you also recommended the Love to Dream swaddle bags, I plan on getting some but unsure how many we’d need. And don’t want to go crazy in case the baby doesn’t like them.

Sounds like the Aldi nappies are good too.

We weren’t going to find out what we’re having but the gift list/wish list is making me rethink that. If I tell people to get me 6-9 month stuff and I don’t know the sex of the baby, seems like they’ll be in neutrals and whites forever.

@KG1244 thanks! feeling a bit better today but a way to go yet. Got the 20 week scan on Saturday, going to be coughing my way through it.

@TheBirdintheCave Thanks! Will look at that pillow. We’ve only got a double bed so I don’t want to push my partner out of bed. Definitely need something for my hips. Joy of a higher BMI.

@PollywithaP Thanks! That’s an amazing list of things. I really just want to buy the basics. My local supermarket sells baby clothes and things so I feel comfortable doing so.

I’m just here to say I’ve had enough of getting bigger. It’s only (almost) 5 months and I feel so fat and full and cumbersome. Cannot say I am looking forward to another 4 months of this.

Happy new year everyone!

I just came back from a week in London, so yeah, definitely recommend travelling in 2nd trimestre. I was 26 weeks going, and 27 coming back, which is just before the fit to fly letter is needed.
Baby slept on the flights😂

As for clothes sizes, I have very few newborn things, as I figure if Maggie is on the bigger size, then she wont be able to use them, but even if shes a bit smaller, she can still wear the 0-3 months clothes, even if they are a bit bigger.

No pregnancy pillow for me. Due to my lower back pain, Ive had a between the legs pillow for a thousand years now! So that has been great! And since Im now over 6 months, I dont think I will buy one to use for less than 3 months. If I need one for my bump, I will just use one of my regular pillows for that support!

I have now been signed off work for the duration. Its both a weight off my shoulders, and a weight on my conscience 😅

@thislittlebird how was your 20 week scan? I’m also getting a bit freaked by the thought of a massive bump! I’m hoping once it’s here, I’ll be more chilled.

@ASGIRC how did you find flying? I’m pleased you’re signed off and taking care of yourself ❤️

@KG1244 It was absolutely fine! Zero complains from me. It was also a short flight, only 2h30, so I didnt even bother with compression socks.
I tried to sleep (though I never can! I am 100% unable to sleep in a sitting position) and the baby complied with it, and also slept through, both ways!

@ASGIRC oh good. Mine is about 4 hours so I’ve bought some compression socks. Hoping I’ll be ok! Xx

@KG1244 you should be absolutely fine! And yeah, if I had a longer flight, I would have gotten the socks as well!

@ASGIRC glad your flight went well!

I have to say it’s been better for sleeping since we got a new mattress but I might try a long pillow.

@KG1244 the scan was good, thank you! I still feel awful. I think @CazzyM1983 said she had a cold and it floored her, and omg ain’t that the truth. I feel like death warmed up still, it’s nearly been a week. Anyway, scan was good, I was exhausted just being there and then she made me jump up and down on the spot to try to get the baby to move and that nearly finished me off. The baby did not move. Everything seemed ok with the scan, they wrote the sex on a piece of paper for us and we can choose if we open it or not. I probably will, it’s bugging me not knowing if I should buy x or y design baby grow but I know DH doesn’t really want to know. I kind of saw the writing through the paper and it looked like a lowercase g or maybe a y which doesn’t narrow it down lol

Your trips are making me want to book one. I’d have definitely booked the canaries if I knew the weather would be 20 but it looks cooler when I Google it 🤔

@KG1244 oh and about the bump. I find it all quite daunting, I think it’s very strange to see your body changing or its own volition. I worry about how it’ll all look afterwards, can’t say it’s something I’m relishing. It’s a bit alien all round, really.

@thislittlebird I now have a definite bump (it finally appeared at 25 weeks!) and I dont like it! LOL It is uncomfortable And its not even a big bump yet!
I also have to say I am not the biggest fan of the kicking! I mean... I feel very reassured when she kicks, but I dont like the feeling itself.