May Babies 2025 - Thread 2

[BrodieKD]

Continuing on from the first thread....For all those pregnant ladies due in May 2025

I brought a next to me that you can just lower the side but it still has a lip on it so it doesn’t fit flush with the bed… how prepared is everyone? I’m not feeling very prepared at all I don’t have any idea what furniture I am getting- im not too panicked about the cot cuz I have the next to me and baby won’t be in their own room til gone 6 months but really need to sort drawers out so I can organise the clothes I have. Also need to weather to improve so I start washing things

I think I'm pretty much done with preparing, just twiddling my thumbs waiting now. I've heard lots of people saying they wished they hadn't left their nesting until later on in pregnancy when they are too big to do anything so I wanted to get everything built furniture wise before that point. I also work in a school and my partner works over the weekend so I got lots done last half term including a trip to ikea for furniture. Have ordered the last of the essentials on amazon today so hopefully I can just relax for the next 9 weeks. I'm feeling mentally exhausted so glad I did most of it early.

I’m sorry that things have been so stressful this week for so many of you: and seagulls squawking in the background is not the soundtrack you want when you’re worried!

I had my 32 week appointment last week and was told that the baby is currently breech: they have 8 weeks to redirect themselves so I’m not too worried at this stage but it’s another thing to think about.

I think I’m anti-nesting: I’m trying to get rid of lots of furniture and then realising that I’m having a baby so will absolutely need the chest of drawers that I’ve just offered to my friend!

To be fair I finish work next Monday as I’m taking my holidays before my maternity. I needed two weeks off for Easter so it only really gives me a few weeks before I’m to huge to do anything so thought I might as well just take all my leave first. My jobs is not something I personally can do when I’m too big as it’s exhausting both physically and mentally and given my funny turn last week at work it’s really put me on edge.

it does mean I will get some time to sort baby things out but really need to get a wiggle on as I know I only have a maximum of 8 weeks left

Currently baby boy is breech and placenta hadn't moved that much, maybe 2 cm. C section for 38 weeks.
Would like to get the pram and car seat cleaned soon. Baby clothes we had from our son have been washed, well the first sizes and have been put away in the drawers.
Bits and bobs to be sorted that I've bought and need to buy a changing table for downstairs, some new changing mats.

Sorry to hear some people are having a stressful time!
nesting is in full swing for me though, travel system, hospital bags and nursery furniture is finally done 🥲
34 weeks tomorrow and baby boy was measuring 5lb6 at 32+3 and I have Polyhydramnios so currently wearing a Libre monitor for GD and weekly scans, so I thankfully get to see him more. I’m more than likely having a c section but will be under GA due to severe anxiety which I’m trying to come to terms with. But as long as he’s here safe and sound I’ll do whatever🩵

Not long left now everyone!!

Loz - have you had a Caesarean before? I know people who’ve had general anaesthetic and spinal C-sections, Both went fine

No, this is my first child

Let me know if you’ve got any questions! I was very scared going in for my first one and a friend talk to me through what happens

What essentials do you recommend for hospital bags?
Not the baby one, the one for mum....
I'm thinking postpartum pads/pants and a fan. Any other things apart from clothes etc?

Was yours a spinal or under GA?

As I planned for a natural birth originally, I packed cooling mist as well as a fan as my hospital is boiling. Snacks and I'll be packing my Stanley cup closer to the time. Don't forget your toiletries and things like a phone charger.

You will need pants that’s are high waited that go above your hips as normal pants will irritate your section scar the bigger the better at first hun. I’ve had two sections. You still bleed just as much but it’s more making sure your clothes don’t irritate the section scar

Oh the seagulls in Liverpool are something else!! That's where I was at uni (and got admitted to hospital with my youngest!) and they used to nest on the roof of the floor down from our clinic every year.. What a racket they used to make 😂 It was cute watching the babies grow and learn to fly though 😍 Hope you've been ok since getting home and had plenty of rest ❤️

I don't feel very prepared at the moment to be honest (32 weeks today) although better than I did after making a start with my hospital bag. We went to have a look at some next to me style cribs yesterday - Been looking at the Tutti Bambini Cozee Air and think i've decided that's the one i'm going to get. Also had a quick nose at a couple of carseats and a Doona. We've still got our pram from youngest ( even though she 9 😂, I just loved it and couldn't part with it), we just need to have it cleaned so going to look for a company to do that.
I've also been looking for local moxibustion practitioners in my area too (I mentioned before this one's still breech at the moment and I don't have much faith in them tuening as my older 2 were born breech 🫠).. The hospital tried to turn my older 2 but it didn't work either time so going to give 'alternative therapies' a go this time instead - Was recommended by my midwife and apparantly has up to and 81% success rate so might as well give it a shot x

@Beccaa123i’ve just packed my bags! My essentials for a vaginal birth are:

• a peri bottle (this was the biggest life saver to me as I had stitches. You can fill it with water and then run the water over yourself while you wee to dilute the urine and help the stinging - I also used it to wash the area in between changing pads)
• maternity pads (not just normal ones!)
• maternity nappies (I would just put a maternity pad in a nappy, not glamorous by my god I bled heavily!)
• spritz for bitz which I spray directly onto the pad (for cooling)
• big pants, I’m talking ones that go up past your belly button
• toiletries (I had a shower straight after stitches and felt so much better for it!)
• a charger with a long cable (sometimes the plug sockets are in odd places)
• a fan (I was sweating my arse off in labour and forgot I even had a fan with me, hadn’t told my husband either so make sure he knows where it is and it’s charged!)
• a TENS machine
• nipple balm if you’re planning to breastfeed, it can get sore quickly!
• paracetamol (obviously they can provide this on the ward but if you don’t want to wait for it, it’s best to take it yourself

That’s pretty much my list! I took a lot of unnecessary stuff last time including my laptop, after seeing videos online of people watching films in labour 😂 if you’re having an epidural it may be worth it but I went from 1-2cm to 10cm and pushing in 2 hours and wasn’t given pain relief, so I really wasn’t in the mood for watching anything!

@Toothfairy0113 Some of them are massive and they flock all on the roof of the hospital, they never shut up. Just feeling quite tired and managed to get some sleep last night at home so that was good ❤️

@microwoods the spritz for bits, is that the expert midwife one? I've seen a witch hazel one that you can spray on maternity towels, I never got a peri bottle last time, debating on one this time, even though I'll be having a section.
I've got maternity pads ( lil let ones ) debating on some thicker ones as well and have some disposable knickers.

Great, thanks everyone!
Is there any difference in what you would need between a vaginal birth or C-section?
Planning on vaginal, but I am being induced & I know there are higher rates for intervention/section with induction

Yeah the expert midwife one! I’d probably take a peri bottle either way, it’s an easy way to stay clean although my SIL said she bled a lot less with her section! X

I had the option of either but chose a spinal and will do again. I had a general anaesthetic a few years ago for unrelated surgery

The changes that I made to my hospital bag when I found out I was having my first Caesarean (I’m about to have my third) was adding the very high soft knickers others have mentioned, Plus, moving to a dress for going home (So nothing could irritate the scar). I also removed everything that I would’ve needed for labour, but of course if you are having an induction then you probably need all of that! The main thing I will do differently 3rd time round is not pack too much in my bag, But take a main bag and then have a spare one in the boot

@microwoods Thank you! Will buy a peri bottle will come in handy. I can't remember with my last section, on how much I bled, though I do remember thinking that I wouldn't because I had a section 🙈

I'm going to get some of those organiser bags to put in my hospital bag so not having to root through or at least if I ask hubby to get something out of there, will make it easier to find, well hopefully!

Oh I looked at getting some of these too, they look quite helpful. I've got a wheely suitcase for my hospital bag this time that you can pack in both sides of so going to pit my stuff in one side and baby's in the other to try and make things a bit easier