***** January 2015 Mummy's *****

[Jolly81]

Any of you lovely lot thinking about your hospital bags yet? I didn't have mine ready until about 37 weeks last time but I plan to be organised and be sorted by 32 weeks (a week on sat). This is also the time that hubby starts his alcohol embargo and I cannot wait!!! I get so grumpy watching him enjoy a drink on a Saturday evening!!

 

[ChickenDinner]

Glad the scan went okay Kiwi x

Hopefully everything went well for YellowGlass too

Thanks for that SaraLouise - scary or what!

Haven't started the hospital bag yet, but picked up a few things to stick in it (got some breast pads and big sanitary pads)

 

[Jan123]

Kiwi ditto I hope the best outcomes for you too. Im so glad you have your mum - same here for me with my mum. We're lucky we have them eh! And I hear you on trying to be strong for others! I've had people break siwn crying when I tell them my baby needs open heart surgery at birth and I never know what to say! I'm currently awaiting my 30 week scan to check on waters and his stomach size I'm hoping they've both changed in size for the better! They're also doing another heart scan so I'll be here a while I think! Lots of love xxx

 

[BunnyN]

It really must be daunting knowing what you and LO have to face after birth. Most of us are looking tward the rest of the pregnancy and the birth as being the daunting bit. It does sound like you are getting excillent care though and they are on top of what needs to be done. You are being super brave but there must be times when you want to stop being the strong ones and have a shoulder to cry on.

Jolly- oh my, a hospital bag, I hadn't really even thought about it yet! Last pregnancy I had it mostly packed by now! We are planning a home birth but still need to have a hospital bag ready. Its funny how all of a sudden the birth seems really close! I blame SaraLouise for telling us that the first december baby is here .

 

[Jolly81]

Hahaha yes bunny!! That's exactly what got me thinking about my hospital bag!!! Last time I took a small suitcase but I was in for a week so it wasn't anywhere near enough- this time I'll be in for up to 3 days (scary enough thought) so need to make sure I'm properly prepared this time! X

 

[sunflower85]

Any of you lovely lot thinking about your hospital bags yet? I didn't have mine ready until about 37 weeks last time but I plan to be organised and be sorted by 32 weeks (a week on sat). This is also the time that hubby starts his alcohol embargo and I cannot wait!!! I get so grumpy watching him enjoy a drink on a Saturday evening!!

Yep, I have the bag sorted with Baby's clothing in it (a few sleepsuits for the hospital and a going home outfit plus snowsuit) - that's as far as I've got as yet.

I'm going to go out and buy myself some travel toiletries to put in it etc. I keep seeing 'Tens machine' on the list. Could do with some advice, has anyone used one and would you recommend getting one, or is it unnecessary? I'm also seeing a lot of options at varying prices, I don't want to spend a lot on something I may or may not use again, but don't want to spend a small amount on one that isn't effective - anyone got any thoughts?

 

[BunnyN]

Hahaha yes bunny!! That's exactly what got me thinking about my hospital bag!!! Last time I took a small suitcase but I was in for a week so it wasn't anywhere near enough- this time I'll be in for up to 3 days (scary enough thought) so need to make sure I'm properly prepared this time! X

Would it be worth to pack two bags? One to take in for you and a back up one for your OH to bring after if you end up needing it?

 

[Kiwi_53]

Jan
Well the best of luck for your scan when time comes, al be thinking of you and as you say I hope you get the best of news you can for you and your baby. Sending love and the best of wishes. Xxx

 

[ChickenDinner]

Any of you lovely lot thinking about your hospital bags yet? I didn't have mine ready until about 37 weeks last time but I plan to be organised and be sorted by 32 weeks (a week on sat). This is also the time that hubby starts his alcohol embargo and I cannot wait!!! I get so grumpy watching him enjoy a drink on a Saturday evening!!

Yep, I have the bag sorted with Baby's clothing in it (a few sleepsuits for the hospital and a going home outfit plus snowsuit) - that's as far as I've got as yet.

I'm going to go out and buy myself some travel toiletries to put in it etc. I keep seeing 'Tens machine' on the list. Could do with some advice, has anyone used one and would you recommend getting one, or is it unnecessary? I'm also seeing a lot of options at varying prices, I don't want to spend a lot on something I may or may not use again, but don't want to spend a small amount on one that isn't effective - anyone got any thoughts?

Daft question, but what is a going home outfit?

The only thing I know about tens is that the antenatal lady said the important thing is that it has a boost button and that it's most effective if you start using it in early labour as it has cumulative effects. I'm going to hire one i think x

 

[CARNAT22]

Didn't use my TENS last time. Although I was in a lot of pain I kept waiting for it to get really bad and by the time I wanted to use it MW said it would be pointless.

Will def try this time tho. I suffered early labour with no pain relief when I could have been using my TENS lol

Going home outfit is just what people dress baby in to come home.. kind of like 'babies first outfit'. James puked on his outfit so came home in a baby-gro

X

 

[Jolly81]

I don't know whether to anticipate early labour either, as I guess it could happen as my c section is at 39+2, so should I pack as if I'm going to have a natural birth? I don't really know what to do x

 

[ceecee22]

Fab news about your scan kiwi and good luck for yours coming up Jan.

I have started my hospital bag as DS arrived 3 weeks early so don't want to take any chances and leave it too late in case this little lady is even earlier.

Thanks for the update SarahLouise. I was supposed to have a November baby with my son but ended up with an October one. Funnily enough, as he was my first baby, I was convinced he would be overdue and I would have a December baby lol.

Way TMI post, but is anyone else finding going for a no 2 a bit weird at the mo. I swear it feels like once I've been, baby has pushed down really low. My son didn't engage until I was 36+5 and my waters went at 36+6 so I didn't feel it like this last time until I was in labour. Scaring me slightly, but probably just normal. My bits feel so swollen too and I have a dull ache permanently on one side, so guessing it's a vein. Pretty rubbish really. Sorry for TMI post!!

 

[Jolly81]

I definitely feel the ache down there, my fanny bone feels so bruised. She did feel extremely low but I think she might have popped up a bit again, but I'm absolutely convinced she'll be early!!!

I don't really have many issues with no.2's other than I have a bit of a dodgy tummy at the moment which I think is from my antibiotics for this stupid bronchitis which won't go away x

 

[sunflower85]

Yep, the going home outfit is just what I've picked out for him to wear home. Indecisive as I am, I've swapped it for something else already

I went out tonight and got a new hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, deodorant and pack of face wipes, and put those in the bag along with some hair bobbles and hair grips.

I have an oversized t-shirt to put in for labour, and I still need to buy a suitable button down nightshirt for afterwards that I can wear and breastfeed at the same time, but despite looking everywhere I can't seem to find something!

As for No2 - Let's not go there. I've been off work sick for the last 2 days for that very reason, and I never, ever take time off work, so you can imagine how dodgy I've been. I'm a world better this afternoon though, praying it stays that way. Cannot have another night of being woken up every 40 minutes with a rumbly in the tumbly....

 

[megsmeadow]

I've missed half the chat but I used my tens from the start (I was induced though so I knew when to put it on). I made it to 8cm without any other pain relief except paracetamol and by that time I thought my tens had stopped working only to realise it had been on constant boost for a couple of hours! I can't lay my hands on it which is really annoying me, I have spare pads but no machine. I think mines a mamatens.

 

[tinselcat]

I started this week getting stuff for maternity bag. So far have ordered: lanisoh nipple cream & lanisoh pads, some tena pants (!!) and now have 2 packs of Asda maternity pads. Pretty unglamourous stuff!

Jolly, if you are having a C section then everything I have read recommends getting granny pants with a high waistline (e.g. cheap from Primark) so it doesn't press on the scar.

On Tens machines, it seems to vary from person to person. Some people love them, I was speaking to a new parent recently who said it was a complete waste of time/money. So hard to gauge. My personal opinion - I am hoping to go as minimal as possible on the pain relief front, but it seems there are plenty of other options (that won't cost you anything/leave you with a pointless machine afterwards) if you want to minimise the pain.

Had 31 week midwife appointment today. Baby currently in breech position. Hopefully he will change his mind over the next few weeks!

 

[Jan123]

Girls thanks for your kind words means a lot. Scan basically showed the heart, kidneys and stomach remain the same.. The amniotic fluid measured 34cm so another increase from 2 weeks ago and they decided to drain the fluid - they took 3 litres! I'm now able to breathe and resemble a 30 weeker not a 40! The procedure was not nice though and apparently I'm at risk of preterm labour so here's hoping he stays put! They gave me the steroid to help with baby's lungs just in case so that was reassuring.

I can't believe we're all in the stages of getting our bags ready! Ceecee I so am with you on constipation issues! Not too pleasant huh?! What we ladies endure! Lots of love to all your bumps xxx

 

[ChickenDinner]

Oh Jan, what a time of it you're having x 3 litres is loads, I didn't really know what the numbers you were mentioning meant but that really shows how much there was, that must've been uncomfortable. Glad you can breathe a bit better now x


I was thinking about the labour clothes and everything says to have front opening for after the birth/breastfeeding and t-shirt for labour - but isn't it better to have front opening for labour if you want to do skin to skin straight after?

Thanks for answering about the going home outfit - mostly I just have baby-grows at the moment and I wasn't sure what else I should be getting. I've got a cute snowsuit but it seems a bit big to me so I might get a smaller one x

 

[tinselcat]

Glad to hear you're able to breathe better Jan. 3 litres sounds a lot! Hope you stay more comfortable now x

 

[TS1982]

Hey Ladies xx had my dr appointment Monday afternoon and all was well measured 2 weeks ahead !! Getting a scan at next hospital appointment on 24th Have to catch up properly later on as was at home yesterday with a poorly little man

I also had a tumble this morning on way into work fell on my bottom so waiting for baby to wake up and let me know he's still ok in there!! xx