MSE Pregnancy Club 17

rach

Sorry, final post from me - I went to a reusable nappy demo run by the council i work for on Thurs. it was really helpful and people who live in the borough (sadly not me and my borough don't do it) get a £50 voucher.

I'd really recommend going to something like this - http://www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk/ is the london link but I don't know if it operates outside.

Gena

Morning all!

Congratulations to Gymfiend - looking forward to seeing a picture!

Hello and congratulations to all the newcomers.

Bexta and Rach - thanks for the lists - I've been meaning to start mine for ages and yours really helped. As has all the responses so thanks to all of you too!
Rach - I was going to do my list in a very similar style including the green for items that I've got!

I haven't got anything yet but I'm only 16 weeks. My first job is to get rid of the bed in the spare room. I'm another lucky one as my brother has offered me whatever they no longer need (their youngest is now 2) - it does mean that whilst I don't know exactly what that will be I don't know what I still need to get and I'm finding that uncertainty very hard! I also intend to get as much second-hand as I can, as the more money we spend the less time I can have off as maternity leave.

And I had no idea pregnant women shouldn't wear underwired bras! I learn loads from this thread. Is that for when the bump is bigger?

pigpen

rach wrote: »

In case anyone is interested, here's my list! I am sure it's not all relevant and some of it is tiny stuff but I have a system whereby as well as the list I have a source column, a budget column and actual column and when I've got the thing it gets turned green!

ITEM

Pram/Pushchair
Carseat
Moses basket/Carrycot
Cot
Cot Mattress
Monitor.. angelcare angelcare angelcare!
Sling/carrier.. try a few before you buy one.. lots have very little/no support for your back and you end up carrying the weight of the baby on your shoulders when it needs to be spread across your hips!
Change Bag
Changing Mat
Cot sheets
Blankets
baby bath/bath seat.. get a washing up bowl for the first few months then progress to the big bath when they can sit unaided.. bath seats are not needed!
Nappies - reusable 20 is enough for 3-4 days.. even if you wash every other day you need time to get them dry and a few in case of emergency.. have you decided what brand you are getting yet? DON'T FORGET WRAPS/LINERS
Nappies - disposeable
Nappy bucket with lid.. Are you dry or wet pailing? Dry pailing a few drops of tea tree or lavendar oil in the bucket help it not stink so much.. also they have antiseptic properties but as oils CAN mark some fabrics! Wet pailing you'll need napisan or suchlike
top & tail bowl.. car boot!
Towels (4).. I have only EVER had 2 for mine and never needed more.. babies don't need to be bathed daily. the stupid ones with a hood on the corner are useless.. just use normal bath towels that will last forever.
Muslins.. I use mine for everything so bought 20.. bibs, emergency nappies, burp cloths, snot mops, wash clothes, sheet protectors etc
sleeping bag.. car boots or ebay!!.. Or.. christmas presents!
Bouncy/elec chair
reusable wipes.. face flannels!!! Or.. squares of fleece fabric.. just buy (or scrounge on freecycle!) a metre length and cut it up!!

Clothes
Sleepsuits.. For the first few weeks I would recommend just using sleepsuits.. they don't need socks, they are warm and comfy and easy to wash and dry.. 10-12 is plenty.
mittens.. scratch mitts are useless and I've never found a need for them.. I am yet to find a baby who scratched themselves more than 2-3 times. Obviously winter mitts are necessary for cold handies!
hat.. get a knitter on task (Toots has offered )
socks.. 6 pairs are enough.. I usually get a couple of pairs of those pullon slippers for mine too.. the mothercare ones stayed on really well.
vests.. breastfed babies like to poop up their back.. you will need more vests than sleepsuits probably. They like to pee on them during changes too. 12-15 is more than enough

For your winter baby I'd recommend some jumpers/cardigans as well.. about 8-10.

I have only ever run the baby wash every 4-5 days. Nappies are done every other day separately.

Feeding
breast pump.. make sure you get one with a couple of bottles.. I'd recommend the Avent Isis or the Medela electric one
bottles.. there will be a couple with the breastpump you don't need to buy more
steriliser.. not needed at all if breastfeeding
dummy.. don't buy one unless you NEED one.. breastfed babies don't usually like them anyway
nipple cream.. lansinoh.. nothing else works
nipple shields.. Totally useless bis of junk.. baby finds them impossible to latch onto properly and they increase friction on the nipple and mae you really sore. If you have inverted nips and these have been suggested.. gentle pulling out of the nipple usually corrects this before the birth and rolling the nipple between the thumb and forefinger before trying to latch baby on makes it firm and easier to get into baby's mouth
bibs.. if you are having muslins you may only need a couple.. until you need big ones for food shovelling.

Small stuff
wipes
cotton wool.. buy the rolls from the beauty section.. hey are better quality and cheaper than the 'baby' stuff
baby bath.. check out the £1 shops.. they often have johnsons huge bottles in dirt cheap!
nappy cream.. the tiny tub of sudocrem in the bounty pack will be sufficient for about 8 years!
baby lotion
maternity pads.. just get 3-4 packs for the first couple of days and after wtaers break.. after that just use ordinary menstrual pads

Hope this helps!

rach

yep, it helps a lot!

I bought some nappy cream and baby bath etc in the boots 5 for £5 offer and that will last me as long as I need I reckon! Am not getting the bounty pack as dh very precious about giving out personal details. But my mum usually gets little sudocream pots from work.

Thanks xx

CAFCGirl

Morning all
Got the next three days to myself as DH is back at work.
Got two dvd's from lovefilm to watch so looking forward to that, might even attempt some baking again.
Really want to make a start going through all the babby's stuff as well, working out what ive got in what sizes and getting it washed. There is so much, and I wont be using the tumble dryer on it so if i start now it might only take me about 8 weeks to get through LOL

Just having a laughing fit at the creme egg advert with the mouse traps! I love those adverts....

Have got to the stage now where im having to sleep with a pillow either side of me for support.... suddenly feeling more and more pregnant...

maureenjscott

rach wrote: »

Am not getting the bounty pack as dh very precious about giving out personal details. But my mum usually gets little sudocream pots from work.

Thanks xx

I know that the first Bounty pack that you need to collect from Boots you need to fill out a card with info, but the baby essentials and overnight essentials are supposed to be given at the hospital when bubs is born. I think they basically just give you them at that time without having to fill in info. I'm sure there is another bag about 6months later, again you collect this from Boots, probably with a card. HTH.

I just got my bump to baby pack from Emma's Diary at my local Argos the other day - it had a full size pack of Johnsons wipes and a Bepanthen sample, I reckon if anyone was swithering about getting it - go for it!! This is the 27week plus bag so anyone at that stage - print out your token from the website.

There was also ecover fabric softener - enough for about 4 washes i reckon and a sample of washing powder, prob enough for 2 washes although the pack says 1!!! By far the best pack i've gotten this time round - was fairly disappointed with the first emma's diary and bounty packs but this made up for it! lol

Was about to go put out a washing... till i realised it was chucking it down outside! argh!!

hope everyone's having a good weekend so far...
mo x

Gillby1

pigpen wrote: »

nipple shields.. Totally useless bis of junk.. baby finds them impossible to latch onto properly and they increase friction on the nipple and mae you really sore.QUOTE]

Pigpen, don't take offence (as i know you're far more experienced than me!!!), but i just wanted to say that nipple shields do work for some people. My sister found BFing really painful due to cracking and bleeding, and was on the verge of giving up, but she managed to carry on for another month using these. Her baby didn't seem to notice the difference, either, so they are worth a try if you're struggling. I don't think they cost much, either.

rach

Oooh, the lady has sent me pics of the mountain buggy. It looks in really good condition. DH says we should buy a new pram so we are covered if it breaks and we can pay on credit card...I am not so sure and think we can get much more for our money this way!

What do you wise ladies think?

1more?

afternoon all

gena with regards to the bra as you get bigger coz your bump comes from under your boobs underwires can dig in, its personal prefence i think i know i just wanna be comftable but my bras not digging in today as bubs has moved from my ribs lol
rach im having a 2nd hand pram from my cousin as its hardly been used, i sure you will be able to tell if its well worn by the tyres or wheels for example and prams dont tend to break imo, many people swap and change prams as they dont suit them like my ds first pram was to big for my car and dh would not buy me a new car to fit the pram so that had to go i only used it a few times :rotfl:
my dd is having a sleep over tonight please wish me luck im gonna need it 8 x 13 year olds i just maybe joining the midnight posters tonight x

fernliebee

Gillby1 wrote: »

pigpen wrote: »

nipple shields.. Totally useless bis of junk.. baby finds them impossible to latch onto properly and they increase friction on the nipple and mae you really sore.QUOTE]

Pigpen, don't take offence (as i know you're far more experienced than me!!!), but i just wanted to say that nipple shields do work for some people. My sister found BFing really painful due to cracking and bleeding, and was on the verge of giving up, but she managed to carry on for another month using these. Her baby didn't seem to notice the difference, either, so they are worth a try if you're struggling. I don't think they cost much, either.

I think they are generally thought to be not a good idea as either mum or baby can become too reliant on them, and baby cannot fully drain the breast while shields are in place so can cause mastitis/ blocked ducts etc. As Pigpen states can also make some nipple soreness worse (depending on reason for soreness) and also can allow a baby to feed with a poor latch (pain is usually there for a reason!) meaning when you come to weaning them off the shields and onto the 'normal' breast you can encounter problems. All that said, personally if I was at the point of giving up and had no other option then I would probably try them, however they could be bought if and when needed rather than before iyswim!