cousin confirmed pregnant yesteday but big shock, she's 39 weeks preggers already

jamespir

congrats to her

snugglepet20

There are lots of companies baby freebies about but TBH they are mostly junk and leaflets so I wouldn't go out of your way to get them if time is of the essence - you can always do it later. Your cousin will be given 2 bounty packs when she has the baby by the midwife and can sign up then if she wants so no worrries there, there is a pregnancy pack but they are hard to find in stock and it is not worth a special trip.

Things you actually need are;

Car Seat - buy a birth to 3 one that you leave in the car to maximise value for money Britax is a good brand.

Some sort of cot or moses basket unless she intends the baby to sleep in her bed for a while.

Blankets and sheets

Vests, sleepsuits and a snowsuit.

Nappies and wipes.

Lie-flat lightweight pushchair.

Electric bouncy cradle chair thing (keeps them quiet if you need to do things!)

Bottles and a steriliser if she is not breastfeeding.

Try not to buy too many newborn clothes as they will only last a couple of weeks, also toys are not necessary yet as babies cannot hold things until they are about 3 months old.

If you need a one-stop shop to collect everything then mothercare is really your only choice, online companies may be cheaper but will the stuff be delivered in time?

Benefits-wise you usually have 3 months to apply for things such as the maternity grant and you will need a birth certificate to apply for child benefit and tax credit anyway. Main priorities are sorting out work and maternity pay and applying for the health in pregnancy grant if there's time.

gill_81uk

Agree that the Health In Pregnancy Grant and any maternity stuff with work needs to be sorted first.

Then any all the essential baby stuff eg moses basket, pram, car seat. While kiddicare is the cheapest she could struggle to get the stuff in time as it needs to be ordered online, although you can select express delivery. I have found babies r us (at toys r us) to be very competitively priced for equipment.

Asda is good for getting stocked up on some little clothes and also the newborn nappies (their own brand) which are £1 at the moment

The baby clubs etc can wait until the baby is here, or someone can join them for her in the meantime as all of the stuff can take a few weeks to arrive in the post anyway.

starbump

The only *urgent* purchase is a car seat - any car seat suitable from birth. As far as I'm aware, the hospital will not let you go home without one (or, at least, they'll try to make it very difficult).

Everything else can be bought later on - even if it means being holed up at home for a fortnight, shopping online madly. At least she'll be at home with the baby!

Congrats to your cousin. It must be a very pleasant surprise.

chickaroonee

Wow I have 9 weeks to go and there's no mistaking I'm heavily pregnant! Big congrats to her, and I'd agree with everyone, what is important is the health in pregnancy grant, her MATB1 form for work and sorting out leave. Get a car seat now so baby can come home from hospital (halfords will fit one for you) and some babygros for asda should help.

Once question I wonder though, do people not feel the baby moving? My baby kicks all the time!

gitw

thanks so much for the messages. they are incredibly helpful.

dad is around, and cried tears when they got the news they've had a week to get used to thinking she might be pregnant, but the rest is just surreal for them at the moment :eek:

she had what she thought was indigestion for a couple of weeks but thats it. fortunatly had stopped drinking as didnt fancy it so was loosing weight and that was that.

they cant tell weight or sex apparently but have said it is a big baby (not sure what big is exactly) so clothing is limited until the bambino arrives i guess

thanks for the list of important items - she got some of that today which is a good start.

thanks again everyone:beer:

mernieth

congrats - but are they SURE she is 39 weeks pregnant? and why the rush to induce her?

angelicmary85

Awesome!! A huge congrats to you and her and all the famiily!!

Pimark do some really nice baby clothes as do ASDA!

She won't need alot to start with but plenty of bibs will come in useful!

angelicmary85

mernieth wrote: »

congrats - but are they SURE she is 39 weeks pregnant? and why the rush to induce her?

It could have something to do with womb probs the cousin has?

gitw

i guess from the babies development they know she is full term. i did wonder myself but assume they know what they are talking about

being induced is as angelicmary85 says mostly to do with womb problems but also possibly size of baby? as they have said it is large.....

mernieth wrote: »

congrats - but are they SURE she is 39 weeks pregnant? and why the rush to induce her?