12 to 24 week pregnancy thread

fran-o

Smlsave and Jox, thanks for your posts. I agree it's so overwhelming and can make you worry if you're not in a position to spend spend spend. I think it's a bit like the lists you see in wedding magazines (ie you'll be told how essential tiny details are, but it's the love and the people that make the wedding!) - take with a pinch of salt. We're in a flat rather than a family home and the only new furniture the babe will have is a cot, everything else will be borrowed from family or recycled from our existing set up. Friends have also offered second hand clothes so I doubt I'll be buying much there... Although seems rubbish that my spending spree will be limited to the lame (non-gift) stuff like breast pads and baby wipes!
Been browsing this http://makingniceinthemidwest.com/2012/09/12/babys-bedroom-tour-making-nice-in-the-nursery/ and a few other alternative nurserys online today (am off sick - only made it as far as the tube today then had to go sit down and sip water) and thinking about our plans. I'm looking forward to turning the spare room into a nursery

VICSH

Jox wrote: »

The lists can be overwhelming! Thanks for your guide smlsave, especially a first time mum like myself will probably want to wrap up little one in cotton wool but I'll try not to go too over the top! Being an older mum might help with being sensible (I'm hoping).

As I've said before, I'm a frugal person, so it's not my intention to buy too much, plus I'm in a one bed flat (hopefully not for ever!) and I'm sure I'll be given lots of things as gifts anyway

I am freaking out a little about managing financially etc but I'm so grateful to have a little being growing inside me I'm trying to focus on that and not worrying!

I read an interview with Sophie Ellis-Bextor who said she fell pregnant when she'd only been with her boyfriend a few weeks and then the baby was born 2 months early, she was worried it wasn't the right time to have a child and her mum told her "it might not be the right time but it's the right baby" that made me blub a bit in my hormonal and ill state yesterday.

Try not to worry about the pressure to buy anything apart from a couple of essential things all a baby needs is love and care, the other thing I would think about is people in much more deprieved areas of the world have healthy children all the time without baby swings/ bouncer/ cot changer etc etc, these things can make life easier but not essential so don't feel under financial pressure to conform. Similarly with weddings the first baby market is a massive market for manufacturers to sell to you but with that said each to their own.

VICSH

fran-o wrote: »

Smlsave and Jox, thanks for your posts. I agree it's so overwhelming and can make you worry if you're not in a position to spend spend spend. I think it's a bit like the lists you see in wedding magazines (ie you'll be told how essential tiny details are, but it's the love and the people that make the wedding!) - take with a pinch of salt. We're in a flat rather than a family home and the only new furniture the babe will have is a cot, everything else will be borrowed from family or recycled from our existing set up. Friends have also offered second hand clothes so I doubt I'll be buying much there... Although seems rubbish that my spending spree will be limited to the lame (non-gift) stuff like breast pads and baby wipes!
Been browsing this http://makingniceinthemidwest.com/2012/09/12/babys-bedroom-tour-making-nice-in-the-nursery/ and a few other alternative nurserys online today (am off sick - only made it as far as the tube today then had to go sit down and sip water) and thinking about our plans. I'm looking forward to turning the spare room into a nursery

Our posts must have crossed re: weddings vs babies.... Also off sick today so more time browsing the web :-)

kerri_dfw

Smlsave - I am trying to translate EC...what does this mean? Does this mean baby gets to run around naked pooping everywhere so you don't have to buy nappies?

So far I have bought a sleepsuit for baby to come home in and a nightlight sheep. I have been given lots of clothes and things from family & friends. But we need to buy the "big" purchases ourselves of pushchair, car seat & reusable nappies. However, that'll cost less than what my sister has paid in disposables so far

SmlSave

Smlsave - I am trying to translate EC...what does this mean? Does this mean baby gets to run around naked pooping everywhere so you don't have to buy nappies?

EC stands for Elimination Communication and basically yes, you try not to use nappies so that baby doesn't get 'trained' to go in them (we have this problem, DS refuses to poo anywhere else but a nappy) You look for cues and try to 'catch' the wee's/poos. It tends to go best with baby-wearing mums who spend a lot of time with their children. The book 'The Diaper Free Baby' is really interesting. We gave it a go part-time but I'm not consistent enough so just let DS be naked most the time.

Nothing better than a baby/toddler bare bottom running around the house

Faerie

I still haven't bought anything for the baby, I've been looking at lists and have got a notebook ready to jot down ideas and prices but it's all a bit bewildering. SmlSave - thanks for that list, I'll save a copy

It's starting to sink in that I am having a baby. It still feels ages away though! I finally have a little bump - not that noticeable but it's there at last. Plus, I can refer to the baby as a 'him' now which I think helps.

My husband's friend had quads(!) earlier this year so has lots of baby clothes and an unused Moses basket for us. She asked the size of our car, so god knows what else she is trying to give us Sadly I'm working so can't go and cuddle the quad babies, gutted!

It's my grandad's funeral this week and I'm struggling with what to wear. I have ordered some black tops from ebay so I hope they arrive in time, might be pushing it a bit though. Now my bump has appeared I haven't got anything suitable that fits!

becca0417

We made our 'essential for us' list yesterday and it wasn't quite as bad as I thought. Clothes wise we are definitely going for minimum (6 baby gros, a couple of hats etc) as we won't find out what we are having and know we will be bombarded with clothes etc. But we do need furniture for the room, pram, car seat, bedding, moses basket etc

LannieDuck

Sml - I agree almost 100% with your adapted list.

I would also cross out baby mits - mothercare babygros come with integral babymits that LO can't get off. An absolute lifesaver if your baby has razor sharp nails like mine did!

I would put nipplecream (Lansinoh) as an essential if you're BFing, if only needed for the first 2 weeks or so.

You will def need a non-slip bathmat, but not for some months.

And it's not an 'essential', but we wouldn't have been without out white noise machine. I bought a little 'gift' for DD1 (like a PP I didn't just want to buy the boring stuff!) - a Prince Lionheart Slumberbear - and it comes with a noisebox thing. The white noise was amazing at sending her to sleep.

LannieDuck

Also, try ebay for baby stuff - look for local 'pick up only'. I got a £20 moses basket (with stand), and a £40 jumperoo (toy for when baby's a bit bigger). I've seen very cheap second hand cots on there as well.

MrsBunny

Hi Ladies

My DH doesn't want our baby to have a dummy at all. I too don't like dummy's but think they can help a baby get to sleep and if we did have one, it would be limited. For you mums already - what are your views / experiences?

MrsBunny x x
17+3