MSE Pregnancy Club 24

Crabapple

AMC1979 wrote: »

Also I think someone asked the question about birth choices. I highly recommend ringing your hospital and asking them about taking a hospital tour. I had mine on Friday (after being booked in about 3 months before!) and it was really useful. They showed us the birthing unit and the general ward and talked about pain relief options and what might happen during the birth. But your midwife should also be able to give you some info. I had a leaflet from the midwife at my booking-in appointment on where I could give birth. From that I decided I'd like to use the birth centre in the hospital where they have one room with a fixed birth pool and 3 others with inflatables. If the birth is straightforward (fingers crossed) then apparently giving birth in water is highly recommended as in terms of pain relief level it's next most effective after an epidural (or something like that).

I had a water birth, and it was lovely just stepping in the water because it took all the weight of bump off me! It was a while before I needed any other pain relief (I loved the gas and air!) because the water really helped. I would say though that it isn't for everyone and you can't guarantee a pool at most hospitals as they are limited in number. I was lucky that I arrived at the right time! I can't compare to other pain relief though, but it wasn't enough to get through labour for me and I definitely needed the gas and air.

I'm thinking of getting the Medela Swing electric breast pump off eBay even though I don't know how I'm going to get on with breastfeeding. Am expecting to not be great at it to be honest as I'm funny about my boobs generally and not really into the idea of doing it, but I figure I owe it to baby to give it a go. My husband thinks I should wait and see how I get on but I feel I don't want to breastfeed for months on end anyway (plus I've bought baby bottles for newborn and 0–3 months now!). Should I wait?

If you can get a good deal, the medelas are really good pumps so I'd say yes. If you don't get the use out of it then resell. To anyone who is planning to bf, they recommend that you don't give bottles for the first 6 weeks or so as it can confuse the baby and also you need to establish your supply. It might seem like a good idea to express and bottle feed but it's a lot more effort than just picking baby up and latching them on (and they don't like waiting while you warm milk!). It's a great thing to let dads do the odd bottle though, my DH loves to feed our DD and I love kicking him out of bed at the weekend so I can have a lie-in!!

dizsiebubba - I got maternity clothes in matalan, and they sell online if you don't have one near you.

Labour vibes to anyone who needs them!

LadyMorticia

Hey everyone.:wave:

Seeing my midwife today. This will be my second appointment with her (including booking in appointment).

Is it weird that I'm excited to find out what blood group I am?

MissMonkeyMoo

Fluffnutter - thanks for the info! The leaflet was actually part of the info that my midwife gace me on my booking in appointment! Think that's why PH and I were so confused about why we had to pay for the classes, but I will ask her tomorrow and see what she says. I always get to see the same midwife and she is lovely so I know she'll be able to give me some good pointers. I also have to confess, I wasn't looking forward to putting a birth plan together cos I have a feeling it will only go out of the window once labout actually starts! It's actually nice to know that you haven't got a plan, cos I think I'll end up the same! How are you doing in any case? been wondering about you over the last few days cos haven't seen you post for a little while so though maybe you'd gone into labour! x

mishkanorman

Oh my gosh im a big bag of hormones today sat watching Maternity Ward which is not my smartest idea but I've started now so may as well sob my way to the end,

So far we've had 2 x premies that are 27 weeks (1 which stopped growing at 21 weeks - she was teeny)

triplets, pre-eclampsia & a woman who couldnt push as she had a heart problem.

Im 28 weeks this week :j and get to see my bubba again on friday :j this week cannot go fast enough !

missbunbury

Morning everyone! Having had a wobble over my weight last week (which you were all very lovely and helpful with) I have weighed today and discovered I've gained three pounds, so all systems go for massive fatness by the looks of it, hooray!

I am also finding this last week that even though I don't seem any bigger, none of my trousers are as comfy as they were. I'm now dithering over whether or not it's time for maternity stuff, and if so what I should get, especially for work. I am normally a size eight and am now wearing size ten stuff this week, but obviously as I get bigger I am gonna have to buy some stuff. My work is business dress so I am thinking I'll investigate maternity trousers once payday arrives (have had to get a new boiler this month, £1300, ouch!) but I'm not sure what size to buy - do I buy an eight or something bigger?

KatyLiz

Wow, this thread moves quickly! I like the look of a couple of those changing bags, but I'll just stick with a free one. Where is everyone getting all the free stuff from? As I already have 2 kids I wasn't given any of the info booklets/leaflets or freebie stuff this time round. I have thrown away everything baby related years ago though, so I'll need to start getting everything again.

mishka- I can't watch baby related tv, anything with pregnancy worries me. I went to see Prometheus at the cinema and even that freaked me out, although I'm pretty confident I haven't got an alien in me :rotfl:

LadyMorticia- I always get told my blood group, but then I forget it, so it's a surprise to me every time lol! Hope the appointment goes well.

dizsiebubba- I keep getting really hot too. I'm not as bad at home as our house is quite cool, but walking the kids to school has me breaking out in a sweat that would be more suitable to a long distance run!

AMC - sounds painful, hope you're ok.

missbunbury - I've always gone for maternity clothes in my own size (12), but I think it depends where you shop. I've got to return some jeans I got in New Look as they are huge and I'll need to go down to a 10, but it seems to vary by shop.

I'm having a bad day with my SPD. I can't bend at all, and can't push the hoover, so I'm just staring at the mess that is my house. I need a cleaning fairy to come and sort it out for me. I guess DH will have to have a tidy, but it is so frustrating not to be able to do anything

Kitten_Pie

dizsiebubba I have got clothes from yours which aren't maternity but the clothes are in bigger sizes and have been great for over the bump without making me feel huge. I get the idea that they are naturally designed to hide tummies while flattering the rest of the figure

emweaver

MrsBryan wrote: »

When its warm, would baby need a vest under a sleepsuit? Thought that would only be in the colder months? I suppose when baby is here we'll just use our instinct on how it should be, everyone does things differently! I've got loads of outfits so will be putting baby in those most days, sleepsuits will probably only be for bed anyway!

I always found a best helpful for holding the nappy snuggly in place but Im expecting my first summer baby well early Sept. I've not a clue what sort of clothes to buy as its usually hot then but will it be hot enough for no vest, summer clothes . I don't want them overheating in a vest and long sleeve outfit

emweaver

savageHK wrote: »

I clearly need to start learning about baby clothes, this is news to me as well. How many layers does the little one need to wear?? (Mine will be a winter baby - early Dec I think)

I have had two winter babies and always put them in a long sleeve vest and then a warm outfit for in the house then just put a all in one coat, mittens, hat and put a blanket on them when we go out. You need to be careful not to overheat newborns.

emweaver

Does anyone know where I can get some pretty girly sleepsuits that are good quality but not too expensive? With my other 2 we splashed the cash on clothes but this time round we are needing to budget but even looking on George they are roughly £5 a sleepsuit and when DD was in them 12 months ago they were poor quality and did not wash well.