Having a baby Old Style???

dougierobino

Just remembered my top tip for hospital. It's not v oldstyle but will keep you comfy if the situation arises. Pack a nightie as well as pyjamas in case you end up with a catheter. Learn from my mistake..

gairlochgal

Just wanted to support the arnica suggestion. My DDs were not big but super keen to get out, and left some damage on their way. With no 2, I managed to pop some arnica right after the birth came out and then followed a plan for taking it over the first week. Fastastic stuff - really aided healing. I remember the visiting midwife saying she came round expecting to find me sitting on a bag of frozen peas, but I was fine!

gratefulforhelp_2

:T So pleased for you and your happy news and sorry if I repeat any advice previously given. God bless you in your pregnancy and please be kind to yourself and rest up.

I have two girls, and have never used a moses basket, a baby bath, baby bottles, a baby bouncer or a baby walker.

Two things that should be new are your cot mattress (you can buy new for about £30) and your car seat (or at least you should know that it hasn't suffered any bad knocks)

What about having a (private) baby list like a wedding list, so when people ask what you would like, you have an idea and can say something different to everyone?

At work, where we seem to be a baby factory(!) we pass clothes et.c back and forth, on the "cast your bread upon the waters" principle. The only thing that would get in the way is feeling we may offend someone by offering second hand, so make it known that people are giving you second hand things, and more will follow. It is true, babies hardly wear out anything.

Remember you can get free dentistry and prescriptions and I hope you are taking folic acid.

Try NCT (National Childbirth Trust) sales for quality second hand items from nice people like you! Also for excellent help with breastfeeding, which is a great suggestion, you will feel so pleased and proud if you breasrfeed your baby, it is so good for babe and you and so convenient and cheap. Also, though it is hard at first for some people, NCT will help (breastfeeding counsellors)

Remember to claim child benefit when babe is born and look into tax credits.

Boots baby club sometimes comes with a free changing bag, and it's a decent one.

I would be very wary of suggestions to make your own baby sling, your most precious person needs to be kept totally safe!

Sorry post is so long, but huge good luck and God Bless.:j

Finally, research shows that children do as well in good quality childcare as with mum at home. Make your own choice based on your own private situation that no-one else can possible understand, there is no right answer and whatever you do, be prepared to feel really guilty, not because you have made a wrong choice, but because it is a mother's lot ! Enjoy it:o

JayJay14

There's lots of really good advice here and I'll only add 1 little thing

If you are going to use a sling to carry baby use it right from the very beginning - if you leave it and try after a few weeks you may get a bad back, but you have been carrying baby arround for a while now so your body is used to it.

I used a sling for all 3 of mine, bought it in mothercare for Ashia and I really do think it was probably my best buy.

Patchwork_Quilt

The best thing that happened to us when I got home with our first baby was that my Mum was there. For some reason, the rest of the family descended on us, wanting cups of tea etc. All we wanted to do was look at the baby. Mum did a sterling job at the teapot and everyone was happy.

Broomstick

Breast feed your baby, sleep with your baby, share the bath with your baby, carry your baby in a sling, use washable nappies, use second-hand/donated/gifts of baby clothes and the costs are minimal, at least to start with.

Things I found useful to buy were: some really comfy nursing bras, a non-slip mat for the bath, safe scissors for cutting my baby's nails, two nappy buckets and a bean bag (useful for my home-births, but also enormously useful to put by the bath with a towel on it. I could lean over and take the baby from it when I'd got into the bath then pop the bathed baby on it afterwards, wrapped in the towel, while I washed myself & my hair then climbed out alone - worked a treat and felt very safe since I wasn't trying to climb out of the bath carrying a slippery child on my own).

[Deleted User]

under £100

As someone who had their children back in the 1960s I can remember buying some flannelette double sheeting and cutting it into four and hemming it by hand (I am no seamstress believe me)to make eight sheets for my babies .They fitted into the cot, or folded in half into a pram. I had bought for me 2 dozen Harringtons terry nappies (in those days there were no throw-away ones.) and I still have a couple left that I use for dusters. A lidded bucket and Nappisan dealt with the wet ones and they were rinsed thouroughly after steeping (soaking overnight)I had no washing machine ,just a baby burco boiler, so the nappies were boiled twice a week they hung out to dry in the breeze, I had two children in two years in one and a half rooms.We managed, although money was very tight in those days .No boot sales either in those days, but the local anti-natal clinic used to have a swappsie afternoon where Mums brought in clothes that their children had outgrown and swapped with other Mums. I think a lot of local community centres have something like this ,ask at your anti-natal centre if there isn't one why not start one, it only takes a couple of Mums and a lot of young first time Mums would like to get to know each other. I had a good friend who sadly passed away two years ago whom I met at the clinic and we stayed friends for over 40 years .
Buy a Moulimix machine .its like a small food mixer that you use by hand I am sure they are still made .Great for reducing what you are having for dinner down to something for your little one to eat .Tinned baby food is just a lot of cash for nothing .Buy a few jars though, as you can use them afterwards to store babys food in the fridge with.As previous posters said breast feed if you can as its free ,but if you can't then don't fret about it .I could with one of mine, but not with the other for some reason, so she had Ostermilk. She is now a strapping 5'8' Mum of five herself so she survived.
Best advice I ever had was from my very elderly Doctor years ago .If you have a baby book telling you how to raise your child shove it in the bin ,folk have been rasing children for 1000's of years and not one baby has ever been able to read a book about it. It will come with trial and error, and enjoy your baby no matter whether you return to work or not .Your baby is the most precious thing you will ever own ,far more than a house ,car or luxury goods.Once you hold that little person you will be hooked for life and its the greatest feeling in the world
Good luck with the making bit as well;)
JackieO

Boodle

This time around I will not be paying any attention to those lists in the NHS books or Boots catalogues! I had all sorts of things I was supposed to need to find that the hospital supplied nappies and wipes etc.

Most people have covered stuff for the baby so the only thing I would add would add would be to pack a few nice travel size wash things for yourself to help perk you up, a book in case your baby sleeps well (here's hoping for you!) and some snacks not only for labour, but for in between hospital meals when you get peckish - I took flapjacks and bananas as thought they might help fill me up! If it turns out you need anything - for example our DD was quite small and the idea of the newborn clothes we had brought fitting her was literally laughable - your OH can always nip out after visiting hours and pick up what you want.

Good luck! x

gratefulforhelp_2

Do consider a home birth if the medics think it's ok. DD2 was born at home with the minimum of fuss and we didn't miss the Big Brother finale(!!!) and DH could have a G n T!! Saves on hospital parking and stress.

cady

hi ive just been reading this thread as ive found out im 6 weeks pregnat and we have been looking at finances and wow the tips on here are amazing i was just wondering .... our bedroom is so small i dont think we would get a cot in here too however the little room is right next door does your baby have to sleep with you in your room ? i cant see how we can make the space for it might be able to squeeze a travel cot in is that no good? i didnt want a moses basket as i think its awaste of money what do you think?