Parents-if you had to choose 1 item...

bethom

Congratulations to all pregnant people. I have a few suggestions, I hope they help.:D

When pregnant I couldn't do without gaviscon liquid. It was prescribed by doctor for my extreme morning sickness. (Which happened all day and night and nearly put me in hospital):(

While giving birth it was a birthing pool. You could move freely into any position, it was relaxing, kept me warm, I didn't feel the sting, baby was cleaner and I had no stitches.(Didn't make it that far with second, she arrived so quick it was a bedroom floor and 2 male paramedics incident)_pale_

After the birth it was savlon liquid. It was recommended by a midwife, you just pour some into a warm bath and it is very soothing.:)

Infacol was good for both of my kids, and first had a dummy for his colic too. Second refused point blank and is a thumb girl.

Before both my kids were born I slept with a teddy that I had bought for each of them. The theory is that if they stir in the night they can smell you on the teddy and will be comforted.

A very dim lamp is good too for night feeds. Bright lights just make them more alert.

In my opinion a mobile was a waste of money for us, as it frightened both kids when they woke in the night. I think it would probably frighten me if I woke to see a shadowy thing hanging over me. They much prefered the light shows, watching the pretty lights on the ceiling really sends my second off at the moment.

Good Luck.:dance:

Rachel.

elmer

Earplugs keep you sane, if you have a child that crys constantly,( my daughter now sleeps with her arms over her ears since my son was born), you can put them in if you are the one who is not getting up,
When you are in hospital you can sleep when its not your baby thats crying,especially as there is always one crying at any given time.

and then there is the snoring.............

Who can live without earplugs????????????

alibob30

Agree with Breast's and a long sausage pillow for the last few months of pregnancy and for breast feeding - I still sleep with mine now and dd is 8 months old.

The best thing that I bought was a moses basket stand that rocks, it got my baby off to sleep in no time, its brilliant and everyone must buy one!

jellyhead

i never thought of earplugs, daft mare that i am lol! off to buy some today, my husband needs his sleep, he's getting a bit grumpy from all the broken nights - i do the feeding etc. but he still wakes up when roo cries. earplugs might help him sleep better and restore our relationship lol!

Gingham_Ribbon

We were fine for the first few months because our baby slept in our bed so he could just 'pop on' me when he woke up. But I could do with ear plugs now. DH has started snoring and it's not even a little bit funny!

across

my tips!
:j Throw away bottles and cartons of ready made formula milk for holidays abroad no need to sterilise,just unwrap anywhere pour milk in and heat in the thermos caraff all bought from boots!! superb for bottle feeding and a relaxing holiday(a week or two off cleaning bottles!)
:rotfl: nappys in hold on aeroplane rather than unpacking all over suitcase it was free with thompson as long as you still have enough baggage allowance and when you get there the shops make a fortune on nappies cos they know you need them so i pack a full large value pack in hold and it looks funny on the convayer belt with the cases!
:T water is great for giving birth my first was nearly born in the bath on the ward and the second was born shortly after a bath at home in my bedroom no gas and air at any but i did a lot of pacing about at both births prior to the baths so gravity is definately good for birthing!! i did have my swimwear packed for the 2nd birth but didnt get to the car let alone the birthing pool at the hospital!! :rotfl:
Congratulations to all you preganant and new mums being a mum is great!

susieb1967

from the first night my baby slept for 6 hours...............bliss! however I didn't as I was constantly waking up and checking her, even though she was in a moses basket right next to my bed. After 6 weeks I could stand it no longer and bought a johnsons and johnsons intouch baby monitor which has a mat which sits underneath the mattress and monitors babys every move, an alarm sounds if baby hasn't moved ( or breathed!!) for 20 seconds It was the best thing I ever bought, I used it on both my babies for 9mths or so then just used the monitor without the mat. It was a little pricey at £80 but you can get them off ebay these days for around £25.
Also breast fed for 6mths with both of them and once you get to grips with it it was one less thing you have to worry about i.e are the bottles sterilised/ made up, have I got enough milk in, will they need a bottle while I'm out? etc etc!!
Good Luck x