April Munchkins 2013- enjoying our wonderful babies!

[LittleSpy]

Here's one hospital bag necessity for me, even this time: sandals/flip-flops/thongs (whatever you want to call them) for the shower! I know it's a hospital and I'm sure it's clean but I just don't do stranger showers without shoes.

I'll be working on my packing list in the next month or so (haha, maybe) and will share what I found to be necessity or that I used last time. I know my list won't be very helpful for anyone not in the US, though, because hospitals here tend to provide way more (for reasons previously discussed! ).

 

[Mommabrown]

Hey girls! Thought i would drop in to give you all an update: We go the 15th to the specialist. The doctor misinformed us with the measurements he gave them to me backwards. Her fold is measuring at 6mm and should be <5mm. So with that and some other abnormalities they have found they are sending us to Little Rock to have blood tests done, another ultrasound, and to speak with a geneticists about Downs Syndrome. I have blood work also to see if i have pre-eclampsia also on the 10th! I feel like this is just crazy because i am feel fine and have had no problems aside from elevated bp.

I think that is too funny about color of clothing babies wear! I put all mine in yellow and they looked like a normal baby.

I am getting the balboa baby sling to start off with and have looked at the Moby wrap. I agree there is a bit of reading you have to do to put it on properly but well worth the money.

I have her stroller and carseat and love how big it is. Others we looked at seemed like we were slouching over to reach the handles or kicking it when trying to walk. This one i have played around with and it is so comfy and easy to push and not trip over!

I am buying a BFFLO bag for the hosptial so that i don't have to worry about forgetting anything i might need while in hospital it is all there already! It costs $120.00 but i think it is well worth it! I am adding a link if any of y'all ladies want to check it out. https://bfflco.com/product/mommydelivery-bffl-bag/

 

[kirstabelle]

Yeah the line is weird. Its like I got a suntan in just one place, in just one night. Its not very dark, but definitely visible. My belly is getting weirder every day

 

[doggylover]

Whoa mommabrown that hospital bag looks great! I think I will just steal the list and make my own from it! Sorry to hear that you might have pre-e, but if you are still feeling well then hopefully you will be just fine. I have everything crossed for Emmaleigh's tests, and will be waiting to hear the results. Make sure you are taking good care of yourself and your little lady!

And littlespy, totally agree about the flip flops. Any shower that is a)used by non family members and b) has bits of other people's goodness only knows what being washed down it is not ok for my bare feet!

 

[melissasbump]

hey everyone, sorry been MIA but busy with xmas/new year celebrations and now back at work boo!

Have been reading but my mind is mush so cant remember much, only thing really, hospital bags- i would consider a nightshirt too, as well as pj bottms, i couldnt wear my bottoms due to my EMCS, not trying to scare anyone but best to go prepared!
And i bled a lot afterwards for quite a while, had to wear maternity pads as normal pads didnt cut it, again, just a consideration for ya!

Littlespy, hospitals here dont provide much at all here, we pretty much have to take everything in with us

 

[Steph82]

LittleSPy, Thank you for the list! Unfortunately, I may ask you again in a few weeks .
Doggylover, you have managed to gross me out with your describtion of what has (or has not) been washed down the hospital drain
Flip flops WILL be packed for sure now lol.
Mommabrown, sorry that you still have to wait that long for the tests but I am hoping everything turns out perfectly .
Love the finished packed bag idea!

 

[melissasbump]

I has a MEGA dark line down my tummy with H but this time i have none, just a really weird belly button and a ton of BH!

 

[melissasbump]

Wow Mommabrown am loving that bag! Hope all goes well for you at the next appointment.

 

[ukgirl23]

This is crazy for me because this is my third baby but my first hospital bag as we get given everything in norway. i used crocs in the shower littlespy they were nice lol xx

mommabrown its good that you know more now and they are going to run some tests. I had pre eclampsia with Connie. if you do have it its good they catch it early so they can keep an eye on it. I went two weeks over with Connie even though I had it they just monitored me a lot. x

 

[Mommabrown]

Thanks ladies! I have way to much to try to worry about so i am opting to buy it already packed and ready to go.

Now i have this odd perception of grimme showers at the maternity ward! Lmao

No lines but i have gotten a hairy belly! The perks of pregnancy!

 

[LittleSpy]

That bag just goes to show that what one person feels is essential, another doesn't need at all. For instance, I'm having a hard time understanding why you would need to bring your own "wound care pack" to a hospital.

The only things that bag includes that I'll be packing are the breastfeeding pillow (will also be packing my own pillow though it's not necessary since the hospital provides disposable pillows), flip-flops, nursing pads, ultra-thin sanitary pads, toothbrush/toothpaste, lotion, and cards/pen to write a thank-you to my nurses. My hospital either provided the rest or I wouldn't have a use for it at all in my situation. I'm actually wavering on the breastfeeding pillow right now since I ended up preferring just a stack of regular bed pillows. Hmmm.

Then again, things that I find essential that I'm worried about leaving at home are my phone charger and my billion and one different galactogogues! I guess no pre-packaged bag is going to contain those. Good grief. Now my head is spinning with all of the things I "need" to pack. Maybe I'll just go ahead and pack some things and make a list of everything else I need to remember so I can stop thinking about it now. I already decided I'm going to have to get a pill-sorter box thing for all of my stupid herbs. Looks like in the beginning I'll be taking like 14 different ones! Just practice for getting old, I guess.

 

[melissasbump]

One of my main things to take to hospital with me is PATE!! To put on my toast after theatre!!

Littlespy, i agree, everyone is different, i wont pack as much for myself this time, also we are only 5 minutes from home should i need anything and about 3 mins from Asda so its hardly a problem should i forget!

 

[ukgirl23]

That bag just goes to show that what one person feels is essential, another doesn't need at all. For instance, I'm having a hard time understanding why you would need to bring your own "wound care pack" to a hospital.

omg that made me LOL!!!

I guess what I need would be...

Shampoo and conditioner and shower gel (preferably soap and glory)
Antiseptic soap wash (incase of stitches, tearing etc)
Nighties with optional pj bottoms, depending on how I feel, button front tops for BFing
nursing bra's
cheap asda throw away after pants
breast + sanitary pads
creams
tooth and hair brush and ties
puzzle book
camera
phone charger
hospital notes
going home clothes

babies bag
2 sleep suits
2 baby grows
2 pairs of socks, mittens and hats
nappies (disposable for hospital)
muslin squares
wipes
antiseptic wipes for the cord stump
baby wash, shampoo and cloth
Going home clothes

plus for me some sneaky bits of food cus hospital food here smells like piss and I dont care to try it lol x...... and my crocs

and anti bacterial hand gel. I squirt everyone with it before they touch the baby!

edit: no stretchmarks with Connie, one with Lucas and no new ones so far with this one. I have the LM line, it hadn't fully gone from when I had Luke, I have a major hairy belly too... Actually in our last ultrasound appointment I pulled my maternity belt down and Aaron shouted... LOOK AT HER HAIRY BELLY!! haha he is lovely isn't he!!! cheeky git. I'll get him back!!

 

[melissasbump]

oohhh yeah im gonna take my crocs!

 

[doggylover]

Then again, things that I find essential that I'm worried about leaving at home are my phone charger and my billion and one different galactogogues! :

Interested to find out what a galactogogue is?!?!

Ukgirl, my dh bought me some of the soap and glory minis for Christmas which are going into my hospital bag. I bloody love that stuff!

I am definitely packing snacks. I read that dried fruit is good as it has lots of energy and it also loosens things up for when you go for your first post-labour poo so I will be taking bags of the stuff, as I've read horrific things at going to the toilet after labour. Things that may have put me off ever having a child had I know

Also, sorry for grossing everyone out about hospital showers! I'm sure they are very clean and regularly washed down!

 

[ukgirl23]

lmfao doggylover, if the dried fruits dont make you go, the laxatives they give you will!!! hahaha I was so cleared out after having my 2 I didn't poo for almost 2 weeks afterwards!!! Sorry for the TMI The first poo is hillarious, I had to hang on to the edge of the toilet seat for dear life!

The one thing I will say post partum is that for a day or 2 after I didn't feel when I needed a pee, when the midwifes told me to go, I protested until they shoved me in the cubicle then omg it was like the longest pee I've ever had! it was insane!

Love love love love love soap and glory doggylover, I've been hunting out a good bargain set in the sales, I buy the gift sets after christmas for half the price. I could eat that stuff...

Ohhh yes... lip balm also very essential during labour! It's the little things you need to pay attention too. x

is anyone watching OBEM tonight? I debated this over in my head all day, I love the show but I think I'll catch it on repeat after April. They film often in Southampton just up the road here so I may go there to have Benson, my MIL's friend was on there, she was the one who likes to sing opera, she was in one of the life after birth videos. But yes.. I shall be watching good old Attenborough instead xx

 

[doggylover]

Candy dh and I are literally having the obem or Africa debate right now! We have them both on sky+ to tape, but we can't decide which to watch tonight and which tomorrow. Oh the hard things we have to go through

See all this talk about wee and poo after labour is what I find the most frightening thing! The thought of not knowing when I need to go, or the horrors I've heard about when pooing....they terrify me!

 

[maybesoon]

Wow.... It's been a million years since I've been on. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

I wasn't ready to return to work today, but I got up this morning & faced the cold & made it to work. Little Mason is kicking, tumbling & growing up a storm! I had a huge hiccup over the holidays. DH caught the flu Christmas night!!! eeekkkk!!! Luckily I haven't gotten it yet. I'm praying it was the one that I got my shot for. The doctor's offices are saying it's going around like crazy & the kiddos that have gotten their shots are catching the other type that they weren't vaccinated for! UGH!!!

!!!!!!!!TMI ALERT!!!!!! I was unfortunate enough to get severly constipated over the holidays & in the end got hit with horrid horrid horrid hemroids.... OMG! It has been terrible. I spent 4 days not able to sit. I would WADDLE from the bed to the bathroom & back to bed. My doctor called me in a prescription but it seemed to not really be helping at the time. I'm sure it was, I was just so miserable.... Luckily it is getting much better, but still not fun at all. Now I'm worried they won't shrink back like they should & I'll end up having to have that horrible surgery after I deliver Mason.....

I go to see my doc next Tuesday so I plan on talking with her about it then.

Hope everyone is doing well & staying warm!

 

[ukgirl23]

Doggylover just go every half an hour to an hour like I did and no problemos. The poo thing isnt so bad really. Which one are you fighting for? OBEM or africa?

Hey Maybesoon I was wondering where you had got to! Glad to hear allnis well with you and Mason. Sorry to hear dh has the flu. Hopefully he has the one you are vaccinated against. Xx

 

[doggylover]

No dh is happy to watch either obem or Africa, as am I, we just can't decide! I think we'll go obem as we are watching another nature program now, so a bit of variety!

Maybesoon so sorry to hear you've been suffering. I hope you start to feel better soon, and definitely don't end up with flu to add to your misery!