Its June!!!!! 20 week scan next month!!! Whos with me?

[Scally]

We are using sleeping bags, thought they could be used straight away?

We have a silver cross sleepover linear chassis, we had it with Izzy and are re-using, I LOVE IT but there is no way I am going to be able to use public transport! I have two carriers too- a caboo and a mei tai connecta!

Kellie- will have a nosey at the nursery collection in Next, they do such lovely things!

x

 

[time]

Was just about to say Kelly I've just looked on mothercare and all they're sleeping bags come in 0-3 months so I presume you can use them from birth?!

I love the daisy lane nursery collection from mothercare but think it's a little OTT pink and flowery so we have just bought a peter rabbit mobile and pink and white cot sheets/cellular blankets and some pale pink curtains, so all very subtle!

 

[Inoue]

Kellie - I think name plates are such a cute idea! Ive seen one website that do the back plates and letters for £12 so I may treat myself to one

Im also using a sleeping bag from birth, I brought a 2.5tog one from car boot for £1 . Im not to keen on using blankets or bumpers around baby, less material is better in my mind. Ill use a thermometer to check temp of room but I think LO will be fine with just a sleeping bag.

Ive also brought a snowsuit and ill take it to the hospital with me, maybe just leave on the back seat incase we need it. They look quite snuggly . Ive been having bad cramping this pm, actually thought I would have to grab my hosp bag and run, but its all settled now. Think it was either bad BH or baby turning ~ phew! X

 

[ttc_lolly]

We have that snow leopard suit Sarah, it was DD's when she was a baby and I love it so much! Can't wait to use it again

I have an outfit to bring baby home in and will take a velour all in one with hood to put her in the car seat with. Not sure if many of you know, but you're not supposed to put baby's in carseats wearing big/padded snowsuits/jackets. It's because they take up too much of the slack of the belts. I found that out in Baby club when DD was a few month's old so we are going to get one of those car seat snug/coseytoes things this time.

 

[kellie_w]

Hmm, I can't remember where I saw that about the bags, I read it somewhere today. I'm going to start looking for one then, thank you! I saw a lovely one with arms which looks snugly, but £32. May be worth it though.

Arg, another thing to add to my list, long sleeved vests! I haven't seen any in shops yet, I'm guessing they will be soon. I got mine before from tesco, I don't think I have seen them anywhere else.

Ohh time, I love the sola! I wanted the one in denim so bad last year, but wasnt allowed!

Oliver will be coming home in jeans, jumper, hat etc and will have a thick blanket tucked round him in his car seat. Sorry, I'm one of these that only use baby grows for sleeping! No doubt I'll get the lecture from family again about dressing him up and not letting him look like a baby! I love the snow leopard suit though, how cute is that! X

 

[Scally]

Kellie- they have long sleeved vests in quite a few places- tescos, Asda, Sainsburys- they have nicer patterened ones in Sainsburys. We bought them in both newborn and 0-3 as we found that Izzy wore them alot rather than the short sleeved ones, but i might get some short ones for the hospital. I was the same with Izzy, she had to wear outfits, not sure how I'll be with this one, i have my doubts whether I'll even be able to get us all dressed most days! lol.
Love the best friend collection in Next, its gorgeous!

Lauryn- I found that out aswell about the same time after having Izzy, thats why we got our Morrck, it looks so snug! I think its something that should be covered with MW's.

Inoue- Bargain for the sleeping bag. Oh dear about your pains, will keep my fingers crossed they stay away!

x

 

[Inoue]

I wasnt aware on the care seat/snow suit issue lolly, makes sence really; thanks for the heads up

Baby all settled down now thanks scally. Me and DH had abit of a tiff yesterday when he got home from work and problems started an hour after that, i tired to remain as calm as possible but was getting wound up . Once i let it go and we were civil, the pains eased. Had a couple of niggles this morning but she was moving alot so not to concerned. Basically, no stress people!! lol x

 

[ttc_lolly]

Glad your pains subsided Inoue. Give your DH a whack next time

I love sleeping bags, used them with DD right up until she was around 16-17 months I think. The MW told me you aren't supposed to use them until baby is 6 weeks old though, not sure why if anybody knows? We swaddled DD for the first few weeks anyway and then switched to bags once she could preferred having her arms free!

I'm feeling really big lately, as if my stomach can not stretch any further. I have another 12 weeks of this arghh!

 

[time]

They have long sleeved vests in Tesco Kellie I got some the other night! Also have a look in t k maxx for sleeping bags they have some fab ones at less than half the rrp.

Love the long sleeved vests as you can use them with trousers as well as under sleepsuits but it's a bit chilly to do that with the short sleeved ones, but as you said ally the maternity ward is SO HOT!! Baby will be roasting in all these clothes haha.

Just found that out last week about the snowsuit in carseat (think midwives should tell us things like this) hence why I thought it might be silly to pack a snowsuit to just walk from hospital to car and then take it off!

 

[time]

I think maybe they tell you not to use them for the first few weeks if baby is tiny as they come in quite wide sizes (say 0-6 months) so I guess they could be pretty baggy on baby at first? I'm not sure!

I'm also feeling like my tummy can't stretch much bigger now lauryn haha I may not be able to hold off the stretch marks much longer!

 

[Inoue]

Lol, i will do lolly


I believe the MW say what they do about sleeping bags < 6 weeks is because they can ride up over the chin of the baby. The way you can help resolve this is by buying a sleeping bag with two poppers on each shoulder (not just the one), i think its supposed to be harder for LO to wiggle it up over the neck due to the double fastenings. I could be WAY wrong but thats whats ive heard/read online. If in doubt then maybe you could add on another popper to make it a little firmer around the neck so it doesnt ride up but still feels loose to baby

I plan to use mine from birth and if i feel uncomfortable then ill switch to another method but sleeping bags from birth seems to be the way others are going. I wont be taking a snowsuit to hospital now as thats the case with carseats, will be pointless as time says. Ill probably just pack another little blanket if its a very chilly November x

 

[Scally]

The grobag sleeping bags have the poppers under the arms, and they do stop them riding up. I think if u have a diddy baby though they say not to use them, Izzy was 8lb born and they were fine to use straight away. I used them with her until she went into a single bed!

I am trying very hard this morning to get some motivation to do the housework, but its not really working! We have an inspection tomorrow (as rented) and then the in laws are coming to stay for 5 days on Thurs so I really need to get a wiggle on, but its not happening!

I agree with the others Inoue you need to beat your OH, no stress for you and baby!

x

 

[ttc_lolly]

Ahhh that makes sense, maybe my MW just told me that because Amber was underweight at birth. Hopefully this babe will be a bit bigger, but not by too much, then!

Glad I'm not the only one time! Not that I want you to feel big and stretched I'm just concerned at how big I feel and with still some time to go. I don't have any new stretchies yet, but my old ones are feeling a little tight, I'm just hoping they don't get any bigger!

I always leave cleaning to the last minute Ally, I seem to work better under pressure

 

[Inoue]

Ill probably be adding little poppers under the arms then if LO is underweight . Im still feeling very small (as in bump) and its like a little mole hill when i lay down . No stretchmarks for me yet, hoping i can evade them! I have my scan next tuesday so im hoping they say baby is growing well, maybe just a tad smaller then others or spot on for my first.
I did do ALOT if core exercises pre-pregnancy so im guessing my ab muscles are holding well hence the small firm bump .

Scally, put on the music channel really loud and rock out while doing housework. I love to play LMFAO really loud and it gives me a kick up the ass to get party rocking (ps, this song is on my labour song list ) x

 

[Scally]

Inoue- I reckon baby is growing fine its just you and your amazing abs! Mine seemed to give up straight away and parted!

I havent done much housework, Izzy was like a demon child today so we went for a long walk instead! Need to do it quick in the morning before inspection and then plan on baking some yummy cakes!

x

 

[Inoue]

Lol, all the zumba did pay off in the end

Sorry to hear your day didnt go as planned scally, difficult if Izzy is messing around. As you say, try and get it done in the morning, hopefully that will work out!

Ive been trying to work out if id get any benefits if I dont go back to work after maternity but the websites are soooo confusing. Basically I get squat if I work part time (which I expected) but I wanted to know what id get if I didnt work, DH earnes about £19,500 py. Any help or input anyone? Let me just add ive never been on benefits but im staggered with how much people get yet we get nothing (Dh wage doesnt cover all monthly costs) x

 

[Scally]

Inoue- on his wage alone you will get tax credits, if you google tax credits calculator there is a calculator which will work it all out for u x

 

[kellie_w]

Inoue, have you looked at directgov.co.uk? That site has all about benefits and calculates hoiw much you can get. I'm entitled to nothing as oh is a high earner , so I'm not much help but I think you should at least get job seekers allowence and tax credits.

Good luck with your cleaning ally if you decide to tackle it again! Hope izzy is easier today, she must know her birthday is approaching!

Girls, they have sleeping bags in matalans with poppers under the arms for only £10. They are lovely and warm too and perfect for winter. They say 3-6 months but if any of us have bigger babies they should be ok! They also have lovely fleecy sleepsuits from newborn.

I'm all packed ready for hospital putting those tiny clothes in my bag, wow it made this all real! I am really really scared, the nerves are really building now x

 

[time]

Good luck with the cleaning ally! Going to try get mine done after work today but I'm always shattered when I get home!

Unfortunately I get a raw deal with maternity pay etc as I am self employed, I have applied for maternity allowance but doubt it will come through so I literally get nothing and no benefits despite paying around £9000 in taxes as well as vat each year, pretty ridiculous!

My hospital bag is pretty much done, and baby's bag, just need to last minute pack some clothes and makeup (I have a very limited wardrobe at the moment so don't want to pack one of the only outfits I have haha)

 

[ttc_lolly]

Inoue, you wouldn't be allowed on either income support or JSA if OH supports you, and you would get child tax credits. They lowered the cut off for working tax creds last year I think, and your OH's wage is above the cut off. You're right though, benefit top up's can be quite high, and I swear often people on them get more than what we do (on OH's wage alone) after all of our outgoings as we don't get any help at all

You might be able to get housing benefit but I think it varies area to area with what the cut off's are etc.

I have applied for maternity allowance too time, haven't yet heard back from them though. I should be accepted, if not I am going to go ballistic!

I can't believe so many of you have your hospital bags done already! I haven't even got a single thing to go in it yet!