March Mamas 2012 Baby Group (Closed Group)

[mitchnorm]

All my mat tops were pretty much bump hugging some everyone knew i was pregnant not fat....now i wish i had bump skimming ones ha ha

 

[SeaThreePeeO]

Oh, you'll hate me. I'm now to big for my pre-pregnancy clothes. But in ny defence I lost a lot of weight when I suffered a MMC last year and terrible morning and all bloody day sickness meant I lost weight during pregnancy too. However since the husband keeps bringing home chocolate I'll be back in my maternity clothes in no time.

Picking up amy from school a lady approached me and asked if Jessica was my baby. when I confirmed she was she commented that she never even knew I was pregnant. I have no idea who this woman is. Of course that could mean she just thought I was incredibly fat.

 

[Skadi]

Keira is still in a mix of preemie, newborn and 0-3 month stuff. She 'fits' all three sizes in babygrows and sleepers but is way too short and thin for 0-3 dresses and outfits. Oh well, she is just 7 lbs now so has a lot of time to grow into fitting the rest.

As far as pre-pregnancy clothes... I can fit a few pair of jeans but more are still too tight to even get up over my thighs! I'm having a really hard time because I still have a pregnancy kind of appetite and just no energy to really excercise. I'm forcing myself to take he out for hour long walks and I'm trying to keep myself too busy to snack but eventually I break down and next thing I know half a bag of oreos is missing! (oops!). I think it is so hard for me because pre-pregnancy I was lucky enough to have a well toned body without ever having to actually work for it. I'm also having a hard time with shirts as I was a small before but my boobs don't fit in them anymore!

 

[emera35]

Stretchy clothes are your friends lads!

 

[citymouse]

Oh, I have an actual question!

Especially for those of you who spent some time at home before going to the hospital... how messy does it get, exactly? Do you have any recommendations for that point in time, in terms of precautionary things? I like being on my ball and leaning on a pile of pillows on the couch, but I don't want to ruin everything around me.

How did you handle cleanup of any items that you used at that point (especially if you were off to the hospital)?

Also, when you're home from the hospital (or not, in Emera's case )--how messy is the aftermath? Is there a good way to prepare a bathroom/bedroom for the postpartum time?

And what type of supplies is it worth having around for feedings, vomit, etc.?

Sorry, these are kind of open-ended questions, but any advice you can contribute would be great!

 

[wouldluvabub]

Citymouse- I didn't spend a lot of time at home about 6 hours but for me my waters were leaking slowly an gushing every now an then so I spent my time in the bathroom walking up and down so I was close to the toilet for the times it gushed and was close to my sanitary pads for when I needed to change them.

As for the aftermath I had to stay in hospital for 6 nights so by the time I was home everything was ok. But to me as somebody who has always had heavy periods anyway I didn't find my bleeding to be any worse then that. It took like 3 days before it was just like a light period. I'm 3 weeks pp today and still lightly bleeding but it was so much less then what I expected. Maybe I'm just lucky????

For feeding supplies I have a bottle of infants friend to help with bubbies wind, a bib as he is a spewy baby, a face washer to wipe up sick and flannelette blanket as I use these to swaddle him but I also have just started chucking them over my shoulder when burping to avoid baby spew down my back. Also have a bottle of water near by as I find breastfeeding makes me thirsty!!!

 

[Skadi]

City - Can't really answer your first few questions but for feeding I just have a cloth handy as well as a receiving blanket to lay over her and keep her warm now that falling asleep mid-feed is not an issue. If we are bottle feeding ebm I will put a bib on her but to be honest the cloth is more useful. When I burp her I sit her up and hold her under the chin by holding her temples and with the cloth in hand so if she does spit up the cloth catches it. I've never burped her over the shoulder as she is way too squirmy!

Honestly, you will figure out what is easiest for you.

 

[lozza1uk]

Citymouse - my waters didn't go at home, in fact they didn't go until deliberately broken in hospital so I didn't find a mess at all at home, just keep lots of water handy to keep drinking, I found being hydrated helped.

In terms of coming home, I was home 24 hrs after giving birth. Have a squeeze bottle of water or 2 next to the toilet unless you have a bidet as you can use it to chuck water down there while peeing or just to rinse afterwards - that might be just cos I have stitches and weeing stings! Somewhere to dispose of the used maternity towels too.

Other supplies... Finger food, loads of water ad nipple cream is what I find really handy to have close, plus my phone when I remember!

Guys using lansinoh, when you've slapped it on are you putting a breastpad straight on, or just a bra, or waiting for it to soak in first? I threw the instructions away by mistake.

 

[wouldluvabub]

skadi-I never put bubs over my shoulder till one night he just would not settle. I put him over my shoulder and got his wind up pretty much straight away then he fell asleep. It works so quickly at getting his wind up its amazing...

 

[Skadi]

My instructions don't say Lozza... but during the day when I have my bra on I leave the breast pads in my bra after putting it on and it stays on fine. At night when I am not wearing a bra (No more leaking a cup of milk in my sleep anymore! lol) I just put it on and leave it so it doesn't seem to matter.

 

[Skadi]

skadi-I never put bubs over my shoulder till one night he just would not settle. I put him over my shoulder and got his wind up pretty much straight away then he fell asleep. It works so quickly at getting his wind up its amazing...

I'm just too nervous with her because of the way she flings her head around! lol My mom showed me how to burp her really well by patting her to the side rather than square on her back and generally I can get burps out of her quickly that way.

 

[wouldluvabub]

Brax has a strong neck and fllings his head round too but you actually put him so far over your shoulder they can lift their head but it cant fall back..

 

[Skadi]

hmmm I think I would have to see someone do it first.

 

[wondertwins]

Emera, I agree about stretchy clothes. Or as my niece calls them, "soft pants." She's 7 and a bit if a diva. After she's had a bad day, she will sigh and say she just wants to wear soft pants.

Lozza, I don't think it matters. At first I found it most comfortable to use it with a breast pad simply because I couldn't stand for my nips to rub against my bra even a little bit.

City, I can only speak to the post-delivery side of things. The squeeze bottle (called a peri bottle by my nurse) is key if you have a vaginal delivery. They'll give you one at the hospital. Depending on how long you stay in the hospital, you shouldn't have to worry too much about ruining anything when you come home since the heavy bleeding will mostly be done in the first 48 hours. You'll definitely still bleed after that... but it shouldn't be quite as gruesome.

 

[crowned]

City - I too didn't have any mess at home beforehand, so can't help with that bit. I had contractions, but my water didn't break until after I got to the hospital. We did use puppy pads there, though, to catch whatever I was leaking during contractions, so that might be good to have at home too. After birth, I second the peri bottle - take it home and use it! It's very very helpful for keeping things clean and for reducing the burn when you pee if you've had stitches or abrasions. Lots of maternity pads - big super absorbent ones. Also, you might want to put a bit of water on a couple of pads and throw them in the freezer - a frozen pad is lovely relief when your bits are swollen and sore. Ibuprofen helps with the pain, so maybe stock up on that. Other than that, breast pads if you're going to nurse, lanolin for sore nips, and lots of receiving blankets for mopping up baby puke and leaky boob milk. Big receiving blankets are good for swaddling too. One more thing - my midwife recommended getting epsom salts and putting some in a few inches of water in the bath and soaking my bits once a day. I found it really relaxing and relieved some of the discomfort, plus it helps keep everything clean down there. Hope this helps!!

 

[lozza1uk]

Crowned - have you found a salt bath helps the stitches ? Mine hurt more today than they did before - I think it's because I've spend most of the day and night so far sat up so they're not getting a rest! Going to try the freezer trick too today.

 

[lozza1uk]

Actually Mouse - one more prep thing, if everything in you house is controllable by remote control that would be really helpful! I've just finished a feed, daren't move because he's asleep but can't switch the light off to snooze as its the other side of the room!

Hope he stays asleep, I've been up the last 5 hours feeding!

 

[citymouse]

Thanks, all! Wonderful advice. I actually have frozen pads in my freezer as we speak... Read about them here a while ago. Hope no helpful guests go looking for food to reheat.

My friend said to freeze wet paper towels for sore nipples...? I got these things called Booby Tubes that go in the freezer, as well as gel pads... Do you think I'll want more relief than that?

 

[SeaThreePeeO]

I haven't had a chance to read back, but this morning i have woken up covered in head to toe in hives. They're even on the palms of my hands. I am now officially worried. I'm trying to get an appointemnt to see a doctor today (appointments are like gold dust here). So I may not be about today. I'll catch up when I can. This is so depressing and unfair *self pity*

 

[loolindley]

Sorry to hear you had a bad night Lozza. With the nipple cream I put a breast pad and my bra on straight away, mainly because I don't have the time to let it soak in!!!

City, I was in hospital as you know, but I was grateful it wasn't my floor because I did a lot of bouncing and everytime I stood up it was like a mini monsoon between my legs also, I hope they gave that ball a good wipe down!!! Afterwards...Dharma doesn't spew, we are lucky, but house work is the last thing on my mind at the monent, I just want to enjoy my lo.

We have rediscovered swaddling!!! Turns out we weren't doing it tight enough, so now we man handle her into one and wrap her up as tight as a really tight thing (can't think of a 'tight' example right now!) and she's stopped crying!!!!! My mums next door neighbour came and showed me properly and it's like a revelation!!

Looks like its going to be another cracking day but we have to trawl DIY stores because the painter and decorator is starting on Monday. Booo. I have so much sleep to catch up on!