Thursday 24 July 2014

What's in my... hospital bag

Today I packed my bag for the hospital, I'm 36 +6 so it's beginning to feel close (though Charlie didn't arrive until 41 weeks).

Here's what I've packed:


(1) Clothes for Mama:
Bath towel (hospital requested I bring one)
Clean clothes for leaving hospital in
Maternity pads
Maternity briefs
Slippers
Dressing gown
2x nighties - one old one to give birth in and one in case I have to stay overnight

(2) Wash bag - toiletries, make up and wipes

(3) Hospital notes and birth plan

(4) Clothes for Baby:
2x small blankets and a muslin
3x long sleeved vests/sleep suits
2x short sleeved vests
Socks and scratch mitts
Newborn nappies
2x newborn hats
Cardigan

Other things I'll be taking are my phone and phone charger, maternity pillow, lots of £1 coins for the car park, bottle of water, snacks and a gift for Charlie from the baby.

The hospital supplied me with a check list in my pregnancy notes, but there's also a couple of good ones on the mothercare site and NetMums.

Monday 21 July 2014

36 Weeks Pregnancy Update

Things not to forget about pregnancy at 36 weeks

- Hot hot hot, the first day of my maternity leave (17th July 2014) saw the hottest day of the year so far, 28C! With a huge thunder storm in the night the second day started off cool but reached 30C in the afternoon. Baby is like a permanent hot water bottle around my tummy, so lots of ice drinks, foot soaking and sitting in the shade is in order, but there's so much to do. I overdid it on that first day, by cleaning, cooking, baking and mowing the lawn.

- Heartburn is a daily chore, Gaviscon tablets work well when I'm out and about and the liquid works immediately if it hits at home. The little travel pack is a permanent feature of my handbag.

- Baby manages to be pressing hard down on my bladder whilst also kicking into my ribs and lungs.

- Breathlessness, the heat isn't helping, I now get breathless just walking up the stairs!

- Thirst, the heat is making me crave sparkling cold water with ice and lemon.

- Little pushes and kicks. She is just so active, I love having the reassurance though worry she's going to be way more hyperactive then her brother ever was! It is rare that I panic that's she's not moved for a while. The midwife and the maternity guides say that if you're worried to drink a glass of cold water and lie down, but I've not had to do it once, she pretty much moves every couple of hours. Even when she wakes me at 3am, I can't help but smile because she's healthy and well.

- Bio oil, it now takes two squirts from the bottle to cover the bump. I love the smell, it reminds me of my first pregnancy with Charlie.

- Nearly new, now that I'm on maternity leave I'm getting together those final last bits. This week J and I went to pick up a great fisher price play mat from a netmum, we got this along with a scramble bug and leapfrog play table for £45 (saving about £100 on the RRP). They're in almost brand new condition as used at grandma's house. We're lending the bug and table to my 10 month old niece as we won't need them for a while!

- Nursery artwork arrived this week, I now need to get some dusky red card to use as a backing frame so both pictures match the nursery.


- NetMum's Nearly new purchases, bump now bigger than the cat, icy drink and a good book, boy cat bump, cat bump, beautiful baby clothes rolled to look like roses (a present from my work) and the too hot bump in my old beach kaftan!

Saturday 12 July 2014

Pregnancy update 35 weeks

Only 5 weeks to go!

We had the midwife appointment on Wednesday. She's officially no longer breach - yay - and has a nice strong heartbeat. It was beating really fast at first and then slowed down, the midwife explained that this was normal as she'd been pressing down on her head to determine the breach status only half a minute before listening to the heartbeat.

Baby is currently about the size of a honeydew melon, 46cm long and 2.3kg.  She's reacting to sounds and really active with her kicks and jabs. I'm using the 'Kick Me' app to record her movements and her average per day is 555! Charlie is talking to her lots, he often wakes her (and me!) up in the morning, demanding to kiss the bump and say hello to her. He also kisses her goodnight at bedtime and calls her a good girl. His latest name choices are Spanner, Hammer or Elsa (from Frozen).

Mama is having a lovely quiet day today! T is having to work on a Saturday (he's managing his office's move from the Southbank to London Bridge) and C is with the grandparents. I slept until 9am today, something unheard of, I can't recall ever sleeping in that late since C arrived 4 years ago. My bump continues to grow, it's still high and I'm having to sit with my legs slightly apart - not good on the commuter train! I have 3 days left at work before maternity leave and am looking forward to less rushing around. As I don't know anyone expecting in the same area I put an ad on the NetMums Meet a Bump and so have arranged to meet up with two other mamas in the first week of Mat Leave. Both live nearby and we'll be meeting in the park, one has a six week old girl and the other has a 4 year old girl a month younger than C and is expecting her baby in September.

Last weekend we got a few more bits and pieces, a changing mat for the changing table, a newborn bath sponge and a couple of sheets. We have also picked out the gift the 'baby' will bring for Charlie and C chose a soft toy to give to the baby from him.




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