Posted by
Chrispy06
19 yrs ago
Hi there! Just wondering if any of you can shed some light on what to pack for the hospital bag and a few others things for the little one. I am planning to go to Matilda or Adventist for a Caeserean Birth so I will probably stay for 5 days. What are the essentials to pack for mom and baby?
Also, which is a good brand for the following?
-Baby Sleeping Bag
-Laundry Powder for baby clothes (fabric softener too or no need?)
-Baby shampoo/bath lotion/nappy rush cream
-Nappies (huggies or pampers?)
-Baby Monitor
Many thanks!!
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Hi Chrispy -
here are the things that I used -
breastfeeding bra
Nipple creme (although the hospitals provide samples, I wanted Lansinol)
Breast pads (used cloth initially as they breathe better, but you'll need a lot when your milk comes in because you can squirt everywhere)
Pads - (maternity pads)
Underwear
Prune juice (you can ask for it - but believe me, after you have had your baby, Prune juice can REALLY help you with your first poop which can be SCARY!) Hospitals provide stool softeners, but having some prune juice too isn't a bad idea.
Take home clothes for baby - what you want to bring him home in
Wear home clothes for you (just another clean outfit of maternity clothes)
I'm sure others have other ideas.
As for the list of other things -
-grobag for baby sleeping bag - it is availalbe in HK
-I like pigeon soap (the powder - japanese brand availalbe at B2b and toys r us)
-johnsons is fine - lots of people like Mustela, but I find it too fragranced. If your baby has sensitive skin you'll need to find another brand so just be prepared to experiment. Just buy one brand and start from there. (start with the less expensive one - you'll be spending enough money as it is.)
Personally- I am not a fan of huggies. they leak too much. I find pampers premium the best - they have a blue line, tend not to leak (although not foolproof) and are very soft.
I have a baby monitor by Lindam (available at b2b) I've never had a problem with it. Works great!
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Many thanks for your reply hkchoichoi. A friend of mine said I should pack some receiving blankets as the ones from the hospital are very old. And she also said I should pack a few body suits for baby with hats and gloves (hats to prevent loss of heat and gloves to prevent baby from scratching his/her face). What do you think?
Will check out the stuff u've recommended on the weekend...thanks!
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Congrats think about what you'll take baby home in, do you have a car with a capsual or some thing similar to put in the taxi.
Take your address book too it's amazing how in all the excitment and exhustion you forget your closest relatives numbers! If you don't like prune juice take some dried apricots or apricot delights or get some fresh fruit in it helped me.
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suze
19 yrs ago
Matilda provides everything you need for the baby, nappies, cotton wool, t-shirts and blankets. The blankets are nice I think. They also have hats and scratch mitts! I was really surprised at how little I needed for the baby after having one on the NHS in UK where you have to provide everything!For you they provide sanitary pads and the tasty disposable knickers.Take books and some snacks that you enjoy for you too. It was a great experience for me so enjoy!
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Hi hkchoichoi, where to buy a grobag sleeping bag in HK? So this serves as a baby wrap/ blanket which you can carry baby directly from hospital right? Like Chrispy I'm having my baby in Oct, what fabric should I choose for that? Thanks!
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I wouldn't bother with a Grobag for a newborn. My baby would not/could not sleep unless swaddled due to the Moro reflex. The Grobags are available from Mothercare, B2B and are around $400. I wouldn't waste my money getting a newborn one. Wait till the baby's a few months old then get one.
I can't imagine that you'd be able to put your baby in a carseat with the growbag on - they're pretty bulky.
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This is a good thread as I need to start packing my hopital bag this weekend. Am only 33 weeks but a girlfrriend of mine just had her 1st baby at 38 weeks. It's a myth that all 1st babes come late so I want to make sure we are prepared.
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of course it is and yeah for that i couldn't wait to meet my bubs! My friends baby was due on the 5 Aug and she had it this week on the 24th Jul. Mine was also early 2 weeks.
I recommend taking some power drinks and small snacks that you MIGHT want to eat while in labour to keep your engery up a little, I took some of those fun-size mars bars
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i'd bring some day clothes so that you can change out of your nighties because i personally hated wearing the same thing all day. besides after giving birth your body might alternate between feeling really cold and sweating like crazy. socks are a good idea too.
oh and if you know that people are going to send you flowers, hampers, gifts etc, tell them to have it delivered to your home instead of the hospital. you'll have enough to carry home when you're discharged without lugging all those presents too.
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Definitely a good plan to pack your bags early -- I unexpectedly went into labour 10 days ago and had nothing ready!
Our beautiful baby boy was born four weeks earlier than expected, but is healthy and blooming. He is just gorgeous and we are absolutely over the moon.
Wilst the experience is fresh, here are some suggestions for bits and pieces that made my stay at the Queen Mary a little more comfortable. The list may differ a bit for the Matilda:
1) A portable DVD player. Stock up on a TV series you have always wanted to watch. Best investment ever;
2) Your own pillow;
3) Eye patches;
4) Breastfeeding camisoles that you can sleep in aswell as to wear during the day;
5) Trashy magazines;
6) Ear plugs but I found my iPod more useful & soothing;
7) Bedroom slippers;
8) All the toiletries you would need if you were going away for a weekend;
9)Maternity pads;
10)Mobile phone & charger; and finally for all those visitors and photographs --
11)Lipstick!
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Mayafox, I am also planning on delivering at Queen Mary,in the general ward. Does the hospital provide somewhere for people to lock up their more expensive belongings when they are away from their beds? Can I bug you with other questions regarding Queen Mary delivery closer to the time? I visited the hospital a few months ago and was a bit put off by the general ward- claustrophic, noisy, chaotic and many sour- looking faces in the beds (who knows, maybe I'd be like that too with people gawking at me during delivery time!) I'd love any tips/ insight on your experiences! Congratulations on your little boy!
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In addition (for QMH) I would recommend:
- a pair of flip flops to wear in the shower
- a plastic jug and bottle of Savlon (not Dettol as it will burn) - put a bit of Savlon and warm water in the jug and pour over yourself when you need to wee (esp. if you've had stitches) - it will stop you stinging and help stave off infection.
- if possible ask for a bed by the window - you then have all of the window sill to store things on
- don't hold back throttling anyone who decides to leave their phone on vibrate by the side of the bed and insists on answering after lights out. You'll need every bit of sleep you can get.
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And a big 'DO NOT DISTURB BEFORE 8AM (or whenever)' sign, unless you like people delivering congee/rummaging round your privates at 6am...
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OMG!!!!!!LOL!!!! Mayafox, Blitzing, Geiboyi and Cara - thanks so much for your advice. I am making a list now of all the added extras I need to pack.
Funnily enough, my sis-in-law arrives tonight from UK and I have already asked her to swipe all the earplugs and sleep masks she can find. Great minds think alike!!
I will also be packing snacks and intstructing the hubs to smuggle in decent food for the duration of my stay - I know the food at QM has not improved at all since my birth in the 70's, lol!
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Quick question, what do I need to pack for the bubs aside from 'take home clothes'? Toiletries, nappies etc.??
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Couple of things for the new daddy - a change of clothes (in case of messiness or a long, long labour) and sustinance in the form of food and drink (because labour can be a long process and you don't want him to have excuses to leave the room at the mention of an epidural needle).
For the mum, lip balm.
Oh, and of course a video cam!
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Aha!!! Of course, things for Dad. Well done Claire.
Will add that to my list. Thanks!
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At QMH you need to provide nappies for your baby (they will 'lend' you some if you don't have them, and then you have to give them back the amount you use - fair enough I suppose.) Also wipes or cotton wool (I'd use wipes - newborn poo is nasty stuff and you want something tough to get it off - none of this cool boiled water business). Only clothes for going home in - they provide something for the baby to wear in the hospital (but it's a nasty orange, so if you want something better for photos it might be an idea...). Also nail clippers - they tell you not to cut the baby's nails and to use mittens instead, but some babies don't keep mittens on and then you end up with a scratched face (the baby's face, I mean). They wouldn't give me any nail scissors so next time I'll take my own...
Take nothing for Daddy - he's there to support you, and he might as well be suffering too. He's responsible for the whole thing anyway. There's a 7-11 for a sandwich once it's all over.
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Nail scissors - have those. And have bought wet wipes in gross in anticipation of the messy nappies.
So, it's mainly things for Mum with a few of the basics for the bubs aswell.
I take your point about Dad - make him suffer!
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Poor Dad. What about the dad who didn't have a change of clothes but used his t-shirt in the car when mum's waters broke? Or the dad who went for 52 hours without food because he wouldn't leave mum's side (private UK hospital but nurses wouldn't help because he wasn't the patient!)?
Dad can pack/carry them. And the clothes are a good idea if he's coming straight from the office.
Besides, you'll have years ahead in which to make him suffer.
;-)
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Have already started, lol!
OK, I have made a list of all the things I will need from the recommendations of all you kind ladies. I can only conclude that I will need a suitcase to carry it all! Perhaps I'd better lay everything out on the bed when I get home and see what I can do without.
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Don't worry about the dad being there 52 hours - they will kick him out once visiting hours are over.
Don't forget to take those disposable mattress protectors.
In any case, the 7-11 downstairs stocks all the things you need so if you've forgotten something you can send hubby down to buy it.
If you want help with breastfeeding I'd get your private midwife to visit you in hospital (if you're hiring one). I found the staff useless i.e. "yes that looks right" isn't exactly what you want to hear (no advice was offered). I asked how long should I keep him on the nipple - "until he's full" - 40 mins later he was still chomping away - my midwife told me later that 5 minutes per breast at the start is enough!
Also be prepared to field off unwanted comments such as "no wonder he's crying, you haven't fed him enough" - a simple "f off" did the trick for me at 4am but maybe you'd like to be more tactful.
Also if your baby ends up in the unit upstairs i.e. isn't with you in the ward, make sure you demand a place to feed baby where hubby can sit with you - at first they told me to go to the BF room where hubby isn't allowed to be - a bit stupid if hubby has come during his lunch hour and has to stand outside for most of his visit.
Re "do not disturb until 8am" - not sure if that will work as I was woken up at 6am to "check my wound" - I couldn't work out whether it was my wound or womb they were checking but it was in the same general direction so I just lifted the sheet for them!
Blood pressure is another thing they'll take at 6am - that is assuming they can get the machine to work - I didn't have a pulse for a number of hours - amazingly enough I was still alive...
Also once you're at the hospital, demand to be taken to the delivery room asap - otherwise if you're in labour outside visiting hours your hubby will not be able to stay with you.
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I'd be careful about going straight into the delivery room - once they get you on your back then that's it - no more moving until the baby appears. I had 16 hrs on my back, which was no fun at all. Go in by all means, but don't get on that bed right away...
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One tiny addition to the above; bendy straws. Cannot comment for sure on usefulness re. C Section, but a lifesaver during normal delivery. When you are giving everything that you've got to get this baby out, you somehow don't want to have to angle your head to sip badly needed water. If geiboyi's 16 hours on her back is anything to go by, then the straws may come in handy for a section too.......and it gives your husband something to do, holding the drink for you....
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If they let you drink, that is...
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Bendy straws - got it.
Geiboyi - do they not let you drink during labour? I'd be parched after 30 mins let alone 16 hours.
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And if I am planning a vaginal delivery, would a seat pillow be useful?
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I assume you mean one of those "donut" pillows? I had one and whilst it made sitting initially a bit more comfortable, after a while I felt like all my bits were falling out! This could have been me just feeling completely paranoid that everything down there had collapsed! Roadkill doesn't even begin to describe what was going thru my head...
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Rubber ring, like kids use at the beach. Didn't use one myself - mistake, given QM's fondness for episiotomies.
They won't let you drink or eat if you have an epidural, or if they think there's any chance of a c-section. Looking back of course I don't supposed they could have stopped me, and I just (stupidly) did what I was told the whole time. I didn't have a great labour but hope next time will be less unpleasant.
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Blitzing - I don't know whether to laugh or cry!
Geiboyi - nothing to eat or drink! Well, they can bugger off. There is no way I can last without water at least.
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packing for hubby: mine was a star for the entire 9 months, the delivery and now obviously. i felt it was only considerate to pack a fresh set of clothings for him (he never used it though).
eating: i was induced the day of my 39th week check-up. i asked my doc if i could have a meal before checking in to the hospital and he said NO. i was starving (and no water too) throughout the whole experience!
prune juice is a MUST if you want your 1st post-delivery poop to go well....
i packed an entire suitcase one month before EDD. probably used about 5% of the items in it....
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Have plentiful stocks of prune juice already and all things high in fibre.
At the moment my breakfasts are an experiment of oatmeal, natural yoghurt, strawberries, bananas and apple jiuce - all blitzed into a smoothie which I carry to work. Prior to this I had started a dangerous habit of consuming Starbucks pastries and savouries. Luckily my new breakfast concoction not only keeps me 'regular', it also acts likes quick drying cement and makes it impossible for me to eat anything else until lunchtime.
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They're right; you won't be able to drink if you have an epidral or C Section. In hindsight my vaginal birth without epidral seems like the easy option - I could never have made it without water (for 59 hours).
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59 hours! You could go on holiday and get a tan in that time!!
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Oh Dora...how did you survive?? 59 hours?
Vulvic - agree. can fast, but cannot live without water. I guess I probably need straws too then.
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was there any problem in getting and epidural at the public hospital? after talking to my chinese collegues none of them seemed to have an epidural when they gave birth. just a little worried!! is it best to ask for it as soon as you arrive so that there is plenty of time for the anetheitist to get there?
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i had an epidural after 17 hrs and the first thing they did was give me a meal and a cup of tea! Is this a QM thing or a HK hospital thing? I had mine bubs in S'pore
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Getting an epidural at QMH can be luck of the draw. I begged for one and got the usual "he's on his way" sh*te. As expected no-one showed. Luckily I only had 45 mins in the delivery room before my son popped out (mind you I thought I was going to die for about 30 of those minutes).
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michelle a bella, maybe those colleagues just did not want one? I gave birth in a private hospital both times and decided against. First time, it was easier (short labour), so second time I kept thinking that things would speed up and that I could manage without (how wrong was I?).
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At QMH they really wanted me to have an epidural - I think they thought it would shut me up. I did in the end, but did regret it as it really slowed everything down (I believe) and let me in for a horrible vacuum delivery (when the epi had been turned off already - not something you want to go through...). But no problem getting one, although I had been warned at antenatal classes that they have a quota each day, and if you're too late then there are no more epidurals.
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I soooooo envy all of you guys that have already had the baby or at the stage when you're packing your hospital bags........
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You won't imagine how fast time flies goddess... esp when you enter the 2nd trimester. In the first trimester I waited and waited for nausea to go away, waited for belly to show...felt like ages. But once entered the 2nd trimester - no more sickness & tiredness, belly not too big so you can still be highly mobile. This honeymoon period is like gone in a split second and before you actually notice it, the 3rd trimester arrives. I am in Week 28 now. Of course it's nice to know that baby will arrive soon, but sure I'm gonna miss the time that he is still inside my body too...
Enjoy every minute of your pregnancy!
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I have loved my pregnancy, no sickness and very active and mobile throughout. Am now at week 33 and starting to feel fatigue set-in during the afternoons at work. It's pretty manageable but am now looking forward to my maternity leave in 4 wks time.
The only downer is that I'm not allowed to go to the gym anymore as doctor has advised against it.
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Yes, i guess i can't wait to get into the second trimester. I'm so worried about losing the baby due to the generally higher risk of miscarraige in the first trimester. This, coupled with nausea and tiredness means that enjoying every minute of the pregnancy is a bit hard.
Lucky you Vulvic!!
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I'm sure it will pass soon Goddess. Once you get past the 1st trimester, you'll be able to relax a bit.
Have just been reading up on 'signs of labour' as a few friends of mine hadn't realised labour had started until they were already several centimetres dilated! Lucky them!
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Thanks, considering how much i want this pregnancy i should be down on my knees thanking god - not whining.
Do you already know if it's going to be a boy or a girl? Or are you waiting to find out?
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Worry not Goddess - nausea and tiredness means hormones are working well on you, meaning your baby is safe. Would that makes you feel better *_^
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I am having a 'suprise baby'. Eeryone reckons they know the sex bit to be honest, I haven't a clue. Am just looking forward to meeting the little monkey that has been kicking me senseless that last few weeks, lol!
Nicher is right - morning sickness is a very good sign. Try not to worry too much and rest when you can.
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Wow, a surprise baby, I always marvel at people who are able to control their curiousity. I honestly don't think i can wait till the end of term to find out.
Nicher: I keep having to remind myself about that :)))
Am working on controlling the anxiety.
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Kilwinning, please fire away with your questions -- my QM experience is very fresh in my memory and I am happy to answer any questions if I am able to!
I was also a little put off the General Ward on my hospital visit, so I was surprised when I barely noticed what was going on during my 3 day stay. You will be pretty preoccupied -- with your newborn, with exhaustion and with varying amounts of pain. You have curtains that you can pull around your area, so that at least you feel like you have your own space, and if you have your own pillow and other bits and pieces around you, you can make it quite comfortable. The other thing that I worried about was sharing a bathroom with other women who have the same... how shall I put it... 'discharge' that you will have (sorry for the gut-wrenching visual). However, during the whole of my stay, I seemed to be the only woman who ventured into the shower. Most Chinese women tend to wait ten days until they shower and everyone on my corridor looked seriously shocked when I came out of the shower with wet hair. Flip flops are a good idea nonetheless though.
Just remembered -- SOCKS. Make sure you have some super-comfy socks with you whilst you wait in the pre-delivery room (K9S). For some reason my feet got really cold just as the bad contractions started kicking in.
The rules say that partners are not allowed into the pre-delivery room, but my husband managed to stay with me the whole time. This was frankly a godsend asI could not have got through those horrible contractions without having his arm to dig my nails into! I think the best way to handle this is to be very under-the-radar about your husband's presence. If he is discreet and quiet, the nurses won't kick up a fuss.
I was allowed to sip water throughout delivery, but that may be because I WAS DENIED DRUGS due to how quickly my labour progressed.
Having given birth, I am still in two minds about episotomies. I was very insistent that I did not want one, and my wishes were respected, but that did mean that I had some tearing which took about an hour to repair. This is something that you should avoid at all costs. Especially if, like me, you did not have an epidural or any other kind of pain relief.
My labour progressed too quickly for an epidural, but if you are planning to make this part of your birth experience, my suggestion would be for those to be the first words out of your mouth when you walk into K9S, and repeat it like a mantra. Given how horrifically painful a natural deliver is (sorry -- the experience is still a little too fresh for me to forget!) I will make darn sure that I have an epidural next time.
The things that the midwives will send your husband to 7 Eleven for:
1) Maternity pads;
2) Waterproof bed liners;
3) Mesh knickers (to hold the maternity pads in place);
4) Nappies;
5) Baby wipes; and
6) Baby shampoo.
You might want to buy these in advance so your husband can stay with you instead of wandering around the hospital shops looking like a deer in the headlights.
Sitting down is always going to be pretty uncomfortable, but the thought of sitting on a rubber ring makes it sound even worse! Like Blitzing said, all the pressure is forced into the parts of your body that... you definitely don't want to disturb. A better way of relieving pain from a natural delivery is to lie on on your front with a pillow under your hips. This makes sure that the most painful part of you is elevated.
Vulvic -- I was really active throughout my pregnancy too, but I do think that your doctor is smart to tell you to stop going to the gym now -- my gorgeous boy was born nearly four weeks early and whilst nobody is pointing fingers, I think in retrospect I shouldn't have rushed about as much as I did.
I'm really excited for you all -- there is nothing like the sense of achievement of bringing a little one into the world!
Good luck, girls!
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Congratlations Mayafox! Must have been quite a surprise! How are you both doing?
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Thanks Dora, we are doing really great! It is lovely to have bubs home and we are having a fantastic time getting to know each other...
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cd
19 yrs ago
It is usual to have an episitomy here, but just stick to your guns and tell them how you want it and it should be ok. I had 2 'private' births at POW, although the delivery was the same as the public patients. I wrote a birth plan for both, which was followed.
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Mayafox - you are totally right. I need to slow down and remember that there is a little bubs in there. My problem is that I can't say 'no', but I am learning!
You are so lucky that you have finally met your little boy. I can't wait till our little un arrives, it is only 6 weeks or so away but feels like ages!
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At QM, when I gave birth (2 years ago) I was in such pain they kept ASKING ME if I wanted the epidural. I wanted a natural birth and delivery but they kept asking if I wanted anything for my pain relief. I asked my father about epidurals (he's an ob.gyn) and he explained that there is never a point where it is too late medically - but in some cases, if a labor is progressing along quickly, an epidural may slow the process down in some cases. Furthermore, somewomen ask for an epidural after the WORST PAIN (transition) has already begun or is almost over which means that the woman has survived the most painful part without the drugs, so sometimes in that case, doctors don't want to give it since the greatest problem is over.
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Hi Mayafox,
Congratulations!!! sorry if my post is a little late. I'm the one who asked you about yoga, i went there but i think you're no longer there and might have given birth. Robin is not there anymore now so i don't know if i still want to continue, i'm thinking of just doing it at home since i have some knowledge of what poses to do. Though i'm lazy if i just do it alone at home. Take care.
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Vulvic -- 6 weeks will pass by in a flash! I can't believe our little one is already three weeks old today. Feels like just yesterday I was begging for pain relief at the Queen Mary. HKCC, how did you withstand the pain and still not accept the epidural? I am clearly much more of a wimp than you! My transition came so quickly that I had no idea that I was already over the worst of the pain (it's true, first-time moms -- once you get to the pushing part, the pain is totally manageable, it's the contractions just before that are a killer). I just kept thinking that it would get worse and worse, but you are right, it does get better. Having to be stitched up for an hour without any pain relief is another story altogether though.
Honeypie -- I was looking out for you in class before I had my baby! You are right, I had my baby on July 19th, so haven't been to yoga for about three weeks. I know that Robin has passed the preg. class onto another teacher, but I have no idea what she is like. Are the classes not as good as Robin's?
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Maya -
the pain? hmm...it was INTENSE. I had back labor as so although the contractions itself weren't very strong (according to the meter) I was in excruciating pain moaning. That's why the nurses kept saying "how about an epidrual." My labor was also REALLY long - and so my father kept bellowing to my husband on the phone "Get her to take the epidural - no need for her to suffer like that." HAHAH...but my husband was massaging me, using accupressure and trying to be as supportive as possible during the whole thing.
Didn't they give you some gas during the stitching part? I got gas I remember - but after the pushing, I felt SO GOOD that I was seriously high and I don't know if I needed the gas. I was a nut! Right after my baby was out, I said, "I could have another baby right now." The rush of endorphins - was amazing.
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aaahhhhhhh....i don't want to read your post on pain ;-)
Mayafox,
I didn't go last time, as i got lazy and thought it might still rain, so no idea how is the new teacher, do you think you had labor early bec of that yoga? i'm thinking of just doing it at home.
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honeypie -
I did a great yoga DVD at home - I loved it. It was with Shiva Rea, and I did it everyday and had a good experience with it. I tried about three different pregnancy yoga DVD's and this one was the best for me.
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Mayafox - didn't they not only give you gas but give you some shots of local anaesthetic??? My labour was too quick for any pain relief but when it came time to stitch me up she gave me 2 shots of anaesthetic. When she then attempted to wipe me with some sterilising agent I nearly jumped jumped off the bed with pain - I told her not to even think about coming near me with a needle if she didn't give me some more anaesthetic (which she did).
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For me they gave me NO anaesthetic for the stitching (or for the vacuum delivery come to that). Nasty people, doctors...
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OMG - so it's the stitching afterwards that seems to have hurt the most! Will make sure I'm thoroughly anaesthetised for that!!!
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i didnt' get anything besides gas - but I don't recall it hurting much - more the euphoria of having given birth sort of erased everything else!
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I threw away the gas whilst I was pushing because I didn't think it was helping at all -- the mask was making me feel claustrophobic and the pain was still so intense. When it came to stitching me up, they gave me the gas again and when I was still squealing in pain (and they thought I couldn't possibly be more of a wimp) they checked the gas... and realized that it had been off all along. I definitely missed out on those kicks!
According to my husband who watched the whole thing, they dropped local anaesthetic onto me when they stitched me up, but I am sure that did NOTHING to alleviate the pain. It wasn't even so much the stitching as the swabbing and prodding they did which was excruciating. Honeypie, I am really sorry to have to tell you this!
I am not sure if yoga was responsible for my early labour. I hope it wasn't because that was one of the things that I really enjoyed throughout my pregnancy and that I will definitely do again next time round. I would take it easier though and not rush about so much. I was really burning the candle at both ends trying to fit in all the baby planning, socializing and work towards the end of my pregnancy. Definitely don't recommend that.
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Hi mayafox,
I love reading all the posts, as it prepares me on what to expect, it's sounds scary though but i'm ready for it.
HKchoichoi, I'll look for a DVD so i can just do it at home, by the way, the shipping for the nursing apron is US$16, if it's just within US, she said it's around $6.80. They are working with a retailer in Hk, so i might wait for it as i'm in no hurry at this time.
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Burning the candle at both ends - that is the perfect way to describe it. I feel as if I can't let people down and am constantly worrying how work will cope whilst I'm on maternity. As a result, am rushing about like a fool meeting deadlines and making sure that all the new procedures are in place before I go.
Well that has all stopped now! I am on a 'go slow' at work and have decided they can figure it out for themselves. Am leaving work on time every day and making sure that I am getting a rest during my lunchbreaks.
I want to be able to feel the changes my body is going through in these last few weeks, and not miss them because I am too busy to notice.
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Vulvic, definitely take the time to enjoy those awesome last few weeks -- in the wee hours of the morning after I gave birth and my baby was in the NICU, I really missed the feeling of him moving and kicking inside me. It's lovely to finally meet the baby, but there is something really special about being pregnant that I definitely miss. My husband says the only way to deal with that is to keep me pregnant LOL!
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Love being pregnant but not indefinitely, lol!! My other half is already planning baby no.2! I think I may need ti get re-aquainted with my body first.
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You may be pleasantly surprised at how quickly your body bounces back after the whole pregnancy / birth workout. Three weeks of breastfeeding and I am back in my pre-preg clothes!
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That is very good to know! Am looking at my jeans with longing. What I really miss is not being able to wear most of my shoes cos my feet are so swollen.
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Hi Vulvic,
When does swollen feet kicks in?
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I started getting swollen feet at 16 weeks. Just been flicking through my diary and can't believe how early it started for me. Have invested in some nice silver, sparkley birkenstocks to see me through the pregnancey. The worst thing is that it now has spread to my face and hands - not too bad but definately puffy.
Not all women get it though honeypie so don't worry too much. I have a load of friends that had no swelling at all.
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Me?
Blood pressure is fine and none of the other symptoms of pre-eclampsia. My Mum had it when she was pregnant with me so I am watching out for the signs all the time.
Luckily it just seems to be fat feet for now.
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So far no probs with my BP thansk goodness although I have a friend who does and they make her come in once a week to be monitored. If the BP does not settle after a certain period of rest, they check into QM for observation.
Not fun at all and hardly likely to improve your BP
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Thanks vulvic, i'm 30w now, and so far no swelling, been raising my legs up most of the time and don't eat any salty food, don't know if that helps.
Cara, what about the flashing lights? i've been seeing that sometimes if i raise my head up abruptly, so i thought i have an eye problem.
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OMG Clara - that sounds dreadful. I would have been totally freaked. No faces. Very scarey.
I think once you know the signs and symptoms it becomes less frightening but unless you read up on pregnancy or have a good OBGYN, you could be totally oblivious to what is going on. Certainly nobody at Tsan Yuk has ever asked me to watch out for signs of pre-eclampsia even though I have told them on several occassions that my Mum had it.
Honeypie - sounds like basic oedema but you may want to get your doc to double check. It is a pain in the neck as it can be uncomfortable at times and generally unattractive but it's not particularly harmful. Just make sure you drink plenty of water and stay off the salt as you have been doing.
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