Re: pregnancy pressie revisited..

[Guest guest]

Lonnie - please may I put this in my newsletter, crediting your idea?

By the way, I think she's one lucky lady to have you as a friend, that

was a very generous preggie present!! Would also be interested to see

the emotinal notes!

thanks

Caro

Subject: pregnancy pressie revisited..

> Just thought you might be interested in what we ended up putting in

the pregnancy parcel we made for my friend that I asked for idea's

on..

>

> Tea Tree oil

> Lavender oil

> Arnica

> Rescue remedy

> Bendy straw's

> Cereal bar's

> Great Ormond streets child and baby care book

> The best friends guide to surviving motherhoood.

> The expectant father

> Nct leaflet on breast feeding

> Book about breastfeeding (kitzinger one)

> Bath bubbles for pregnant ladies..

> Nipple cream

> 10 pence taped to a piece of cardboard with the word phone list..

> Biro

> Evian water spray

> s breastpads

> Disposable knickers

> and some freebie booklets I had from different baby magazines (one a

bel Karmel food book one about finding childcare and one about

immunisations)..

>

>

> She absolutely loved it all and it was great fun to do ;o)..

> Oh and we made this great list of emotional notes practical notes

and notes for daddy to be.

> and a list of usefull numbers...

>

> Lonnie Phoebe & Eloisa's mama

> & expecting a Christmas delivery...

> My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to

finish what you start.

> So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a Chocolate cake.

>

> I feel better already.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Caro Feel free to use.. Please remember there was 2 of us making it to ;o)..you

might want to " edit " the notes a little as there is some product recommendations

(not sure if you want to use that lol).. (Notes coming after sig)

Lonnie Phoebe & Eloisa's mama

& expecting a Christmas delivery...

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what you

start.

So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a Chocolate cake.

I feel better already.

Some emotional notes...

Do ask for help and don't be afraid to take what help is offered..

Do ask Daddy to cook dinner )

DO RING THE BREASTFEEDING LINES (should you at any point have problems)

Breastfeeding can be hard to begin with but it is worth holding out through

the first few difficult weeks.. (but hopefully you will be one of those women

who doesn't have any trouble)

If you get engorged try using Homeopathic remedy Bryonia (in 3 or 6 potency)

if breasts go red use Bella Donna to take down inflammation..

(and ring if there is any problems do not feel you have to manage)

Also use Cold cabbage leaf's inside your bra to relieve discomfort works great

(do NOT Freeze the cabbage doesn't work)

Don't worry if you don't manage to get dressed till lunch time or even later..

When baby wakes up in the night for a feed keep lights low and don't talk much

to baby, this way s/he will learn the difference between night and day.. Also

baby DOES NOT need a new nappy on at this stage unless it has pooped it (do not

bother you are letting yourself in for to much work if you do, as baby will wake

up think lets play and you are awake for hours)

After giving birth and you go to the toilet for the first time it is perfectly

normal to have a bowlfull of blood do not worry about it... And yes you really

do have a tummy that huge after having given birth DON'T worry again perfectly

normal..

Baby can not be held to much to begin with so ignore all " advice " from people

telling you that you are making a rod for your own back.. baby has been held

tight for the last 9 months so is not used to be all alone..

Do trust your instinct it is usually correct.

Don't worry about the mother at the health visitor/babygroup/supermarket whose

baby seems to do everything perfectly and just when s/he is meant to.. Baby will

probably grow up to be the ugliest child ever, nothing like your little darling

(and mothers get very competitive, chances are you will meet said mum in the

park with a wailing baby and her having no clean nappy to put on baby)...

Don't be surprised if you are still feeling sore 3 months after the birth

(though arnica should help this)

DO attend antenatal groups and DO stand up and say " HEY everyone would you

like to come to my house for coffee next week/after " . This is how you will make

your network of friends and there is no one better to call in those early days

than someone whom you know is going through the exact same thing.. (mums of

older kids can be frustrating as they seem to know it all and have forgotten

just how difficult it is first time)

On a more practical note...

Some things are worth paying extra for..

Do buy the good expensive sling (like Baby Bjorn or the Wilkinet one) and

bypass the £12.99 Mothercare one, there IS a reason why the other 2 are that

much more expensive..

When buying breastpump the best is the Avent Issis pump...

Avent Steam steriliser is worth paying for.

Do buy an actual changing bag again there is a reason why they are more

expensive than a " normal " bag.. but steer clear of the matching pram one they

tend to be not designed with much thought..

Some things can be done cheaper without you noticing..

Yes the premium nappies are great but some own brands are very good and cloth

nappies are actually a sensible option to....(and cheapest option to in the long

run)

And no you don't need baby wipes, cottonwool and water is actually better...

(and again cheaper) (the wipes however are easier in the changing bag)

Make sure that car seat you chose is suitable for your car

(check with manufacture of car-seat they should know)

Nipple cream/ointment see if you can get a hold in a tube of Lansinoh.. Also

use your own breastmilk and leave to air dry as much as possible..

When buying pram make sure that you get one suitable for your lifestyle.. If

you walk a lot then do make sure you get a lot of suspension but don't make it

to bulky as you will end up using a umbrella fold buggy as soon as you possibly

can..

CHECK if pram folded can go in your carboot easily if not go for another

model.

If you do loads of trips to local shops swivel wheels can be a really good

idea.

Make sure that handle height is suitable for both of you, you do not want to

be slouching nor feeling like you have to reach up to get the handle

Websites worth checking out for prams are

http://www.kiddicare.com and Http://www.eprams.com

Highchairs do not go for the really expensive ones (check out babyworld for

information on the product forum and also baby magazines for their tried and

tested area's) Generally a middle of the range model is the one people are the

happiest with...

Unless off course you would consider buying a trip trap chair (see Lonnie on

this point)

Do make food in advance and freeze down.. Stuff like soup and casseroles are

great to quickly defrost and heat when you have had a hard day with baby..

For Daddy to be

Do cook dinner as often as she asks..

Do tell her how well she is coping.

Do spend time on the sofa sitting with baby just cuddling baby.

Don't ask her " What have you done all day... "

Do be supportive when she burst into tears for no reason at all (it is normal)

Do tell her she looks beautiful when she complains that everything is sagging

(Do NOT tell her that is normal - though it is - And telling her that she had

just had a baby is not going to help her much either.... she knows that.....)

Do bring home flowers just because you felt like it.. (and DO buy that tiny

little sleep suit she will love you doing it)

Do offer to change nappy and do not be offended if she tells you that you are

doing it all wrong (what she really means is that you are not doing it how she

does but after a while she will be used to your way and it wont be a problem)

Don't worry it will only last a few weeks and then all the hormones settle

down and the 3 of you can spend time finding out how to be a family (it's fun

and lovely and the best feeling in the world)

Useful Contacts..

Babyworld

Http://www.babyworld.co.uk

(they do online antenatal groups great fun

and loads of other information)

National Child birth Trust

Tel 02089928637

Brestfeeding line (open 9am til 10 pm every day)

Tel 0870448708

Http://www.nct.online.org

Nct Maternity sales

Tel 0

Http://www..nctms.co.uk

and also nctcoffee online coffeemorning (yahoogroup)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nct-coffee

(a virtual coffeemorning)

Meet a mum association

Tel 0

http://www.mama.org.uk

(Help for those with post natal depression

local suport groups)

La leche league

Tel 02072421278

(Help advice and information on breastfeeding

from trained counsellors)

NHS Direct

Tel 0845 4647

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

(health advice from an experienced

nurse 24 hours a day)

Osteopathy Information service

Tel 0208 7357 6655

Http://www.osteopathy.org.uk

(Good for back problems and reliving nausea in pregnancy

Great after for loads of baby problems)

Parentline

Tel 0

Http://www.parentlineplus.org.uk

(support and help for parents who are sterssed or in crisis)

Plushpants

Http://www.plushpants.co.uk

(cloth nappy site but also great for loads of other stuff

like muslin cloths and natural baby care lotions)

International Home birth movement

Tel 01865 300 154

http://www.homebirth.org.uk

(advice and information on homebirth)

also a yahoo group on

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/homebirthUK

Top Notch Doulas

Tel 0

Http://www.topnotchnannies.com

(agency that places doulas - paid experienced birth partners

[Guest guest]

Lonnie wrote:

> Also use Cold cabbage leaf's inside your bra to relieve

discomfort works great

>

> (do NOT Freeze the cabbage doesn't work)>>>>>>>>>>>

Green cabbage that is not the RED stuff!

Trisha

SAHM to 3 boys

[Guest guest]

Great suggestions but....

> Nipple cream/ointment see if you can get a hold in a tube of Lansinoh.. Also

>use your own breastmilk and leave to air dry as much as possible..

Isn't air-drying no longer recommended? I thought moist wound healing

was the thing now?

--

Sue

[Guest guest]

<<<Green cabbage that is not the RED stuff!>>>

Actually I think we amended it with pencil on the day to Savoy cabbage ;o)

Lonnie Phoebe & Eloisa's mama

& expecting a Christmas delivery...

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what you

start.

So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a Chocolate cake.

I feel better already.

[Guest guest]

<<<Isn't air-drying no longer recommended? I thought moist wound healing

was the thing now>>>

No Idea but I do know that smearing in breastmilk and then leaving to dry worked

a treat with Eloisa.. With Phoebe it made NO difference what so ever...

Lonnie Phoebe & Eloisa's mama

& expecting a Christmas delivery...

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what you

start.

So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a Chocolate cake.

I feel better already.

[Guest guest]

> Isn't air-drying no longer recommended? I thought moist wound healing

> was the thing now?

I agree Sue

Sue

bfc