Born Oct/Nov 2015

Hi Ladies! Think I am really suffering from information overload

I know what an epidural entails but what does the gas entails? And how does it work? Suddenly i feel like I'm not ready for this! Feels like I know too little to really make an informed choice about my birthing options!

Thanks for your list LouiseMarie, I think I would have forgotten about the ID and the medical aid docs

Hahahahahaha... My daughter was a model baby - no crying, no colic, no problem with reflux or winds etc...

The "problem" only started the day she turned 2... And ever since we've had our hands full

She's extremely strong-willed, but then again - the same goes for DH and myself. So it's 50/50 with this little one

Eeek @ LouiseMarie that does not sound nice! Sjaim, poor baba!! Leandi got a very very mild case of chickenpox when she was 1 and half i think but no measles.

I remember our chemist also made their own baby bum cream, cant remember what was in it but was awesome. They also made their own "colic mixture", thank goodness i didnt need that.

My MIL says shes a bit worried for me and this baby coz my first born was a model child. she never cried, she never moaned, was such a good baby. So shes thinking that you cant have that same luck twice?? OMW i hope shes wrong

Oh my goodness Juanita - that's horrible!!! Hope you feel better soon!!!

So much for rushing hubby for the tissue salts...

Oh yes! I forgot about Maizina... You actually get the Purity/Elizabeth Anne's Corn-starch powder, which is a little bit scented. Works like a charm!!!

My MIL also made this mixture for a bum cream, but for the life of me I can't remember what she put in there... I think it was aqueous cream, with some zinc cream, tea tree oil and I think corn-starch...

Talking about the corn-starch - did any of you 2nd time mommies: Did any of your first children suffer from baby Measles? Oh my goodness...My daughter got it @ 6months! It was the WORST experience ever! Now, it's not like regular measles... Baby has a high fever (you think it's because of teething), and once the fever breaks this fine red rash just starts appearing EVERY WHERE!!! Even in the vajayjay folds for little girls...

And there is absolutely nothing you can do... Apparently they catch it once they start crawling and it's a "natural" thing. It's not contagious (except to pregnant woman), but it just looks very very bad...

Gheez, I can remember how we tried EVERYTHING, cause we initially thought it was an allergic reaction.

Hi everyone,

Sooo, yesterday's "kick in the fan fan" turned out to be a very bad bladder infection Glad i went to see my house dr who's put me on some meds. just wish it would get better quickly, really sick of feeling this uncomfortable!!

Wanted to add that when my lg was in hospital when she was 8 months old with a bad tummy bug, her bum began to burn from all the sour poo So we put LOTS of fisan paste (or whatever bum cream) on and then i sprinkled her bum with Maizina. I put some in a salt and pepper shaker and it worked like a bomb, and was cheap

i used the dr Brown bottles with my first and i couldnt wait to chuck them. it was the most horrible bottle ever. has so many parts to clean and it leaks EVERYWHERE!! When my daughter went of the bottle i threw them as far as i could. dh still said but what about the next baby and i just replied, well you better save for new bottles

@Lauz i agree on the epidural. my dr needs to know that i DEFINITELY want one!!! Didnt have ANY pain meds with my first

Ah, yes. That sounds like the complete list. I didn't actually check through the hardcopy notes again yet, just the maternity pack that the midwife sent through for products.

As far as wedding rings go, another thing if you go into labour is to tell your husband to take off his wedding ring. Apparently a lot of dads end up with bad bruising or broken fingers when a labouring mom squeezes!

Ok, on the hospital bags... Here's my take on it:

THE HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST

Suitcase – take a dinky one with roller wheels, trust me on this

Identity document
Copy of medical aid certificate
Registration of Newborn forms (can usually be downloaded off your medical aid’s website)
Black pen (for filling out forms)
iPad/MP3/Cellphone, plus charger (if you want to, earphones)
Camera, plus charger or batteries
Spectacles + glasses case/Contact Lenses (because hospital TVs are teeny tiny)

3 x PJ tops (with buttons down the front or the maternity type that flip up, so you can pop out a boob to breastfeed)
3 x PJ bottoms (dark-coloured in case you are bleeding)
5 x maternity bras (the kind with a clip on each cup or a regular bra that clips in front)
5 x pairs of Carriwell maternity panties (these really are the best and even preferred by the hospital staff!) You can take along regular fitting cotton panties as well for when the bleeding subsides...go dark coloured)
2 x packs of the Carriwell Maternity pads (when I left for home, I replaced my maternity pads with the Always Night Extra Long pads with wings - not as bulky. so maybe take a pack of this along as well)
Shower gel - something not too heavy scented (I used baby's body wash)
Face wash and moisturiser
Fluffy towel (dark) and facecloth (plus a plastic bag to put a wet face cloth in)
Hairbrush and hairbands, scrunchies, clips
Very basic make-up: power foundation, mascara, lip balm
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Antiperspirant (don’t take your perfume!)
Breast pads and nipple cream
If you have a breast pump, take it with
Linen protectors (you also get this in your hospital bag and the hospital also provides this... Bear in mind - the first day of baby being born, the hospital staff prefer to use a folded linen protector as a pad for you...)
Slippers and gown
Going-home outfit (comfy!)

Toiletries for baby – the pharmacy in your hospital usually pre-packs everything you need for baby into a single bag that you can buy. My hospital just gives you a bag of sample-size baby goodies for free

Wet wipes
Packet of newborn (size 1) nappies
5 x baby outfits (baby grows and body vests)
2 receiving blankets (I hate it when the hospital wraps baby in that horrible hard towels)
Scratch mittens
Newborn Beanie
Baby wash (I prefer the Elizabeth Anne's/Purity Special Baby Wash (the lotion type)
Powder, although the nurses don't like using powder with a newborn
2 x Hooded Towels
Weceson Powder for umbilical stump (although Hospital will give you surgical spirits in their baby bag)
Paediatric nose spray/drops
Dummy (if baby takes to it...)
Bottles (if you'll be formula feeding)

Snacks! Gummy bears, cola-flavoured Mentos, whatever
Plus, one or two juice boxes or bottles of water

•Do I need to tell you that you need to do pre-admission at your hospital a couple of weeks before your baby is due? Cause those nurses won’t care if your baby is halfway out your vajayjay if you haven’t filled in all the paperwork yet.
•Save your medical aid number and pre-authorisation number to your phone for easy reference. You’ll be surprised how many times you’ll need it.
•Take off your wedding ring and other jewellery and leave at home.
•Camera tips: Obviously make sure it’s charged before the birth, check that you have enough space on the SD card, and get permission beforehand from the gynae to take photos. Usually the paediatrician will take photos before baby is born and once baby is handed to paediatrician, the gynae/anaesthetist or assisting gynae will stand in.