Born Oct/Nov 2015

Sho PillPusher! That must've been so stressfull!!!!! Glad everything is fine now and your position is safe!

I've got a great mommy and baby bag list @ work... wil try an post it tomorrow.

A lot of the stuff the hospital also provide you with.

We had the Angelcare monitor with my daughter - it's by far the best in my opinion. Tommee Tippee has also brought the same monitor out, also with a breathing pad. Not sure how the price compares to the Angelcare. I do however know that the Angelcare can be claimed back from your medical aid.

I'm quite interested in the Angelcare Video and movement monitor... just for that extra peace of mind, and I think it's only R500 more than the movement monitor.

The motorola video monitor also looks nice, but has no breathing/movement monitor...

Kimmy - all I know is, 2 of my friends who used Avent, moaned...

The one constantly moaned but didn't see fit to change and the other one switched to TT within 2 months and never looked back.

Hi ladies

Thanks for the feedback. It was really bothering me @Lauz.meyer - thanks for sharing. I often get frustrated with pics of my face, feel like I look weird, but other people say there's nothing wrong. I suppose it's a woman thing! And thanks for sharing your experience. I think tearing/epiostomy is my main concern! I've heard that that's the most painful thing from other moms that have given natural birth. As I've said before, I'm keeping an open mind about birthing options, but hoping for natural and will decide about pain management in due course.

@Chrys83: this is what my antenatal class midwife recommended for Mama's hospital bag:


She emphasised that you should get the Carriwell disposable panties 'cause the generic Clicks/Dischem ones apparently just fall apart. My notes for the baby pack are at home, but I think it was something like 30 newborn nappies (the Huggies ones), a beanie, babygrows and socks. Also said that if you'll be breast feeding to wear something that easily opens or can be pulled down, but don't go and buy granny-style button through nighties that you probably would never want to wear

As far as creams and things. I can't speak from experience as a mom, but what I always recommend (and have feedback that it is good) is zinc and castor oil ointment. It is really good for nappy rash! Also good to have an aqueous cream enriched with vitamin E and/or Evening Primrose Oil (both if you can, the combination works wonders) for dry skin.

Another good thing to have in your medicine chest is Silbecor cream. It's indicated for use as a burn antiseptic, but it's got a broader spectrum of activity against common topical bacteria than the staples like Bactroban or Betadine. And it only costs about R50-R60 for a 50g tube instead of R80 for a 15g tube of Bactroban. If you do have a burn, it is the best cream you can use.

For fungal related nappy rash, get some clotrimazole cream - Medaspor/Candizole/etc.

Regarding scars, I'm not sure about ScarScience, but my department imports Kelo-cote scar gel. It's only a 15ml tube, but it's supposed to last for 60 applications... Very expensive, about R400 for the tube, but it works very well. But don't forget that healing also depends on your body. I tend to scar badly, lots of keratin deposits.

And I got good news on Friday that my position is no longer being considered for job redundancy. So that was a huge relief. Our HR will reassess the situation in March next year, but it sounds like we'll all be staying where we are

Does anyone have recommendations for baby monitors? I'm looking at the Angelcare range, wanting the sound monitor with baby movement sensor pad, costs about R1400.

Maybe ill give it a try tt that is. And give avent a break.

Chrys83, hi!

As mentioned earlier, I breastfed as well as bottle fed and I had no problem switching between breast and bottle.

The tommee tippee bottle and teet was the closest shape and teat to my nipple. The only other bottle that came close, was Pigeon, but I just liked the TT bottle more.

Hallo ladies!

Seems like I missed out on a lot.. Might just suffer from information overload! In a good way though, haven't really thought about some of the stuff that you guys discussed!

@Lauz.Marie, thank you so much for sharing your experience.

I really want to go natural but like some of you mentioned, baby will decide what's best for him/her.

My thoughts are all over the place at the moment, the one minute I'm trying to decide on the travel systems and the next I'm obsessing about the contents of the hospital bag. Can any of you maybe share some ideas on what you packed in for yourself and also for baby?

On the topic of baby bottles... Which bottle teet come closest to your nipples? Would really like to breastfeed and as you know, you sometimes need to give baby a bottle. Wouldn't want to confuse baby though.

HVDB,

On the Travel Systems: Also try Baby Depot in Vereeniging.

The owner is VERY negotiable on all his prices!!!

I don't have their website address or contact details now, but here's there Facebook link:

www.facebook.com/babydepot1

It's worth a try...

They also have amazing combo specials on for example the matching Chelino camping cot, with the matching Chelino travel System for R3500.

Check out their FB page.