Due December 2015

Hello Ladies!

So, had a restful weekend. Went to friends new house on Sun in Hout Bay (Ruyterplaats Estate) and what a stunning view! I mean, every single house at that estate is so private and secluded you barely notice that its a gated community. Wished I could have taken my bags and moved in, lol. It was a lovely relaxing afternoon. That is pretty much the highlight of my weekend, including stuffing my face with braai, lol.

@ Zaza: sorry to hear about the heartburn - and thank you SO much for all the tips you are passing out. They are incredibly helpful.

@ nix: Im a lecturer at university, and with exams starting in October, exam papers need to be prepared and so on..

@ Lashy: OMW, MS!! How are you feeling now?

@ Dalene: I made it a point to put nursing bra's on my shopping list, will go check them out at woolies. I started wearing them like a week ago, and I am SO comfortable (compared to the underwire ones I usually wear).

Hope you have a happy week ahead!

xx
NewMommy

Tips from my classes this week:

As I have said sometimes going to antenatal classes, reminds you of so much you don't think about and how much you forget when you a second time parents, these are a few things I jotted down for me to remember, hope it helps:

- If you have a birth plan (written or in your head, or you assume things will go the way you think), don't have your heart set on following it to the T, things can change very quickly when baby wants out, make a list of the 5 most important things you would like to happen if it's natural birth or not, examples: seeing your baby first, letting dad cut the cord (within medical clearance), etc don't be too disappointed if things don't go exactly like you thought
- you will need to get some linen savers for the hospital, they will help at home as well, may be a good idea to use them at home after 36 weeks incase our water breaks, do you know how bad amniotic fluid stains and the smell is very hard to get out, so may be worth protecting your mattress now, and use the balance of the linen savers at the hospital for their bed and after you get home, cause you will be bleeding heavy either delivery (upto 500ml as day) in the first week or so
- as soon as you can book your hospital bed (latest by 30 weeks), emergencies can happen at anytime, call you med aid get the pre-auth number for your EDD as 40 weeks, even if the baby comes early or late the pre-auth date can be amended, but it saves you the stress waiting for the admissions team to help and they can be slow
- after booking your bed go for your hospital tour, look at the nursery, find out the nursery policy and times baby can be in the nursery (night care), confirm visiting hours in maternity ward, visit the wards (general, semi private and private) find out the costs associated with semi and private wards, find out what makes them so special and if you would consider this? Remember is deliver and the general ward is full, and they place you in a semi or private ward generally you are not charged the higher rate, but please confirm with your hospital and med aid, find out if hubby can be with you all day in general ward or only the other wards, what about younger siblings are there specials hours for them to visit?
- find out the maternity policy on feeding times, jot this down, you may want to stick to the same routine after discharge, find out about breast vs cup vs bottle feeds, find out what time they bring baby to you, and bath time and your meal times, etc so you know how your day is structured
- send hubby to find out the hospital pharmacy operating hours, nothing worse than being discharged and getting the script for take home meds and the pharmacy has already closed, we advise mums generally while you being discharged send hubby or someone else to collect your meds as early as possible to avoid this, make sure you know how to take your meds before you leave
- sometimes, mummy's we do not leave the hospital with our babies, as there are medical conditions, jaundice, prem babies, other conditions, etc, if baby goes to the paed ward they have their own rules, find out about this, NICU has different visiting hours and protocol's so keep these in mind as well if you know baby is staying behind after you are discharged, generally on in the paed ward, mum's can stay over with the baby
- hospital parking is limited and please brief hubby to get there early to avoid you getting upset
- Register your baby on the med aid, most med aid covers the new born under the mum if treatment is needed after delivery, find out from your medical how this works, get them to send you the new born registration forms and send them in as soon as you can (dad or someone to do it for you) sometimes they may give you 3 months to add baby to the med aid but anything can happen in that time and you don't want this last minute stress
- do not leave the hospital with out your new born babies immunisation card!!! you need this for the next 6 years thereafter.
- birth registration, some hospitals assist, but most don't so find out what is needed and when it must be done, so you can apply for babies both certificate as soon as possible


Hope this helps ladies, I wrote these down from the last class, things I had forgotten about!!

Enjoy your weekend!!

Hi Pregnant mama's hope you are all well and the babies too.

I have to tell you I love the baby moves I am getting, belly I actually moving and can see it!!! I am starting to feel tired more often and sleepy ZZZZZZZZZ.

@dalene - glad to hear you and baby are well and baby is growing so awesomely, another big girl for our group!!! What work do you do? I have my gynae appointment in 2 weeks time will go after that to book the bed, I did get my pre-auth done with med aid in the interim in case there is any emergency. I believe after the bed is booked, I can book the 3D scan, will probably do the hospital tour then also. I have heard about the woollies nursing bra's have to go check them out we have a triump factory shops selling maternity bra's for R100 I want to go fit them before considering buying them, in case the boobs grow bigger in the last trimester, lol.


@Lashy I hate gaviscon tabs, yuck yuck yuck, I can only handle the syrup, sorry to hear your MS is still bothering you, has the doc not maybe got something you can take for it? I also have not bought anything for the new baby, sometimes my paranoid mind also thinks girl vs boy error, bit after the expo this weekend, I am going shopping I cannot resist anymore, lol. I will buy neutral stuff though, just in case My September visit also feels like ages away but it's in 2 weeks time, and then it's onto the last trimester.

@Nix - Glad you are and baby are well, you are so right about the antenatal classes even as second time parents there is so much you forget.

So ladies I have not seen many bump pics and scan pics, where are they??? Please do share.

Good morning ladies,

Finally FRIDAY

I had a hectic few weeks at work, but looking forward to things slowing down now my last 3 months that my company are giving me some "relaxed leave or time" as I will put it.

I am now 25 weeks and 5 days, went to the Dr. Wednesday and baby showed us she is DEFINITELY a girlie She is doing very well and is already weighing 973g

How is everyone else feeling? Have you booked your hospital beds yet? I must get to that next week... and book the 4d. I am also looking for comfy PJ's for hospital, if anyone has bought theirs already?

I saw nice nursing bra's at woollies... so I will get them from there.

Have a lovely day!!!!

Omgeeeeeee Zaza I had gaviscon tablets lastnight and they are horrible
I had a severe case of MS yesterday. Was terrible..

And no not hoping for a boy, want to start getting some stuff and dont wana be stuck with a shytload of pink stuff and then its a boy... LOKL...

Nix, Ev was in such a position that she constantly kicked towards my ribs, that was hectic... had to push her down now and then... lol

My next check-up is end of Sept so still a long wait for me.

Good Morning mommies.

Sorry I have been so quiet lately. How is everyone?

I am feeling lots of movement, she kicked me so hard on Sunday that I though I was going to have a bruise! I was taking a video at the time so luckily I caught it :0).
I went to my cardiologist for my check up on Friday and he was all happy. He said my condition is stable so I mustn't worry about it causing pre term labour. I must just continue having check ups every 18 months.
My downs syndrome test also came back low risk but I wouldn't do any other testing anyway because I love her unconditionally and why would I want to harm her for being different, its not her fault.
Its getting hot here in joburg now, its been about 27 for the past week. It can get a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings but now we just need the rain to clean the air. Daniella has been suffering a bit with a cough but mostly at night but its sinus related but I have been giving her some meds and made saline solution for the nebuliser. Its very easy to make and it saves money also :0).

@Lashy - Its definitely easier having the same gender :0). Isabella is also breech, maybe she has turned but she is definitely still on my right side and lately she has been pushing somewhere when she stretches and it makes me feel horrible but thankfully it doesn't last too long. She has lots of space still to turn but it doesn't matter anyway, Daniella was born breech so she used to kick me in my cervix and those parts which wasn't very pleasant and push her head against my diagram and it was difficult to breath for a bit so we will have to see with this one. I agree with Zaza, it depends on the check ups, who she went to and the quality of the machine but I can imagine the surprise she got :0).

@Zaza - Thank you, yes it was hard especially because a basically couldn't say goodbye to her, she wasn't allowed into the ward and when I went to look for her, her granny had already come to fetch her. Thankfully her granny (mom in law) fetches and takes her to school everyday so she has a strong bond with her and her great granny also stays at that house. She also has all her programs on the jim jam channel at granny's house that she loves watching but still you want to give her a hug and a kiss and see for your own eyes that she is ok.
Thank you for the sardines tip. I cant think how I am going to eat that but I will have to do whats best for Isabella.

@Carmy - Go for your antenatal classes as soon as you can. We were supposed to go the Saturday Daniella was born but because they get so fully booked so quickly, it was the only time we could get in but that was at 36 weeks. Medi clinic group gives you a free voucher for a one day course.
Daniella choked twice on milk when she was small, the most terrifying thing of my life. First time i managed to get her breathing and i was alone the second time i had to call my husband at 5am because i couldnt get her to breath but thankfully he did by sticking his finger in her throat but the doc showed us what to do if it happened again but those ante natal classes would of really helped. I want to do a first aid course really badly.
I have only has a gum bleed one thankfully, with Daniella it used to happen all the time but i dont think the dentist is going to be able to do anything about it, maybe just get a softer toothbrush.

@New mommy - I am glad the hypnobirthing classes are helping your stressfull work situation. I watched tons of birthing videos during my first pregnancy and the power of the mind is amazing. What work do you do?

@Lashy - hmmmmmmmmm I suspect you still secretly hoping for a boy, I also heard some of these stories about mum's who find out later in the last trimester the gender was not correctly identified, but I think if you going for regular ante-natal check ups (monthly or every 6 weeks), just keep asking the doc to confirm, with technology today they generally are not wrong with the regular confirmation. Also the lady your read about remember at 20 weeks you get the normal scan and the fetal assessment one, if you did the fetal assessment one and it showed the gender it's highly unlikely it is wrong cause when they check the babies kidney system, they see two ovaries versus the scrotum for boys. not sure if that lady had both the scans or not.

But hey all gynae's and the sonographer always tell us 96% sure, so even with modern times there is still 4% for not giving us the right gender, just keep checking in each visit for your own nerves sake

I hope all you other mama's are doing great and the babies too, my heart burn is back with a vengeance, I am drinking so much milk through out the day, besides supporting the shares at Gaviscon. I just think all this milk is gonna make my baby bigger, lol I eat smaller meals, nothing to aggrevate the heart burn, I even eat earlier and prop my pillow up, but my heart burn is there all the time now. Oh well I will survive this was the most common symptom in my first pregnancy so I know I can survive it!!!

I am out of the office today so catch up with all you mama's later, have a an awesome day!!!!