April/May/June 2012 Moomies

Aww Ronel, hope you feel better soon. Just a few more days of work and pregnancy left now!

Anni, my parents are here - they came for graduation and are staying on for a bit till baby is born. I've ordered the JJ Cole satchel bag (jjcolecollections.com/satchel-bag) and am waiting for it to arrive. I seriously though about the Petunia Pickle Bottom range (www.petunia.com/bags) but in real life the waterproof fabric takes away from it looking like a proper handbag (you can't really see the fabric in the pictures).

I bought the Moby wrap to carry baby in at first. Our neighbour gave us her Baby Bjorn so we've got that too - I think we'll probably transition to the Baby Bjorn when baby is a little older.

I'm now past 37 weeks! Group B Strep was negative as well as all the tests I had to do for the waterbirth so hopefully my waterbirth is on I also asked my midwife to test for gonorrhea and chlamydia (also negative) because if you don't have these STDs then it's completely unnecessary to apply an antibiotic eye ointment to baby after he is born - I'd rather have my boy's vision unblurred in his first couple of hours

Hi Ladies

I was at the gynea on tuesday for the last time. LB is doing very well and gynea estimated his weight at 3 -3.2 kg. Mommy, on the other hand, is not doing so well. I have been booked off for 3 days with flu in the bed and put on antibiotics. My c-sec is scheduled for the 5th of June in the afternoon and I am working until the 31st of May, so not long to go now.

I am also getting all sorts of pains and aches.

Good luck to the ladies who are due shortly.

Hello ladies,

Welcome LeboS. I know what you mean with the pregnancy taking its toll on one's body. I can't seem to even lie down anymore. Its getting terribly uncomfortable.

Firefly, how are you coping now... not much time left. Have your parents arrived as yet? I must admit I never had a diaper bag with my DD because I had the quinny buzz which comes with its own little bag. Can I ask you which one you have decided to buy? Now I just dump a nappy and a pack of wipes in my handbag but I am sure I will need something when DD2 arrives.

I'm also looking at baby carriers now. I really wanted the Baby Bjorn but I am finding some negative reviews online. The Ergo seems to be one that comes out as the better option and doesn't hurt your back.

Am going in for my 36 week appointment next week - will do the group B strep then. Getting loads of round ligament pain so I started prenatal pilates yesterday. It was really good and I had so much of energy after the session. Am planning to go at least once a week until I have bubs.

Feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders now that I have domestic help. We usually get maids from the Philippines here and this lady has been great with my DD so far. And she has been a great help all around the home. I am actually finding time to go out and enjoy a Starbucks frappacino (my new fad!).

Welcome LeboS

From our list it looks like StaceySmey and Licha are both due today - how are you two ladies doing?!

Hi ladies

I'm a newbie here, 34 weeks n 1 day on my 3rd preg, just feels like every preg just takes its toll on my body, thank God I'm not doing this again. I have a madam chatterbox who s almost 5 n an almost 2 year old superman who s climbing n flying over my furniture so yep that's keeping me too busy!

I ve read a lot from all the mommies n mommies to be n its so encouraging. I'm also planning to get my hospital bag finalised this week. Doc plans t take baby out at 39 weeks but somehow I have a feeling I won't make it that far(wishfull thinking) good luck with the rest of the pregnancy

Hi ladies,

How is everybody doing? We're all getting close! I'm 36 weeks and 2 days today

Anni, I think a driver and a maid are a good idea! Even though it's pricey, I'm sure it will make your life so much easier.

It actually looks like there are no front facing car seats for infants so we will have to buy a rear facing one - apparently they are safer so I suppose I shouldn't complain. I bought one of those little baby rearview mirrors though so you can put it up on the back window and baby can still see you.

I'm exhausted from getting our baby stuff together! We have FINALLY decided on a pram but now need to order it. Took me ages to decide on a diaper bag too, I decided to buy a good quality one that looks like a handbag so I can use it everyday and I won't need to carry a separate handbag. Then we'll buy a black backpack diaper bag too that we can use when DH and I are together and he can carry that one (because I do expect him to carry it when we're out together but I wouldn't want to have to make him carry one that looks like a handbag, lol). Still need to order the breastpump and am going into a speciality cloth diaper store today so I can take a proper look at some of the brands and buy the last of my stash.

I had the Group B strep test done yesterday and since I want to do a waterbirth I had to give blood too so they can check for HIV and HEP B etc (they won't let you waterbirth if you do have something which may leave the water infectious).

Am also finishing up my birthplan, just need to check up on some of the newborn procedures my hospital does and whether I want to refuse or delay any.

Congrats to StaceySmey. Not going to be many left to post on this board soon!

AdeleF, Hope your DH's recovery after the OP is quick and easy. Good luck with the last stretch. The last week is the hardest it seems! Don't stress about the weight gain. I'm sure it must also be water and bubs fattening up We looking at moving to the US around mid September. Are you still planning on having a VBAC?

Firefly, I wasn't so lucky with stretch marks in my first pregnancy. I still had loads when I fell pregnant this time around. I used some Clarins product which cost the earth and just didn't work. This time I am using the Palmers one every morning and bio oil at night. Alas, I still look like a tiger (one who has rightfully earned her stripes ).

I have noticed that all group 0 car seats are rear facing in US and UK as well as here. DD hated her first car seat and I couldn't see what was happening with her facing the back seat. I used the group 1 seat from around 7 months because she would just scream all the time in that first one. I still have that one so I will be using it as well for DD2. Just hope that she is not as fussed as her sister in the seat. At least she will have company and I'm hoping DD1 doesn't whack DD2 too much while we are not looking. So much fun to buy all these things. I remember how excited I was the first time around.

So I finally succumbed to the typical Dubai expat life! DH has hired a driver to take me around for the next few weeks. There is no law against pregnant women driving here but there was an issue a few years ago where a pregnant women who met up in an accident had lost her baby and had to serve time for killing her unborn child. With the terrible driving here it might be best if I have someone take me around as it is getting difficult to drive the 4x4. I drove right up to my last day in my last pregnancy but my last car was also so much more easier to move around in.

I am also planning to hire a temporary maid for the next 4 months. Costs to sponsor and hire maids here are just so expensive running into at least R30k to get paperwork, visa, air tickets etc in order - excl. salary which is around R4k p/m. The temp maid option is working out to be the lesser of the 2 evils and will probably come in at around R25k incl. salary excl. food and board for the 4 months. If I was staying here, I would have definitely opened up a maid recruitment agency. Seems to be such a booming business. Service fees alone are R6k. Really crazy. I was quite happy with the agency maid coming in 3 times a week but I don't think I can manage anymore and DD is becoming a little more clingy as each week passes by. I'm also finding that I cannot bend to pick up anything anymore. I guess this is the home run now.