Due April/May 2016

@licious, my gynae will support what i want. i just suspect he won't hesitate to suggest cutting at the first sign of a hiccup. Whereas i feel if i end up with an emergency c-sec at Genesis, it would've been after midwife has tried everything possible and it's now getting bad for real.

@ninies, oh.Thaks for that explanation on baby vac. I know of ones you don't attach to anything. almost look like a light bulb in size and shape.

@licious - the baby vac is a little gadget that you get from Dischem. It is a pipe thing with a hard plastic attachment that - excuse the gross info - sucks all the mucous from baby's nose. You attach it to your vacuum cleaner.

It sounds gross and both hubby and I just frowned when we heard of it but believe me it works. My son had sinus and would often have a blocked nose. He would constantly be awake at night and have a hard time breathing. We would then spray some Sterimar in his nose to loosen the mucous and then use the baby vac. It works like a bomb. I know some doctors are against it as they say it stimulate the glands and causes more mucous but we found it worked like magic. When their noses are blocked they also dont want to feed.

PS: My hubby also tried it on himself before we used it on my son to see how strong the suction is, and he said it does not feel like your are sucking your brains out.

Hello Moomies

@Ninnies that's a great idea for a Medicine Case, I think I should go for that.Excuse my ignorance What is a baby Vac?
@Monies welcome dear, your due day is close to mine. 06/05/2016 I am also have natural birth. is gynae against your V birth? shouldn't that be your choice? i say you must follow your heart.
@Maj i remember with my first born i was told i cant give her anything until she is three months.

@Maj - I phoned the Dischem care line and they registered my pregnancy over the phone. The number is 086 0347 243.
Just give them your card number.

Yes the problem is how to get all the weight off after the birth. I dont even want to think about it now....

Oh yes I do have some craving for chillies or spicy food. I dont even like spicy food but now I will even order it. And steers have a chilli cheese chips which is my favorite.

@LisaMck - I also dont have a first aid kit, only a box filled with burnshields, plasters, bandages etc. I do however have a medicine case that someone made for me with my first pregnancy. They took a 5L ice cream container and made a nice denim bag / cover for it. So the container fits snugly into the cover and it is big enough for all the medicines. The bag also has a handle to carry. Whenever we go visit someone, that always goes with. And the nice thing is that if something messes inside, it is easy to clean the container.

I must say something that we found very usefull was a baby vac. I will definitely buy one again. I think we only used it from 3 months onwards, but it was money well spend.

Hi all,

First time posting. Wish i could catch up on all 96 pages but... lol. i'll do it in instalments.

I'm expecting my first baby on 7 May. In johannesburg. Found out it's a boy (hubby is ecstatic, i'm steadily dealing with it not being a girl).

Saw a reference to the Dischem baby bag, my friend has been encouraging me to get it. i wonder what is sooo amazing about it. i got a simple one my medical aid. then again, i have no comparatives.

Need to decide on where to give birth asap- between my existing gynae.obgyn @Park lane or ditching him for Genesis and it's back up docs. it's starting to get to me. I feel unloyal (sic) to even consider leaving him but i really want vaginal delivery and have a growing distrust of obgyns...

@jay-bee the best way is to hide the sweet stuff or not have them in the house at all.
If my husband knows there is "junk" in the house, he cannot do anything else until its finished. If i buy anything I hide it, else it will disappear before i have even had a piece!
I wish I could get more exercise in. My biggest problem is the lack of hours during the day....

@ninies that constant hunger in the first trimester was so bad!! Im also glad its over.
Its not only the sweet stuff that causes thrush though. Foods with a high carb content also contribute to thrush.
Can you register for the dischem bag online? I have a dischem card, and i remember getting the bag for my daughter, but do not remember how i got it!
About the weight gain: dont be too upset about it considering it is inline with your last pregnancy. worry about how we will lose the water after the baby is born. Unfortunately I did not find breastfeeding made thaaat much difference. A healthier diet and some exercise showed a lot more results.

@LisaMcK, i actually dont have a first aid kit, we just have an overflowing medicine box! i reckon you could buy your own container and get whats worthwhile. Please make sure you include some Burnshield, its brilliant!

Regarding baby medicine, gripe water or telament, and maybe some panado, i dont think much else is recommended for a new born.
Also make sure you check the expiry dates on medicines every so often.

Hello Ladies

Just a quick one - I am needing to get my first aid kits up to scratch at home. Is it worthwhile buying a household kit? I feel like R400 on millions of bandages is not really necessary where I could keep a few of each and replace when used. Then this way I could purchase my own plastic container big enough to store medicine as well...?

What baby medicine would be worthwhile keeping on hand (like Pando syrup, saline solution, gripe water etc)

Your help would be greatly appreciated