January 2011 babies!

I just did the one hour one, went fine,didn't need to do the 2 hour one, did with C tho

I didn't do the polycose test last time, and don't know if I'll do it this time. I didn't fit into any high-risk criteria, so MW didn't see the point.... different MW this time, so will see what she thinks tomorrow at next apt!

Limochick wrote: My midwife hasn't even mentioned the polycose test so I don't know whether I am doing it or not plus I don't think it will be that fun having Quin sitting there for an hour

Haha, true that would be fun! I had to sit in the hospital waiting room for an hour last time I did it too, but today at my midwife appointment, my midwife gave me the little bottle of drink, told me to drink it and then go down and get my blood tested an hour later. Much more efficient!!

That sounds like a lot easier and better way Queenbean

Kelly - It was either the 19th or the 26th and I picked the 19th cos I didn't want to still be pregnant on my 30th which is the 24th and Quins bday is on the 27th and I would have missed his 1st bday if I had her on the 26th. I hope you can follow that it makes sense in my head

Im so jeleous you get to pick. Seriously.

I agree! I'd love to just show up at the hospital "I'd like my baby now thanks!", would save me one hell of a scary car trip down there in labour

Limochick I agree with you 110% with you - if you decide to have a baby then you've gotta grow up & show some bloody maturity about it. Becoming a parent comes with huge responsibilities! Some girls just dont seem to get it. Some of DP's cousins have kids & they're still out partying EVERY weekend & planning where to go for New Years & bla bla bla. The stupid thing is; the aunties & uncles (i.e. the parents of the cousins with the kids) just let them get away with it & are basically bringing up their grandchildren themselves. Ugh.

Wannabe Thanks for the info re the polycose test. I did some Google'ing - apparently age doesnt have a lot to do with it - it might pay to just ask my MW at our next appt. Ohh my goodness & WOW re taking the twins to Homegrown haha. Arent most of the acts are inside big tents? Eeek that'll be interesting. I dont think I'd want my kid in that environment around all the loud music & drunk people & smoke & drugs etc. Each to their own though! The twins might have a blast - you could end up with two little rockers when they're older heha.

bowie Thank you for the gardening tips! Yay maybe I'll try suss that out this weekend. Ouch re the sunburn, have you got some soothing aloe vera or something to apply to it? You might have to buy some sunscreen online from somewhere like www.pharmacydirect.co.nz - or get your mum to send you some - ya cant go without all summer missy!

I was chatting to ChikkyD last night & we got onto the subject of routines for baby. Has anyone else read up or thought about this kinda stuff? No doubt those of you who already have kiddies will know a bit. I kinda thought that when baby is really little (i.e. through to 3 months) that it's more about demand-feeding & sleeping as theyre a bit little to force into a real routine. More than anything doesn't bubs sort of determine his or her own sort of play-eat-sleep pattern when they're newborn? Of course there are the obvious little things that can be implemented from week one like always bathing before bedtime so baby knows what's coming next etc. I only ask cos ChikkyD is reading a book that suggests you start a routine from week one & that you only have one night feed at 11pm (the "dream feed"), but most of the other info I've read elsewhere says that newborns usually need feeding every 2-4hours day & night. Did you find the name of the book btw ChikkyD? Dont get me wrong, by all means I'm keen to try establish a routine when we can, but for example if my two or three-week old bubs is hungry in the night then I'll be getting up to feed! Heheh we wouldnt have to worry about all that if we all got blessed with miracle babies who slept right through from day one... ahhhh if only.

What's everyone else's views anyway?

Haven't bought anything for the baby, but if it's a girl, we won;t really need anything, and if it's a boy then we can just get stuff after I figure! I went MAJORLY overboard last time, and bought way too much stuff - and they grow out of it so so quickly - so I figure by not knowing the gender, it's stopping me from buying stuff

Re: routines, it can be helpful to think of the first 3 months as the 4th trimester - so if you approach it that way, you do whatever needs to be done; carrying/wearing baby, rocking to sleep, feeding whenever, sleeping whenever - anything that makes life easier for you and the baby. I think too, that it allows you to get to know the baby's own routine, so by the end of 3months(ish) you can start figuring out what works for your baby. You can still do a pattern though, eg. sleep, feed, play etc.

I spent months of fighting to get Natalie to sleep during the day (because the books said she should be sleeping ), but until a year old, she never slept for longer than 30mins at a time We were both so much happier when I just followed her lead, and stopped listening to the books and plunket

I agree with keeping everything quiet and dark during the night though - babies often need to be 'taught' the difference between day and night, so may as well make it obvious!

I do think too that you can start doing some small self-settling things, but often they really can't do that until they're a bit older. The main thing is not to stress that just because you are feeding/rocking them to sleep at 3months, you will not be doing that at 18! They do eventually sleep by themselves, but every baby is different and needs different things. (and they haven't read the books before they come out )

ChickyD: yea I thought it was early to start them too, but it is the last class running for the year in our area..better early than never! It was quite good, didn’t really go into too much, I guess they don't want to overwhelm you on your first night. There were lots of laughs and so made everyone a bit more at ease towards the end.

Young Mum: I was told by my MW that it was standard for all preg woman in our area...as apparently our area is classed as a 'high risk' ?? Whatever that means... so they make I standard for everyone?? Might be best to have a chat with your MW about it..

Have a great day everyone!

No no Chikky I didnt mean it like that! I just meant that I dont agree with the BOOK suggesting that - I dont think that you're gunna starve your baby hah & I'm all for reading up on stuff & getting info from books for help, it's all good for tips & ideas. Like Blondy said though, the babies havent read the books (hehe) & everyones different, no two babies are the same. Someone might find that something REALLY works for them whereas the same thing wont work for others. Please dont think I'm attacking you personally!

As for me & Joe we're planning on taking a pretty relaxed approach in the beginning & going with the flow for the first little while. We'll let baby let US know when he or she is ready to sleep or feed or eat & then eventually work on a routine from there. That reminds me, I need to look in to getting some darker curtains for the nursery so that we can control the amount of light getting in to help baby differentiate between day time and sleep/night-time.

Sweetknights dont worry, I've only bought 2 little onesie suits for baby. They're just plain white, one of them says "iPood" on the front (a take-off of the iPod brand) & the other one I got printed with "Baby Rickard" on the back for Joe for father's day We've already been given bags & bags of second hand clothes & will probably get more at the baby shower so we're not gunna worry too much either