Nappies & baby wipes

Baby Wipes 
We'd decided ages ago that we were not going to buy any baby wipes after being recommended checky wipes. We brought the all in one kit for £39.99. You get 2 boxes: a clean box & a mucky box with 2 bottles of essential oils & the out & about travel bags. We went for the terry wipes as they can be used everywhere rather than the microfibre ones which can only be used on the face & hands. We love them as they are so easy to use, they collect up all the poo and make little J feel all fresh again. One wipe is normally enough as you can fold it upto 3 times, you put the used one in the mucky box which has a draw string bag in it, once fullish or when you put a wash on you do the bag up and pop it into the washing machine. When I first was recommended them by a friend I was only going to use for the face and hands as I always thought I'd have a problem washing the pooie wipes in my washing machine but after visiting the cheeky ladies at the baby show they convinced me that it was fine and actually sometimes you get poo & wee on the baby grows and you wash them. We decided once J was home and due to my C section that we  would set up a changing station upstairs and down, for the 1st few days we bring the changing mat downstairs during the day and then take it upstairs at night but for the sake of £6 we brought another changing mat but we only have the cheeky wipes downstairs as this is where we do most of our changing so at the moment we just use the free wipes I have upstairs but we may consider buying another cheeky set, thought we could use the travel kit? I suppose It's all about finding what works best for you. 

My advice is by all means have some baby wipes I have a few packs I was given free so they are in my changing bag and also upstairs but I would differently recommend buying the cheeky wipes.

Nappies
The main bit of advice I was given was not to stock pile nappies before little one arrived as you never know what size they will fit. Over the time of being pregnant I started a collection of 1 pack of each new born nappy some I was given others were freebies or I'd buy the odd pack. Over the last 2 weeks we have been trying the various types and I have to say I am SO glad we didn't go and bulk buy any nappies.

Huggies - are too big for my one

Pampers - are slightly too big but I like the blue strip down the front and will probably buy these when I see them on offer

Sainsburys - are rubbish they leak we tried them a few times but J always managed to wee right through them & his baby grow & sleep suit oh and on the crib.

Aldi - these are our favourite at the moment, they last well and also can't go wrong with the cost they work out at 7p each so we have brought more of these.

I would differently recommend not stock piling nappies just buy one or two of each type and see how you get. You'll always find offered on nappies & even wipes if you look enough. Also don't forget a out Amazon they have good deals if you subscribe & save.

The other thing we've found is the amount of rubbish we now have, our council only empty our bin every 2 weeks. We looked into the whole environmental collection but at £12 a month we not sure we want to pay this ontop of us now buying powder milk. So we started looking into weather we could purchase another bin for our council to collect and came across the real nappy company again so we have ordered a trial kit from our council to give them a go, I will keep you posted.

Wow can't believe we've been home a week

How time just flies once you have a child. I can't believe we've been home a week already.

Tuesday afternoon was pretty much a kidda blur but it was nice to be home. I was still struggling with breast feeding and that was shown in the late evening Chris and I had arguments with little one for nearly 2 hours trying to get him to feed in the end we got out my emergancy milk I'd brought and gave him that.

Wednesday we seemed to have a bit better day again with breast feeding that was until the midwife came for a visit and things went down hill. In the end we decided to give him a bottle again as this meant less stress for him & us. I think the main problems I was having with breast feeding were
• I have quiet flat nipples
• constantly fighting with J to get him to stay latched on
• lack of patients

Thursday we didn't even try breast feeding instead we decided I'd try to express & give him that. I'm lucky in the sense I have some very good friends who I know have certain things I can borrow like my old ex door neighbour lent me her doupler, I knew that another had a breast pump so a txt later and by the afternoon I had the breast pump at my door. We also decided purchased more mam anti colic bottles. we have been given one for free at the baby show and really liked it as it easy to sterilise in the microwave in a couple of minutes.

We had our day 5 midwife appointment too where I had my stiches removed. I so wasn't looking to this after the memories of the ones I had in my head. The worse part was the removal of the dressing.

Over the weekend we had lots of visitors my friend Charlie came over and have us lots of advice. Little J saw most of the grandparents again before then getting to meet our close friends. Sunday we had a visit to the walk in health centre too as my wound looked liked it was starting to open and get effected and we thought little J's belly button was getting effected but it was fine. The dr gave me some antibiotic cream to put on my wound.
The rest of the week we've been doing a mixture of taking it very easy and getting some fresh air.

The main thing I've learnt is it takes quiet a while to recover after a c section and that I need to make sure I don't do too much I've not been lifting anything heavier than Little J and also avoiding bending down. I have tried to get out a little bit each day and each day I can walk a little further BUT I have to remember to stop every so often and take it easy.
We've also discovered that little J doesn't fit into the Urbo pram as he's way too small although he's now weights 6lb 11oz we think it will be a few weeks or more until he can fit into it. We never brought the carry cot that fits onto the pram as we thought the £160 cost wasn't worth it but we decided outer only option was to buy one, so the search on eBay began. Yesterday we managed to find one for £50. 

My hospital stay

After theatre I was transferred back to the delivery suite again this is all a bit of a blur to me but I think I breast fed James but I remember Chris having cuddles with him I think I just had a quick nap.

I also called my mum to let her know her grandson had arrived, we txt her and only her in the morning to tell her I was in labour.

We were then told we would be transferred up to Marsh Ward. Chris and I both said that we wanted a private room. Once all sorted we were transferred up. I was bed ridden as I had a catheter and the epidural.

We were given the Henley room on marsh which was nice enough had a bed, 2 chairs and own bathroom.

Hubby stayed with me until about 8pm when he left to get some sleep. The midwives & care assistants were brilliant I just had to ring the bell and the came. James pretty much spent the night in bed with me (I know that's not really allowed but he was so little and just wanted comfort) Sunday was Father's Day. Chris came back in the morning. For RBH day's were allowed in from 9am-9pm and other visitors from 3pm-9pm

Funny enough I'd brought him a pressy already from James and a card which even if he hadn't come in time I would still have given it to him.

By lunch time they removed my catheter. As for pain relief I was on codeine, paracomol & ibrofine.

My mum, dad & brother came to visit Sunday afternoon and then early evening Chris mum & nan came in. Chris then left me again at about 7.30pm.

Grandpa (Aka my Dad

 

Nana H (AKA my mum)

My 2^nd night was slightly better as I was able to get in and out of bed just! I doesn’t help that I’m quiet short so struggled with the height of the bed.

Monday Chris didn’t come in until after lunch mainly as the plan was I was going to come home so he spent the morning going food shopping and getting the house ready for our return. By the time he made it to the hospital I was still in quiet a bit of pain and decided that actually I wasn’t ready to go home and that I wanted to stay in hospital another night, which of course I was allowed to do. On that we decided to txt Chris’s dad and say that they could come and visit that night. After their visit Chris left not long after.

Monday night I think had to be my worse night ever, not only did I have problems settling James it was also the night my bowels decided to open. Which together are not a good combo. After about an hours or so struggling at 3am in the morning the midwife popped her head in to check on me to find James in my arms crying his heart out and me crying with him. On that she offered to take him for a few hours and also to give him a bottle, by this stage I was to tired I was very thankful. This meant I was able to get a bit of sleep in-between the visits to the loo. At 6am Tuesday morning James was return to me and I felt slightly better until about 8am when I tried to breastfed James again and for what ever reason I had loads of problems, in the end I called the midwives and they suggested I gave him a bottle again. To be honest I had been pretty much struggling with breast feeding since day one. I did though manage to breastfed him at lunch time.

We had decided that I was ready to come home so around 2pm we packed up and made our 1^st ever family trip – HOME!

My labour story

So I thought I'd actually write what had happened during labour mainly for a record but also just to share what had happened to me.

It all started Friday 14th about 2pm I'd been into Reading to meet hubby for a spot of lunch and on my way home popped to Tesco's to get some wine. As usual I needed to loo where I found what looked like a pinkie stain on my knickers after a quick check with the twitter ladies I decided it was possible what is known as the show.

I went home and just got on with my afternoon but I started to have a few cramps. Friday night is always pizza night in our house & with that hubby will normally have some wine. Pizza eaten and wine started I remember standing in the kitchen having a contraction saying to hubby I thought it was best not to drink any more wine as there was a good chance baby might come. By 9.30 I was having contractions every couple of minutes and was in quiet a bit of pain enough to decide to make the trip to hospital. I had already phones ahead so they knew to expect us. On arrival at the Royal Berkshire we went straight up to the Rushy Ward, the midwife lead unit where I was examined. I was told I was 1cm and I had the choice of going home or staying & using the waiting lounge. Hubby & I decided to go home.

On arrival on the drive at home I felt like I'd wet my self, I went upstairs and got changed & went to the loo, with that I lost my mucus plug have to say mine was quiet a big plug. Then the contractions started to get more intense and still only 2-3 minutes apart. I lasted about an hour at home before around 11.30pm I got hubby to take me back to hospital, this had to be the longest car journey ever, again we went to the Rushy ward. This time I was told I was 2 cm and had the choice of going home or the waiting lounge this time I knew there was no way I could make it home so we stayed. We were lucky enough to be given a side room The Winter room but I think it was actually one of the birth rooms now after talking to a few people. It contained a fold down bed, a birthing ball, a bean bag & matted area, free TV and it's own loo. I was still having contractions on & off every 3 or so minutes and by this time I was in too much pain that I asked for pain relief I was given diamophine by injection in my leg. This took most of the edge of the pain but I still felt the contractions.

By 4.30 am on the Saturday the pain was getting unbearable again. In a down moment I said to Chris just do what ever you feel right, I knew at this stage I wasn't going to make any decisions as i just wanted the pain to stop. My birth plan was very simple - do what need to be done and only tell me what you have to. On examination at 5.30 I was told I was now 3cm, as I was in so much pain did I was offered an epidural. Chris told them to make the call and on that I was transferred down to the delivery ward.

On arrival there I was hooked up to a machine to monitor my contractions & baby's heart beat. This had to be monitored for about 30 mins before I could have the epidural. As the pain started to increase I was offered gas & air. I have to say it's very strange stuff almost takes you out of your self it also made me lie down as I couldn't physically stand up. At about 6.30 I was finally given the epidural it took a while to get in due to the contractions being a couple of minutes apart but god once it was in it was lovely took the pain almost completely away.

At about 9am we were asked if we minded if a work experience girl came and sat though my labour to which we agreed. It was nice to have someone to chat to along with the midwife. Pretty much when you arrive on the delivery suite you have a midwife with you 24/7. About 10am I was examined and told I was now 5 cm at this point we decided it was a good opportunity for Chris to pop home and freshen up etc. I remember in some time between 10-12 that baby's heart beat started to dip, I'd already had a clip put on his head as they were struggling to monitor his heart beat on the normal monitor. At one point the heart beat stayed low that they called the doctor in to check at this point I had my 1st melt down as it was quite scary & Chris was not by my side. In the end they called Chris back in. Between that call & him arriving I remember saying to Julia the midwife I felt immense pressure in my bum, then I smelt it, though they never actually said it I knew I'd pooed myself.

I was cleaned up just before hubby arrived back. Baby's heart beat was still dropping on & off so at about 2 the doctor came back and decided to try and take a blood sample from babies head. In doing this they discovered that I was still only 5cm but more importantly my cervix had started to swell & close back over. There was no other option emergency c section was the only was this baby was coming out.

Melt down 2 - once those words had been said that was it action stations & loads of people started coming in & out. Hubby was told to change into scrubs. During all the time I was in a state and crying I can't tell you why. I can't tell you much about the journey to theatre or theatre as I had my eyes closed most of the way. I remember one person saying to me that if there are complications they might have to preform an histromaticy my response was I didn't care do what's needed. I also remember this women saying to me she needed to explain the c section & the risks I remember my reply was I didn't want to know do what you have to and with that I signed the consent form.

I remember i wanted hubby to talk to me but he was so over whelmed too that he couldn't get any words out. Within what felt like a matter of minutes I heard little one cry for the 1st time. The next 20 minutes was a bler really I remember asking hubby if baby looked like a James (we'd already picked our name out) hubby said yes then I remember them bringing James over to me but I was shaking so much I didn't want to hold him. As time went on my shaking got worse and I started to begin to feel really worried and went into panic mode. In the end I was fine as I've since found out from others this is a perfectly natural way to feel.

So there it is how little James Peter was born on Saturday 15th June at 2:19pm weighting 6 lbs 5 oz

Precious Angels in the sky

There is a slight hole in my heart for my lovely twitter girlies who have had such sad news in their lives recently.

A colleague of mine gave birth to a sleeping baby last year while it effected me it wasn’t until Christmas and pregnant when my husbands colleague lost her twins at 18 weeks that I finally started to understand the pain that this must cause.

Recently there has been more awful, numbing news of sleeping babies. I so just want to scoop up the lovely ladies and make it all ok but I know I can’t, all I can offer is someone to talk to, though I'll never truly know what they are going through.

There are no words I can express to tell you how sorry I am but know you are always in my thoughts and heart. 

Our hearts were broken

Without a warning no words spoken

They were taken away

Someone said they could not stay

Empty and lonely is what you are

You lost a precious shining star

The family torn apart

Their world began with a promising start

Life is unfair

This difficult cross you must bear

Strength and courage you will find

Your special child always in our minds

A place in heaven is where they sit

Looking at that star they lit

In our thoughts forever they will be

Never knowing why someone set them free

Sleep now precious Angels in the Sky