Hellobee Boards

@mrsbubbletea: I keep hearing about these things but don't know enough to decide if I actually want to implement them into my life.

Anyone else into packing your hospital bag yet? My OB suggested that he thinks this baby has s good chance of appearing before my booked section date Baby bag is packed and I have started putting my stuff together!

@snarkybiochemist: I am not convinced, but at the same time I don't think they would hurt! I have heard the date one has truly been proven effective.

@mrsbubbletea: I've heard the most about the dates as well but still not sure. It makes me laugh because I ate pineapple for 5 days straight after my IUI to help with implantation and yet I'm waffling about eating dates in the days/weeks leading up to delivery. Maybe its b/c the dates are for so much longer
@MsMini: haven't packed but also at 34 weeks, my plan is to get started after we get home from my MIL this weekend since I plan on using the same bag

@Shopoholicmom: Right? My son was born on my due date and I assume Ill go either later or on my due date. But I still have a hope maybe a week or two earlier!

I am 36 weeks now, but my OB had a talk with me about what to do if I go into labour early (since I am a repeat section) and on my growth check today the cervix is looking a bit shorter than it was previously. I will post my baby bag and my bag contents once they are packed in case it helps (3rd time around so I think I have the bag contents set now!)

Baby bag (team green) - Packed for 3 days (though I only stayed for 2 days after each of my previous sections):
- 6 outfits (2 per day) with socks (forgot to take them out of the bag for the picture)
- 3 neutral swaddles
- 1 each pink and blue swaddle
- Baby wipes (my hospital provides scratchy dry ones that I hate) no diapers (they provide a couple packs of newborn Huggies)
- My preferred soothers
- 3 hats and 1 cute girly headband
- Cetaphil baby wash and oil, brush and honest diaper balm (I don't like the hospital provided stuff
- photo prop blanket and cards

Well, this is reminding me I should start thinking about what to pack and get the infant car seat out and installed! I’m 36 weeks and I definitely don’t think baby will come early but you never know.

I just packed my bag yesterday; 36 weeks today. I still have a few more things that I need to pack (toiletries, nursing bras, flip flops), and my husband is handling the electronics. For myself, I packed a robe, towel, going home outfit (maternity dress & cardigan), slipper socks, and a pair of regular socks. I might throw in a nursing tank and button down, but I don't want to overpack. For my husband, I packed a pair of sweats, basketball shorts, extra t-shirt, a hoodie, and flip flops.

As for baby, I packed 3 sleepers (diff sizes, in case she can't fit into the newborn sizes), 2 swaddles, a hat, a pair of baby mitts, and a nursing cover/car seat cover. Not sure if the nursing cover will be necessary, but I threw it in there anyway. Any ideas? FTM here, so I'm feeling pretty clueless..

@Jennibenni: thanks for the suggestion!! I'll throw in another swaddle, just in case..

Alright! I got my hospital bag packed today - here's what I take along:
- 3 "breastfeeding uniform" outfits (supportive nursing tank, leggings with kimono/flowy cardigan
- 3 sets of nursing PJs
- 1 robe
- 1 pair of slip on slippers (not shown - going shopping today)
- I pair of cozy knit style slippers
- light support belly band and heavier support belly band
- my favourite bamboobies breast pads
- one box of good pads (hospital pads are SO think it's like sitting on a mattress)
- bag with phone charger, Apple Watch charger, SD card adapter for my iPad, ear phones, eye drops and lip gloss
- blow dryer, straightener and brushes
- toiletry bag with shower supplies, makeup, etc
- glasses for during the c-section
- not in the picture: 6 pairs of black boy short style underwear and my favourite pillow from my bed. Also a blanket scarf.
- I will also have my DSLR, 50mm lens, off camera flash etc there in my diaper bag to take brand new baby pics! I edit on my iPad since I have PS express on there.

@MsMini: gotcha! Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to go home and reevaluate what I've packed..

@snarkybiochemist: Our hospital provided soooo much - blankets, hats, diapers, nursing supplies like pump parts, nipple cream, nipple cooling pads, sanitary pads, soap, toothbrush, comb. There are plenty of reasons not to like all of this stuff but I was too cheap not to use most of it, and it will get thrown out when you leave if the nurses open a package for you but don't use it all (the huge pads for example) so even though they're uncomfortable, I just used those and took them home. One issue for us was that the internet service was not great, I had planned to stream movies but wasn't able to and I wished I had downloaded more to my devices. Make sure you bring an extension cord as your phone charger may not reach the bed and you'll want to take and send lots of pics of your sweet baby!

I need to pack my bag and do about a million other things! 35 weeks today, had my appt with the gbs swab and ultrasound. She wanted to make sure baby’s size still looks good, and baby is measuring about 6 lbs and change already! My next appt at 37 will be with a different doctor, so I told my doctor I hope not to see her again lol. She doesn’t do deliveries, but I will have an appt at 39 weeks with her In all likliehood.

And here is how we set up in our bedroom for baby this time around. DS stayed in our room for 4 months, and DD stayed in our room for 2 months. The cradle will move to alongside the bed when baby is in there but I kept stubbing my toe on it! All the babies in my family for the last 35 years have slept in that cradle.

@MsMini: I never really hear about doing this, but its probably a good idea, especially in your particular case! I am too squeamish to do that for some reason. Its odd since I nursed my son for so long, pretty recently, but I feel very strange about my nipples/boobs right now, maybe since they were so sensitive for so long in the early part of pregnancy. Like when I shower, I feel nervous to look down and check if they are leaking at all (they aren't yet). Cant believe I am going to start another nursing journey with this new LO!

I am officially freaking out. I cannot believe the time is almost here, but baby is scheduled to be born Friday morning. Am I ready for a newborn? I am so excited, but cannot help thinking of all the really hard things about the first couples weeks. With my first is was hours of crying, latching issues, no sleep, hormones, and the sad realization that I do not return to pre-pregnancy size 1 week postpartum. I am having major guilt for all the changes my three year old is going to experience too. Luckily, I am working until Friday, so I can be somewhat distracted. But oh boy, I am a MESS!!!!
I just want to nap and browse hellobee all day. Oh, and pick a name. We still can't agree...

@shellio: that’s a ton! I am only getting ~1ml/day right now. I still have a week to go so maybe it will increase but even if not I have a bit for just in case we are hypoglycaemic off the bat. I hand express for ~5 minutes 1-3 times per day do it’s not too much of a time commitment.

@SugarMaple: good luck on Friday! It’s always weird kind of knowing what you are getting into! Hopefully you have a nice, sleepy easy to feed newborn!

@SugarMaple: good luck today!

@mrsbubbletea: So exciting! I hope everything goes smoothly for you!

Our baby girl decided to surprise us and come two weeks early! She was born Wednesday evening and we're all doing great! So glad she's here and her brothers couldn't be more tickled to have a baby sister!

Good luck everyone!