To do lists (preparing for baby) - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[nstewart]

Hi bobcat, and welcome!

Bras: I would be minimalist by buying maybe two supportive, comfy, regular bras that fit now.  Or nursing bras, but there is no guarantee that they will fit in a couple months or that they will fit when you are nursing.  It's likely that your boobs will get bigger when your milk comes in.  So, with DS, I bought one nursing bra to have before DS was born in a size that fit right before my DD.  A good option for this might be a Bravado bra because the sizing isn't by cup (like, 36D) but is by size (sm, m, l, xl) so they are a bit more forgiving on fit (and were my FAVORITE nursing bras by far).  They would be more likely to fit now and after your milk comes in, but they aren't cheap and there is no guarantee they will fit. 

For nursing tops, I, personally, despised nursing tops.  I found they were not flattering and weren't very comfortable to nurse in.  I preferred to wear a tank top that I could pull down (or that was a nursing tank) under a regular top for out and about, and just pull up the regular top and pull down the tank top to nurse.  That way my tummy was always covered and my chest was mostly covered.  I had plenty of friends though, who were totally comfortable just whipping up their regular tshirt with nothing underneath.  Depends what you are comfortable with.  For nursing tanks, I liked Glamourmom and I also liked Undercovermama (which you can sometimes get on babysteals.com, btw).

Ummm, I didn't do birth announcements with my first either! So, if that is disrespectful, then I guess I was! 

[Quinalla]

No birth announcement here either, I did e-mail everyone with photos and eventually posted on facebook, I figured that was fine. No one complained My two SILs did mailed birth announcements, but that still probably won't motivate me to do them this time! Though shutterfly does make it pretty easy, but I still have to dig up all the addresses and stamp stuff, bleh.

For bras, I have started getting some nursing bras towards the end too as after the initial milk-coming-in, my breasts settle down to being similar to pregnant size. Whatever you do, don't get maternity bras, waste of money IMO, get nursing bras or regular bras. For nursing tops, I hated them too, some love them though so it might be worthwhile to get 1-2 and see. I too did either a nursing tank under a shirt or a nursing bra, stretchy tank top and regular shirt, pull up shirt, pull down tank, open nursing bra. This was also great for pumping at work so I didn't get cold as having your breasts hanging out for 20 minutes is enough, you don't need any other skin exposed. Some really like it for the modesty factor too, I didn't really care personally I had little modesty before giving birth and basically none after (for myself, I still try to be mindful of others), but I did like it for not getting too cold.

For home, I liked having the sleep nursing bras with either a button down top or something really easy to pull up or down out of the way. Sometimes I wore the sleep nursing bras out of the house if I had enough padding on my shirts to hide nipples, they are so comfy, but that varies by breast size I'm sure! I also slept in them as I couldn't sleep without at least some light support for a long time while nursing.

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by Quinalla 

For home, I liked having the sleep nursing bras with either a button down top or something really easy to pull up or down out of the way. Sometimes I wore the sleep nursing bras out of the house if I had enough padding on my shirts to hide nipples, they are so comfy, but that varies by breast size I'm sure! I also slept in them as I couldn't sleep without at least some light support for a long time while nursing.

Ohh, I forgot about those!  Yes, the sleep nursing bras are SO comfy.  I will have to pick one up.  I had to wear one to bed for several months last time because I had to wear nursing pads all the time as I leaked a ton.  I had a hair-trigger letdown reflex combined with over-supply and a heavy let down, the pads were a must.

[Lynann]

Nursing bras and tops are definitely a very personal thing, and a lot will depend on the size of your boobs.

I have really big boobs (varies from G through J) and I hate, hate, hate nursing bras, although I wear them for the first 3-4 months postpartum. They don't give proper lift and support to larger breasted women, even though they have larger cup sizes. I spend most of that first 3-4 months with sweaty mono-boob issues. The only positive with being so large to begin with is that I don't go up more than 1 cup size when my milk comes in, and I have a very abundant milk supply. I also have to sleep with the nursing bras so I can wear pads or I'll leak all over the bed. For larger busted women nursing tanks with build in support are a waste of time, you'll still need an actual bra under it, so save your money and just buy the cheaper tanks without the built in support.

I have also found that although I have nursing tops I don't use them the way they are designed. I like to wear a tank with a nursing latch under a normal t-shirt. I pull up the t-shirt and unlatch (pull down) the tank. At home I'll often just wear the tank so I don't have to bother with the t-shirt layer. Once we both get used to nursing with each other I'll just wear normal t-shirts and pull up to nurse, even when out and about, as the baby is usually laying across any exposed skin.

I do have a MyBreastFriend nursing pillow, and I love it for the early months of nursing as it helps the baby stay in a good position for a proper latch, but it is only good as a nursing pillow and doesn't work well on the floor like the boppy does, but I've also heard that boppy pillows can be less comfortable for nursing and harder to keep the baby in a good position.

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by Lynann 

I do have a MyBreastFriend nursing pillow, and I love it for the early months of nursing as it helps the baby stay in a good position for a proper latch, but it is only good as a nursing pillow and doesn't work well on the floor like the boppy does, but I've also heard that boppy pillows can be less comfortable for nursing and harder to keep the baby in a good position.

I think nursing pillows depend on body type/breast size as well.

A good friend of mine had a MBF nursing pillow and loved it.  She bought me one as a shower gift and it never worked well for me.  I had to lean forward and had a hard time getting comfortable, and positioning baby never worked well with it.  I got a boppy style pillow (a brand made by a local WAHM that IMO is better quality than boppy) and it worked really well for me and was very comfortable.  My friend is about 5'4" tall, with large breasts.  I am 5'9" tall with small breasts.  So I don't know if it's height or breast size or the combination but what works well for one may not work well for another.

[Lynann]

Originally Posted by nstewart 

I think nursing pillows depend on body type/breast size as well.

A good friend of mine had a MBF nursing pillow and loved it.  She bought me one as a shower gift and it never worked well for me.  I had to lean forward and had a hard time getting comfortable, and positioning baby never worked well with it.  I got a boppy style pillow (a brand made by a local WAHM that IMO is better quality than boppy) and it worked really well for me and was very comfortable.  My friend is about 5'4" tall, with large breasts.  I am 5'9" tall with small breasts.  So I don't know if it's height or breast size or the combination but what works well for one may not work well for another.

That is a great point. I'm 5ft2in and extremely large breasted, so the MBF gave me a really comfortable position to nurse in. I also loved that it fastened on (don't buy the velcro one the noise will wake a sleeping baby) so if the baby falls asleep and won't be moved without waking up and I need to pee I can just stand up slowly and go pee without moving the baby (obviously keeping one hand on the baby at all times, and its amazing how quickly you learn to do all kinds of things one handed after the baby is born. :) )

[CoBabyMaker]

Demo bathroom: Check!  Yay DH!  He rocks!  DH and a friend are doing most of it on weekends so it will probably be 5 or 6 weeks to completion.

[Quinalla]

Nice CoBaby

[Gooseberry]

We haven't done a single thing for Baby #3.  We don't need to buy much, but we probably have a lot of organizational work to do.

1.  Instead of two bedrooms, create separate sleeping and play rooms for our girls

2.  Buy bunk beds (don't know if the little one is actually ready for this)

3.  Move at least one girl out of her bed/crib and set that up as a crib in our room

4.  Get crib bedding

5.  Car seats purchased and organized for both cars

6.  Coming home outfit

7.  Wash smallest sizes of gender neutral clothing (don't know what we're having)

8. Wash things like smaller sized diapers+wraps, baby carriers and baby seat covers

9.  Finalize a girl's name

[zjande]

I love to do lists! And I love organizing and preparing for new babies. But, this time I need to do so little that it's not even worth writing a to do list. :(    lol

Here it is:

find a used dresser to buy

order a few things for the birth

wash stuff

That's it.   Since this is baby #7, there's just not much left that we don't already have- in abundance. :p

[msherman]

As first time Mom's to be, our list is pretty long. We're trying to look at many of these items as goals, especially the nesting goals. Auntie says that all baby really needs is us!

House

Buy area rug for dining room and living room

Buy new dining room furniture

Buy light fixture for back hallway and upstairs hall

Paint back hallway

Finish painting upstairs hallway

Buy new blind for back door

Hire a house keeper

Nursery

Buy a crib

Put the crib together

Put the stroller together

Pick a paint color

Paint the nursery

Buy/install window coverings

Frame the critter prints

Buy birch tree wall decal

Install birch tree wall decal

Hang Mama Koontz’s critter mobile

Supply and organize the bureau/changing table area

Buy a rug

Wash all crib linens and blankets

Wash all clothing

Wash co-sleeper sheets

Mama’s  Bedroom

Clean out nightstand

Buy a new mattress

Move old mattress downstairs for parents

Set up pack and play

Organize closet

Figure Out

How to install the car seat

How to use the breast pump

How to make Mama #2 legal

Get baby on Mama’s insurance plan

Make up

Multiple copies of birth plan for hospital

Goodie basket for hospital staff to give with birth plan

Dog/cat instructions for care during hospital stay

Hospital packing list

Put relaxation scripts in hospital binder

Pack hospital bag

Receipt and forms for birthing classes to send to insurance company

Complete hospital Pre-Reg form, fax, and extra copy in binder

Place verification of insurance in binder

Schedule

Find a pediatrician

Haircut for Mama

Electrician for light fixtures

Appointment with lawyer regarding living will and second parent adoption

Randy and/or Kevin/Krissy as back up doggie care during hospital stay

Bradley birthing classes

Tour of Hospital

Doula appointments

Buy/Stock up on

Diapers and wipes

Cleaning supplies for house keeper

Laundering and toiletries

Fresh frozen meals

Red and white wine for baby shower

Medela parts and tubing

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by nstewart 

Gosh, this thread is frightening!  I am scared to think about what needs to happen.  Oddly, I am more worried about forgetting stuff than I was with DS because with DS, I knew I just needed EVERYTHING! lol.  This time, I have to figure out what I have (and where it is!!!) and what I need.  Plus I feel stressed thinking about what I need to do but knowing it's too early to do most of it.  So far I've thought of these things:

- hang shelving in playroom

- get window coverings for playroom

- move toys into playroom 

- get light fixture for playroom

- organize toys and books in playroom

- get new bed for DS

- get bedding for DSs new bed

- organize DSs closet to be a shared closet

- organize DS's dresser to be a shared dresser

- convert DS's bed back into a crib

- buy sound and movement monitor

- go through bins and bins of baby stuff and take out the stuff I need/want for babe

- wash clothes/blankets/diapers/covers etc from the bins

- install car seat

- set up co-sleeper

- set up monitor

- make nb size fitted dipes (if I have time) - renting nb size instead, have already reserved them

- figure out what I don't have and buy it (why this part has me so stressed I don't know)

- go through all the benefits/pension etc. stuff for my leave with HR

- write post-dated cheque to ER for pension/savings plan during leave year, send in final forms

- check/clean pump and buy any required replacement parts, bottles, etc.

- meet with doula again

- read "Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering" again

- buy home birth supplies

- prepare birth plan

- figure out what to do with DS during labor

- set up for homebirth (I don't know how early to do some of the stuff, another thing to investigate)

- plan snacks and meals for the week(s) following baby's arrival (problem is that I don't have much room in my freezer right now as we bought a quarter of beef recently)

- do a pre-baby cleaning/organizing of the house so I'm not so stressed about letting it slip for a few weeks after babe is born

- warn neighbours that if they hear moaning or screaming coming from our house sometime in April/May not to call the cops 

- get a hair cut, and maybe indulge in a pedicure

We've had a really productive (long) weekend and I can cross a bunch more stuff off of the list!  DS's bed is set up, I bought matching sheets for the crib and DSs bed, got the baby monitor I wanted, finished sorting pictures (so now the spare room is officially organized!), and sorted through a big pile of baby clothes.  All of the NB clothes are sorted between gender neutral and boys stuff.  I haven't washed any of it yet, and will wait at least another month (prob more like 6 weeks) before I do so I don't have to re-wash it again.

Oh, and I booked a hair cut!  Better get on the pedicure.  lol.

[CoBabyMaker]

Way to go Nstewart!  You are cruising through your list quickly!

[nstewart]

Checking in ladies!  

How is everyone doing on their list?

I haven't done very much on mine since the last time I posted, but I do have a haircut booked tomorrow! lol.  I am also in the process of reading "gentle birth, gentle mothering".

Co, how is the bathroom coming along?

[CoBabyMaker]

Co, how is the bathroom coming along?

Eh, slooooooowly.  It's sort of a weekend only project and we were gone this weekend and the previous weekend was consumed by a plumbing issue.  I am hopeful that once tile starts going in the other things will go faster.  I did get baby's room painted though and have started sewing things.  Diapers (some cloth and some disposables) have been procured.  It's progress.  I would love to move faster on things but it IS progress for now. 

[Quinalla]

Doing well, have a few things I can do before the babies arrive still, but I've gotten most of it taken care of, just waiting on the remodel for the most part now!

Originally Posted by Quinalla 

To buy:
Need to get done prior to babies arriving:

Done by end of April:

• Assorted extra breast pump accessories (membranes, tubing, etc.)
• New stage 1 nipples (probably ~10)
• 1 Box breastmilk storage bags
• 1 bouncy seat (I have 1)
• Jumbo pack of wipes
• 4 pacifiers: 2 green, 2 blue
• 1 tube of Lansinoh
• 2 Nasal Aspirators
• 1 Night Light
• 1 New baby monitor set with two parent units (the batteries are shot on DD's monitors)
• 1 Twin stroller that will take infant car seats
• 1 Bottle Infant Acetaminophen
• 2 small gifts for DD, one from each baby
• Breast Pump (insurance will cover, need to get prescription from OB - have form filled out, send back in 1-2 months before I'm due and call when I give birth

Done:

• 2 Coming home outfits
• Jumbo pack of Size 1 Diapers & 1-2 more packs of N diapers
• 1 Digital Thermometer
• 2 Cribs
• 1 Crib Matress
• Curtains for nursery

Can wait until after babies arrive:

• Bottles (probably ~10)
• 2 Convertible Car Seats
• 1 High Chair
• 2-3 baby gates
• Assorted Teethers
• 2 more bouncy seats maybe (I think it might be nice to have 2 more on the 2nd floor that can stay there, not sure)
• 2 lovey blankets if pacifiers are refused
• 6-12m and larger boy clothes, I am good on N-6m

To do:

Done by end of March:

• Get baby gear organized and put somewhere (swing, bouncer, toys, etc.)
• Talk to DH about circ
• Take tour of hospital I haven't given birth in
• Pack hospital bag (include copy of preregistration form)
• Reread Parenting Effectiveness Training & The No Cry Sleep Solution
• Get guest room cleared out and junk in there put away/donated/recycled/trashed - probably 50% done
• Go through DD's baby clothes and get them organized - almost done, just need to organize the 18m-2T pile
• Remodeling Done (2nd floor & stairs carpet, 2nd floor doors & trim, kitchen, bay window) - Hopefully done by 3/22, but may spill into the next week some
• Get N & 0-3m washed and put away (have to wait until remodel is done)
• Take my breast pump home (it's still sitting at work, but I did go through it and it is all ready to go)

Done by end of April:

• Install infant car seats
• Stock up on household essentials (TP, papertowels, etc.) to limit necessary store trips
• Set up nursery furniture (including assembling cribs)
• Stock changing table & dresser
• Set up first floor changing station (and maybe a basement station too as that is DD's playroom)
• Set up Pack-N-Plays (I'm thinking one on 1st floor, one in basement, mini one in our bedroom)
• Get bottles out and sterilized and put away, replace old nipples with new as the nipples are pretty worn from all the dishwashing
• Stock the refrigerator/freezer/pantry with easy to grab and eat items and easy to prepare stuff

Done:

• Finish reading "Mothering Multiples"
• Get preregistered at both potential hospitals - put copies in hospital bag in case they lose it again: Grant (but did not pay estimated $), St Ann's
• Get old breast pump cleaned and ready to go
• Get nursery cleared out
• Get remaining bins in office put away/donated/recycled/trashed and get my desk organized (it isn't bad, but needs some love and probably a desk organizer to hold stuff)
• Reread (from last pregnancy) a natural childbirth book or two
• Visit my parents and the ILs one more time before birth (probably late February or early March) - scheduled for last weekend in February
• Get a massage
• Talk to DH about DD's care while I'm in labor, hospital logistics, etc
• Decide on middle names - think we are good on this.

(ETA: Going to just check things off as I do them here, also added rough timetable of when I want it done)

[amlikam]

My list, for now. Trying not to go too crazy.

• Clean the house
• Clean out baby's "room"
• Clean yard
• Cook meals
• order homebirth kit
• pack JIC bag (or not)
• maybe get some diapers

• DTD- Lots
• clean bed room
• nap
• sleep in
• get massage, several

[Quinalla]

Originally Posted by amlikam 

My list, for now. Trying not to go too crazy.
DTD- Lots

Ok, I need to add this to my list It is there mentally already!

And my list looks long, but really once the remodel is done, we'll knock everything else out probably in a weekend or two as I already have all the purchases picked out and put into a list on Amazon (I'll buy some stuff local probably, but still). The rest will go quickly once we can do it. The only thing I'll probably wait on a bit is actually installing the carseats as once they are in, DD will have to sit by herself in the back and I'm not worried about getting them installed as I already did a test run and the Graco infant bases are easy to get in. I can always wait until I'm in labor to do it at worst or have DH do it.

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by amlikam 

My list, for now. Trying not to go too crazy.

• Clean the house
• Clean out baby's "room"
• Clean yard
• Cook meals
• order homebirth kit
• pack JIC bag (or not)
• maybe get some diapers

• DTD- Lots
• clean bed room
• nap
• sleep in
• get massage, several

amlikam, I like your list!  I decided to book a pedicure for this weekend, with the intent to go for 1 more before babes comes.

[adventuregirl]

Originally Posted by adventuregirl 

OK, here goes:

Finish list of things to get for baby - done.

Get dresser, glider/recliner, breast pads, nipple cream, diaper balm and video card for camera. Start now.

Call insurance company and figure our breast pump coverage, then get one. Done.

Decide on a stroller & update wishlist, OR go to secondhand store and get one. Now. Done.

Get birth tub plan together (rent/borrow/buy? when/where/how?). Now. Done.

Get dh watching birth videos. Now. Done.

Make list of "labor advice" for myself - ideas for comfort measures, reminders to eat/drink, things to distract. Now & ongoing.

Knit special baby blanket. Started.

Knit diaper covers. Done.

Get a nursing bra, or 3.  

Pay midwife for birth & birth kit - Done.

Research and find a doc who will write a script for a breast pump and get one. At next mw appt - March. Call Ins Co again first.

Talk to neighbors about being there for DD while I am in labor. April.

Finalize birth plan for mw. April.

Order birth pool and accessories. April

Get everything on wishlist that wasn't gifted to us. April.

Get all work projects organized and handed over for coverage while I am on leave. Started - finish in April.

Wash all baby clothes, sheets, blankets, diapers, etc. April - May.

Make meals to put into freezer for after the birth. April-May.

Stock up on food, snacks, freezer items to be ready for birth. May.

Well, I have been keeping up ok, not ahead of the game, but that's not really where I live anyway. I am the type who just believes things will come together when they are supposed to, and so far they have.

Edited by adventuregirl - 3/28/13 at 12:16pm