At 38 weeks, I’m in the last lap of pregnancy, waiting for baby #2 to arrive. Obgyn predicts D-day to be this weekend, while we’re aiming for next weekend. Anyway, here are the final preparations that have been keeping us busy:
1. Washing, Laundry, Re-organisation
This was the most time-consuming part. Fortunately, Vee’s baby stuff have been kept rather neatly in the wardrobe, so it was easy to find them. (I love using these vacuum bags reviewed here.)
- Baby’s clothes and cloth diapers: All the fabric items were washed over many days, and I was so looking forward to sunny weather! I felt especiallyΒ good washing the tiny cloth diapers because they’re soooo cute and of course, going to save us a big deal of money.
- The big items: It was hectic scrubbing out the wardrobes, changing table, cot, mini play-gym, rocker, infant car seat, and miscellaneous large items. Good chance to do spring cleaning and re-organise Vee’s items as well.
- My clothes: Then I dug out all my nursing wear, breast pads, cloth pads, and other essentials. Again, a good chance to tidy up my wardrobe.
2. Getting the Hospital Bag Ready
With a prior experience, I now know what would be provided at our chosen hospital. So this time, my hospital bag is very compact. For a full list of what to consider bringing, read myΒ Hospital Bag Checklist for Delivery here.
Initially, I wanted to buy milkmaid tea and nipple butter only at the hospital, for convenience. Then when shopping at iherb.com, I realised that the prices were rock-bottom low! Immediately, I ordered 3 packs of the tea and 1 jar of the butter. Great that they arrived in time. Feel free to check them out here:
- Earth Mama Angel Baby, Organic Milkmaid Tea, 16 Tea Bags*: at USD3.96 (about RM12.64). In KL, it costs about RM40+.
- Earth Mama Angel Baby, Natural Nipple Butter, 2 fl oz (60 ml)*: at USD9.59 (about RM30.60). In KL, it costs about RM69.90.
3. Perineal Massage
During my previous pregnancy with Vee, my ob-gyn recommended that I do perineal massage from about week 36 onwards. This is to help prevent an episiotomy or tear. I diligently did it as a nightly routine. Though I’m petite while Vee was a relatively big 3.48kg baby, I avoided the need for an episiotomy (which is equivalent to a second degree tear).
Because Vee stretched one hand out during delivery, I’d a first degree tear, which was easily stitched up and healed quickly and painlessly.
This time, I bought Mothercare’s Perineal Gel again and have just started doing the massage. Hopefully, no tear this time round.
For details on how to do perineal massage, visit Perineal Massage: Your How-To Guide from iVillage here.
4. Discussion with Hubby and Briefing Him on Vee’s Routine
Since Vee has been solely taken care of by two of us, we know that it’d be drastic to simply hand him over to someone else when I’m in the hospital. It’s highly possible no one would be able to put this fussy sleeper down for a nap or bedtime at night.
And we certainly don’t want him to feel any tinge of being “abandoned” just because baby brother is arriving.
So for now, we’re likely to bring him to the hospital with a family member along. Then hubby could babywear him for a nap. At night, both of them can head home to rest and visit me again in the morning. I should be able to manage with the nurses’ help.
This toughest situation is if I deliver in the middle of the night. Then he’d have to wait with the family member outside the delivery room, until Daddy can pick him up.
5. Letting Vee Sleep Without Me
To help our fussy sleeper sleep more independently, I started eliminating body contact with him at nap and bedtime.
Previously, he needed me to put one hand on him until he fell asleep. Several weeks back, I began to limit this contact to 5 minutes. I count down to him as every minute passes, until finally “3, 2, 1, 0, Mummy’s hand is very tired and needs to recharge its battery.” I remove my hand and keep it to myself. Surprisingly, he accepted this excuse and hardly fussed! Since then, he has been able to fall asleep without any body contact.
At night, hubby introduced a new part to the bedtime routine by whistling his favourite songs to him. They’d lie down together and enjoy the short whistling session. I’d take this chance to leave the room to do my own things. Then hubby did the same 5-minute body contact finale. And Vee would fall asleep on his own. A great milestone for him indeed!
6. Getting Gifts for the Brothers
Many mums have practised gift exchange for their children when the newborn arrives, so we’re giving it a try too, hoping to give the brothers a good headstart in their sibling relationship.
Previously, Vee has helped to choose a Charlie Banana cloth diaper in a beautiful print for his brother, so that’s his gift. (Yup, I’d be reviewing this.)
Then today, I secretly boughtΒ Mega Bloks Thomas 3 in 1 Buildables: James On the Move* on behalf of his baby brother. Vee has been eyeing this little red train for the longest time, so I’m sure he’d be elated!
All right, that’s about all on what’s been keeping us busy. Coming up on TuesdayΒ (provided I don’t pop so soon), there’d be a review and Giveaway on GroVia All-in-Two Cloth Diapers. Stay tuned!
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Hope everything goes smooth for you…..good luck!
Guess there wont be much updates from you soon. Anyway, take care and have a nice ‘delivery’ π
Thank you very much, Sue! π
All the best, mommy! It’s a whole different ballgame with 2 kids! I just pop last Tuesday & trust me, get all the rest & moments with your elder one.
Also tips from other mommies:-
1.when going home, let your hubby carry the new addition in the house & tell him that he’s already home & welcome to the family. Meanwhile you greet your eldest boy & catch up with kisses & hugs etc. Since you’ll be away from home for delivery…
2. Always refer to the baby as Vie’s baby brother
Congratulations to you, May Yee! Thank you for your valuable tips and have a good rest too. I think confinement’s great time to rest with the confinement lady’s help. It’s after confinement that’s the REAL challenge for me. All on my own with the 2 kids until hubby comes back from work. Very new ballgame indeed!
All the best Mie Vee!! Wish you have your dream delivery!
BTW, what we did was to make sure the baby is not in bed with you when your son came to visit, when he arrived, let him in the bed with you and cuddle a little and only introduce the baby by wheeling in the baby with the present. My son came to hospital and first thing he was to look everywhere for the little sister because he got a present for her. So the first meeting went well! My kids were 21 months apart.
Thank you for sharing your tip, Peisee! Your 2 children seem very close indeed. Yup yup, the first impression is very important indeed. π
All the best!
recommend the bravado design nursing bra for you especially Body silk seamless. I regret I just start to use only after breastfeeding for 4 mths..
Hi christine, thank you for your recommendation. Seamless bras sound great!
Smooth delivery ya!~~~~
Thank you, Kylie! π
Wow! 38 weeks already! Wishing you a safe and smooth delivery!
Thank you, Jenny! It’s great reading about how well your baby girl sleeps. I hope baby’s a good sleeper like your darling too. π
Hi mievee,
Im vis from mummysg. Hope u hv a smooth delivery!! We are all on waiting games, waiting for our babies to pop.. Do update us once u hv delivered in mummysg forum!
Oh i had bought Nellie’s detergent powder at sg Expo fair at Moo moo cow booth.. Have not try it n hope is good.. Was super cheap, selling at s$29.. =)
Hi Emily, great to hear from you here. Yup, looking forward to all the mummies’ good news. It’s an exciting time now.
Glad you got a good deal at the Expo fair!
All the best! π
May you have a smooth delivery!
Thank you very much, Jen! π
Hope you have a safe delivery. Your diligent preparation will certainly pay off. I don’t think we did even 10% of what you did to prepare for our kids births.
Hi Adino, thank you very much for your well wishes! My baby has arrived and the delivery was super-quick. Phew! Haha… the preparation part all boils down to personality. No matter what, parents can never be 100% prepared. Every baby can be soooo different. π
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