bras, pjs & other questions

Amoralia, cache coeur and Hotmilk all make lovely nursing bras that are super comfortable and wash really well too. You can get them at various locations in Dubai.

If you're looking for nice maternity bras and nursing bras I can't recommend Blush and Bloom highly enough. (They're just online). I'm addicted to this store at the moment. So many nice maternity and nursing things. Myself and two other friends have all had a maternity bra fitting done by the lady that runs it. She can come to you which is just fab. The bras are so gorgeous and not expensive. Much nicer than the Mothercare ones.

Just on the surfboards - the mothercare ones are in their sale AED 23 down to AED 6. Other baby shops on sale in Dubai Mall - Babyshop, Mothercare, Chico, Bellini Unfortunately Mamas and Papas never seem to come on sale. Talking to the fellow at Pottery Barn Kids - they are coming on sale soon he just wasn't sure about dates.

i really liked bravado nursing bras for constant wearI second the vote for Bravado! I have tried nursing bras from Mothercare, M&S, Motherhood brand from Destination Maternity, but Bravado and Elle Macpherson have really held up through frequent laundry (in the mesh bag), accommodated size changes, and nearly constant use (I have worn a bra 24/7 from the time I was 5 months preg with first child). The others just started to fall apart and fray/ develop holes after 5 months usage.

i really liked bravado nursing bras for constant wear and anita (with underwire but super soft and comfy) for when i went out because i'm ummmm... well endowed and need a bit of definition. Still wear the anita ones though i'm done feeding ;). Got mine at http://www.nursingbra-shop.co.uk/ very cool site i found on here. stock all sorts of sizes and charge something really small for international delivery.

I feel a little broody reading your post ilovewine! The excitement of the baby coming, nothing quite matches it :) Congratulations! My advice to you is to wait and buy stuff as you need. I know it is very tempting to stock up on things, but you will soon find that either they don't work for you or you at that PP time would prefer something else :) I never had a changing table and would do the same again. A basket with some diapers, wipes (or a thermos with water for the first few days and a cup) and a foldable changing mat in the bedroom and living room and I was set. I liked that I could change her wherever I was. But some people swear by it so maybe just me :) Lots of muslin cloth is my only advice. They are a godsend! Now you also get ones in pretty diff colors so you can use one colour for one 'activity. You soon figure it out! Good luck!! :)

Don't buy too many bras before you give birth, I doubled in size when my milk came in. H&M sell nursing tanks with built in shelf which were handy for sleeping in but tbh its pretty easy to pull a loose shoestring top down or lift a singlet up, I always found most nursing clothes too fiddly. Bathtime, you def don't need to do it everyday (better for newborn skin if you don't tbh). We used a very basic bath from Mothercare, with sponge insert to help support the baby. Lay down a towel and everything you need for afterwards (nappies, wipes, creams, new clothes, new towel and second set of clothes for when they poo on the clean towel etc) before you put baby in the bath, keep room very warm and if baby doesn't like the water a warm wet facecloth on their chest seems to soothe them. wash their face and hair (just with water is fine, no need for shampoos etc before you put them in the bath, lie baby down on a blanket towel, take clothes off and then put your hand under their neck and shoulders, out the other side and grip their arm with your thumb and forefinger, once you master the one armed hold you have your other arm free to wash them) For changing nappies we used muslin cloths or cotton wool and water. A thermos with warm water by the change table means you don't have to run of to the bathroom eachtime. You can also run regular wipes under the tap to wash all the chemical off and use them with just water too. Don't freak out if your baby cries everytime thier nappy is changed, newborns hate being exposed, swaddling their arms during a change can help reassure them. A musical mobile above the change table might be useful too. Newborn poo is very explosive (nappies often leak out the sides) and they can make the most full on strainy red faces and then do a very soft healthy poo, don't be phased by this or think it it painful, they just have to work hard to find the right muscles to use. Buy about one million muslin burping cloths, if you end up with a spilly baby you will find them a godsend.

bfeeding bras from mothercare. overnight pads by kotex sufficed. i preferred johnsons bfeeding pads but i know others who would disagree. the worst for me were tommee tippee. one tip: DD is 8 months and unless her diaper is a huge mess we still only use water to clean inbetween changes. I figured out 2 months into it that i could just keep an used but clean handwash pump-bottle full of water next to her change mat. this way i stopped going into her bathroom to soak the cotton pads. super handy. good luck!

Ilovewine, just to say - somehow missed your news. *congratulations*!! :)

I bought my bras in mothercare and M&S and some other designer shop. I found bras from M&S the most comfy. Loved hospital gown as it opens when it should ;) Dont like my breastfeeding pj from mothercare, so I sleep in breastfeeding bra + loose top. I also use breastpads and after testing number of brands found pigeon the best. Maternity pads aka surf boards ;)- mothercare with aloe vera are good. Bathing - I used to bath my LOs about 40 minutes after feeds, undress them, off to bath (I used only water until DD was about 3-4 months), towel, nappy, babygro ;) I found bathing hungry baby stressful. Very exciting times ahead of you!