Due April 2011, anyone else??

Just wondering whether the April mums at JBR are still meeting (regularly?). My world since my baby was born has become a bit ... let's say limited :) Would love to exchange tips/experiences etc Travelling for a couple of weeks but would love to join once we are back.

Congratulations Cats! I was actually due end of May but I just delivered Madeline (we're stuck on her middle name :) ) on Thursday. She's in the NICU so far weighs 3lbs 12 ounces but doing fine thank God. Things I wished I'd had, or am using A LOT: -hand lotions (You reaaaalllly need this) -chapstick -toothbrush, toothpaste or gum/mint to get that awful taste out of your mouth -hairbrush -camera (Don't forget this! I made DH run down and get a disposable one when we forgot) -energy/cereal bars

Wow congrats Cats! Good size too :) You must be over the moon!! How did you find the American Hospital? We're also going there anytime now...37 weeks tomorrow and bub is measuring on the large side too...hoping he can hang on until my Mum arrives on the 20th! x

Congratulations, Cats!!!

Hi cats, have you had your baby yet? If not good luck for tomorrow!

Hi Cats - hope your Mum makes it tomorrow - i'm sure all will be fine. I'm in March Mums as due on Sat but booked in for tomorrow. I'm also living in Abu Dhabi and delivering at City Hospital in Dubai so know how you feel about it all being booked and organised rather than last minute dash along Shk Zayed Rd! Good Luck to all April Mums, Nic

Thanks so much DM, even better its coming in from already been there done that mommy. It'd really help many including me :D TB u are most welcome, i think that taking books along with you is a great idea, however in my case I doubt i'll be able to read anything as at new places my mind refuses to concentrate in one particular direction. Plus my whole family and inlaws will be around, so thats more of an interesting reality show lol!!!! Here's wishing all you girls a safe and lovely times ahead, and hope we can keep our page right at the top :) xx

DubaiMaman, brilliant - many, many thanks! That is massively helpful - I do realise and appreciate it must have taken some time to write the response as there are so many things to think about. The list of toiletries is particularly of great help so again, thanks :) Also the packing list is fabulous - I will make sure I leave my bag ready this week as I will probably not feel like doing it when the rush to go to the hospital comes ... tiktok, many thanks for bringing up the question as there are items on the list I did not think of: slippers (which I know from my last admission to the hospital that they do not provide) and CAMERA :cool: Speaking to a friend a few days ago, she did mention not to forget the baby car-seat but I guess I will leave that for hubby to fix in the car when he comes to pick us up. I am thinking I will probably also need some entertainment (besides TV) when DD is not with me and there are no visitors, so have decided to take my iPod and a couple of books - one of them which I picked up this week is 'New Babycare' by Dr Myriam Stoppard. I liked it as it had pictures of a few how-to's such as how to hold the baby, dress him, breastfeed him, etc. Another book which seemed to have lots of info and a friend has also recommended: 'What to expect in the first year' by Heidi Murkoff. This one has no pictures but masses of info for the many different possible scenarios, so might as hubby to pick up this week for me. Happy packing!

Aaah getting heavier by the minute! And these days all I want to do is prepare for the baby! Wishing I wasn't stuck at the office:( tiktok, for the hospital bag, nope not prepared yet! But even with DD1 I got that prepared the night before my due date :\: Honestly I don't know what to pack even though this is the second time around. For starters: - super comfy pj's. In my case, I made hubby go home to get me pjs as I hated lying around in a night gown - slippers - toiletries - hairdryer: didn't get one the first time but again made hubby go back for it as I had a c-section and needed to shower - helped that I looked good and well brushed when friends came to visit and when my mom took pics of me and baby - camera!!! - maternity briefs and bra - coming home clothes (very comfy pregnancy clothes as you are still wobbly and look about 7 months pregnant) - baby's coming home clothes - baby onesies/pjs/ etc - baby cotton hat - baby blankets: get two as babies spit up and you want a clean one when you go home And whatever gets you comfy. It really depends on how long you will be there for. Hospital will usually provide diapers for baby, etc. twin butterfly, all you really need depends on you. IMHO the minimum is: - onesies/underwears/pjs: make sure you have enough as you may be changing baby twice a day. It depends on how often you are able to do laundry. With my first I had about 15 onesies simply because I had no maid and couldn't do the laundry often enough - but about 8-10 of each will do. - little baby hats (2), blankets (2), gloves so they don't scratch themselves - tiny baby nail clippers are a must (babyshop has a clipper with a magnifying glass:p got it coz I remember having to squint really hard when cutting DD's nails!) - in terms of toileteries, your choice for the brands but choose something that is suitable for newborns (Mustela or the like as Johnson's is too rough on their skin). You will use very little of it so a bottle of shampoo/body wash is more than enough and 1 bottle of baby oil. - You will also need something like sudocrem in case of a rash (but if you clean tiny tush with water everytime then they shouldn't get any rashes). - Cotton (something that will not tear apart too easily and get stuck on the skin, to clean baby's tush). - soft towel for after the bath and small towels to dry their tush after nappy changes. - bottles if you are not planning on breastfeeding, or planning on doing both. If memory serves me right, they have 6 bottles of forumla a day (could be 7 or 8 the first while until they get on a routine). If you will give the bottle, then a microwave steriliser will make life easier than boiling and even easier than electric sterilisers. - muslins so you are not all soaked if baby spits up. I used to put muslins on the top part of the moses basket so I would change those instead of changing the whole sheet everytime it got dirty. That's all I can really think about! Good luck everyone!

Hope the last few weeks are coming along well with everyone. Was wondering if all have prepared and packed their maternity/hospital bags, coz I still haven't. Curious to know what everyone is taking along, as I have no clue what to take and what to leave at home, would be great if you can share, whats all in there :) xx

Hello everyone Im so happy to see so many lovely ladies are in the same "April" boat. This is my first baby and like many others Im excited, nervous, curious and confused all at the same time. Would love to meet up or part of an ongoing get togethers. I stay in Al-Qusais and happy to travel. Cheers. edited by tiktok on 10/02/2011 <em>edited by tiktok on 10/02/2011</em>

Anyone in Mirdif??

Breige and Ginabeana - you both have mail :)

Hi everyone, how about meeting this weds for morning coffee (or herbal tea ;-) at 10am at Marina mall ? There is a nice Italian place next to wait rose and can sit outside? I can also do evening coffee from next week for those working... Anyone up for meeting this weds pls email me and I will get a group mail together! Breigemacmanus at hotmail dot com Looking forward to meeting everyone, Breige.x

Hi everyone, happy new year. Just got back from the UK and managed to survive the snow and colds/flu that were going around. All going well & getting bigger by the day - the hubby is wondering how big I'll be by the time April comes! Would love to meet up with you as well, would be good to talk to some other mums to be. I live on the Palm & can travel so happy to meet anywhere. x

Hi mammas! I would love to meet up with you all too...this is my last month of work, so I'm only available after 6pm during the week till start of Feb when I'm off work for good...I can't wait!! If you guys can't meet up that late in the evening I will catch up with you when I'm officially a 'housewife' LOL!!! have a great week! my email is ginapistone at hotmail dot com

Hi ladies, Happy New Year - hope all the mummas and bubbas are doing well! All good here, getting kicked around alot more now but love it! Would love to meet up with any of you as well! Welcome Sally - I too am a Sydney girl (hence the username!) and have been in Dubai almost 3 years. I live in Rimal JBR, just above PAUL. Here's my email if anyone wants to get in touch! caterina underscore strano at yahoo dot com dot au x

Hi everyone - My name is Sally am a Sydney, Australia gal and am due the first week of April (though hoping for just a week or so early at this rate!!! :-)) Would really love to meet up with some other 'mums to be' around my due date. Breige - Glad to hear you managed to get back from Ireland and England with all that snow many seemed to have much extended stays or horrible airport delays! I live in JBR, so let me know if anyone would like to connect. It seems most people have known each other for a little while by the comments below, but hopefully you won't mind a newby to the scene. hope you are all doing brilliantly and looking forward to a great and very special 2011 ahead. Sal x

hi Girls - Just got back form our Christmas in Ireland and England! I was wondering if anyone was keen to meet up for a coffee some morning soon? Be very nice to meet everyone in person. I live around Jumeirah/Umm Suqiem area but happy to travel? Let me know and hope everyone is well!