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Keleho 
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Joined: 27 February 2010
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 Topic: Tips for the first few weeks with #2
Posted: 27 November 2011 at 10:31am |
Im 33 weeks pregnant and have everything sorted but wondering what sort of things I should have organised/do for DD to make life a bit easier for those first few weeks.
Things like present to and from baby for when they first meet, a box of toys/snacks that she can have when Im feeding - those sorts of things, and anything else that you did/wish you did
Thanks 
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MrsEmma
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Joined: 19 March 2009
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Posted: 27 November 2011 at 10:39am |
I wish I'd cooked more meals for the freezer, I was very fortunate that a group of friends brought dinners around every day for the first week which was amazing, not only because we didn't have to cook but we had no dishes to wash and no kitchen to clean.
I also probably should have arranged for DS to go out with Nana a bit more in the first few weeks when DH had gone back to work. He loves spending time with her but I was too worried he'd think I was abandoning him. It ended up that I was so stressed trying to cope on my own. I got through it fine but if I was to do it again I'd probably give that more thought.
That's about it really
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Emmecat
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Posted: 27 November 2011 at 7:03pm |
Meals and support, support, support. Have low expectations of what you can achieve other than caring for your children (ie let go of any ideas about cleaning house/washing dishes/ cooking etc). It depends obviously how well things go with the birth and how you feel after but prepare for the worst and expect the best 
good luck
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Kellz
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Posted: 27 November 2011 at 7:29pm |
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Stock the pantry/fridge/freezer as much as you can so u dont ahve to hit the supermarkjet with 2 kids in tow too early on!
Start making DD a packed lunch the night before- of better still get DH to do it, so that u dont have to worry about preparing snacks/lunch foir her during the day.
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squoggs
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Posted: 28 November 2011 at 6:19pm |
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Alcohol?!!!
Dunno, we are struggling with it :-( DD was an easy baby (and we just thought we were awesome parents...yeah right!) and DS is hard work, quite bad reflux baby.
I agree with the organisation regarding meals & family taking older child out. Neither of which we did, hindsight is a wonderful thing! DD likes to sit on my lap while I'm feeding, or i put on the electronic babysitter, or take her for a walk right after the feed so she gets some mum time too
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ScaredyKat
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Joined: 29 November 2011
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Posted: 29 November 2011 at 2:14pm |
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Wow Squoggs, just wanted to say hats off to you with such a small age gap!
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MrsEmma
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Posted: 29 November 2011 at 2:23pm |
Bahaha Squoggs, I had to lol at the alcohol.. I joked about that a few times myself 
I also agree with Emmecat re your expectations, there were some days I'd get a couple of loads of washing and and some housework done and I'd be on top of the world, and then some days just making dinner was too much of an effort.
And take people's help when they offer, DH had to go away for work for a week when DD was 1.5 months and DS was 16 months. So many people offered help and I said no because I didn't want to look like I couldn't do it on my own. We survived, but it would have been a lot easier if I'd said 'yes please, I'd love you to pop over at bath time/witching hour to give me a hand'!!
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squoggs
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Posted: 29 November 2011 at 4:57pm |
Yes, def say yes to offers of help! I am the same, refused them the first time around, and not getting as many this time as people seem to think I have it sorted  But I would totally take peoples offers up if they did!
ALso, if you feeling lazy, eat.co.nz do good priced meals you can chuck in the freezer. I bath the newbie in the morning, and the older one in the evening etc. To be honest, the baby is the easy bit, its the toddler thats harder, but they can be suprisingly helpful doing things like handing you nappies & wipes, its just about keeping them busy & giving them some responsibility. Also i found putting DD onto a fairly strict routine (previously go-with-the -flow) helped a lot, and can get them sleeping at the same time during the day now.
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JessDub
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Posted: 29 November 2011 at 6:34pm |
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Some good ideas.
One thing I wish DH and I had preplanned was that when #1 came into see me at the hospital, I wasn't holding #2. I'll never forget the look on #1's face when he saw me holding the new baby. He was heartbroken. It was awful.
Good luck, I found a newborn infinitely more easier to manage than the toddler! Just know, that most things will pass.
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Pinkygirl
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Posted: 30 November 2011 at 9:12am |
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My DS went over to Nana for the first few weeks. Mum then went to Londonfor 5 weeks whenDD was 4 weeks old so he went on the odd day over to his other Nana's but most of the time she just had to come to things like his swimming lessons and sleep in the capsule etc. I think for me was letting DS be involved in helping me with the baby. I found bubble mixtures kept him occupied, walking to the park etc and spending time with him when she was asleep helped.
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Tips for the first few weeks with #2
