Babies don't have to be expensive. If you have it spend it! Buy all the new fangled gadgets and the pram all the bloggers are using Im not telling you not to. But if your worried your going to go for broke having a baby you couldn't be more wrong.
I spent half of what most spend on a pram on the entirety of my baby things, from pram to nursery. And how did I do it you ask???? Done Deal, Adverts and bargain hunting.
After having a baby before I knew exactly what I wanted and really needed for my second baby. I had nothing left from when Corey was a baby as I was convinced we were having no more kids for years. Everything was gotten rid of when we moved house when Corey was 4.
I knew we didn't need a big, fancy, confusing, doesn't fit the boot pram so we got a light little Mamas and Papas suitable from birth buggy brand new from Argos on sale for just 80 euro! I personally feel the big prams are such a waste of money they only fit in them for a few months and once baby wants to sit up that's it gone. They are so clumpy and take up so much space even when folded down, and after I had Corey I always said I should have just gotten a maclaren as I had to buy a buggy anyway after a year and a half.
We got a glider crib for our room for 25 euro brand new your looking at paying over 100 euro.
We did up the nursery and got the cot second hand but like new for 30 euro. We got a new mattress for it in Ikea for 50 euro too. We got a nice rug for 12 euro in Ikea. My mam made the bedding from a single bed set in the colours I wanted when I couldn't find ones I liked that didn't cost over 60 euro.
We got a baby swing which costs 65 euro in Smyths for 15 euro on Adverts.ie not a mark on it and a tiny love bassinet/ rocker which retail over 120 euro for 50 euro on Done Deal and its like new!
I got a Kinyo breast pump brand new for 25 euro on ebay it is the absolute double of the Medela which is about 150-200 euros. I also got a gorgeous diaper bag on ebay for 15 euro.
We got a tommy tippy steraliser for 10 euro on Adverts.ie and a pack of 6 Nuby natural touch bottles in Boots on sale as 15 euro.
So if you want to save money get onto Dondeal and Adverts and shop around. Second hand doesnt mean grubby and used as most people keep there baby stuff pristine and like new!
We had two very different birth experiences.
Corey arrived 3 days before his due date. I had no signs of labor that I knew of, but I had no idea what to look out for as I wasnt told. My waters broke 10 minutes after returning home from our first and only antenatal class at 3pm. We went straight into the labor ward in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Drogheda. I was checked over and moved to the ward to wait for labor to properly kick in. We were lucky we were put into a semi private room that was completely empty.
We sat about in the bed and did nothing for a few hours ( I had no idea walking and moving would help move labor along). I had to request to be checked after about 5 hours to be told that first labors are slow moving and I would probably still be there waiting in the morning. They did the check and I was alot farther along than they expected and after that labor started moving swiftly along.
I started feeling pains at about 9pm so we went walking and even tried to get into a bath (as soon as I was submerged I had a contraction and it made it ten times worse so I got out). At about 10 I requested gas and air, by that point I had bitten poor Nialls shoulder during a particularly bad contraction so we felt it was necessary. We were moved to the pre-lobor ward where I was put on a birthing ball and given the gas and air (of which i took far too much).
By 10:30 I decided enough was enough and I wanted the epidural so we were moved to the labor room with my trusty gas and air at my side to be preped for the epidural. 20 minutes later still no anesthesiologist (it was a busy night for epidurals). I was checked again and we were told I was too far along for the epidural so it was just gas and air for me.
I pushed, I screamed, I screamed and I pushed. I more than likely cursed Niall's name and nearly broke his hand. Most of it was a blur (the result of 2 and a half canisters of gas and air) and I dont fully remember it all.
Corey was born a big 8 pounds 7 ounces of adorable baby at 11:45.
I tore and needed 8 stitches given to me by a Dr I was convinced was singing Kanye West (gas and air again).
Within an hour I was made get up and hobble leaning on my boyfriend for support covered in blood and who knows what else down the corridor to a shower room where poor Niall had to wash me down and dress me, and then request a wheelchair when I nearly collapsed in the shower.
The next morning we were moved to the maternity ward full of new mams and there babies that I hid behind my curtain from. I stayed there for 4 days as I was breastfeeding and didnt feel fully confident and with Corey being jaundiced I was worried he wouldnt get enough milk to clear it.
Then after 4 days we were released into the real world.
So I decided to create this blog to give me something to do between feeds and nappy changes, to keep my brain ticking over and prevent insanity from boredom!
I also thought it would be great to have a different perspective on motherhood from someone who has done it once as a very young mother (at the tender age of 21) and is also a new mother (it feels like starting from scratch having my second baby at 28).
So I have a newborn (6 weeks tomorrow) and a 8 year old and let me tell you its a whole different ball game this time around!!
I may not be the best writer in all the land but I want to write something relate-able to all mammy's out there nothing pretentious (seen as I needed spell check to spell that one for me).
I hope you enjoy this blog!
