Dumb Questions

slwprincess

Beachbumm2214 said:

I'm starting to second guess our mattress. Originally wanted an organic one (because chemicals), but we ended up getting one free with our crib. It's waterproof and feels very plasticy (just made that word up). I feel like it'll be uncomfortable for LO and make him sweaty. Should I buy some sort of cotton mattress pad or lay down a towel under the sheet or is that a no-no? I'm not worried about there being more laundry if/when a mess leaks through the sheets.

Also how many sheets should I get? I only ended up with 2 @ my shower and want to buy like 5 more. Is that reasonable?

Your mattress is fine. Don't over think it. Do get a mattress pad. But even better- get a couple Ultimate Crib Sheets. They snap on over your cute crib sheet and are WAY easier for midnight changes! We have a waterproof pad- then a cute regular sheet- then an UCS. As long as they are all snug- no worries.

slwprincess

Beachbumm2214 said:

One more! Do I really need to sterilize nipples/bottles etc? I keep getting different answers IRL

Yes- but don't go to a lot of trouble. Either run them thru the steam setting in dishwasher or throw them in a pot of boiling water for a couple min.

ziggy903

@desireek I've had a lot of friends tell me that baby socks are really better as scratch mittens. I'd get a couple extra, but not a million.

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Nikkijo1022

What an amazing thread. I could probably ask questions all day! Thanks ladies!! Here is one. So I want to breastfeed....and even after a class still have questions! Do you feed LO and then pump? I want a frozen supply and would like DH to feed as well. So how do I know when to feed from boob and when to pump? (Assuming LO latches and everything is all good with that) the class said every 2-3 hours to feed so would I pump when LO is done eating? Or pump one side and feed on other?

magentawarped

Nikkijo1022 said:

What an amazing thread. I could probably ask questions all day! Thanks ladies!! Here is one. So I want to breastfeed....and even after a class still have questions! Do you feed LO and then pump? I want a frozen supply and would like DH to feed as well. So how do I know when to feed from boob and when to pump? (Assuming LO latches and everything is all good with that) the class said every 2-3 hours to feed so would I pump when LO is done eating? Or pump one side and feed on other?

You can really do either, but I think it'd be obnoxious to pump while feeding. I would feed first, then pump. You can still pump both sides if you have a double pump.

Rbfdac1

Nikkijo1022 said:

What an amazing thread. I could probably ask questions all day! Thanks ladies!! Here is one. So I want to breastfeed....and even after a class still have questions! Do you feed LO and then pump? I want a frozen supply and would like DH to feed as well. So how do I know when to feed from boob and when to pump? (Assuming LO latches and everything is all good with that) the class said every 2-3 hours to feed so would I pump when LO is done eating? Or pump one side and feed on other?

Ftm here, my LO will be a week old tomorrow and I also chose to breastfeed. Here is my method- I feed him on one breast, attempt to offer the other breast when he is done (he never wants it) and then start with the neglected breast the next time. Once or twice a day I feed him on one breast and then pump the other when he is done-- I will eventually try to feed and pump at the same time. During one night feeding my DH feeds him pumped milk from a bottle while I pump both breasts. I freeze one bottle and save the other for the next night feeding. It's working pretty well- my freezer supply is stacking up!

Hope that helps a little, but honestly, once your LO is here you will figure out your own method. I thought I would be so lost as I knew nothing about breast feeding but is has come so naturally.

kklimas

Thanks Feb 14! Love all the questions & answers. So needed these little things brought up.

slwprincess

Nikkijo1022 said:

What an amazing thread. I could probably ask questions all day! Thanks ladies!! Here is one. So I want to breastfeed....and even after a class still have questions! Do you feed LO and then pump? I want a frozen supply and would like DH to feed as well. So how do I know when to feed from boob and when to pump? (Assuming LO latches and everything is all good with that) the class said every 2-3 hours to feed so would I pump when LO is done eating? Or pump one side and feed on other?

Definitely don't start pumping for a freezer stash right away- wait a few weeks until supply is established- you don't want an oversupply!

goobermom

This thread is great! I have learned so much from you ladies.  Thank you!

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Nikkijo1022

AmyG* said:

You can ask bfing questions on bfing FAQ post or read up on bfing sticky on other boards. Your questions have probably already been asked and answered.

I saw that. I would/ will ask there when needed. I read through 5 pages of (not so) dumb questions and found everyone useful to me! In fact those were a lot of the questions I had! Thought mine might help someone else who reads through everything and is wondering about pumping and I also know my F14 ladies (many STM) many already had their little one may have some great advice. I read your reply on waiting for 3 weeks but that may not work for me so I do appreciate other people's advice and experience to. Thanks tho.

courtls22

Beachbumm2214 said:

When storing breast milk in the fridge and putting it in a diaper bag for outings does it need to stay cold? I know it can't get over heated since I'd assume it'd spoil. .. is there something to put the bottle in in the diaper bag to keep it cold? All I can think of is lunch box ice packs. I sure am loving this thread lol

FTM but I work at a daycare.  A lot of our moms bring bottles or bags of milk in a lunch box that has ice packs in it.  The milk will last much longer on ice than without.

slwprincess

Beachbumm2214 said:

When storing breast milk in the fridge and putting it in a diaper bag for outings does it need to stay cold? I know it can't get over heated since I'd assume it'd spoil. .. is there something to put the bottle in in the diaper bag to keep it cold? All I can think of is lunch box ice packs.

I sure am loving this thread lol

Yep, the guides above are good for tracking how long milk can be stored. My LC gave me one at the hospital too. As for transport, we had an insulated cooler bag and would just add a gel ice pack as needed depending on where we were headed. I like my Avent gel packs best but the lunch box ones are good too. I also used to freeze those gogurt tubes for DS and stick those in as my ice pack- then he'd have a snack later too ;-)

kklimas

I think I'm being dumb. What would you do? I have heard that you should "open" the baby mattress like a month in advance so it doesn't smell. We bought a soy bean one with a high coil count (about$179, not cheap). I have yet to take it out of the plastic because of some fear that it's like I'll be counting my chickens before their hatched. We've had a couple not- great pregnancies where I actually returned items so I didn't have to look at them. So now, even though all tests are negative and she is healthy, I can't help but not put the sheets on the mattress! Mind you she does have a cradle so won't go directly in the crib anyway. I think I just need someone to say, "Yes, air it out. It's better for the baby." But... If it's not a big deal, then I won't give myself a hard time anymore. Sorry this is long!

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slwprincess

WildFlower26 said:

I have a dumb question...do any of you have crib sheets seem too small?  I have had a hell of a time getting the sheets/bedding I want, and now that I have them, the sheets are too small.  I can get them on, but they make the mattress curl up on the edges in a way that I just do not feel is safe. I have other sheets (that I am less than happy with on an aesthetic level, but that are perfectly functional) that will work just fine.  Is there something I can do to stretch them out?  Why are my standard crib sheets not fitting my standard crib?

Yes, I have bought some crib sheets in the past that were too small for our standard crib mattress even though they said "standard crib sheet". Target's Circo Brand comes to mind. This is one reason why I only have 1 "cute" sheet and all the rest are Ultimate Crib Sheets. Also b/c I'm lazy and I like that I can just snap these bad boys off and go back to bed in the event of a nighttime puke fest.

slwprincess

kklimas said:

I think I'm being dumb. What would you do? I have heard that you should "open" the baby mattress like a month in advance so it doesn't smell. We bought a soy bean one with a high coil count (about$179, not cheap). I have yet to take it out of the plastic because of some fear that it's like I'll be counting my chickens before their hatched. We've had a couple not- great pregnancies where I actually returned items so I didn't have to look at them. So now, even though all tests are negative and she is healthy, I can't help but not put the sheets on the mattress! Mind you she does have a cradle so won't go directly in the crib anyway. I think I just need someone to say, "Yes, air it out. It's better for the baby." But... If it's not a big deal, then I won't give myself a hard time anymore. Sorry this is long!

If you won't be using it right away and it makes you feel better... leave it alone until she's here.

slwprincess

car seat said:

adinashoshana said:

For those who really don't handle nausea well/have experienced labor accompanied by nausea, what did you do to combat it? Did they offer/did you ask for any meds like Zofran to help combat it? If so, did it help? 

I only ask because...

 a. In my two L&D stays, I had mag and was given Zofran to help combat that nausea (which really helped me) and I'm curious to know if something like it would be helpful during labor

b. I am one of those women who has a fairly high pain tolerance but next to ZERO tolerance for nausea. 

I had zofran during my c-section, and gravol after I was brought to my room. The zofran kept me from getting really sick while on the table but didn't last through my time in recovery (with disastrous results), but gravol did the trick when I was able to have it. It's just not the right medication when you need to be alert.

Good luck! I hope they can keep it under control for you! 

If you take zofran at all, better go ahead and ask for the colace too. Zofran poops are from the devil.

ziggy903

megash113 said:

car seat said:

slwprincess said:

If you take zofran at all, better go ahead and ask for the colace too. Zofran poops are from the devil.

Wouldn't the hospital be on top of that for you? I got some serious pain meds after my surgery, and softeners were automatically prescribed and delivered.

I can't speak for those who had Zofran during labor, but when I've had it administered when in the hospital for fluids, they didn't give me any softeners. 

I can't say anything as far as zofran goes, but softeners are one of the normal post-C drugs. They give them to everyone.
(I was given softeners but never had zofran. And there's a sign by the milk deposit in the nicu that names the "normal" drugs you'll have after a C (so you can label your milk) and the softener is on it. )

iwubrory

On the breastmilk storage for outings front, I loved taking advantage of the fact that freshly pumped breastmilk stays good for several hours at room temperature. I preferred to bf while out and about but wanted DS to get regular practice with a bottle so I pumped many times before an outing. Then I just bottled it up and didn't put it on ice because I knew I'd use it well within the alloted time.

@BlueDot818 I'm just curious about the rest if the story on your A+A swaddles. I know you were going to try and exchange them at BBB, what made you contact A+A instead? How understanding was A+A? Just curious incase I run into sny problems.

kklimas

Thanks @bookshelves @psk @slwprincess

I think I'll leave as is and just hide with a sheet. My DH keeps asking me to get it ready, but I don't want to let him into my neurosis. It will make him also irrationally worry. :-\"

slwprincess

My hospital does NOT give stool softeners automatically. In fact, they even failed to bring them after I requested them last time and one nurse even told me they were worthless! I offered to shove a zofran in her mouth and let her decide? Anyway, I will take my own this time ;-).

mlynn333

OK, my dumb question of the day... How do you determine when a contraction actually ends? I'm trying to time but the pain just gradually fades away. Do I count the end as when the pain is completely gone or when the pain is just bearable again? Or doesn't it really matter a whole lot so long as I measure distance between start times?

(PS, I promise this isn't determining whether or not I should go to the hospital. Just my first real.contractions and trying to figure it all out!)

MormonMrs1218

I've been ordered Zofran for my c/s, and my mom (post-op RN) suggested glycerin suppositories afterwards, but I'm afraid I will be slow and pained and make a terrific mess. Has anyone used them before, after c/s or L&D? I would take Colace, but it makes me violently ill, so I'd like to avoid it if I can.

Flyingtoast

Per my MW, contractions are timed from start to start( or peak to peak). Which means it does not matter when you feel it ends, just when it starts.

Firefly9

AmyG* said:

AmyG* said:

What an amazing thread. I could probably ask questions all day! Thanks ladies!! Here is one. So I want to breastfeed....and even after a class still have questions! Do you feed LO and then pump? I want a frozen supply and would like DH to feed as well. So how do I know when to feed from boob and when to pump? (Assuming LO latches and everything is all good with that) the class said every 2-3 hours to feed so would I pump when LO is done eating? Or pump one side and feed on other?

Definitely don't start pumping for a freezer stash right away- wait a few weeks until supply is established- you don't want an oversupply!

Yes definitely don't want to pump right away or you'll signal your body to make too much milk and then baby will struggle to control the flow and keep from drowning. Oversupply sounds like a good thing but comes with green poppies and digestive upset for baby.

I love how your advice is consistently different than my hospital's breastfeeding clinic, filled with trained LCs who spend their careers helping women breastfeed their children. FYI, my hospital has one of the top women and babies programs in the country.10 days PP my near term twins are almost back to birth weight after a very difficult start. Every single time you post I'm incredibly grateful that I had real experts to talk to. I can't imagine how fucked my sons would be if I listened to your advice.

The advice from an LC for moms of premie twins would be different than advice for full term singletons. read at kellymom, la leche league, dr newman website and talk to moms struggling with oversupply and babies refusing to latch in the bfing board or in other bfing month stickies. I know of no advice from reputable place that says moms should regularly pump after feeds in the first few weeks postpartum without risking oversupply. If my advice sucks then remove my Post from the FAQ and suggest other mods do so on their boards as well. I admit I do not know it all but I also know that advice from an LC for a premie twin mom does not equate to best practices for pumping advice for all moms. Returning to work at 6 weeks moves the pace of pumping up a bit but it is still best to establish milk suply thru frequent nursing and trying to pump a stash thru 1 or 3 week growth spurt drives a lot of moms nuts. Ymmv

So, question.  Are you an LC? What makes you an expert on breastfeeding?  I haven't been keeping up with your posts because I know that I have a great group of LCs at the hospital I delivered at, and could ask them advice face-to-face rather than getting advice from an internet stranger.

iwubrory

buffaluffagus said:

I am not a licensed LC so you can take my advice or leave it. Like if you ask on the bfing board you get other moms advice. Feb 14 seems to have a big issue with the fact that I'm not an ibclc so like I said if feb 14 doesn't want my bfing post in the FAQ please delete it so as not to mislead anyone.

I just don't understand why you magically appear on every single post that enough has a hint of discussion about breastfeeding. I know a ton about healthcare reform and health insurance policies but I'm not actively searching to give advice, especially since I'm not a licensed broker. KWIM? Andplusalso, I'm actually due in February. So the weird stranger-danger vibe isn't quite as strong.

Yes! I'm always like "How the heck did she know someone started talking about breastfeeding in this random post that seemingly has nothing to do with breastfeeding???" Especially when considering she is apparently active on tons of other boards too. Is she just stalking all of our threads all day long?

kklimas

@golfergirl08 All good questions. Waiting for answers as I have none. 8-> GL!

notreal2

golfergirl08 said:

Also, related question for you ladies doing routine 24 hour catches. What do you do when you are busy during those 24 hrs and don't expect to be able to have your jug with you? Luckily this hasn't happened to me, but do you just go ahead and skip adding one?

No, if you skip one, it invalidates the test (I know, how will they know, right? I swear they are like pee genies or something, because THEY DO KNOW, creepy.)  My dad has to do them for the same kidney disease, and never knows if he is going to be underground (he works for a coal company) so he carries small, clean jars with him when that happens and dumps them as soon as possible.  Obviously, we aren't doctors, but this was the best advice his doctor could give him for the situation.  I just time mine for a weekend when I can be home all day.

 

 If you have somehow contaminated your sample, they will let you know, they have called me in the past, and they probably won't comment on your state of dehydration unless it is causing a medical issue.  The worst that will happen is you have to repeat it.

 

That's my "anecdote=data" take on things.

slwprincess

BlueDot818 said:

Adding another question.... So I know we discussed how to dress baby at night already... But hast night was cold here... Very cold... I was loving it... As I sleep better when it's just a little chilly... (House temp set at 66-67 but ceiling fan on) is this ok for LO? I plan to dress him in a sleep n play and swaddle (if he is into swaddling), then once he reaches 10lbs I have a sleep sack for him...

I think it will be ok- maybe layer it with some footy pj's instead of just a onesie.  If you find that his little cheeks are cool to the touch, you may want to upgrade to a fleece sleep sack/swaddle.  Personally, I hate the fleece ones b/c they get so staticky and honestly, I just hate sleeping in fleece so I wouldn't put my baby in it.  Our house temp is usually at about 70-72 but I also like the ceiling fan on at night (DH turns it off when he comes to bed- I turn it on when I pee- it's a battle).  Anyway, you'll know pretty quickly I think if baby is too cold/hot.  Like I mentioned before, I typically dress them in the same degree of clothing that I am comfortable in... you may want to add 1 extra layer just to be safe.  

Firefly9

AmyG* said:

I am by definition a breastfeeding peer counselor. I do not call myself an expert in breastfeeding.

So, you are a self-proclaimed counselor? Or do you do this professionally? I'm not saying the advice you give is necessarily wrong, I'm sure you are answering general questions just fine, but you are also doling out advice to situations that are unique to the mom or the baby and don't have one answer, questions that the mom should be seeing an LC for so they can check latch, check weight before and after a feeding to see what baby is getting, etc. (specifically, in this thread, the question about pumping. Sure, there's a general recommendation, but it that advice/routine for starting pumping isn't necessarily the right thing for all moms/babies, even among similar situations). People are taking your advice thinking you are an expert.  However, it's entirely possible you could just be creepy basement man regurgitating answers you've found on Kelly Moms or wherever making it seem like you are an expert.

ziggy903

@golfergirl08 I did want to know! Please PM me every day with the color of your urine. ((just kidding, please don't!))

dadalou

@bluedot818 you will most likely only have one hand available while you are breast feeding so keep that in mind with snacks and things to do. I always needed to drink lots of water, like a whole liter, each time. I was just so thirsty. For nighttime feedings I tried to listen to a book so I could close my eyes. I didn't want to wake up too much so that I could go back to sleep when LO was done and back in bed. DD was a really slow eater. Sometimes she would nurse for an hour or more at once. It was usually about 45 minutes.

Nikkijo1022

Ok posting this here bc I suppose it is a dumb question! FTM here so NO clue! so STM im all ears. I'm 38 weeks... Anyway... The last week things have been significantly more painful (aka lightning bolt crotch! or baby playing drums on cervix) Today was the first time I noticed an actual tightening of my uterus (I'm assuming these are Braxton hicks?!) they've happened about once an hour throughout the day and lasted anywhere from a min to just a little less. Pretty painless aside from discomfort. So question for moms who know what Braxton hicks are (bc I don't know what they feel like!) do they happen in regular intervals? Or are they just random? If they do end up following a pattern should I be concerned or is this all just my bodies was of prepping for real labor? Do they mean nothing or could this be the start of things. I know the drill.. You guys aren't doctors and I will call mine if "I'm in so much pain I can't talk" per her office thanks for letting me ask a dumb question!

Eta typos ...on I phone.... I'm sure there are still lots

kklimas

@Nikkijo1020
I'm also a FTM, but I've had BH's for awhile now and they are as you described them. Belly just clamps down randomly. No other notable symptoms. Just make sure you are well hydrated. Being dehydrated can cause BH's. you can mention it to your dr, but nothing you need to be overly concerned with IMO.

Scottnsaranhenri

Here's a random question that popped into my head today. I'm 38w&5d. Every night i'm getting back aches, cramping etc. So I feel like its getting close and I'm doing the normal things to hopefully tip my body over the edge. (& by normal I mean walking, sex & spicy food). So someone, who I'm ignoring, told me to make friends with my breast pump. Its my understanding that, yes, nipple stimulation can cause contractions, but they can be very strong and cause fetal distress. However, what do mom's who are nursing through pregnancy do? Has anyone ever been told to stop nursing because 'nipple stimulation' might cause contractions? Its just one of those weird random questions that I wonder about.

djtippietoes

MormonMrs1218 said:

I've been ordered Zofran for my c/s, and my mom (post-op RN) suggested glycerin suppositories afterwards, but I'm afraid I will be slow and pained and make a terrific mess. Has anyone used them before, after c/s or L&D? I would take Colace, but it makes me violently ill, so I'd like to avoid it if I can.

I ended up asking for a suppository 3 days after my c section. It helped tremendously and wasn't messy. I just felt like I could finally go.

PinkLillyLover

BlueDot818 said:

This question is for any STMs or even F14 moms with their LO at home... I plan to BF, and I know it's normal for baby to lose some weigh in the first days... How do you weigh you baby to make sure he is getting enough milk? This seems dumb to ask bc to weigh a baby I would assume to use a scale... But I don't have a scale, or a specific baby one... Should I?

I think you're suppose to keep track of how many wet/dirty diapers they have.  That is a big indicator if baby is getting enough to eat.