Can we start another 'clueless FTM' question thread?

cdnmomma

WisconsinCheese12 said:

Did the feel of your belly change when you got closer to your edd?
For some reason I just pictured it staying the same but getting larger and larger since lo is growing in there

My shape of mine has changed shape drastically and it is actually squishy and soft low.... I can push it/squish it
It's like there is nothing in there. Weird!!!

I noticed my belly looked a bit different today. And my outie, which was an innie before, is now more of an innie again...

kaking78

Minnow1984 said:

I know you typically aren't allowed to eat during labor? What about drinking water? Or eating more "liquidy" type foods, like jello or something?

My doctor said that at my hospital it's up to the anesthesiologist on duty.  Ice is always ok and sometimes water, though I have no idea how they would know if I added some tap water from the bathroom to my ice cup....

ewallace00

Re: food. My hospital says eat light while laboring at home until you are having contractions 5 mins apart consecutively for 1 hour. Then no solid food and only "see-through" liquids until after birth. "See through" liquids includes water popsicles suckers apple juice. No milk.

iheartbooks

Thanks everyone- I guess I need to ask my OB at my next appt to see what my hospital's specific policy is... I just can't imagine how hard it must be to be laboring for hours and starving/thirsty!

twinlove314

A few of the swaddle me type swaddles that I've gotten have an opening in the back (around the booty area). Does anyone know its intended purpose? 

Grenagh

mselliott08 said:

A few of the swaddle me type swaddles that I've gotten have an opening in the back (around the booty area). Does anyone know its intended purpose? 

I think it's so you can strap your baby into the car seat without having to undress them.

lb1117

Minnow1984 said:

Thanks everyone- I guess I need to ask my OB at my next appt to see what my hospital's specific policy is... I just can't imagine how hard it must be to be laboring for hours and starving/thirsty!

I was allowed ice, water, Popsicles, Apple juice and ginger ale. Ice and ginger ale were my faves.

twinlove314

Grenagh said:

A few of the swaddle me type swaddles that I've gotten have an opening in the back (around the booty area). Does anyone know its intended purpose? 

I think it's so you can strap your baby into the car seat without having to undress them.

yep! Silly me  ">

pepperedmoth

My hospital encourages any kind of eating you want, so it really does vary.

My question: are folks packing a separate diaper bag for baby along with your hospital bag? I was just going to use the hospital disposables until we got him home, just pack his going-home outfit in my bag. Does that sound right?

SomersIsles

mselliott08 said:

Grenagh said:

A few of the swaddle me type swaddles that I've gotten have an opening in the back (around the booty area). Does anyone know its intended purpose? 

I think it's so you can strap your baby into the car seat without having to undress them.

yep! Silly me  ">

Wait.... are you talking about the little slit in the back of the swaddle??  I can't imagine it's so you can strap them in... otherwise, they'd still be swaddled, right? 

I assumed the opening was so you could peek in and see if the baby has a dirty diaper.....?  No?

SomersIsles

pepperedmoth said:

My hospital encourages any kind of eating you want, so it really does vary. My question: are folks packing a separate diaper bag for baby along with your hospital bag? I was just going to use the hospital disposables until we got him home, just pack his going-home outfit in my bag. Does that sound right?

I have a duffle bag and everything is going inside there, no separate bag for the LO.  The only thing I'm bringing for the actual baby is some paci's because the hospital doesn't supply them, the going home outfit, and maybe some scratch mitts.  I might throw in one of the receiving blankets to pick up his scent so we can deliver it to my dog.... but I don't know if that strategy even makes a difference. 

jennbaylor12

SomersIsles said:

pepperedmoth said:

My hospital encourages any kind of eating you want, so it really does vary.

My question: are folks packing a separate diaper bag for baby along with your hospital bag? I was just going to use the hospital disposables until we got him home, just pack his going-home outfit in my bag. Does that sound right?

I have a duffle bag and everything is going inside there, no separate bag for the LO.  The only thing I'm bringing for the actual baby is some paci's because the hospital doesn't supply them, the going home outfit, and maybe some scratch mitts.  I might throw in one of the receiving blankets to pick up his scent so we can deliver it to my dog.... but I don't know if that strategy even makes a difference. 


This. I don't think we'll take a separate bag for LO, just throw what he'll need in with our stuff

pepperedmoth

Thanks, all. I dunno what exactly the hospital does and doesn't provide. I need to go on a tour and ask all these questions, but the earliest I can do it is weekend after next....pushing 38 weeks at that point....eek!!

Sanibel21

CHalePhoto said:

pepperedmoth said:

My hospital encourages any kind of eating you want, so it really does vary.

My question: are folks packing a separate diaper bag for baby along with your hospital bag? I was just going to use the hospital disposables until we got him home, just pack his going-home outfit in my bag. Does that sound right?

Clueless FTM here, but I packed things separately. No real reason other than I got excited to pack my cute diaper bag for the first time. It's probably easier to pack one bag though. My mw told me the hospital would provide everything I needed for baby, unless I wanted to bring a special outfit or anything for hospital photos.

Ditto this. FTM and I got excited to pack the diaper bag I may still condense as the time gets closer.

jh&kh

bennieangel said:

Is anyone not having noticeable Braxton hicks / practice contractions? I haven't really notice any (37 weeks) ...is it possible they aren't happening or that they are & I've just not noticed?

I never had (or noticed) BH contractions with DD. I'm definitely having them this pregnancy though.

SomersIsles

Everyone says to leave nice clothes behind because when you're at the hospital it's very likely they'll get ruined.

This makes sense when in active labor ... But are there other times?

I have a cheap black robe from walmart that turns out is SUPER comfy and warm. I don't want it to get ruined but I wanted to bring it incase I need to walk around etc

So... Aside from when I'm actually pushing, are there other times my stuff will get ruined like they say they will?

SomersIsles

Laura8388 said:

SomersIsles said:

Everyone says to leave nice clothes behind because when you're at the hospital it's very likely they'll get ruined.

This makes sense when in active labor ... But are there other times?

I have a cheap black robe from walmart that turns out is SUPER comfy and warm. I don't want it to get ruined but I wanted to bring it incase I need to walk around etc

So... Aside from when I'm actually pushing, are there other times my stuff will get ruined like they say they will?

Shouldn't! I took my nice good robe and wore it often in the few days that I had to stay.
I think the only stuff which could get ruined is what you wear while in active labour

A friend of mine was checked in for her labor but they made her walk the halls a lot to get things going. If that happens to me I figured the robe would be perfect. For the most part I figured it wouldn't get ruined then either... Right?

Sometimes they make it seem like it's going to be a 3 day bloody horror show! lol

SomersIsles

FarmBoysWife said:

@somerslsles

You should be fine. The really messy parts are if you loose your mp, and when you're pushing/delivering the baby.

Dh's pants almost got ruined by the blood when DS came out. And he was sitting behind me supporting me on the stool.

Note to self... Don't tell DH this could happen to him.... lol

AKPuffin

SomersIsles said:

mselliott08 said:

Grenagh said:

A few of the swaddle me type swaddles that I've gotten have an opening in the back (around the booty area). Does anyone know its intended purpose? 

I think it's so you can strap your baby into the car seat without having to undress them.

yep! Silly me  ">

Wait.... are you talking about the little slit in the back of the swaddle??  I can't imagine it's so you can strap them in... otherwise, they'd still be swaddled, right? 

I assumed the opening was so you could peek in and see if the baby has a dirty diaper.....?  No?

This.  FTM but I helped out my friend with her newborn twins and I'm pretty sure the slit is there so you can check for poop!

Officer'sWife

I've got one for the ladies who have already made padsicles! After putting the ingredients on to the pad, did you fold the pad back up before putting them in the freezer? With the addition of the liquid, wouldn't it make it hard to unfold the pad again after being frozen? So did you freeze yours wrapped up or laying flat?

LaurenAsh23

So is the urge to push different than the feeling you get when you have to poop? When I went to bed last night I felt some pressure, but mostly in my bum. Today it's the same. I'm not worried as I'm not having contractions or anything...just made me wonder if the pressure will be different when it really is time. 

lb1117

LaurenAsh23 said:

So is the urge to push different than the feeling you get when you have to poop? When I went to bed last night I felt some pressure, but mostly in my bum. Today it's the same. I'm not worried as I'm not having contractions or anything...just made me wonder if the pressure will be different when it really is time. 

Y Yes and no. To me, it felt similar. It came and went after they broke my water. They said when the pressure is constant for awhile, to tell them. Apparently when you're fully dilated and ready to push, it just pressure that's always there. L

SandiaLiz

bennieangel said:

Is anyone not having noticeable Braxton hicks / practice contractions? I haven't really notice any (37 weeks) ...is it possible they aren't happening or that they are & I've just not noticed?

It is definitely possible that you just don't realize you are having them. I had a nonstress test couple of weeks ago and it was only as they were measuring my contractions that I figured out what they were. They were stronger than usual which helped, but I still might not have figured it out on my own. 

I was also gong to ask about BH/contractions on this thread. I feel like a dummy, but I often still can't tell the difference between BH and painful movement. I think it is BH when I my belly is sort of tingling? And my belly is so tight I can feel baby's bum and feet sticking out? Or is she just stretching and it feels weird and stretched tight? Thanks for any other descriptions of what BH feel like! I love somewhere to ask dumb FTM questions!

pepperedmoth

Thanks, @farmboyswife. I'm at Porter---you're at DHMC, I think, right?

Aaahhhhh I have another queeeeeessstiiooooon....

We've thought all along we were getting a hand-me-down travel system from friends. Now it turns out that the carseat has expired and they don't want to give up the stroller so we're just getting a base (I think). So at 36 weeks I am now researching car seats/travel systems for the first time.

Question: I'm thinking I'll just buy the infant seat that matches their base; and skip the expensive travel system --- it's Peg Perego so pretty pricy.

I'm really excited to babywear --- wondering if other babywearing moms (paging @nickiechan) did/did not get a stroller, and found they did/did not want it? I'm 95% certain I won't be keeping LO in the carseat except when we are actually in the car.

When LO is a bit older I want to get s jogging stroller anyway for me to run with him. But am I super missing out by not doing the whole system?

pepperedmoth

Oh, and @bennieangel, I'm not having a lot of noticeable BHs or practice contractions. Once a day max. Often days in between. I'm 36 weeks exactly.

carrieactually

another clueless question:

i see a lot of people are saying they already washed/need to wash the 3-6mo size clothes in their getting ready for baby's arrival list. do i really need to do that now?

i think my baby will start out in the 0-3mo size because i expect my baby to be very long (at our anatomy scan the tech said he had unusually long legs but would be more worried if he didn't as husband and i are 6'4 and 6' tall so we are just a long family). but i still think it'll be a couple months before we need 3-6mo clothes.

saisongbird

FTM here, but I don't know how you wouldn't notice if you're having BH.  My entire torso gets rock hard to the point where I find it difficult to move.

ProudMommy030614

pepperedmoth said:

Thanks, @farmboyswife. I'm at Porter---you're at DHMC, I think, right?

Aaahhhhh I have another queeeeeessstiiooooon....

We've thought all along we were getting a hand-me-down travel system from friends. Now it turns out that the carseat has expired and they don't want to give up the stroller so we're just getting a base (I think). So at 36 weeks I am now researching car seats/travel systems for the first time.

Question: I'm thinking I'll just buy the infant seat that matches their base; and skip the expensive travel system --- it's Peg Perego so pretty pricy.

I'm really excited to babywear --- wondering if other babywearing moms (paging @nickiechan) did/did not get a stroller, and found they did/did not want it? I'm 95% certain I won't be keeping LO in the carseat except when we are actually in the car.

When LO is a bit older I want to get s jogging stroller anyway for me to run with him. But am I super missing out by not doing the whole system?

On the travel system: we never used the huge stroller that came with them. So this time we got a really nice car seat and the jogging stroller. The infant seat fits in the jogging stroller and even has an extra safety strap for the infant seat to connect the two. I plan on baby wearing because car seats are to damn heavy to tote around! Hope this helps some.

Nickiechan

pepperedmoth said:

Thanks, @farmboyswife. I'm at Porter---you're at DHMC, I think, right? Aaahhhhh I have another queeeeeessstiiooooon.... We've thought all along we were getting a hand-me-down travel system from friends. Now it turns out that the carseat has expired and they don't want to give up the stroller so we're just getting a base (I think). So at 36 weeks I am now researching car seats/travel systems for the first time. Question: I'm thinking I'll just buy the infant seat that matches their base; and skip the expensive travel system --- it's Peg Perego so pretty pricy. I'm really excited to babywear --- wondering if other babywearing moms (paging @nickiechan) did/did not get a stroller, and found they did/did not want it? I'm 95% certain I won't be keeping LO in the carseat except when we are actually in the car. When LO is a bit older I want to get s jogging stroller anyway for me to run with him. But am I super missing out by not doing the whole system?

If I could go back in time I wouldn't have invested in a travel system. I can count on my one hand how many times we used the stroller... The car seat we did use, but the stroller just sat since I wore DS most of the time. We did get a cheap lightweight stroller we used sometime, but even then we just hauled our junk in it at zoo or festivals or wherever we went. We discussed selling the stroller since it takes up so much room, but there is no need to stress about that now... but if I could go back I would have just invested in a carseat.

Nickiechan

saisongbird said:

FTM here, but I don't know how you wouldn't notice if you're having BH.  My entire torso gets rock hard to the point where I find it difficult to move.

 That is a BH... Once the real thing comes on you will know. BH also can be pretty strong or intense, but if you are able to talk through them then I would write them off as early labor/BH. I have also had time able BH that my midwife considers early labor but then they disappear....

Nickiechan

FarmBoysWife said:

@somerslsles You should be fine. The really messy parts are if you loose your mp, and when you're pushing/delivering the baby. Dh's pants almost got ruined by the blood when DS came out. And he was sitting behind me supporting me on the stool

DH clothing did get ruined... His shirt had blood on it as well as his pants. The midwife just told him to take his shirt off since he help catch. This time he is taking a cheapo shirt and some pants he doesn't necessarily care about. The photos of him holding DS he is without a shirt... skin to skin.. :P

BraydensMommy08

The center is the safest, but the passenger side worked best for me because I was able to reach and see them easily if needed.

pepperedmoth

FarmBoysWife said:

@pepperedmoth

More up your way. I don't want a c-section I go to Gifford

Heheheheheh. This is why I'm not at FAHC. They're wicked section-happy over there....

carrieactually

bennieangel said:

DisneyAddict1 said:

carrieactually said:

another clueless question:

i see a lot of people are saying they already washed/need to wash the 3-6mo size clothes in their getting ready for baby's arrival list. do i really need to do that now?

i think my baby will start out in the 0-3mo size because i expect my baby to be very long (at our anatomy scan the tech said he had unusually long legs but would be more worried if he didn't as husband and i are 6'4 and 6' tall so we are just a long family). but i still think it'll be a couple months before we need 3-6mo clothes.

It's not a necessity. I did only because I had room to make a full load by adding them

Same here - we just washed them because there wasn't enough 0-3 for a full load & because I was doing baby laundry anyway, I didn't think it would hurt to have them ready. 

Ok. Feeling much better now. I just threw the clothes and sheets and burp cloths all in together to make a full load

BuckeyeWife07

SomersIsles said:

Everyone says to leave nice clothes behind because when you're at the hospital it's very likely they'll get ruined. This makes sense when in active labor ... But are there other times? I have a cheap black robe from walmart that turns out is SUPER comfy and warm. I don't want it to get ruined but I wanted to bring it incase I need to walk around etc So... Aside from when I'm actually pushing, are there other times my stuff will get ruined like they say they will?

Yea, it's more about the delivery part. As long as you're wearing the pads and such you'll be fine after delivery. I just wore the hospital gown and put a second on as the robe for moving about. When I walked the halls the one time I was still in my street clothes. 

BuckeyeWife07

Baby1Dany said:

I feel like this is a particularly stupid question but I am genuinely curious: do all babies cry soon after being born? What does it mean if they don't? Is it a reflex to cry?

I'm not an expert, but from my understanding, they are supposed to cry, yes. I was always told that it is a sign of their lungs working properly plus the shock of the different environment. 

jennybean80

Nope, all babies don't cry at birth and it isn't a problem if they don't. As long as they are breathing it's fine!! Some babies scream the house down and some just kind of take it all in.

sebullows

I also wanted to add, my mom said that none of her 4 children cried when we were born. We were all healthy except my brother who got completely stuck.. he was taken straight to NICU once they finally got him out so mom says she still doesn't know how long it was before he cried. Drs said it was no big deal that we didn't cry

SandiaLiz

Ok, one more probably really dumb question.

I had always heard and said that your water breaks. While watching Call the Midwife they always say that your waters (plural) break. I thought it was British or just old fashioned, except then my doctor said it too! And I have read several ladies on here say it too! Am I the dummy who has been saying it wrong? Is it regional? Why would water be plural?

Thanks to anyone who will indulge my curiosity!

ewallace00

CHalePhoto said:

SandiaLiz said:

Ok, one more probably really dumb question.

I had always heard and said that your water breaks. While watching Call the Midwife they always say that your waters (plural) break. I thought it was British or just old fashioned, except then my doctor said it too! And I have read several ladies on here say it too! Am I the dummy who has been saying it wrong? Is it regional? Why would water be plural?

Thanks to anyone who will indulge my curiosity!

I've wondered this same thing. I'm in Texas, and we say a lot of things wrong, so I'm no help. :-)

The nurse told us this weekend that the correct term is bag of waters, because there are many different fluids and substances in the bag. Examples are amniotic fluid, baby's urine, vernix, baby's excess hairs.