Newbie Play date part 2

jshrop

Breaking up the humongous thread as requested.
Ladies! Here's you place to ask all those questions, post your concerns, or anything else you wanted to know about pregnancy, labor and delivery, and newborns. STM+ remember to help us out and check in to answer!
If you want to search through Part 1, you can find it here: https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12272119/newbie-playdate-ask-all-life-s-questions-here-pregnancy-and-baby-related/p1.
COME PLAY WITH US!

chickpea912

But I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooved how long that thread was getting - it was the single long thread I actually stayed on top of

jshrop

sorry @chickpea912‌ ... A bunch of ladies wanted to start a second because of the wading through posts. Maybe we can link the two? No clue.

chickpea912

@jshrop I'm not sure that's necessary - I was just proud of myself.  I have checked the name thread in forever - pretty sure there are 800 new posts that I haven't read, and I won't.  I'll just stay on top of this thread now  But maybe we could just post a link to the previous version so people can reference it if it sinks down multiple pages?

jshrop

Got it!! Will do!

chickpea912

Why is the sky blue?

chickpea912

What is the meaning of life?

jshrop

The blue is a result of the wavelengths of light projected by our sun.... Oh nevermind. I'm just talking out my ass.

jshrop

And the meaning of life is doughnuts. Hot, ooey-gooey, fresh from the oven glazed doughnuts. At least it is for me today because that's all I can think about.

hlp2709

The sky is blue because of all the pretty colors blue is the best color..........

shellbell813

Technically, the sky isn't blue. We just perceive blue when we look at it.

jshrop

Okay, I have a legit question. I'm sure this was discussed in Part 1, but when the baby is born, how often should baths happen? What about hair washing? My baby is bi-racial. My husband is also bi-racial (white/black). His hair is pretty easy but my SIL has more coarse hair. I have no experience because mine is fine and oily. I don't want to dry out her skin or hair. My sister did baths daily on my nephew each evening and then would do baby massage with sleepy time lotion. I love this idea of having wind down time but wasn't sure how realistic it was.

jshrop

And second legit question: I know that a lot of the pregnancy symptoms disappear when the baby is born, but are there any that hang around? I don't want to get my hopes up that I'll feel like my old self if there's crap that I'll still be dealing with.

catsinawindow

jshrop said:

And second legit question: I know that a lot of the pregnancy symptoms disappear when the baby is born, but are there any that hang around? I don't want to get my hopes up that I'll feel like my old self if there's crap that I'll still be dealing with.

I don't remember any PG symptoms that stuck around, per say, but you won't feel like yourself.  You'll get a new host of symptoms thanks to all those PG hormones crashing.  Some specific ones I remember are the "baby blues", night sweats, and if you had a lot of swelling, peeing more than you ever peed in your entire life when you flush all that extra water out of you.  I'm sure the specifics will be different for everyone, though.

chickpea912

jshrop said:

And second legit question: I know that a lot of the pregnancy symptoms disappear when the baby is born, but are there any that hang around? I don't want to get my hopes up that I'll feel like my old self if there's crap that I'll still be dealing with.

@jshrop I still snissed from time to time.  That was the biggie that I didn't expect.

Strangely enough, I feel like I'm snissing much less frequently these days.  Weird.

MrsNunes

jshrop said:

And second legit question: I know that a lot of the pregnancy symptoms disappear when the baby is born, but are there any that hang around? I don't want to get my hopes up that I'll feel like my old self if there's crap that I'll still be dealing with.

This might just be me, but I was so afraid to poop for a while (I ended up with a few stitches).

I agree with @chickpea912‌, the snissing caught me off-guard, and the peeing/hurting if you laugh too hard.

You know the way your hair thickens up all nicely during pregnancy? Well, after giving birth you start to shed that hair, and to me, it was kinda creepy how much would come out at once with showers/brushing. No bald spots or anything, but still noticeable to me.

catsinawindow

jshrop said:

Okay, I have a legit question. I'm sure this was discussed in Part 1, but when the baby is born, how often should baths happen? What about hair washing? My baby is bi-racial. My husband is also bi-racial (white/black). His hair is pretty easy but my SIL has more coarse hair. I have no experience because mine is fine and oily. I don't want to dry out her skin or hair. My sister did baths daily on my nephew each evening and then would do baby massage with sleepy time lotion. I love this idea of having wind down time but wasn't sure how realistic it was.

I'd heard that daily baths can dry out baby's skin so I bathed every 2-3 days or so (plus, I'm lazy).

catsinawindow

MrsNunes said:

And second legit question: I know that a lot of the pregnancy symptoms disappear when the baby is born, but are there any that hang around? I don't want to get my hopes up that I'll feel like my old self if there's crap that I'll still be dealing with.

This might just be me, but I was so afraid to poop for a while (I ended up with a few stitches). I agree with @chickpea912‌, the snissing caught me off-guard, and the peeing/hurting if you laugh too hard. You know the way your hair thickens up all nicely during pregnancy? Well, after giving birth you start to shed that hair, and to me, it was kinda creepy how much would come out at once with showers/brushing. No bald spots or anything, but still noticeable to me.

Yup, I got this too.  Very surprising.  This is why I'm planning to chop off my hair and donate it right before my due date.  It'll just fall out anyway and I think short hair will be easier to manage with a newborn.

Pepper6

How long before I should expect to feel 100% again?  I'm talking any stitches healed, stomach/uterus all contracted, all side effects gone, etc?

rainbowdashh

@jshrop we bathed DD maybe every 2-3 days for awhile. She really hated the water and it stressed me out a lot. The bigger she got and the less she screamed, we increased the amount of baths. I would always wash her body but her hair I did less frequently. Water anywhere near her face and she lost it and so did I.

As for lingering symptoms... I didn't find that any symptoms really lingered, they just changed. Night sweats were insane. I would wake up soaked! My hair started falling out around 4 months postpartum. I had zero appetite for the first month or so. And I was so, so emotional. If the baby cried for any other reason than being hungry, odds are I was crying too.

Shellbaby84

this is probably a dumb question, but every time I go in for check ups they take a urine sample that they then test. What are they testing for?

Cherylwang

jshrop said:

And second legit question: I know that a lot of the pregnancy symptoms disappear when the baby is born, but are there any that hang around? I don't want to get my hopes up that I'll feel like my old self if there's crap that I'll still be dealing with.

I think most of my pregnancy symptoms disappeared right away! But unfortunately you get some brand new ones after birth. Not just recovery from birth but I developed sciatic nerve pain and carpal tunnel. That doesn't happen to everyone though. Lol
I also had after birth contractions. That didn't happen after my first but with my second I had contractions every time I nursed the baby. The doctor told me that happens even worse with the third baby. I never heard of it before. He said its literally your uterus contracting back to shape. They had to double up my pain meds because it was terrible. It went away after about 4 days. I am scared to see what happens this time. Anyone experience this?

abastian00

I'm allowed to stay in the hospital for recovery for up to 48 hours (assuming I have a vaginal birth) - do I need to bring multiple outfits for baby while we're there? If yes - what should those be? And if no - what will s/he wear while we're in the hospital? What is good to bring the baby home in?

(I've said this before, but I freaking love this thread!)

PinkKEL9

Shellbaby84 said:

this is probably a dumb question, but every time I go in for check ups they take a urine sample that they then test. What are they testing for?

I know one of the things they test for is protein in your urine because that can be a sign of preeclampsia. Not sure if they test for other things with that or not.

Cherylwang

abastian00 said:

I'm allowed to stay in the hospital for recovery for up to 48 hours (assuming I have a vaginal birth) - do I need to bring multiple outfits for baby while we're there? If yes - what should those be? And if no - what will s/he wear while we're in the hospital? What is good to bring the baby home in?

(I've said this before, but I freaking love this thread!)

The hospital has a onsie for the baby in the hospital. I only brought a going home outfit. They check the baby a lot and change a lot of diapers there really isn't a need for another outfit. Also I did bring a pajama outfit and lightweight robe for myself for my stay. I didn't put it on until hours after the baby was born. I kind of think that a nightgown was the best since you are bleeding pretty bad after.

enpowers

Am I going to be able to recognize when I lose my mucus plug? I'm kind of afraid I'm not going to notice....or even worse, mistake it for bleeding and freak out.

nunzchucks

abastian00 said:

I'm allowed to stay in the hospital for recovery for up to 48 hours (assuming I have a vaginal birth) - do I need to bring multiple outfits for baby while we're there? If yes - what should those be? And if no - what will s/he wear while we're in the hospital? What is good to bring the baby home in?

(I've said this before, but I freaking love this thread!)

I didn't bring anything except for one outfit to take LO home. I felt like the shirt and swaddle they let you use at the hospital made the check ups easier on LO and nurses.

rainbowdashh

enpowers said:

Am I going to be able to recognize when I lose my mucus plug? I'm kind of afraid I'm not going to notice....or even worse, mistake it for bleeding and freak out.

Yes. You will recognize it.

liberty95

@LoHerrim‌ yes!! The dehydration from breastfeeding is crazy. The second DS latched I NEEDED my water pitcher. My sister thought I was being dramatic until she had a baby a few months later and begged me to refill her water bottle as soon as she started to breastfeed her son.
Definitely have water pitcher in your "station"

My "station" was a side table next to my recliner. I kept things I wanted I hand during feelings so I didn't have to get up. Snacks, water bottle, phone, book, remote, nursing pads, burp clothes, etc...

chloephoebecali

Our hospital doesn't allow outfits or hats other than theirs on the baby.

jshrop

I plan to breast feed (god willing), but I'd love for my husband to have the opportunity to bond and share that nurturing experience of feeding with our LO. When can I do a bottle every now and then? I've read if we do it too early she can have nipple confusion etc. I also would like to know if that's really a problem or is it just people being dramatically over cautious.

flerlgirl

jshrop said:

I plan to breast feed (god willing), but I'd love for my husband to have the opportunity to bond and share that nurturing experience of feeding with our LO. When can I do a bottle every now and then? I've read if we do it too early she can have nipple confusion etc. I also would like to know if that's really a problem or is it just people being dramatically over cautious.

Unfortunately, the answer to this is like so many others: It just depends on your baby. Some babies can try a bottle in the hospital and have no issues. Some have nipple confusion. I would work with your nurses and lactation consultants (who will come see you while you are in the hospital) to figure out when is the best time and the best way to try it. Speaking personally, DS could only use one type of bottle nipple for a while because he learned on that bottle. He is a special snowflake but it took him a while to adapt to other kinds of bottle nipples. That isn't nipple confusion between breast and bottle but that's the closest I've got  

whoberry

jshrop said:

I plan to breast feed (god willing), but I'd love for my husband to have the opportunity to bond and share that nurturing experience of feeding with our LO. When can I do a bottle every now and then? I've read if we do it too early she can have nipple confusion etc. I also would like to know if that's really a problem or is it just people being dramatically over cautious.

FTM here so no real experience but we just took our hospital's breastfeeding class.  They suggested no bottles or pacifiers for the first two weeks.

catsinawindow

jshrop said:

I plan to breast feed (god willing), but I'd love for my husband to have the opportunity to bond and share that nurturing experience of feeding with our LO. When can I do a bottle every now and then? I've read if we do it too early she can have nipple confusion etc. I also would like to know if that's really a problem or is it just people being dramatically over cautious.

I introduced a bottle at 4 weeks with DS (had to go back to work at ~7 weeks).  He took it like a champ and we never had any problems with nipple confusion.  After that first bottle, DH gave him a bottle every day or two.

stephpaez

@jshrop‌ I just spoke with a lactation consultant yesterday and she does not recommend introducing a bottle until baby is at least 3 wks old to help prevent nipple confusion.

catsinawindow

KrystaJ said:

jshrop said:

I plan to breast feed (god willing), but I'd love for my husband to have the opportunity to bond and share that nurturing experience of feeding with our LO. When can I do a bottle every now and then? I've read if we do it too early she can have nipple confusion etc. I also would like to know if that's really a problem or is it just people being dramatically over cautious.

Me too! I'm going back to work and LO will obviously need to learn to nurse from a bottle. Also, would you recommend sticking to slow flow nipples for bottle feeding while still breastfeeding?

Yes to the slow flow nipples.  With BF babies there is never really a reason to switch from slow-flow.  DS got bottles of BM for his first year while I was at work and he used slow flow bottles the entire time.  In fact, his daycare provider transitioned him straight from slow flow bottles to sippy cups of BM just before he turned a year.

cspencer85

Are you guys experiencing a lot of discharge?

ksyknelvr73

jshrop said:

And second legit question: I know that a lot of the pregnancy symptoms disappear when the baby is born, but are there any that hang around? I don't want to get my hopes up that I'll feel like my old self if there's crap that I'll still be dealing with.

I can honestly say that my pregnancy symptoms completely went away almost immediately. But with giving birth, some new things kind of take their place. Like other PPs mentioned, night sweats....for the love of all that is holy, they sucked so bad. I would soak through my clothes and our sheets 1-2 times a night. Also, if you have fluids through an IV in the hospital you will prob have some swelling for up to a couple weeks after. Uterine contractions....especially while breastfeeding (pretty temporary, only the first week or so?).

ksyknelvr73

KrystaJ said:

jshrop said:

I plan to breast feed (god willing), but I'd love for my husband to have the opportunity to bond and share that nurturing experience of feeding with our LO. When can I do a bottle every now and then? I've read if we do it too early she can have nipple confusion etc. I also would like to know if that's really a problem or is it just people being dramatically over cautious.

Me too! I'm going back to work and LO will obviously need to learn to nurse from a bottle. Also, would you recommend sticking to slow flow nipples for bottle feeding while still breastfeeding?

I think it depends on the baby. For us, DS wasn't getting enough BM and he was jaundiced so we had to supplement almost immediately, so he took a bottle within his first week. He never had nipple confusion and would take bottle and breast, whatever was offered. We used Dr. Brown bottles with the level 1 nipple that first few months.

curlylocks3

enpowers said:

Am I going to be able to recognize when I lose my mucus plug? I'm kind of afraid I'm not going to notice....or even worse, mistake it for bleeding and freak out.

You will definitely recognize it. Or be like me and recognize it but refuse to believe it actually just came out and google it anyways. There are tons of mucous plug pics on Google BTW.

dmizak

jshrop said:

Okay, I have a legit question. I'm sure this was discussed in Part 1, but when the baby is born, how often should baths happen? What about hair washing? My baby is bi-racial. My husband is also bi-racial (white/black). His hair is pretty easy but my SIL has more coarse hair. I have no experience because mine is fine and oily. I don't want to dry out her skin or hair. My sister did baths daily on my nephew each evening and then would do baby massage with sleepy time lotion. I love this idea of having wind down time but wasn't sure how realistic it was.

I bathed my son the first couple weeks every other day, it was too much for his skin! I switched to once a week and his skin was so much better. Even now, I only wash his hair once a week even though he gets a bath every night.