Newbie Play date part 2

tbmadeamistake

ashquack said:

So after birth what is the most comfortable thing to put on- I see a lot of pajama pants/tank/robe sets at the maternity store but also see some of the nighty type dresses... What's the consensus?

I wore a nursing tank, the mesh undies, and a pair of dh's boxers. So comfy. When we left I wore a pair of those Capri's that are closer to a skirt, tahort material and really wide legs, fold over top, I got them at old navy, and a nursing tank. I WS all about the comfort. The only visitors we had in the hospital were family and I didn't care of they saw me dressed down.

steprozz

ashquack said:

So after birth what is the most comfortable thing to put on- I see a lot of pajama pants/tank/robe sets at the maternity store but also see some of the nighty type dresses... What's the consensus?

I have csections so I'm all about the nighties. I did wear some sweatpants to go home after I got my staples out though.

elsa1688

Middle of the night feedings for newborns: is it baby wakes up, change, nurse, back to sleep? Or wake up, nurse, change, sleep?

katekat8721

@joules235 I'm a newbie, but I like the idea of her being in her own room with the big kid bed in there. Less of a change I guess!

steprozz

joules235 said:

I have a newbie question! We are planning on moving DD to a queen size mattress (that we already have) so we can have the crib free for the new baby. I was thinking it would be easier to move the
mattress from the queen bed into DD's current room and the crib in the
new temp nursery. I think DD will do better with the transition still in her
room just with a different bed rather than a new bed and new room.

My questions: How do I make this transition easier? Am I nuts putting a 17 month old in a big bed like this? Any other advice?

I would definitely go with the big bed in her room to make the transition easier. I am jealous your DD is ready for a big bed! DS is also 17 months and the kid is obsessed with his crib and I am scared to give it to the new baby and upset him so we bought a new crib.

MrsKipper

elsa1688 said:

Middle of the night feedings for newborns: is it baby wakes up, change, nurse, back to sleep? Or wake up, nurse, change, sleep?

This is what I'll be doing different this time. I changed Nola every time she woke up to eat. Big mistake. It would take me forever to get her back to sleep because it would wake her up all the way. Unless the diaper is poopy or leaking, soaking wet, I plan on keeping him swaddled and just feeding in very low light. If you put diaper rash cream on every night, it can do wonders for preventing diaper rash.

However, until baby is back to birth weight, it is suggested that you wake them every 3-4 hours to feed if they don't wake on their own.

tbmadeamistake

On the how often should baby eat thought, if your LO is born with jaundice, you have to feed more often for a little while, as food is what helps the yellow work it's way out of their system.  I don't remember the technical terms/reasons, but I know that C wasn't bad enough to need the bilirubin blankets or lights, but that we did have to feed every 2-3 hours for the first couple of days and keep her in the sunlight during the day until her levels went down.  It also meant daily trips in to see the pedi for blood draws.  Little yellow babies are funny looking, but also cute!

elsa1688

What's the major difference in nursing bras vs nursing sleep bras? Obviously one is for sleeping.... Where is the best place to buy nursing bras /tanks?

BMaidPlanner

Gotta new question. What do I need in my crib?

On my registry I currently have a: mattress, waterproof cover, about 4 sheets and a crib skirt.

Do I need a blanket? Does a baby even sleep under a blanket? I have also heard I should just say no to bumpers. 

Thank you!

tbmadeamistake

@Elsa1688, Sleep nursing bras are supportive and hold in breast pads, but aren't as structured so they are more comfortable. Regular old nursing bras tend to have more structure and you can get them with underwires if you want/need those.

nunzchucks

@bmaidplanner The recommendation is nothing in the crib other than a fitted sheet.  DD slept in a swaddle then moved to a Halo SleepSack when she could roll over.

abastian00

MrsKipper - your little ginger Nola is just the most adorable thing ever. Her little smile is the sweetest!

JulieSmiles

When contractions start and are timetable, how long should I wait before going to the hospital? How close together should they be before I head there? These April home births freaked me out a little about waiting too long, but I don't want to be at the hospital forever either.

jshrop

@joules235‌ I saw a thing on Pinterest that suggested putting pool noodles under the fitted sheet to use as a toddler bumper. Not sure if you were worried about her falling out or not, but thought it was an awesome idea!

tbmadeamistake

@JulieSmiles, my OB's office goes by the 5-1-1 rule.  5 minutes apart, at least one minute long, for one hour.  Then you head on in to L&D.  If they get more intense/longer/closer together, you can always call or go in before that hour is up, but that's the standard sort of rule.  Also, if your water breaks, they generally want baby out within 24 hours to make sure no infections start, so that rule doesn't really apply anymore.  My water broke and I wasn't contracting at all, so I had to go in for an induction. 

steprozz

Lilygrace48 said:

@JulieSmiles, my OB's office goes by the 5-1-1 rule.  5 minutes apart, at least one minute long, for one hour.  Then you head on in to L&D.  If they get more intense/longer/closer together, you can always call or go in before that hour is up, but that's the standard sort of rule.  Also, if your water breaks, they generally want baby out within 24 hours to make sure no infections start, so that rule doesn't really apply anymore.  My water broke and I wasn't contracting at all, so I had to go in for an induction. 

this exactly

tbmadeamistake

Those commenting on transitions to twin/queen mattresses...we're planning to move C to a twin foam mattress on the floor as soon as we finish painting her new room.  My worry is that she thrashes around a lot at night.  To the point where she has bruises from hitting the sides of the cribs.  I'm not worried about her falling out of bed, as she'll be two inches from the floor, but I do worry that she'll end up sleeping on the floor or rolling around her entire room at night!  Any input?  She's 23 months.

wtfisup

My husband's cousin just had her fourth photo shoot (pro) for her five month old. I just want to be like, "Buy a good DSLR and Photoshop; watch some tutorials. Save yourself lots of money. Photos for a lifetime."

MrsKipper

abastian00 said:

MrsKipper - your little ginger Nola is just the most adorable thing ever. Her little smile is the sweetest!

Thank you!!! She's a little ham!

babybean82

ksyknelvr73 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?).

Wow, I had no idea the night sweats was a post pregnancy thing..... I have been thinking that I am going crazy the last 2 weeks because I wake up soaking wet, I thought maybe it was the bp drugs or something. How long do they last? Also the swelling thing.... I was so extremely swollen after my c-section, I couldn't fit into any of my clothes or shoes at all for several days. So I suggest having slippers or flip flops to wear home from the hospital.

PinkKEL9

Okay so what do you do when your sick? I have a really bad cold and was thinking what would I do if baby was here? I plan on BFing and also SAHM so how do I take care of her but not get her sick? 

catsinawindow

PinkKEL9 said:

Okay so what do you do when your sick? I have a really bad cold and was thinking what would I do if baby was here? I plan on BFing and also SAHM so how do I take care of her but not get her sick? 

There's not a whole lot you can do to keep her from getting sick, so I wouldn't worry about it.  However, if you're BFing, that is absolutely the best thing for making the illness as easy as possible for her.  When you are sick and BFing, your body will start producing antibodies against that illness in your BM.  Your baby will get the benefit of these antibodies and her illness will be less severe (or maybe she won't even get it!).

During the first few months of DS's life I was amazed how I could get a bad cold and DS, a tiny little baby, would just get a little stuffy.  It's really magical stuff.  

abastian00

stephross88 said:

@JulieSmiles, my OB's office goes by the 5-1-1 rule.  5 minutes apart, at least one minute long, for one hour.  Then you head on in to L&D.  If they get more intense/longer/closer together, you can always call or go in before that hour is up, but that's the standard sort of rule.  Also, if your water breaks, they generally want baby out within 24 hours to make sure no infections start, so that rule doesn't really apply anymore.  My water broke and I wasn't contracting at all, so I had to go in for an induction. 

this exactly

My OB is the same, but my natural birth class recommends 3-1-1 (to avoid interventions if that's your goal - and, of course, if you life close enough that you can still get there in time!). We'll be doing 3-1-1 as we're a 10 block walk/cab from our hospital (NYC).

hollygb22

ashquack said:

So after birth what is the most comfortable thing to put on- I see a lot of pajama pants/tank/robe sets at the maternity store but also see some of the nighty type dresses... What's the consensus?

I stayed in the hospital gown until the next morning then put on Old Navy maternity black yoga pants and a nursing tank. Lots of people were visiting I felt better in lounge wear vs pjs and a robe

jshrop

How hard is your baby(ies) kicking? Last night she was kicking my iPad fully in the air and just now flipped my entire arm off my belly. I'm not worried, just think it's funny, but I don't want to end up like @MSUMands‌ with broken ribs!

wtfisup

KrystaJ said:

When should I start prepping and washing clothes/blankets/CDs? And for the clothes, what size do I need to wash and have ready for now?

I've been washing and organizing as I get things. All my sizes are "ready", in that sense, but I have NB and 0-3 in the dresser. Sizes 6 months-9 months are in under bed storage. Larger than that are in big containers in the basement. (I got a lot if hand me downs.)

temursgirl

@jshrop‌ I also have a little black belt in there! She kicks stuff off my belly and startles people who touch me. She has knocked the wind out of me a few times (I assume she got me in the lung?) and I'm just kind of hoping I'm carrying low enough she can't harm my ribs. Walking around settles her down a little. DH is concerned this is abnormal, but MIL said he was the same... and she didn't end up with broken ribs.

JulieSmiles

Is there a way to tell what position our babies are in? Is there a way to know where her head is? I remember that @joules235‌ mentioned some way to know a while ago, but the babes weren't big enough yet.

abastian00

joules235 said:

@JulieSmiles said:

Is there a way to tell what position our babies are in? Is there a way to know where her head is? I remember that @joules235‌ mentioned some way to know a while ago, but the babes weren't big enough yet.

"Click me!!"

Thats awesome! @julieSmiles You'll also start to recognize certain movements as being hands/arms or legs/feet. For me the latter are stronger, and I feel LOs little hands tickling my butt these days now that she/he is head down. It's kind of weird, but totally awesome

flerlgirl

BrightEyes112 said:

When LO runs out of room, will movement be felt more like when he presses his limbs out rather than a quick kick?

They say you actually feel less movement in the latest weeks because they are so cramped in there. But you will be able to more easily identify that it's baby's hand vs. his foot, etc. 

babygabe614

@jshrop Mine is pretty heavy-handed already, too, and I was just telling DH if she's only about 2 lbs now I can only imagine what she'll feel like as she gets bigger! I had my arm resting over my belly the other night and she kicked it so hard my phone flew out of my hand!

MrsRahl

Anyone using a wrap of some kind to carry baby, and if so which one?  I registered for the moby, but I'm afraid it's going to be way too hot.  My SIL bought a Solly,  any thoughts STM?  I want to wear baby, but in the heat of the summer I'm afraid I'll just end up ditching it because I sweat SO badly.

flerlgirl

MrsRahl said:

Anyone using a wrap of some kind to carry baby, and if so which one?  I registered for the moby, but I'm afraid it's going to be way too hot.  My SIL bought a Solly,  any thoughts STM?  I want to wear baby, but in the heat of the summer I'm afraid I'll just end up ditching it because I sweat SO badly.

I think @joules235 and @chickpea912 both wear their babies. I like my moby but DS doesn't like to be worn that much so I don't have a ton of experience. 

babygabe614

So, am I foolish to think I can just skip the whole birthing class thing? I just don't have an extra $100 to spend on it and frankly I think it will scare me more than anything else. Am I naive to just "wing it" or is there info I really need to get out of those classes that I can't find online or elsewhere?

FWIW I am taking a BFing class because that scares me even more than the actual birth part... but that one is only $20.

otter1103

MrsRahl said:

Anyone using a wrap of some kind to carry baby, and if so which one?  I registered for the moby, but I'm afraid it's going to be way too hot.  My SIL bought a Solly,  any thoughts STM?  I want to wear baby, but in the heat of the summer I'm afraid I'll just end up ditching it because I sweat SO badly.

I got a K'Tan Breeze after doing some research on the various wraps. Heard a lot about the Moby being hot & the potential to be a bit cumbersome when wrapping and tying. The K'Tan is essentially 2 interlaced loops. I'm hoping LO won't mind being worn as I plan/hope to wear when I can when out and about, especially if grocery shopping.

temursgirl

@babygabe614‌ I'm not taking one either. My OB thinks they're more scary than helpful and my friend took one and said it was mostly irrelevant once she was in the real situation. If you do want to take one, check with your insurance. Mine covers a hospital birthing class, so you might be able to do it for free or much less.

abastian00

babygabe614 for me, personally, yes. I need to be super educated on whats to come, but I'm that way about everything in life! Dunno about other resources online that can be helpful - but there have got to be a ton of great videos on youtube! 

(I am a FTM though - so maybe STMs might be able to chime in on whether they found their class a valuable resource after having already been through one birth or so!)

Kinipela7

@babygabe614 - I took one because I wanted to, not because I thought I was going to learn something.  I didn't learn anything new - I did get a bunch of free things so that was cool.  Although I loved mine and thought it was fun, they are definitely not necessary. 

Kinipela7

My sister's wedding will be 7-8 weeks PP.  Do I need to dress the baby up  in a dress or can she just wear a onesie with pants?  

Mia081081

@babygabe614 - I'm a STM. The more educated you are about the labor process, the better prepared you will be for actual labor. So you know what to expect (more or less) from your body and the different stages of labor. It will also help you make decisions about induction methods (should you need them), and pain meds while you're not completely distracted or stressed. Imagine if they ask you if you want stadol when you're having a contraction? It's better to know the benefits / negatives before you go into everything and make a birth plan with all your decisions made before hand. 

That said, I don't think you need to take the hospital class. I didn't find it all that helpful, and the best thing I learned was swaddling, which is easily googleable. I would recommend reading The Birth Partner. It explains labor, provides coping positions and techniques, and pros/cons for induction/pain relief. I also like Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, but it is REALLY crunchy and really anti-pain meds and stuff. 

FWIW - Reading these books made me feel prepared for labor last time. I knew I could do it and I knew (more or less) what to expect from my body. Yoga breathing and crunchy techniques (visualizing flowers opening) really helped. I had a med-free birth that was under 6 hours from water breaking (sex) to baby being born. I think the fact that I wasn't afraid of labor helped me progress quickly, though I'm sure there was a fair bit of luck and genetics involved. 

The breastfeeding class was helpful, but the lactation consultant who came to my house was WAY more helpful since I had actual boobs, milk and baby at the time.