Ask a STM+ Week of 11/28

LastMango

Hope all of you had a nice, long Thanksgiving weekend! 

What's on your mind this week?

shlecks

Can we just recap travel systems again? Which ones do you love, which ones do you hate? And why?

LastMango

I loved my Graco travel system and will be reusing it for this baby. Some think it's bulky but I thought it was fine (and not heavy). The infant seat clicks right out of the car base and into the stroller when they're little. Then when they are old enough to sit up on their own they can sit in the stroller without the infant seat. 

therealfrizzle

 @shlecka, FTM but been looking into travel systems a lot. We fell in love with a Britax one because it was the lightest one we could find and I need lighter due to my back issues, but it's over $400 and we just haven't been able to justify spending that much when we need everything else as well. I found this deal at Buy Buy Baby:

https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/graco-reg-verb-trade-click-connect-trade-travel-system-in-groove/1060067364?Keyword=bf16graco

I was at Target on Friday and they had this exact stroller, so we were able to test it out and, although it's heavier than I'd prefer, the seat clicks in and out easily and once you know how to fold and unfold, it seems pretty good. I can give an update once we get it (next week sometime) and have had a chance to really run it through the ringer, but DH and I are pretty excited.

LastMango

Does anyone know at what point they actually DO care about baby's position? I know it's not until towards the very end because baby can move/flip at anytime. But I'm assuming it's before labor so.....anyone know?

therealfrizzle

@LastMango, I think it's 36 weeks that they start to talk about it more, but it depends on the practice you're going to. My MW hasn't seemed concerned. I have my next appointment Wed and if she isn't 100% sure Baby is head down, we're getting a scan done and then taking it from there.

ChristineO36

I hate to sound like a complainer but I need to complain .  I haven't felt this awful since my first trimester.  Two days before Thanksgiving I came down with a sinus infection and on top of that I'm dealing with constipation....again.  Last week, it had been 7 days before I could go.  This week I'm up to 5 days.  My doctor doesn't seem concerned about it but I've NEVER dealt with this before in my life.  It's just awful.  Anyone else going through the same thing?   I have my baby shower this Saturday and I'm praying I feel better by then.  

kashock-2

@LastMango I'm 31 weeks today and my midwives wanted a scan at 30 weeks to check baby's position and the location of a fibroid. My first was breech, and they waited until 37 weeks to schedule the c-section (which was done at 39 weeks). 

MamaandNurse

@shlecka We needed a new system for this babe because our infant seat expired a couple years back. We went with this one.
https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=80663466&gclid=CjwKEAiAyO_BBRDOgM-K8MGWpmYSJACePQ9CE0w2iSCzdvvX2brGU6xanyRLJ4a1Oll8Yy-Tyo-8IBoCPffw_wcB&camp=PLAPPCG-_-PID23041263:BRUS&cagpspn=plab_23041263&eESource=CAPLA_DF:80663466:TRUS
It has a one-hand, one-second fold and unfold handle. It sold us. I know that a lot of people hate on travel systems because they usually tend to be bulky. Not all of them are but you certainly don't need one. I knew a girl who had a baby and refused to use an infant seat. She had a terrible time in the beginning because she woke up her sleeping newborn every time she had to get him out of his car seat. But it's all preference.

@ChristineO36 Have you tried an OTC stool softener? I was having serious constipation that made me SO uncomfortable. Check with your doctor about what's safe but just one single pill really helped move things along. Plus, you'll probably need something for after the baby comes so at least you'll be prepared.

sarahmsoda

@LastMango @PMForbie  My OB said she will do a full exam at 36 weeks (next week for me) and if she isn't sure baby is head down then we will get an u/s. If baby is still breech at the scan we will discuss the plan after I guess... 

I hope to go to at least 39 weeks even if baby is breech (my selfishness of wanting a Jan baby). This whole baby being breech thing has thrown me for a loop seeing the baby flipped to breech so suddenly at 34 weeks. I was breech AND firstborn and apparently that creates a risk factor for my firstborn to be breech (I read a medical journal today all about it and research done in Norway with a sample size of like 500,000 births) but I never actually prepared myself for the idea of having to have a scheduled C Section. I just keep hoping baby turns!

myriamc96

Anyone have steroid shots?? I received a dose at 32 weeks, due to my cervix funneling and effacing early. My doctor told me to take it easy and that she hopes I'll make it to 35 weeks at least, but how effective are the shots at helping his lungs, from your experience?? I'm just super paranoid that he'll be born too soon. 

MaryNog

@LastMango I asked my doctor that exact question at my last appointment and she said that "before 36 weeks we don't even bother checking, since it's still easy for them to flip." At my practice they do an ultrasound at 36 weeks to estimate size and check position. 

shlecks

Ok yes- thank you @PMForbie and @LastMango I think Graco will be the way we go.  I had a jogger all picked out, but my aunt and cousin who have planned on purchasing the travel system told me it was a bit too expensive, so I wanted to see what people liked and had experience with.  And I want it to be EASY.  I really like this one: https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=94761136&cp=2255957.2273443.2256189.2256206&parentPage=search

It seems very basic and I like that there aren't any colors on it so it's super neutral.  Plus all the reviews seem top notch.  Now fingers crossed I get it in time (mainly for the infant seat)! 

ceclarlinetlo

shlecka said:

Can we just recap travel systems again? Which ones do you love, which ones do you hate? And why?

I'm a FTM but I went with the chicco bravo trio with a keyfit 30 zip seat (got it at buy buy baby). I love that it is lightweight, has a height adjustable handlebar, one handed compacting, its stands up on its own when it's compacted, you can make it a lightweight infant carrier frame or a regular stroller and I love the car seat because it has easy removed pieces for washing. It also has a huge canopy and decent storage. I haven't tried pushing it anywhere but my house but it is really easy to navigate and rides very smoothly. 

mommy2ane

LastMango said:

Does anyone know at what point they actually DO care about baby's position? I know it's not until towards the very end because baby can move/flip at anytime. But I'm assuming it's before labor so.....anyone know?

They're checking baby's position at 36 weeks for me and they did it around the same with my son. I'm not sure what other doctors/midwives do.

MamaandNurse

@myriamc96 I had to have steroid shots with my first. I had pre-term labor at 34 weeks and delivered at 36. She didn't need any NICU time and didn't have any issues with her lungs. I don't know if that would have been the case if I hadn't received the steroids.

katesmama0706

@LastMango I think it kind of depends on your doctor but pretty sure standard is around 36 weeks before they'll start talking to you about ECV and C-sections. Anecdotal but my best friend's baby flipped twice while she was in labor (induced labor) and her doctor was totally chill about it but when I was induced with my first baby they told me she was head down but if at any time she flipped it was an automatic trip down the hall to c-section. 

jenniferandrews44

@myriamc96 I had the steroid shots last week too for the same reason (a few days before I hit the 34-week mark). It seemed like a good low-risk option in case baby comes early to increase surfactant production in the lungs. 

stumptownmama

@shlecka I loved my baby jogger city mini gt with the britax infant seat. I bought the car seat adapter. We just bought the BJ city select double for this new babe. Check out albeebaby.com. I got both of mine there and got great deals on the last years' model. 

ceclarlinetlo

@myriamc96 I got the shots last week at 33 weeks so I'm still in the same boat as you, but my sister's water broke at 34 weeks and they kept her pregnant until 35 weeks and she got a full course of steroid shots and my nephew had no nicu time.

LoneStar21416

@myriamc96 I got them at 30.5 weeks.  My understanding is that they are only beneficial for a certain period of time - I believe it's around 2 weeks.  So if you don't give birth in that first window (which would be a good thing!), you may get still need an additional "booster" shot if you go into labor before full term and it's been too long since you had the full course.  I haven't asked what the cut off point is -- I would imagine it's 36 weeks.  I don't think they give shots at 36 weeks, but I could be wrong about that.

Knottie25816533

@ChristineO36 I had excellent results with prunes! First night I ate 3. then 2 or 3 days later ate 1. haven't had any problems since! 

cjs260

Hands free pumping bra recommendations? I would like one that just fits over a typical nursing bra (if they all don't do that already). 

juliebird6

This might be a stupid question, but are you supposed to use a monitor when the baby is actually sleeping in the room with you? We have a halo bassinet set up in our room, and I just figured that since she'd be sleeping right next to me, I won't need to use the monitor until she moves into the nursery.  Is that what other people are doing too, or am I way wrong in this thinking?

stumptownmama

@juliebird6 we didn't use a monitor until DD was in her own room bc she napped and slept always in our presence before then. But it's no harm to put it up if you think she might nap there while you are in amother room. 

katesmama0706

@juliebird6 yeah you don't really need a monitor when the baby is in the same room as you. I guess if you were planning on using one of those sock type monitors that keeps track of the baby's heart rate and breathing you might want to use it while rooming in, but I'd still think it's kind of unnecessary when the baby is so close to you. 

@cjs260 I don't have a good one but I can say do not get the Madela Easy Expressions Bustier. OMG was it ever awful. I had to completely remove my nursing bra, put it on, zip it up, pump and then take it off and put the nursing bra back on. It was the single biggest reason I didn't pump as often as I should have because by the time I got that all worked out my baby was awake and wanted to nurse anyway. I have talked to a few friends who just bought cheap sports bras and cut holes in them for flanges and stuck them over their nursing bras, supposedly it works great so I might give it a shot this time.

ThePax89

@juliebird6 we have a monitor in our room to watch the baby when she's sleeping in there and we aren't. 

azwildcat62

What else should be included in the diaper changing stations besides diapers, wipes & cream? 

BriannaE129129

@kelseyh62 I put hand sanitizers at both of mine for when I don't have time to run to the sink. Baby lotion I have there too! 

juliebird6

@kelseyh62 I got some little ikea utility carts to create changing stations in other rooms (away from the nursery and the changing pad/station we have set up in there).  For those, I plan to also include an extra onesie, a burp cloth, and a little travel changing pad, similar to this one.  

adorebella

@cjs260 I had the same hands free bra that @katesmama0706 mentioned and it was perfect. I would fold down my nursing bra cups and put the hands free bra on over top of that, so I wasn't getting undressed like she mentioned. 

stumptownmama

@BriannaE129129 maybe a stash of rags/towels. Our changing table was our dresser so I had lots of stuff in the first drawer but all you really need is what you've mentioned. 

AshleySparkle720

I used regular sports bras and cut holes in the front for the suction cups to fit in. They weren't racer back ones they had normal tank top straps. when I wasn't pumping I'd just put milk leak pads inside the sports bra so I didn't even have to take anything off or put anything on. #teamcheaphacks

AlabamaRedhead

@ChristineO36  raisin bran. I eat at least a bowl a day. It helps, even if it just makes the poo less hard and compact. 

ceclarlinetlo

@cjs260 have you checked out the dairy fairy? They are pricy but I've heard great things about them. Or have you looked at freemie cups? They are compatible with most pumps and you can pump hands free with your clothes on with any bra you want - They cost about the same as a dairy fairy bra. I got a set and I'm pretty excited to use them. 

ChristineO36

@AlabamaRedhead Thanks!  I'll try it!

azwildcat62

I feel like an old lady!  The swelling has made my hands feel like I have arthritic pain (especially in the morning) and I can't fit into a lot of my shoes anymore.  Anyone know how quickly this will go away once baby has arrived? Baby still dominates chilling on my right side so my ribs are so sore there!  And sleeping is a joke when you feel like a beached whale and no position is ever comfortable.   

adorebella

@kelseyh62 The swelling and carpal tunnel took several weeks to go away after birth for me, but I think I had an unusual situation with a 3-day induced labor and being pumped full of pitocin and fluids. I left the hospital weighing more than when I went in, I was so swollen. But what I do recommend is getting some medical braces for your wrists now to help with the carpal tunnel. You could wear them at night for now and that could help with the pain the in morning and throughout the day. 

katesmama0706

@kelseyh62 my carpal tunnel went away almost immediately after giving birth. DD was born at 8 PM and by the next morning I noticed it was completely gone. I couldn't say personally about swelling but like @adorebella mentioned you may retain water from labor, especially if you have IV fluids but it shouldn't last very long- you'll have to pee a ton after having a baby. 

JessLeonard23

Apologies if this has already come up in another Ask a STM thread, but how necessary are humidifiers to have in your nursery? I live in WV, so winters can be decently harsh/dry, but we do have central heat (instead of radiators). Along the same lines, how many people use essential oil diffusers in their nursery? And could I use an essential oil diffuser AS a humidifier, if I just don't add oil drops, to avoid buying two similar products? 

MamaandNurse

JessLeonard23 said:

Apologies if this has already come up in another Ask a STM thread, but how necessary are humidifiers to have in your nursery? I live in WV, so winters can be decently harsh/dry, but we do have central heat (instead of radiators). Along the same lines, how many people use essential oil diffusers in their nursery? And could I use an essential oil diffuser AS a humidifier, if I just don't add oil drops, to avoid buying two similar products? 

We swear by a good humidifier. We had one in DD1's room and ours during the "winter". We live in Florida so we lose our humidity in the winter. I found that she slept a lot better when it was running. I've never used a diffuser so I don't have any opinion on those.