Thanks for your reply @SnarkasaurusRex. I've been considering switching to wool dryer balls. Do you happen to know if they, too, are contraindicated with baby clothes?
Thanks for your reply @SnarkasaurusRex. I've been considering switching to wool dryer balls. Do you happen to know if they, too, are contraindicated with baby clothes?
Should be good to go. This is what we use. They are a bit more expensive initially but then you never have to buy them again. Unless the dog thinks it's a tennis ball...
@Taylor72 haha to the balloons, I may just try that. All 3 cats still have their claws. @kitkat8387 2/3 sleep in our bed every night. I can't even close the bathroom door without them scratching and meowing. We've tried closing the bedroom door but we have lovely scratch marks all over it now due to that so that's also a no go.
@Taylor72 I agree that it continually going up could be worrisome. I'm glad you rested today and I'm interested on the update tomorrow after you speak to your Dr.
Question for other STM/BTDT moms. Are you going to do another hospital tour? We are delivering at the same hospital, and with the same Dr, so I'm really not sure if there is a need to go back and do another tour 20 months later. Just curious what the rest of you are planning to do.
@rachelmiller03 We're not. Like you, I'm delivering at the same hospital with the same OB. The maternity wing had been completely renovated just a few months before I had DS, so I doubt there's anything new 21 months later.
ETA that they only do tours if you also take a class, and I'm too cheap for that.
@rachelmiller03 I'm not going to. I didn't do one the first time around either. (I knew the wing pretty well already) Do whatever you are comfortable with.
@Magheeta I don't know! As a FTM I'm not 100% sure that's what they are, but I'll feel my uterus harden and it often spreads from the side to the front and I feel out of breath. So maybe? And they seem to be happening several times a day for the last couple weeks. Less on days when I'm really well hydrated. But I think mine are made worse on days when I'm doing a lot of walking with this boot for my broken foot. I think it really adds a lot of weight and overexherts my body. But to answer your question, if that's what these are, I feel like I get them several times a day.
Question: DH will be ticked if I drag him to anything else besides the childbirth class, but I kind of want us both to take a baby care class. He and I neither of us have a lot of experience and no nieces or nephews or anything. Have any of you taken one, and was it more helpful than just reading up in books?
@HGRich I haven't taken one yet but I am signing us up (more for DH's sake than mine, I'm confident in my abilities to figure it out). Maybe try saying your doctor recommended it, if you want to deflect his ticked-off-ness?
DD #1: April 2017 DD #2: May 2020 Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
@Magheeta Yes! I have been getting them a lot where they are REALLY noticable for quite some time (like 8 weeks now). With my daughter I didn't get them til the last couple weeks.. and not nearly as strong.. it kind of freaked me out at first but everythings been perfect.
@Magheeta yes! I get them so often. With DD1 I started getting them pretty frequently around 20 weeks. This time around I started getting them at 12 weeks. Seriously, I couldn't believe it. For me they are usually pretty painful and can last several minutes. The first time around I was concerned about that because you always hear that they shouldn't really be painful. For me they just are. Like, I need to pause and lean against something and just breath through it sometimes. They feel pretty similar to early labor contractions. The only difference is that real contractions wrap around my whole body and BH, even though they can really hurt, stay only in my belly. I can definitely tell when I am a little dehydrated because they get very frequent. Saturday was a really horrible day for me and I ended up being super dehydrated by the evening. I was getting painful BH contractions every few minutes for over an hour. I just chugged like 80oz of water and they slowly went away, thankfully in time for me to go to sleep. Real contractions don't go away no matter how much water you drink. So before I freak out I drink a ton of water, put my feet up and give it an hour or two.
Me: 28 year old SAHM/Birth Doula DH: 30 year old pneumatic electrical engineer
Married: October 8, 2011
DD1: September 24, 2013 BFP: June 25, 2016 and MC: July 3, 2016 DD2: April 16, 2017 BFP: November 30, 2018 EDD: August 14, 2019
@HGRich - Yep! Those sound like BH to me. I didn't notice them with my first pregnancy, but now I feel them all the time. More so in the past 4-6 weeks I think. I've been staying hydrated the best I can, but there are still days where I think I do too much, physically, and so I have to stop what I'm doing to rest. I HATE not being able to go full speed, but I also know that I need to listen to by body, otherwise I'll really pay for it.
Also to answer your question about the child prep classes, see what all can be done online if possible, and if you decide to BF, bring DH along for that. It will help give him an idea that you will need his support more than anyone else. Sometimes guys just don't get it, so giving them a visual will really help.
@HappyAnjel & @mrsstuessy - the nurse at my OB office said they can be worse in subsequent pregnancies because your body already "knows" what to do. I've had days where I'm in pain and almost worried about going into preterm labor, but she said as long as they subside after laying down on my left side and drinking plenty of water, I shouldn't worry. Easier said than done, sometimes! I'm glad to know that it can be normal for them to be painful, too.
Thanks ladies. Good to know I'm not crazy haha. If I have a bout of three or so they always do go away but it's pretty uncomfortable. I'm trying to figure out what other triggers besides dehydration there might be so I can lessen them.
@catem07 I might just see if they offer an online version, though I know you can't ask questions that way. I guess we'll see what we have time for in the coming weeks. Let me know how yours goes.
@HGRich I second @Magheeta's suggestion of bringing him to a BF class. While BF-ing will be ALL you, it is incredibly important to have your husband's support. When I was in the thick of BF-ing, it was always nice to have DH there to remind me of certain techniques or tricks that they discussed in the class. Or even just to give me love and support.
I third it. We didn't do any classes or anything (clearly I like to wing things. ) but he did see the lactation consultant with me and having his support was HUGE. If it wasn't for his support I don't think I would have made it, and that's with no supply or latching issues.. I can only imagine the support is more important for someone who doesn't have it as "easy".
@KirstinH88@magheeta and @HappyAnjel good to know. I was just pointing out to him this weekend that I need him to know the mechanics of it to help when I'm frustrated. He tends to blithely respond "we'll be fine--you'll get it" to anything I express concern about, but I think it's really just a coping mechanism as he's internally freaking out. Hahaha. I got the idea to watch reruns of Scrubs on Netflix, and this weekend we watched the episodes where Carla and Turk have their baby, which, while not highly realistic, does address the importance of the husband's support at delivery, followed by an episode on being watchful for PPD, followed by an episode where Turk insisted they see a lactation consultant. I was super glad he was watching with me for all three. I was able to point out how knowledgeable and proactive Turk was about helping. I think he's getting the picture that we can't wing everything. Ha.
Anyway, will be making sure he attends these things with me. My hospital also has a bf support group for later if I need it.
@HGRich I don't know about where you are delivering, but our hospital had a requirement that we watch 3 videos from their "On Demand" menu before we were discharged - safe sleep, basic newborn care, and either breast or bottle feeding basics, whichever you were doing. It was super helpful for DH to see those things (and his best friend's wife is an IBCLC so he had been primed on that as well) once DS was HERE, because all of the sudden it was real and relevant for him. Maybe your hospital does something similar?
Update* went to the DR this afternoon. Doc said my BP is "definitely high" so I have to start checking it 3 times a day (guess I gotta get a monitor now) and I go back on Thursday for more labs.
@HGRich I have been having a lot of braxton hicks contractions for the past month or so, and what I have noticed helps is not only staying hydrated but also trying not to let my bladder get too full (I know...it's a balancing act lol). So I try to drink a lot of water throughout the day and also proactively use the bathroom really frequently even if I don't have to go at that moment. It's annoying but it works, at least for me.
@SnarkasaurusRex I haven't seen anything about requirements, but I think I've decided to go ahead and do whatever classes I can drag him to.
@taylor72 I'm glad you were able to monitor yourself over the weekend. Sorry you're having to check all the time now. Hoping it doesn't get problematic.
@kitkat8387 I've noticed that with my bladder too. It is such a balancing act. Haha. I'm tired of taking a thousand trips to the bathroom at work. I don't envy teachers who can't go to the bathroom whenever they want! But the constant handwashing is drying out my hands and then I put lotion on only to wash it off a half hour later. All the weird, random little problems of pregnancy nobody tells you about.
@taylor72 Do you have an FSA or HSA? You might be able to pay for your monitor through that (might need a prescription but I'm sure your doc would give you one.)
DD #1: April 2017 DD #2: May 2020 Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
*lurking from May '17* Definitely call your provider right away if your BP is ever over 140 (top number) and/or 90 (bottom number). Probably fleeting and related to activity / anxiety / etc but not something I'd wait on. Especially if you're feeling weird (particularly if you have a headache that is new or changing, or your vision is wonky - seeing stars or blurry spots).
@LaceyRae25 DS hated the one we had, so I always just left him in the infant car seat and stuck it in the big part of the cart. For two kiddos, I plan on having DS sit in the seat, and either putting the infant seat in the cart or wearing baby girl (if we're getting a lot of stuff and need the room in the actual cart).
ETA (mostly for the FTMs because you may already know): It's SUPER unsafe to put the infant car seat on the front of the cart where the seat is. It does not latch in and makes your cart top heavy so it can tip and dump your LO on the ground. Safest place to put the infant car seat is in the main body of the cart.
@SnarkasaurusRex That's exactly what I did. I also have a double stroller (City Select) so if I knew we'd be doing more walking than shopping I'd just use the stroller.
Anyone have any shower hostess gift ideas? I have two girlfriends (early 30's), who are hosting my shower in a week and a half and I'm struggling with what to get them as a thank you gift! They both have an infant son (9-12 months) so I was trying to think of some sort of mama pampering kit. Just trying to get ideas thanks!
@schef070911 - I have never hosted a shower but my mom has and one time she received a vase of flowers and a gift certificate for our local spa. I think it had enough for a pedicure, she loved it.
@SnarkasaurusRex while pregnant with DD I was at Walmart one day and a mom went over the curb and the carseat fell off the cart and hit the hard pavement in the parking lot. My heart dropped. Before that I probably wouldn't have thought twice about it!
Caffeine: I drink one 8 oz cup of coffee a day and have since I got pregnant. Does anyone know as we progress along with our pregnancy if we need to keep restricting our caffeine or is it less dangerous the further along we get. I'm just so tired. I actually find myself getting angry at people on tv who drink coffee.
@aboxofchocolates I think the highest risk of adverse effects is in the first 12 weeks. At this point, the effect is much less significant (still technically a substance that can affect the fetus but extremely unlikely to cause the same harm as in the 1st tri - which was MC).
@aboxofchocolates I don't know but I hope not. I'm with you. I didn't have any in first tri and have let myself have 4-6oz a day in the second. I wanted to stop again in the third, but I can't decide if I should. Honestly if decaf was available I'd have that and see if the placebo affect worked, but I don't know. What I miss most though is sweet tea, and that's never available in decaf at restaurants or by the gallon. And I could chug that stuff like it's water.
I drink soda and I drink caffeinated iced tea (like HGRich I could drink it by the gallon) so I have caffeine every day though I do make sure not to overdo it.. I gave it all up for DD and had headaches that lasted weeks at a time. I was miserable.. this time I've had an odd one here and there but nothing like last time and they haven't lasted more than a day.
Re: Questions - January Edition
Sounds like you're convinced, but for anyone else on the fence, dryer sheets are just full of terrible stuff. Here's just a quick list:
https://healthylivinghowto.com/healthy-body-7-toxic-reasons-to-ditch-dryer-sheets/
When I started really reading about what they are made of, I couldn't get rid of them fast enough.
DH: 36
Married 5 years
DD born 8/30/13
#2 expected 4/25/17
ETA that they only do tours if you also take a class, and I'm too cheap for that.
Baby Boy due 04/07/17
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
@HGRich that sounds to me like Braxton Hicks.
Baby Boy due 04/07/17
DH: 30 year old pneumatic electrical engineer
BFP: June 25, 2016 and MC: July 3, 2016
DD2: April 16, 2017
BFP: November 30, 2018 EDD: August 14, 2019
Also to answer your question about the child prep classes, see what all can be done online if possible, and if you decide to BF, bring DH along for that. It will help give him an idea that you will need his support more than anyone else. Sometimes guys just don't get it, so giving them a visual will really help.
@HappyAnjel & @mrsstuessy - the nurse at my OB office said they can be worse in subsequent pregnancies because your body already "knows" what to do. I've had days where I'm in pain and almost worried about going into preterm labor, but she said as long as they subside after laying down on my left side and drinking plenty of water, I shouldn't worry. Easier said than done, sometimes! I'm glad to know that it can be normal for them to be painful, too.
@catem07 I might just see if they offer an online version, though I know you can't ask questions that way. I guess we'll see what we have time for in the coming weeks. Let me know how yours goes.
Married: 5/30/2013
DSS #1: 5/25/2007
DSS #2: 1/22/2011
DS #3: 7/8/2012
BFP: 3/14/2016 ~ MC: 3/19/2016
DS #4: 4/21/17
Baby Boy due 04/07/17
Anyway, will be making sure he attends these things with me. My hospital also has a bf support group for later if I need it.
Baby Boy due 04/07/17
MMC @ 10w March 2016Cautiously expecting April 5, 2017
<a href="http://lilypie.com/"><img src="http://lmtf.lilypie.com/ZBoVm5.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Maternity tickers" /></a>
@taylor72 I'm glad you were able to monitor yourself over the weekend. Sorry you're having to check all the time now. Hoping it doesn't get problematic.
@kitkat8387 I've noticed that with my bladder too. It is such a balancing act. Haha. I'm tired of taking a thousand trips to the bathroom at work. I don't envy teachers who can't go to the bathroom whenever they want! But the constant handwashing is drying out my hands and then I put lotion on only to wash it off a half hour later. All the weird, random little problems of pregnancy nobody tells you about.
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
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ETA (mostly for the FTMs because you may already know): It's SUPER unsafe to put the infant car seat on the front of the cart where the seat is. It does not latch in and makes your cart top heavy so it can tip and dump your LO on the ground. Safest place to put the infant car seat is in the main body of the cart.
Baby Boy due 04/07/17
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Baby Boy due 04/07/17