first time mom (ftm) check in 2/15 (plus second time mom+ questions)

BecauseLove

First Time Mom CHECK IN: 
How far along are you?

What is your due date?

Are you having a singleton or multiples? 

Upcoming appointments this week?

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings?

Rants/Raves/Questions? 

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? 

Questions for Second Time Mom+? 

Aly0430

How far along are you? 10 + 4

What is your due date? September 10

Are you having a singleton or multiples? Singleton unless u/s proves otherwise.

Upcoming appointments this week? Nope.

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings?

I'm able to eat more, though I have to eat more than one thing because eating too much of something makes me sicker than a dog. Round ligament pains if I stand up fast. More energy, but mornings are still torturous with IBS, nausea, and fatigue. I usually feel better by evening, as long as I keep up a regular eating schedule.

Rants/Raves/Questions? 

Props to my DH for being so understanding when I feel like death and don't want to get out of bed to feed him.

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? 

"Is acetaminophen safe for pregnancy?"

Questions for Second Time Mom+? 

Around how many weeks did you notice a tapering of symptoms? 

mrs_tacos

How far along are you? 10+2

What is your due date? September 10th

Are you having a singleton or multiples? Singleton here. When I consider delivery, one seems like more than enough!

Upcoming appointments this week? Nope. Not for a few weeks yet.

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings? My new nausea medicine has been great, and I'm experiencing true cravings for the first time in my pregnancy! Give me alllllll the sandwiches and bagels. Also, I am more tired this week than I think I've ever been in my life. 

Rants/Raves/Questions? 

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? I googled the names of a few local maternity consignment shops. Maternity shirts still look weird on me, but I already have one pair of (very comfy) maternity leggings, I think a few more pairs of pants are in my near future. 

Questions for Second Time Mom+? How did/do you deal with unwanted advice and touching. I had my first run-in with someone wanting to give me advice, and it was awful. I'm usually a pretty assertive person, but I didn't know how to tell this other mom that I disagreed with literally everything she was saying, and we're basically approaching our pregnancies completely differently. So I just smiled and nodded, and excused myself as soon as I could, but it was painful.

HollyGolightly09

How far along are you? 10+5

What is your due date? Sept 7

Are you having a singleton or multiples? just one 

Upcoming appointments this week? was supposed to be Friday, but ended up going yesterday because of some brown discharge and cramping. My PGAL self MAY have over reacted a little. They did a full workup so she said to just cancel Friday's and schedule for a month from yesterday. 

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings?  just the discharge and cramping

Rants/Raves/Questions?  

Rant- I've been on bedrest all day, ugh

Raves- got to see baby moving around on an US yesterday, which was pretty awesome. And my Drs office got me in immediately because I was so worried, even though my symptoms can be very normal.

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? Causes of cramping at 10 weeks pregnant 

BookitBoo

@Aly0430. Generally around the 40 week mark, and then onset new symptoms

mercury94

How far along are you? 8w4d

What is your due date? 9/22/17

Are you having a singleton or multiples? Just one baby. U/s confirmed last Friday.

Upcoming appointments this week? Nope. Next appointment at 12 weeks.

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings? Just more intense. Yesterday the nausea and exhaustion were so bad I had to leave work. I am eating a lot more.

Rants/Raves/Questions? I'm going to take a second to brag about how awesome DH is. He is very busy with work and night classes right now and does everything he can to take care of me and the house, because he knows how tired I am.

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? I can't remember exactly, but it was some sort of food and pregnancy. 

name1109

HollyGolightly09 said:

How far along are you? 10+5

What is your due date? Sept 7

Are you having a singleton or multiples? just one 

Upcoming appointments this week? was supposed to be Friday, but ended up going yesterday because of some brown discharge and cramping. My PGAL self MAY have over reacted a little. They did a full workup so she said to just cancel Friday's and schedule for a month from yesterday. 

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings?  just the discharge and cramping

Rants/Raves/Questions?  

Rant- I've been on bedrest all day, ugh

Raves- got to see baby moving around on an US yesterday, which was pretty awesome. And my Drs office got me in immediately because I was so worried, even though my symptoms can be very normal.

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? Causes of cramping at 10 weeks pregnant 

You are the mom....don't apologize for being worried.  This is my third and I had them check the heart beat because I was sure I'd lost the baby.  I'm afraid I've felt that way with my kids too...we may have rushed to the ER when I was certain she had blood in her diaper....nope...I'd forgotten she'd eaten carrots for the first time...

cramps....keep following your instincts.

name1109

You just have to be strong in your decisions. The advice doesn't stop when they're born.  The number of times people have frowned at my now 4 yr old.  I generally say something neutral and do my own thing.  Thank you...then they will say something like oh you'll change when your baby is born.  I found it helpful to find a Facebook group that had similar ideas to me.  It's nice to have peers who support you.

amandarene112 said:

How far along are you? 10+2

What is your due date? September 10th

Are you having a singleton or multiples? Singleton here. When I consider delivery, one seems like more than enough!

Upcoming appointments this week? Nope. Not for a few weeks yet.

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings? My new nausea medicine has been great, and I'm experiencing true cravings for the first time in my pregnancy! Give me alllllll the sandwiches and bagels. Also, I am more tired this week than I think I've ever been in my life. 

Rants/Raves/Questions? 

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? I googled the names of a few local maternity consignment shops. Maternity shirts still look weird on me, but I already have one pair of (very comfy) maternity leggings, I think a few more pairs of pants are in my near future. 

Questions for Second Time Mom+? How did/do you deal with unwanted advice and touching. I had my first run-in with someone wanting to give me advice, and it was awful. I'm usually a pretty assertive person, but I didn't know how to tell this other mom that I disagreed with literally everything she was saying, and we're basically approaching our pregnancies completely differently. So I just smiled and nodded, and excused myself as soon as I could, but it was painful.

seasqrd

First Time Mom CHECK IN: 
How far along are you? 

 - 11 weeks today 

What is your due date? 

 - Sept 6th 2017 

Are you having a singleton or multiples? 

- Singleton

Upcoming appointments this week? 

 - Registered Dietician - no OB till March 

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings? 

 - Starting to get more cramping which I guess is normal, same old morning sickness still hanging in there, no real changes. 

Rants/Raves/Questions? 

 - Rant... The dangers of giving your significant other a book about being a daddy - I'm not happy about particularly: 

....that my fiance is humoring me about showing. I'm 11 weeks and can still fit into just about everything I own. I think I can notice a difference in my body, actually I'm sure of it - not much to be honest, but a slight rounding of the stomach. He doesn't see it at all but he's a guy, however he does 'pretend' to see it - which is fairly obvious and overdone... Which I guess also is very sweet in a way but he doesn't have to basically lie either. I think he read it one of the books I gave him. Smh. Still nice he's trying to be supportive, even when it's obviously exaggerated. 

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? 
 - When can the baby hear inside the womb ( btw but most say around 16 - 26 weeks )  

Questions for Second Time Mom+? 

 - When did you start getting maternity clothes?  Also where do you buy plus sized maternity clothes over a 3x ...or don't you?  It looks like you just don't, as in they don't exist, but there's your million-dollar-idea for those who want to go into business lol 

sugarrush

@amandarene112  Regarding the unwanted advice, I had to do what you did.  Just smile and nod.  Its like if you explain why you feel differently, it just furthers the discussion.  I would just smile and nod and then say "oh interesting" and then change the subject.  I was pregnant with 3 other girls in my office last time and oooo weee was that interesting.  

@Seapb  I found that Old Navy was the best for plus size maternity clothing.  Their clothes are cute, comfortable, affordable, stretchy.  I seriously lived in like 6 shirts my entire pregnancy.  I think Motherhood Maternity and Destination Maternity was the WORST and way overpriced for everything and they are not modeled for the realistic plus size.  I also recommend layering.  Old Navy maternity tank tops were a life saver -- I'd wear them because they made them very long in length so it was easy to stay in the same ones throughout the duration of my pregnancy, and then I'd couple it with a cardigan/open sweater type deal, and if I needed to dress up my look I'd just add jewelry. It worked out really well for me the first time around.  Not sure what I'm going to do for the summer because last time I was pregnant over winter, so I'm hoping that I can still get away with layering at least with a cardigan.  I think its important to have a couple pieces of clothing before you start blowing up in size and then you should buy as you grow, since you don't really know what your size will be like as the baby gets bigger.

ColoradoHiker

@Aly0430 I'm a bad example, but my nausea didn't stop until 18w.  *However*, most of my friends had symptoms slow down around 12-14w.  I had a week or so around 12w where my nausea improved, and then came back full force.  This is a thing, and it sucks.  

@amandarene112   It depends on who is giving the advice.  If it is someone who I know won't lose their mind, I'll share my ideas on whatever they're giving advice about, even if it doesn't line up with theirs.  If it's just some random person, I smile and nod, and move on.  As for touching, I have a big personal bubble.  I thankfully didn't have many people who tried to touch me, but when they did (my mom was a HUGE problem as far as belly touching), I told them firmly but politely that I didn't want to be touched.  It made a huge difference if the person asked, vs just lunging for my stomach.

@Seapb I'm one of those terrible people who didn't need maternity clothes for a long time.  I'm tall and have a long torso, so that helped a lot.  But to be honest, I mostly bought clothes with longer hemlines, I only had a handful of maternity tank tops that I wore with cardigans most of the time, and a few long sleeve shirts, since DS was born in November.  Here is a link  to a webpage I found listing some plus size maternity clothing sites.  There are some at the bottom that link to some companies that do 4-6X sizing that look like they aren't necessarily maternity, but could be used as such.

labby18

How far along are you?
9wks 3days

What is your due date?
September 17th!

Are you having a singleton or multiples? 
Just one!

Upcoming appointments this week?
Nada til March 10th

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings?
Emotional Basket Case.

Rants/Raves/Questions? 
Nada

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? 
The Non-Invasive Pregnancy Tests and the Nuchal Translucency Screening. 

Questions for Second Time Mom+? 
Nada today.

BecauseLove

First Time Mom CHECK IN: 
How far along are you? 8 Weeks

What is your due date? 9/27

Are you having a singleton or multiples? Singleton

Upcoming appointments this week? Appt with our clinic nurse today and tomorrow with the clinic Dr. 

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings? 

Craving acidic foods and fruit. 
Symptoms...heartburn, restless at night, tired 

Rants/Raves/Questions? 

Hysterical Valentines Day Moment: I was exhausted so instead of going out for dinner I got dinner for us to eat at home. At some point in the meal I told my husband I just had to go to bed. So he went to tuck me in...and I seriously had some edges of tears because the bed was so comfortable....I am not a crier so this was so odd for me! 

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? 

Probably the due date and the info that goes along with it about what weeks equal what part of the trimester. That or something about if I need to sleep on my side. 
Questions for Second Time Mom+? 

Who did you have in the room with you during birth (other than dr's and nurses or midwives)?
How did you and your partner pick your kiddos name (come to a consensus)?
How soon did you place your child into day care (if you did) after birth?
If you had a girl...and told people you were having a girl...how did you avoid having people tilt to tons of frilly and pink gifts? 

JNR6510

How far along are you?

9+5

What is your due date?

9/17 based on when I'm pretty sure I ovulated based on temping, OPKs, etc.

Are you having a singleton or multiples? 

Single

Upcoming appointments this week?

Nope. Nothing until 3/8 for the NT scan and genetic screening.

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings?

My sinuses have started flaring up more and more. No cravings really. Just keep finding smells that make me sick like garlic or scrambled eggs.

Rants/Raves/Questions? 

We move into our new house in 5 days! Whoohoo! I cannot wait. Just need to get DH to finally nail down our paint selections since my FIL and MIL are generously painting the house for me before we move in. They don't know we are expecting yet, so I am hoping to incorporate a cute surprise announcement into the whole ordeal. Also debating just doing a family BBQ once we are unpacked to tell the family.

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? 

Announcement and nursery ideas. 

ColoradoHiker

@BecauseLove

Who did you have in the room with you during birth (other than dr's and nurses or midwives)?  Just DH.  My mom was very insistent about being there, and I told her no.  Full stop.  But you can have whoever you want!  I think there's a limit of maybe 2 support persons, depending on your hospital.

How did you and your partner pick your kiddos name (come to a consensus)?  Ha.  We had a list, but we didn't actually decide until maybe a week before DS was born, and that was bc I had Braxton's so bad I thought it was real labor.  We tossed names back and forth for months after we knew it was a boy, and eventually started writing down the ones that kept coming up, that we both liked.  We each had veto power if we didn't like a name.

How soon did you place your child into day care (if you did) after birth?  I had a weird situation, I lost my job after I had DS, so I was at home for 5 months with him.  If I hadn't lost my job, it would have been at 12w.  Most daycares require babies to be 6w before they will take them, I think it has to do with immunizations.

If you had a girl...and told people you were having a girl...how did you avoid having people tilt to tons of frilly and pink gifts?  I'm totally not a frilly pink person.  But, this is probably something you will have to deal with if you have a girl, especially in the first year.  90% of the baby girl clothing I've seen was pink and frilly or flowery.  I think your best bet is to make your wishes known, but realize that it is kind of hard to find that stuff.  You can also lean towards some of the neutral baby outfits (yellows/ whites and greens, Carters has some).   There's also a website called Primary that has only solids, but their outfits are $$$.  Like, $10 for one onesie. 

coastalmomma2

Questions for Second Time Mom+? 

Who did you have in the room with you during birth (other than dr's and nurses or midwives)?
I only had my husband -- our family lives about six hours away, but even if they lived closer I would have likely only wanted him. I needed to focus on myself and the labor process rather than worrying about other people. Als

How did you and your partner pick your kiddos name (come to a consensus)?
We had a list of names that we both thought were acceptable. Every week we called the baby by a different name when we referred to him. That way, we were able to weed out names that didn't quite fit.

How soon did you place your child into day care (if you did) after birth?
I went back to work 6 months following delivery. Finding a day care that I was comfortable leaving my son with was definitely complicated. 

If you had a girl...and told people you were having a girl...how did you avoid having people tilt to tons of frilly and pink gifts? 
Good question -- I'd like to know this one too! I know my MIL and SIL will go mad with animal prints and fills should it come about that we are having a girl. 

BigBadWolf12

@becauselove my aunt made it very clear to everyone that she didn't want her girls wearing pink frilly outfits. Almost their entire wardrobe was purple.... I would say probably don't have gift giving events if you're having a girl, have told people you're having a girl, and don't want a lot of pink frilly clothes.

How far along are you? 8+3

What is your due date? sept24 now

Are you having a singleton or multiples? singleton

Upcoming appointments this week? had one today. Due date got bumped up a day, so that's nice:)

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings? I've had food aversion for the last week and tonight I all of a sudden got hungry. I split a thin crust frozen pizza with DH half and half and felt like I had eaten nothing...

Rants/Raves/Questions?  nope, unless anyone has any great ideas for skype announcements to siblings...dh's parents know and were skyping them with his three siblings who are visiting for the long weekend in Ontario thus coming weekend, and we can't think of anything good!! We might just end up slipping an "aunt" or "uncle" before one of their names at some point and see who notices...

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? last night freaking out before the ultrasound today, I googled odds of a missed miscarriage after a previous natural/spontaneous miscarriage..not proud...

sugarrush

@BecauseLove

Who did you have in the room with you during birth (other than dr's and nurses or midwives)?
My husband and my mom pretty much forced her way in, against my wishes.  She just "didn't see what the big deal" was.  And then proceeded to tell me how mean I was being pre-epidural and then cried when the doctor said I was having a c-section.  Yeah... never again.

How did you and your partner pick your kiddos name (come to a consensus)?
One day I said the name, he liked it too, and then we just were like OK thats it.  We are pretty decisive people so when we like it, we stick with it.

How soon did you place your child into day care (if you did) after birth?
I went back to work part time at 9 weeks, and then full time at 12 weeks.
 
If you had a girl...and told people you were having a girl...how did you avoid having people tilt to tons of frilly and pink gifts? 
Most of what I registered for was gender neutral items (high chair, swing, etc.).  I also relied on the word of mouth.  We really did not need/want clothes -- we literally got 4 tubs of hand-me-downs from my SIL and I didn't register for a single outfit because I rather wanted the other things that we actually neeeded from my registry.  However people love buying clothes -- whether you want it or not.  And they buy what THEY like and THEY think is cute, and really don't take into consideration what your style is.  I don't think its meant as a personal jab, I think they just get excited at the prospect of buying what they think is cute.  So my advice is to say thank you and return return return!!  It blows me away when people pre-wash all of their clothes before the baby is born.  I returned so. much. clothes (of the stuff I kept until after she was born) because she either didn't fit it because it was newborn size or because I just changed my mind.  I seriously had like $200 in gift cards to BBB because of my returns.  Sorry to go off on a tangent there, but in short my advice is to try to have others 'spread the word' on your behalf or return everything you don't want and take the store credit for what you do what  

wannabeamongoose

@BigBadWolf12 I do like the idea of calling one of them aunt or uncle or even calling the parents grandma/grandpa. Or maybe you could wear one of those cutesy shirts that says something about your bump and wait until they figure it out. 

HollyGolightly09

I do have a question! Sorry if this has been asked before...  How hard was breast feeding in the beginning? Was there anything that made it better or worse?

juliebeannn

How far along are you? 11+3

What is your due date? 9/3/17

Are you having a singleton or multiples? Just one!

Upcoming appointments this week? Nope, but we should have the results of the NIPT tomorrow or Friday!

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings?  Symptoms are being masked by the flu.  

Rants/Raves/Questions? The flu can kiss my ass.  Luckily, the antivirals are working and I'm somewhat functional today.  But man, my throat is still on fire and the cough is killing me.  

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? 
Can the flu cause a miscarriage?  (I've been using my doppler more than usual to make sure baby's still doing ok.)

Questions for Second Time Mom+? 
What was the sleeping arrangement that worked best for you when baby came home?  Bassinet in your bedroom?  Did you use the crib in the nursery from the very beginning?  

coastalmomma2

HollyGolightly09 said:

I do have a question! Sorry if this has been asked before...  How hard was breast feeding in the beginning? Was there anything that made it better or worse?

Breast feeding was much more difficult than I thought it would be. It was awkward and difficult for me to get a good latch. But, the hospital I delivered at offered free lactation consultant services and breast feeding support groups. Those were both so helpful in becoming comfortable with nursing. And, the breast feeding support group was a great way to meet other moms. 

mrsvp614

How far along are you? 12 weeks today!

What is your due date? Aug 31st

Are you having a singleton or multiples? Just one

Upcoming appointments this week? 12 week appt isn't until next week

Any new symptoms or changes or cravings? Tired and vivid dreams. ETA headaches! I usually don't drink soda, but I've found a bit of caffeine brings me some relief. I've had some pain in my upper chest/shoulder this week, but I think I slept on something weird or pulled a muscle.

Rants/Raves/Questions? Still waiting for results from our Counsyl Informed Pregnancy Screening. I was really hoping to get them back before another weekend. Another rant, my doctor emailed me that she wants me to start taking baby aspirin every day. 

GTKY: What is the last thing you googled regarding being pregnant or having a baby? Baby aspirin during pregnancy. (see rant) It apparently lowers the risk of pre-e, and since I already have high blood pressure, I guess that's a concern. Hoping to learn more at my appt next week.

Questions for Second Time Mom+? Same question as @juliebeann

Plus, I know this will vary depending on risk factors, but how many blood tests did you get during your pregnancy? I'm floored by how much money I owe after the initial blood test, and I'm wondering how many more I should expect. (Also plan to ask my doc next week) 

BookitBoo

Re: blood tests, I had one each trimester but I think that is more frequent than most people get because I don't have a complete thyroid.

re: breast feeding it was the was most difficult thing in the world. I never was able to establish a good BF relationship for a variety of reasons that were different with each pregnancy

Sprite2012

HollyGolightly09 said:

I do have a question! Sorry if this has been asked before...  How hard was breast feeding in the beginning? Was there anything that made it better or worse?

@HollyGolightly09 I think it's different for every woman. It depends on your nipples, your milk, your sensitivity, the baby's latch, who shows you things, your support system (probably the most important), etc. While "getting the hang" of this, your pregnancy hormones crash and breastfeeding spikes. I, personally, was far more in the category of crazy with breastfeeding hormones, so add that to the list above. You're also extremely vulnerable as a new mom, no matter how prepared and well-read you are. And you're newly sleep deprived. So, in my experience, all of that equated to an emotional and physical struggle. You need support in every way. You need someone wiping your tears, cheering you on, feeding you snacks, reminding you of your confidence and that you can absolutely do this. 

For me, it was among the most emotionally and physically draining things I've ever done. The first couple months are hard. The first couple weeks are exhausting. I have never (and probably never will) experienced anything quite like that. And here I am, like the lunatic I was during that time, bound and determined to do it all over again.  It's rewarding, it's beautiful, and it's something you cherish. You'll walk away from it proud and a whole lot stronger. It's worth the struggle. I did it for a year and would do it a thousand times again for that little boy (even though it made me nuts). For me, and most all other FTMs I know and some STMs, it's hard. Read as much as you can on breastfeeding. Learn how how body works, what increases/decreases your supply, how to take care of yourself during, etc. The more you know, the better off you'll be when the hard part happens. 

sugarrush

@HollyGolightly09  Breastfeeding came easy for me.  The nurse asked me if I planned on breastfeeding (right after delivering) and I said yes and she put her right up to my boob and I was like whoa, okay this is happening, lol!  It wasn't painful but the best way I can describe it was like a tugging inside my boob as the colostrum moved through.  DD was able to latch no problem and sometimes it was painful but I think I was mildly engorged at times and the breastfeeding helped relieve that.  My only regret is that I didn't breastfeed longer, however my commute to work at the time made it too difficult so I stopped when I went back to work full time.  Another thing I wish I knew that no one told me was how exhausted I would feel after breastfeeding, I felt like I ran a marathon every time!

@juliebeannn @MrsVP614 DD slept in the rock n play for the first few months, and we kept the spare bed in DD room so I slept in there, with the rock n play next to the bed.  Due to getting up for many feedings during the first few weeks, I just felt it made more sense this way and to let DH sleep in the master to get the sleep he needed for work.  When I started supplementing with formula, DH would join me in the DD room to sleep/help with feedings, and I'd eventually send him back to the master to get good sleep.  Once I went back to work, she transitioned into crib and we'd switch off on night care.

sparksfly

@amandarene112 I'd say you did exactly the right thing. Every has opinions and wants to share them. Listen but don't feel the need to agree nor the need to change anyone else's mind. All parents are different and all kids are different. What works for one person doesn't work for another. 

@BecauseLove I only wanted DH in the delivery room. In hindsight, it would have been nice to have someone else there to take a few pictures, but I felt like additional people would have been more stressful to me. The advice our birthing class instructor gave was to bring the people who would make you most comfortable - some people like having more people to give more distraction and others like fewer to keep things calm. Totally your preference. As far as frilly girl clothes, that was the #1 reason I didn't share the sex before birth. We told our parents and I was pretty candid about my preferences for clothing. I second PP's in returning (or re-gifting) clothes you don't like.

@BigBadWolf12 We told my sister via skype. We'd gotten my parents mugs that said "World's Coolest Grandparent" and at some point my dad lifted his mug to take a sip and she figured it out It was fun!

@HollyGolightly09  Check and see if your hospital offers a breastfeeding class. Mine did (for free) and it was taught by the hospital's lactation consultant. It really helped me in those early days to have been taught what was normal and some helpful tips to get started. Also, don't hesitate to contact the lactation consultant while you're in the hospital after delivery. She really helped me with positioning, knowing what a latch was like. The other big thing - don't let the nurses and hospital staff stress you out! Those first few days babies sleep a lot and the nurses expected her to breastfeed 20 minutes on each side. DD would barely stay awake for 5-10 minutes (what they do get those first days is extremely calorie rich). The day after I got home from the hospital, my milk came in and it was so much easier for her to nurse after that.
 
@juliebeannn I think pediatricians recommend room sharing (not bed sharing) for the first 6 months. That being said, we had DD in her crib in her own room from day 1. Our bedroom did not have space for her, plus she was a super noisy sleeper and I couldn't get a good nights rest with her in our room. Do what works for you! 

sarahufl

@juliebeannn - crib from day one, in her own room. I am still very happy with that decision and will do it for future children. None of us sleep well when we share a room. Plus, there was no transition later. It is helpful that she was a very good sleeper, so it wasn't difficult for us.

@HollyGolightly09 - breastfeeding was (and still is) extremely easy for us. I know a lot of people who have had issues, but that is (sadly) something you can't really prepare for. Take a class, meet with a consultant, and hope for the best. Any issues you may have aren't something that will be obvious to you now, so try to educate yourself as much as you can and just address any issues as they come along.

@BecauseLove - I had DH in the room with me and that's it. My sister is the only other person I would consider allowing in with me. Also, RE: the clothes. We didn't find out what we were having and people STILL bought us piles of extremely boy and extremely girl clothing. In fact, we probably got twice what most people get because people thought we needed an entire wardrobe for both possibilities. I returned what I could and donated a bunch. We also live in New York, DD was born in April and people bought summer clothes in size 9 months.....which she never wore because it gets cold here. 

ColoradoHiker

@HollyGolightly09 BFing is such an individual thing.  I've seen moms who swore they would never touch formula end up never successfully being able to BC.  I've also seen moms who swore they would never BF end up loving it.  You just never know how it will be until you get there.  You might have inverted nipples, baby might have a tongue/ lip tie.  Baby may just never latch properly, or it might be the easiest thing you've ever done.  

FWIW, I never wanted to BF, but I'm all for saving money if I can.  I ended up exclusively pumping (EPing) for almost a year.  It was hard in the beginning, but I figured it wasn't any more difficult than BFing would have been for me (I'm very private and BFing in public would have been a no-go for me).  I also had to supplement with formula as my supply dropped towards the end.  If you want to try BFing, go for it!  If you don't, that's okay, too.  

Cats*in*space

My girlfriend gave me some of her old maternity/breastfeeding bras.  I'm already wearing them as I'm spilling out of my normal bras.  How much bigger (how many cup sizes) did you go up? I'm thinking I'll need to order even larger ones.

mamagabby-2

HollyGolightly09 said:

I do have a question! Sorry if this has been asked before...  How hard was breast feeding in the beginning? Was there anything that made it better or worse?

My daughter latched immediately, no problems, and I nursed until 1 year. It was helpful to have a lactation consultant come in not long after the birth and show me how to get a proper latch, I think it took us 10 minutes and DD was good from there! The first 1-2 weeks I was blistering on my nipples and it was hurting pretty badly; I used breastmilk whenever she was finished to wipe on them to help heal/mosturize (that stuff is magic haha).

mamagabby-2

Questions for Second Time Mom+? 

What was the sleeping arrangement that worked best for you when baby came home?  Bassinet in your bedroom?  Did you use the crib in the nursery from the very beginning?  

We used a bassinet right next to the bed for the first 3 months, until she started rolling/trying to sit up. Moved to the crib in our room after that, until a little over a year.
I highly recommend having a bassinet next to the bed for the first few months if you are breastfeeding, so much less effort than getting out of bed every time baby wakes up to eat (more sleep for mama!).

mamagabby-2

Questions for Second Time Mom+? 

Who did you have in the room with you during birth (other than dr's and nurses or midwives)?
How did you and your partner pick your kiddos name (come to a consensus)?
How soon did you place your child into day care (if you did) after birth?
If you had a girl...and told people you were having a girl...how did you avoid having people tilt to tons of frilly and pink gifts? 

Just my husband and I during the birth; I told family ahead of time that they were welcome to wait at the hospital, but would not be able to meet DD until after we moved from the delivery room (2-3 hours post delivery). My parents, 1 brother, DH's parents, 1 brother, all waited the whole time. They were in the room part of labor, hanging out after I got my epidural. DD was born 1am, they met her for 10min at 4am.

I told DH the name, he wasn't sure, I kept calling her by that name until he eventually liked it (he now claims he came up with it haha).

We registered for big things and gender neutral, no clothes. Still ended up with a lot of girly stuff from baby shower, but a lot of it was stuff from the registry. I returned what I hated and didn't use the stuff that couldn't be returned (most of it donated).

SummerGirl21

Breastfeeding was very painful the first few weeks.  Like...no words. I highly recommend seeing a lactation consultant in the early days. It seems like more hospitals are offering that service, but if yours doesn't and you feel like you just want help or confirmation that everything's okay, see someone.  The stress on top of everything else is not worth it.

I never name my kids until I see them. We narrow down to a couple of names and hope one of them fits. It's worked so far. 

First delivery, H and mom were there. I kicked my mom out when I started to push, and she came back in after everything was over. Second delivery was just my H. Only your opinion counts for this. Period.

Both our kids slept in our bedroom (in a PNP) for the first 7-8 months, then we moved them to cribs in their rooms. Will do the same with this new one.

I think two blood tests per pregnancy are normal, not counting your GD test. 

First tri symptoms tend to taper around 10 weeks for me. But everyone is different. 

Re: girls clothing - I'm not a frilly person by any means, and I loathed the idea of a mostly-pink wardrobe. Unfortunately, unless you are going to be shopping at the more expensive stores, count on the wardrobe being pink/purple/turquoise. I think I told my mom, sisters, and H about not wanting pink stuff (or anything with monkeys...ugh), and it trickled down on its own. You'll still get some stuff you aren't crazy about, but I choose to be grateful for the gift and hope they included a gift receipt.  ;-)

wannabeamongoose

CoastalMomma said:

HollyGolightly09 said:

I do have a question! Sorry if this has been asked before...  How hard was breast feeding in the beginning? Was there anything that made it better or worse?

Breast feeding was much more difficult than I thought it would be. It was awkward and difficult for me to get a good latch. But, the hospital I delivered at offered free lactation consultant services and breast feeding support groups. Those were both so helpful in becoming comfortable with nursing. And, the breast feeding support group was a great way to meet other moms. 

This. If there is a local support group join it. Nursing was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life and if it hadn't been for the opportunity to see that other mommas were struggling just as hard I think would have had a total and complete meltdown. Even if it's not hard for you, there is something powerful about finding solidarity with other moms so whether it's a breastfeeding group or playgroup or mommy yoga, find a way to connect with other mommas because at some point you'll need the support.

Texafornian

@BecauseLoveWho did you have in the room with you during birth (other than dr's and nurses or midwives)? Just hubby...

How did you and your partner pick your kiddos name (come to a consensus)? We made a list and went back and forth...was important for me to have influence in first/middle since he got the last name and we didn't know we'd have more than one.

How soon did you place your child into day care (if you did) after birth? She didn't start an MDO (Mother's Day out) program until 2ish. Hubby and I alternated wastching her at first because our schedules were flexible. Then I became a SAHM. 

If you had a girl...and told people you were having a girl...how did you avoid having people tilt to tons of frilly and pink gifts? Really no way around this other than register for stuff in the colors you want and if you get stuff you don't like...exchange. I was opposed to frills and pink and princesses by my DD is SOOOOO girly that she picks that crap out or gravitates toward it so it still made its way into our home lol

Texafornian

HollyGolightly09 said:

I do have a question! Sorry if this has been asked before...  How hard was breast feeding in the beginning? Was there anything that made it better or worse?

I struggled in the hospital and went through 2-3 lactation consultants...one even told me DD had a bit of a tongue tie that may need to be snipped (she didn't...advice there...don't jump to that conclusion and only have your pedi check on it if you continue to struggle). There was a traveling lactation consultant that comes to your house...she was INVALUABLE! She came out and man handled my boob and showed me various holds. It helped so much to have someone physically manipulate me into the hold rather than just show me with a doll etc. 


@juliebeannn my DD slept in the bassinet of the pack n play in our room for a bit and then we transitioned her to the flat mattress in it (elevated to almost bed height and right next to my bed). She was in our room for abt 4.5 months and then we transitioned to the crib.

Kimby883

@amandarene112 I had 2 responses for unwanted advise rolled my eyes and walked away or said "awe bless your heart" like you were looking at a moron trying to find their way out of a paper bag. 

@BecauseLove I only had DH during the actual birth but had my mom there while I labored and it was the best thing in the world. It's kinda like when you are sick and all you want is your mom but I have that kind of mom. I know a lot of women who's moms wouldn't be good in the delivery room. Names thing can't help I decided and he agreed. The girl thing maybe register for non-frilly things. My sil hates smocking but I love it so she just told people nothing smocking. Some will listen and some won't just be prepared to return a lot of things. I had a huge donation box for the really bad clothes that I didn't like but I was lucky to have all my neice's hand me downs. 


@juliebeannn we did the bassinet in our room for the first 3 months then because she was sleeping through the night we moved her into her crib in her room with a video monitor. 

@MrsVP614 I think I only got the initial blood work done and then the glucose test done. That's all I remember having to go to get done. I also didn't want any additional testing done because it wasn't going to change the course of action we were taking and the anatomy scan was fine.