Questions for STM+s 10/25

missblaze

TInman87

DH has had some kind of sickness since Friday, and inevitably, I woke up today with a very sore throat and coughing...what over the counter meds would you recommend. Dayquil/Nyquil worked wonders for DH but I'm sure that's off limits...

missblaze

@TInman87 I've had the cough from hell for a few weeks and my midwife recommended using a humidifier at night and sore throat lozenges during the day. Lots of rest and fluids. There are *some* over the counter meds you can take (like Tylenol), but I'd ask your OB what he/she is okay with.

jakobaby

We are in potty training mode with DS. He’s almost 2.5. He’s doing pretty well with it but likes to use the big potty and won’t use the portable. We’ve been rolling with it except I think I need a conversion for our seat. Poor kid struggles a bit to hold himself up which I can’t imagine is very comfortable for #2. Any reccos for what kind of seat to get? Any difference in seats that just sit on the adult seat and seats that are installed?

Cricket99

@TInman87 peppermint tea with honey and lemon as well as the lozenges. It will help coat your throat. Another weird one I’ve used before is eating a marshmallow to coat your throat before eating so it doesn’t hurt so much. 

missblaze

@jakobaby We have this one and love it.

crizz13

@jakobaby We have this on all of our toilets at home and LOVE it. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004CT50UA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

bainidhedub

@jakobaby We have this one and I would NOT get it again. It adds too much height, so even with a stepstool DS has to use his arms to boost himself onto it.
https://www.target.com/p/prince-lionheart-weepod-basix-potty-ring/-/A-15279879#lnk=sametab&preselect=13820869

BelhurstBride

@TInman87, I had the flu and bronchitis when I was pregnant with DD2. Unfortunately, there isn't anything good you can take. 

Try marshmallows for the sore throat and pineapple juice for the cough. 

Feel better! 

babymakes9

jakobaby said:

We are in potty training mode with DS. He’s almost 2.5. He’s doing pretty well with it but likes to use the big potty and won’t use the portable. We’ve been rolling with it except I think I need a conversion for our seat. Poor kid struggles a bit to hold himself up which I can’t imagine is very comfortable for #2. Any reccos for what kind of seat to get? Any difference in seats that just sit on the adult seat and seats that are installed?

You need this!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/BEMIS-NextStep-Children-s-Round-Closed-Front-Toilet-Seat-in-White-583SLOWA-000/206113101 
We have them on all the toilets 

smestadtj

Trying to figure out when my belly button ring needs to come out. I am 26 weeks right now and people are already making comments about my belly button popping out (even though it's my belly button ring). Not sure when I should take it out. 

TInman87

@smestadtj I had to take mine out months ago because the stretching was hurting me. I bought a maternity ring though and I put it in once a week just to make sure the hole hasn't grown back then I take it back out. So far so good.

steph30032

@smestadtj my first pregnancy I made it till about 20 weeks before I had to take it out. But I’d had it pierced for 8 years and after birth, I was able to get my belly ring back in with no issues. This time around, I only made it till 16 weeks before I took it out, but I’m pretty confident it won’t close up this time either...I mean I took mine out because it was stretching and painful (and my belly button has been popping out for months which grosses me out), but it is getting to colder weather. People won’t be seeing the piercing, and if your comfortable still, I say keep it in. Do whatever you want mama! 

smestadtj

@TInman87 and @steph30032 thanks so much ladies!! I've had it pierced for 15 years now. Not so concerned about it closing. Just more lazy than anything else. Lol but I will definitely keep an eye to make sure it doesn't start to hurt! 

mauera07

When did you first allow your LOs to have candy? I'm completely ridiculous with what I allow DS to eat, and I'm sure DH is going to want to give him Halloween candy. 

burnsmommy27

@maueraa07 I don't really give DD candy. She got cake at her first birthday and she has cookies occasionally. I did let her have a lollipop at the Halloween festival on Sunday. 

missblaze

@maueraa07 I'm pretty sure we gave DD candy at age 2 but only a small amount and in very special situations (she probably got M&Ms last Halloween).

Edit: tag

supercoolstephy

@maueraa07 ummmm... he had his first piece last halloween, and has a few here or there. Today he has already had 2 bite size pieces of a milky way while I was trick or treating with him at daycare. haha. I ate half of each. The mom tax, of course. He'll be 2 in like 3 weeks. Oof.

[Deleted User]

@maueraa07 we haven't done any either-I think our kiddos are close in age? DD is 16 months. She's only had desserts so far, but I may give her M&M's or Reese's or something since those are so melty.

mauera07

@schaze Yep, DS is 17 months! I may give in depending on how he is. I just don't want him to know that there are other delicious options out there that aren't healthy! haha
Thanks everyone, I guess holidays are a rare enough occasion that it isn't a big deal. 

cyanope

@maueraa07, I waited until DD was one before I gave her ANY sugar. I was super strict with it even though people gave me a hard time. She'll be 2 in January. Since then, I'll let her have bites of cake/cookies/ice cream on special occasions, and she's had a mini Wendy's frosty a couple of times. She has never really had a full piece of candy. If she sees me eating something (and I have been eating a LOT of candy lately), she'll ask for some, so I'll give her a tiny bite. I'm sure we'll give her candy tonight though (a piece or two). We've been telling her about trick or treating and she seems to understand the concept (when I brought her to daycare this morning and she realized where we were, she started crying and saying, "I go trick or treating!!), so she knows she'll be getting candy tonight. I would love to hide it after tonight, but I'm sure DH will sneak her pieces when I'm not looking!

steph30032

@maueraa07 I was very careful with what I gave DS when he was less than a year. No sugar, no juice, no candy, Then he got cake at his 1st Birthday last September, he got a couple soft chocolates for halloween, and we introduced watered down juice around 18months in March. This year at Halloween I’m planning on being a lot more lenient. I’ll avoide the hard candies and choking hazards but I don’t necessarily see anything wrong with giving him some candy here and there. He’s in the process of potty training so I plan on using the Halloween candy as “rewards” for when he goes. Just gotta make sure to brush his teeth extra good every night lol

crizz13

First sugar was at a year (on her birthday). Now that she's almost three, we've become more relaxed (though we still don't do juice). She first got candy when we potty trained and we used m&ms. 

Jmedeiros24

My daughter is 14 months but has never had candy. Like many, she had cake on her first bday and some cookies and a taste of ice cream since.

sbishop426

DS is 16mos and we don't give him candy- he eats so much healthier than us haha. And no smash cake at his birthday which my mom made a fuss about. He has plenty of energy without processed sugar lol so I'm kinda scared to try..  MIL gave him an entire cookie without our permission once and she complained he didn't take a nap for her. 

babymakes9

Wow,  i have a completely different opinion on sugars than the majority of you.  I never restricted sugars, cookies,  candies,  cakes,  etc. Once the lo's started eating, all non choking foods were a go to try.  The only thing we restrict is caffiene.

None of my kids are extra hyper after eating sugar, have adhd, diabetes,  over weight/ obesity issues,  or refuse to eat other foods for sweets. I'd say generally  a sweet is consumed 3 - 5 days a week depending on the season,  and includes cakes,  pies,  cookies,  candy,  Ice cream,  etc.

IMO a diet complete with all foods is better than a restrictive diet so children learn to make proper food choices and learn portion sizes before they are  adults rather than binge eat,  or have food issues later in life. 

mauera07

This question is specifically for STM+ who have successfully delivered without pain meds/ epidural or made it really far without. First of all, I'm not opposed to an epidural, as a matter of fact it was my favorite part of my entire pregnancy last time. But I got it immediately once I got to the hospital and I want to try to hold off as long as possible this time. I am having fears of a really long labor, or a labor ending in a c-section.  From your experience what worked to keep you going and managing the pain? How long did you wait until you got yours if you did? Any tips or prep I should be doing to increase my chances of resisting? 

burnsmommy27

@maueraa07 I waited until I was in transition. I was checked right after placement and was at 8 cm.
Honestly the fear of a long induction and the Epi stopping my labor made me hold on. Once I got it I went from an 8 to a 10 and pushing in about 1.5 hours. Hope that helps

[Deleted User]

@maueraa07 I made it about 30 hours in (induction) before getting the epidural. Laboring in the tub and using the birthing ball for awhile helped, and the nurses/DH gave massages which helped even more. I was only maybe 3cm by the time I got mine, and within 8 hours of starting it, I was ready to push so it really helped me relax. 

KatieEl

@maueraa07 I went med free for both DS1 and DS2; what helped me was hiring a doula (if you can afford one I'd recommend one to literally everyone no matter what kind of birth you're planning for; doulas are amazing), and changing positions a lot.  I labored walking, leaning over the birth ball, sitting on the birth ball, resting my forearms on a counter and swaying, on the toilet, in the shower etc. Basically the second things started getting too uncomfortable I switched it up.  I'm also a big affirmations person, so it was a lot of telling myself that this was normal.  That the pain was productive and helping me to meet my baby.  And I did a lot of visualizations during contractions: ocean waves, flowers opening etc.  Not that that necessarily helped me labor faster/easier, but I was more at peace with the intensity.  Also, probably the biggest thing, was that I really wanted the med free birth.  I think if you're committed to that, or even reaching a certain point in your labor in your mind, you can kind of dig your heels in and focus on that.

Edited: grammar/spelling

907_baby

@maueraa07- I went med free for my second birth, and plan to do so again this time. I used a lot of the techniques as @KatieEl, except I did not use a doula. The one thing I would add: labor at home as long as you can...it is easier to find things to distract you, and places you feel comfortable moving about. Plus, you can't get the meds at home.

supercoolstephy

Those of you who went med free. You are like magic. I walked in the door to be induced like 


Give me all the meds.

jakobaby

@maueraa07 I was one who waited as long as possible for the epidural. I got the epidural once my back felt like it was breaking in half.  Sorry that is graphic but no other way to explain it. I had pitocin and that was rough. Contractions were hard and fast, with little break. Like others have said above, lots of moving around, laboring on the toilet, laboring on all hands/knees. Because I was hooked to the IV and monitors it was hard to move but moving was best!
Ultimately, I got the epidural at 9 cm (didn’t know that) and DS was born 30 min later. Wish I had known it was almost over. I’m committed to no meds this time and hired a doula

[Deleted User]

@jakobaby pitocin contractions are seriously the worst.

trudytudy

I went med free both times and I did my best to psych myself up for it both times. I read books about med free birth and took it one contraction at a time. I also had/ have a big fear of the needle in the back thing. 

I have a question for moms that are reusing clothes from an older child. Have you guys gotten them out yet? Have you sorted through yet? I have a bunch of clothes from my first baby but I can't decide when the right time to sort through them is. Also, he was a September baby. 

KatieEl

@trudytudy I got mine out last week, since all my babies are winter babies I knew I’d have a lot of washing and wanted to get a jump on it

mindaa

That was about the first baby task I did. Only pulled out newborn and 3 month. Wanted to be prepared if anyone asked us what we needed and do any shopping of my own if needed.
Ds was born in June, so I didn't think we'd have much for a January baby, but turns out we're actually pretty well stocked, especially with newborn stuff, lots of barely worn long sleeve outfits. That must have been what was in season when people were shopping, haha. 

Dani0329

Has anyone used the Phil and Teds in line double stroller?  I saw a couple with one at the Wildlife Center and it sparked my interest.  I still can't decide if I need a double stroller as DD will be close to 3.5 when baby comes, and I play on baby wearing at first. I thought I wanted the city select, but now I don't know.  We have the BOB Ironman we got with DD and never really like it because of the front wheel being fixed.  Any BTDT?

KatieEl

@Dani0329 no personal experience with the Phil and Teds stroller.  Everyone I know with the City Select loves it!  The BOB dualie doesn't have the fixed wheel (which I think would drive me nuts too!).  As far as having a double stroller, I think it really depends on your lifestyle.  How much is DD in a stroller now?  I still like to take long walks and have the option for my oldest (4) to hop in/out of the stroller, so I'm getting an attached standing board for our BOB. Something like that might be an option to you if you don't want to buy a double.  And you can always wait until closer to 3-6 months once you stop baby wearing as exclusively to decide if you really need one.

bainidhedub

@trudytudy DS was a September baby too. I have some boxes of clothes that were in the storage room, including the newborn clothes (in 2 tightly packed & neatly labeled gallon ziplocks ), but I think all the 0-3mo boxes made it into the attic, and I haven't been up there yet. I haven't decided if I'm going to rewash everything, since I know it was all clean when I put it away. The room isn't to the point of having anywhere to put clothes yet, so I'm not in a rush to do much with it at the moment.

missblaze

@trudytudy DD's old clothes have been washed and put away for weeks lol. However, she was a July baby so there is a lot that I can't use and I need to get some more long-sleeve onesies.