@wildtot It means they were a group policy before the healthcare reform. So they don't have to abide by some of the new rules. For example, we don't get no-cost wellness visits, we have to pay a copay (which isn't bad) and apparently we don't get covered for the federally mandated free breast pumps either
@moguippy there are online retailers, are any of those on the list? The ones I've seen ship it to your house for free.
@wildtot, before the ACA was written into law, insurance companies were not required to provide breast pumps. Under the ACA, they are required to unless your insurance policy predates the ACA, in which case they are grandfathered in and exempt from the requirement.
@moguippy have you talked to your OB office? Typically you need a Rx from them to start off the process and they can be helpful about finding providers etc. I'm surprised you have to drive 2 hours - mine came in the mail I think it was through McKesson? Did you try the Medela website? I hate when insurance isn't helpful when you contact them.
@zande2016 and @gingerbride26 There were no online retailers on the list. The email basically had a copy and pasted section on how to use the search tool. But the search tool is usually used to find actual doctors so I don't think it is very good at searching for anything else. I am hoping to get an actual person to respond to my followup email. It would be odd to not be able to use the big online retailers and I think the search tool was a bust.
@moguippy maybe go about it backward - try giving the online retailers your insurance info and see if they work with your insurance company that way. They might be more helpful than your insurance company.
@zande2016 I asked the lady that had a baby last year and she said she got a list from the insurance company and called like 10 companies and they all said no. But there was one company that worked with her last year that she gave me the name of. So I will try them first and hopefully nothing has changed since last year. The problem is knowing if they are "in network" or "out of network" because either way I have to pay upfront and then submit for reimbursement. But I get more money back if I use an "in network" retailer so I would rather do that.
@wildtot I'm not really into it either. It's a HUGE craze here in so cal. The foods, especially the sweets, just sounds like a tummy ache waiting to happen.
Eta: Finally got the approval for the dentist. I started the process for a crown today. I forgot how hard it is to swallow when half of your mouth, including tongue, is numb. Lol I was giggling at myself because of this. The dentist, herself, was fantastic! All in all, the process went well. I have to go back in 2 weeks to get the actual crown.
@wildtot I also hate the unicorn themed everything. I can't remember the most recent unicorn food I saw today but I thought it looked like a stomach ache too.
Once again DS woke up early and wants to be in our bed. Might as well do some sleep training since I’m not sleeping either way. Other than a bad habit i can’t figure out why he wakes so early. Ugh
I also don’t really get the unicorn craze. It’s getting a little over the top.
got a phone call from my son’s school saying there was a 2 hour delay today and the ringer scared me so bad I almost peed my pants (my bladder hangs on for dear life in the mornings). Regardless of the scare, I was happy I got to lay in bed for a while longer. Now they’ve canceled school and I’m not as happy about that.
Off to pinterest to see see if I can find a craft or something for us to do today.
I will say....unicorn books have been a big win for us, especially, " Unicorn (Thinks He's Pretty Great)" by Bob Shea and "You DONT want a unicorn" by Ame Dickman. They might have been my sons fave books of the year.
Literally everything around me closed in anticipation of a big snow storm today. It's 9 and I haven't seen a single flake. My work told me to stay home and work, but I can't get anything done because I'm watching my 18 month old. Also I'm starving and want to eat all the things (finished breakfast less than an hour ago).
i'm with @zande2016 still haven't seen a flake - looks like they downgraded from 8-14" to 5-10". DH took my SUV and dropped DD off at daycare on his way in...waiting for the "yea we decided last minute to close at 1 today!" call and then whole family will be cooped up to work together
@gingerbride26 they're still calling for 12-18 inches for us, but it was supposed to start around 6am and still nothing! I think NYC is getting snow and that's where my office is, so I don't feel to bad about staying home, but I do need to figure out a way to get some work done...
@zande2016 our advisory was at 8 am i believe (CT) they can't seem to make up their minds. I set up my laptop at a table behind the couch, set her up with lots of toys, crayons and coloring books, some kidz bop, and I'm good to go for a few hours. I know it's an UO, but resorting to a Disney movie or sesame street on hulu to buckle down on work for an hour or two isn't a horrible idea if you really need to get a few things done.
@gingerbride26 I totally agree with you, but even with Sesame Street on, he was whining and trying to climb into my lap and wanting to touch my laptop. I gave up until nap time. My coworker in Manhattan said it's coming down hard, I'm about 50 miles from there and still got nothing. Best of both worlds, I don't have to deal with snow, but conditions by my office are too bad to have gone in.
Feeling for you ladies who are dealing with the crazy snow storm. Here in So Cal, we are expecting a big rain storm tonight/tomorrow. Yet, it's sunny and going to be in the 70's. I think mother nature is going through menopause; so hormonal. She needs to make up her mind already.
Baby is currently kicking my cervix. Not fun, little guy. Agreed with @zombiehoohaa the weather in California has been a bit of a joke. I don't want to minimize all the warnings because I know we've had some terrible mudslides in the north and I don't want to see that happening again. However, they kept predicting rain for the past couple of days so I've had to drive DH to work because I want the car and each day has been sunny. Can't wait until we finally get a second car although I'm really enjoying these last couple of months of debt-free life ...
@kissableviv My LO was kicking me there all yesterday. I kept telling him that was rude. Today he apparently has the hiccups and it's funny but getting old fast.
@zande2016 still not a flake in sight and the sun is out and bright... Sure it's just delayed and we'll get slammed at the most inconvenient time and commute tomorrow will be a disaster. I don't even feel guilty for staying home today
@gingerbride26 we're getting some snow on and off for the past couple hours but it's not sticking to roads at all. I'm definitely not feeling guilty for staying home though, apparently just 15 mins south of me is being clobbered, and it's worse the further south you go (I live north of work). Gotta love northeast winters!
It poured so hard here last night. California is so silly though, we can hardly take a solid rain storm. Trains were delayed this morning and people are acting like we were hit by a major blizzard or something.
I just went to the Habit with zero makeup on and a questionable outfit to get a burger and fries. While I'm kind of feeling like a slob the food seriously hit the spot and made me feel human again, hello energy! Welcome back!
@kissableviv Solidarity with the cervix kicks. My baby has been head-butting my cervix for weeks now. I thought something was wrong with my cervix, so they did a cervical ultrasound....cervix was fine, but there was a little skull just sitting right there banging around on it. I've started telling the baby to cut it out when he/she starts head banging in there.
@noideawhatshesdoing I thought I felt hiccups to the other day but I think it's too early for me.
Today DS was laying on my stomach and Baby Bern was kicking him right in the head...even I could feel it and see it move his head a little. He was in no way interested.
So I haven't been on much this week. I found out my coworker who was 33 weeks pregnant lost her baby over the weekend due to a blood clot in the umbilical cord. Then I found out another coworker's baby had several spots on it's heart found during their anatomy scan and was told it doesn't look very good. than had a close friend find out her baby also due in July only had one kidney snd will need close monitoring. I feel shaken to my core and at a total loss of how to support these women. I feel lucky to be having a healthy pregnancy and so so sad for my friends who are struggling and hurting and grieving
@lindsayleigh1989 so sad to hear this and it’s such a tough position to be in. I think letting them know your there for them is a good start but don’t be offended if they choose to keep to themselves, it doesn’t mean they are not happy for you either. Keep sending them your love and expect nothing in return. *hugs*
@wildtot definitely! It's a tricky balance to know how much to reach out and how much to give her space. she has reached out quite a bit so far and I just keep letting her know I am here in anyway she needs me to be.
@lindsayleigh1989 That’s awful. I can’t imagine. I have no advice as I find myself in a somewhat similar position. A friend just revealed a serious health diagnosis (non pregnancy related) but I likewise am not sure what to say or how to support her...
i just want to say we recently bought my 3 year old his first set of lego duplos and the effects were *immediate.* I have officially felt the severe and intense pain of stepping on a hidden lego and I about died 1000 deaths. I feel like I have been initiated into a special club, like it’s a right of passage, like I’ve somehow earned a badge of honor.
@lindsayleigh1989 my close friend/coworker's baby was born still at 28 weeks back in August. It's a very difficult situation to navigate. Just be open and available to talk when she wants to and give her space when she needs it. As happy for you as I'm sure she is she may want to keep her distance from you or anything else that brings up pregnancy or babies. With my friend I found that it helped to refer to the baby by name and be open to talking about the baby if your friend feels comfortable with that. It helped my friend to know that I hadn't forgotten about her baby and helped her feel comfortable talking about her daughter because she knew I wasn't uncomfortable.
I'm so sorry that so many people close to you are going through so much heartbreak. Sending lots of healing vibes ♡
@lindsayleigh1989 +1 to what @carsonraynee said. I know for me, it was a weird balance between people just giving me hugs and cute care packages and bringing me food and then when the time came making sure I wasn't just the "person who lost the baby." People often told me that they didn't have any idea what to say and we just cried and hugged and I said out loud what I needed to say or said nothing. I know the things that hurt the worst were people who avoided me because they had no idea what to say-I have a friend who hasn't called me in over a year and either she's busy or she just doesn't know how to ask how I'm doing.
On another note, DS woke up at 5:30 yesterday morning and I thought it was due to a longer nap on Tuesday. But TODAY he also woke up at 5:30 and yesterday he had no nap whatsoever. I give up trying to figure out WHY he wakes up early.
So my blood sugar one hour after breakfast this morning was 62. My MFM wants a phone call if it's below 70 one hour after a meal, so I called and am waiting for the doctor to call back. I ate a normal breakfast but I definitely feel lightheaded, and I have been super hungry lately and noticing I am losing a little weight. I am going to go get something to eat to try to bring it up a little, but I am starting to get concerned. I'm just frustrated that I feel like no matter what I do, I am either eating too many carbs and my baby is going to be too big, or I am eating too little carbs and he will be too small. It sucks feeling like you have no control over your body.
@smashjam I think they get this internal alarm clock programmed sometimes, and it is so hard to break them out of it. I find when my son wakes up early once, he keeps doing it for like a week until he is just really tired and finally stops. Maybe try ignoring him for 10 minutes and see if he falls back asleep?
Disappointed in myself, I’ve gained 26 lbs already and I’ll be 24 wks tomorrow. That’s at least 6 lbs in the past month! Still waiting to see the doctor to see if she says something. But always hungry! And i try not to give in.
eta and avoid another post doctor didn’t seem concerned on my weight. She just said it tends to happen with second pregnancies. So that ok but hopefully i won’t go past what i gained with DS. Found out my c section is scheduled for 7am on the 6th! At least i won’t have to suffer without food like i did last time that was scheduled for noon.
@wildtot I have noticed periods of time where all I want to do is eat all of the food, but thankfully it seems to come and go. I am trying to drink more water to offset it, but some days it just doesn't work.
Re: Weekday Randoms 3/19
@wildtot, before the ACA was written into law, insurance companies were not required to provide breast pumps. Under the ACA, they are required to unless your insurance policy predates the ACA, in which case they are grandfathered in and exempt from the requirement.
Eta:
Finally got the approval for the dentist. I started the process for a crown today. I forgot how hard it is to swallow when half of your mouth, including tongue, is numb. Lol I was giggling at myself because of this. The dentist, herself, was fantastic! All in all, the process went well. I have to go back in 2 weeks to get the actual crown.
@zombiehoohaa yay! Glad the first part went well!
got a phone call from my son’s school saying there was a 2 hour delay today and the ringer scared me so bad I almost peed my pants (my bladder hangs on for dear life in the mornings). Regardless of the scare, I was happy I got to lay in bed for a while longer. Now they’ve canceled school and I’m not as happy about that.
Off to pinterest to see see if I can find a craft or something for us to do today.
It poured so hard here last night. California is so silly though, we can hardly take a solid rain storm. Trains were delayed this morning and people are acting like we were hit by a major blizzard or something.
I just went to the Habit with zero makeup on and a questionable outfit to get a burger and fries. While I'm kind of feeling like a slob the food seriously hit the spot and made me feel human again, hello energy! Welcome back!
Today DS was laying on my stomach and Baby Bern was kicking him right in the head...even I could feel it and see it move his head a little. He was in no way interested.
So I haven't been on much this week. I found out my coworker who was 33 weeks pregnant lost her baby over the weekend due to a blood clot in the umbilical cord. Then I found out another coworker's baby had several spots on it's heart found during their anatomy scan and was told it doesn't look very good. than had a close friend find out her baby also due in July only had one kidney snd will need close monitoring. I feel shaken to my core and at a total loss of how to support these women. I feel lucky to be having a healthy pregnancy and so so sad for my friends who are struggling and hurting and grieving
i just want to say we recently bought my 3 year old his first set of lego duplos and the effects were *immediate.* I have officially felt the severe and intense pain of stepping on a hidden lego and I about died 1000 deaths. I feel like I have been initiated into a special club, like it’s a right of passage, like I’ve somehow earned a badge of honor.
I'm so sorry that so many people close to you are going through so much heartbreak. Sending lots of healing vibes ♡
On another note, DS woke up at 5:30 yesterday morning and I thought it was due to a longer nap on Tuesday. But TODAY he also woke up at 5:30 and yesterday he had no nap whatsoever. I give up trying to figure out WHY he wakes up early.
@smashjam I think they get this internal alarm clock programmed sometimes, and it is so hard to break them out of it. I find when my son wakes up early once, he keeps doing it for like a week until he is just really tired and finally stops. Maybe try ignoring him for 10 minutes and see if he falls back asleep?
eta and avoid another post
doctor didn’t seem concerned on my weight. She just said it tends to happen with second pregnancies. So that ok but hopefully i won’t go past what i gained with DS. Found out my c section is scheduled for 7am on the 6th! At least i won’t have to suffer without food like i did last time that was scheduled for noon.