Ask a STM week of September 10

AshleySparkle720

@thechickendance that'll depend on how your belly grows. For me I could always get my shoes on so long as I brought my foot up to my knee while sitting. I know people who had their SO put their shoes on them after about 36 weeks.

sjnsjnsjn

@thechickendance- That time came for me.  Luckily I was at the end in the summer last time so I could still do slip ons and flip flops. No clue how I will deal with winter boots!

okayestmom12

sjnsjnsjn said:

@thechickendance- That time came for me.  Luckily I was at the end in the summer last time so I could still do slip ons and flip flops. No clue how I will deal with winter boots!

I told my husband he better be ready to tie my Sorels on the daily. 

lzzfrancisco

@thechickendance I could always reach my feet, I just couldn't breathe while I was down there! :-)

sonicearplugs

I have a question! Who as experience with long flights while pregnant? We'll have a 13.5 hour one next week and I'm wondering about good excercises or items I can bring for added comfort. I've done the flight many times before (obviously not pregnant) so I know I can handle it, but I'm not looking forward to the added feeling of cramped and having to pee twice as much. 

disneybaby84

@thechickendance answer is yes, there will be a time when you cannot tie your shoes comfortably. Last time I bought some cheap slip on sneakers and then boots with a flat heel for other purposes.

ohsunnydays

Yikes, I didn't think about bending down to tie shoes. I even found it hard to bend over to get something out of the bottom of the freezer today! Fun times ahead eh?!

wifemomme

@sonicearplugs I have never done a long flight, but I have been on 12+ hour car rides. It can be a little more uncomfortable, but until the third trimester it isn't too bad. If you have had any signs of feet swelling, compression socks can be a good idea. I don't know if it's really a thing or all in my head, but salty snacks seem to help me not to pee as often, especially if I stay sitting down. Good luck, and safe travels.

megpants209

@sonicearplugs I’m wearing compression socks, planning to get up and walk every few hours to minimize the swelling, and drinking a bit more water than usual just to be extra cautious about the swelling/circulation. Also doing more layers than usual since I seem to waiver between being hot and cold. 

ThePax89

@sjnsjnsjn when my second was born, my first was a VERY tall 2 year old. She is now a VERY tall 4 year old. We have the city select. She fits very well. It is a double, not side by side. 

ThePax89

Big kid in first. She gets in, but I haven’t taught her to buckle herself, because I don’t want her to unbuckle herself on a highway. Then I put in the little one. Then groceries. I’m also going to add, shopping with more than one kid is awful...and it is not something I do often. I recommend Instacart, or Target drive up. 

sonicearplugs

@wifemomme and @megpants209 thanks for the compression socks idea. I wasn't sure if they'd actually do much, but I'll give them a shot. It can't hurt to take a pair!

sjnsjnsjn

@sonicearplugs- I rocked compression socks not only on my baby moon flights (sigh) last pregnancy but also walking all over. Definitely helped.  I need to share the ones I have too, because i love them: 
Ladies Fashion Therapeutic Compression Socks Black/Grey Tiger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019ZYHZLI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_oSXMBb6278S1N
Grrrrrr

sjnsjnsjn

@ThePax89- Thanks! That's a second vote for the city select double.  Def gonna check that out!

thechickendance

@sonicearplugs I just returned from a transatlantic trip, having an aisle seat was key with moving around, stretching, and especially getting to the bathroom. Would also recommend easy on and off shoes and upping your water intake on the plane.  Where are you going???

ohsunnydays

I saw Amazon is having a Sept baby sale? Is this worth looking into or will prices be better Black Fri, Xmas time, etc? I  ’m slowly getting my registry started so I don’t know if what I could want is even on sale in sept. 

kdrn913

@ohsunnydays I didn’t even know this was happening! We buy everything on amazon so I’m definitely gonna take a look! 

ohsunnydays

@nursemom913 let me know your thoughts! I'm definitely curious!

sonicearplugs

@thechickendance I'm always dehydrated on flights and hate shoes while sitting for prolonged periods, so I'm already prepared for that. We're heading to Australia to visit family and friends. It'll be a short and busy trip!
@sjnsjnsjn those are definitely some fasionable socks! Haha

sjnsjnsjn

@sonicearplugs- I love Australia! So jealous.  I spent a few months there and in NZ many years ago. Le sigh
yes, I rocked those socks at full knee high with dresses while very prego on my baby moon in Quebec City a few years back. I felt they lended a certain "is that giant pregnant lady crazy" to my whole vibe ;p

ohsunnydays

I have an infant carseat question... please and thank you. 
Should I be looking at a "lie-flat" infant car seat? To me this makes sense if I want to take baby out and about, but let them sleep in the car seat. Am I off in this thought? I have nooo clue. Winters can be brutal here so I don't want to take baby in and out of a carseat to a stroller.
If so, ISO a lie-flat infant car seat with a super light carrier ...we live in a condo building that has many, many flights of stairs I usually walk up. yikes.

BourbonBiscuits

@ohsunnydays so that’s a hard question, because I can’t really envision a flag car seat. Is there a brand you’re looking at specifically? In general, avoiding letting baby sleep in the car seat is the safest way to go. I’m not the safe sleep expert, but I’m sure someone will chime in with the research! That being said, if DS was asleep in his car seat and I needed to go to the grocery store, he stayed asleep in the car seat in the cart.

We we just had a Graco click connect and he loved it. I think it’s a weird shift for us as adults to envision how baby feels most comfortable sleeping (ie curled up in a ball all cozy, not flat with a pillow like we do). Does that make sense? 

sjnsjnsjn

@ohsunnydays- I want to make sure I understand... are you asking about regular infant carriers like this one?  If so, yeah, that's the way to go when they're super little because you can get them all set before you leave the house, carry the seat in your hand or over your arm, and then it just clicks in to the base in your backseat.  I lived in a third floor walk up when I had my son and had the same deal. It wasn't bad to do it the way it works with the baby in the infant carrier...

ohsunnydays

Thanks @BourbonBiscuits & @sjnsjnsjn . I was looking at the Cybex Gold Aton 2 (https://cybex-online.com/us/carseats/aton2.html) because it was just shy of 9 lbs for the carrier, according ot my baby bargains book. Then, I saw the Cybex Cloud Q (https://cybex-online.com/us/carseats/cloudq.html) and liked the "reclining backrest to full-recline position when used outside the car" detail. I wouldn't use the full-recline in the car, only when out of the car because like you said @BourbonBiscuits , the goal is to avoid sleeping in the carseat. I guess I was trying to be clever and finding a workaround- lay-flat option would solve this issue of "car seat sleeping" because then lay-flat=bassinet???? ..??

sjnsjnsjn

@ohsunnydays- Ah gotcha, I don't know about that brand at all.  Part of the thing about sleeping in the car seat is the baby's head falling forward, cutting off the air flow.  Maybe less of an issue when fully lying flat, but that seems like a good question for your ped!

ohsunnydays

Thanks @sjnsjnsjn ! Another thing I have to research, a ped! The list keeps growing! Lol

sjnsjnsjn

@ohsunnydays- oof I remember that feeling. Your OB office should have a list of recommended peds but since my OB was about my age and has four kids, I just asked her who she used and copied

BourbonBiscuits

Ohhh I see @ohsunnydays. That's a really good thought! Seconding what @sjnsjnsjn said, when you start thinking about picking a pediatrician, I'd ask them!

hannahbananas11

Continuing this pediatrician topic: when should I find a pediatrician? A few weeks before the due date, or sooner? Do I call them to establish care or anything before the baby arrives, or do I just call them up once the baby is born and set up an appointment? Sorry if these are clueless questions. I've just never thought about this until reading this thread.

okayestmom12

hannahbananas11 said:

Continuing this pediatrician topic: when should I find a pediatrician? A few weeks before the due date, or sooner? Do I call them to establish care or anything before the baby arrives, or do I just call them up once the baby is born and set up an appointment? Sorry if these are clueless questions. I've just never thought about this until reading this thread.

Depends on the practice. I know that many of the sought after practices around me have a wait list/ aren’t taking new patients unless you’re a sibling or have a direct referral. 

I’d say it doesn’t hurt to start calling around. Some pedis will offer meetings to chat/ meet with new parents. Others just say “tell the hospital you’re using us when you deliver”. 

hannahbananas11

Thanks, @okayestmom12!

sjnsjnsjn

To second, @okayestmom12, you should start looking!  The office we went with had a specific kind of consultation appt available for potential new patient (parents), and we did that and then felt really comfortable before delivery that we'd be in good hands when we went there a day after discharge (which we had to do as a stip of the NICU discharge). We got to ask her all these random questions about ped health care , before our son was even born.

allthingsgo

sjnsjnsjn said:

To second, @okayestmom12, you should start looking!  The office we went with had a specific kind of consultation appt available for potential new patient (parents), and we did that and then felt really comfortable before delivery that we'd be in good hands when we went there a day after discharge (which we had to do as a stip of the NICU discharge). We got to ask her all these random questions about ped health care , before our son was even born.

Completely agree. The pediatrician we ended up going with also had a consultation appt for new patients. It’s best to ‘shop around’ and see which ped you feel is the best fit.