Weekly Randoms | Feb 17-23

TattoosandLace

@pourmeanothermocktail I absolutely love your posts. Thank you for sharing your wealth of information. Definitely made me feel better about never making it to 40 weeks. (Some) People out here are so old-school that I always get comments on why I must have done something wrong, etc. because I tend to deliver during the 39th week. *eyeroll*
I'll definitely be using your information to educate/combat the comments. thank you!

TattoosandLace

@m6agua thank you! She was back to school today since she's been fever free for 48 hours, just tired. Buttttt then I got a call that she had a rash pop up so we will be back to the doctor this afternoon... no fever though, but the rash wasn't there when I sent her this morning. Whomp.

catem07

Yeah that milk thing is crazy. My daughter was born on a Monday, my milk came in on Thursday.

pourmeanothermocktail

I am glad it's appreciated, I try not to write novels...but I really love to share information. I do my best to not judge other's choices, but I also want people know that there are risks with any choice, so I want everyone to know as much as they can, and so make the best choices they can, for them! 

Also, your cervix is NOT a crystal ball. It can be "high, tight, long, and closed" at 8 am and you have baby that evening, or you can walk around at 4-5 am dilated for weeks. They tell you very very little before labor starts at all. They can, however, introduce bacteria into your vagina or into the amniotic sac, or directly into uterus if your water is already broken. I prefer not to have any checks prior to labor starting. I did request one at about 24 hours into my last labor. I just wanted to know if it was worth trying to take a nap and settle in, or if baby was likely making arrival in the next couple of hours. 

Also, labor can start and stop, for days, or weeks even, totally normal. I wish I was kidding, but it happened to me. I just waited it out, and baby arrived. But I had hard painful contractions every 4-7 min for 8 hours, and then they slowed and gentled back down to uncomfortable every 10-30 min again (normal for me in last month) every two days for 2 full weeks before the final stretch of labor. Super annoying all, and I'm glad it doesn't happen to everyone!

ruby696

@pourmeanothermocktail Add me to team no cervical checks. They're uncomfortable (understatement) and they tell you nothing.

shamrocandroll

@pourmeanothermocktail @ruby696 Yup... I won't be getting a cervical check this time either.  Last time I went that day before my due date and was at 4cm.  They did a sweep and basically said "see you tomorrow, probably!" and then I proceeded to not have a baby for another week.  So I'd rather just not have that expectation this time.  

jrouge12

@shamrocandroll @pourmeanothermocktail @ruby696
I only had two cervix checks before I was in labor and they were both after 40 weeks. I didn't realize I could opt out of those. I'll definitely say no this time. I was adamant that I didn't want my membranes swept though. They offered a couple times and I said no. Out of all the things potentially involved in L&D, that one just freaked me out the most.

pourmeanothermocktail

ruby696 said:

@pourmeanothermocktail Add me to team no cervical checks. They're uncomfortable (understatement) and they tell you nothing.

I apparently have a high, oddly placed cervix, they're freaking painful! Not like labor, but still. 

I declined them the first time with potential pre-term labor, I knew the ultrasound wand gives more info and less pain. I only had 2 with first baby, to confirm I was in pre-term labor and that it wasn't stopping (idiot freaking hospital insisted, but I could have told them this), and just the one with Tim second baby. 

Might get none this time!

You can decline ANY procedure, test, etc that you don't want ladies. There are definitely reasons for each thing, but there are risks to anything too. It's up to YOU to decide if the (potential) benefits outweigh (potential) risks. But it's your right to consent or decline anything. Or request anything, and demand to be seen if you feel like you have something going on that isn't being taken care of!

queenklau

I didn’t know you could decline cervical checks. I agree, they are useless, they don’t predict much at the end...I was 90% effaced and 2cm for weeks, that info didn’t help me in any way. Plus I could feel the baby low so I knew (think of a bowling ball between your legs). I will decline them probably until beyond 40 weeks or so.

Random question- Is anyone using wearables (Fitbit/Apple watch)? I have recently noticed a trend in my bpm that are higher than normal in non high activity situations. I am pretty much in fat burn at times where I should we close to resting heart rate. Just curious if anyone has noticed it too. 

I think it’s when I am stressed, but hard to know looking back what was happening during that time of the day.

catem07

@queenklau I don't wear an HRM constantly, only when I work out, but your heart rate does increase when pregnant, and it increases more easily when you up your activity. Blood volume increases by 30-50% so your heart has to work harder to make it move around. 

splashmountain

@TattoosandLace I hope everything went well at the doctor. My DS almost always gets a rash after a fever, he has eczema so his doctor said he's more prone to getting a viral rash. They never seem to bother him and go away quickly. Hopefully that's all you're dealing with.

pirateduck

@queenklau yes.  This is normal in pregnancy.  I actually did a little digging online and on the Fitbit website/forums and apparently there's some sort of larger issue in that Fitbit has HR monitors and the software also allows women to track the periods etc. but they have no way of logging or letting the program know that you are pregnant so it won't recognize that you aren't meant to expect a period soon and it won't recognize that your resting HR should be higher, I think it's something like up to 20 BPM higher on average for pregnant women while resting (don't quote me on that number).  I'm sitting at my desk at work and it says my HR is 74 BPM.  Sometimes I can be sitting around doing nothing and it's even higher.  

catem07

@pirateduck I hate the apps that claim to track your cycle but don't let you tell them you're pregnant. Bad design. 

heyybritt

@pirateduck @catem07 this has annoyed me so much during my pregnancy that I don't think I'm going to use my Fitbit anymore honestly. And another app I use just thinks I'm having a months long cycle. How is that helpful to my data??

pirateduck

@heyybritt I use my Fitbit for some things now, it still helps me keep up on steps (or feel guilty when I don't), I like the sleep tracker, mine is also a watch so I can see the time, and logging my water in the app has helped me stay up on drinking immensely, but everything else I can do without for the time being.

ruby696

@heyybritt I stopped using mine around 10 weeks. It would either stress me out, or just be useless because it wasn't giving me usable data for the rest of my nonpregnant life. And my hands/wrists started swelling (so attractive), so wearing any kind of watch started to really bother me. 

heyybritt

@ruby696 exactly, at this point my data is so skewed I need to just start all over again anyway.

pirateduck

Does anyone use a jogging stroller or beefy stroller on rough terrain?  I'm thinking of buying one on CL, but will I regret if it's a model without a hand brake?

catem07

@pirateduck If you aren't actually running I don't think a hand brake is necessary, especially if you have a wrist strap. 

jrouge12

We didn't buy diapers with our completion coupons last time (got a lot from the shower but I don't expect anyone to buy is diapers this time). Are diapers normally excluded from those? I can't find anything saying they would be (Target, Amazon). Debating if I need to start grabbing some different sizes as good sales happen or wait for the completion coupon. 

My brain keeps going from "there's 86 days to worry about that, calm down" to "this baby has nothing to poop in!" 

catem07

@jrouge12 I think you're better off doing subscribe and save, you can get 20% off diapers that way. But if you add the diapers to your registry it'll tell you when you view your registry what things are eligible for the discount. 

pirateduck

On Amazon's registry there is a separate diaper discount that you earn.  20% off diapers for a year that can be combined with the 20% subscribe and save for a deeper discount.

TattoosandLace

@splashmountain they originally said viral rash, especially since her temp was 98.7°, but my stinking mom gut opened it’s mouth. I said her breath reeked which isn’t normal and I threw out toothbrushes with the first flu diagnosis (for everyone because I’m extra). I had her using a new disposable one every day and throwing it away to not reinfect. I know. Extra. 

Jokes on me because it’s strep and she’s home another day from school while the antibiotics do their job. 

I wear an Apple Watch. Not the new one. Mine is a couple series old I think. I mainly use it for A watch and accessibility at work and I like being able to see the weather at the flip of a wrist. 

jrouge12

@catem07 @pirateduck Yeah we did subscribe and save with DD. I'm just always looking for the better deal. Target's price with promotion beats Amazon's (even with the 20%) this week when you break it down to price per diaper. DD and DH are napping right now and I have too much time to think. 

Edit to add: I jus looked at the registry list 
on Amazon and diapers are not completion coupon eligible. 

tj_2

I just found out my firm wants to do photos for the website next month. My bloated pregnant face will now be on a freaking public site anytime someone looks me up. AND it's on a Saturday. I'm so mad right now 😠

catem07

@jrouge12 I bought a bunch of target diapers when they were doing that spend $100 get a $30 GC sale recently. I love pampers swaddlers but I can't justify the price; we will probably do swaddlers for NB and size 1 then move to target. 

jrouge12

@catem07 I should really try some other brands this time. We use(d) Pampers with DD. We tried Huggies once but she would get the worst diaper rash. 

@tj_2 Maybe they'll let you have an updated one after baby? I say keep taking the pic until you really like one. Annoy the photographer. 

mamaqdubu

Re-hashing back to the cervical check discussion since I missed it. I must be an odd-ball because cervical checks while slightly uncomfortable didn't hurt me in my last 2 pregnancies. I just had one 2 weeks ago when I mentioned to my OB feeling a lot of pressure and wanted to make sure i was OK to travel, and it still didn't hurt. Just wanted to mention this because while I 100% agree it doesn't mean that you will/won't go into labor soon, not everyone is as affected by it and for FTM's it is okay to get one if you want one when the time comes. Also I'm weird and like to know "just because". 

On an VERY anecdotal note, one benefit if you do have an OB or MW who is OK trying it is if you are dialated enough they can do a cervical sweep once you're full term to see if it initiates labor. Again, anecdotal and I don't have science to back it up, and if you or baby isn't ready you most definitely will just cramp and feel awful for a few hours, but FWIW I had it done last pregnancy at 39+6 and my labor started within a few hours. 

pirateduck

@jrouge12 I tried to include this screen grab earlier and failed...  there is a separate diaper discount on Amazon and you can stack the two and get 40% off...

pourmeanothermocktail

pirateduck said:

Does anyone use a jogging stroller or beefy stroller on rough terrain?  I'm thinking of buying one on CL, but will I regret if it's a model without a hand brake?

We use a single and double jogger on limestone paths and stuff. No hand brake, no bother! 

pourmeanothermocktail

@mamaqdubu While there's nothing wrong with getting cervical checks, there are bacteria risks, irritation of cervix, etc. So it's a matter of personal benefit to risk, which is different to each person for sure! A membrane sweep carries higher risks of bacteria and breaking your water too, which can cause hospital to put you on a time clock before pushing for more interventions. As a VBAC mom, I worry about how more interventions lead to more and raising chances of surgical delivery.

If I had a medical reason (or was already 43 weeks along) for an induction I would consider starting with a sweep, but without a medical need, my preference is to avoid interventions and as much risk of infection as possible. Some GBS+ can be introduced with checks. 

I don't like GBS testing, as it takes a couple days to get results, and the bacteria can come and go between different days. Also, most babies don't end up interacting with your rectum anyway, so swabbing that is kinda lost on me. I go ahead with it, but don't do preventative antibiotics because chances of infection issues are so low, especially if you choose to use the eye ointment. Again, these are all choices, not necessities, and all of our situations are different, so different choices for different people makes sense to me! 

mamaqdubu

@pourmeanothermocktail absolutely! I totally understand and support whatever decisions each mama makes on what is best for her. I just read through and saw a lot of comments against cervical checks and for FTM's who might be immediately scared or think its uncommon to accept them, I just wanted to provide my altered experience to show insight it is different for different people. I think having varied views to consider and the abiliity to do research is a good thing. 

m6agua

@mamaqdubu I also have a good experience with cervical checks. 

I had a cervical check at 35 weeks when I thought my water may have broken. I was 1cm dilated. Then at my last appointment 39+ weeks I had another check (3+cm) and she swept my membranes and stretched me to 4cm. I went into labor 2 days later. I had a check when I got to the hospital (5+cm) and a check when I felt the urge to push (9+cm). I felt positively about my experience overall. Also checks did not hurt for me.

rox7777

@jrouge12 The amazon, Babylist and target gift registry bags all came with a bunch of diaper coupons that can be combined with the target sale. I got coupons for huggies, pampers and honest so I bought a mix of diapers. Also, I have about 30 size one diapers from those three gift bags combined. 

The target baby sale with the GC is the better option over subscribe and save in my experience. You can roll the GC into another sale or do the sale twice/use coupons both times and roll your GC from the first purchase to the second purchase. That’s how I stocked up regularly with DS2. 

mamaj1220

I just got selected for jury duty boo. The good news with it is that it says on there the longest I will serve is a week so yay to that! 

On the subject of diapers, I got a pack of newborn and have some 1's but I can not remember how long I used newborn with DS1, should I get another couple packs or do they move out of them fast (Clearly 6.5 years has effected my memory lol)

bender29

@rox7777 when do you get a babylist coupon? That’s where I’m registered, but totally missed that there was any sort of coupon or anything!

rox7777

@bender29 The completion coupon (15%) is available 60 days before your due date. There’s also a registry gift box you get if you pay shipping. Shipping was $9.99, but you get a $10.00 gift card to the online babylist store in exchange. The gift
box had diapers, bottles, pacifiers, a toy, and several different coupons for diapers/wipes/etc. 

I had to go online to get the gift box, it wasn’t available on the app. 

bender29

@rox7777 awesome! Thanks! I totally missed all that! I’ll need to get on a computer and look at it!

TattoosandLace

I’m thinking I’ll do a registry and put the owlet and the car seat on it and buy it ourselves to get the discount. 🤣

thepretzelchick

@mamaj1220 DS and DD were in NB diapers for as long as the pack lasted, then we went straight to size 1. They were 10lbs and 7lbs respectively, and the size 1 fit fine, although DD would've been okay in NB for another few weeks. I bought a box of NB and a box of size 1 so far and I'll stock up on more 1s before he comes and not bother with more NB.