The Great Big Giant Question Thread!

maggiemadeit

@fuzzywombat It’s old but I like There’s Going to be a Baby

onlygooddays08

My apologies if this has been covered before, but has anyone used MyRegistry for a baby registry? I went to a local baby store and they pushed it saying you could add items from any store, etc. Just wondering about any pros/cons and how easy it is for people to buy from. I don't want people to have to jump through any unnecessary hoops!

wigglyicecream

@onlygooddays08 we haven’t covered registries yet! When I did mine I just did BuyBuyBaby. In my experience people tend to go rogue and do/buy whatever they want  regardless of how much time and effort you put into your list. I know another popular option is doing one on Amazon. I liked BBB’s policy about returning and exchanging which is why I went that route. I feel like more stores is more places you might have to return stuff

onlygooddays08

@wigglyicecream I didn't even think about *me* having to return things to multiple stores. Good point!

wine_mama_03

@onlygooddays08 and @wigglyicecream I recently found Babylist, which allows you to use BBB, Amazon, Target, Walmart, Baby Gap, Etsy, and so many others and it shows the people using it where to find the best price for that item among those sites. I've mostly been just adding things to it that I need to research more and keeping the list private until we are ready.

Katek819

Does anyone have any info on smoothies that are good for pregnancy? Still having trouble hydrating but the iced "frozen" beverages seem to help but the one I like (vanilla bean frappe from Starbucks ) is full of calories. 

wigglyicecream

@Katek819 I usually buy a bunch of frozen fruit and some coconut water then just have fun with the variations. My staples are strawberry, mango, and pineapple. 

meagan822

@Katek819 I also made my own and I put pineapple, kiwi, mixed berries, pomegranate juice, and coconut cream in it. Some frozen fruits and some fresh. I recommend looking up fruits that are beneficial in pregnancy and picking a bunch of favorites. You can keep some fresh and some frozen so you always have options! It doesn’t take too many Starbucks drinks to add up to the cost of an affordable blender, so it may be worth the investment if you don’t have one yet! The possibilities are endless and then you can leave out sugar and other added ingredients!😍

itsme215

@Katek819 I’ve been doing peanut butter, banana and chocolate smoothies nearly every day, not necessarily the healthiest but our PB is just peanuts and a little salt, and I keep the chocolate to a minimum. Oh I also add cinnamon. Sometimes I add strawberries. 

lmaplejc

@Katek819 I’ve been doing smoothies every morning because I’ve been mostly wanting cold foods.  I start with frozen fruit- one or a mix of pineapple, mango, strawberry, banana.  Then I add water, fat free plain Greek yogurt, a nut or sunflower butter, and some avocado.  It tastes really good and has vitamins + healthy fats + protein.

ETA - I always put a handful of fresh spinach in as well.  You can’t taste it, I promise.

wine_mama_03

Team Green question: with technology being amazing and ultrasounds being so clear, will it still be possible to be surprised even if the doctors don't officially tell you? We'll be happy either way since it's our first, but I also feel like I will be analyzing every picture trying to figure it out.

wisewitch222

@fromfurmomtobabymom8-2 Maybe not, if you're having a boy and he's hanging out with his legs open at the anatomy scan like my #2 was (I wasn't team green, though). I recommend telling every ultrasound tech at the beginning of the anatomy scan to tell you to close your eyes until they have a view of the baby where you can't see between their legs. 

and_peggy

@fromfurmomtobabymom8-2 so in my experience, (I have 3 boys), I would look away when they place the ultrasound thing on your stomach initially. I’ve been able to tell immediately with 2 of the boys. One of them we were team green and she just had me look away when she was looking at genitals 😆 sometimes it’s obvious, but honestly, if you don’t know what to look for, you might not see it.

fuzzywombat

@fromfurmomtobabymom8-2 yep. I was team green with my son. I had scans every 4 weeks and never saw anything. Just let the sonographer know to tell you when to look away. And as @and_peggy said, look away from the screen when they put down the transducer just in case. 

onlygooddays08

@Katek819 Everyone has great suggestions for smoothies. I'll add that I put a tablespoon of chia seeds in mine to up the fiber content. I also use a vegan vanilla protein powder and avocado along with frozen fruits.

wine_mama_03

@and_peggy @fuzzywombat @wisewitch222 Thank you for the advice! So simple, just don't look. 

and_peggy

Question

STM+ - How early have you ever felt baby move?
For reference, I’ve had 4 extremely active babies, like so active they have to repeat scans because they can’t get photos. I’ve had anterior placenta atleast twice and felt babies even around 15 weeks.

Is it totally impossible for me to have felt baby moving already? Like just ever so slight movements/quickening. After 4 babies, I definitely know the difference in gas pains, hunger pains, and baby movement and I’m like 80% sure I’ve felt this child already. (12+2)

mdfarmchick

@and_peggy I felt #2 around 13 weeks and everyone would have told me I’m crazy but I knew it was him. And I felt #3 around 12-13 weeks too. You have done this more than once, I think if you know, you know. 

and_peggy

@mdfarmchick thank you for validating me. I’m pretty certain then. I know people would probably tell me I’m crazy but this ain’t my first rodeo, so. I’d suspect definitely in the next few weeks I can confirm this.

coco2787

Usually around 15 weeks for me @and_peggy we’ve always seen baby bouncing around in there during the NT u/s but I’ve never felt anything during those scans. My last pregnancy I could see and feel the movements from the outside by 17 weeks. 

wisewitch222

@and_peggy I would say yes, especially #5. I felt flutters from my second baby around 12 weeks. He turned out to be extremely active and athletic, both in utero and beyond, and in hindsight at 15 weeks when I was feeling undisputable movement it was pretty clear that those 12 week flutters were him. 

maggiemadeit

@and_peggy Not impossible at all, I'm sure with #5 you know what you're feeling! I felt #1 at 13 weeks, which I thought was impossible, but those feelings got stronger each week and then I felt sure. I didn't feel #2 until 19/20 because anterior placenta. 

starkette

@and_peggy I remember going in for my gender scan at 16 weeks and telling the tech that baby was super wiggly and a strong kicker. I think I started feeling strong kicks around 14 weeks which seems so early but she was SO strong. With this one I swear I feel flutters buuuuut I guess it could be gas bubbles. Hard to tell.

paytonpedro

@and_peggy I felt both of mine around 15/16 weeks and my second had an anterior placenta. So maybe I would have felt him sooner if he hadn’t. Either way, how AMAZING is it that you are probably feeling baby already!! I’m still impressed I can feel my uterus 🤣

and_peggy

Okay thanks everyone. I can’t believe we’re getting that point. Can’t wait to feel those wiggles and kicks.

aukeev

Has anyone started thinking about stroller options? We need something that's easy on rougher terrains (our driveway is gravel and about a 1/4 - 1/2 mile long before we get to our paved neighborhood road, so I've been trying to decide if a double stroller is worth it or if I should just go for a wagon option. Anyone have pros/cons? 

paytonpedro

@aukeev I think your best option is a jogger with bicycle wheels. I wanted something that could go through anything with my first and that’s what I chose. It literally went through everything. I took him for a walk in the woods on 4 wheeler trails- which were bumpy with holes, mud and roots. It also went down our 7 acre long gravel driveway perfect. 

For a double thats more city orientated, I love our Contour options elite. No way it would go down a gravel driveway, but it’s a really great double. 

ETA: we also have a wonderfold wagon which is push, not pull, and I LOVE it. But I also don’t think it would be happy on a gravel driveway. 

bridgiebee82

@aukeev I've been looking at strollers, and there are so many options. As a FTM, I have no idea as to what brand is reliable and safe, especially a double for twins.

paytonpedro

@bridgiebee82 100% recommend Contour Options Elite!! You can usually get a coupon from buy buy baby for something like 20-30% off, which is what we used when we bought it new, but you can also find them used now for a fraction of the price!

eta: I used this right from newborn with my second and it’s perfect for a newborn without any extra seats or car seats. 

https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/contours-reg-options-reg-elite-v2-tandem-stroller/5559342?skuId=69653302&store=3083&mrkgcl=611&mrkgadid=&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_strollers_local&product_id=69653302&product_channel=local&adtype=pla&enginename=google&adpos=&creative=263691805895&device=m&matchtype=&network=g&utm_campaignid=71700000087012548&utm_adgroupid=58700007417728648&targetid=92700066543741754&&product_id=69653302&product_channel=local&adtype=pla&enginename=google&adpos=&creative=263691805895&device=m&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKCAiA3L6PBhBvEiwAINlJ9DaEj4cAbw54esHimvezIpzbtl4UoUVqBigJaCUzIejCi5TCczL7VRoCeqYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

brittanynmorris

@bridgiebee82 I’ve seen many people recommend reading Lucie’s List and I’ve enjoyed reading their top products in many categories! I saw they have a multiples section too! 

Katek819

When you have a second baby are you supposed to get a whole new infant carrier and car seat ? I'm guessing yes even though its never been in an accident. But I don't want to spend money I don't have to.

brittanynmorris

Question! (TMI and possible TW mentioning BMs) 

I have always been super irregular to begin with. Constipation is something I know real well, unfortunately. I’m known by my friends as “The one with the stool softeners in her purse”.  BUT NOW…I’m regular, which has been nice, but it is an extremely slow process and difficult to pass. I’m 99.9% sure it’s due to the excess iron in my prenatal (I’m not anemic). Any suggestions on how to not go 7 more months with 20+ minute bathroom trips? I’m planning on bringing it up to my Dr. next appointment, but didn’t know if anyone has had experience with this before? I’ve been trying to eat more fiber, but looking for other suggestions as well!

coco2787

@brittanynmorris I take colace daily, it's pregnancy safe. Since it's a stool softener not a laxative it shouldn't make you have to run to the bathroom or anything, just helps make things go a little more...smoothly

wigglyicecream

@Katek819 you don’t have to buy a new one if you have a second baby before the car seat expires. I bought a Britax for DD and it doesn’t expire until 2025 (I think) which is why I held on to it. Just in case I had another baby even though I thought I was one and done. 

starkette

@Katek819 as far as I know if the car seat isn't past the expiration date (it's on the seat) then you're fine reusing it. My kids were 5 years apart so we got a new one, my mom was a little annoyed because she thought expiring car seats were dumb. I think they expire because they're always improving the car seats in small ways and safety standards change year to year. 

meagan822

@Katek819 If it’s never been in a car accident or met any impact and hasn’t expired, it’s safe to use again! They usually expire around 6-10 years from their manufacturer date, but often they have an expiration date on their sticker to make it easier! In addition to what @starkette said, they also expire because of their plastic integrity changing. Car seats are made from petroleum-based plastics, so they start to break down from environmental factors over time. It’s a strong material for the purpose of holding a child, but no matter your environment, it gets really hot or cold in your car on a possibly regular basis, which eventually can cause brittle plastic. The expiration date is only as far as they can guarantee safety! 

@brittanynmorris Yes! I second the colace! It helps things soften without making you need to go more than normal. If it’s been a few days though, there are options for that as well, such as Miralax.  

maggiemadeit

@brittanynmorris Sorry you’re suffering! One thing my midwife recommended in my last pregnancy was to take an iron free prenatal and then use a separate iron supplement with fewer side effects, called Blood Builder Mini. She also said that way you can take the iron every other day if things start to get really uncomfortable. Maybe you can ask your doc if something like this would work for you? 

wine_mama_03

Do we have a baby names thread started yet? I didn't see one, but wanted to check. I don't know if it's too early or not, but then again I'm on the early end of August (8/2 at 13w), so we've started playing around with some recently, and wanted to hear what everyone else was tossing around. 

Edit: I found the thread. It was further down the list and wasn't jumping out at me.

mdfarmchick

@fromfurmomtobabymom8-2 I tried to tag you in the name post. 

zzz2022

@brittanynmorris I use Effecol, which is macrogol laxative. I think this is typically prescribed before colonoscopies. I used to be super regular but not now and my doctor said to use this to avoid haemorrhoids (ouch). It's possible to take 1-3 sachets per day, but I was only doing 1x every other day because I was a little nervous of symptoms going in the other direction fast, but it didn't happen. This is nice because it's not an aggressive laxative, there's more control so to speak.