Weekly Panic Thread 11/9

dmcg17

Use this board to share your fears and ask any questions that you have!  

Weekly Theme: Labor, Delivery, and Postpartum - What are some things you are planning to do to prepare for labor and delivery? STM+, what are some recommendations for the postpartum healing process?

clt2pwm11

Since I'm having a c-section, I'm ready with the stool softener 👏👏. Also, love a bidet always but definitely postpartum. I personally like the disposable adult diapers for the first few weeks, that way I'm not ruining any of my unders. 

If you're planning to breastfeed, nipple cream is helpful. I also got a lot of clogs when my milk came in, so read up on how you're going to tackle those. 

dmcg17

I don't really have any plans yet. 😬 I'm waiting to see what they recommend at my next ultrasound on Tuesday since they may recommend inducing early or going with a c-section depending on her size.  Once we have a plan in place, I might be able to plan a bit better for the actual labor and delivery piece. I also ordered the "tit kit" from Babylist to help breastfeeding. I'd really like to be able to breastfeed, but I also want my husband to be able to help with feedings (whether that means pumping or using formula too) - does anyone have experience with this? 

ahrob135

I’m taking a “navigating your labor” class next Tuesday at the hospital, but I still feel like I’m going to be underprepared. The classes I’ve taken so far are helpful but very broad/general.

I definitely don’t feel like I’m ready for what’s to come postpartum (my husband either since he keeps wanting to have a ton of visitors within the first month 😭). I ordered a few things off of Amazon based on what I’ve read in blogs - pads, witch hazel, aloe, belly band, nipple cream. Luckily got a few hand me downs/extras from friends that recently had babies (depends, disposable diapers, ice packs).

chelleylin

Early on in my pregnancy, I started taking hypnobirthing courses. Soon after, the doctors labeled me as high risk and said I'd be induced at 37 weeks. 
(That would be in just a few days!! Hypno birthing is not as helpful for inductions, or so I've heard, and
All the complications, potential preeclampsia made me and my husband really nervous, and we decided to hire a doula for the labor and delivery experience.
So I'm really relaxed and ready to combat this delivery, natural or induced!
Postpartum... I've put together a few items that friends have recommended, depends, a peri bottle... But I'm pretty much preparing for the first month to be hell... At least that's what I've been told.
I hope to breastfeed, but if it doesn't work out, I'm not sure how I'll emotionally handle...

madimom95

The first go around the thing that I found super helpful was those depend diapers for adults! Everything stayed in place and I plan on using them again. As far as breastfeeding I was very unprepared. I didn’t even think to buy formula or nipple cream last time so this go around I’m making sure I have both and asking for all the help! 

booksandicecream

I am waiting for my appointment next week to make any plans for this birth. 

Both previous births were c-sections. First piece of advice is ask about postpartum pain medication BEFORE you give birth. After my first c-section they only gave me Ibuprofen and I had no idea that was not normal and felt like an absolute weakling failure for being in so much pain. 

For general postpartum I am sticking to my minimalist ways. All I need are big pads (get the sticky kind with wings), nursing pads (sticky kind) and nipple cream.

If you have access to a midwife, postpartum doula or lactation consultation definitely take advantage! It's so hard to know whether baby is getting enough milk those first few weeks. 

Not advice per se, but be advised about what normal discharge should be. It is typical uterine blood mixed with slimy, stinky lochia. I had never even heard of lochia until I asked my midwife what was wrong. Turns out it was normal, but the smell bothered me, so I used scented pads. Also, you sweat SO much. All that extra water weight comes out as sweat, so a mattress protector is advisable. You'll need it anyway once your toddler starts peeing in your bed

booksandicecream

@dmcg17 I tried to pump so my husband could feed baby #1 but my midwife discouraged it at the very beginning (if you want to breastfeed, baby should get used to the breast, plus pumping messes with milk volume regulation). Remember nursing is only one part of bonding. Partners can bond with baby skin-to-skin while you rest and diaper changes are another great opportunity, especially after the first 6 weeks when baby starts to respond more I did still occasionally pump and will do so again, but it won't be a daily thing. 

foreverhughes4123

FTM so I don’t really know what I’ll need or what to expect, but I bought some of the Frida Mom postpartum products. I’ve seen in videos that adult diapers, ice pack pads, dermoplast are really helpful. In terms of breastfeeding, I feel super unprepared. I’m going to try my best, but I’ve heard it hurts so badly. I do have nipple cream, nipple pads, hakka collector, breast pump and some formula samples just in case. I would also like to breastfeed and pump so my husband can help feed especially at night, but we’ll see how it goes.

clt2pwm11

@foreverhughes4123 and others re:breastfeeding

In my experience, breastfeeding doesn't hurt if baby has a good latch. My breastfeeding journey was HARD with my first because he started in the NICU. So for 3 months, I exclusively pumped. Then we switched him from tube feeds to nursing, but my supply was too much and I was drowning him, so I had to pump a little and then let him nurse. We finally got into a routine and I was able to nurse him for a full year. The only reason we made it was because I was determined.

If you are serious about wanting to breastfeed solely or even partially, I cannot recommend the Le Leche League breastfeeding book enough (The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding). Kelly Mom is also a wonderful website to visit for breastfeeding questions. Personally, if my goal was to breastfeed, I would spend the next 3-4 weeks researching these two sources to get prepared. Nothing else matters as much as feeding the baby (and getting the baby to sleep 😉).

It's going to be so different for me this time formula feeding. It feels so bittersweet. I will miss the ease of just popping a boob out and the connection that comes with breastfeeding, but I think my mental health might be better because I can sleep more and share feeding with the hubs. Whatever you choose is going to be great!

cuveema12-23

@chelleylin have you listened to the hypnobirthing podcast? She has birth stories on their for inductions that I have personally found very helpful in case I need an induction. It’s nice to hear people’s stories and what has worked well and what hasn’t!

mayghen18

Jumping in to second the recommendation of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding! My husband and I took the Bradley method birth class and this was required reading and I felt like it really helped me understand breastfeeding!