Stupid Questions Thread

AcaAwkward · March 2014

BiggerinRealLife said:
How bad is the first poop. . . Really?

With a CS, it was pretty terrifying, but it wasn't horrible. Honestly, for the first few pp poops, I just had to sit on the toilet and "let it come" -- pushing hurt. Stool softeners are your friends!

hordol · March 2014

ksulli said:

And I have no idea about what to do with the baby. And hopefully I will be breastfeeding. So I have to think about pumping. And a whole day doing wedding stuff. Oh no!! This is gonna be rough!!
My thoughts on baby: can H be on site for all the prep with baby? Feed just before the cerimony since that can't be interrupted, and the rest of the day nurse as needed- way easier than pumping. I was a bridesmaid while dd was nursing and that's what worked for us. Keep the ease of boob access in mind while dress shopping too.

My sister is also getting married soon after I give birth (about 2 months after) so I've been wondering how to go about nursing, too--this is a great idea! DH will be with the baby all day anyway so maybe I'll pump a few bottles worth just in case but also make sure I'm within a reasonable distance so baby can nurse and we don't need to worry about bottles.

snowclouds · March 2014

BiggerinRealLife said:

How bad is the first poop. . . Really?

Wasn't bad at all. I took stool softeners that they give you as soon as possible though and continued them for a week. I had heard way too many horror stories.

Heidiman said:

My sister's wedding, yes it was planned in advance of my pregnancy will be 20 days after baby is born IF she comes on my EDD. I am the MOH (third wedding I will add) and she is starting to panic about my dress. I keep telling her that picking a dress will be more of a game time decision based on when she arrives, how she arrives, etc... Right? Do y'all think I should look at a maternity dress now to calm her nerves? Will that be my best bet in your opinions either way? I keep seeing, plan on feeling 6 months pregnant after delivery. How long does that generally last? I know everyone is different but some experienced mom's thought would be really helpful about now!!! Thanks :-) Edit spelling

I was down to pre-pregnancy weight within the first month, but my post baby body was way different. Plan to have a lot more jiggly fat in the stomach area and still look 3-4 mths pregnant by then. If you end up with a c-section, you might also not want a dress that's tight on your lower stomach. Maybe, look around and pick 2-3 strong possibilities and buy the one you think will work the best based on how you feel after baby comes.

zoopsiedaisy · March 2014

@ksulli and @poru

I clearly have no clue what I'm doing! I'm over here assuming that I would be able to pump but 2 weeks sounds like no time at all. That makes me nervous about having her at the wedding being so little. Luckily all of the getting ready is at my moms so that wil be fine. But its an evening wedding. We will all be exhausted by then. My husband may just have to stay at my moms through the ceremony and come when she's ready between sleeping and eating. Oh wow. This is a bit overwhelming. Im so glad y'all are getting me thinking about it!

haziedaze · March 2014

RedDawnsRevenge said:

Do you really have to *sterilize* bottles before first use? Wash in hot soapy water, I get - but actually sterilize? They're not going to stay sterile...
:-/
I would, just because you don't know the quality of the water and such used in the manufacture of the parts. Now if you use well water you should be sterilizing all parts, bottles and water prior to making bottles or formula every time. This is a big problem here when I live, with the run off from the dairies and leech lines contaminating ground water.

This is from Babycenter:

Do I need to sterilize the bottles?

Before you first use new bottles, nipples, and rings, sterilize them by submerging them in a pot of boiling water for at least five minutes. Then let them air dry on a clean towel. After that, a good cleaning in hot, soapy water or a cycle through the dishwasher is sufficient.

Two exceptions: One, if you have well water, it may be best to continue sterilizing the bottles. And two, to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals, don't boil plastic baby bottles, heat them in the microwave, or wash them in the dishwasher.

Plastic bottles are made with bisphenol A and other chemicals that are released when heated. When these chemicals are released, they may end up in your baby's milk or formula.

You can find handy bottle-feeding gear, such as bottle drying racks and dishwasher baskets for nipples, rings, and bottle caps, at most baby supply stores.

____
The main idea is that bacteria from the production process are more likely to be narly strains than what is in your house. Baby will also have antibodies from you (passed in utero/BFing) to the things you are commonly exposed to.

We just use a sanitary cycle on our dishwasher. Worth checking to see if you have one!

jgreig83 · March 2014

I have a question to add to the sterilizing bottles question. Can I do this before the baby is born? (like between 37-40 weeks gestation) OR should I wait until I start pumping once she is here?

fourthnlast · March 2014

embear22 said:

ST+M's Was it true for you that around the time you went into labor you had a few great days where you were extremely active and productive and then out of no where you got like really nausea's and flu like symptoms and then you went into labor within a day or two? I've read that a few different places and was just wondering how true it was.

I've heard of this happening, but it never happened with me. One day I was fine, next day I was in labor.

fourthnlast · March 2014

Ooopsbaby14 said:

I've noticed more BH contractions the last day or so. I don't remember having them as much with my other 2.They aren't regular enough to make me think anything is really going on, but they are frequent enough throughout the day that they make me wonder a little. Is there a number/day kind of guideline? NST tomorrow and an appt on Thursday.

More than 5 an hour is what I've been told.

sherks11 · March 2014

Speaking of poop... I know the baby's first is bad and usually a tar like substance and can be sticky. I saw on Pinterest that a way to help clean this is to put Vaseline on the baby's butt after it is born in an effort to make it clean off easier. Anyone do this? Thoughts?

AcaAwkward · March 2014

poru said:

Heidiman said:

@ksulli and @poru

I clearly have no clue what I'm doing! I'm over here assuming that I would be able to pump but 2 weeks sounds like no time at all. That makes me nervous about having her at the wedding being so little. Luckily all of the getting ready is at my moms so that wil be fine. But its an evening wedding. We will all be exhausted by then. My husband may just have to stay at my moms through the ceremony and come when she's ready between sleeping and eating. Oh wow. This is a bit overwhelming. Im so glad y'all are getting me thinking about it!

If your hubby has her at the wedding venue I think it would be fairly easy. At that age they sleep in arms and carriers easily. They don't do much besides look cute, sleep and nurse. That part sounds like the easiest part to me!!

I am just thinking pumping may add to the stress. That would require you during the first 2 weeks to practice pumping, taking a bottle (some kids are wary of the bottle), trying to store etc, etc. I had to do that for underweight issues / supply reasons and it was a pain.

If you could just scout out a quiet place you can go to nurse with baby during wedding, I think it would be much easier on you. I am not going to lie -- unless you are one of those 10% who have magic time adjusting to motherhood, nursing, and get out and about the first week, its gonna be a hard day. But its your sisters wedding, so you will make it
work!!

@poru is spot on, I think! Establishing a pumping routine so early on could be a big challenge. Keep DH "on call" with the baby while y'all are getting ready instead of planning on bottle feeding, and then just nurse somewhere quiet at the wedding.

AcaAwkward · March 2014

ahoefling said:
Speaking of poop... I know the baby's first is bad and usually a tar like substance and can be sticky. I saw on Pinterest that a way to help clean this is to put Vaseline on the baby's butt after it is born in an effort to make it clean off easier. Anyone do this? Thoughts?

While it was stickier than normal poops, I don't remember meconium being THAT difficult to clean off with wipes. But Vaseline can't hurt!

Mrs.Kohalic17 · March 2014

Alright this may be TMI but that's what this thread is for right?! Lol
I keep getting like sharp shooting pains like right on/near my butthole. Similar to lightning crotch, is this lightning butt? $:\$ ">

cfthoct292011 · March 2014

I have a quick question about fundal height? Does it always get measured with a tape measure? Do doctors always do it? Is there a time they start to check it? My last pregnancy they started checking it when i was almost 6 months. With this pregnancy my doctor has never measured me. They just feel around and listen to the heartbeat.

nikki912 · March 2014

@Leeroy80

They recommend continuing with a prenatal throughout your entire birthing years. I continued with my prenatal but was not as strict about it.

thomas930 · March 2014

Leeroy80 said:

To moms who BF: what vitamins do you take while BFing? Continue with prenatal or go with a multivitamin?

I continued with prenatals from the recommendation of my midwives.

Sisimama10 · March 2014

Leeroy80 said:
To moms who BF: what vitamins do you take while BFing? Continue with prenatal or go with a multivitamin?

I continued with prenatal til DD was around a year old. I figured it couldn't hurt.

Sisimama10 · March 2014

Repeat post.

Sisimama10 · March 2014

And repeat post again.

thomas930 · March 2014

kcp913 said:

ST+Ms is there any truth to going into labor not too long (say a week, maybe two) after baby drops down, in your experience?

Nope, this guy made his first drop at 28 weeks and has dropped lower every other week since. I swear he can't get any lower but I'm sure he will.

Started dropping with my second at 30 weeks and he was born at 40w 1d. My first dropped around 36 weeks and I went into labor at 40w 1d as well.

jgreig83 · March 2014

Question about cervical checks. The ladies on the FB wall are commenting on how painful these are. Are they really?

snmetz7 · March 2014

jgreig83 said:
Question about cervical checks. The ladies on the FB wall are commenting on how painful these are. Are they really?

At the time, yes but the pain is short lived

BiggerinRealLife · March 2014

@nikki912 I meant mine.

Thanks for a very thorough answer though!

irisheyez7 · March 2014

This may have already been addresses but is it necessary to purchase a nursing sleep bra? Would a regular sports bra work just as well or are the specifically designed nursing bras a must?

snmetz7 · March 2014

aviola329 said:

snmetz7 said:

jgreig83 said:
Question about cervical checks. The ladies on the FB wall are commenting on how painful these are. Are they really?
At the time, yes but the pain is short lived

I've heard it compared to a pap smear? True?

They have to go in much deeper then a Pap smear. So there's more pressure. (For me)

Mamamonzo · March 2014

jgreig83 said:
Question about cervical checks. The ladies on the FB wall are commenting on how painful these are. Are they really?

I've had multiple by multiple people and don't think they hurt at all. Lots of pressure. I don't think a pap hurts at all either. I've never had a painful one.

AcaAwkward · March 2014

aviola329 said:
Eh a little bit of both.....follow up question. When do docs start checking dilation? I'm just trying to decide if I should start paying more attention to the state of things before appointments soon. Lol.

Different protocol for different docs. Some don't do them at all unless you request them. Some start at 36 or 37 weeks. You don't have to have them if you don't want to.

patunia7321 · March 2014

Re cervical checks: I find them extremely uncomfortable and if they're optional I will be opting out. (I've had to have them to check progression due to signs of PTL) I wouldn't compare them to a pap, I don't find those to be too uncomfortable. But I guess since there is going to be a baby coming out of there it's NBD in the grand scheme of uncomfortable things we're in for.

amhah09 · March 2014

ColleenSwerb said:

irisheyez7 said:
This may have already been addresses but is it necessary to purchase a nursing sleep bra? Would a regular sports bra work just as well or are the specifically designed nursing bras a must?
Nothing is really a MUST, it's more a matter of convenience/comfort. I would not have been comfortable at all trying to get a boob out of a regular sports bra to nurse 3 or 4 times a night. The whole point of the sports bra is to be tight, so whether you pull it up, or try to pull it down, I don't see it being comfortable.

All of this but I want to add that the restriction caused by sports bras will interfere with your developing supply as well as increase your chances of getting mastitis. Sports bras are actually recommended for moms who don't intend to breastfeed/are weaning from breastfeeding as a way to help diminish the supply quicker.

ETA - sports bras once your supply is pretty well established should be fine but I would still think incredibly inconvenient. I'd definitely recommend the sleep bras or the nursing tanks.

snowclouds · March 2014

kcp913 said:

ST+Ms is there any truth to going into labor not too long (say a week, maybe two) after baby drops down, in your experience?

Baby dropped 3 weeks before I went into labor. As far as I can tell, baby dropping lower does nothing to help them come unless the rest of your body is ready to go into labor.

jgreig83 said:

Question about cervical checks. The ladies on the FB wall are commenting on how painful these are. Are they really?

Cervical checks hurt like nothing else. I've also heard that if your doctor has small hands or is a man with big hands it's worse. My doctor had small hands and the on-call doctor when I delivered was a man. Of the two, the on-call doctor hurt way, way worse.

amhah09 · March 2014

I think cervical checks depend entirely on who's performing them and how far dilated you are (more dilation = more discomfort) but all in all I wouldn't say they are painful. Good thing is you can always refuse them

Airynn Chica · March 2014

Leeroy80 said:

To moms who BF: what vitamins do you take while BFing? Continue with prenatal or go with a multivitamin?

My multivitamin is the same am my prenatals so I maintained the same pill. I use Shaklee vitamins and they are proven as efficient or more so than prenatals so I never switched.

amhah09 · March 2014

LuckySquare said:
I had cervical checks at EVERY appointment (from weeks 10-36) last pregnancy (I had no idea that wasn't necessary nor any clue why he did that) and I found ALL of them to be immensely uncomfortable or painful and spotted or outright bled after all of them, and I cramped. The frequency of checks was completely over the top (no issues or signs of pre-term labor) and I wish I'd known that at the time.

This time around, I've had none, but the OB I have now would like to check at 38 weeks. Still not sure I'll say yes, as my past leads me to believe pain and bleeding will occur (and cramping for half a day)... Really, the baby will come when the baby will come, regardless of checks.

That is absurd!!!

amhah09 · March 2014

LuckySquare said:

amhah09 said:

LuckySquare said:
I had cervical checks at EVERY appointment (from weeks 10-36) last pregnancy (I had no idea that wasn't necessary nor any clue why he did that) and I found ALL of them to be immensely uncomfortable or painful and spotted or outright bled after all of them, and I cramped. The frequency of checks was completely over the top (no issues or signs of pre-term labor) and I wish I'd known that at the time.

This time around, I've had none, but the OB I have now would like to check at 38 weeks. Still not sure I'll say yes, as my past leads me to believe pain and bleeding will occur (and cramping for half a day)... Really, the baby will come when the baby will come, regardless of checks.
That is absurd!!!
Totally. And he never tested for GSB because he didn't think it necessary. I immediately switched OBs after my PP check-up at 6 weeks due those and other things. Total quack in my opinion and I wish I'd known what I do now and spoken up about things.

You poor thing. That's awful!

maelic · March 2014

LuckySquare said:

I had cervical checks at EVERY appointment (from weeks 10-36) last pregnancy (I had no idea that wasn't necessary nor any clue why he did that) and I found ALL of them to be immensely uncomfortable or painful and spotted or outright bled after all of them, and I cramped. The frequency of checks was completely over the top (no issues or signs of pre-term labor) and I wish I'd known that at the time. This time around, I've had none, but the OB I have now would like to check at 38 weeks. Still not sure I'll say yes, as my past leads me to believe pain and bleeding will occur (and cramping for half a day)... Really, the baby will come when the baby will come, regardless of checks.
That is absurd!!!
Totally. And he never tested for GSB because he didn't think it necessary. I immediately switched OBs after my PP check-up at 6 weeks due those and other things. Total quack in my opinion and I wish I'd known what I do now and spoken up about things.

I want to throat punch that OB for you. What an asshole.

thomas930 · March 2014

jgreig83 said:

Question about cervical checks. The ladies on the FB wall are commenting on how painful these are. Are they really?

I've never found cervical checks to be painful or even uncomfortable....but then again pap's are that big of a deal for me either.

amhah09 · March 2014

dani+california said:
Question regarding working out:

I see a lot of comments about being 'cleared' for exercise. I do an hour walk every day with my dog at a local conservation area; nothing hilly or crazy. Are extended periods of walking fine? I'm assuming when people say they need to be cleared it's for running or lifting weights or something? I really don't want to be stuck to a couch for 6-8 weeks.

Honestly you can do whatever you're comfortable with. Just listen to your body. Walking in moderation is encouraged but I remember my midwife after DS telling me not to do anything more than a chin lift. With DD I was jogging on the treadmill at 3 weeks just because it FELT good to be doing that. No way I could have done that after DS.

ETA - it's not just weak muscles and recovery time that is involved in being "cleared" for exercise but overdoing it can increase your chance of PP hemorrhage and other complications so that's why they advise new moms to do very little at first. I think they even tell you not to lift anything heavier than the baby (lol yeah right for those of us with other kids at home).

Heeb918 · March 2014

To go along with the cervical check questions, what exactly do they do? Shove a finger up there and estimate the size of the hole in the opening? I've heard the painful part is when they try to induce by ripping the membranes with their hands, but I honestly don't know what they do. And when they say you are 8cm or whatever, I assume that is a guess and they aren't actually measuring, right?

amhah09 · March 2014

Mrs+Hebert said:
To go along with the cervical check questions, what exactly do they do? Shove a finger up there and estimate the size of the hole in the opening? I've heard the painful part is when they try to induce by ripping the membranes with their hands, but I honestly don't know what they do. And when they say you are 8cm or whatever, I assume that is a guess and they aren't actually measuring, right?

Yes, they measure with their fingers. No, they aren't taking a ruler but they can pretty accurately judge based on their fingers. That is why there may be some variation from provider to provide, but generally not much.

Membrane sweeps are much more uncomfortable (borderline painful) IMO.

nikki912 · March 2014

Mrs+Hebert said:
To go along with the cervical check questions, what exactly do they do? Shove a finger up there and estimate the size of the hole in the opening? I've heard the painful part is when they try to induce by ripping the membranes with their hands, but I honestly don't know what they do. And when they say you are 8cm or whatever, I assume that is a guess and they aren't actually measuring, right?

I had my membranes stripped and that was very painful but totally worth t for me- went into labor that evening. As far as what they're Doing up there, they measure cm by estimating the opening with their fingers. Usually one finger is one cm, two fingers is two cm etc. When it gets up to the higher numbers they estimate by experience. Feeling around and what not. There are charts on the Internet if you're interested in what they are looking for when they are up there.

jgreig83 · March 2014

ColleenSwerb said:

My SIL is a physicians assistant and she was doing an OB rotation while I was pregnant with DS. They literally have a little plastic guide that has holes for 1cm, 2cm, etc. And they just practice putting their fingers in the hole to get a feel for what each size is in relation to their hand/fingers, since everyone's fingers/hands are different.

Sorta like the pasta measurement thingy on the end of some of the pasta sauce ladles then!!

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