@barrakeata tucks pads are for hemorrhoids mainly, but they did list on the box that they can used after childbirth too. I had a devil of a time finding them, and of course didn't want to ask! Just spent a ways walking around looking for preparation h and similar stuff. I'm sure you can get them at a pharmacy store like Walgreen's, I've also seen them at my local grocery, but I got mine at Walmart. I guess the established moms would put the pads on their maxi pads for comfort. Google 'padsicles' and there are a couple of ways to build a comforting pad to put down there (probably NSFW - it may be embarrassing of someone sees you looking that up, lol)
Tucks are usually found in the constipation aisle (usually toward the bottom of the shelve). It comes in a tub. Inside there is round cloth that is two inches wide that contains witch hazel. It reminds me of eye make up remover pads.
So, who knows a little something something about a sitz bath? I totally youtubed it and there wasn't much for postpartum care, just the hemmerhoids. Is there something that usually goes into the water? Is it used every time you go to the bathroom? And my most important question, how do you sit in this thing and not fall into the toilet?? I am heavier than some cheap plastic! Anyone have any experience of it actually helping the healing process? I *hate* the thought of sitting in this thing, but I'll do it if it's going to work. I just think sitting in water after having stitches is the last thing I'll want to do...
In my birthing class they showed us what basically looked like a medium-ish plastic bowl (maybe there was more to it, I was sitting WAY in the back so as not to give any other mommies my cold, and I had not brought my glasses to see well) and said you soak your parts in it. So I'm looking at it from way back there, and I'm thinking - "my ass is WAY bigger than that thing. So...am I supposed to hover over it and kinda dip teabag style like all the rappers are talking about? I don't understand..." Then she said they mostly don't send it home anymore, they send you with a spray / squirt bottle. So I don't know what the hell. I'm glad you asked this.
Your supposed to put it into the toilet so you're over it not in it. It's gravity fed and makes like a little fountain to sort of rinse even rushing. You can do just warm water or add things to it with doctors advice. You don't really soak in it.
This is a decent video to show you how it gets set up-no gross demonstration so don't worry
Tucks are usually found in the constipation aisle (usually toward the bottom of the shelve). It comes in a tub. Inside there is round cloth that is two inches wide that contains witch hazel. It reminds me of eye make up remover pads.
Ah ha ha, Lauren! The "constipation aisle"!! Love it.
So when you're done pushing that baby out you will almost certainly have hemmriods and serious swelling in your vulva. When you push you are using both your ab muscles,uterine muscles and the muscles used to push out a poop, so the tucks/witch hazel pads help with that discomfort until the swelling subsides and the hemmriods reduce in size. You fold the round pad in half and tuck it into your butt crack and the lay some on top of the pad to be in contact with your vulva. Also a hemmroid donut to sit on is very helpful in taking some of the pressure off of that area when sitting.
As for the sitz bath, the hospital gave me a squirt bottle to use. Wiping after peeing is a whole new level of discomfort after giving birth so you just squirt yourself down and then dab lightly with TP. Wiping after a poop and having hemmriods.....oh. Dear. God. It's not a pleasant experience. Which leads you back to the Tucks pads. Isn't it all so glamorous?! \:D/
So when you're done pushing that baby out you will almost certainly have hemmriods and serious swelling in your vulva. When you push you are using both your ab muscles,uterine muscles and the muscles used to push out a poop, so the tucks/witch hazel pads help with that discomfort until the swelling subsides and the hemmriods reduce in size. You fold the round pad in half and tuck it into your butt crack and the lay some on top of the pad to be in contact with your vulva. Also a hemmroid donut to sit on is very helpful in taking some of the pressure off of that area when sitting.
As for the sitz bath, the hospital gave me a squirt bottle to use. Wiping after peeing is a whole new level of discomfort after giving birth so you just squirt yourself down and then dab lightly with TP. Wiping after a poop and having hemmriods.....oh. Dear. God. It's not a pleasant experience. Which leads you back to the Tucks pads. Isn't it all so glamorous?! \:D/
I use them to wipe after I have wiped with tp but folding them into my butt crack!!!! I just laughed to hard!!!! I can't wait to try that. It's sounds so.... Refreshing
2. Baby boy has not flipped, obviously. Every time c/s is mentioned I get teary eyed, darn hormones. I'm 37 w 4 d. Do I give up on him flipping at this point and focus on mentally preparing for a c/s so that I can handle it better?
When my mom was pregnant with my sister, the doctor was literally prepping her for a c section when they decided to check one last time to see if my sister had flipped. Turns out, she had. So my mom got sent home (in a very angry mood, since she had mentally prepared to have a baby that day), and delivered my sister vaginally a few days later. Babies really can flip at any time, don't be afraid to keep your hopes up!
You can also pour iced tea on pads and freeze them. We do that for patients and they love it. You can do the same with breast pads and iced tea and freeze. Tea and cold helps with inflammation.
I am on pregnancy 5. Let me first say you will survive this time and one day look back and laugh . My first one I just had no clue, I wanted my baby tried for almost two years before I got pregnant but never being around babies had no clue what to do with babies. I was worried all the time over everything, pacifiers, nipple confusion, sleep, everything! I wish I could have relaxed! I don't believe in nipple confusion anymore, in fact by not giving him a bottle early made it to where he would not take a bottle and that was a pain in the butt!!!sleep depends on the baby, some are good sleepers some aren't! The first three months the baby is getting used to the world outside the womb!!! It takes time for them to adjust and get a rhythm. You will be very tired, you might experience some blues! You might watch your baby breathe at night! You might get so tired that you are cranky with the baby and the world, it's normal! It's ok to be scared, I think it comes with the territory of new mom. But you care and love that baby and are going to do your best and you will be a good mom! It's going to be ok! Invest in gripe water! It helps soothe that new baby tummy I didn't have that with my first three and when I had my fourth gripe water was a miracle! It helped my daughter so much and we didn't have hours of crying and colickyness. It's natural! And apparently been using it in Europe for a long time now! It is so helpful and so much better than mylecon and stuff like that!
Number 5 is coming 7 years after #4 so I am a little nervous myself:) will I remember everything? Am I too old and too tired? So even old moms get nervous and that's ok too. Just get sleep where you can, relax when you can! Time goes so fast so enjoy that little bundle and know you will figure this out and will be ok
@kissell I thought you meant you knew what semen smelled like and not urine. ...how much semen has this girl smelled?!?! Then I re-read it and I think you meant does amniotic fluid smell like seman? Right? Lol DH laughed and said thought the same thing. We both laughed when we figured it out. (Not to make fun of you but me for being a dork).
And I'm with ya @lovethatcolosun I fold them and pack em in. I use three front to back after labor. They are magic. I can't wipe with them though. Ouch!! They get hung on stitches.
@devyns2nd yeah after the ole DH takes me to pound town I like to smell his man juice. BAHAHA I needed a good laugh tonight thank you!!! Oh that's funny!! And I don't actually use the pads to wipe, more like pat and press. Stitches(?)(!) I forgot I read about those too... Oh geez I am a nervous wreck for labor!
Anyone else have high blood pressure at 36 + 4 days? They monitored my blood pressure and then said okay you're good to go home. I went home and am still having high blood pressure+ dizziness+migraines that won't go away. What if they just send me home again? I feel like they're saying I'm crazy for thinking something's wrong.
@jaceypaigebeasley I'm assuming that when they did your BP they were also aware of the dizziness and migraines? If not, then definitely let them know. But I'm feeling that you had told them about it at the time, so if I were in your position I would call the nurses station or l&d and express that you are concerned about the extent of your dizziness and your blood pressure, and that something just doesn't feel right. Maybe they have you come in again and maybe it all checks out ok, and it was a wasted trip, but who cares if they think you're crazy? Just my thoughts, maybe others have a better viewpoint. I haven't any experience with high BP so I'm totally just throwing that out there, but that would be my reasoning
I went back to the doctor and have been having contractions. Doctor said until my pain is a 6 or 7 he won't show interest and take it seriously. Headaches and nausea and cramping won't go away. This will be the third time I go to the doctor and I HATE going because they look at me like "oh this is your first child. How could you know your pains are real or Braxton hicks?" I'm just stressed out from this whole thing. My due date is June 4th (scheduled c section) and I KNOW I'm not going to make it until then.
I just got off procardia on Saturday (34 weeks) I have contractions like I did before I was on it and I feel much less dizzy and lightheaded... As far as labor symptoms go I just feel like I'm getting Braxton hicks more (just contract easily)
Way past Friday but I have one... Can you still take a bath when dilated? This popped into my head during a wonderful bubble bath so it completely ruined my zen....never even thought to ask doctor but when I told her I was adding apple cider vinegar to my baths she didn't say not to take them ... Looks like my anti-anxiety time just gave me anxiety ugh! Probably won't take them anymore but would love some replies!
Way past Friday but I have one... Can you still take a bath when dilated? This popped into my head during a wonderful bubble bath so it completely ruined my zen....never even thought to ask doctor but when I told her I was adding apple cider vinegar to my baths she didn't say not to take them ... Looks like my anti-anxiety time just gave me anxiety ugh! Probably won't take them anymore but would love some replies!
Why the ACV? Am I missing something amazing for pregnancy?
Way past Friday but I have one... Can you still take a bath when dilated? This popped into my head during a wonderful bubble bath so it completely ruined my zen....never even thought to ask doctor but when I told her I was adding apple cider vinegar to my baths she didn't say not to take them ... Looks like my anti-anxiety time just gave me anxiety ugh! Probably won't take them anymore but would love some replies!
Why the ACV? Am I missing something amazing for pregnancy?
Oh sorry... It was because I am GBS positive... It's a recommended natural treatment for it... My doctor kind of just rolled her eyes at it (not actually but it was there somewhere haha)... But she said it was totally fine if it made me feel better about it...don't worry I am not replacing the antibiotics for the apple cider vinegar!
Way past Friday but I have one... Can you still take a bath when dilated? This popped into my head during a wonderful bubble bath so it completely ruined my zen....never even thought to ask doctor but when I told her I was adding apple cider vinegar to my baths she didn't say not to take them ... Looks like my anti-anxiety time just gave me anxiety ugh! Probably won't take them anymore but would love some replies!
Why the ACV? Am I missing something amazing for pregnancy?
Oh sorry... It was because I am GBS positive... It's a recommended natural treatment for it... My doctor kind of just rolled her eyes at it (not actually but it was there somewhere haha)... But she said it was totally fine if it made me feel better about it...don't worry I am not replacing the antibiotics for the apple cider vinegar!
I see. They aren't going to retest you or anything, are they, though? I mean, even if you get rid of it they won't know so you'll still get the antibiotics, right? Is it just to be even more safe?
Way past Friday but I have one... Can you still take a bath when dilated? This popped into my head during a wonderful bubble bath so it completely ruined my zen....never even thought to ask doctor but when I told her I was adding apple cider vinegar to my baths she didn't say not to take them ... Looks like my anti-anxiety time just gave me anxiety ugh! Probably won't take them anymore but would love some replies!
Why the ACV? Am I missing something amazing for pregnancy?
Oh sorry... It was because I am GBS positive... It's a recommended natural treatment for it... My doctor kind of just rolled her eyes at it (not actually but it was there somewhere haha)... But she said it was totally fine if it made me feel better about it...don't worry I am not replacing the antibiotics for the apple cider vinegar!
I see. They aren't going to retest you or anything, are they, though? I mean, even if you get rid of it they won't know so you'll still get the antibiotics, right? Is it just to be even more safe?
No... I think it's pretty standard that once you test positive they give you antibiotics... I just like to believe I am helping it along since it can't hurt... I was freaked out by it because it was not an issue last time around ... It's annoying how something that lives naturally in our bodies can decide to wreck havoc during pregnancy... There are lots of people on the "all natural/ anti-biotics are evil") side of the fence with some interesting and safe remedies ... I just found that this one is simple and I like baths anyway... But yes absolutely still getting the antibiotics.
I have one too, that I've been meaning to ask for weeks!
Why is the first postpartum poop supposedly so terrible? Everything I've seen says take the stool softener, and that it will make you cry. But exactly what is the problem? Assuming no tearing or hemorrhoids, because obviously I can figure out why that would be bad. But otherwise?
I have one too, that I've been meaning to ask for weeks!
Why is the first postpartum poop supposedly so terrible? Everything I've seen says take the stool softener, and that it will make you cry. But exactly what is the problem? Assuming no tearing or hemorrhoids, because obviously I can figure out why that would be bad. But otherwise?
I have one too, that I've been meaning to ask for weeks!
Why is the first postpartum poop supposedly so terrible? Everything I've seen says take the stool softener, and that it will make you cry. But exactly what is the problem? Assuming no tearing or hemorrhoids, because obviously I can figure out why that would be bad. But otherwise?
It's the anticipation more than anything... Take a Colace and just do it ... It was so much worse worrying about it than it actually was!
I have one too, that I've been meaning to ask for weeks!
Why is the first postpartum poop supposedly so terrible? Everything I've seen says take the stool softener, and that it will make you cry. But exactly what is the problem? Assuming no tearing or hemorrhoids, because obviously I can figure out why that would be bad. But otherwise?
I'm a FTM so this isn't from personal experience, but I'd imagine that even without haemorrhoids and tearing that the whole area is bound to be a bit tender, bruised and beaten up.
I have a medela pump and I ordered the small sized shields and the things swallow my nipple whole, my mother told me that your nipples will get bigger when you start breast feeding is that true?
I have a medela pump and I ordered the small sized shields and the things swallow my nipple whole, my mother told me that your nipples will get bigger when you start breast feeding is that true?
Huh. I know that mine got bigger during pregnancy (Hubby's super eloquent "like pepperoni!" still echoes in my mind). If they get bigger again then... What is that? Salami?
FTM so I don't know the answer to this question, but I miss my old boobs. :-<
I have a medela pump and I ordered the small sized shields and the things swallow my nipple whole, my mother told me that your nipples will get bigger when you start breast feeding is that true?
Yes, it's true.
ETA: both the nipple and areola will change during breastfeeding, the areola typically expanding/darkening and the nipple lengthening.
Ok maybe I'm just really out of touch but what does QFP stand for? There are some acronyms on here that really stump me don't even know if I can blame pregnancy brain....
Not the areole but the tip of the nipple, if that makes any sense? That's terrible he should have not called them that I had a friend in HS who was called pepperoni tits.
Ok maybe I'm just really out of touch but what does QFP stand for? There are some acronyms on here that really stump me don't even know if I can blame pregnancy brain....
Quote for posterity - that way if OP deletes everything we can still read what was originally said!
@mellymar I make fun of my DH nipples because they are so small. Microscopic. I say do the mature thing and pick on him back! ( sorry I'm not focused on this thread...... Is ADHD a thing in pregnancy ?! My nipples are waaaY bigger than they were before but I'm a FTM..... You will prob just have to wait and see what happens.
I have a medela pump and I ordered the small sized shields and the things swallow my nipple whole, my mother told me that your nipples will get bigger when you start breast feeding is that true?
Yes, it's true.
ETA: both the nipple and areola will change during breastfeeding, the areola typically expanding/darkening and the nipple lengthening.
My nipples did not get any bigger while breast feeding (I did it for 21months with ds), and while my areola got darker during pregnancy, they didn't get any darker during BFing- and they went back to normal post BFing).
@iheartpancake it won't break or fall on toilet I promise you. I thought the same thing like this rinky dink plastic is going to split for sure but I've been using it for my hemorrhoid for weeks and it's will fine. I at first out Epsom salts in the water cause the lady at the pharmacy said to but it irritated me so I think she was wrong or I didn't like that. I put witch hazel in with pretty warm water and sit. I do it after ever time I go to the bathroom. And then I put on my hemorrhoid creams. That's all my knowledge on the sitz bath. At first I thought it was stupid but that thing has been a life saver for me.
I didn't mind y'all. I tried to be offended and burst out laughing instead. Still makes me shake my head and smile ruefully. This whole conversation makes me giggle, actually. :>
ETA crazily enough, he just brought out a snack for himself that includes cheese slices and salami slices. #-o
Re: FFFQ! Flame free questions answered! Mucus plugs? Dilation? Toothbrushes? No question too stupid!
This is a decent video to show you how it gets set up-no gross demonstration so don't worry
As for the sitz bath, the hospital gave me a squirt bottle to use. Wiping after peeing is a whole new level of discomfort after giving birth so you just squirt yourself down and then dab lightly with TP. Wiping after a poop and having hemmriods.....oh. Dear. God. It's not a pleasant experience. Which leads you back to the Tucks pads. Isn't it all so glamorous?!
\:D/
I use them to wipe after I have wiped with tp but folding them into my butt crack!!!! I just laughed to hard!!!!
I can't wait to try that. It's sounds so.... Refreshing
Number 5 is coming 7 years after #4 so I am a little nervous myself:) will I remember everything? Am I too old and too tired? So even old moms get nervous and that's ok too. Just get sleep where you can, relax when you can! Time goes so fast so enjoy that little bundle and know you will figure this out and will be ok
And I'm with ya @lovethatcolosun I fold them and pack em in. I use three front to back after labor. They are magic. I can't wipe with them though. Ouch!! They get hung on stitches.
The squirt bottle also comes in handy after a c section!
Thanks
know so you'll still get the antibiotics, right? Is it just to be even more safe?
Why is the first postpartum poop supposedly so terrible? Everything I've seen says take the stool softener, and that it will make you cry. But exactly what is the problem? Assuming no tearing or hemorrhoids, because obviously I can figure out why that would be bad. But otherwise?
I have a medela pump and I ordered the small sized shields and the things swallow my nipple whole, my mother told me that your nipples will get bigger when you start breast feeding is that true?
FTM so I don't know the answer to this question, but I miss my old boobs. :-<
ETA: both the nipple and areola will change during breastfeeding, the areola typically expanding/darkening and the nipple lengthening.
My nipples are waaaY bigger than they were before but I'm a FTM..... You will prob just have to wait and see what happens.
ETA crazily enough, he just brought out a snack for himself that includes cheese slices and salami slices.
#-o