@mrstrax and @elasticheart13 That's cool! It's good to know they aren't just having baby tied up on a tree! Lmfao. I should have figured they do something like that >.> I still think it's weird looking though... O.o
I agree! I much prefer lifestyle or minimally posed shots. Even some of the props are just too much.
@AmadorRose I just had some taken yesterday actually, by a friend. Never did an actual "maternity photos" session before but a friend of mine has started a photography business and she offered... I was concerned about having them done at only 17 wks because my bump "isn't that big yet" but she was wanting to do them now, so I agreed because 1) I don't want to be too big in the pics, and 2) the weather could decide to get nasty and stay there any day now. As it turns out, my bump looks bigger through a lens than it does in my my mirror/mind, and also the sweater I decided to wear isn't actually as flattering as I thought it was. Good to know...
Speaking of photography poses and other things that are good to know... If you decide to do maternity photos, and you're thinking "wtf?!" as the photographer is giving you posing directions.... LISTEN TO THAT INNER VOICE.
This is one of the photos from our session yesterday. I was thinking "wtf" at the time (and you can kind of see the "wtf" coming off of both of us, actually) ... but I thought she was going to frame this shot very differently (as in maybe from my waist up) so I went along with it. My friend the photographer says this is one of her favorite shots?! Thankfully, they aren't all like this one. (And I do feel like a total ass for complaining about this one when she was SO nice to offer to do this for me.)
Go ahead everyone, commence with the mockery... Just remember to thank me later when you are able to avoid a spectacularly awkward shot like this one.
@Knottie9983816 Can you blame me?! lol My jaw is actually clenched from trying to hold myself with as much dignity as pregnantly possible in that gravitationally challenged position...
@jordanbara I think I look a bit like an amputee in a poor recreation of the Titanic pose.
I love my friend, but I do not love this photograph... Now I just have to figure out how to nicely ask her not to share this and any other awkward shots, without upsetting her.
@aa79606 I'm sorry but I snorted. That was very nice of your friend to do for you though and I hope you have some pictures you're happy with!
I don't blame you for snorting, lol. I'm sure there will be tons of great shots, I loved several of the ones she sent me yesterday. I am just a little bit confused/frightened that this was one of her favorites.
I'd like to do some family photos early next year while I'm still pregnant. My mom won a photo package at some fundraiser she went to recently, and kindly passed it on to me. I was really appreciative until I looked at the photographer's website...see example below. Now I'm a little terrified. (To be fair, her family sessions aren't as terrible, but they are really posed. I definitely prefer more candid-looking shots.)
I'd like to do some family photos early next year while I'm still pregnant. My mom won a photo package at some fundraiser she went to recently, and kindly passed it on to me. I was really appreciative until I looked at the photographer's website...see example below. Now I'm a little terrified. (To be fair, her family sessions aren't as terrible, but they are really posed. I definitely prefer more candid-looking shots.)
I'd maybe ask her about doing "couples photos where you just to happen to be pregnant" and then maybe throw in a few cheesier poses for fun.
@aa79606 oh dear, you do not look the least amused hahaha. I think the photo would actually have worked much much better if you were looking down on him and smiling and perhaps resting your hands on his shoulder instead of this very awkward pose haha.
@aa79606 I'm sorry but I snorted. That was very nice of your friend to do for you though and I hope you have some pictures you're happy with!
I don't blame you for snorting, lol. I'm sure there will be tons of great shots, I loved several of the ones she sent me yesterday. I am just a little bit confused/frightened that this was one of her favorites.
Maybe you could talk up how great it is so she isn't offended, then say something like "but I'm pretty self-conscious about X feature and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with how this angle highlights it..."
That way she isn't butthurt that her idea was terrible, but hopefully she gets the hint not to publicize it.
---quote fail----
I'm going to try... In at least one of the shots where she has me "looking down at my belly" the angle gives me a glaring double chin.
It's one thing for a photographer to lack practical experience in posing, but they realllly need to have a critical eye when selecting and editing shots.
I have yet to see a maternity photo that I really like or that doesn't look horribly staged.......well I take that back. I've seen one or two on Pinterest of pregnant models that look incredible but this size 12/14 girl aint gonna look like that so we even bother? Definitely not my thing, unless of course I was a professional model with a hair and make up team.
We did a newborn shoot with DS that we absolutely loved (no hanging from branches) and will be doing it with this little guy as well.
@aa79606 oh dear, you do not look the least amused hahaha. I think the photo would actually have worked much much better if you were looking down on him and smiling and perhaps resting your hands on his shoulder instead of this very awkward pose haha.
The rock I was standing on was really too high to pose us both together well without putting him on a stepladder (DH is 6'4" to give you kind of an idea). I tried bending my knees (thinking she was cropping the shot closer) before we settled on the Leaning Tower of Tummy stance.
She also took a few shots of me alone up there, leaning on the rock behind me. This pose did have potential to be decent. Unfortunately, the only one of those shots I've seen so far is... Well, unfortunate. My eyes are closed, and I'm making a face.
To be fair, I am NOTORIOUS for making unfortunate faces in photographs. But also to be fair, I warned her of this and told her to take multiple shots of each pose!!
So much good info on this post! I know I'm way late to the party, but I just wanted to say to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
I was most unprepared for how badly labor and contractions would hurt. I knew I was getting the epidural and I was convinced that by the time it started to "really hurt," I'd be getting that needle in the back. Um, no. My water broke and it was excruciating for hours. I had decided not to get the IV painkillers because it can make the baby groggy, but after telling the nurse no, I was yelling after her down the hall like yes yes give me drugs!
However, my recovery was not bad at all! I had a vaginal delivery and an episiotomy.
The weirdest part was getting up with the nurse to use the bathroom after delivery and my legs collapsing under me. I also (TMI ALERT) passed a big blood clot onto the floor when I went to pee, which freaked me out!
I was definitely very sore for a couple days, but nothing worse than like the sorest I've ever been after a crazy workout. (I was on IBprofen regularly for the first few days). The day I came home from the hospital, I started going on walks around the neighborhood with my baby in the stroller. On the second or third day home ,I was running errands with hubby, and I was running errands with baby shortly thereafter. Yes, I bled for weeks, but that was more of an annoyance than anything. The stitches came out on their own, no issues there.
I will say that I was kind of surprised that no only did sex the first time hurt, but it continued to hurt for a long time.
Overall though, I had an easy recovery... so don't be too terrified! I had bought a bunch of "supplies" for postpartum that I ended up returning because I just didn't need them!
Amanda
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Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
I have a question: how long after delivery did it take to feel normal again? What I mean is, not feeling like all your organs are squished and you can't breathe? What about regaining ab strength? I swear it is getting harder for me to sit up from a laying position, when does this get easier?
I have a question: how long after delivery did it take to feel normal again? What I mean is, not feeling like all your organs are squished and you can't breathe? What about regaining ab strength? I swear it is getting harder for me to sit up from a laying position, when does this get easier?
The second I passed the placenta all that weight and pressure disappeared. It's pretty amazing. DD1 put a lot of pressure on my ribs and not having that after so many months felt ridiculously good. I think it's recommended not to start abdominal exercises for as long as 6 months after delivery. As far as just not feeling like a turtle unable to right itself, that ends right after delivery too.
Thanks so much ladies - some really useful info on here! FTM with a couple of questions:
1) How long did it take you all for your stomach to reshrink? I mean the uterus type area rather than baby weight as I know the latter can really vary!
2) Did you find learning how to latch/manage breastfeeding difficult? I've heard that often cracked or bleeding nipples is due to 'poor technique' or 'process' rather than anything else - is that true?
3) Did your hormones go crazy on the third day post delivery?
2) Learning to latch was hard for us. I hated seeing her upset and worried she wasn't getting enough.
3) In the first week, I had 2 episodes of unexplained crying. I had no idea why I was crying and actually laughed at myself. I wouldn't say that's hormones going crazy, but with birth and then plain old exhaustion, we can get a little loopy.
I have a question: how long after delivery did it take to feel normal again? What I mean is, not feeling like all your organs are squished and you can't breathe? What about regaining ab strength? I swear it is getting harder for me to sit up from a laying position, when does this get easier?
Like others said, your pregnancy symptoms disappear pretty much immediately!! However, there is the issue of your milk coming in within the next few days. Mine wasn't bad, but some people get very engorged/uncomfrotable.
I basically just felt sort for a week or so and then felt totally back to normal, aside from the never-ending bleeding!
Amanda
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Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
I just thought of something no one told me before I gave birth this time... when your water breaks, it's generally not all at once, and it will keep leaking out... and you just lay in it. Ew. I had no idea.
Amanda
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Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Thanks so much ladies - some really useful info on here! FTM with a couple of questions:
1) How long did it take you all for your stomach to reshrink? I mean the uterus type area rather than baby weight as I know the latter can really vary!
2) Did you find learning how to latch/manage breastfeeding difficult? I've heard that often cracked or bleeding nipples is due to 'poor technique' or 'process' rather than anything else - is that true?
3) Did your hormones go crazy on the third day post delivery?
Thanks all
I have no idea how long it took for my tummy area to shrink. Maybe a week or two.
I found breastfeeding really easy. DD had a great latch right away and my milk came in right away. Even with that I dealt with cracked and bleeding nipples. Pumping was the cause for me so I got different cones (I have no idea what they're actually called) and that helped. Also, use nipple cream even if you don't think you have to. I loved the earth mama angle baby stuff...until I developed an allergic reaction to it. If your nipples get really really bad get a pair of nipple shells. They'll keep breast pads off and air flow constant to help healing. Allergic reaction + pumping = you don't want to know and this is the only thing that really helped me heal.
I was still in the hospital three days postpartum so I'm going to say no.
Thanks so much ladies - some really useful info on here! FTM with a couple of questions:
1) How long did it take you all for your stomach to reshrink? I mean the uterus type area rather than baby weight as I know the latter can really vary!
2) Did you find learning how to latch/manage breastfeeding difficult? I've heard that often cracked or bleeding nipples is due to 'poor technique' or 'process' rather than anything else - is that true?
3) Did your hormones go crazy on the third day post delivery?
Thanks all
1) About 1.5 years but that was with minimal working out and a stressful job where I gained a lot of my pre pregnancy weight...so I am not the best person to judge.
2) Again, I shouldn't qualify. DD was 9 days late and they wouldn't let me eat or drink before I was induced. I had water and clear liquids later on but not a ton. I was starving by the time Dd was born at 630pm. She latched easy but I think it was because she was late and I hadn't eaten much all day. I highly recommend the Medela gel pads for cracked sore nipples. They are a life saver until you get used to it.
3) I was a mess for a week but I think it was because I wasn't sleeping much and DD didn't flip her schedule until she was about a month.
How many bottles does baby need? I am working on my registry this week and I have no idea. I plan to BF and while on maternity leave will begin to introduce a bottle towards the end. I will be pumping as well.
How many bottles does baby need? I am working on my registry this week and I have no idea. I plan to BF and while on maternity leave will begin to introduce a bottle towards the end. I will be pumping as well.
Depends how often you feel like washing them.
I'd probably start with a starter set and then buy more as needed. You won't know how your baby takes to a specific brand of bottle until they're here so you might end up needing to switch brands.
What is a kick count, and is it necessary? (I'm allergic to Google. Oh and the search bar)
It's just being aware that baby is moving in your third trimester. Usually the earliest you should start doing it is 28 weeks. If baby stops moving and drinking cold juice doesn't get baby moving, it's a sign to call the doc. I don't remember how many kicks you want in how much time but your dr should tell you when you get to third tri. You don't have to actually sit there and time it etx, just be aware.
First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
Proud SAHM to our little monkey H.
Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
How many bottles does baby need? I am working on my registry this week and I have no idea. I plan to BF and while on maternity leave will begin to introduce a bottle towards the end. I will be pumping as well.
@yodiggity I worked full time and was away from my son from 6 AM until 3 PM... he took 3-4 bottles a day. Then of course I had to wash the bottles I pumped into and my pump parts each night as well. I would say go ahead and get enough bottles for two days (like 8-10) because if you're anything like me, there WILL be those days where the dirty dishes sit in the sink and you aren't going to want to be hand-washing bottles in the morning before work!
Also, if you end up exclusively breastfeeding, your baby will likely never drink more than 4 oz at a time (that's a lot of breastmilk)... so you may be able to just use the smaller bottles. If you think you may end up supplementing or using formula, just skip the little bottles and go for the big bottles. I think the only advantages of the smaller bottles is that they take up a little less space and MAAYYYBE baby can hold his or her own bottle a little sooner... but son pretty much never held his own bottle, so that just depends on the baby!
Amanda
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Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
What is a kick count, and is it necessary? (I'm allergic to Google. Oh and the search bar)
It's just being aware that baby is moving in your third trimester. Usually the earliest you should start doing it is 28 weeks. If baby stops moving and drinking cold juice doesn't get baby moving, it's a sign to call the doc. I don't remember how many kicks you want in how much time but your dr should tell you when you get to third tri. You don't have to actually sit there and time it etx, just be aware.
Yeah, my doctor never told me to do these... just to let them know if I noticed anything unusual/baby not moving like normal.
Amanda
******************************
Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
What is a kick count, and is it necessary? (I'm allergic to Google. Oh and the search bar)
It's just being aware that baby is moving in your third trimester. Usually the earliest you should start doing it is 28 weeks. If baby stops moving and drinking cold juice doesn't get baby moving, it's a sign to call the doc. I don't remember how many kicks you want in how much time but your dr should tell you when you get to third tri. You don't have to actually sit there and time it etx, just be aware.
Yeah, my doctor never told me to do these... just to let them know if I noticed anything unusual/baby not moving like normal.
Maybe this needs a trigger warning, maybe not, but there's a campaign from still birth moms to make kick counts a more universal thing amongst doctors practices. Noticing significantly less movement can mean (but does not always) that baby is in distress or has a cord around their neck etc and it could potentially save baby by doing an emergency c section if they notice in time.
First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
Proud SAHM to our little monkey H.
Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
What is a kick count, and is it necessary? (I'm allergic to Google. Oh and the search bar)
It's just being aware that baby is moving in your third trimester. Usually the earliest you should start doing it is 28 weeks. If baby stops moving and drinking cold juice doesn't get baby moving, it's a sign to call the doc. I don't remember how many kicks you want in how much time but your dr should tell you when you get to third tri. You don't have to actually sit there and time it etx, just be aware.
Yeah, my doctor never told me to do these... just to let them know if I noticed anything unusual/baby not moving like normal.
Maybe this needs a trigger warning, maybe not, but there's a campaign from still birth moms to make kick counts a more universal thing amongst doctors practices. Noticing significantly less movement can mean (but does not always) that baby is in distress or has a cord around their neck etc and it could potentially save baby by doing an emergency c section if they notice in time.
If we're talking about the same group the name of the Facebook group is Count the Kicks. They have good information about how to go about tracking and I think they're working on an app.
What is a kick count, and is it necessary? (I'm allergic to Google. Oh and the search bar)
It's just being aware that baby is moving in your third trimester. Usually the earliest you should start doing it is 28 weeks. If baby stops moving and drinking cold juice doesn't get baby moving, it's a sign to call the doc. I don't remember how many kicks you want in how much time but your dr should tell you when you get to third tri. You don't have to actually sit there and time it etx, just be aware.
Yeah, my doctor never told me to do these... just to let them know if I noticed anything unusual/baby not moving like normal.
Maybe this needs a trigger warning, maybe not, but there's a campaign from still birth moms to make kick counts a more universal thing amongst doctors practices. Noticing significantly less movement can mean (but does not always) that baby is in distress or has a cord around their neck etc and it could potentially save baby by doing an emergency c section if they notice in time.
If we're talking about the same group the name of the Facebook group is Count the Kicks. They have good information about how to go about tracking and I think they're working on an app.
This information is all really helpful/horrifying! I think I need to start making a list of things to remember so I can bring it to the hospital with me.
I don't think this has been asked but the search function kind of sucks so here goes! My question is about baby monitors. Has anyone heard of/used an owlet baby monitor? It's relatively new I think and it's a little sock you put on your baby's foot while they sleep. It monitors oxygen levels and heart rate to help prevent SIDS. The worrier in me feels like this is something we should definitely buy, but I would love to hear if anyone has experience with one? Here's a link in case anyone is interested: https://www.owletcare.com
Re: FTM questions for STM
Speaking of photography poses and other things that are good to know... If you decide to do maternity photos, and you're thinking "wtf?!" as the photographer is giving you posing directions.... LISTEN TO THAT INNER VOICE.
This is one of the photos from our session yesterday. I was thinking "wtf" at the time (and you can kind of see the "wtf" coming off of both of us, actually) ... but I thought she was going to frame this shot very differently (as in maybe from my waist up) so I went along with it. My friend the photographer says this is one of her favorite shots?!
Go ahead everyone, commence with the mockery... Just remember to thank me later when you are able to avoid a spectacularly awkward shot like this one.
@jordanbara I think I look a bit like an amputee in a poor recreation of the Titanic pose.
I love my friend, but I do not love this photograph... Now I just have to figure out how to nicely ask her not to share this and any other awkward shots, without upsetting her.
Edit because talk to text likes to piss off the grammar Nazis.
I'd like to do some family photos early next year while I'm still pregnant. My mom won a photo package at some fundraiser she went to recently, and kindly passed it on to me. I was really appreciative until I looked at the photographer's website...see example below. Now I'm a little terrified. (To be fair, her family sessions aren't as terrible, but they are really posed. I definitely prefer more candid-looking shots.)
Or since they're free, go full on crazy.
---quote fail----
I'm going to try... In at least one of the shots where she has me "looking down at my belly" the angle gives me a glaring double chin.
It's one thing for a photographer to lack practical experience in posing, but they realllly need to have a critical eye when selecting and editing shots.
She also took a few shots of me alone up there, leaning on the rock behind me. This pose did have potential to be decent. Unfortunately, the only one of those shots I've seen so far is... Well, unfortunate. My eyes are closed, and I'm making a face.
To be fair, I am NOTORIOUS for making unfortunate faces in photographs. But also to be fair, I warned her of this and told her to take multiple shots of each pose!!
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Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
FTM with a couple of questions:
1) How long did it take you all for your stomach to reshrink? I mean the uterus type area rather than baby weight as I know the latter can really vary!
2) Did you find learning how to latch/manage breastfeeding difficult? I've heard that often cracked or bleeding nipples is due to 'poor technique' or 'process' rather than anything else - is that true?
3) Did your hormones go crazy on the third day post delivery?
Thanks all
1) About 2 weeks. Nothing terrible
2) Learning to latch was hard for us. I hated seeing her upset and worried she wasn't getting enough.
3) In the first week, I had 2 episodes of unexplained crying. I had no idea why I was crying and actually laughed at myself. I wouldn't say that's hormones going crazy, but with birth and then plain old exhaustion, we can get a little loopy.
******************************
Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
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Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
I found breastfeeding really easy. DD had a great latch right away and my milk came in right away. Even with that I dealt with cracked and bleeding nipples. Pumping was the cause for me so I got different cones (I have no idea what they're actually called) and that helped. Also, use nipple cream even if you don't think you have to. I loved the earth mama angle baby stuff...until I developed an allergic reaction to it. If your nipples get really really bad get a pair of nipple shells. They'll keep breast pads off and air flow constant to help healing. Allergic reaction + pumping = you don't want to know and this is the only thing that really helped me heal.
I was still in the hospital three days postpartum so I'm going to say no.
2) Again, I shouldn't qualify. DD was 9 days late and they wouldn't let me eat or drink before I was induced. I had water and clear liquids later on but not a ton. I was starving by the time Dd was born at 630pm. She latched easy but I think it was because she was late and I hadn't eaten much all day. I highly recommend the Medela gel pads for cracked sore nipples. They are a life saver until you get used to it.
3) I was a mess for a week but I think it was because I wasn't sleeping much and DD didn't flip her schedule until she was about a month.
I'd probably start with a starter set and then buy more as needed. You won't know how your baby takes to a specific brand of bottle until they're here so you might end up needing to switch brands.
For a full day DD needed five bottles. Four for daycare (we always sent an extra in the beginning) and one that DH gave her in the morning.
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Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
******************************
Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
Maybe this needs a trigger warning, maybe not, but there's a campaign from still birth moms to make kick counts a more universal thing amongst doctors practices. Noticing significantly less movement can mean (but does not always) that baby is in distress or has a cord around their neck etc and it could potentially save baby by doing an emergency c section if they notice in time.
If we're talking about the same group the name of the Facebook group is Count the Kicks. They have good information about how to go about tracking and I think they're working on an app.
--qbf---
Well I'm not allergic to FB...
I don't think this has been asked but the search function kind of sucks so here goes! My question is about baby monitors. Has anyone heard of/used an owlet baby monitor? It's relatively new I think and it's a little sock you put on your baby's foot while they sleep. It monitors oxygen levels and heart rate to help prevent SIDS. The worrier in me feels like this is something we should definitely buy, but I would love to hear if anyone has experience with one? Here's a link in case anyone is interested: https://www.owletcare.com