This is probably very normal but thought I'd ask anyways. Does anyone feel like baby is all on one side. He's only every active on my right side, all up under my ribs. I rarely feel him on my left side, just very low down. Could it just be the way he is lying with head down and feet stretched to the right? Silly question, I know!
Mine is all on one side....always on the right side. My DD would switch....sometimes she was on the right, then I would have a week where she was on the left, then transverse. This one.....has been on the right pretty much the whole pregnancy (well, what I could feel anyway, past 1st Tri). The heartbeat was always found on that side as well in the beginning of the pregnancy and throughout.Β
@lf93 my LO is moving from side to side. The past couple weeks his butt has been sticking out my left side and now he moved to the right. I wish he would scoot to the middle!!
I know there's concern about baby being breech at this point but what about which way baby is facing? Little girl is head down but is facing up. Is that even a consideration or do most babies turn face down during labor? I'm trying to go unmedicated so the thoughts of hours of back labor are stressing me out... And I know that if they don't turn down it can become extremely difficult if not impossible to deliver vaginally... Any thoughts or advice?
DS was sunny side up, and for some reason, no one ever even mentioned it to me. Β I didn't really even realize it until he was coming out, and I realized I was looking at his face! Β I had an epidural, so I can't speak to the unmedicated part, though my contractions before it weren't really back labor. Β I did push for 2.5 hours because he kept getting stuck on my pelvic bone and going back up, and I had second degree tearing. Β I didn't have vacuum, forceps, episiotomy, or any other interventions, though.
Labor also took a while. Β I walked into my induction (for blood pressure) at about 4 cm at 6:30 a.m. and didn't get to 10 and start pushing until 5:30 p.m. even with Pitocin, but they kept having to turn it on and off because of his heart rate.
@PinkLady2015 - DD was sunny-side up and we had no idea until she was being delivered. Β I was induced due to high bp and ended up with an epidural and the contractions that I felt prior to that were like bad cramps (nothing in my back). Β I did tear (which I didn't feel), but that could've been due to how quickly things went, not being able to feel anything and slightly because of her position. Β I think things would've been even faster had she been face down. Β The on call dr did an ultrasound before starting my induction to make sure she was head down, so she either didn't notice/ wasn't able to tell or DD turned before delivery. Β
@LDSJM123 - Sometimes you can find good deals on muslin blankets at TJ Maxx or Marshalls. Β I was gifted them at my shower and they were nice for the hot humid summer, but didn't use them religiously because they were a little awkward for my taste. Β
I can't remember if I've shared this, but this is my biggest piece of advice to those of you who are wanting to breastfeed. Β Remember that a labor and delivery/postpartum care nurse is NOT equal to a lactation consultant, unless she/he happens to have that type of certification. Β My hospital had no lactation consultant while I was there (she apparently quit between my tour and birth). Β Within about 20 minutes of my son's birth, the nurses had deemed my nipples "too flat" and given me a shield. Β I couldn't get him to latch right and feed in the hospital. Β Before I left, I ended up using a hand pump to pump colostrum basically onto the pump flange and sucking it up in a syringe to feed to him while crying my eyes out that I was "failing." Β They pushed formula, and I took it because I was exhausted and desperate. One nurse admitted to me that they had very little training for breastfeeding, and that most advice the nurses were able to give was anecdotal based on their own experiences.
The pediatrician rounding from our son's office was actually the one who calmed my fears, told me things that were happening were normal, and encouraged me to meet with the office's lactation consultant the day after discharge. Β One meeting with her and we had learned how to latch properly, to strip him down to a diaper while eating if he was sleepy/lazy with it, and also did a weighed feeding to find that my milk had come in fine. Β My nipples were NOT flat and no shield was needed. Β I went on to breastfeed him for several months.
I just want to share that to encourage you all NOT to give up if breastfeeding is really what you wanted because you are exhausted and without the proper help in the hospital and to share that lactation consultants are truly awesome!
I literally could have written that first paragraph Β from my experience with DS.Β @WVUPetunia
I used the shield unfortunately for a little longer and I think that was the partial reason I had low supply. Since I used it full time while my milk was getting established.Β
Thanks for sharing your story! It's unfortunate that it's such a common!
Edited to add that I stopped using the shield eventually and went on to nurse DS until I got pregnant at 14 months! I'm glad I kept up with it when I was so close to giving up because of that dang shield.Β
I also got the milk snob cover! That way if I hate it as a nursing cover I can use it as a car seat cover, i absolutely love it! And it's SUPER soft!!!Β
@mrsllove why didnt you like the shield? Β I breast fed in the hospital and did such damage to my nipples (cracked and bleeding) before trying the shield and ultimately becoming an exclusive pumper... Β I'm thinking of trying to breast feed again, but may rely on a nipple shield if needed up front... Β I'd love your thoughts as I didn't direct feed very long.
@BettyRu For my experience, it was such a hassle at first with the cleaning of it after every use. Plus the stupid thing is clear so it was always getting misplaced. Really silly reasons but honestly, it helped me nurse my buddy so I can't hate on it too much but I really really wish the random nurse who came in after I gave birth wouldn't have just handed it to me without even trying to help me latch without it. I don't even have technically "flat nipples".
I also read that since the baby isn't getting as much therefor your supply won't be actually meeting his needs after a while.Β
Also it was hard to nurse in public with it since I had to get it on right and with being a new mom to begin with, everything was awkward anyway. But adding on trying to maneuver Β that around correctly, it was a pain!Β
@WVUPetunia Agreed. My nurses told me DD looked great latching even though BFing was very painful and I left the hospital with blood blisters on my nipples. I kept at it for a good 6 weeks thinking it was normalΒ before seeing an LC and learning that even though her latch appeared good on the outside, my sneaky baby was clamping her gums down on my nipple and she taught me how to correct her.
@WVUPetunia Agreed. My nurses told me DD looked great latching even though BFing was very painful and I left the hospital with blood blisters on my nipples. I kept at it for a good 6 weeks thinking it was normalΒ before seeing an LC and learning that even though her latch appeared good on the outside, my sneaky baby was clamping her gums down on my nipple and she taught me how to correct her.
Ouch!! Β I'm glad you were able to correct it; that sounds awful! Β I'm fully prepared to call the LC again if I need to with this LO because even though DS and I did go on to be successful, I know that every baby is different, so this baby could have a completely different issue (or hopefully, none).
@WVUPetunia Same. I Bf for over a year and would like to think it will be easier starting this time, but I'm sure there could be a different problem and now I know how essential LCs are. If you have any questions, just go to one right away.
This is more a question of "how much do I need" than birth/recovery....but how many towels/facecloths do I need? I registered for a few and then people bought me way more at my work shower (and I haven't even had my family shower yet). I am thinking of returning some for store credit since I know they were bought at Target, but I don't know how many I should keep.Β
You should only be bathing baby a few times a week, so I think 3-4 towels is plenty. You may want a few extra washcloths (8?), but more seems like overkill. We got washcloths from a lot of people and probably have a drawer in the bathroom of like 40. I typically use the same 6 nicest ones. DD is close to 2 and they are starting to gray a little though.
I don't know what it is about towels and washcloths that makes everyone want to buy them. Β I think I got 50 washcloths at DS's shower... Β Then again, I can probably only find 2 three years later.
@WVUPetunia I didn't get any! I actually registered for some too, and zlitch, which j thought was weird. That and no burp cloths. I feel like every shower I go to everyone gives wash clothes and burp cloths.Β
@sboston06 - I echo what everyone else has said... we have probably 5-6 towels and that is more than enough. Β I do use more wash cloths (alternative to using a billion wipes) and daycare had us keep some there too, so 10ish is probably a good number.Β
@sboston06 I have no idea what's enough but I was gifted like ten towels and I figured I'd keep like six here and take a few to my mom's and my in laws in case we needed to do a bath there? Not necessary but it seemed semi logical. I think I got one pack of washcloths as a gift and that seemed like enough to me but I don't really know.Β
I can honestly say I never used baby washcloths for DS. I used regular ones and I know it was only for a short period of time (a year?) until we started using a loofah.Β
I got a shit ton of them this time and don't know what to do with all of them. I'm determined to use them but was interested to know how people use them instead of wipes. Just wet them, use them once, then wash them? Rinse and wring them out and wash them at the end of the day? Obviously wipes are probably better on the road but I can see incorporating reusable wipes at home.Β
@LadyFleck - Β What I meant by using them instead of wipes is mainly after meals at home. Β I wet it, wipe, then hang next to our hand towel to air dry between meals and then put in the dirty clothes at the end of the day. I'll also use it to wipe her high chair. Β If she's especially messy, I don't feel bad about using it once then tossing it in the laundry. Β If we're not up to a bath in the evening or if we need to go out and she's a little dirty, I'll wipe her down (sometimes adding soap). Β We have a lot of wash clothes and so I try to use them as much as possible. Β I still use disposable out and about and sometimes at home if they're close. Β
We also got a ton of washcloths but I have two toddlers and we use them all time - a ton is just enough, ha! We use them in the kitchen, bathroom for in between wash ups, at bath time, to wash baby dolls, etc. and @YeezusButters funny enough, I LOVE the thin washcloths best! They are softer and make it easier to wash little faces and bodies. Funny how everyone loves something totally different.Β
For towels, I feel like I only need a handful. Once my kiddos walk, I get them bigger kid bath towels because the baby ones are so thin and only soak up so much!
@brittnic531 Thanks! That makes a ton of sense. I'll stash them in both bathrooms and the kitchen and then I'll be more likely to use them instead of paper towels or wipes!
@ldsjm123 just a heads up- if you have a home goods near you and are still looking for swaddled blankets they have a ton right now. I got a pack of 3 for $12.99 and totally gender neutral tones.Β
@ldsjm123 just a heads up- if you have a home goods near you and are still looking for swaddled blankets they have a ton right now. I got a pack of 3 for $12.99 and totally gender neutral tones.Β
Thanks for remembering me! I dot think we have one close, but I'll look.Β
So I really want to bring my fleece Β blanket to have on the mother-baby floor for the day(s) were there. Β It's pretty large (could cover a twin bed). Β I just feel like it will help me relax better to have that piece of comfort. Β Is this really silly to bring?? I'm packing 2 separate bags, one for L+D and one for mother-baby, so it would only be brought up once were over there. Β What do you think?
@megstervt I think that's fine. I'd just keep in mind that you'll definitely want to clean it as soon as you get home. Hospitals can get kinda gross. I brought a pillowcase from home last time.Β
@megstervt If you think it will really make you more comfortable, go for it. I was shocked at how much I bled though and would be afraid of ruining it. They basically keep a huge pee pad under you in your hospital to catch all the fluids that continue to flow those first few days after birth.
@megstervt If you think it will really make you more comfortable, go for it. I was shocked at how much I bled though and would be afraid of ruining it. They basically keep a huge pee pad under you in your hospital to catch all the fluids that continue to flow those first few days after birth.
I think this is some of my hesitation, but my plan is to put it on top of the hospital sheets/blankets. Β Hopefully there will be enough layers in between!
Do doctors generally let you know if baby is facing the wrong way? My doc today said mine was head down, but she mentioned that the limb I kept feeling sticking out was probably a knee (he kneed her when she was measuring me). That makes me think he must be facing out, but she didn't say anything about it. Sounds like I need to be getting on this baby spinning wagon!
@winnie1122 DD was facing the wrong way and I experienced back labour, which didn't go well (ended in a c-section). None of the doctors or nurses I saw through the 2 days of labour it took me to get to 9cm picked up on her being face up, until I finally got to 9cm and the doctor was able to feel her head. He also identified that she was stuck shortly after. The nurse who came on the next day, who had been on early in my labour, mentioned to me that she was sorry they hadn't picked up on the baby's position earlier, so I guess they normally can guess the position? That's just my assumption based on that conversation.
Do doctors generally let you know if baby is facing the wrong way? My doc today said mine was head down, but she mentioned that the limb I kept feeling sticking out was probably a knee (he kneed her when she was measuring me). That makes me think he must be facing out, but she didn't say anything about it. Sounds like I need to be getting on this baby spinning wagon!
@winnie1122 DD was facing the wrong way and I experienced back labour, which didn't go well (ended in a c-section). None of the doctors or nurses I saw through the 2 days of labour it took me to get to 9cm picked up on her being face up, until I finally got to 9cm and the doctor was able to feel her head. He also identified that she was stuck shortly after. The nurse who came on the next day, who had been on early in my labour, mentioned to me that she was sorry they hadn't picked up on the baby's position earlier, so I guess they normally can guess the position? That's just my assumption based on that conversation.
And my dr or nurses didn't say anything other than head down and I back laboured and vaginally delivered my daughter sunny side up. (Mind you with an epidural) it's something I will ask my midwife next time I see her if she can tell when I get close to my due date!
@LDSJM123 I love ours. It's nice to see if baby's awake or asleep or be able to look in my mirror and talk to her if upset. If we were close to home, I would try to keep her up because DD never transferred well. Technically, they are not recommended from a safety standpoint in case you get into an accident. It's a shatter resistant material strapped to the headrest, and I found the benefits to outweigh the unlikely risks. I haven't heard of anyone being seriously injured by one.
We love our mirror! They are made to completely secure to the head rest (clip and tightened) and it makes it so much easier to see if baby is breathing/just sleeping or as they get older they life to look back. We use the Brica brand one and have already bought a second for this baby.
Are the mirrors for the headrest, so you can see baby from the rear view mirror worth it?Β
We loved ours! We had one made by Brica, that also had a dim light on it and a remote that you could attach to your sun visor. We could push the button and the light would come on for a little bit at night so you could see if baby was sleeping, or you could hit the music button and it would play lullabies for a few minutes. The light wasn't super bright, so I would say that it isn't bright enough for the driver to take a quick look when it is dark, but it was fine for whoever was in the passenger seat (since they didn't have to worry about taking their eyes off the road for longer periods of time).Β https://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Night-Musical-Mirror-Safety/dp/B007HS6W6Y
Re: Ask a BTDT mom questions about birth/recovery/breastfeeding
Labor also took a while. Β I walked into my induction (for blood pressure) at about 4 cm at 6:30 a.m. and didn't get to 10 and start pushing until 5:30 p.m. even with Pitocin, but they kept having to turn it on and off because of his heart rate.
@LDSJM123 - Sometimes you can find good deals on muslin blankets at TJ Maxx or Marshalls. Β I was gifted them at my shower and they were nice for the hot humid summer, but didn't use them religiously because they were a little awkward for my taste. Β
The pediatrician rounding from our son's office was actually the one who calmed my fears, told me things that were happening were normal, and encouraged me to meet with the office's lactation consultant the day after discharge. Β One meeting with her and we had learned how to latch properly, to strip him down to a diaper while eating if he was sleepy/lazy with it, and also did a weighed feeding to find that my milk had come in fine. Β My nipples were NOT flat and no shield was needed. Β I went on to breastfeed him for several months.
I just want to share that to encourage you all NOT to give up if breastfeeding is really what you wanted because you are exhausted and without the proper help in the hospital and to share that lactation consultants are truly awesome!
I used the shield unfortunately for a little longer and I think that was the partial reason I had low supply. Since I used it full time while my milk was getting established.Β
Thanks for sharing your story! It's unfortunate that it's such a common!
Edited to add that I stopped using the shield eventually and went on to nurse DS until I got pregnant at 14 months! I'm glad I kept up with it when I was so close to giving up because of that dang shield.Β
I also read that since the baby isn't getting as much therefor your supply won't be actually meeting his needs after a while.Β
Edited because entered without finishing. Boo.
Β Β
July BMB June Signature
I got a shit ton of them this time and don't know what to do with all of them. I'm determined to use them but was interested to know how people use them instead of wipes. Just wet them, use them once, then wash them? Rinse and wring them out and wash them at the end of the day? Obviously wipes are probably better on the road but I can see incorporating reusable wipes at home.Β
at bath time, to wash baby dolls, etc. and @YeezusButters funny enough, I LOVE the thin washcloths best! They are softer and make it easier to wash little faces and bodies. Funny how everyone loves something totally different.Β
For towels, I feel like I only need a handful. Once my kiddos walk, I get them bigger kid bath towels because the baby ones are so thin and only soak up so much!
Β blanket to have on the mother-baby floor for the day(s) were there. Β It's pretty large (could cover a twin bed). Β I just feel like it will help me relax better to have that piece of comfort. Β Is this really silly to bring?? I'm packing 2 separate bags, one for L+D and one for mother-baby, so it would only be brought up once were over there. Β What do you think?
Married: October 2014
TTC #1 since September 2015
Married: October 2014
TTC #1 since September 2015
https://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Night-Musical-Mirror-Safety/dp/B007HS6W6Y
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