Freezer meals: DO IT! So helpful. They were lifesavers for us. Witching hour (3-9 pm for my daughter) was intense. I had a kid on my boob all night and couldn't cook.
Definitely do freezer meals. My only advice would be to make a small number of a variety of things. We made giant batches of food (like 7 meals per person worth) and were thoroughly sick of them by the time the baby was a month old.
I've got a new question for the group: maternity bras. Are they really worth getting, or would you recommend something else that is still supportive and comfortable? When did you decide to purchase one, and where are the best places to get 'em?
I have been a VS girl for a long time (worked there for a few years while in college) and all of my bras are from Victoria's Secret. I'd think the Body by Victoria line wireless style would be a great option because it's made of brushed cotton and has super padded straps, but if there's something special about maternity bras, I'll do that instead.
Bras...I waited until my boobs were exploding out of my bras and then bought some inexpensive target bras because I knew they'd change again. I didnt buy nursing bras until my milk came in.
I've got a new question for the group: maternity bras. Are they really worth getting, or would you recommend something else that is still supportive and comfortable? When did you decide to purchase one, and where are the best places to get 'em?
I have been a VS girl for a long time (worked there for a few years while in college) and all of my bras are from Victoria's Secret. I'd think the Body by Victoria line wireless style would be a great option because it's made of brushed cotton and has super padded straps, but if there's something special about maternity bras, I'll do that instead.
Thanks for the advice, mamas!
YES. Especially if you breastfeed. I personally think they're much easier to maneuver which is so important, especially if you're trying to BF in public.
ETA just realized I didn't answer your question about where to buy them. I got my sleep nursing bra from Walmart and I adore it. I think it was like $6 but it's the most comfortable thing ever. For my every day ones, I really like hot milk lingerie (www.hotmilklingerie.com) They're from Australia and I am not haha, so I'll be honest, they're a bit pricier than I would like, but they're great quality and they actually look nice. Like, a lot of nursing bras give me serious uniboob or are comfy but frumpy; hot milk is basically the Victoria's Secret of nursing bras, so if I were you I'd definitely check them out!
I have yet to find nursing bras that I like (after 2 kids), so I think I'm going to take a few of my favorite bras (that I bought towards the end of each pregnancy, so my boobs had expanded quite a bit already) and have either Nordstrom or a seamstress friend turn them into nursing bras by adding clips. I'm so over shelling out all this money on nursing bras I hate!
@asnowsurfer, I breastfed both my kids for the first year and ditched the nursing bras early on. I was much more comfortable wearing a standard bra I liked. Just make sure you can lower the cup easily to get access (fold cup under boob). Maybe it depends on the size of your breasts for this too? I am a C/D cup. I never found any nursing bras I liked and did just fine without them. If you have a bra you love it might be worth a try. It has worked out for me.
@asnowsurfer, I breastfed both my kids for the first year and ditched the nursing bras early on. I was much more comfortable wearing a standard bra I liked. Just make sure you can lower the cup easily to get access (fold cup under boob). Maybe it depends on the size of your breasts for this too? I am a C/D cup. I never found any nursing bras I liked and did just fine without them. If you have a bra you love it might be worth a try. It has worked out for me.
definitely agree that it could be a size thing - a year down the road I'm back down to aC/D and I could probably make my old bras work but I'm happy with the nursing bras. Back when DD was first born and I was an F cup nursing bras were the way to go, especially when I was so engorged that I couldn't move them without leaking/spraying.
I had a tough time finding a good nursing bra last time. I had some from Target that started off good, but then they got all stretched out and lost support. While I normally prefer something pretty and non-frumpy, my breasts get so huge and sore towards to end and while nursing, it becomes all about comfort and support at that point.
bras: I didn't ever get maternity bras but I'm part of the itty bitty titty club. I did switch to nursing bras when I needed to up a size. They're Target brand and underwire free. Also pretty cute. @asnowsurfer I do know a lot of ladies that went VS bralet for the duration of their pregnancy and liked that. I don't think there's anything especially special about maternity bras. Just go for comfort and fit.
@asnowsurfer I got nursing bras last time to wear through most of pregnancy and then through nursing. My favorite was from Motherhood Maternity. It was just a generic size medium so it was able to support my boobs changing sizes a little bit. It was really comfy (not the cutest bra) and I'll probably start wearing it again since my current bras are getting uncomfortable.
Question: We heard our LO's heartbeat a couple of days ago on doppler at the OB @ 10 weeks and of course, I was so excited I bought this home fetal doppler on Amazon... I'm having no luck with it though. I know, obviously, the one in the doc's office is more expensive and better, but I'm really not hearing squat with this one--not even my own heart beat--just some random gurgling sounds. Trying to do slow movements, lots of U/S gel, and try it around where the doc found it (we were fortunate to record a video of it so I had a pretty good idea)--but... nada. Did anyone else buy a home fetal doppler during previous pregnancies? How soon were you able to pick up a heartbeat? Any tips?
@canavara, I have been using my sonoline at home for a few weeks now and can easily find it (under 10 seconds) now that I am at 9 weeks. So yes, they do work this early, although it might depend on weight too. There are videos on youtube that can show you how to look best. Everyone will be different, for me right now it is right in the center of my pelvis, about as low down as you can go. Hard to explain. Videos would be better. You should be able to find your own heartbeat too, though...so not sure why you aren't picking that up. Hope you can listen soon. It can be very reassuring.
I'm fairly thin so I of course thought, "well, just need to drink a ton of water and play around with it." I did, shortly after posting, manage to find my own heart beat and a lot of sounds that sounded like something moving around, but I couldn't tell if it was gas or baby. All the videos make it look so simple... guess I'm going to have to wait and try again in a few days and not let myself assume something has gone horribly wrong in the 2 days since I heard it beating strong
@canavara I just ordered my sonoline like 5 min ago. I saw that you can use aloe vera instead of the gel they sell. I also might start trying to find the hb when I receive it, but I won't actually be using it diligently until after my 12 week visit. With dd1, at 13 weeks, it took the OB like 3 minutes to find a hb.
@canavara I've heard that using a home doppler can cause more stress than good because it can be hard to find the heartbeat. I've read quite a few people say they can't find the heartbeat every time, which makes them stress out, only to find it a few days later or go in to the doc and they find it right away. I've never used one, so I'm only saying what I've heard/read. So hopefully that helps you not stress out
@sweetyjenj Ha yeah, I'm deciding to not let myself worry about it. OH came home from work and he tried for about 2 minutes before getting annoyed. Of course, it took the OB like... 2 minutes to find it with theirs. We're doing an elective ultrasound in 2 weeks so I might just hold off on trying again until after that appointment just because I'll know, "Hey we JUST heard it so it's not a huge deal if we have trouble again."
Right now baby is still so small. Don't get discouraged. It is not worth using if it is going to worry you (just stating that in general for anyone reading, not just @canavara). I have used it through 2 pregnancies and so I am very familiar with using it and where to look. But, it is not as easy to locate as it may seem right now. In a few weeks when baby is bigger it will be much easier.
@canavara I also have a home doppler (though its a bit older it still works). I am very small but wasn't able to find baby's heartbeat until last night (11 weeks). I did find it exactly were PP did, directly in the center, as low as possible with the probe pointing downward. I think having a doppler is a wonderful reassurance IF you can keep in mind that some times you may have a harder time finding baby and some times you may not find him at all. I was happy to get my used though since I tend to only use it for 4 weeks or so until I can feel LO moving.
@canavara I rented one last time around (and I just rented one again for this baby). There is definitely a learning curve. Last time when I used it I HAD to be lying down flat on my back to hear anything. If I was sitting up or curled on my side I could just hear my own stomach sounds. Like others have said, the heartbeat is always a lot further down than you think it will be. Just play around with it - make sure you aim it in all directions. You'll find the hb. It sounds like a little galloping horse!
OH was really excited to try it again and convinced me into it. We finally were able to hear the heartbeat with our at-home doppler! Right straight in the middle. Tips here really helped make it easier
Re: Ask a STM+ Week of 6.6.16
Jan17 Sept Sig: Pumpkin Spice gone too far
I have been a VS girl for a long time (worked there for a few years while in college) and all of my bras are from Victoria's Secret. I'd think the Body by Victoria line wireless style would be a great option because it's made of brushed cotton and has super padded straps, but if there's something special about maternity bras, I'll do that instead.
Thanks for the advice, mamas!
ETA just realized I didn't answer your question about where to buy them. I got my sleep nursing bra from Walmart and I adore it. I think it was like $6 but it's the most comfortable thing ever. For my every day ones, I really like hot milk lingerie (www.hotmilklingerie.com) They're from Australia and I am not haha, so I'll be honest, they're a bit pricier than I would like, but they're great quality and they actually look nice. Like, a lot of nursing bras give me serious uniboob or are comfy but frumpy; hot milk is basically the Victoria's Secret of nursing bras, so if I were you I'd definitely check them out!
@asnowsurfer, I breastfed both my kids for the first year and ditched the nursing bras early on. I was much more comfortable wearing a standard bra I liked. Just make sure you can lower the cup easily to get access (fold cup under boob). Maybe it depends on the size of your breasts for this too? I am a C/D cup. I never found any nursing bras I liked and did just fine without them. If you have a bra you love it might be worth a try. It has worked out for me.
DS2: 11/5/14
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@asnowsurfer I do know a lot of ladies that went VS bralet for the duration of their pregnancy and liked that. I don't think there's anything especially special about maternity bras. Just go for comfort and fit.
DS2: 11/5/14
Married: 8/11/2007
DD: Born 2/3/17
BFP#2: 5/3, EDD 1/10/19
DS2: 11/5/14
I use a good amount of aloe vera.
Jan17 Sept Sig: Pumpkin Spice gone too far