Thanks, @blush64! I'll have to find some FB groups. I only know 2 people with babies and none use daycare, yet. I didn't know if the daycares would be weird about not giving out that information over the phone.
I personally thought the breastfeeding class was a waste of time but meeting with a lactation consultant after he was born was huge to make sure the latch was good.
Yep! I agree with this. I wasn't able to nurse my first because I really struggled with the latch. There wasn't a lactation consultant coming around in the hospital, and in my postpartum state of mind I just threw in the towel and pumped for like 12 weeks.
With my 2nd, I was determined to breastfeed him. In the hospital, a consultant came and worked with me for a good amount of time. I was so frustrated but this woman was NOT going to let me give up!!! It was crazy. We eventually got him to latch, and while it still wasn't easy....if it wasn't for her, I'm not sure I would have been able to nurse him. I went on to breastfeed exclusively for 12.5 months. No amount of breastfeeding classes could have prepared me for what it was actually going to be like.
Probably one of the best things to do with nursing, if you can find a good lactation consultant, do it. Listen to any good nurses at the hospital. Ignore any that tell you you can't do it. If you can find a friend or relative that has recently nursed a baby, ask them for help. By the time I had delivered babies and had multiple nurses and LCs touch my boobs, I was no longer shy about them, lol.
Married - 7/29/06 Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09 Mia - 6/16/11 Surprise! due 2/23/17
Question: I'm a FTM and I've been offered a shower, so I am not planning to buy too many 0-3 month clothes until after that, but I have been taking advantage of summer clearance sales to buy some 6-12 month clothes. Is there any good reason not to do this, provided I'm sticking to things likely to be seasonally appropriate or needed in all seasons like short-sleeved onesies? Above question precipitated by a really good Carter's Labor Day sale in case anyone was curious
Question: I'm a FTM and I've been offered a shower, so I am not planning to buy too many 0-3 month clothes until after that, but I have been taking advantage of summer clearance sales to buy some 6-12 month clothes. Is there any good reason not to do this, provided I'm sticking to things likely to be seasonally appropriate or needed in all seasons like short-sleeved onesies? Above question precipitated by a really good Carter's Labor Day sale in case anyone was curious
Nope, no reason! Things like pajamas, things you can layer, why not. Also, if you are shopping somewhere like Carters you should be able to exchange for different sizes if you need to.
Married - 7/29/06 Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09 Mia - 6/16/11 Surprise! due 2/23/17
I restrained myself to short sleeved layering pieces so I should be good. They have some cute stuff!
Just FYI, I flipped out when I saw one of their sales last time and had to buy everything. Then later on I realized they have great sales ALL the time. You'll be able to get some good prices later on too!
I've been buying baby clothes already! The sale stuff from this summer in 3-6 months. ALLLLL over it. But I agree, don't wash everything and take off the tags. Biggest mistake I made! You can totally re-sell what you don't get to or what doesn't fit right.
As someone that hasn't ever been around breastfeeding moms I found I short class on BF helpful. It's by no means going to give you enough knowledge to really troubleshoot any issues but it gave me enough knowledge to know the nurses at the hospital were wrong when they told me its supposed to hurt. Having the information for a lactation consultant was absolutely vital to my successfully nursing DD. DS was a breeze and everything went well from the beginning.
Can your water really break without you losing your mucus plug? If so, I don't get how that's possible. I've been lurking around on the other boards and it seems people have been breaking their water but the MP comes out later. ??? :scratchingmyhead:
So I started thinking about when I might want to have my shower with the holidays and being due the end of January. I was thinking in November because it wouldn't be in the middle of holidays and then my mom might be able to come down (from MI to SC). Well my H mentioned it to my SIL (I have 2 SIL's and a friend who might be planning my shower) and she said they were planning to wait until after New Year's. Then the earliest I'd have a shower I'll be 37 weeks. That seems super late to me. But I don't know what to do... They say FTM go late but they don't always and if she comes early I'm worried we won't be prepared. Maybe I should talk to my other SIL who's had a baby more recently and maybe she would understand?
That's like telling someone to google blue waffle. For the love of god, just don't.
I have no idea what that is, and because you said NOT to Google it, I want to know even more
Me too, lol.
I was convinced after my daughter was born that I must still have mine because I never lost it. I do know when water breaks some people kind of leak, maybe that's why?
Married - 7/29/06 Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09 Mia - 6/16/11 Surprise! due 2/23/17
@Xstatic3333 another option is maybe putting money aside. Those stores always have cute clothes and always have sales. It's not always easy to know what size your kid will be in and you may buy shorts or pants or sweaters and they never wear them. You can resell them but it's a PITA and you won't make all your money back. Unless you're paying like $1 for something you may end up wasting more money.
@cantalopes24 I'm definitely not getting anything seasonal, basically just onesies and stretchy pants. Partly because it's fun I'm kind of assuming our kid could be big and months won't necessarily correlate to size very well, just because that's how I was.
@becbec28 could you have your husband tell your SIL that he thinks it would be best if they had it in November? Not only because it's cutting it very close but because I'm sure you will be very tired by then. And because you both will need time to set up the nursery and figure out what you're missing from the registry. Like I said, I'm sure you're not going to want to do all that at 37 weeks.
Yeah it was weird, neither of my kids wore 9 to 12 month stuff they went straight from 3/6 to 12/18. My 4 year old wore boys 9 months soft cotton cargo pants as capri's to preschool last year (they wear uniforms and navy blue is hard to find for little girls) but she wears anywhere from a 3T to an XS in the girls department in shirts and I had to buy her a size 5 bathing suit, top barely fits length wise but the next size up in bottoms fell off. Kids clothes are dumb.
@AfKash that's exactly what I'm thinking. I'll be tired, we won't have any time to get other things we need, we'll already have the crib but not a ton of stuff. I told him that when we were talking about it yesterday. I just don't want it to come off sounding wrong, but that's just really late.
@becbec28 I am not sure there is much to do. They picked a time that works for them and they are hosting. I had a shower for my oldest 2 weeks before he was born, for me it wasn't so bad. I don't think anyone should assume you will be late just because you are a first time mom and I do think they should take your wants seriously but their timing could have to do with when it works best for them financially. (Or in some other way that might make it harder for them in November)
If they want to stick with their chosen dates maybe you could have the absolute necessities already bought and ready so even if you go early you are ready. (You don't need much for the first while)
@blush64 I can see that point. But they haven't set a date or anything. Nothing has been seriously talked about which is why I threw out November, plus my family.
@becbec28 I know it works better for you but even not having started planning they might know what works better for them with things like paying for the shower. Hopefully that is not the case and their reasoning was something unimportant so that it's no problem to host in November.
That does seem late @becbec28 but it is true that hosts often want what they want and it is pretty awkward to request otherwise. Hence why mine is in October (hangs head in shame...) I do think politely saying "November could work well because..." is fine but it's tough to push harder than that while still seeming grateful.
@PerraSucia I definitely don't want to get into holiday time because I know everyone is so busy. My IL's will be busy every single weekend. Plus I'd like for my H to be there and he works every other weekend so there's that to think of.
Here's another question to add to the mix lol. My family lives in MI and my mom was asking me when I might want her to come down for a little bit to help. If she came down early in the month she might be there if that's when we have a shower but my dad and sister wouldn't be able to come. Or they could all come a little later on. I don't really know what she would do for a whole month before the baby would possibly come. And I don't know when I'd want her to come or how long to stay. Any advise on that?
@becbec28 are you talking about help with the baby?
with my first everyone lived far and my mom wanted to somehow make it to the hospital for the birth. We weren't to keen on that and needed some time alone so we asked her to come at the 2 week old mark. She stayed for a week and it worked out well.
It depends on your relationship with your mom...is she going to be a help or a hindrance? Do you want her there for the birth or the initial craziness of learning to breastfeed and figuring out your newborn?
Now on other hand my SIL called her mom on the way to the hospital, my MIL was there , holding her legs when the baby came out then stayed a week with them and they were so grateful for her being there.
@scifichick09 Yes, if she came early she would stay until birth if not past.
@homemake Honestly, that's why I'm so indecisive about when to tell her she can come. She's actually my step-mom (but she raised me since I was 3yo) and I basically moved out when I went to college in 2011 and then got married. So I really don't know how much I can take living with her (plus maybe my dad and sister). I love my family but I don't know what to do... If she comes around due date I'd have to spell it out that we'd need her to do cleaning/cooking so we could get used to baby.
My IL's are very close to us but MIL is a school teacher so she won't be able to help much. 1 SIL is a nurse so she might come on a day off or something. My other SIL is a SAHM with 2 older girls so she may help a little. Plus I'm not sure how long DH will be able to take off and he works nights, so it would be nice to just know I have someone else in the house.
@becbec28 it's a whole different ballgame when your relatives live a flight away. I'm in the same situation with my mom again this time except she's a short flight or a long drive whereas last time it was like 3 flights.
Can she/they do a last minute flight or are they hoping to plan this all out ahead of time?
@homemake she will definitely want to have a plan. That's why she's already asking about it. Travel is difficult for her too because she'd rather drive (12 hours) than fly but she's not going to like either because of weather/snow/driving through TN mountains.
Re: Ask a STM 8/24
Me: 37 - H: 39
TTC#1: 01/2016
BFP: 06/18/2016 - EDD: 02/20/2017 - Born: 01/27/2017
With my 2nd, I was determined to breastfeed him. In the hospital, a consultant came and worked with me for a good amount of time. I was so frustrated but this woman was NOT going to let me give up!!! It was crazy. We eventually got him to latch, and while it still wasn't easy....if it wasn't for her, I'm not sure I would have been able to nurse him. I went on to breastfeed exclusively for 12.5 months. No amount of breastfeeding classes could have prepared me for what it was actually going to be like.
Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09
Mia - 6/16/11
Surprise! due 2/23/17
Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09
Mia - 6/16/11
Surprise! due 2/23/17
??? :scratchingmyhead:
Edit: because spelling
::giggle::
Married: 9/2013
Love my LEO!!
TTC #1: 9/2015
BFP: 2/1/16 MC 2/8/16 @ 5wks
BFP: 5/22/16 RAINBOW BABY
EDD: 1/30/2017 *IT'S A GIRL!!!!*
Kirsten Grace 1/20/17
I was convinced after my daughter was born that I must still have mine because I never lost it. I do know when water breaks some people kind of leak, maybe that's why?
Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09
Mia - 6/16/11
Surprise! due 2/23/17
Married: 9/2013
Love my LEO!!
TTC #1: 9/2015
BFP: 2/1/16 MC 2/8/16 @ 5wks
BFP: 5/22/16 RAINBOW BABY
EDD: 1/30/2017 *IT'S A GIRL!!!!*
Kirsten Grace 1/20/17
If they want to stick with their chosen dates maybe you could have the absolute necessities already bought and ready so even if you go early you are ready. (You don't need much for the first while)
Married: 9/2013
Love my LEO!!
TTC #1: 9/2015
BFP: 2/1/16 MC 2/8/16 @ 5wks
BFP: 5/22/16 RAINBOW BABY
EDD: 1/30/2017 *IT'S A GIRL!!!!*
Kirsten Grace 1/20/17
Married: 9/2013
Love my LEO!!
TTC #1: 9/2015
BFP: 2/1/16 MC 2/8/16 @ 5wks
BFP: 5/22/16 RAINBOW BABY
EDD: 1/30/2017 *IT'S A GIRL!!!!*
Kirsten Grace 1/20/17
my SIL planned her own shower 4 days before Xmas and I basically wanted to strangle her.
@PerraSucia I definitely don't want to get into holiday time because I know everyone is so busy. My IL's will be busy every single weekend. Plus I'd like for my H to be there and he works every other weekend so there's that to think of.
Here's another question to add to the mix lol. My family lives in MI and my mom was asking me when I might want her to come down for a little bit to help. If she came down early in the month she might be there if that's when we have a shower but my dad and sister wouldn't be able to come. Or they could all come a little later on. I don't really know what she would do for a whole month before the baby would possibly come. And I don't know when I'd want her to come or how long to stay. Any advise on that?
Married: 9/2013
Love my LEO!!
TTC #1: 9/2015
BFP: 2/1/16 MC 2/8/16 @ 5wks
BFP: 5/22/16 RAINBOW BABY
EDD: 1/30/2017 *IT'S A GIRL!!!!*
Kirsten Grace 1/20/17
ME: 25, DH: 27
TTC #1 since 09/2015
Miscarriage @ 10 wks 02/28/2016
BFP 05/28/2016!
with my first everyone lived far and my mom wanted to somehow make it to the hospital for the birth. We weren't to keen on that and needed some time alone so we asked her to come at the 2 week old mark. She stayed for a week and it worked out well.
It depends on your relationship with your mom...is she going to be a help or a hindrance? Do you want her there for the birth or the initial craziness of learning to breastfeed and figuring out your newborn?
Now on other hand my SIL called her mom on the way to the hospital, my MIL was there , holding her legs when the baby came out then stayed a week with them and they were so grateful for her being there.
@scifichick09 Yes, if she came early she would stay until birth if not past.
@homemake Honestly, that's why I'm so indecisive about when to tell her she can come. She's actually my step-mom (but she raised me since I was 3yo) and I basically moved out when I went to college in 2011 and then got married. So I really don't know how much I can take living with her (plus maybe my dad and sister). I love my family but I don't know what to do... If she comes around due date I'd have to spell it out that we'd need her to do cleaning/cooking so we could get used to baby.
My IL's are very close to us but MIL is a school teacher so she won't be able to help much. 1 SIL is a nurse so she might come on a day off or something. My other SIL is a SAHM with 2 older girls so she may help a little. Plus I'm not sure how long DH will be able to take off and he works nights, so it would be nice to just know I have someone else in the house.
Married: 9/2013
Love my LEO!!
TTC #1: 9/2015
BFP: 2/1/16 MC 2/8/16 @ 5wks
BFP: 5/22/16 RAINBOW BABY
EDD: 1/30/2017 *IT'S A GIRL!!!!*
Kirsten Grace 1/20/17
Can she/they do a last minute flight or are they hoping to plan this all out ahead of time?
Married: 9/2013
Love my LEO!!
TTC #1: 9/2015
BFP: 2/1/16 MC 2/8/16 @ 5wks
BFP: 5/22/16 RAINBOW BABY
EDD: 1/30/2017 *IT'S A GIRL!!!!*
Kirsten Grace 1/20/17