Randoms - Week of January 9th NEW LEADER NEEDED

dragonfaerie · January 2017

Have any thoughts, questions, feelings, fears? Spill them here!

This is a good place to ask questions to a broader audience than the weekly trimester check-ins so those with experience can chime in!

dragonfaerie · January 2017

I will be considered full term after this week so if someone would be willing to take over next week in case Wee Boy comes early, I would appreciate it!

byrneme · January 2017

@dragonfaerie - I can!

dragonfaerie · January 2017

Thank you @byrneme!

byrneme · January 2017

Sure thing and congrats at being full term! How exciting!!

dragonfaerie · January 2017

@byrneme Thank you! It just blows my mind how quick it has all gone! I still look at my belly and just go "huh, how are we here already?"

wifeinraleigh28 · January 2017

I'm feeling very overwhelmed by choosing items for our registry. Which crib, which type of bottles, which type of mattress, how many burp cloths do we need, etc etc etc! Thank goodness I've gotten the car seat and stroller situation figured out. THAT wasn't easy either.

@dragonfaerie Congrats on being full term!!

JWatt5 · January 2017

@wifeinraleigh28 - which seat : stroller did you decide on. I've been looking and it feels like a bigger decision than I thought it would be hehe.
@dragonfaerie - yah for full term!! Loved seeing you bump photos! Any day now!

vssbrm · January 2017

@wifeinraleigh28 the registry is so intimidating! My best advice is pick one or two things a week to research and choose.
it took me forever to pick things out.

AandDM2014 · January 2017

@wifeinraleigh28 Honestly, when I made my registry, I just took the scanner at BRU and went wild! Of course I had already researched which cribs I wanted (took FOREVER btw) and had limited options for car seats.

2legbaby · January 2017

@wifeinraleigh28 try the book Baby Bargains (they do all the comparisons for you and rate each crib,car seat, bouncer etc). I only purchased things with 'A' ratings. The website Lucie's list also has a 'registry checklist '. She recommends # of things to have.She makes her own picks for top items, but unlike baby bargains, it appears she gets a lot more "kick back" on items (from companies) so I would take her recommendations with a grain of salt

dragonfaerie · January 2017

@AandDM2014 That's basically how we did our registry too, lol. Then on important things like medicinal type items and the big purchases, we did more research.

I will tell you ladies that I decided to register on Amazon and BBB cuz I didn't want to go for BRU. Apparently, no one wanted to plan ahead to order online, because I have received very little off my registries and ppl just bought what they felt like. I've gotten cute clothes and toys, but it's been annoying to not get some of the things I really wanted. Keep that in mind when you decide where to register.

beckij34 · January 2017

Hi ladies!!! I'm 18 weeks today. I can't believe I'm inching closer to the halfway point. No new aches or pains to report. I've been working on the invite list for my baby shower and I'll be ordering invites from tiny prints. My mom is doing everything else.

Big items on my registry are:
Graco snugride carseat w/ base
Extra carseat base
Snap n go graco stroller
Pack n play
Bouncer
Giraffe themed swing
Halo bassinet (recommended by a co-worker)

rmarble23 · January 2017

@wifeinraleigh28 i feel the same way about registry stuff, especially after your questions on the stroller/carseats

i had no idea the amount of options. i guess i was naive pre-pregnancy and just thought it was about cost and colors, brand name/non brand name kind of stuff. but i think someone said it previously on here, with all the rules and regulations no matter what you buy will be safe for baby if its new you just some have better "options" than others to make them safer. that eases my mind and makes sense. i mean we probably all grew up in drop side cribs and other things that are no longer sold, heck my mom smoked while pregnant b/c no one told her you shouldn't, we all survived

dragonfaerie · January 2017

@rmarble23 It is definitely crazy how recommendations change from generation to generation. Everyone still says to me "oh, you can't have coffee, what do you want?" And it's like, well actually, I can have one cup a day. And then we learn toys aren't really safe, certain foods, etc. I think in some ways we almost worry too much because with the way social media and technology has made it easier to hear the bad stories, we think issues are more prevalent than they really are.

clt2pwm11 · January 2017

I just register for the cheapest safe option. Because like @dragonfaerie said, sometimes people don't pay attention to your registry anyway and they buy what they want. Then you end up having to buy everything else. I simply can't and won't spend a lot of money for something baby is going to use for such a short time. Also, I feel like I'm more likely to get the things I want on my registry if I choose the cheapest option.

ale9687 · January 2017

A lot of people told me to register for a few kinds of bottles (if bottle feeding) because baby may reject certain nipples. what kind of baby tub is everyone registering for?

AandDM2014 · January 2017

@ale9687 I registered for this one. My babes will be able to use everything longer since they'll weigh less when they're born, and that one is so cute I couldn't resist!

BlueEyedDreamer · January 2017

@wifeinraleigh28 I agree with @AandDM2014 and @2legbaby Use Baby Bargains and Lucie's List as a starting point for big/important items. Then just go nuts with a scanner at your favorite baby store. That's what we did, and it really worked for us. I'm happy with all our big purchases and look forward to using them again with DS2! Oh, and we brought my SIL with us when we did the whole scanner-bonanza b/c she already had 2 boys and knew what was worth registering for and what was better to just wait and see if we needed (i.e., specialty feeding bottles, etc.).

@ale9687 I wouldn't spend too much $ on lots of different kinds of fancy bottles until you know you need them, especially if you have a store nearby that someone can run to if needed. I ran into BF problems early (my milk never came in - who knew that was even a thing?), but DS took any bottle I gave him, no problem. When we realized we needed a different kind of nipple, we went and got it as needed (or used Amazon Prime). And some baby tubs are crazy overrated and overpriced - get one that is easy to keep clean. You will only use it for a few months! We went with the classic - whale tub.

babylonghorn16 · January 2017

@wifeinraleigh28 I went through the SAME feeling. Registries can be so overwhelming. I finally did what @AandDM2014 suggested and went to BRU. I found it so much easier to pick things that I could pick up and touch... and the scanner is so much fun (we didn't do traditional wedding registry, so this was my first time)!! As for bottle brand, I just went with what my friend is using for her newborn: Dr. Brown's. Good luck!!

@ale9687 we registered for a Fisher Price 4-in-1 Sling 'n Seat Tub. Pretty good reviews, affordable, and I like how it will work for baby at every stage (newborn - toddler)! https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=30444126&cp=2255957.2273443.2255976.2256094&parentPage=family

wifeinraleigh28 · January 2017

I'm glad I'm not the only one super overwhelmed by registry stuff!

@JWatt5 I ended up registering for the Chicco Keyfit 30 and an extra base so we can each have a base in our cars for easily transferring back and forth. I liked the price point of it and the fact that it is one of the top rated car seats. I also didn't want to spend $300+ (or make my family spend extra $$) on a fancier infant seat that my baby will only be in for 6 months. As for stroller, we're going with the Baby Jogger City Mini GT. I absolutely love how it handles (so smooth and easy to maneuver). And I'll be getting the adapter so we can attach the Chicco to it.

@2legbaby Thanks for those recommendations! I definitely need some guidance with this stuff!

@ale9687 I registered for this tub on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XW65SG/ref=br_it_dp_o_nS_ttl?ie=UTF8&colid=3NZBAB3PXTENA&coliid=I2FRPU04TRP5QC&vs=1&th=1 It's inexpensive and your baby doesn't use it for very long anyway.

@AandDM2014 and @babylonghorn16 We did the BRU thing with the scanner too but I found that to be harder when selecting items other than bedding and linen type things because you can't read reviews. So I ended up going online anyway and changing so much around. It was fun though!

My in laws are taking us furniture shopping this weekend so I'm tying to narrow down which stores I want to go to. I found a lot of stuff I love online (at hay needle and Land of Nod) but they don't want to buy online. They want to TAKE us shopping, like to stores and stuff. I really love the old fashioned look of the spindle cribs, so I think I've decided on this one from PBK:

Bouncing off what y'all are saying about how safety recommendations are constantly changing... apparently now they are saying crib bumpers are unsafe. My mom used bumpers with me and my sister of course and we were fine, but now they say they increase the risk of SIDS. Well, honestly, I don't mind saving the extra $80+ to get the bumper that goes with the bedding set I picked out, so I'm fine getting a breathable one that is considerably cheaper anyway. But I still find it funny.

ale9687 · January 2017

@aanddm2014 and @babylonghorn16 the tubs with the infant slings seem like they're the most popular. I looked at one of those sink flowers but who wants to have to throw it in the dryer after every use.

@blueeyeddreamer agreed I'm not loading up on a bunch of bottles. Maybe just one of 2-3 brands just incase I need an anti colic bottle or something special. I had to google the whale tub, it's so cute!

babylonghorn16 · January 2017

@ale9687 ha! I looked at the sink flower too... seems cute, but I just know it'll be more trouble than it's worth. My friend is actually giving me one that her sis never used, so that's cool I guess. But I wouldn't spend $ on it. I think a lot of this stuff is just going to be trial and error. Even reading reviews can be tricky because everyone has different expectations/preferences. Good luck, I'm sure you'll pick something fab.

JWatt5 · January 2017

@wifeinraleigh28 - I'm so glad you said you just went with the Baby Jogger City Mini GT. That's the one I really want to go with but a couple friends have the opinion that the City Elite might be better - I think long term the Mini GT is great and right for us - there's a lot I like about it. Our Aunt wants to buy a stroller for us and she's only here from Scotland for a short while so I needed to decide!

JWatt5 · January 2017

I'm about 15 mins away from telling my team I'm pregnant and I'm super nervous! Me not being here for a year as of August had a huge effect on some projects here and I need them to know that now before things go too far. I'm 9 weeks and 2 days...so a bit early but everything had been going well and there's no reason for me to think something will go wrong...
I just can't shake the feeling that telling someone I'm pregnant is going to jinx it or something - despite the great heartbeat and things looking really good. I felt like this telling my some family at Christmas, even telling my own family dr made me nervous haha. My most noticeable symptoms have lightened up so I just keep freaking myself out - haha I've gone nutty!

dragonfaerie · January 2017

I got the sink flower and I'm kind of excited about it. I just think it's cute. And then when he gets too big for the sink, I'm going to put him in the bathtub in one of those laundry hampers with holes so he can sit up and be surrounded. I saw the idea on a dollar store parenting hacks article.
For the stroller, we got a Chicco Bravo travel system. The carseat pops out of the base and clicks into the stroller, so it makes trips super easy. Then, when he gets big, the stroller works on its own and we could get an extra carseat base.

dragonfaerie · January 2017

@JWatt5 I hope your meeting went well and everyone is properly excited! I know it's hard to tell people, but the positivity you get is so worth it. Hugs!

wifeinraleigh28 · January 2017

@JWatt5 I definitely just fell in love with the City Mini GT... it's also what my sister has so I've used it a lot with my nephews. I love the size of it, which will make it great for running errands or for longer walks around the neighborhood. I initially went into BBB thinking I wanted a Bob, but then after trying the City Mini GT decided the Bob was just much too big, and since I'm not a jogger anyway it didn't make much sense! Hope all went well with your meeting today! I was very nervous telling people too, but by 9 weeks your risk of loss goes down to like 1 or 2% so you are perfectly safe to tell people! Congrats!

janejane-2 · January 2017

I'm guilty of ignoring baby shower registries LOL. Ok, I would look at what people registered for and if I found something similar at another store say b/c it was more convenient, I had a coupon, or it was simply cheaper - I'd buy it. Looking back at it I'm sure I annoyed the heck out of a lot of friends & families. I use to think that all baby stuff was similar enough LOL.

nellin-2 · January 2017

wifeinraleigh28 on the safety issue, the chances of things like bumper pads being a problem are so miniscule but when you look across the entire population these things can make a difference.
I was listening to a podcast that said the "back to sleep" campaign (putting babies to sleep on their back) helped to half the rate of SIDS over the 90s. It was still incredibly rare (1 in 1000 to 0.5 in 1000) before and after but over the entire population over time those numbers add up.

I don't mean to be preachy, I know we will all be safe (possibly even paranoid!

after trying so hard to get pregnant. I just think it's so easy to think me and everyone I know was fine so surely our baby will be too. Chances are your baby will be fine even if you break all the safety rules, but those regulations have made a difference.

nellin-2 · January 2017

@JWatt5 how did it go?!

I'm telling my team leader tomorrow (I'm 14 weeks) and then my team maybe Friday or Monday. I'm so nervous too!
We found out today that a colleague in another team is pregnant with her second and some people were a bit snarky about it. I know some of them will be nice to my face but they'll be pissed I'll be taking up to a year off!
Luckily my immediate supervisor has young kids and knows I've been doing IVF, so she will be supportive and flexible.

byrneme · January 2017

Hope it all went well @JWatt5 !!

@Nellin - wow, up to a year! I'm way jealous. Where do you live? I must move there.

JWatt5 · January 2017

Thanks Everyone!! It went went well - the plant guys were pretty bummed about some of the projects that have to wait for my return (we get a year off here in Ontario so thats a long time for them) but they were happy for me. It also let me properly apologized for my crappy attendance over the last year for pain and IF treatment which they didn't know but I have no problem sharing. They were all joking that they have "bigger bumps" than me, I offered out my bella band so they could run around with their buttons undo too - I'm the only female on the managementment team in a Steel Manufacturing plant & I'm HR (that never helps lol), so you've got to have tough skin and a weird sense of humour in this industry haha.
I kinda feel lighter today - like maybe I can start accepting this pregnancy with some excitement - after my U/S next week I think I'll finally rest easy.

latershrader · January 2017

@JWatt5 Sounds like it went great! I'm totally jealous of your entire year off!

byrneme · January 2017

@hopetobeashraderfamily good luck on your beta today!

JWatt5 · January 2017

@hopetobeashraderfamily - yah it's nice to be Canadian with govt assistance during pregnancy

Good luck with your beta today!

nellin-2 · January 2017

byrneme I'm in New Zealand, only the first 18 weeks are paid so it'll be a tight budget year but worth it in my opinion! Employers are legally required to keep your job open for up to a year here.
We are lucky, or you could say mothers in the USA are unlucky in this regard!

@JWatt5 Yay! So glad it went well!

latershrader · January 2017

Thanks @JWatt5 & @byrneme. Numbers almost doubled at 766. Sono next week, just have to call and schedule. I don't think I'll have any peace until I see that little bean!

janejane-2 · January 2017

@JWatt5 & @Nellin - you are both lucky ladies. 1 year paid time off / 18 weeks paid time off. I'm in the good ol' US of A and I work for a "family friendly" employer who pays 2 weeks. LOL. My prior employer paid zero weeks. Some laws allow payment at say 60% of average wages but for 8-12 weeks. And then it also depends on the state one lives in. Its so horrible. There is definitely the mentality that "well you wanted the baby so its your responsibility, not societies". Of course having a baby is my responsibility but one would think employers would care about the mental, physical, and emotional care of their employees who need more time to recover from childbirth. Ok. Rant over.

WishingforLuck · January 2017

Hey ladies. Hope everyone had a great weekend.
I don't know if this applies to all walmarts but I went to my local walmart and they had some pumps, bottles, pacifiers and etc on clearance. Of course the pump I want to get was still full price, so I'll just stick with the one I got through my insurance.
My babies are really comfortable and I need some advice on how to induce labor naturally instead of with meds. My cervix wasn't ready for a sweep, so I want to try to do this on my own before OB says lets go to plan B. I plan on eating spicy foods, and taking longer walks. Is there anything else I should try to do?

JWatt5 · January 2017

@hopetobeashraderfamily - that's great, you'll feel better when you see your LO.

@JaneJane - I do feel pretty fortunate our jobs have to be held for a 52 weeks. I'll get about 45% of my salary for the year from the govt. which is great. The birth, learning how to be a parent, lack of sleep, breast feeding etc is a lot so I totally agree with you. Our parent company is American based in Charlotte, North Carolina and when HR heard I'll be going off, then realized it was for a year he was shocked haha.

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