Well, I started having a meltdown last night about how I know pretty much nothing about infants. So here are some of my FTM questions.
1. Does anyone actually use the "diaper stacker" bags that seem to come with most bedding sets? We have one but not sure I would use it?...
2. Out of curiosity for STMs, are you more of a "start baby on a schedule asap" or "on demand eating/sleeping" type of family? I've heard pros/cons to both and I just don't know.
3. When do babies start tummy time? What do you look for/how to make sure babies are safe? How long does it last?
4. AM I THE ONLY FTM THAT SUDDENLY JUST STARTED FREAKING OUT?!
@wagnerw don't worry you are not the only one. Unfortunately I have no answers just another question.
Can you get braxton hicks on one side? Lately I've been getting some very mild tightening feelings and I was wondering if it was braxton hicks but sometimes it only happens on one side.
@wagnerw I did not use a diaper stacker the first go around. I just pulled them out of the box as we went However, I am registered for one now and think it would be a "nice to have" but not a necessity. I am a "on demand" mom. The newborn phase is so chaotic and babies are growing so fast. They usually will start to settle down and form their own schedule at some point. Even if it's not a "every day at 3pm, he takes a nap" but more of a "oh, it's been 2 hours since he last ate, yep, he's hungry" kind of schedule. I **think** (it's been 4+ years since I had a newborn) that I started tummy time at 1 month and only for short periods at first (5 min). DS HATED tummy time. With a passion! So I tried to keep it short and sweet. But he got amazing head/neck control because I wouldn't always lay him flat down on his back. I propped him in my lap sometimes as well.
@aboxofchocolates ditto what @HGRich said about it being the baby curled up on one side. That happens to me a lot and it feels really tight but it's definitely the baby because if I hold my hand there for a while he will usually kick/punch me lol.
@wagnerw I started panicking yesterday. I was hanging artwork in the nursery and just had a breakdown about the fact that I know nothing. I'm taking a newborn care class this week... Hopefully it helps make me feel a little more ready.
@wagnerw I have no real answers, but I'm in the same boat. I've spent my whole life around kids. I've been babysitting since 11, worked in the church nursery, was a nanny, worked as camp counselor for 5 years, worked at the ymca preschool, was a 1 yr old lead teacher, currently teach first grade, etc, etc, etc. I have a ton of experience with children, but hardly anything with infants. I'm terrified!
@wagnerw Don't worry. Babies are pretty resilient. There is a lot of learning on the spot and we all make little mistakes. 2. As far as schedules go. In theory a schedule sounds great. In actuality that decision really isn't up to you. You can be all for a schedule and if your baby decided they don't want a schedule then it doesn't really matter what you have decided. There is absolutely no way to force a baby to sleep. Trust me... I know. My baby stopped napping at about a week old. I'm not kidding. She didn't sleep for longer than 15 minutes at a time during the day unless I was wearing her until she was about 18 months old. So, it didn't really matter what I wanted. And if your baby wants to eat they are going to scream until you feed them. I can't imagine anyone letting their 2 week old scream for hours instead of just feeding them. So, some babies might do schedules, other don't. It is worth trying if you want to. But, understand that it might not work. This time I am honestly not trying. I will probably just walk around with my baby in a carrier and my boobs hanging out for the first 4-6 months. 1. The diaper stacker bags are weird. I thought it was easier to have a bin or basket. But, you can give them a try. 3. DD1 did NOT do tummy time, unless it was her laying on one of our chests for a few minutes. She developed just fine. Babywearing works the same muscles as tummy time, so that is another option. You can try it as soon as you want. But, it is really not something to majorly stress out about.
ETA: sorry those were out of order.
Me: 28 year old SAHM/Birth Doula DH: 30 year old pneumatic electrical engineer
Married: October 8, 2011
DD1: September 24, 2013 BFP: June 25, 2016 and MC: July 3, 2016 DD2: April 16, 2017 BFP: November 30, 2018 EDD: August 14, 2019
1. I didn't bother with diaper stacker.. there was no real place for me to put it that was convenient.. I kept bins of diapers,wipes and a changing pad in the living room and in the bedroom and that worked best for me.
2. I'm an on demand mama. You'll fall into a routine eventually.
3. I honestly don't remember when I started tummy time. I do remember getting tons of pamphlets on milestones etc and I'm sure it was in there..
4. It's overwhelming for sure. But like @mrsstuessy said babies are a lot more resilient than you'd think. So just breathe you'll be fine.
Did those with 2+ notice a personality switch in their preschoolers before baby? My daughter's been acting like a totally different kid and I can't help but worry I've "ruined" her by having a second..
@wagnerw: 1. Skip the diaper stacker. We have a drawer on DS's dresser that we put all of the diapering supplies in that was way more organized than the stacker was. We also kept a diaper caddy (like this one) on our main floor so we didn't have to keep running up and down stairs for diaper changers.
2. Unless your pediatrician advises you otherwise, I would just feed on demand. Schedules sound great (trust me, DH wanted a set schedule SO BAD), but the baby is in charge, haha. As others have said, you will fall into a routine eventually. For us, DS had a lot of weight gain issues, so we HAD to feed every 3 hours for a while (even if he was sleeping...ohhh, how I hated waking him up just to eat!). Once we were able to go back to on-demand feeding, he settled into a nice little routine (that included sleeping through the night! there's no way I'll get so luck this time...).
3. We were told that we could start tummy time once the umbilical stump fell off (I think DS was about 3-4 weeks old? His hung on forever...). Start small (like, 5 minutes or less) and don't freak out if baby hates it! DS hated tummy time at first, but discovered that he LOVED it if he was laying on one of our chests and looking at us, so we started there and eventually transitioned him back to the floor. As far as safety is concerned, just make sure there's nothing nearby that could fall on baby and put down a mat or a blanket. Obviously, watch them to make sure that they don't just go face down where they can't breathe. We also used a Boppy to prop him up and encourage him to look around, but, again, don't leave them unattended. Also, they tend to roll from tummy to back first, so you'll eventually have to be mindful or anything they could hit with an overzealous roll. DS had really good neck strength and could roll from tummy to back pretty early (like, 6 weeks or so).
4. Heck no, girl! I'm a STM and I'm freaking out, too. Like PP said, the good news is that babies are resilient and there's a lot of room to learn on the job. Some days will seem like you have no idea what's going on, and then everything will start to fall into place and you'll get comfortable with YOUR parenting decisions that work best for you.
@wagnerw I never used a diaper stacker, but I didn't have one either. I set up two changing areas in our house, one in the nursery and one downstairs, so that I didn't have to run up and down stairs every time a diaper needed to be changed. In the nursery we have a changing table that doubles as a dresser, so I just emptied part of a box of diapers into a drawer. Downstairs in the living room I kind of just stacked/piled the essentials under an end table.
2. I don't really know how any one would manage a strict time schedule right away for an infant. Mine was a terrible day sleeper, but would kind of go in cycles of eating, sleeping, and "playing". I would not be able to say that he was going to take a nap at a certain time each day, but did know (for the most part) that after a certain amount of time awake he would be ready to eat or sleep. I also found that as soon as I thought I had things figured out, they would change (he would drop a feeding or a nap, etc.) I want to say that we were more on a "schedule" closer to 7-8 months old, but even then it wasn't super strict.
3. I can't remember when we started tummy time, but I feel like the pediatrician discussed it with us. We always watched him during tummy time and would pick him up or roll him over when he got too frustrated (which happened fairly quickly at first). Eventually he would tolerate longer periods of time on his tummy.
1- I have a diaper stacker. It attached to the side of DS's crib, and it is where I put all the diaper changing necessities too. We dont have floor space to keep a box out, his dresser isn't short enough (i'm 5' tall) to use as a changing table, and we dont have room for a regular changing table, so we change him on his bed. However, if you have a dresser or changing table, I would not consider them a necessity. I received it as a gift, and had I not, I probably would have figured something else out. 2- Oh, the dreaded schedule or no schedule debate. I took bad advice from my SIL, and NEVER even attempted to put DS on a schedule, and I really regret it. It has taken us about 6 months to even establish consistent bedtime. As newborns, I feel like a schedule is pointless. They will eat when they want, and sleep when they want. However, once a better eating routine is established (maybe 4-6 months?), I plan to put this one on a much more consistent sleep/nap schedule. At least try for naps within the same hour each day, and establishing a good bedtime routine and time. 3- My home nurse/LC recommended tummy time right away. She said just laying him on our chest for a couple of minutes at a time when they are awake counts. She also recommend just holding him, with his head supported, on your chest rather than cradle holding to promote tummy time. We had a lot of trouble with tummy time on a mat or floor until he started crawling. 4- Believe me, you are not the only one freaking out. 3rd trimester freak out has hit in full mode, even as a STM.
@aboxofchocolates I sometimes get BH in either the top half or bottom half of my uterus.
1- We don't use a diaper stacker because we cloth diaper. I use bins and arrange the diapers by size (we use pre-folds and covers, mostly). They are all arranged on our changing table area. (With DD we used disposables...and I did use the diaper stacker on the pack and play...we kept it in the living room. In her room we used bins.) 2- Newborns are too hard to schedule, so I wait until the baby is out of the newborn stage (usually after what is considered the 4th trimester (so the first 3-ish months of life). Honestly, with DD our in-home daycare provider did an excellent job getting her on a schedule! I was with DS during the time when I would typically start one...and I did a terrible job! Wompwomp. 3- I think we were told to start tummy time right away. You can lay baby on your chest and have him or her pick up his/her head. Then, you can switch to a mat on the floor. It doesn't need to be long each time. 4- I started freaking out a bit this weekend (and this is baby 3!). I am not as nervous about the baby, but just about making sure things are ready and my 2 kids feel prepared (and get time with mommy before I am attached to a newborn). We did buy a convertible seat that should last the child's entire life. I also got the nursery cleaned out and we bought a rug to lay. I washed the cloth diapers and baby clothes we pulled out that are gender neutral. Since I am getting to the 30 week mark at the end of the week, time suddenly feels very short...
@doozenberg I packed mine somewhere around that time frame. I think I had my clothes, toiletries, and baby supplies loaded up and in the car around the time I put the car seat base in. I kept a smaller bag in the house for the electronics (chargers, camera, etc.) that I finished packing and grabbed right before we went to the hospital.
@doozenberg I think that's a good time frame. I packed up all my clothing/toiletries, the baby bag, and installed car bases. I have a small makeup bad I was able to grab and add to my bag right before leaving for the hospital. DH never thought he needed to pack a bag for himself, so I packed one for him at 39 weeks. That night, my water broke, so it was a good thing I thought about it! One other thing to think about, is arranging care for animals, if you have any. We asked my brother and SIL to keep our dog while we were away a couple of months before I was due, so they would have plenty of notice. We called them on the way to the hospital to let them know, and they went and picked her up that afternoon.
@doozenberg I think we packed a bag around 36w for us and the baby. We installed the carseat base around then as well, we used the bucket seats so we left the actual seat in the house until I delivered. @rachelmiller03 good point about about animal care, we have a cat this time and I'll need to have my sister watch him or check in on him!
Took my wedding/engagement rings off when I put lotion on my hands last night and they were pretty difficult to get off. Any STM+ find that they could no longer wear their rings closer to their due date? I hate to just not wear them, but I also don't want them to have to get cut off or anything...
@schef070911I didn't have this happen last time, but I remember some women wearing them on a necklace. I also remember others buying cheapie rings to wear while their hands were swollen.
@schef070911 Last time I gave birth in September, so I was heavily pregnant in the summer. I dealt with a lot more swollen feet/ankles last time and it started a little bit earlier. This time my hands did get swollen a little faster though. I took my rings off a couple of weeks ago. I have been wearing my late grandma's ring since then. It is a pretty gold ring with the August birth stone that is green. Now that my fingers are a little swollen it actually fits. I don't mind. This baby in my uterus is being named after that grandma so it seems kind of fitting.
Me: 28 year old SAHM/Birth Doula DH: 30 year old pneumatic electrical engineer
Married: October 8, 2011
DD1: September 24, 2013 BFP: June 25, 2016 and MC: July 3, 2016 DD2: April 16, 2017 BFP: November 30, 2018 EDD: August 14, 2019
@schef070911 I was due in July last time, so I swelled pretty bad the last month because it was so. dang. hot. I wound up putting my rings on a chain and wore them around my neck. I actually wound up with one of my favorite pictures from after birth where I'm holding DS and we're looking at each other and my rings are on the chain right in the middle.
Re: hospital bag and car seat. I'm planning on doing that the first weekend of April. (I'm due at the end so I figure that's ok timeframe wise). Also the first week of April, I'm planning on having DH set up the pack n play and swing in the living room. My shower is at the end of February, so I should have the nursery completed in March.
Re: rings. My fingers never got swollen enough to the point where I couldn't take them off, so my ring stayed on my finger. However, I did take my ring off on the way to the hospital. I didn't want them to have to cut it in case of some kind of complication. I just had DH hold onto it.
Well, I started having a meltdown last night about how I know pretty much nothing about infants. So here are some of my FTM questions.
1. Does anyone actually use the "diaper stacker" bags that seem to come with most bedding sets? We have one but not sure I would use it?...
2. Out of curiosity for STMs, are you more of a "start baby on a schedule asap" or "on demand eating/sleeping" type of family? I've heard pros/cons to both and I just don't know.
3. When do babies start tummy time? What do you look for/how to make sure babies are safe? How long does it last?
4. AM I THE ONLY FTM THAT SUDDENLY JUST STARTED FREAKING OUT?!
I'm sure others have already started contributing, but I figured I'd give my perspective to your questions as well.
1. I actually have no idea what this is, so obviously I didn't use it. I googled, and I'm pretty sure I don't feel like I need that all, so no.
2. I was a on demand mom and will likely be again. Her daycare is on demand feeding and sleeping for the infants, and it worked well for everyone.
3. You can start tummy time as soon as the umbilical cord falls off! DD had a herniated belly button so hers stayed on for a solid 2 weeks, but after that, we got to "enjoy" tummy time (babies flipping hate it).
4. I'm a STM but I just started freaking out when I hit third tri. Like, the nursery isn't painted (but my dad and DH have a date set), I can't buy the rest of the things we need yet (waiting for completion discount in just a few days), and I'm freaking out about delivery etc etc. You're going to do great and that's why we all come here and freak out together
@kcasset haha. I love that part about freaking out together. That is super nice. I'm waiting on the completion discount and the nursery to be painted too. I'll be your freak out partner with those things. Lol.
Does anyone else feel like their due date is off? This baby has been measuring ahead by about 10-14days for the majority of my pregnancy. I found out I was pregnant while in the hospital having a massive panic attack but it was a couple days before I should've even ovulated so it seemed weird to me. I was also not really in the right mindset to be processing the news. And now I lost my mucus plug already (my due date is 4/5 so I'll be 31w tomorrow). None of this seems weird to the doctors but I'm convinced this baby is coming in March and not April.
Does anyone else feel like their due date is off? This baby has been measuring ahead by about 10-14days for the majority of my pregnancy. I found out I was pregnant while in the hospital having a massive panic attack but it was a couple days before I should've even ovulated so it seemed weird to me. I was also not really in the right mindset to be processing the news. And now I lost my mucus plug already (my due date is 4/5 so I'll be 31w tomorrow). None of this seems weird to the doctors but I'm convinced this baby is coming in March and not April.
My current pregnancy and DS both measured at least 2w ahead. There is absolutely no way my dates are off with this one based on the (in-)frequency we were having sex. Sometimes babies are just bigger than average, which is nothing to worry about if the dr is not concerned and there are no health related reasons. I just make big babies in my case, no GD or anything like that. You can lose you mucus plug multiple times if I'm not mistaken? I believe in my N14 group, there were a few moms who slowly lost them around this time or lost a few--but I can't remember anymore. While due dates are estimates anyway, they're probably not that far off from 4/5 but since it's early April yes you could possibly have your baby in March but my guess would be the very last few days--not like mid or early March. And I think that would just be by chance or induction, not because they're way off your EDD bc your baby is measuring ahead. I think the more likely outcome is your dr doesn't recommend you go too far past you edd if baby is consistently measuring ahead.
I second everything @ashleym112 said and want to add for me personally both DS and this one have consistently measured about 10 days ahead and DS was 2 days past his due date so I'm not really expecting this one to be early either. I was all nervous I was going to have a Feb baby (DS was due March 10) as my mom always delivered early and he measured so ahead but nope, due date came and went! Hopefully this little gal doesn't prove me wrong cause I still have things to get done! haha!
@McFarKane Did they do an early dating ultrasound when you found out your were pregnant to confirm EDD? Those are usually the most accurate, since baby growth rates can vary widely as they get bigger. If your doctors aren't worried about it, I wouldn't be too stressed. If your consistently measuring ahead, they may want to induce you somewhere around your EDD to reduce the amount of stress on your body, which was part of why I was induced with DS (symptoms of pre-e was the biggest factor). At one point he measured 3 weeks ahead, but when he came out 3 days before my EDD he was just on the large side of normal (9lbs6oz, 21 inches).
You can also lose your mucous plug at any time - it will regenerate if your body is not prepping for labor. I've lost (at least parts of) mine a couple of times this pregnancy.
Since your EDD is April 5th it's entirely likely that you could have a March baby, but not necessarily because your dates are off. I know for my practice if you go into labor at any point after 37 weeks, they won't do anything to stop it.
Took my wedding/engagement rings off when I put lotion on my hands last night and they were pretty difficult to get off. Any STM+ find that they could no longer wear their rings closer to their due date? I hate to just not wear them, but I also don't want them to have to get cut off or anything...
Mine don't fit anymore I put them on a white gold chain and wear them around my neck!
@SnarkasaurusRex they did an ultrasound around 9wks and they said I was measuring ahead but they didn't feel comfortable changing the due date. My first pregnancy I got really lucky everything measured exactly on point and my water broke the day before my EDD she showed up a few hours shy of her due date. So this is my first time hearing things are ahead and they weren't very good at explaining what that actually meant. When I had my 20wk ultrasound they actually said either the baby is bigger or something could be wrong (which is what set off all of my worry about this). I got extra blood work done and they said everything is looking fine based on that but I have a few follow up ultrasounds coming up to double check measurements. They also didn't explain to me that you can lose your plug multiple times. I'm not of a fan of my doctors office this time around.
@schef070911 I was able to wear my rings until 36 weeks with DD but had to put them away around 22 weeks with this one. I purchased a cheapie on Black Friday knowing I would need it, just didn't expect to need it so soon
Ok, not really sure where to ask this, but looking for opinions! My husband was asked to go on a work trip March 14-17 (he was told he's the only guy that can do it). We're in England and the trip is to the states (not sure exactly where). It's just the 3-4 days, but I'll be 37 weeks pregnant. I feel like the chances of baby coming that early are slim (my mom had to be induced for all her pregnancies including twins at 40 weeks), but you just never know what will happen. What would you do... let him go or put your foot down?
@BabyBlake042017 Yikes, that's difficult. I thought there was no way I would labor early, but DS arrived 1 week before EDD. If you did go into labor, would you be able to contact him right away, and he get on the next flight? Even though it's trans-Continental, I would check to see how long the actual flight times are- typically (not always) first labors can be long. You could also ask your midwife/OB their suggestion- if they think he would be clear to go or should stay.
@BabyBlake042017 I don't really have advice for you, but wanted to wish you luck with your decision. I would be stressed about it. Is there any way that he can talk to work about bumping the trip up a few weeks or pushing it back until after the baby is born? I know that this is probably not an option, as the business world doesn't seem to understand that babies come when they are ready, but it might be worth asking. Good luck!
@BabyBlake042017 is there a deadline for him telling them whether he can go or not? So maybe you can get a little closer to the date and see how you're feeling/what the doctor thinks before you give an answer? Also, I understand how you're feeling. My husband has two trips planned for work in March. I told him starting at 38 weeks he's not allowed to leave the state.
Thanks for your responses @rachelmiller03@chelle087 and @McFarKane . I have very few details because he just called from work to see my thoughts and we didn't really get a chance to talk about it. It's the military so they are not flexible at all, and they also hold all the cards so I'm not even sure how much he could resist if he tried, but since he asked me my thoughts I'm feeling like maybe there is some wiggle room? Or maybe he was just trying to be nice and hoping I would say yes because he has to go no matter what haha. I guess we'll have to talk about it some more when he gets home from work.
@BabyBlake042017 My husband is going out of state for a conference in mid March when I'm 37 weeks along. He's going to go with the understanding that that on the slim chance I go into labor he is to drop everything and get on the next plane home. I know it's a totally different situation though because a) it's not international travel and b) my parents are staying with me while he's gone just in case anything goes wrong (which is much harder when you're overseas). Thinking of you and hoping you come to a decision you're comfortable with!
Re: Questions 1/29
1. Does anyone actually use the "diaper stacker" bags that seem to come with most bedding sets? We have one but not sure I would use it?...
2. Out of curiosity for STMs, are you more of a "start baby on a schedule asap" or "on demand eating/sleeping" type of family? I've heard pros/cons to both and I just don't know.
3. When do babies start tummy time? What do you look for/how to make sure babies are safe? How long does it last?
4. AM I THE ONLY FTM THAT SUDDENLY JUST STARTED FREAKING OUT?!
Can you get braxton hicks on one side? Lately I've been getting some very mild tightening feelings and I was wondering if it was braxton hicks but sometimes it only happens on one side.
@aboxofchocolates could be where baby is curled up in one spot? Sometimes I get that too, but figured it was where baby was.
I am a "on demand" mom. The newborn phase is so chaotic and babies are growing so fast. They usually will start to settle down and form their own schedule at some point. Even if it's not a "every day at 3pm, he takes a nap" but more of a "oh, it's been 2 hours since he last ate, yep, he's hungry" kind of schedule.
I **think** (it's been 4+ years since I had a newborn) that I started tummy time at 1 month and only for short periods at first (5 min). DS HATED tummy time. With a passion! So I tried to keep it short and sweet. But he got amazing head/neck control because I wouldn't always lay him flat down on his back. I propped him in my lap sometimes as well.
@aboxofchocolates I have no idea...
Married: 5/30/2013
DSS #1: 5/25/2007
DSS #2: 1/22/2011
DS #3: 7/8/2012
BFP: 3/14/2016 ~ MC: 3/19/2016
DS #4: 4/21/17
@wagnerw I started panicking yesterday. I was hanging artwork in the nursery and just had a breakdown about the fact that I know nothing. I'm taking a newborn care class this week... Hopefully it helps make me feel a little more ready.
2. As far as schedules go. In theory a schedule sounds great. In actuality that decision really isn't up to you. You can be all for a schedule and if your baby decided they don't want a schedule then it doesn't really matter what you have decided. There is absolutely no way to force a baby to sleep. Trust me... I know. My baby stopped napping at about a week old. I'm not kidding. She didn't sleep for longer than 15 minutes at a time during the day unless I was wearing her until she was about 18 months old. So, it didn't really matter what I wanted. And if your baby wants to eat they are going to scream until you feed them. I can't imagine anyone letting their 2 week old scream for hours instead of just feeding them. So, some babies might do schedules, other don't. It is worth trying if you want to. But, understand that it might not work. This time I am honestly not trying. I will probably just walk around with my baby in a carrier and my boobs hanging out for the first 4-6 months.
1. The diaper stacker bags are weird. I thought it was easier to have a bin or basket. But, you can give them a try.
3. DD1 did NOT do tummy time, unless it was her laying on one of our chests for a few minutes. She developed just fine. Babywearing works the same muscles as tummy time, so that is another option. You can try it as soon as you want. But, it is really not something to majorly stress out about.
ETA: sorry those were out of order.
DH: 30 year old pneumatic electrical engineer
BFP: June 25, 2016 and MC: July 3, 2016
DD2: April 16, 2017
BFP: November 30, 2018 EDD: August 14, 2019
2. I'm an on demand mama. You'll fall into a routine eventually.
3. I honestly don't remember when I started tummy time. I do remember getting tons of pamphlets on milestones etc and I'm sure it was in there..
4. It's overwhelming for sure. But like @mrsstuessy said babies are a lot more resilient than you'd think. So just breathe you'll be fine.
Baby Boy due 04/07/17
Baby Boy due 04/07/17
1. Skip the diaper stacker. We have a drawer on DS's dresser that we put all of the diapering supplies in that was way more organized than the stacker was. We also kept a diaper caddy (like this one) on our main floor so we didn't have to keep running up and down stairs for diaper changers.
2. Unless your pediatrician advises you otherwise, I would just feed on demand. Schedules sound great (trust me, DH wanted a set schedule SO BAD), but the baby is in charge, haha. As others have said, you will fall into a routine eventually. For us, DS had a lot of weight gain issues, so we HAD to feed every 3 hours for a while (even if he was sleeping...ohhh, how I hated waking him up just to eat!). Once we were able to go back to on-demand feeding, he settled into a nice little routine (that included sleeping through the night! there's no way I'll get so luck this time...).
3. We were told that we could start tummy time once the umbilical stump fell off (I think DS was about 3-4 weeks old? His hung on forever...). Start small (like, 5 minutes or less) and don't freak out if baby hates it! DS hated tummy time at first, but discovered that he LOVED it if he was laying on one of our chests and looking at us, so we started there and eventually transitioned him back to the floor. As far as safety is concerned, just make sure there's nothing nearby that could fall on baby and put down a mat or a blanket. Obviously, watch them to make sure that they don't just go face down where they can't breathe. We also used a Boppy to prop him up and encourage him to look around, but, again, don't leave them unattended. Also, they tend to roll from tummy to back first, so you'll eventually have to be mindful or anything they could hit with an overzealous roll. DS had really good neck strength and could roll from tummy to back pretty early (like, 6 weeks or so).
4. Heck no, girl! I'm a STM and I'm freaking out, too. Like PP said, the good news is that babies are resilient and there's a lot of room to learn on the job. Some days will seem like you have no idea what's going on, and then everything will start to fall into place and you'll get comfortable with YOUR parenting decisions that work best for you.
I never used a diaper stacker, but I didn't have one either. I set up two changing areas in our house, one in the nursery and one downstairs, so that I didn't have to run up and down stairs every time a diaper needed to be changed. In the nursery we have a changing table that doubles as a dresser, so I just emptied part of a box of diapers into a drawer. Downstairs in the living room I kind of just stacked/piled the essentials under an end table.
2. I don't really know how any one would manage a strict time schedule right away for an infant. Mine was a terrible day sleeper, but would kind of go in cycles of eating, sleeping, and "playing". I would not be able to say that he was going to take a nap at a certain time each day, but did know (for the most part) that after a certain amount of time awake he would be ready to eat or sleep. I also found that as soon as I thought I had things figured out, they would change (he would drop a feeding or a nap, etc.) I want to say that we were more on a "schedule" closer to 7-8 months old, but even then it wasn't super strict.
3. I can't remember when we started tummy time, but I feel like the pediatrician discussed it with us. We always watched him during tummy time and would pick him up or roll him over when he got too frustrated (which happened fairly quickly at first). Eventually he would tolerate longer periods of time on his tummy.
2- Oh, the dreaded schedule or no schedule debate. I took bad advice from my SIL, and NEVER even attempted to put DS on a schedule, and I really regret it. It has taken us about 6 months to even establish consistent bedtime. As newborns, I feel like a schedule is pointless. They will eat when they want, and sleep when they want. However, once a better eating routine is established (maybe 4-6 months?), I plan to put this one on a much more consistent sleep/nap schedule. At least try for naps within the same hour each day, and establishing a good bedtime routine and time.
3- My home nurse/LC recommended tummy time right away. She said just laying him on our chest for a couple of minutes at a time when they are awake counts. She also recommend just holding him, with his head supported, on your chest rather than cradle holding to promote tummy time. We had a lot of trouble with tummy time on a mat or floor until he started crawling.
4- Believe me, you are not the only one freaking out. 3rd trimester freak out has hit in full mode, even as a STM.
@aboxofchocolates I sometimes get BH in either the top half or bottom half of my uterus.
2- Newborns are too hard to schedule, so I wait until the baby is out of the newborn stage (usually after what is considered the 4th trimester (so the first 3-ish months of life). Honestly, with DD our in-home daycare provider did an excellent job getting her on a schedule! I was with DS during the time when I would typically start one...and I did a terrible job! Wompwomp.
3- I think we were told to start tummy time right away. You can lay baby on your chest and have him or her pick up his/her head. Then, you can switch to a mat on the floor. It doesn't need to be long each time.
4- I started freaking out a bit this weekend (and this is baby 3!). I am not as nervous about the baby, but just about making sure things are ready and my 2 kids feel prepared (and get time with mommy before I am attached to a newborn). We did buy a convertible seat that should last the child's entire life. I also got the nursery cleaned out and we bought a rug to lay. I washed the cloth diapers and baby clothes we pulled out that are gender neutral. Since I am getting to the 30 week mark at the end of the week, time suddenly feels very short...
DD: 6/20/11
DS: 2/23/13
EDD: 4/15/17
Cautiously expecting April 5, 2017
<a href="http://lilypie.com/"><img src="http://lmtf.lilypie.com/ZBoVm5.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Maternity tickers" /></a>
One other thing to think about, is arranging care for animals, if you have any. We asked my brother and SIL to keep our dog while we were away a couple of months before I was due, so they would have plenty of notice. We called them on the way to the hospital to let them know, and they went and picked her up that afternoon.
DS--N14
Baby #2 EDD--4/16/17
DH: 30 year old pneumatic electrical engineer
BFP: June 25, 2016 and MC: July 3, 2016
DD2: April 16, 2017
BFP: November 30, 2018 EDD: August 14, 2019
Cautiously expecting April 5, 2017
<a href="http://lilypie.com/"><img src="http://lmtf.lilypie.com/ZBoVm5.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Maternity tickers" /></a>
Re: rings. My fingers never got swollen enough to the point where I couldn't take them off, so my ring stayed on my finger. However, I did take my ring off on the way to the hospital. I didn't want them to have to cut it in case of some kind of complication. I just had DH hold onto it.
Married: 5/30/2013
DSS #1: 5/25/2007
DSS #2: 1/22/2011
DS #3: 7/8/2012
BFP: 3/14/2016 ~ MC: 3/19/2016
DS #4: 4/21/17
1. I actually have no idea what this is, so obviously I didn't use it. I googled, and I'm pretty sure I don't feel like I need that all, so no.
2. I was a on demand mom and will likely be again. Her daycare is on demand feeding and sleeping for the infants, and it worked well for everyone.
3. You can start tummy time as soon as the umbilical cord falls off! DD had a herniated belly button so hers stayed on for a solid 2 weeks, but after that, we got to "enjoy" tummy time (babies flipping hate it).
4. I'm a STM but I just started freaking out when I hit third tri. Like, the nursery isn't painted (but my dad and DH have a date set), I can't buy the rest of the things we need yet (waiting for completion discount in just a few days), and I'm freaking out about delivery etc etc. You're going to do great and that's why we all come here and freak out together
My current pregnancy and DS both measured at least 2w ahead. There is absolutely no way my dates are off with this one based on the (in-)frequency we were having sex. Sometimes babies are just bigger than average, which is nothing to worry about if the dr is not concerned and there are no health related reasons. I just make big babies in my case, no GD or anything like that. You can lose you mucus plug multiple times if I'm not mistaken? I believe in my N14 group, there were a few moms who slowly lost them around this time or lost a few--but I can't remember anymore. While due dates are estimates anyway, they're probably not that far off from 4/5 but since it's early April yes you could possibly have your baby in March but my guess would be the very last few days--not like mid or early March. And I think that would just be by chance or induction, not because they're way off your EDD bc your baby is measuring ahead. I think the more likely outcome is your dr doesn't recommend you go too far past you edd if baby is consistently measuring ahead.
DS--N14
Baby #2 EDD--4/16/17
@McFarKane,
I second everything @ashleym112 said and want to add for me personally both DS and this one have consistently measured about 10 days ahead and DS was 2 days past his due date so I'm not really expecting this one to be early either. I was all nervous I was going to have a Feb baby (DS was due March 10) as my mom always delivered early and he measured so ahead but nope, due date came and went! Hopefully this little gal doesn't prove me wrong cause I still have things to get done! haha!
You can also lose your mucous plug at any time - it will regenerate if your body is not prepping for labor. I've lost (at least parts of) mine a couple of times this pregnancy.
Since your EDD is April 5th it's entirely likely that you could have a March baby, but not necessarily because your dates are off. I know for my practice if you go into labor at any point after 37 weeks, they won't do anything to stop it.
Mine don't fit anymore I put them on a white gold chain and wear them around my neck!
ETA: autocorrect being a PITA
Baby #2 due April 2017