My post-baby indulgences that I've had my mom and sister bring have been Starbucks cold brew, Kwik Trip long John donut, chipotle (specifically a craving for chips and pico, but had a burrito bowl along with it), McDonald's cheeseburger, Coke and red lobster cheddar biscuits. Seriously, I don't feel like I have any other favorite foods, maybe this time around will just be a repeat of something above!
@lancomechica@ooodalollly My first was like that. She did not latch well but there was no one to talk to-no LC in our country. I persevered but the first month was awful. Now #2 was easy and latched fine!!
@DuchessOfCambridge I've taken hot baths throughout all of my pregnancies and it's all been completely fine. I know doctors say no hot water but I think as long as you don't have any negative symptoms from them, why not!!
@DuchessOfCambridge Take that bath! You don't want to raise and keep your body temp really high, which is why hot tubs aren't okay. They make and keep you really warm. A bath is fine. My doctor encourages them for sciatica, sore back, etc. I wouldn't go crazy hot and make yourself sweat and get uncomfortable, but a bath where you're comfortable is fine.
@DuchessOfCambridge Definitely take that hot bath! Doctors mostly don't want you in a hot tub. Just don't get overheated and let your body temp get high.
@DuchessOfCambridge hot baths are fine, if you start to sweat then it's too hot. I can't live without a hot bath and showers sometimes make me dizzy. Midwife said to keep it under 106 degrees.
@DuchessOfCambridge I take at least 3 hot baths a week and have continued throughout pregnancy. My OB said as long as my temp doesn't raise above 102 it's fine. I don't take my temp, but I also don't have piping hot water. She said it takes about 10-15 minutes of constant heat to do that...even then, it would have to be very hot.
@DuchessOfCambridge I take at least 3 hot baths a week and have continued throughout pregnancy. My OB said as long as my temp doesn't raise above 102 it's fine. I don't take my temp, but I also don't have piping hot water. She said it takes about 10-15 minutes of constant heat to do that...even then, it would have to be very hot.
I've actually taken my temperature before, when I wanted a HOT bath
Does anyone else have a hard time being in hot water I LOVE hot showers but now you couldn't even call mine warm. I feel like my chest is tight when I'm in hit water and my heart starts beating faster. Anyone else? am i crazy?
@bcashaw my body gets sensitive to heat when pregnant so definitely happens to me too. I pretty much just have lukewarm showers now. I didn't like super hot showers before though so it's not too big a deal. Warm baths are usually fine though as long as it isn't super hot.
a belated thank you to everyone in the thread who calmed my concerns about bringing baby home! also i haven't been able to give up baths! i just try to stay in for less than ten minutes. being pregnant is so anxiety inducing !!!!!
For somw reason the idea of the glucose test freaks me out. I think because I hate sugary drinks in general or having to drink a lot at once and then not peeing for an hr. For some reason it has me stressed out. Can anyone give me a better idea of what to expect?
For somw reason the idea of the glucose test freaks me out. I think because I hate sugary drinks in general or having to drink a lot at once and then not peeing for an hr. For some reason it has me stressed out. Can anyone give me a better idea of what to expect?
You can pee! You just can't drink or eat anything else during the hour.
@jess0211 I am doing one right now! You can pee. No water, no drink, no food. No water is hard for me but just bring a snack and drink for immediately after the blood draw. The one hour is the easiest. It's also not a lot to drink! It's a small bottle and the one hour is the most tame in terms of sweetness. It's sweet but it's like drinking Kool Aid IMO. Would I drink it every day? No. Once (well for me at least twice) a year not so bad.
@jess0211 in my office, they stand there and watch you drink it to get the timer started, so I have more social anxiety than thoughts about how the drinks tastes. "Am I taking too long?? Am I drinking this way faster than the average girl?? Are they judging me?? What if I puke?" otherwise, it's pretty slick. Just an hour to waste, quick blood draw, and you're out of theee.
@jess0211 I always heard horror stories about the glucose drink so I was prepared for it to be the absolute worst. But then I felt like a crazy person when it wasn't half bad. Tasted like super sweet Sunny D to me. And I could pee. They even told me I didn't have to fast before as long as whatever breakfast I had wasn't super sugary.
I didn't have the glucose test with DS (was flamed to hell and back for that one, but it was a decision I made with my doctor based on best evidence) but as I'm older this time I know I will. I'm an absolute disaster without breakfast. I'll probably have to have DH drive me there. That much sugar on an empty stomach without even water to follow it up? I'm expecting to feel horrible for most of the day.
I didn't have the glucose test with DS (was flamed to hell and back for that one, but it was a decision I made with my doctor based on best evidence) but as I'm older this time I know I will. I'm an absolute disaster without breakfast. I'll probably have to have DH drive me there. That much sugar on an empty stomach without even water to follow it up? I'm expecting to feel horrible for most of the day.
You don't need to fast before the 1 hour. Eat something protein based though. I had eggs and toast before one and failed it - passed the three hour with flying colors. For #2, I just had some hard boiled eggs and was perfect.
I think some offices have you fast and others don't, from what I remember from previous BMBs. All this talk makes me wonder if I have to do mine at my appointment today? I don't remember talking about it. Hmm.
As far as I know, you don't fast before one hour (I didn't this morning and per my doctor yesterday "Eat eggs, no bread.") but do fast before the three hour.
Ooh not fasting will be super helpful. Of course, I don't eat eggs but I'm sure I can find something more similar to that fat/protein/carb ratio than my normal Cheerios
For the glucose test I struggled with keeping the drink down. The second time a nurse told me to sniff quickly an alcohol wipe to prevent it coming back up. Worked like a charm. I kept having the watery mouth thing that I get before I hurl and that took it away.
@kissthesky32 at least we already know who they would go to, just have to make it official! My parents, they are much younger than DH's and raised me the way I want to raise our kids. My mom already suggested the baby live with them and we come visit it every other week (eye roll). DH's parents are divorced and older, on the verge of retirement and looking pretty forward to having money and no responsibilities, I think. Hope they aren't offended, but DH and I agreed this makes the most sense.
liz4382 yes, I specifically looked for an OB who supported stuff I wanted to help me deliver a baby without medical interventions, so I asked ahead of time if I could eat in labor etc. I also waited a really really long time to go into the hospital so that I could avoid nurses who might not be on board with that (my OB showed up at the very end so really most of the laboring I did at home and then around nurses). The funny thing was, even though I could eat, by the time I was at the hospital (in the last 7 hours of a 36 hour labor) I didn't want anything but water. I didn't have an IV.
@whatwillanndo I know the feeling! When I got home from the hospital I ate a bunch of food and took a nap and then sat on my bed and cried while trying to read a breastfeeding book and feed my baby. Then my husband came in and took the baby and told me to take a nap. The ups and downs and emotional roller coaster was a lot for me the first few days. It settled down. You are kind of busy after you get home from the hospital-- I had to take baby to see the pediatrician, I had a postpartum Doula visit, people stopped by with food. But yeah, it's a lot of sitting and nursing and staring at baby and napping whenever you can!
In general, I think the best thing you can do for yourself as a ftm is find a tribe of new mamas you can get together with and share tips and tricks with and commiserate with and watch your babies grow together.
For me, this started with going to a breastfeeding support group when baby was 5 days old. That group was so so crucial to my experience with breastfeeding being what it was-- which was awesome. Not without stresses and anxieties (oh my goodness so much of that) -- nipple cracking and over supply and excess lipase and more-- but the reason it turned out awesome was because I had that group to fall back on and to lean on when things were hard.
I think that those groups are all over not just for breastfeeding mamas too-- there are a couple of new mama groups that the hospital offers, plus local nursing groups or LLL groups or babywearing groups or MOPS groups. Find one and make those relationships. It really really helps when you feel lost and confused. Which I did. Often. (and let's be real, I still do! lol).
This group is great but there's something wonderful about meeting people in person too.
I remember bringing my son home and my husband and I just looked at each other and he said, "What do we do now?" and I said, "How should I know?". Hahahaha. One of the best things we did right away was get an app that synced between our phones(and unlimited possible caregivers) that tracked feedings, diapers, etc. So no matter who changed him, that person could enter it and it synced for both of us. It was great because my son was jaundiced and so we had to make sure he had enough wet diapers per day and we had to track the consistency of his #2's to make sure they were clearing up from the jaundice. We were so sleep-deprived it was a life saver to be able to just look at the app when the pediatrician would ask us, how many diapers, etc. The app even had a timer where I could hit it for each boob and time how long he fed on each side, and if he fed from both or just one. If you bottle feed, you can track ounces and such. I highly recommend finding one as there are several excellent choices out there.
The first time I did the glucose test I did have to fast and I felt so nauseated. I did the test and then I went to bible study and basically passed out on the couch face first. The ladies were all, "Did you eat something afterwards?" Ummm, no. Don't be like me - if you have to fast, have something ready to eat after the test is done, lol.
I find it interesting about the IV. I've had two unmedicated births and while I wasn't hooked up to an IV, they did put the needle setup in my arm in case I needed to be. I'm not sure if that is something that is determined by hospital policy or what, but would be interesting to ask. So I could still walk around just fine during labor. With my son, I actually ended up needing pitocin after the fact to deliver my placenta. My midwife kept telling me to push and I kept saying "I AM pushing." but apparently I had worn the muscles out or something and nothing was happening. So they had to give me a tiny bit of pitocin so I could have a contraction or two to deliver the placenta. It was very weird but didn't take long.
Also my doula had me eat some yogurt and slices of pear or something while I was laboring at home before we went to the hospital the first time. Let's just say nothing stayed down, but I was glad to have something in my stomach to come up rather than just gagging. So now when I do eat something while in early labor it is from a perspective of how easily it will come back up. Sorry if that's a little graphic, lol.
i was allowed to eat in labor, but didn't want to. I drank water but didn't even want the honey tubes/sticks I brought with me. Afterwards though I smashed some IHOP, like a grown man trucker-sized plate of food and it was fantastic.
After DS came home it was a blur of nursing, trying to sleep, and remembering to shower. I always felt busy but not in a bad way.
I take baths almost every night, probably warmer than I should but not scalding hot. Add epsom salt when your muscles get sore! Actually @DuchessOfCambridge try an epsom salt bath for your migraines. Your body absorbs the magnesium which can really help.
We dont have a will will but I know we need one!
Breastfeeding came wasy for me, but PPD/PPA hit me like a bus. It's a give and take, every mom has triumphs and every mom has struggles, they're just in different combinations for everyone.
My question--did your doctor allow you to eat or drink water during labor? I am asking about this at my next appt. Food doesn't bother me as much, but I need my water! (And really don't want to be hooked up to IV fluids).
My midwife just asked me yesterday about dietey requirements so the kitchen knows what meals to send up while i am in labor.....and they hate giving IV for fluids in labor. Makes it all so sterile and medical.....I dunno. American birthing seems so foreign to me.
I find it interesting about the IV. I've had two unmedicated births and while I wasn't hooked up to an IV, they did put the needle setup in my arm in case I needed to be. **Stuck** Honestly, this totally makes sense to me. Why not have IV access in case you need it?? I'm sure L&D RNs are so experienced that establishing access quickly isn't a big deal, but there's always that lady with the tiny/rolling veins that you have to call someone else in to try - why deal with that in active labor! But with that said, if they allow me to go without again, I'll take it;)
@liz4382 I would rewash any newborn clothes in a gentle detergent closer to your due date. For other babies or older I probably wouldn't bother if I trust the person.
I am a person who researches everything and needs all the information possible (occupational hazard) so can anyone recommend a good breastfeeding book? Paticularly one that has some focus on mom's who will have to pump as well due to returning to work? I feel so unprepared for this.
@liz4382 I wash everything given to us in a gentle or free and clear detergent with no dryer sheets, because some of my kiddos have had awful sensitivity issues to chemicals. I guess if you knew what detergent they used, I might be okay with it. But I'm kind of a clean freak about that stuff.
@jess0211 I do not have a book to recommend, but I swear by Kellymom.com !! It's an amazing breastfeeding resource with a lot of helpful information about every aspect of breastfeeding! I can't say enough good things about that website.
Re: FTM questions for STM+ week of 5/30
About the eating at the hospital.. . I would just like to take a minute to point out that soup broth is technically a clear liquid.
also i haven't been able to give up baths! i just try to stay in for less than ten minutes.
being pregnant is so anxiety inducing !!!!!
@whatwillanndo I know the feeling! When I got home from the hospital I ate a bunch of food and took a nap and then sat on my bed and cried while trying to read a breastfeeding book and feed my baby. Then my husband came in and took the baby and told me to take a nap. The ups and downs and emotional roller coaster was a lot for me the first few days. It settled down. You are kind of busy after you get home from the hospital-- I had to take baby to see the pediatrician, I had a postpartum Doula visit, people stopped by with food. But yeah, it's a lot of sitting and nursing and staring at baby and napping whenever you can!
DS#2 3/15
Baby #3~
For me, this started with going to a breastfeeding support group when baby was 5 days old. That group was so so crucial to my experience with breastfeeding being what it was-- which was awesome. Not without stresses and anxieties (oh my goodness so much of that) -- nipple cracking and over supply and excess lipase and more-- but the reason it turned out awesome was because I had that group to fall back on and to lean on when things were hard.
I think that those groups are all over not just for breastfeeding mamas too-- there are a couple of new mama groups that the hospital offers, plus local nursing groups or LLL groups or babywearing groups or MOPS groups. Find one and make those relationships. It really really helps when you feel lost and confused. Which I did. Often. (and let's be real, I still do! lol).
This group is great but there's something wonderful about meeting people in person too.
DS#2 3/15
Baby #3~
I find it interesting about the IV. I've had two unmedicated births and while I wasn't hooked up to an IV, they did put the needle setup in my arm in case I needed to be. I'm not sure if that is something that is determined by hospital policy or what, but would be interesting to ask. So I could still walk around just fine during labor. With my son, I actually ended up needing pitocin after the fact to deliver my placenta. My midwife kept telling me to push and I kept saying "I AM pushing." but apparently I had worn the muscles out or something and nothing was happening. So they had to give me a tiny bit of pitocin so I could have a contraction or two to deliver the placenta. It was very weird but didn't take long.
i was allowed to eat in labor, but didn't want to. I drank water but didn't even want the honey tubes/sticks I brought with me. Afterwards though I smashed some IHOP, like a grown man trucker-sized plate of food and it was fantastic.
After DS came home it was a blur of nursing, trying to sleep, and remembering to shower. I always felt busy but not in a bad way.
I take baths almost every night, probably warmer than I should but not scalding hot. Add epsom salt when your muscles get sore! Actually @DuchessOfCambridge try an epsom salt bath for your migraines. Your body absorbs the magnesium which can really help.
We dont have a will will but I know we need one!
Breastfeeding came wasy for me, but PPD/PPA hit me like a bus. It's a give and take, every mom has triumphs and every mom has struggles, they're just in different combinations for everyone.
@jess0211 I do not have a book to recommend, but I swear by Kellymom.com !! It's an amazing breastfeeding resource with a lot of helpful information about every aspect of breastfeeding! I can't say enough good things about that website.