Did anyone get a girdle/compression thing for post-c-section? I didn't last time. I wore my belly band for a while, which was a little compression, and then I think I wrapped an ace bandage a few times. I'm thinking about actually getting a real one this time. Any recommendations?
Married May 2014 DD born August 2016 Baby #2 due December 2017
@tmk0325 You mean the 'napper' attachment? We went to BRU the other day just to check stuff out, and I saw they all referred to it as a 'napper' so I assumed it wasn't for overnight sleep. And then I read in Baby Bargains that they don't recommend that version. I was just planning on trying the flat surface of the PnP.
@breezybee omg I remember being so obsessive and paranoid about mattresses. There are some EXPENSIVE ones out there (like the pebble one or that one that's like a trampoline- can't remember the name). I think we ended up getting a middle of the road one, But to be honest I can't remember which one! Natural something or other lol
@kvacmak It's so crazy what a freaking racket this baby stuff is! I'll find something in the middle that works. I guess if you air it out for a few months, then the chemical smell of a non organic (gasp!) mattress will go away lol. I hope.
@tmk0325 You mean the 'napper' attachment? We went to BRU the other day just to check stuff out, and I saw they all referred to it as a 'napper' so I assumed it wasn't for overnight sleep. And then I read in Baby Bargains that they don't recommend that version. I was just planning on trying the flat surface of the PnP.
Yes that's what I meant! It was worthless and we didn't use it. We did use the pnp at the high height for quite a while.
@cait5413 My hospital actual gave me one to wear after my csection. I had purchased one too (don't remember the brand) but it didn't fit me right after my csection so the hospital one was better because it was much more adjustable
I agree with @splsmama2016 to get something to organize your frozen milk. I actually ended up using 12 pack of soda can boxes with the top cut off. I would freeze the bags flat and then put them in order in the boxes. It worked great and was free since we already had the boxes!
@TigerCakes that's a great (and cheap) idea! H and I were just discussing our overly stocked freezer and freezing breast milk. I think we're going to get a smallish chest freezer.
** December BMB Siggy Challenge - Animals in Pools **
Me: 31+ H: 32 TTC Since 11/2015 #1 - MMC 6.5 weeks (2/16); #2 - MC due to cystic hygroma at 20 weeks (10/16); #3 CP (2/17); #4 - Due 12.16.17
@tennis11785 a chest freezer is great for breastmilk storage. You can keep it longer in the deep freeze than a regular freezer.
For those storing breastmilk, use a FIFO method--first frozen, first used. The composition of breastmilk changes as your baby ages, so if you do have months-old stuff hanging around, you may want to mix it with some fresh milk so baby gets what they currently need.
Married May 2014 DD born August 2016 Baby #2 due December 2017
@MJDsquared My DS slept in a RnP right away, and still does for the most part. We JUST started getting him in is crib but he usually never stays there ALL night until morning.
We tried a bassinet, but he did not like that at all. We were going to go with the PnP as a transition from the RnP, but I couldn't put him down in it gently enough, so he'd wake up. However, we may have tried the bassinet in the PnP had we known it was there (FTP's, and didn't take the PnP out until he was too big for the bassinet for it).
+1 for the Baby Bargains book. I bought most of my stuff from reading it because reading massive amounts of reviews was just too much. I went middle ground with most everything (not the best, but not the good suggestions).
Me: 37 years old
DH: 39 years old
Married: October 17, 2014 TTC Since: November 2015 BFP: March 31, 2016 DS: November 21, 2016
December'16 December Siggy Challenge: Elf on the Shelf Fails **winner**
I actually ended up using 12 pack of soda can boxes with the top cut off. I would freeze the bags flat and then put them in order in the boxes. It worked great and was free since we already had the boxes!
I know the odds of someone saying "yes, me!" are really low but here goes:
Have any STM+ been diagnosed with heart conditions prior to or during pregnancy? How did your L&D go?
I have a PFO and an atrial septal aneurysm and though my cardiologist has never felt like they required any medical or surgical intervention prior to this point, I'm terrified of the significantly increased stroke risk during L&D that is associated with such a condition. My OB had led me to believe I was going to need a scheduled CS anyway because of a dermoid cyst they couldn't previously remove during a laparoscopy, but he hasn't brought it up again since I've actually been pregnant. I just wonder, with all of these things stacked up, would I be crazy to beg for a scheduled CS?
Its currently 1:07 AM... can you tell my crazy pregnant lady FTM anxiety skyrockets when I should be sleeping? LOL
@elcd458 I'm sorry - that's a lot to be facing on top of the usual pregnancy worries. I haven't dealt with it, but my approach would be to make sure the next ob appointment had enough time blocked to discuss these concerns in depth. And maybe I would send them a message beforehand that you will really want to talk about it and that would give the doc time to prepare and maybe consult with a colleague. Also check in with the ob about the cyst. Is he still aware you have one? Does he remember he had mentioned you might actually need a cs? Is that still the plan? Then I might go back and see the cardiologist to see what his take would be as far as vaginal vs cs delivery.
Me: 36 | DH 35, Married 2007
TTC #1 June 2015 April 2016 - AMH, FSH, Progesterone normal June 2016 - HSG clear *TW* BFP - Aug16, demise confirmed Sep16, incomplete m/c, D&C Nov16 BFP 3/27/17, edd 12/7/17 DS - 12/9/17 TTC #2 December 2018 BFP 2/22/19, edd 11/4/19 DD - 11/1/19 My Chart
@elcd458 no experience here either, but I agree with @whiska. I do not think you are crazy to consider a c-section, but definitely talk to your doctors! There is no need to be worrying/asking doctor google--it's a totally valid concern to bring up to your OB and/or cardiologist
Married May 2014 DD born August 2016 Baby #2 due December 2017
@whiska@cait5413 Thanks. They have me on an appointment schedule now where I rotate through all of the doctors at the practice because "we won't know who will be on call when you go into labor." That should've been my first clue that the game plan had changed from my original understanding, but I felt awkward bringing it up. I didn't want them to think I was just trying to weasel my way into a CS.
I don't think clearly during my wee-hours panic attacks, obvi. Because everything y'all said makes complete sense and has me saying "duh."
Speaking of frozen milk, if your baby seems to not like breast milk that has been frozen, smell it to see if it smells soapy. Some women produce excess lipase (lucky me, I am one) and you need to scale your milk before you freeze it to eliminate the smell/taste.
@oldersis My DS didn't like frozen milk so I always had to mix in some fresh. I wonder if this is why! Do you know if you produced excess lipase with your first child if you also will with subsequent children?
I did with both. You could probably freeze a little early on, thaw it out for a sniff test and then you would know before you build up a stash that baby may not take.
Just for those who may not know, I also had this problem with breastmilk. However, neither of my kids cared. So definitely mix it you have to (it really is gross tasting) but check and see it baby will drink it first before putting yourself through a lot of trouble.
@NME44 I am so jealous! My youngest was such a prima donna about bottles that I had to scald AND daycare had to warm them again midfeed because he stopped drinking if the milk cooled down too much.
@oldersis, I believe it! My SILs children were more fussy about the milk. That's how I even first found out about this, bc my brother was telling me about it. I thought, "ohhhhh, THATS why the frozen stuff is funky."
My kids were mostly not fussy about much, but my daughter did suddenly decide to quit bfing one day out of the blue. We all have different struggles
@moonlady-2 I'm a FTM, but my OB told me to just buy nursing bras. I ended up buying a larger normal bra just from Target, because to me the nursing bras at Target looked like they'd show under a lot of my clothes and I was not down with that. Plus I don't know the first thing about nursing bras but I needed a new bra pronto because mine were crushing my boobs! Haha.
@moonlady-2 I would buy one or two comfy ones (think sleep bras) before baby, and maybe 1 more normal one for going out and about those first days. Then wait until 6-8 weeks pp to properly stock up. My boobs were HUGE when my milk came in (side note, the only stretch marks I got were on my boobs from going from a B to a DD) then they came down probably a cup or two later on. If I had worn the size I ended up in, initially, it would have been SO uncomfortable.
@elcd458, so this is crazy, but yep I have some experience! I was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia around 30 weeks with my son. My OB referred me to a cardiologist who put me on Pindolol and I was put on bedrest. My OB consulted with the cardiologist regarding their plan for giving birth. My options were to do an induction with an epidural being required or to do a c-section. We tried for the induction but ended up with an emergency c-section when my son ended up in distress and one of my cardiologist's partners was called in to monitor the procedure.
I remember them saying a c-section wasn't the natural first choice because the procedure itself can put your body in distress and cause some issues but I'm sure everything can vary depending on your particular condition. But I would definitely recommend having your OB consult with your cardiologist if they haven't already.
Hoping you get to have the exact birth that you want! Please keep us posted!
Me: 38 l DH: 41 Gavin - 8/27/10 *TW* Gabriel - 2nd tri loss 5/17/16 Trisomy 18 & 21 Hope - 2nd tri loss 12/7/16 complications from pneumonia
MJDsquared A lot of the newborn phase is trial and error to figure out what your baby will sleep best in. We tried a PNP bassinet insert, the mamaroo, a bed sharing cot thing, the self-rocking RNP, the PNP, bed sharing without a cot, and finally sleeping in the crib. I would have done anything to get more than 2-4 hours of sleep. He didn't truly STTN until closer to 1 year when I dropped the MOTN feeding. Basically like another poster said, I just kept buying things hoping he would sleep in them... I lent all these things to a friend of mine and her baby hated all of it and STTN 10+ hours just bedsharing with her starting at like 2 months old. It's luck of the draw and experimentation.
For diapers, we did cloth but I wanted to mention the hospital sent us home with over 100 NB sized pampers. We went ahead and used them since I had a very truamatic birth and needed to recover more than I had expected. They lasted less than a week and you can expect to change a NB an average of 12 times a day...so you need a lot.
blueskies17 Loooooove my recliner. We totally splurged and bought a clearance floor model LA-Z-Boy recliner that rocked and has power recline. It cost a bit more than a regular glider and ottoman combo from the BRU or BBB, and is quite honestly my favorite piece of furniture in the house. I took soooo many naps on it, both with a baby (when he was bigger, not newborn) and without. We still have storytime in it every night and I wish I could afford another one for my toddler's room.
Amber_Waves I would pick your favorite and only get a 1 or 2 pack to see how it goes. My favorite bottles, the comotomo, were only like $20 for a 2 pack, and we never ended up needing more than those because as a SAHM it was just easier to put him on the boob most of the time.
@thatlauragirl gave excellent advice @elcd458 to talk to your doc and cardiologist. Honestly I would not be shy about asking for a high risk pregnancy referral ( maternal fetal medicine) if your doc is not taking the situation seriously or seeming to be adequately prepared or adequately addressing your concerns. I honestly think the best solution for your anxiety may be to get the right information from the right person and to feel like as best as possible all your ducks are in a row ( or as much as they can be)
@thatlauragirl It's funny you say that, because I actually had SVT too, which was corrected via ablation procedure in 2012. Oh man. I know how badly those episodes made me feel back then, I can only imagine how bad they'd be during pregnancy or labor! Glad they were able to diagnose you!
I think my fear is that they'll have me try to labor, something will happen because of my cardiac issues, I'll end up with an emergency CS anyway where they won't have time to remove the dermoid, and then I'll have to have another surgery like 6 months PP to remove the dermoid. Ugh.
I have another one! So..."activity centers" (you know where they sit in there and are surrounded by all the attached toys). How do you all feel about these? Did your baby like it? Did you get a lot of use out of it? Do you have any recommendations for a specific one (or recommendation to not get one)?
I'm especially overwhelmed because there are stationary ones, ones that bounce, and walkers. It'd be nice to get one that converted from stationary to walker just by removing a base, but I've only seen one that converts to a standing push walker (some people said you could remove the base, but it wasn't actually listed as an approved use and that makes me not want to do it).
@MJDsquared, I thought that walkers were generally considered unsafe nowadays, but I could be misremembering (too many babies falling down stairs or something?)
Anyway, we have one my brother sent us. It's a jungle theme and it goes from tummy time, to stationary play, to stand and play for when they can walk. Both of my kids have LOVED it. I'll see if I can find it on Amazon.
@NME44 I'm sure you're right about walkers! I didn't actually see any when I was looking, but pretty much every one I looked at on Amazon had at least one person in the questions section asking if it could be used as a walker, so I assumed it was still a thing. That's good to know though! Now I won't be looking for something that does that. And thanks for the link!
@MJDsquared & @NME44 walkers are banned in Canada for that reason. We got a 2nd hand Baby Einstein bouncing activity center and it was my saving grace when DS was sitting up but not walking. He just stood in it at first until he was big enough to bounce then it was a whole other layer of entertainment. You would probably easily be able to find one second hand somewhere!
We had the piano one that they lay on as babies and my DD loved it. We used it until the batteries were dead. She loved to kick it and make it play music, even really young.
Yep, walkers are a no-no these days. We got an exersaucer and it was a saving grace. I could put her in it and let her entertain herself while I cooked.
Married May 2014 DD born August 2016 Baby #2 due December 2017
Gliders - Recliners vs ottomans. Anything I should be considering in picking mine out? I like the idea of a recliner more, I think. But are the jerky and end waking the baby up if he/she falls asleep on you and you try and put her in the crib and get into bed? Anything I should be thinking/considering when it comes to the glider?
** December BMB Siggy Challenge - Animals in Pools **
Me: 31+ H: 32 TTC Since 11/2015 #1 - MMC 6.5 weeks (2/16); #2 - MC due to cystic hygroma at 20 weeks (10/16); #3 CP (2/17); #4 - Due 12.16.17
@MJDsquared we coslept (on the bed) until DS was about 10 months and then he was moved into his crib and stayed in our room until his 1st birthday As for diapers, but newborn as you need them because they grow out so fast
Re: FTM questions for STM+'s 07/05
Did anyone get a girdle/compression thing for post-c-section? I didn't last time. I wore my belly band for a while, which was a little compression, and then I think I wrapped an ace bandage a few times. I'm thinking about actually getting a real one this time. Any recommendations?
Married May 2014
DD born August 2016
Baby #2 due December 2017
DD - 12/28/17
TTC #2 3/2019
BFP 5/2019 || MC - D&C 5/2019
BFP 2/2020 || EDD 10/10/2020
I agree with @splsmama2016 to get something to organize your frozen milk. I actually ended up using 12 pack of soda can boxes with the top cut off. I would freeze the bags flat and then put them in order in the boxes. It worked great and was free since we already had the boxes!
** December BMB Siggy Challenge - Animals in Pools **
Me: 31+ H: 32
TTC Since 11/2015
#1 - MMC 6.5 weeks (2/16); #2 - MC due to cystic hygroma at 20 weeks (10/16); #3 CP (2/17); #4 - Due 12.16.17
For those storing breastmilk, use a FIFO method--first frozen, first used. The composition of breastmilk changes as your baby ages, so if you do have months-old stuff hanging around, you may want to mix it with some fresh milk so baby gets what they currently need.
Married May 2014
DD born August 2016
Baby #2 due December 2017
@MJDsquared My DS slept in a RnP right away, and still does for the most part. We JUST started getting him in is crib but he usually never stays there ALL night until morning.
We tried a bassinet, but he did not like that at all. We were going to go with the PnP as a transition from the RnP, but I couldn't put him down in it gently enough, so he'd wake up. However, we may have tried the bassinet in the PnP had we known it was there (FTP's, and didn't take the PnP out until he was too big for the bassinet for it).
+1 for the Baby Bargains book. I bought most of my stuff from reading it because reading massive amounts of reviews was just too much. I went middle ground with most everything (not the best, but not the good suggestions).
TTC Since: November 2015
BFP: March 31, 2016
DS: November 21, 2016
Have any STM+ been diagnosed with heart conditions prior to or during pregnancy? How did your L&D go?
I have a PFO and an atrial septal aneurysm and though my cardiologist has never felt like they required any medical or surgical intervention prior to this point, I'm terrified of the significantly increased stroke risk during L&D that is associated with such a condition. My OB had led me to believe I was going to need a scheduled CS anyway because of a dermoid cyst they couldn't previously remove during a laparoscopy, but he hasn't brought it up again since I've actually been pregnant. I just wonder, with all of these things stacked up, would I be crazy to beg for a scheduled CS?
Its currently 1:07 AM... can you tell my crazy pregnant lady FTM anxiety skyrockets when I should be sleeping? LOL
April 2016 - AMH, FSH, Progesterone normal
June 2016 - HSG clear
*TW* BFP - Aug16, demise confirmed Sep16, incomplete m/c, D&C Nov16
BFP 3/27/17, edd 12/7/17
DS - 12/9/17
TTC #2 December 2018
BFP 2/22/19, edd 11/4/19
DD - 11/1/19
My Chart
Married May 2014
DD born August 2016
Baby #2 due December 2017
I don't think clearly during my wee-hours panic attacks, obvi. Because everything y'all said makes complete sense and has me saying "duh."
https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/lipase-expressedmilk/
My kids were mostly not fussy about much, but my daughter did suddenly decide to quit bfing one day out of the blue. We all have different struggles
from Seattle(ish)
5 years married
FTM and PGAL
EDD is 12/23/17
-- It's a BOY! ---
DD - 12/28/17
TTC #2 3/2019
BFP 5/2019 || MC - D&C 5/2019
BFP 2/2020 || EDD 10/10/2020
I remember them saying a c-section wasn't the natural first choice because the procedure itself can put your body in distress and cause some issues but I'm sure everything can vary depending on your particular condition. But I would definitely recommend having your OB consult with your cardiologist if they haven't already.
Hoping you get to have the exact birth that you want! Please keep us posted!
Gavin - 8/27/10
*TW*
Gabriel - 2nd tri loss 5/17/16 Trisomy 18 & 21
Hope - 2nd tri loss 12/7/16 complications from pneumonia
For diapers, we did cloth but I wanted to mention the hospital sent us home with over 100 NB sized pampers. We went ahead and used them since I had a very truamatic birth and needed to recover more than I had expected. They lasted less than a week and you can expect to change a NB an average of 12 times a day...so you need a lot.
blueskies17 Loooooove my recliner. We totally splurged and bought a clearance floor model LA-Z-Boy recliner that rocked and has power recline. It cost a bit more than a regular glider and ottoman combo from the BRU or BBB, and is quite honestly my favorite piece of furniture in the house. I took soooo many naps on it, both with a baby (when he was bigger, not newborn) and without. We still have storytime in it every night and I wish I could afford another one for my toddler's room.
Amber_Waves I would pick your favorite and only get a 1 or 2 pack to see how it goes. My favorite bottles, the comotomo, were only like $20 for a 2 pack, and we never ended up needing more than those because as a SAHM it was just easier to put him on the boob most of the time.
I think my fear is that they'll have me try to labor, something will happen because of my cardiac issues, I'll end up with an emergency CS anyway where they won't have time to remove the dermoid, and then I'll have to have another surgery like 6 months PP to remove the dermoid. Ugh.
I'm especially overwhelmed because there are stationary ones, ones that bounce, and walkers. It'd be nice to get one that converted from stationary to walker just by removing a base, but I've only seen one that converts to a standing push walker (some people said you could remove the base, but it wasn't actually listed as an approved use and that makes me not want to do it).
DD - 12/28/17
TTC #2 3/2019
BFP 5/2019 || MC - D&C 5/2019
BFP 2/2020 || EDD 10/10/2020
Anyway, we have one my brother sent us. It's a jungle theme and it goes from tummy time, to stationary play, to stand and play for when they can walk. Both of my kids have LOVED it. I'll see if I can find it on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AJSJE6O/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499523634&sr=8-2&keywords=jungle+activity+center&dpPl=1&dpID=51DxZ02HBKL&ref=plSrch
ETA: if you click on the "world explorer" color option, you can see how it transforms for standing.
DD - 12/28/17
TTC #2 3/2019
BFP 5/2019 || MC - D&C 5/2019
BFP 2/2020 || EDD 10/10/2020
We got a 2nd hand Baby Einstein bouncing activity center and it was my saving grace when DS was sitting up but not walking. He just stood in it at first until he was big enough to bounce then it was a whole other layer of entertainment. You would probably easily be able to find one second hand somewhere!
DD - 12/28/17
TTC #2 3/2019
BFP 5/2019 || MC - D&C 5/2019
BFP 2/2020 || EDD 10/10/2020
DD - 12/28/17
TTC #2 3/2019
BFP 5/2019 || MC - D&C 5/2019
BFP 2/2020 || EDD 10/10/2020
** December BMB Siggy Challenge - Animals in Pools **
Me: 31+ H: 32
TTC Since 11/2015
#1 - MMC 6.5 weeks (2/16); #2 - MC due to cystic hygroma at 20 weeks (10/16); #3 CP (2/17); #4 - Due 12.16.17
Married May 2014
DD born August 2016
Baby #2 due December 2017
** December BMB Siggy Challenge - Animals in Pools **
Me: 31+ H: 32
TTC Since 11/2015
#1 - MMC 6.5 weeks (2/16); #2 - MC due to cystic hygroma at 20 weeks (10/16); #3 CP (2/17); #4 - Due 12.16.17
As for diapers, but newborn as you need them because they grow out so fast
@blueskies17 I highly recommend a glider
@Amber_Waves I highly recommend using Kiinde. The system is amazing and super versatile!