PAIF Graduates - New Mommies - May 2018

byrneme · May 2018

Okay, time? Please slow down! Zoey turned 9 months last week and, at 9 months 1 day, decided to start crawling! While it is so exciting to see her learning new things and developing it's sad too!! How are all of you ladies and your littles??

mbradfo2 · May 2018

Baby Anne has been on a big growth spurt this week and is constantly hungry -- despite being so full that she can't drink anymore! She had her one month check last week and is doing famously. She might have a bit of a gas pains problem, so we've been adding mylicon drops to her bottles. If that doesn't help, we'll switch to a sensitive tummies formula. Sleep has been up and down for all of us this past week; she's been a bit fussy and keeping us up at night. I'm amazed how coherent I now feel on only a few hours sleep.

I can totally relate to the whole "time, slow down!" feeling -- and she's only 5 weeks! When we took her to her doctors appt, everyone was commenting on how big she's gotten/etc...and when I pick her up, I notice she's longer and heavier than she was just a few weeks ago. I know that's good, but it really reminds me how fast this time is passing. Before I know it, she'll be crawling around!

We started tummy time this week and while she -hates- it, she is a pro. She can hold her head up fairly easily and tries to roll over on the mat. She also tries to push herself up on her hands and knees as if she was going to crawl away. I keep looking at her and being amazed at this little person who is blossoming and who has so much spirit. It even makes me feel a little melancholy in a way...like she's going to keep going forward and forward, growing up, and a part of me just wants to cuddle her and have her be my little baby forever.

persnickity · May 2018

Time is going by so incredibly fast!! I can't believe Zoey's crawling @byrneme! Mackenzie figured out how to sit up and it is the most awkward thing ever. Haha. She rolls to her tummy, spreads her legs into the straddles, then pushes back and up as she scoots each leg forward one at a time. Hilarious to watch!

stella_700 · May 2018

@mbradfo2 We are amazing, us women, with how little sleep we can function on after becoming a Mom. When they are eating like that it is extra tiring for you so try and treat yourself extra gently.

@byrneme
I was walking into work and came across a three week old baby yesterday, I just marveled that my two little peanuts were once smaller than that! The feeling was a touch of melancholy and a whole lot of GOOD though, kind of an affirmation that we are doing a great job growing these little humans.

So I wanted to ask you guys if you've ever come across what happened to me on Sunday with Chase. We were in a dark room and he was asleep on me. I was sitting up holding him against my chest and I felt him shake gently. It only lasted maybe ten seconds but his chest and torso visibly twitched. It scared me pretty good. (Note to self-no google research on seizures and babies) He woke up as I jumped up and hustled into the living room where it was bright, blinked at us in surprise, and grinned hugely at his father. Basically not fazed at all. So I called the nurse line and we scheduled an assessment appointment for him. The doctor asked a bunch of questions where I mainly answered in the negative. We will schedule a one hour eeg to look at his brain waves and make sure what I saw wasn't a seizure. The doctor suggested that now is the time where babies' brains are learning how to go into Rem sleep and that sometimes these types of trembling/shaking happen as they fall deeper asleep. Has this happened to anyone?

JWatt5 · May 2018

@byrneme - crawling!! Ahh. Parker just wants to stand. All day. Haha

Parker is doing well. A couple sleep problems were working through - likely regression/teething/leap related. We installed our convertible car seat - I think he’s going to be more comfortable but man did I cry hahaha. So fast! Today was the first day of errands where I had to take him in and out. Wasn’t too bad. I think I’ll use the Ergo carrier more - easier than lugging out that City Select but I’m also considering an umbrella stroller.

@stella_700 -that would make me nervous too!! Hopefully nothing but I haven’t had it happen before. Sounds like he’s ok though - run it by your doc next visit

JWatt5 · May 2018

@stella_700 - I hit send, go in to gently wake Parker and he makes this weird shudder movement half asleep ... maybe the same thing?

persnickity · May 2018

@JWatt5 Most of the time I take Mackenzie out of the infant car seat and carry her in the Tula. It's just so much easier for me to have my hands free. It was a bit of a pain in winter to unstrap her and put her in the carrier, but not too bad.

@stella_700 never had it lasting that long, but Mackenzie would randomly jerk. Hopefully the testing comes back as everything's okay!

Polythene Pam · May 2018

@stella_700 keep us posted! I was tested as a kid but all is well, hopefully everything is ok!

seriously on slowing time. Graham is 6 months, started solids last week (unsure at first but now loves them). He is rolling all over, refuses to try to sit, and is getting his knees under him and trying his hardest to scoot/shimmy. My daughter walks around with a toilet paper tube, hiding any toy that fits into it so he doesn’t choke.. she doesnt mess around with this big sis role!

we went on a trip with both kids... like others said, just do it! Graham slept on me, was a mess at night, but we’re looking at pictures missing it already. So fun to see things with the kids.

byrneme · May 2018

@stella_700 - has your doc said anything to you about Infant Shuddering Syndrome (and don't let that last word scare you, it's not a 'disease')? Zoey does this tense up and shake thing sometimes and it turns out it's just a response to being overtired, excited, etc. but, when I was googling it, it can happen in their sleep too. I'm sure everything is fine but please keep us posted!!

@JWatt5 - ahhhhhh! I can't bring myself to put the convertible seat it. Partially because Zoey will still sleep in the carrier if we are out and about and I hate to disturb her. I know I'm going to cry buckets

As for an umbrella stroller, I totally recommend this. It's expensive but the convenience is SO worth it. My DH saw a kickstarter for it before we were pregnant and it was one of the few things he insisted on registering for.

https://www.amazon.com/gb-616230016-Pockit-Lightweight-Stroller/dp/B01DWHV98E/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1525354721&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=pockit+stroller&th=1

stella_700 · May 2018

Thank you ladies for the well wishes, I'll keep you updated after our appointment.

@bryneme That sounds much closer to what I experienced! Thank you so much for sharing it. I knew you ladies would have something to contribute when I put it out there. Thank you again.

So Victoria has now slept through the night for three nights in a row! Chase still wakes up once and takes a full bottle. I'm hoping that additional feeding helps him catch up a bit more. His hangriness sure is funny in the middle of the night he goes from his wake up grunts to full throated yelling in about forty five seconds.

JWatt5 · May 2018

@byrneme - if Parker is really out I’ve been able to transfer him from the bucket to bed. Otherwise he wakes up when I move the bucket because he’s so stinkin heavy

mbradfo2 · May 2018

@stella_700
I've not experienced what you describe personally - but I've heard that kind of thing (sleep shudders/tremors) is not uncommon in babies/infants. If it was a once off, it's probably nothing but it's good that you're getting everything checked out! I would expect to see it happen more frequently and with specific triggers if there was a true issue, but obv. I'm not your doctor!

I feel like Anne is at a bit of an odd stage right now -- at almost 6 weeks, she's awake and alert for longer periods but she's not yet developed enough to be truly interested in toys or play beyond staring at my face. We talk to her, do faces, etc, but I always worry I'm not doing enough to stimulate her! What did you guys do with your babies at that age? I usually set her down for tummy time for about 5-10 minutes when she has an alert period but I feel like I'm not entertaining her, if that makes any sense. She'll just sprawl out, squirm around and watch me intently and it sorta makes me feel like I should be doing something for her! I ordered a couple of the high contrast baby books to show her -- we got one at the hospital and she liked looking at it.

JWatt5 · May 2018

@mbradfo2 - lots of music, we had a poop dance to keep his poop moving along - “making him dance” bicycling his legs. He loved the little play yard thing and his mobile in the crib. We did a lot of day time stuff in the crib and I think that made the shift at 6 months more comfortable.

This was too funny not to share - my little Rice Vampire. Perfect rice placement on his little face - he could t figure out why I was laughing at him.

Polythene Pam · May 2018

@mbradfo2 we did tummy time but also just carry the baby around. If you have nothing to do, carry her and look out the window, talk about things around the house. If you have things to do, strap her to you and prep food or clean. I used to take my daughter to the grocery store and talk about every fruit, lol. We love going for walks too, in the stroller or carrier, and my 4 year old still loves walks and nature so I’m glad we started young. My son now just gets carted around to my daughters activities so isn’t getting as much 1-1 but he just looks at everything in awe so I hope it’s enough

latershrader · May 2018

@mbradfo2 Eli loved his activity mat. I remember for the longest time he would just stare and coo at the characters and shapes hanging off of them. I kept wondering when he would grab at them. And just like that he started to roll to get the shapes, etc...

We are still dealing with chronic illnesses in our house. We are pretty sure Eli has inherited my allergies and asthma. We are taking him to see a pulmonologist in a few weeks to confirm. He was fine for about a month, managing w/ just Zyrtec. It came on so quick, one day he has a mild sniffle (pollen allergies) and the next he could barely breath. Scary. He's on 4 or 5 different meds now and they seem to be helping. But I don't want my little guy on so much medicine.
I'm also kind of worried that he's not sitting up on his own much. He can sit but after a few seconds he falls over and doesn't try to sit back up. If he has the boppy or a pillow he does much better. The only thing keeping me from worrying TOO much is that he is trying to scoot around on his tummy, pushing himself one way or another with his feet. So he should be crawling soon. I agree with every other mama on here, it is going SO fast. I get sort of sad wondering if this will be my only baby. I want to remember all of this and hope to experience it again.

stella_700 · May 2018

*This will be a TMI post.*

So I'm struggling with the weirdest thing post babies.
Underwear. I'm struggling to find underwear that fit my admittedly plus-size, post c-section body and its beginning to affect how I feel about my body and what I feel comfortably wearing. Between the stretching and then the water loss as my swelling problem finally got under control, and my even further weight loss after losing all the baby weight, I've now got the dreaded c-section apron. It looks like a reverse muffin top that hangs down over my scar and makes all the pants/panties and some skirts look terrible. I'm not very happy with it but know I need to deal with it until I'm sure I'm done having children. At that point I'll look to have it surgically dealt with as I'm already having the medical issues documented (rashes, sores, skin to skin issues, skin yeast infections). I've got baby powder but with the cancer news on powder I'm leery of relying on that as a solution, plus cornstarch powder isn't recommended for yeasty issues. I've tried the medicated powder and the nystatin powder and my sensitive skin just gets more irritated with those. I need an underwear that both breathes and has the strength to hold that extra skin up and in as much as possible. Has anyone dealt with something similar. I've been browsing online to look but everything I see is geared to shape wear which doesn't breathe enough.

mbradfo2 · May 2018

@stella_700 I have the same problem with my c-section 'apron'.... luckily no rashes yet, just unsightly in my opinion

but so hard to find underwear that works! I had some preggo unders but they were designed to show off the extra bump, not hold it up! I've just been using stuff a size bigger but it doesn't look nice under clothes...to be honest, I am struggling alot with my post baby body, but that's another story! I didn't gain much during the pregnancy and I had lost most of it two weeks postpartum, but my belly looks a mess between the stretch marks and apron! I end up with a little bulge that sticks out in my middle...and not that I was tiny before, but I'm still getting used to it. I'm hoping further weight loss with help since I did put on some in the past two years when we were working with the RE. I was hoping to start losing a bit of it but so far maternity leave has not been conducive to weight loss... /sigh

I got bebe (that's what we call her, hehe. I speak French, used to teach it) an activity gym which she seems to like. We do tummy time and then some gym time. She likes watching the mobile and the different stuffed animals that hang down. We've also been using it to get our dogs used to having a baby on their level. They were curious at first, lots of sniffing, but now they're mostly over it. My female dog is very protective of bebe though; I've seen her little beady eyes checking on bebe in the bassinet at night on the monitor!

We've taken her on her first outings now that she's 6 weeks -- grocery store today! I'm hoping to bring her by our RE's office so everyone can see the baby; I've been keeping my nurses posted during pregnancy after I was released. They're excited to get to see her! I have my first big test tomorrow though; my parents are sitting for us so we can go see a movie my husband wants to see. I haven't been away from her for more than 30-45 min since she came home! The only other time I've been away from her was the first night at the hospital where she had to stay with the nurses since I was on magnesium and not allowed to have her on my own once my husband went home to care for the pets and sleep. Luckily I could sleep through most of that with all the post csection meds! (Although I did call to check on her multiple times...!)

byrneme · May 2018

@stella_700 ugh, the dreaded apron. Similar to @mbradfo2 , I'm lucky to have not experienced rashes but goodness I hate it. I bought Kindred Bravery underwear for my c-section recovery based on advice from a friend and i LOVE them. They offer a bit more support and come up to a place where it's comfortable. It's not shapewear so it's not super flattening but I feel it does more than just regular underwear.

https://www.amazon.com/Kindred-Bravely-Postpartum-Underwear-C-Section/dp/B071XSGKX9/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1525872573&sr=8-2&keywords=kindred+bravely+underwear

MMD1986 · May 2018

@mbradfo2 I had the same issue where I felt like I was giving baby enough stimulation. I ordered this play mat off of Amazon. It just came in yesterday, so we haven't used it much but it seems pretty cool. And it grows with the baby, you can set it up different ways.

https://www.amazon.com/Bright-Starts-Play-Activity-Your/dp/B01CVDU4MW/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1525880965&sr=1-1&keywords=play%2Bmat&th=1

Image: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91r5tiEW7YL._SX522_.jpg

persnickity · May 2018

With mother's day right around the corner, anyone have any fun plans?

JWatt5 · May 2018

@MMD1986 - that looks fun!!

Sunday we are headed to the Toronto Blue Jays Game!! I’ve dreamed of going to the Mother’s Day Game with my child. They do all kinds of extras for the Moms, we’ll get Parker his first jersey. So excited. I think he’ll love it!

omarismyhomeboy · May 2018

@JWatt5 sounds like such fun! We are huge baseball fans here, too, but we are a little far from our Rangers team at the moment

Polythene Pam · May 2018

Low key mother’s day- my mom passed 7 years ago so I’ve always wanted to do things she loved and be just with my little family. Usually a hike but I think this year we’ll plant my vegetable garden. Sounds boring haha but it’s relaxing for me, my daughter loves to help, and it’s something I did with my mom.

my husband and I are making a big dinner tomorrow after the kids are in bed too, pad Thai and spring rolls, excited for a date at home

JWatt5 · May 2018

Happy Mother’s Day Everyone!! Hope you all enjoy your day! Share a photo too if you can - love to see all these happy babies and glowing mums

omarismyhomeboy · May 2018

Happy Mothers Day indeed! So grateful to be able to have my first Mother's Day. Sending all of you love and positive internet vibes for your first as well. Here's a little pic of June and me from about a month ago.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/2d/psnzajc79c1p.jpg

MMD1986 · May 2018

@omarismyhomeboy that is an awesome picture!

Happy Mother's Day everyone! I hope everyone's day is filled with sweet baby cuddles.

We celebrated yesterday with our mom's and went on a swamp tour. Brooks did so awesome and loved the boat ride.

stella_700 · May 2018

We had mother's day luncheon at my house. We did fajitas with all the fixings! It was a nice day but perhaps next year will be a spa mother's day kind of day. Cleaning my house on Saturday to prep for company made for a busy weekend. Here are the twins' six months photos. Nothing of me, I know next time we take pictures my sister will insist that I'm in them.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/we/0yluqzubhhoo.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/h7/nw9g3j1snik6.jpg

JWatt5 · May 2018

Ball game was great - so glad we went. Parker seemed to like - would have even more if he’d had a little nap on the way down so he wasn’t so tired but oh well haha.

ReesaAnne16 · May 2018

Baby girl is here!!

Margot "Mae" Joy arrived in a whirlwind on Saturday morning, May 12th at 39w4d weighing 6lbs 11oz

My mucous plug passed Friday evening, but no contractions started that night, just a little tightness, normal BH type things, so I went to bed for the evening figuring contractions would wake me up.
At 5:30am, I woke up to a strong cramp and a "kick" that I eventually discovered was my water breaking. Contractions started 10ish minutes after that but were very intense and only 1-2 minutes apart. We threw everything into the car and headed to the hospital, but I was having the urge to push even before we got out the door. We arrived at the hospital at 6:18ish, I was rushed to triage, pronounced dilated to 10 +1 (I didn't know +1 was a thing?) rushed up to the delivery room and after 3 pushes, she was here at 6:33am! 1 hour labor.... I was NOT expecting things to go the way they did (so much for my labor playlist and hope for tub soaking), but looking back, it's kind of nice to get it over with fast! It was very intense, and I was so afraid I would deliver her in our bathroom/garage/car/hospital lobby ect.... I keep praying LORD please keep her in a little longer; DH said it was the first time he had ever her me ask God to NOT give me a baby Praise God He was merciful and allowed us to be handed into the wonderful hands of the delivery team before she arrived, they were so reassuring and kind. I guess I got the natural labor I wanted, if it had taken longer, I would have gotten an epidural (I wanted one, but obviously it was too late)

Margot is named after DH's grandmother, Margaret (but she went by Peggy). I've always loved the name Mae, so we will be using it as a nickname.

Her middle name was chosen by DH, as we had several verses sent to us in the days leading up to her delivery declaring Joy

MMD1986 · May 2018

Congrats @ReesaAnne16! She is precious. That's a quick labor! I'm glad everyone is happy and healthy and hope you are recovering well.

TravelingCouple · May 2018

Congrats @ReesaAnne16! What a beautiful girl and quick labor!! Glad everything turned out well and she's here in your arms

persnickity · May 2018

Congrats @ReesaAnne16!! Such an incredible birth story. Glad you were able to actually get to the hospital. What a beautiful name for a beautiful baby too!

[Deleted User] · May 2018

@ReesaAnne16 She is so beautiful!! Congratulations! What an incredible L&D story, too. Hope you are all settling in, relaxing together, and enjoying being a family of three. :)

JWatt5 · May 2018

Congrats @ReesaAnne16 ! What an experience!!

Holls214 · May 2018

@ReesaAnne16 congrats again! So happy that labor went quickly for you and that she was born at the hospital. She is beautiful.

mbradfo2 · May 2018

congrats @ReesaAnne16 !! it's amazing that it went so fast for you

I also love the name!

I went to my postpartum appt this week and it felt really pointless since I waited 40 min to have him just say, "You look good; carry on!" I'll be happy not to go to the doctor's for awhile :-) I've had my fill this year!

My husband finally set up the crib in the nursery -- due to her early arrival, we didn't even have it when she was born! I got a white one from Crate and Barrel that looks like old fashioned hospital cribs. I also have started putting up the vintage Madeline prints I got from etsy and the rug arrived - so we're almost set! I've had about a million different theme ideas since I got pregnant (decorating is a passion of mine) but I've settled on a Parisian Madeline theme. I might squeeze in some Little Prince stuff too

For Mother's Day, I got to sleep and my husband made brunch with all of my favorites - scrambled eggs, sausage links (specifically links, not patties! I craved them so much during my pregnancy...)...

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/r6/l9mywmdrak8e.jpg

Polythene Pam · May 2018

@ReesaAnne16 oh goodness congrats!!

byrneme · May 2018

@ReesaAnne16 - congratulations! She is beautiful

So happy to hear that things went well, even if unexpected and quick!! Margot is such a timeless name, I love it.

Mother's Day was nice (except for the weather!). We had brunch and then met friends and their toddler at one of our breweries. It was a super fun day and it just felt different then year's past - in a good way. A picture from brunch - Zoey was very much obsessed with the rose they gave me LOL.

helloworld9 · May 2018

Hi everyone! So happy to join the club!!

Baby boy was born 5/5, weighing a little under 8 lbs. My water broke and I had a failed induction which turned into an unplanned c section. Still recovering and learning the ropes of mothering. But all in all I'm glad everything turned out okay!

TravelingCouple · May 2018

@helloworld9 congratulations!!!

MMD1986 · May 2018

Congrats @helloworld9! Welcome to the club. Hope your recovery goes well and that baby is doing great.

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