Ask Me Anything thread!

katethemom · July 2018

@BitterBetty12 Now that I'm thinking about it, I think I was given tylenol as well. It's hard to remember now, but I probably did finish out the rx of tylenol and just stopped the oxy. I guess I'll really just have to see how it goes this time. I would imagine it will be more difficult this time around with it being my second. And I will be 5 years older, so there's that.

KLS123 · July 2018

Okay I'm glad I'm not the only one who was giving the hair-down-there some thought. Thanks for all the responses! So interesting that letting it grow out is thought to prevent infection? I wouldn't have guessed that... Sounds like ease of clean up post birth and rolling with what I'm use to is probably the route I go. I guess "prenatal wax" will be making it's way onto my to-do list right after "put doggy pee pads in the car" and "order water proof mattress cover"

man this thread is helpful!

@katethemom thank you for sharing your experience with paid management meds post c-section. @BitterBetty12 the "stay on top of the pain meds or you will regret it" instructions without proper direction on how to ween off and switch to non-narcotic pain management in a reasonable time frame was what put me in a bad situation. Just a word of caution, 10 days is long enough for some people's bodies to become dependent on the opioids and is probably too late to try and ween off (for some people, everyone is different) without experiencing some nasty withdrawal symptoms on top of being in pain/recovering from surgery.

BitterBetty12 · July 2018

@KLS123 Oh beyond a doubt there should be some instructions there in terms of how to take them and how to ween off. Even when I was in the hospital my nurses would ask about my pain every single time it was time for a dose of meds and when it was getting better they started to just give me the ibuprofen without the oxycodone. I started spacing out doses of oxycodone and only taking them when I really needed them by day 3, but I did NOT skip a dose of ibuprofen for the first week. And that's also why I specifically said just the first few days, which is when the pain is by far the worst! And also I don't think I made it clear but the 'whatever you decide to do' was in terms of what drugs you decide to take (meaning someone may just decide to only take ibuprofen off the bat and skip the oxy - but ibuprofen is still pain management). This is not even something the nurses said to me (about not skipping meds) it is something I've heard time and time again from my network of friends who have had c sections when they tried to ween off too early.

BitterBetty12 · July 2018

@katethemom Yeah I had to ask my H what they gave me to confirm and it has only been a year. But what I actually took was percocet (which is oxycodone with acetaminophen - tylenol) and ibuprofen. Since the percocet has tylenol in it already the drug I got with it was ibuprofen. I think it's good to remember that you didn't react well to the oxy last time though - I would maybe tell the nurses that right off the bat and see what they say. They might have a different recommendation for how you can manage the pain. I don't know if they would offer other narcotics, but at least then you can only resort to the oxy if the other stuff isn't working and you're really uncomfortable.

kaf1788 · July 2018

Veteran mamas - what did you find useful to have around the house when you got home from the hospital? Or were there any gifts people gave you that particularly stood out?

My upstairs neighbor is due with her first any day now. I'm really excited for my LO to have a little friend right in the building to play with so I definitely want to cultivate this relationship! Aside from offering help with dog walking/target runs/etc, I'd like to put together a little gift basket for them when they get home from the hospital. I'm definitely going to include some good snacks but not sure what else might be appreciated. Any ideas?

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt · July 2018

@kaf1788 people bringing over meals was the biggest help! Healthy snacks are also great. Gift cards to restaurants nearby where you can get pick up or delivery are appreciated.

pttomato · July 2018

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt said:

@kaf1788 people bringing over meals was the biggest help! Healthy snacks are also great. Gift cards to restaurants nearby where you can get pick up or delivery are appreciated.

+1 Not having to cook or wash dishes was really appreciated.

sparkymcgeee · July 2018

Definitely meals so I didn't have to cook was awesome.
As for sweating, I totally forgot that. I remember laying towels down on my side of the bed. Yuck.
My kids still share a room. They are 5 and 7. We plan on moving them shortly. Dh will have to give up his office but oh well. He'll live.

tosh24 · July 2018

@kaf1788 My favourite "home from the hospital" gift were the grocery store gift cards that my grandmother gave me. I guess it may only be a bonus if you have people around to help you out in the grocery department, but when my mom or IL's came to visit, I would give them a grocery list and a GC and they would shop for me. I didn't have to stress about them using their own money or having cash on hand to give them. All my shopping got done and they would come home and make me food with the groceries - and I didn't have to get out of my pajamas for any of it! +1 for the restaurant GCs too....preferably places that have a delivery/pick-up option.

BitterBetty12 · July 2018

+2 to no cooking or dishes and providing anything that may help with that (gift card (do you have grub hub or DoorDash in your area?), pre made meals, even paper plates). A nice water bottle (I was always thirsty). Maybe make the basket itself a little storage container kind of like the one pictured below? I liked to keep something like this in any room I was going to be in so that I didn’t have to relocate to do things like change diapers or grab a snack or burp cloth or change of clothes for baby. And then she can throw whatever she finds useful in there.

Mandamay1414 · July 2018

I also loved the meals ppl brought. cooking with a newborn is impossible sometimes. and i loved that i could use my downtime (aka when baby sleeps) to nap or take care of myself instead of cooking.

Also, I might be weird in this sense, but I loved people just dropping by to spend time with me. After the first two weeks of craziness, being on maternity leave was so lonely and isolating. I loved it when someone would just drop by for an hour or two to chat with me and have no expectations of me to entertain them, clean up for them, feed them etc. Those hours were some of the best gifts people gave me in the first 3 months.

libertymomrn · July 2018

kaf1788 said:

Veteran mamas - what did you find useful to have around the house when you got home from the hospital? Or were there any gifts people gave you that particularly stood out?

My upstairs neighbor is due with her first any day now. I'm really excited for my LO to have a little friend right in the building to play with so I definitely want to cultivate this relationship! Aside from offering help with dog walking/target runs/etc, I'd like to put together a little gift basket for them when they get home from the hospital. I'm definitely going to include some good snacks but not sure what else might be appreciated. Any ideas?

I was so hungry and thirsty when I was nursing, especially the first little while after my milk came in. I was also holding or nursing my baby almost constantly, and would always feel
most hungry and thirsty while nursing. I love having snacks and such on hand that we’re easy to eat with one hand while I was nursing. Anything that required 2 hands I feel like was just taunting me because I couldn’t get to it unless someone was over to help me, or until baby was done nursing, which could be a long time.

sweetyjenj · July 2018

@kaf1788 already prepared food! I also prepped freezer meals ahead of time to be able to quickly eat, like breakfast burritos, soup, chili, taco meat, sloppy joe mix, and crockpot meals. Also, anyone who wanted to stop by and bring food was welcome and prioritized lol

I also realized belatedly that having my breastpump from the start would have been AWESOME. I got SO engorged right away that some relief would have been nice. I did have the haaka, which was really really helpful in this department. DD only ate from one side at a time, so my other side was left feeling really full, which is why I was glad to have the haaka.

We had mini "changing stations" on each level (4) of our house. I had a little box filled with diapers, a thing of wipes, and just a changing pad liner. This way I didn't ened to run all the way upstairs just to change a diaper, I could just change her quick wherever I was. We used the Arm & Hammer diaper bags to store a few used diapers at a time, and they seal in the order 100%. I also had a place to lay the baby down on each level, whether it be a boppy, bouncy seat, swing, or PnP. This way I didn't need to drag things around the house to be able to set her down, especially in the first month or two when she would fall asleep anywhere and anytime.

gorgeousariel · July 2018

@kaf1788 I loved the boppy lounger. DD lived in that thing for the first three months lol. Lol. It was so easy just to lay her down next to me on the couch.

AliKay20 · July 2018

My water broke spontaneously at 36 weeks. I had just finished peeing and got up when I felt another trickle. It wasn’t the gush that the movies portray so I was confused. When I wiped, it was clear (at least the first trickle anyway). Thinking it was just pee, I got up again to leave when yep, another trickle. This felt so weird and I was rather calm.

I still had my underwear down my ankles when I told DH I think my water broke. He didn’t believe me bc DD wasn’t due for another month. He told me to come out to the living room and I waddled out, walked a few steps, and this time, another trickle but slightly heavier. This is when I knew it was not pee. We called the on-call OBGYN and after describing it, she wanted us to come to the hospital but told us we had time (about an hr or so).

I then just took a bath with epsom salt while DH was frantically trying to pack our hospital bag (luckily I had texted him our list a week before). He arranged our friend to come get our dog. I was really just calm. It was nothing like the movies portray the water breaking scene.

My Aug mamas from TB had told us to grab something to eat before arriving at the hospital. Thank goodness I listened! I would be in labor for the next 18 hours and to this day, timing my contractions in the Wendy’s parking lot while stuffing our faces w chicken nuggets and spicy chicken sandwich was one of the best memories of that night!

kmvisioli · July 2018

+1 for meals, groceries, or gift cards (especially places with drive thru or delivery). We had friends set up a meal train for us so that friends and church members could sign up to bring us a meal the first few weeks, which was wonderful! Last time my in-laws and parents teamed up and pre-paid for a cleaning service as a baby/Christmas gift, and that was amazing.

I was also so starving and thirsty all the time, so stocking quick healthy snacks in my night stand for nighttime feedings and a huge refillable water bottle were great.

AliKay20 · July 2018

15 weeks on Thursday and I swear I’m feeling this little guy kicking already. W DD, it happened around week 17! I feel these fast kicks late at night or early morning the most and I can’t imagine these to be gas bubbling up. Anyone else feel kicks around 15 wks?!

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt · July 2018

@AliKay20 pretty sure I felt this one at 13 weeks, definitely felt a lot since then. I’m 16+4 and felt kicks from the outside this morning. I felt movement at 17 weeks with my first.

Mandamay1414 · July 2018

@AliKay20 I am 14 weeks and thought I've been feeling something.. It felt like 3 sharp pokes and then nothing.. But it also felt too high up to be baby.. I felt DD for the first time at around 16 weeks, so it's possible for you to be feeling baby now.

pttomato · July 2018

@AliKay20 I think I felt this baby at 13 weeks. It seems too early but it feels just like baby kicks and movements so idk. I didn’t feel DD until 18 weeks.

ladystout08 · July 2018

@AliKay20 I've been feeling the flutters/rolling around type movement. It's mostly at night when I lay really still but it's def. there.

kns1988 · July 2018

AliKay20 said:

15 weeks on Thursday and I swear I’m feeling this little guy kicking already. W DD, it happened around week 17! I feel these fast kicks late at night or early morning the most and I can’t imagine these to be gas bubbling up. Anyone else feel kicks around 15 wks?!

I am! I didn't feel baby #1 until 20 weeks, but I started feeling this one at 14. Not a ton yet, but every once in a while it's there.

kns1988 · July 2018

Random: something that's super necessary if you plan to pump at all is a hands free pumping bra. I exclusively pumped for 4 months before DS learned how to latch, and when you pump 8 times a day, you really need a hands free bra.

AliKay20 · July 2018

kns1988 said:

Random: something that's super necessary if you plan to pump at all is a hands free pumping bra. I exclusively pumped for 4 months before DS learned how to latch, and when you pump 8 times a day, you really need a hands free bra.

This! ^ I only had one hands free bra w DD but I am so investing in a couple more bc it was a pain for me or DH to look for my one hands free bra while my boobs were so full, lol.

kns1988 · July 2018

@AliKay20 - same, I only had one and it would get so gross because it was always a big pain to wash it. I needed it every 3 hours! I'll definitely get a couple more this time.

nononorman · July 2018

Several people told me they were shaved due to needing a csection and wanting the lowest scar possible. Like 3-4 people told me that. They also said it caused major ingrowns and razor burn since some poor nurse just popped out a dry disposable bic and went at it. So I got waxed my entire last preg and I’ll say it did make me feel better when I was spread eagle on that bed getting straight cathed. May have also helped with visibility when i needed a million cooter stitches, I’m not sure. That said I got an electric trimmer this time and I’ll see if it can get close enough to give me similar comfort. Honestly I don’t feel too hot right now and don’t know that I want to put it all out there for the waxer.

+1 for hands free bra. ESP if you plan to pump at work

parentingishard · July 2018

+1 for the hands free bra for pumping. I couldn't have done it without it. Great for work and for morning sessions while drinking coffee!

I sugared (similar to waxing) regularly before getting pregnant with DD. It was so painful in the first trimester that I stopped and was anything but bare at delivery. I did not require stitches or a c-section, so I had no issues. I had tossed around the idea of getting sugared before my due date but delivered early so I did not have a choice. I didn't care at all during the delivery.

For STM+, how long did you contractions last after delivering if you nursed? I remember feeling like the stomach compression by the nurse after delivering were far worse than the labor and delivery pain, but I'm already nervous about contractions while nursing baby 2.

KLS123 · July 2018

Potterphile said:

They also said it caused major ingrowns and razor burn since some poor nurse just popped out a dry disposable bic and went at it.

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/4UzCGXbCViCVq/giphy.gif

tosh24 · July 2018

This should prob go in the symptoms thread but this one sees more action so I'm putting it here:

Anyone still having cramping in 2nd tri? It's hard for me to tell exactly where it's originating from, but I think some of it must be uterine (feels like mild period cramps like in first tri). I think some of it is intestinal too. Went to my OB appointment today and he said cramping at this point isn't really normal which now has me freaked out. Said I probably have an irritable uterus and I should go back on progesterone suppositories and had me move up my anatomy scan to next Wednesday to check on my cervix. I've read other accounts of women on here (TB in general) who said their OB just said "some women just cramp more than others" and was really hoping for one of those answers today. Instead, now I'm even more stressed.

ladystout08 · July 2018

@tosh24 well I was just complaining about my cramps to myself on the way to the bathroom. I have a call in to my OB b/c I think I have a UTI or BV or something. So, interesting.

tosh24 · July 2018

@ladystout08 Yeah I've already had 2 UTIs this pregnancy and I don't get any symptoms other than cramping. Hopefully it's an easy fix for you and you just need a round of abx. I totally forgot to get my OB to do a dipstick for UTI today to rule that out again. But honestly, for the most part, my cramping has been on and off since my BFP so I dunno.

skilouise · July 2018

@tosh24 I've had some minor abdominal cramps the last few weeks as well. It feels like period cramps, but I think/ hope it's just gas.

KLS123 · July 2018

@tosh24 I didn't have any cramping in the first tri but have had on and off cramping for the last 3ish weeks (I'm 17+6 now). I didn't realize that was uncommon? I have my anatomy scan and prenatal tomorrow so I'll ask my midwife and let you know what answer they give me...

tosh24 · July 2018

@AshVA Part of me wonders how much is normal and if I'm just hyper-aware because of what I've been through. Totally plausible because my anxiety is sky high. But then I seriously don't remember feeling this way with other pregnancies. Good to hear that I'm not the only one that has cramping so maybe at least some of it is normal. I've also read that some women describe RLP as period cramping and I do get a lot of my cramping to the sides (like in a "V" formation) and up over my hips into my lower back. Maybe achy and crampy feel similar? I dunno. I feel like I need to be drugged or I'm going to drive myself crazy.

ETA: @KLS123 Thank you! I'd appreciate that

BitterBetty12 · July 2018

+1 to hands free pumping bra. I had three that I would rotate between.

Also I know I was partially shaved for my c section but I never had any issues from it.

@tosh24 I haven’t had much cramping this time around but I definitely had cramping well into Second tri with DD. As did my cousins wife who was pregnant at the same time as I was (due a day apart). Neither of our OBs felt it was of concern.

skilouise · July 2018

@tosh24 Sorry you're dealing with so much anxiety. It's tough to live in a constant state of worry that the other shoe is going to drop any minute now.

I was wondering about RLP also. I tend to feel the cramping most when I go from a seated to standing position, or when I'm standing for a longer period of time. At times there's a slight pulling/ stretching feel to the discomfort.

tosh24 · July 2018

@AshVA Totally. This PAIF/PGAL stuff is for the birds.

@BitterBetty12 Thanks for sharing your experience. Does make me feel better. I seriously wonder if I did cramp with DD or DS but it just never occurred to me to think anything of it so it doesn't stick out in my mind. Also, their pregnancies were 12 and 7 years ago so I also just forget a lot too, I think. At times like these, I wish I was a journal-er....would be so easy to go back and compare.

Thanks, guys. I still can't promise that I won't run off to urgent care for an u/s to ease my anxiety between now and my AS (

), but your replies have helped to talk me off the ledge.

Jackiemxoxo · July 2018

Hands free pumping bras can be kind of pricey and i hated the one with all the straps/hooks. One of my favorite pinterest hacks is to take an old sports bra or the thin nursing like sports bras from target and cut holes in the front to fit the flanges.

ETA- pic for example

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/vo/2ccomkemewl8.png

emmaaa · July 2018

Jackiemxoxo said:

Hands free pumping bras can be kind of pricey and i hated the one with all the straps/hooks. One of my favorite pinterest hacks is to take an old sports bra or the thin nursing like sports bras from target and cut holes in the front to fit the flanges.

THIS! I cut holes in an old sports bra for when I was at home. Then, I honestly just used my nursing brase and folded over the cups while pumping and it worked perfectly fine. I'm glad I didn't spend the money on an separate handsfree bra to carry around and I pumped for about 15 months

molosmiles · July 2018

I looked into hands free bras and tried all sorts of 'hacks'. What worked best for me was a nursing bra and a nursing tank under my regular clothes and popping the pump cups right in. They stayed in place and I only pumped at work. I'll probably do the same right from the beginning this time.

Want a personalized experience?

Ask Me Anything thread!

Re: Ask Me Anything thread!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards