For those who have used yoga/birthing balls-- do you inflate it before going to the hospital, or while there? My hospital recommended buying one of the peanut shaped ones if you're having and epidural (I am planning to), and it's still in the box-- it seems inconvenient to inflate it at the hospital, but also harder to transport if I inflate it now. Thoughts?
Is RRLT the same as Raspberry tea? Or does it specifically have to be red raspberry? Also do you have to brew the hot tea or can you drink the iced?
Me: 34 DH: 34 Married 10/28/17 Our TTC Journey
TTC #1 February '18 Team Green turned TeamBlue 10/15/18
TTC #2 January '21 BFP June '21 MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C July '21 Jan '22 - started IF testing BFP Jan '22 MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C Feb '22 BFP May '22
The key is the raspberry LEAF. Not just raspberry flavor. Yeah I usually make a whole batch of like 10 cups at a time, pour into a pitcher and refrigerate. I use this brand
@offtoneverland@lifesabeach85 Thank you both! I looked at the grocery store last night with no luck (just raspberry flavor, no leaf). I think they have that brand at Target so I will check there again. I like hot tea sometimes, but would prefer iced so making a big batch is a great idea!
Me: 34 DH: 34 Married 10/28/17 Our TTC Journey
TTC #1 February '18 Team Green turned TeamBlue 10/15/18
TTC #2 January '21 BFP June '21 MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C July '21 Jan '22 - started IF testing BFP Jan '22 MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C Feb '22 BFP May '22
@tessiesmom26 Target has it! I did order drive up last night at Target and got raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil. Target even had its own store brand on the primrose oil!
@lifesabeach85 my cervix is tilted and always causes trouble. EPO is supposed to ripen the cervix to get everything more prepared and help shorten labor, help with dilation, and help with effacement. I take one capsule orally and insert one capsule into the lady parts. The easiest way to insert it is to get a tampon, take out the cotton swab and put the pill into the plastic part. Then just insert like you would a tampon. Make sure to wear a panty liner because the oil does leak.
When do you need to start worrying about the baby being in the right position? Two weeks ago he was head down and now he's back to sideways. Didn't think to ask the Dr before I left.
@lifesabeach85 A little late to reply but... I'm in Canada, and it's actually kind of complicated. Here is my take on it : The federal government is in the process of extending the amount of leave a father can take (as long as both parents take the time). Currently the government pays for 35 weeks of parental leave which can be split any way between both parents. A lot of people take 12 month leave and receive 55% of pay over the year. There is also an 18 month leave available where the pay is 33% of your salary for 18 months. Some companies/government jobs will offer "top up" for a certain length of time (so they will pay the other 45%, or whatever amount they offer, for x number of weeks). The new bill they're proposing is an additional 5 weeks of paid leave (at 55%) as long as BOTH parents are taking time off, as a way to encourage men to take parental leave. It won't come into effect for this leave for me. So I will be taking the year off and my husband will probably take just a few days when the baby comes.
@ftm_jen I wouldn't worry about it until you've passed 40 weeks or unless you have low fluid levels or another high risk situation. Babies from a normal, healthy pregnancy can flip at any time. DS1 was transverse until 34 weeks, but flipped around 35. IF your baby doesn't turn, your OB might try an external version if you're a good candidate.
So with DS I was a homebody and hardly left the house. I just wore pjs and nursing tanks while I breastfed and never hardly went out. Obviously I can't do that now with DS, so I was wondering where you guys got nursing tops that you love? Like casual will work with leggings/yoga pants kind of nursing tops? I have some nursing tanks that I'll wear with a hoodie over them, especially the first 2-3 weeks while I have help taking DS to school. I also bought 3 motherhood maternity tops that I think will work (it's so hard for me to tell how things will fit when I'm not pregnant anymore, ha). Just looking for anything you ladies recommend.
*TW*
Me:35 DH:35 Dx: PCOS DS1 born 11/2014 DS2 born 11/2018 3 previous losses Rainbow babydue 12/2021 - Team Green
@mockingjay1, I never bought any nursing tops. I just used the two shirt method. I will utilize that method again, as to me, it's easier. Plus, any time I went out, I tried to plan out eating schedules, which I realize will be a lot harder this go round
@mockingjay1 I was also going to recommend the two shirt method. You could wear a looser t-shirt over top of the nursing tank, then pull the shirt up and the tank down when it's time to nurse.
@mockingjay1 I actually found nursing tops and bras very helpful. I just stocked up on what I could find at Target, so nothing crazy. This time around, I might look for some nicer, dressier nursing tops as I mostly had casual tanks with DS.
Thanks ladies! I actually hate pulling my shirt up, and probably tried that for all of 1-2 feedings with DS and my shirt would keep coming down and it drove me crazy. I am going to try some motherhood maternity shirts and one from target and we'll see how they go!
*TW*
Me:35 DH:35 Dx: PCOS DS1 born 11/2014 DS2 born 11/2018 3 previous losses Rainbow babydue 12/2021 - Team Green
@mockingjay1 Old Navy and Gap have some good basic nursing tops/tees! Like @lachnessmomster I really found nursing tops useful. I also have a few zip up hoodies that can be used with a nursing top and some oversized casual button downs.
I feel like this was discussed and I lost it somewhere.....post partum compression things. I thought they weren't recommended so I didn't use last time. I also struggled recovering. I need pelvic floor physical therapy and my back took almost a year to feel somewhat normal again. I think it's worth a shot this time. Anyone have a good one? I would need a plus size....
my breastfeeding/pumping gurus: 1) is there a nipple cream you swear by, preferably one i don’t have to remember to wipe off before feeding/pumping. i’m using medela lanolin, but my poor nips are still so cracked, dry, and sore. i want something better. 2) what the heck is this weird stringy/goobery thing that came out with the milk during pumping? i’ve gotten a few the past few days. is it a sign of an infection? ***tmi picture in spoiler:
@highsteaks - I have no idea about the stringy stuff, but there should be a lactation consultant in the NICU you can ask. For nipple cream I either used lanolin or quad cream (we seemed to get thrush a lot). When I was pumping I would put lanolin on BEFORE I pumped and that seemed to help make pumping more comfortable. Pumping itself shouldn't be giving you cracked nipples so I would see if you can sit down with the lactation consultant in the NICU and make sure your pump settings are correct and everything is the right fit for your anatomy. How are you and the girls doing?
*TW*
Me:35 DH:35 Dx: PCOS DS1 born 11/2014 DS2 born 11/2018 3 previous losses Rainbow babydue 12/2021 - Team Green
@highsteaks I'm no expert, but that maybe some old colustrum clogging up your ducts? Perhaps you're pumping just in time to fight possible mastitis? I would definitely consult an LC on that one. The LC may also have suggestions about nipple creams that help, my OB has a magical concoction that I send DH to get from the compounding pharmacy nearby. I know a lot of women also use olive oil or coconut oil as safe alternatives, but they're all messy to some extent.
@mockingjay1 & @hollyeva thanks! i do want to ask a lc, but i don’t think i’ll get the chance until thursday or friday. good tip, mockingjay about putting lanolin on first. it does help immensely with the pain. i just bought some lansinoh lanolin that i remember liking from last time, so hoping it does better than the medela. any other recommendations are still welcomed!!!
and thanks for asking about me and the girls, mockingjay— i’ll try to write up an update soon. right now dh and i are about to head back to the nicu.
@highsteaks - Oh yes, I always thought the lansinoh brand (purple) was so much better than medela lanolin. But the quad cream that I got at a compounding pharmacy was definitely the best.
*TW*
Me:35 DH:35 Dx: PCOS DS1 born 11/2014 DS2 born 11/2018 3 previous losses Rainbow babydue 12/2021 - Team Green
@highsteaks not sure on the stream. Could it somehow be a fatty particle? I also like coconut oil in addition to some of the other recommendations and you don’t have to wipe it off!
Anyone else worried about baby's positioning? Doing anything about it? I'm not sure at what week it's time to worry but I'll be 35w Thursday. I think he's traverse still
@ftm_jen I've been concerned, but only because I delivered DD2 sunny-side up. I know myself and at least 3 others on this group have been working through the daily activities on spinning babies to help the optimal positioning. I also am doing prenatal yoga and seeing a chiropractor who is Walcher (sp?) certified. Fortunately the midwife I saw this morning checked out the positioning and everything's okay, she was also in a good position at the 32 week scan so I'm currently feeling pretty optimistic. That being said, most babies do flip on their own at any time, and breech positioning is exceptionally rare, transverse babies tend to flip into the correct position on their own. You can also try baby mapping to help you try and figure out baby's position.
@highsteaks It's a pharmacy that compounds medicine. I.E. they make meds. Mostly combining things to make slaves, things of that nature. That is like the ultimate simplistic version. I'm sure someone smarter than me has a better definition.
Random and maybe TMI question, but how do you know if you've lost your cervical mucous plug or if it's just normal discharge. The app says that there's increased discharge this far along but I have so much in the mornings that sometimes I wonder if I have actually lost my mucous plug! Never bloody, but definitely a big glob..
@eahayes Mine was really obvious, as it came out all at once. It was more like snot from a really bad cold rather than the clearish/whitish discharge I normally get in terms of color (yellow/green) with streaks of blood in it. It was also about as big as my thumb. They can definitely come out in chunks though, buuuuut they can also grow back so it really doesn't mean you're about to go into labor.
@ftm_jen I wouldn't worry too much about a single baby's position yet. Plenty of time to flip, but I would guess that since it's your first you're also a good candidate for an external version if it comes to that. That being said, I'm pretty nervous about my twins since baby A is breech and blocking the exit. I was hoping for a repeat VBAC, but it's not looking good. Since I had a CS previously I'm not a candidate for version.
@eahayes In my experience, the MP is much firmer and thicker than discharge and has some blood streaks. I know it's unhelpful, but I think when you actually lose it you KNOW something is up. Discharge at this point can be pretty intense, but the consistency is just different.
@eahayes I agree with the others. I am currently losing mine and it’s way different than discharge. Definitely thicker like a booger almost. Yellow/greenish. Mine started just like that yesterday and today came with some blood.
@ashkee05@KellyT22@lifesabeach85 it's so hard for me to tell, since in the AM I have what sounds like you're describing, but it's every day! I may be losing it a little bit at a time, or maybe it's just a thicker cervical mucous... no blood though, which is good! Can't believe I have to google image this now for my own peace of mind! Thank you all for the insight
@eahayes mine has been a little bit everyday for about four days now too! With my first I lost it all at once, my second I never lost it, and now this one I’m losing it slowly
I woke up about an hour ago with cramping that I can't time. It just stays 'on' like menstrual cramps. Went to the bathroom and drank some water, but no change. Only 35w 1d so I'm nervous. Do bh ever just stay constantly on? Tummy hardening as if he's stretching out but he's definitely partying it up in there tonight.
Re: Questions— Month of October
Married 10/28/17
Our TTC Journey
Team Green turned Team Blue 10/15/18
TTC #2 January '21
BFP June '21
MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C July '21
Jan '22 - started IF testing
BFP Jan '22
MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C Feb '22
BFP May '22
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
Married 10/28/17
Our TTC Journey
Team Green turned Team Blue 10/15/18
TTC #2 January '21
BFP June '21
MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C July '21
Jan '22 - started IF testing
BFP Jan '22
MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C Feb '22
BFP May '22
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
1) is there a nipple cream you swear by, preferably one i don’t have to remember to wipe off before feeding/pumping. i’m using medela lanolin, but my poor nips are still so cracked, dry, and sore. i want something better.
2) what the heck is this weird stringy/goobery thing that came out with the milk during pumping? i’ve gotten a few the past few days. is it a sign of an infection? ***tmi picture in spoiler:
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
and thanks for asking about me and the girls, mockingjay— i’ll try to write up an update soon. right now dh and i are about to head back to the nicu.
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
it somehow be a fatty particle? I also like coconut oil in addition to some of the other recommendations and you don’t have to wipe it off!
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
what is a compounding pharmacy?
@eahayes In my experience, the MP is much firmer and thicker than discharge and has some blood streaks. I know it's unhelpful, but I think when you actually lose it you KNOW something is up. Discharge at this point can be pretty intense, but the consistency is just different.