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January 2022 Moms
Lisa3379
member
Home Stretch Advice/Questions Thread
Lisa3379
member
Third trimester is upon us! Are we excited? Nervous? Personally, it's been weird for me lately. I have about 12 weeks left, which sounds like a ton of time, but then I start freaking out that I'm forgetting something, like, the baby will be here all of a sudden and I'll realize that I didn't do all the things that made life a little bit easier the last time I did this.
Anyway, here's a place for people to ask questions, obviously, but also for STM+s to jot down any advice or ideas that proved to be super helpful when the older kids were born.
Possible topics:
Hospital tips/issues
Stockpiling meals
Preparing pets for baby
Preparing siblings for baby
Dealing with family visits/help
Maternity leave bingewatching recommendations
Hospital tips/issues
Stockpiling meals
Preparing pets for baby
Preparing siblings for baby
Dealing with family visits/help
Maternity leave bingewatching recommendations
Re: Home Stretch Advice/Questions Thread
1. Tell your husbands/boyfriends/etc to be squeaky wheels for you. When my first was born, the maternity ward in our hospital was partially under construction, and a ton of women had babies the same weekend as us. We had to share a room with someone, and they had so many visitors all the time, it was like Grand Central Station in that room. It was awful. My husband kept checking out a board that listed who was in what room and watched out for the first sign that we could potentially be moved. He also kept on the hospital staff to help us out as soon as another room opened up. We spent our last night in a private room and it was heaven. I wasn't in any condition to push for all that.
2. If they offer to have a lactation consultant visit with you while in the hospital, even if you think everything is going fine, SEE THE LC. I thought we were doing well with nursing and I declined. Fast forward 2 weeks, and my kid wasn't gaining weight and I was freaking out. I made an appointment with an LC, and she taught me how to know if the baby was actually swallowing anything, or if he was just sucking. She also told us to weigh him after every feed and keep track, and started us on formula to supplement. I had so much guilt for not making that appointment sooner.
3. Consider having bottles and formula on hand by the time the baby is born. We had bottles, but forgot to order our formula for our second kid until I was in the hospital in labor. We ordered formula from Europe at the time, and it would take a few days to get it. Our second night home with the baby, he was cluster feeding so often that my nipples were in absolute agony and I was exhausted, so I told my husband at 1:30 in the morning to go to the store and get whatever formula he could find. We were supposed to get our shipment the next day, but I simply couldn't wait that long.
Also about formula, a lot of companies give free samples in registry bags and/or offers for free cans. This is a great way to have some on hand, even if you think you're going to exclusively BF.
Baby Girl Due: 1-1-22
Baby Girl Due: 1-1-22
1. Did you do make any freezer meals ahead of time? Any favorite recipes? It seems early to start but one of my apps had this on the to do list this week.. I was thinking of waiting until December lol..
2. I know every baby is different but I was just thinking about how many newborn diapers and back up formula is needed. Good to know about free samples and maybe having an extra can or two on hand just in case.
eeee thanks!!
With formula, I'm almost certain we're going to need to supplement, so we'll have a few cans on hand, but if you're not sure you'll need it, maybe one can is ok? Provided it's not a problem to get formula at the store when you need it. With us last time, we had shipping time lags, so we had to deal with that.
Regarding diapers, I also echo Lisa. Don't get too many newborn ones. Also some brands won't work for your baby. Huggies were awful for my son, but I know others who swear by them. I had good success with Target brand and Pampers (save those codes!). If you do stock up, don't open the boxes. Most stores (like Target) will let you exchange unopened boxes for a different size or brand. I currently have 2 boxes of size 1 Target brand, 1 box of Costco size 1, 1 box of Pampers size 1, and 2 soft packs of Target brand newborn. I bought all of them while they were on sale.
PSA Target is offering a $10 gift card when you buy $50 worth of diapers. This the lowest threshold I think I've seen them offer. You usually have to spend $75 or $100.
Baby Girl Due: 1-1-22
I am hoping to make a batch of no bake lactation bites to have ready and some freezer muffins/snacks for my toddler in advance too!