@krysnicole1022 We went to iPhones because the androids we like were going to the same price range, but iPhones are honestly better made and the support is amazing. Nothing open source though, so there is that, and I really hate how much I love my iPhone as a PC user and android fan.
I have an Oura ring. I got it about 4 months ago and I love it. I was a long time Fitbit user, but really was sick of having the device on my wrist. I like that the Oura is more focused on recovery and overall wellness. The goals each day are adjusted based on your biometrics (heart rate, temperature, sleep, ext.)
@sandy5693 - I didn’t want to be so “connected” all the time so I went with the Fitbit. I got really annoyed when I learned that it synced with my phone for EVERYTHING. I get super easily frustrated this pregnancy and had to take it off because I couldn’t stand it vibrating with every phone call/text/reminder to walk and I can’t figure out how unsync it!
I have recurrent and horrible YI and my doc will only do monistat. She won't prescribe anything else in the first two trimesters. She is overly cautious because of my history. If it's not severe I would just do monistat which is absolutely safe. Seven day only.
@krysnicole1022 my dr said I had a pretty bad one and a different kind of yeast that 7 day wouldn’t take care of. But now I’m having cramps and lots of liquidy sometimes creamy discharge. And my anxiety is now through the roof. No spotting or discharge, but I’ve soaked through 4 pairs of panties by now.
@jilliboo unless you also have BV then monistat should still cover it. A lot of discharge is totally normal. Definitely get panty liners because it's going to get messy. I mean I have absolutely horrible YI and monistat fixes it up when it's the seven day. I'm sure it's safe if the doctor says it is. Internet says monistat works the same so not sure why he prescribed you something that could be purchased for $10 over the counter. I'm not a doctor at all but I've had recurrent YI (it's genetic apparently 🙄) for a decade and the prescription stuff works the same as the over the counter. Not pregnant I do the ovule and boric acid suppositories but you can't use those while pregnant. Also cramping is a side effect of the gynazole.
@krysnicole1022 unfortunately Mobistat only works18% of the time with candida gglabrata and it was a bad case. I’m assuming that’s why. They are bringing me in tomorrow since I wet through 5 underpants.
I’m putting my registry together and seeing all these commercials for Frida. Any thoughts? Seems expensive for not that much stuff, especially stuff that can be individually bought but maybe it’s worth the hype. Thoughts?
The only Frida thing I've used personally is the snot sucker with all 3 kids, and it's the best. They kind of hate it at the beginning, but by the time they were toddlers all 3 asked for it when they had runny noses 🤣
Also have the snot sucker (get it, or similar product for sure) as well as the cradle cap brush (meh). I am tempted by a couple of their postpartum products this time but tbd.
@krthouse@krysnicole1022 I should’ve been more specific - I was actually referring to the post partum kits, they’re advertised daily on TV here in NY and a few of my friends have already added them to their registry. I checked the contents but it’s like 4 mesh underwear, etc etc $99. I feel like you’re paying more for the convenience than the actual contents.
@mcclanna that seems crazy expensive to me! If you're interested in any of the products, I would probably just buy them separately. I bought the Frida nursing nightgown and the c-section underwear (although they were the shorts style, which say post partem, so maybe that's what I bought?). The nightgown was good, the buttons made it a little heavy, but I pretty much lived in it for four days after I got home. The underwear were AMAZING and I will buy them again! As for most of the other stuff... meh. I googled the kit and socks and a travel bag? Really? I got a little peri bottle free from the hospital and that worked good for me. Maybe ice pads and pad liners?
My hospital usually just gives me a whole huge kit with underwear and pads. I'm having this baby at a different hospital but I have a feeling this hospital won't be any different considering they do postpartum massages etc.
@mcclanna I definitely wouldn't buy a whole kit. Most people prefer different brands for different items, some things you'll get for free and some things I like to make myself (padsicles with witch hazel). I would read reviews on the various items and just get what looks to be of interest for you. You can even throw them on your baby registry if you're doing one and then pick up anything yourself that isn't gifted.
@krthouse being a FTM I’m going to admit to not knowing what half those things are or what I’ll need so I’d love some education and advice on what is comfortable, what works, what we need post partum. I don’t know the use for mesh panties or what a padsicle is 😭
@mcclanna they give you giant mesh panties (which I love but some people hate) for post partum. A padsicle is basically a pad soaked in witch hazel that you freeze before putting in your underwear to help heal up your lady bits post delivery. In my hospital they literally used infant diapers as padsicles and it was amazing. I had c sections but I pushed for hours for both baby 1 and 2 and I was just sore everywhere.
I found padcicles nice but my fav was Tucks wipes. They’re medicated wipes and I loved them. Make sure you take extra underwear and loose, comfy, dark pants to wear home from the hospital.
@pangolindrome you have to wear pads post delivery anyway which I hate (also team tampon) and the padsicles help so much with healing and swelling. I second the wipes as well. The day I get to ditch the pads is always a day I quite literally celebrate 🥳🥳🥳🥳 because I am so uncomfortable wearing them.
I loved my padsicles. I used the Rael overnight ones (aka for very heavy flow) because they're very breathable. My midwives were adamant that breathable pads were best for healing. I set up a little station on my kitchen table with two packs of pads, a bottle of Thayers alcohol-free unscented witch hazel (you can also use the aloe version), and freezer bags. Opened up a pad, squirted a bunch of witch hazel on it, closed it up again and popped it in a freezer bag. Kept going until the freezer bag was full and then started a new one until I'd prepped all of them, popped them in the freezer at around 37 weeks so they would be ready for me by baby time. They were so nice and soothing postpartum and help keep hemorrhoids at bay. Some versions say to add essential oil but this is not recommended. Smells nice but any kinds of oils can mess with the healing process and make things goopy down there which is icky.
Other essential postpartum items for me were my peri bottle (you use it to rinse vulva/tears while urinating to keep it from stinging), Epsom salts, adult diapers for a first day or two, a few bed pads to let myself air out in bed occasionally for healing, nipple ointment, lip balm. I ended up needing to switch to the heavy duty prescription nipple ointment (we later discovered a missed tongue and lip tie so my nips took extra damage). Given that lip and tongue ties may be genetic I want some extra postpartum care for my breasts this time. Some people get things that help massage out blocked ducts or I've seen some special cold packs with a gap for your actual nipple.
I used the Mother Love Nipple cream and it was amazing. I'll use it again this time. I was told by a LC to avoid anything with lanolin if possible because that can breed yeast. I don't know if that's true but I've definitely avoided it this far.
Our lactation consultants at work actually use olive oil for nipples instead of lanolin since apparently it’s better.
TTC History
Me: 35 DH: 34 Married 07/2012 DD born 07/2014 DD2 born 10/2018 DS born 10/2022
IF history: TTC #2 since January 2016 June-Aug 2017: 3 IUIs w/Clomid = BFN Sept 2017: Dx w/Endometriosis Oct 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN Nov 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN Dec 2017: pre-IVF testing Jan-Feb 2018: IVF--17 eggs retrieved, 13 fertilized, 9 frozen and 1 transferred on 2/10 = BFP on 2/19!!! EDD 10/29/2018 FET Oct 2021: BFP on 10/31! MC at 5 weeks FET Feb 2022: BFP on 2/15! EDD 10/29/22
@shortstack930@krysnicole1022 the Mother Love products’ main ingredient is olive oil, so that sounds consistent. I love the Mother Love balm and have even used it on my lips when they were terribly chapped, too.
What’s the best and most natural stretch mark prevention? Starting to pop with my first baby and I’m currently applying organic coconut oil twice a day. Thoughts?
@allycat0209 I always heard the best stretch mark prevention isn't so much a product (other than moisturizing in general, and coconut oil is totally good for that) but just trying to maintain a healthy weight and moving a bit. But mostly I think it's just genetic and some folks get them no matter what.
That said, someone might have a recommendation for a product anyway...if it feels or smells good why not?
I have always just used cocoa butter. I do know it's mainly genetic and there isn't much you can do to prevent them but but staying moisturized and exfoliating gently you can help minimize. My mom and sister both had the red tiger stripes and they never went away. There are also products designed for after to help heal them (I think mederma). They say trying to avoid rapid weight gain, eating peppers, citrus, and strawberries, and exercise is the most effective way to help.
I also believe staying sufficiently hydrated should help some with stretch marks, any experience or knowledge about that?
I know that hydration helps the skin recover after rapid weight loss according to some PubMed articles I read out of curiosity, so it would stand to reason that it should help when skin expands/stretches as well.
I’ve used cocoa butter with both of my other pregnancies and never got any stretch marks. I was always careful about weight gain too because I’m short and have a small torso so I think that helped also.
TTC History
Me: 35 DH: 34 Married 07/2012 DD born 07/2014 DD2 born 10/2018 DS born 10/2022
IF history: TTC #2 since January 2016 June-Aug 2017: 3 IUIs w/Clomid = BFN Sept 2017: Dx w/Endometriosis Oct 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN Nov 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN Dec 2017: pre-IVF testing Jan-Feb 2018: IVF--17 eggs retrieved, 13 fertilized, 9 frozen and 1 transferred on 2/10 = BFP on 2/19!!! EDD 10/29/2018 FET Oct 2021: BFP on 10/31! MC at 5 weeks FET Feb 2022: BFP on 2/15! EDD 10/29/22
I used nothing and had some bad stretch marks around my belly button, but I just checked and at some point in the last 4.5 years they must have faded and are totally gone! Clearly I was very concerned about them since I haven’t even thought about them until now.
I use rosehip oil. I like it because it absorbs quickly so I don't feel all greasy after. I can't remember where I learned about it as an option but it's great. Stretch marks are somewhat prevalent in my family genetically, but I did find it helpful.
Re: The Great Big Question Thread!
Also cramping is a side effect of the gynazole.
Married 07/2012
DD born 07/2014
DD2 born 10/2018
DS born 10/2022
IF history:
TTC #2 since January 2016
June-Aug 2017: 3 IUIs w/Clomid = BFN
Sept 2017: Dx w/Endometriosis
Oct 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN
Nov 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN
Dec 2017: pre-IVF testing
Jan-Feb 2018: IVF--17 eggs retrieved, 13 fertilized, 9 frozen and 1 transferred on 2/10 = BFP on 2/19!!! EDD 10/29/2018
FET Oct 2021: BFP on 10/31! MC at 5 weeks
FET Feb 2022: BFP on 2/15! EDD 10/29/22
That said, someone might have a recommendation for a product anyway...if it feels or smells good why not?
Married 07/2012
DD born 07/2014
DD2 born 10/2018
DS born 10/2022
IF history:
TTC #2 since January 2016
June-Aug 2017: 3 IUIs w/Clomid = BFN
Sept 2017: Dx w/Endometriosis
Oct 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN
Nov 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN
Dec 2017: pre-IVF testing
Jan-Feb 2018: IVF--17 eggs retrieved, 13 fertilized, 9 frozen and 1 transferred on 2/10 = BFP on 2/19!!! EDD 10/29/2018
FET Oct 2021: BFP on 10/31! MC at 5 weeks
FET Feb 2022: BFP on 2/15! EDD 10/29/22