Thanks for all the advice and sharing your experiences. I think it wouldn't be a big deal to miss the first week of class, so hopefully I can stretch to 2 weeks PP before I have to leave her. When I do go she will be with MH (or if for some reason he can't be home she'll be with one of her grandmas) so hopefully that will make it easier.
I agree with heartbot about sleep deprivation. I didn't know day from night for 2-3wks. It's a massive adjustment and finding time/energy to shower was a task! Most newborns eat every 2hrs. Mine was a slow eater, so by the time I got the feeding completed and him back to sleep, it was more of 30-45mins sleep for me before he was up again. It was not 2hrs from finishing, it was on the start for us.
My csection recovery was actually a breeze, I think I'm a bit unusual on this though. I did do too many trips up/down stairs one day though. I didn't need any pain meds after 2days pp. the only thing I really wanted to do that was off limits was a sit down soak bath. I just felt so unclean with the pp bleeding and an abdominal wound.
Ask a grad? Apr 13, 2017 18:17:11 GMT -5via mobile
Post by cali on Apr 13, 2017 18:17:11 GMT -5
Ok, I have another question I could use some grad input on. I'm trying to put together a gift basket for my SIL who is having her first baby next month. I want to make it up of stuff just for her, since I've already bought so much for baby. What are some new mom essentials I should include? (Also may start hoarding some of these items away for myself)
Ok, I have another question I could use some grad input on. I'm trying to put together a gift basket for my SIL who is having her first baby next month. I want to make it up of stuff just for her, since I've already bought so much for baby. What are some new mom essentials I should include? (Also may start hoarding some of these items away for myself)
If anywhere around her delivers, a gift card so she doesn't have to bother with meal prep. Lactation cookies, Gatorade, snacks in general. ...
All I can think of is food. It's what I wanted the most abd wanted to work the least for.
cali, hand lotion is all that's coming to mind. Maybe snacks? Honestly, the main things I wanted was someone to come over and take the baby while I took a long shower and then cook for me and take the baby while I ate. Also 8 consecutive hours of sleep. I wish you could put those in a basket!
I was going to say the same thing. The idea for gift cards for meal delivery or even giving frozen dinner platters is a good one. With my first I had several friends when they came to visit brought food. I loved it. For whatever reason they didn't do the same the second time around..when I actually needed it more since I had to cook for a toddler every night haha.
Any grads with living babies experience monitoring a white spot on the heart?
Are you talking in utero or out? If out, DD had some heart issues shortly after birth. If this is in utero, then no experience, but I can send lots of internet hugs.
Ask a grad? Apr 14, 2017 19:56:26 GMT -5via mobile
Post by elliecat17 on Apr 14, 2017 19:56:26 GMT -5
Any info on a short cervix? The nurse called today but I missed her so I called back and they never returned the call. So I know nothing except that my record now says short cervix.
Any info on a short cervix? The nurse called today but I missed her so I called back and they never returned the call. So I know nothing except that my record now says short cervix.
Does your midwife have an after hours/on call number? I would think it would bring some reassurance to be able to talk to her before Monday. They should be monitoring your cervix more closely going forward by ultrasound to make sure it doesn't shorten too much/start dilating. If it does, they may recommend putting you on progesterone or a cerclage to prevent preterm labor. I hope it holds steady! In the meantime, I would take it easy.
Ok, I have another question I could use some grad input on. I'm trying to put together a gift basket for my SIL who is having her first baby next month. I want to make it up of stuff just for her, since I've already bought so much for baby. What are some new mom essentials I should include? (Also may start hoarding some of these items away for myself)
I agree with the food. Also, a giant bottle for water that can hold at least 32 oz. Finally, I lived for my Aimee's nursing nightgowns. They were super comfortable and I have already pulled them back out this pregnancy and started wearing them.
BFP# 1 7/7/12 Beautiful DD born still at 36 weeks 5 days on 3/2/13 BFP #2 8/7/14 Rainbow DS born 4/2/15 Started adoption process July 2016 BF#3 8/29/16 DD2 born 4/21/17
This was very similar to my experience except I had to do long walks because NICU was far as fuck. I started walking short distances the minute I could move my legs just so I could get to him. I way overdid it. I nearly passed out numerous times the first month. I felt like crap and several times I started bleeding and cramping again.
My advice walk, but don't go overboard. Eat well. A huge part of my problem was my lack of good nutrition while pumping. Take all the pads with you. Adhere to the limited stairs rule. Stairs are evil after a c-section.
I totally forgot how bad the stairs were. Stairs were pure evil.
Ok, you're both scaring me now, crimpgirl and @sarahwithanh. I had a good recovery I thought, but also didn't do stairs regularly because we lived in an apartment, so maybe I'd do a step up or down here or there to get into neighborhood buildings.
For how long were stairs evil? I now live in a house and my husband did mention contingency planning for post-delivery if I'm unable to get up the stairs well - i.e. whether we should budget for a good-quality sleeper sofa for one of our downstairs rooms.
Thoughts? This also may weigh into my VBAC calculus. I really had a positive c-section experience and was planning on an RCS, but my MFM has encouraged me that if we know we want a third (we think we might, but aren't certain) to strongly consider a VBAC.
I totally forgot how bad the stairs were. Stairs were pure evil.
Ok, you're both scaring me now, crimpgirl and @sarahwithanh. I had a good recovery I thought, but also didn't do stairs regularly because we lived in an apartment, so maybe I'd do a step up or down here or there to get into neighborhood buildings.
For how long were stairs evil? I now live in a house and my husband did mention contingency planning for post-delivery if I'm unable to get up the stairs well - i.e. whether we should budget for a good-quality sleeper sofa for one of our downstairs rooms.
Thoughts? This also may weigh into my VBAC calculus. I really had a positive c-section experience and was planning on an RCS, but my MFM has encouraged me that if we know we want a third (we think we might, but aren't certain) to strongly consider a VBAC.
My dr asks to restrict steps for 2 weeks. Before that to limit up/down to twice a day.
I just planned to stay downstairs most of the day. I had all diaper supplies downstairs. And anything else I needed.
Thanks ladies! Lots to think about and searching for babywearing groups!
Another Q: diaper bags. What type did you get- shoulder bag vs backpack / separate one for you vs your SO / where?
I will be the odd person out here but we just use a canvas cross body messenger bag as a diaper bag. Its gender neutral and can be used by both me or H. Downside is its not a pretty fabric or pattern but on the upside it has lasted through DS1's infant years who is 7 now and is on to being our diaper bag for S. I also like that it can be washed and take a lot of rough handling.
Ask a grad? Apr 21, 2017 15:13:00 GMT -5via mobile
Post by madameovary on Apr 21, 2017 15:13:00 GMT -5
If you are breastfeeding you can travel a lot lighter. My H and and I both have a large Ziploc in our cars with some wipes and diapers. For an actual outing we just use a backpack we already had.
Thanks ladies! Lots to think about and searching for babywearing groups!
Another Q: diaper bags. What type did you get- shoulder bag vs backpack / separate one for you vs your SO / where?
We have a Petunia Pickle Bottom..so can be a backpack or shoulder or messenger bag. It has a girly print but DH still carries it. I love it. With two though it is stuffed!
Thanks ladies! Lots to think about and searching for babywearing groups!
Another Q: diaper bags. What type did you get- shoulder bag vs backpack / separate one for you vs your SO / where?
I just used a regular backpack and it worked really well for us. Now at 11 months we switched to a much smaller cross body bag (also not technically a diaper bag) because we don't need nearly as much stuff as we used to. I always kept a few gallon zip lock bags for messes.
TTC #1 starting July 2013, RE last 2014 First Angel baby lost July 11, 2014 IUI #1 with injections successful: EDD 11/24/15 Rainbow baby DD born 11/14/15 TTC#2 October 2016 Second Angel baby lost Jan 5, 2017
TTC #1 starting July 2013, RE last 2014 First Angel baby lost July 11, 2014 IUI #1 with injections successful: EDD 11/24/15 Rainbow baby DD born 11/14/15 TTC#2 October 2016 Second Angel baby lost Jan 5, 2017
I totally forgot how bad the stairs were. Stairs were pure evil.
Ok, you're both scaring me now, crimpgirl and @sarahwithanh . I had a good recovery I thought, but also didn't do stairs regularly because we lived in an apartment, so maybe I'd do a step up or down here or there to get into neighborhood buildings.
For how long were stairs evil? I now live in a house and my husband did mention contingency planning for post-delivery if I'm unable to get up the stairs well - i.e. whether we should budget for a good-quality sleeper sofa for one of our downstairs rooms.
Thoughts? This also may weigh into my VBAC calculus. I really had a positive c-section experience and was planning on an RCS, but my MFM has encouraged me that if we know we want a third (we think we might, but aren't certain) to strongly consider a VBAC.
My OB is like the most laid back person in the whole world. My only restriction with my c-section was to not carry more weight than the infant in her carrier and to listen to my body. The first time I did the stairs, it hurt but after that, it wasn't all that awful. After a few days, I was doing the stairs multiple times per day without incident. [Note: I also had a great c-section recovery from what I hear from others]
Thanks ladies! Lots to think about and searching for babywearing groups!
Another Q: diaper bags. What type did you get- shoulder bag vs backpack / separate one for you vs your SO / where?
We use an older style Vera Bradley diaper bag. I loved it and DH carries it without an issue (it's a black and yellow print). However, most days, I would leave it in the car and would simply load up my smaller messenger bag day bag with whatever we needed until we returned to the car (so that we were hands free when necessary - especially since DD started to walk at 11 months). I'm pretty sure for #2, we are going to wind up with a regular old LL Bean backpack - to hold Toddler and Infant stuff and DH will probably be the primary carrier when we are together.
Any grads with living babies experience monitoring a white spot on the heart?
Hey, so I just saw this and I know someone answered you, but I figured I'd tell you our experience.
My rainbow baby, who's now almost 1, had an echogenic foci on his heart. Yes, it is a calcium deposit, and yes they normally resolve by 36 weeks, but ours didn't. It was one of then many many things they checked on our weekly sonos. They are harmless, but they are found in a large %age of kids with Down syndrome, and maybe 10% of kiddos born with no genetic problems. That being said, they may monitor you and baby more closely to see other signs of DS, which is what they did for us. We always asked about it and it was always there, but our son was born without DS, and they had pretty much ruled it out by the time he was born anyway.
If you had the progenity testing done and your risk was super low and you have no other signs via sono that indicate DS, they probably won't even really talk about it. We had a lot going on, so they told us everything and we asked a million and one questions. All that worry though, and our rainbow was perfect.
Then Comes Family, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.